I'm not talking about loads of new players.

I think it is realistic to expect 2-3 high quality signings and 3-4 squad signings for next season?

Anyway, its just a bit of fun and ok we all have differing views!!!!!

If you look at the game tonight Farrell did well, and has done well every time he has played. Thought Niyi did well also and I suspect that was because Crosbie gave him a chance to play well. Many here suggested that this was a chance for fringe players to state their case. It was not a night for such. But it was a night to take your hand down and I thought Lewis did that. Was it two or three line-outs he pulled down and got penalized for them. I don't believe in the mega-signing. I believe we require a functional player and a game strategy. We don't have the bucks so the game strategy is how we are always going to (or not going to) win a game. I thought Ili did some good things, then did some rubbish things and overall he came out parity but nothing else. It was an impossible night. I felt sorry for Crosbie thrown into it. I felt even worse when Poolman pulled out. Anyone know why? He really needed this chance. Is he the unluckiest player in Connacht these days?

Yeah you're dead right. We should just buy in a few players for millions of euro with monopoly money. How exactly do you expect us to compete with teams that get 2-3x our attendences and much bigger advertising revenue and sponsorship when our stadium capacity is 8k(and bursting at that stage), we have no big financial backer, and a much much smaller population which means a lot less advertising and sponsorship revenue.

Bare bones argument is rubbished by the the fact you are stating we already have too many players in one area.

Grand so, we'll sign another back row instead of proper squad players and end up not being able to field a team. Makes sense.

If we are lucky the high class signing remains fit we get into champions cup and even possibly challenge for it, this in turn increases revenue, profile sponsors etc etc etc etc allows us to grow on all fronts including fans and stadium.

You're right. We should gamble on cutting loads of players and spending all the money on a marquee player and hope to god he stays fit.

Your way is totally defunct and the past and only leads to stagnation and with that attitude of course the "we never will" can't do attitude prevails.

I'm sure you would have been one of the people giving us no chance last year.

Classy stuff. And you're wrong, but nice try.

Bazzo wrote: The whole point of Connacht as a team is that we are better than the sum of our parts. We don't and NEVER will have the resources to compete for the big names with any of the other provinces, they're all significantly better off financially than we are. So the best we can hope for are a couple of marquee signings(like Bundee), but other than that we have to rely on trying to keep big homegrown talent(we failed with Henshaw) and bringing in rough diamonds. Browne is a local who has always been an incredibly solid player for us, won't be demanding much money, what on earth is the reasoning behind cutting him? Cutting loads of players to free up some cash for 1 big signing makes no sense either, we were down to bare bones with injuries this season so eviscerating the squad size to sign 1 player could end very very badly.

The last thing we NEED is ANOTHER back row, we have Muldoon, SOB, McKeon, Masterson, Dawai, Heenan, Connolly and Moloney on senior contracts. Moloney aside, who I've seen very little of, I really wouldn't be bothered about any combination of those players starting in a pro12/ECC match. There's more coming through the academy also. Comparing us to Leinster is useless, no club in Europe has the same depth in the back row as they do. What we NEED is a competent loosehead other than Buckley and possibly and out and out lock who can do the basics of the game and bring Dillane and Roux along in the areas they're lacking.

The last thing we need Imo is that type of belongs on the long distant past low aspirational attitude it's not they way I think and it's not what Pat Lam believed or how we became pro12 champions. I'm sure you would have been one of the people giving us no chance last year.
But you are correct we don't need lots players for few positions we need far less but high class instead that works out financially also.
So release and increase quality is my motto.

Give me one billy vunipola type or robbie henshaw type any day of the week.
Trying to replace henshaw with Griffen, Parata, Farrell etc No just identify and get one high class target. Bare bones argument is rubbished by the the fact you are stating we already have too many players in one area.
I'd much prefer to have an academy guy come in if we were unfortunate enough to lose a very high class signing to injury.

If we are lucky the high class signing remains fit we get into champions cup and even possibly challenge for it, this in turn increases revenue, profile sponsors etc etc etc etc allows us to grow on all fronts including fans and stadium.

Your way is totally defunct and the past and only leads to stagnation and with that attitude of course the "we never will" can't do attitude prevails. To quote our near neighbours for once 'Impossible is nothing' and that's the way I and many other Connacht supporters think. We as Pat Lam said and envisaged are a no holds barred aspirational team now that wants to grow to be the very best.

The whole point of Connacht as a team is that we are better than the sum of our parts. We don't and NEVER will have the resources to compete for the big names with any of the other provinces, they're all significantly better off financially than we are. So the best we can hope for are a couple of marquee signings(like Bundee), but other than that we have to rely on trying to keep big homegrown talent(we failed with Henshaw) and bringing in rough diamonds. Browne is a local who has always been an incredibly solid player for us, won't be demanding much money, what on earth is the reasoning behind cutting him? Cutting loads of players to free up some cash for 1 big signing makes no sense either, we were down to bare bones with injuries this season so eviscerating the squad size to sign 1 player could end very very badly.

