BlueMark wrote:
Synners what did Kouta do to get back in your good books, a couple of years ago you were calling him a traitor.
The problem with delist, delist, delist, delist players is that we will never improve as a team, you need a blend of experience and youth, a balance. While I agree that Lappin, Kouta and Lance are nearing the end of thier careers I also, believe that they should be retired with grace and dignity. They have been great players for the club and at thier best breathtaking, thus deserving a measure of respect, to tear them down only demeans us as a club.
I also note those who advocate an aggressive youth policy are also the first and loudest to scream when we finish on the bottom. Can't have it both ways. If you go youth then expect to finish near the bottom for a number of years until they develop, that why last year and this year I am not concerned by the patchy form. Fact is we are getting better, you can see it, I just wish people would recognise it, acknowledge it and give credit were it is due. Patience ,we will get there.
Agree with the balance, but our balance has already been shot as a result of our 90's policy of recycling players and with the draft penalties.
Kouta should retire at the end of the year so that we remember him at his peak, not some guy who ran around for a couple of seasons too long. If Lappin announced his retirement of his own accord, no one would bat an eyelid. If he gets another contract it should only be on a year-by-year basis.
As for Lance, any smart opposition coach will use his weaknesses to his teams advantage. Unless we play Lance as a spare man in defence that will always be the case. And that forces us into playing that way rather than being flexible.
At the end of the day it's a judgement call as to whether Lance's plusses outweigh his weaknesses. The way to manage that is to offer him a 2 year performance based contract on the minimum fixed contract (around $50,000ish IIRC) and then handsome match payments (Say $10,000 a senior match).
If Lance stays fit and in form, he has the capacity to earn nearly $600,000 over two years. If he's shot and can't play it only costs us $50k to pay him out at the end of next year. If he offers us something in the middle he'll be paid accordingly. I can't see him accepting that, but if it were my call it's how I'd handle it.