Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 12:58 pm  

I'm sorry but I'm not willing to just chalk this one down to Lowes trying to be sly with the press. Mainly because I don't think he's got the capability to be.

His, frankly, pi$$poor media skills are a detriment to the club. There are plenty of Bulls fans out there who've never heard of this website and will go purely by what appears in print and comments like "I don't need to sign a scrum half" will be heard loudest.

I don't think anyone is slating the team, therefore there is no need for the coach to back his players. The majority of fans, however, can identify when the team has a problem and that signing a player with a particular skill set would correct that problem but to then hear the coach say he doesn't need to do that is in many ways two fingers to the fans and I believe it will have a negative effect on the numbers of people coming to watch Bradford.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:18 pm  

7 shirt left vacant

Don't you think the words "until the 8's" or "until a suitable player becomes available" have been missed off the end of the "we do t need to sign a scrum half" just to make a sensationalist headline.

mickey poor reporting and there's no wonder Mr Lowes doesn't trust the media (at least of the local variety).

The signing of Lovegrove (on trial) shows Lowes is prepared to strengthen the squad when appropriate.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:28 pm  

But if a coach publicly said specifically "Yes I do need to sign a scrum half" then that is telling his existing players none of them are up to the job. Would be true kamikaze coaching.

He is already reported as saying that if a player who would improve the team became available (and even mentioned a scrum half!!!!!!!!!) then he would speak to Green, so short of writing it in 20 foot letters on a big white flag, what bigger hints can he drop?

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:42 pm  

el red wrote:

Don't you think the words "until the 8's" or "until a suitable player becomes available" have been missed off the end of the "we do t need to sign a scrum half" just to make a sensationalist headline.

mickey poor reporting and there's no wonder Mr Lowes doesn't trust the media (at least of the local variety).

And you're basing this on what? You were there when the interview took place I assume?

If what's quoted is what Lowes said, why wouldn't the reporter use that as a headline? It's like a local sport version of David Cameron saying we don't need to put any money into the NHS. It's relevant to the Bulls and fans discussions (clearly, as people on here have done nothing but talk about a lack of 7 for months).

If Lowes did say more and Ross just cut it down and missed words out for sensationalism, the club would clearly not talk to him again. And since the main part of his job is reporting on the Bulls, I don't think he'd take that risk personally.

Too many people too quick to blame media for just reporting the facts or what they're told. Don't shoot the messenger and all that.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:46 pm  

HamsterChops wrote:

And you're basing this on what? ...

I'd imagine he's basing it on what Lowes reportedly said in the rest of the piece.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:50 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

I'd imagine he's basing it on what Lowes reportedly said in the rest of the piece.

Am I missing the part of the article where he says "until the 8's" then?

Yes he says if a decent player who would enhance the squad becomes available, he would be interested. But he says that about every position and in more than one place says he's happy with his current 7 options.

Nothing elsewhere in the article suggests to me that he said anything other than what the headline states.

I flirted with a career in media myself at one time and it gets on my proverbials when people blame the media for simply repeating what they've been told, or sensationalising things, when they have no evidence at all that it's accurate.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 2:56 pm  

HamsterChops wrote:

Am I missing the part of the article where he says "until the 8's" then?

Yes he says if a decent player who would enhance the squad becomes available, he would be interested. But he says that about every position and in more than one place says he's happy with his current 7 options.

Nothing elsewhere in the article suggests to me that he said anything other than what the headline states.

I flirted with a career in media myself at one time and it gets on my proverbials when people blame the media for simply repeating what they've been told, or sensationalising things, when they have no evidence at all that it's accurate.

TBH, that part where he says if a decent player came up then he talk to Green about signing him sounds more like his brain has finally caught up with his mouth and tried like hell to put in some damage limitation.

The club either needs to send Lowes on a media handling course or just stop him talking to journalists altogether as he's not good at it

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 6:20 pm  

HamsterChops wrote:

Am I missing the part of the article where he says "until the 8's" then?

No, you're missing the bit where he talks about if a good player becomes available.

HamsterChops wrote:

Yes he says if a decent player who would enhance the squad becomes available, he would be interested. But he says that about every position and in more than one place says he's happy with his current 7 options.

Because he is. I'm happy with my house. But if I win the Lotto this week I might add a condo in Malibu and a villa in Spain. That doesn't mean I was lying about my house.

If an Andrew Johns became available and we could sign him, he would. That would make him happier. But it doesn't make him unhappy now.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:43 pm  

This could be Jimmy's last season with us and that could mean he ends up like Franny regarding getting a coaching job.
Does anyone actually believe he will not sign a decent number 7 if one comes available?
Everyone knows we need one but the club will not say anything in public.
Most signings recently made were out of the blue.
A new scrum half will probably be the same.
Don't believe paper talk. We will be looking but will only sign one when they are absolutely certain.

Re: Lowes: I don't need to sign a half back : Thu Feb 11, 2016 9:25 pm  

rugbyreddog wrote: Was Jimmy playing at the time when the team refused to play the ball to Shaun Edwards. Perhaps he doesn't believe that any rugby team needs a number 7 "The former Wigan and Great Britain half-back Shaun Edwards could be tempted back into rugby league one day" Could be an option.

rugbyreddog wrote: Was Jimmy playing at the time when the team refused to play the ball to Shaun Edwards. Perhaps he doesn't believe that any rugby team needs a number 7 "The former Wigan and Great Britain half-back Shaun Edwards could be tempted back into rugby league one day" Could be an option.