Exeter chiefs 2017/18 season thread. Chance to top the premiership.

[Scotty]

Do you have anyone in mind (apart from Malins)..

I dont tbh currently but i guess the point i was making was a general one meaning teams spend alot of money for a player who will improve the team for a season or 2 but the top teams have alot of academy players. The core of chiefs atm is academy players in LCD, skinner,j hill, s simmonds, maunder, townsend, j simmonds, s hill, slade, nowell. We signed the likes of devoto, woodburn, waldrom who were talented but not reaching their potentional. The point im making is if we find someone young and talented that we will have for years it proved alot more effective in the long run. Buying an expensive players for chiefs should be a stopgap to develop young talent. one or 2 big signings is fine if you find the right player. Not happy with cuthbert though tbh

 

[BPM]

Don't know of anyone coming up through the academy that's making particularly large waves.

On another note, what are we going to do about number 8? Waldrom and Horstmann both gone next season. AFAIK Salvi hasn't re-signed meaning that in the back row next season we'll only have Armand, Ewers, Simmonds, Kvesic (none of which are specialist 8s) as well as Lawday, Freeman and Wright who aren't really Prem quality. Tuima's looking good at 8 in the academy but he's 18; I'd have a thought he's got a good 2-3 years before he can be considered as a genuine option in the Prem. Hopefully we'll bring someone in prior to that. Suggestions?

You've just signed the wonderfully named Onehunga Havili.

I know nothing about him other than that he's a young Tongan Number 8.

I still think Ben Morgan would be a good fit for you.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Cuthbert can regain some confidence he's a tidy signing.
Despite his horror shows in international rugby when he's on form he's one of the most dangerous finishers in Europe. It's just whether he can find that form - as mentioned above, a new environment (and one without the pressure of international rugby) could see him thrive.

 

[Chief Pete]

Well if Bath keeps playing like they are, Watson might fancy a move end of next season.
A realistic more long term potential player Jamie Shillcock at wuss who i think has alot of potential.
Jesse Mogg is rumoured to be leaving Montpelier next season.

Doesn't Watson still fancy a go in the NFL in a couple of years? I thought of Jesse Mogg earlier especially with our Australian connection, agree Mogg and Shillcock both great shouts.

 

[Chief Pete]

Alex Cuthbert confirmed 3yr deal, need to give him a chance guys...

 

[RedruthRFC]

Alex Cuthbert confirmed 3yr deal, need to give him a chance guys...

Wish I knew the details. Without them, it's impossible to say if this is a good signing or not. If they're paying Lions money for someone who is now way off that level, it looks like bad business. On the other hand, if they're paying squad player money for a squad player with a big potential upside thanks to a change of scenery away from the South Wales microscope, it sounds like good business.

 

[Chief Pete]

Wish I knew the details. Without them, it's impossible to say if this is a good signing or not. If they're paying Lions money for someone who is now way off that level, it looks like bad business. On the other hand, if they're paying squad player money for a squad player with a big potential upside thanks to a change of scenery away from the South Wales microscope, it sounds like good business.

His stock has fallen so low that surely he'd accept his current market value?, he should be happy that a team like Chief's are prepared to take a punt on him...

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I doubt if it was a high money, high stakes signing they'd have signed him on for 3 years.

 

[RedruthRFC]

His stock has fallen so low that surely he'd accept his current market value?, he should be happy that a team like Chief's are prepared to take a punt on him...

In a sense, all that any player can ever possibly earn is their market value, the question is, what has the market determined his current value to be? In a sane world, that would be somewhere between the two extremes that I presented in my previous post, i.e. that his experience and potential to get back to being a test class winger raises his value above that of a squad player.

 

[Reiser99]

Alex Cuthbert confirmed 3yr deal, need to give him a chance guys...

You can't sign Alex Cuthbert and not expect to be ridiculed, that's just naive.

 

[Chief Pete]

You can't sign Alex Cuthbert and not expect to be ridiculed, that's just naive.

I was referencing Chiefs fans who are unsure about his signing in a Chiefs thread that as he'll be playing for us next season we should at least give him a chance to change our minds, not really naïve...

 

[Chief Pete]

@TobyBeastTeague Rumour Paddy Jackson's been offered to Chiefs, have you heard anything mate?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

@TobyBeastTeague Rumour Paddy Jackson's been offered to Chiefs, have you heard anything mate?

Nope, think it would be a bit of a shame if we did get him though. Not because of what's happened, he's been found not guilty so as far as I'm concerned he's welcome, just that it would mean Simmonds wouldn't start anymore and he has serious potential.

 

[Scotty]

Nope, think it would be a bit of a shame if we did get him though. Not because of what's happened, he's been found not guilty so as far as I'm concerned he's welcome, just that it would mean Simmonds wouldn't start anymore and he has serious potential.

Agree tbh, j simmonds had done so well for us in the short time hes been in the starting line up for us, if steeno has another season in him then we domt need a big signing really. Paddy jackson is a good player and would be a good signing if we can get him cheap though after whats gone on. Get a good deal on a top class 10, steenos getting on i suppose we will need on but i think j simmonds needs to be kept as first choice or joint forst choice meaning equil game time who ever we get.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Strong rumour of Olding to Chiefs. I thought he was just a centre but apparently he's comfortable at fullback too.

Back line of:
9. White
10. Simmonds
11. Woodburn
12. Hill
13. Slade
14. Nowell
15. Olding

21. Townsend
22. Steenson/Devoto (Depending on how comfortable Slade is covering 10)
23. Cuthbert
Looks pretty dangerous.

 

[Chief Pete]

Cordero staying for one more year apparently..

 

[Scotty]

Cordero staying for one more year apparently..

I hope he does but he hasnt found his form yet, i lile the idea of him as a fb more than a wing, his pace and footwork needs to be used in the right way, on his wing his space is being closed. Fb he'll be able to run at space and use his footwork to better effect.

 

[Scotty]

Topped the table. Predicted when i created this thread haha.

Its a big deal because play offs, one off day and your out but we have earned this top spot with a game in hand. And now have a chance to finish off a strong season by taking it all the way.

 

[BPM]

Yep. You can afford to send your U18s to Quins and still come away with a bonus point win too, so your best 23 will be nicely rested for the play offs.

 

[Scotty]

Yes could just rest everyone but IMO rest key players while giving fringe players starts to gain/keep momentum.

Rest
LCD
Don armand
S.Simmonds
J.simmonds ( he's young and had a number of games let him rest. And not push to hard. Hopfully first choice next season with steeno as a damn good replacment.)
Slade
Nowell (no point risking him same as a few others.)

But put some players out.
Ben moon
Jack innard
Greg holmes
Mitch lees
Toby salmon
Dave dennis
Matt kvesic
Thomas waldrom
Jack maunder ( needs game time just incase one gets injured in semis and no real point risking others) townsend if he's injured.
Garath steenson
Olly woodburn
Ollie devoto
Tom hendrickson
Tom O'Flaherty
Santiago cordero

Elvis taione
Moray low
Thomas francias
Jonny hill
Dave ewers
Stu townsend
Sam hill
Lachlan turner.

Still a strong team and still one quins will fear but rested in key positions and giving experience in others, i like cordero as a FB and a game like this its worth giving him a shot there same as devoto as fly half cover. Not sure injury status of some, know whittens injured though or he would have been on instead of hill. Just my opinion.