The last thing we NEED is ANOTHER back row, we have Muldoon, SOB, McKeon, Masterson, Dawai, Heenan, Connolly and Moloney on senior contracts. Moloney aside, who I've seen very little of, I really wouldn't be bothered about any combination of those players starting in a pro12/ECC match. There's more coming through the academy also. Comparing us to Leinster is useless, no club in Europe has the same depth in the back row as they do. What we NEED is a competent loosehead other than Buckley and possibly and out and out lock who can do the basics of the game and bring Dillane and Roux along in the areas they're lacking.

EDIT: Meant to say Fox-Matamua too but I think it's unlikely he'll stay. Happy out if he does though.

Devils own wrote:

Darragh wrote:

Bazzo wrote: Where's the idea that we need a big ball carrying lock/back row coming from? In the pack and liable to be starting we have Bealham, Dillane, Roux, SOB as powerful ball carriers. McCartney, Muldoon, Cannon, McKeon wouldn't exactly be slouches either. I think the last thing we need is another back row signing, waste of resources.

For me, its about quality. And we do not have enough for where we want to be.

None of our starting back row combinations are test standard except Dawai and that isn't huge quality.

Look at the teams we are competing against? Leinster alone have 9 and now Fardy!!!!!! Munster and Ulster have improved a lot here too.

We are either looking to sign game changers who bring us to the next level or we are happy to be a mid table team in the Challenge cup.

Can't do the former with what we have. Not consistently anyway. Last year was a flash in the pan a la Leicester city.

Where we are in the league is an accurate reflection of our current ability.

Bit harsh I think we are considerably weaker than last year so our table portion reflects that. Given Boshoff hasn't played we lost henshaw Mcgintey and muldowney and an important coach. Also other sides and our neighbours have strengthened themselves considerably in contrast. If two cars speed in different directions the gap becomes much bigger faster than if you just stays put.
No way would we have become champions without some of the those influential players

I agree with you. My sentiment was based on current squad not last seasons. I agree with the drop off in quality.

Darragh wrote:

Bazzo wrote: Where's the idea that we need a big ball carrying lock/back row coming from? In the pack and liable to be starting we have Bealham, Dillane, Roux, SOB as powerful ball carriers. McCartney, Muldoon, Cannon, McKeon wouldn't exactly be slouches either. I think the last thing we need is another back row signing, waste of resources.

For me, its about quality. And we do not have enough for where we want to be.

None of our starting back row combinations are test standard except Dawai and that isn't huge quality.

Look at the teams we are competing against? Leinster alone have 9 and now Fardy!!!!!! Munster and Ulster have improved a lot here too.

We are either looking to sign game changers who bring us to the next level or we are happy to be a mid table team in the Challenge cup.

Can't do the former with what we have. Not consistently anyway. Last year was a flash in the pan a la Leicester city.

Where we are in the league is an accurate reflection of our current ability.

Bit harsh, I think we are considerably weaker than last year so our table position reflects that. Given Boshoff hasn't played, we lost henshaw Mcgintey and muldowney and an important coach. Also other sides and our neighbours have strengthened themselves considerably in contrast to our losses and injuries. If two cars speed in different directions the gap becomes much bigger faster than if one just stays put.
No way would we have become champions without some of the those influential players

phatguerilla wrote:

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: Yeah McCarthy would be a better choice than Stevenson but Stevenson was probably only signed as cover given the pre season injuries at lock. He can't really be seen as the benchmark for the type of player Connacht need to be signing for the future. And although I can kind of understand some of the reasons why, the truth is the guy up and left Connacht after they'd done all the work developing him and while they were trying to build something good for the future. Kearney also made the same choice. Dillane, Aki, McCartney ect. ect. had the same if not even more opportunities to leave but chose to show their loyalty to Connacht and stay. Also feel that McCarthy's best days might be behind him and Kearney seems to be constantly dogged by injury and given the tight budget restrictions we can't afford another season like the current one with so many players constantly unavailable due to injury.

I agree with the sentiment but I assume that Stevenson is moving on at the end of the season as has been suggested elsewhere on here, and we will still need that depth cover as well as the marquee signing, I would only suggest bringing McCarthy back if the price was right, but he could just as easily get a good pay day in England for another year or two as Donnacha O'Callaghan has shown.

Re: Bazzo and the second row playmaker, obviously that was one of the big problems of this season that there was no one to replace Muldowney, but now that Lam is moving on and Keane will have his own ideas about how to play the game, this might be a much less important facet of the gameplan for next season, which could lessen the need to sign international or near international level locks.

I'd take DOC over McCarthy personally. Think his family live in Cork too while he is in UK playing....

Bazzo wrote: Where's the idea that we need a big ball carrying lock/back row coming from? In the pack and liable to be starting we have Bealham, Dillane, Roux, SOB as powerful ball carriers. McCartney, Muldoon, Cannon, McKeon wouldn't exactly be slouches either. I think the last thing we need is another back row signing, waste of resources.

