I think everyone already knows this. It is the clubs bizarre approach to recruitment and retention that raises the eyebrows from fans.Nezza Faz wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2020 2:49 pm Of course, it's very pleasing to see him signing this extension, his general form and improvement over the last year or two has been great to see, and definitely sees him go above JB.
What we have to remember though, is for every deserving contract extension we make to these young stars, like Harvard, Byrne, Smith and so on, there is a balancing act to deliver the Salary Cap strategically. So calls from fans to sign so and so, to improve whatever position, requires a controlled approach, which often goes missing, naturally from fans' emotions, but needs to be arithmetically sustained by the Club.
Example. Last season we had Davies, Burgess, Manfedi and Marshall as first team wingers. Ignoring injuries how many other clubs choose to have so many yet then recruit another in Bevan French?
This season. We then point out that Bevan French is now a full back which then means both Hardaker and Escare are shunted around (or dropped) to accommodate. Three full backs!
Centres. We have Gildart, Hankinson and recruit Bibby but because we have accommodated French to full back have to give one centre position to Hardaker. Why sign Bibby?
Tommy. Initially signed to play for another couple of seasons. Four years later still going and more and more ineffective performances. When the "plan" was for him to go into coaching, why keep re-signing him? Ditto Lockers?
Sign Bullock, Clarke and Burgess as props after giving Clubb a two year deal he never deserved on form and also having to fit players that appear to have moved quickly into the first team frame. Players like Partington, Byrne and Havard maturing well as first graders.
It is a haphazard and at times nonsensical approach to recruitment that belies the fact there is a salary cap and often sees the club squander money on players who should have either never been signed in the first place or kept on after their initial deals ended.