Everyone has their own views. Dillane carries well into contact yes and SOB will only get better but if you really think any of the others bring what an offloading wildebeest like a few of those mentioned below do then I suggest you think again

Liam messam, Amanaki Mafi, Akira Ioane, Billy Vunipola

I suggest you compare highlight reels

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: Yeah McCarthy would be a better choice than Stevenson but Stevenson was probably only signed as cover given the pre season injuries at lock. He can't really be seen as the benchmark for the type of player Connacht need to be signing for the future. And although I can kind of understand some of the reasons why, the truth is the guy up and left Connacht after they'd done all the work developing him and while they were trying to build something good for the future. Kearney also made the same choice. Dillane, Aki, McCartney ect. ect. had the same if not even more opportunities to leave but chose to show their loyalty to Connacht and stay. Also feel that McCarthy's best days might be behind him and Kearney seems to be constantly dogged by injury and given the tight budget restrictions we can't afford another season like the current one with so many players constantly unavailable due to injury.

I agree with the sentiment but I assume that Stevenson is moving on at the end of the season as has been suggested elsewhere on here, and we will still need that depth cover as well as the marquee signing, I would only suggest bringing McCarthy back if the price was right, but he could just as easily get a good pay day in England for another year or two as Donnacha O'Callaghan has shown.

Re: Bazzo and the second row playmaker, obviously that was one of the big problems of this season that there was no one to replace Muldowney, but now that Lam is moving on and Keane will have his own ideas about how to play the game, this might be a much less important facet of the gameplan for next season, which could lessen the need to sign international or near international level locks.

Bazzo wrote: Where's the idea that we need a big ball carrying lock/back row coming from? In the pack and liable to be starting we have Bealham, Dillane, Roux, SOB as powerful ball carriers. McCartney, Muldoon, Cannon, McKeon wouldn't exactly be slouches either. I think the last thing we need is another back row signing, waste of resources.

For me, its about quality. And we do not have enough for where we want to be.

None of our starting back row combinations are test standard except Dawai and that isn't huge quality.

Look at the teams we are competing against? Leinster alone have 9 and now Fardy!!!!!! Munster and Ulster have improved a lot here too.

We are either looking to sign game changers who bring us to the next level or we are happy to be a mid table team in the Challenge cup.

Can't do the former with what we have. Not consistently anyway. Last year was a flash in the pan a la Leicester city.

Where we are in the league is an accurate reflection of our current ability.

Devils own wrote:

connachta wrote: I did mention him indeed as any points we need are "checked" by him, including lineout jump which seems natural for him, and big ball carrying as 4, 5 or 8
+ he's one of Keane's pupil!

Ya he certainly would be a nice player to be able to call upon.
I don't like being harsh but Qualter, browne, Stevenson etc just don't have the quality and impact every aspiring teams substitute bench really needs to have today to be successful.

Browne is quite a good player? I doubt he's on big money, and considering he's the best(only really) "heavy distributor" on the books and can run a lineout successfully(ahem Ultan, Quinn) why do you want to cut him so much? I think Qualter and Stevenson need to be looked at but Browne should be kept.

connachta wrote: I did mention him indeed as any points we need are "checked" by him, including lineout jump which seems natural for him, and big ball carrying as 4, 5 or 8
+ he's one of Keane's pupil!

Ya he certainly would be a nice player to be able to call upon.
I don't like being harsh but Qualter, browne, Stevenson etc just don't have the quality and impact every aspiring teams substitute bench really needs to have today to be successful.

If we're throwing out names of potential IQ locks we should look at I'd mention Tadgh Beirne, tearing up trees for Scarlets and only on a 1 year deal with them apparently

Where's the idea that we need a big ball carrying lock/back row coming from? In the pack and liable to be starting we have Bealham, Dillane, Roux, SOB as powerful ball carriers. McCartney, Muldoon, Cannon, McKeon wouldn't exactly be slouches either. I think the last thing we need is another back row signing, waste of resources.

connachta wrote:

Devils own wrote: Just to clarify I'm not advocating signing major profile locks at present, I was saying that I wouldn't go near Mccarthy or Kearney as even replacement squad players and that I also thought that Nagle or Thronbury could be decent squad players but I would only go for them if we ensure we trim down that area and others so we can focus on real top quality elsewhere in the team. I don't think Romaine is too young Gallagher a little probably.

That's the point. I do think we need to spend "big" money on a LH able to compete with Buckley/ rest him. More there rather than locks.

Ya I know, everyone has their own priority area, I personally want to replace henshaw with like quality and also get an 8 like some of the names posted on here already but a quality back up loose head is also very important. I think if we are business like and really do a good job of just retaining the true high potential and good quality talent this year it will free up big reserves for us to go out and get most what we all think the team needs