News: Centre Burrell moving to Saints in the summer

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From the offy. We have signed Luther Burrell from sale. A 12 and big unit, fits the Downey mould plus a bit mire I reckon. Underused by Diamond since he's move from Leeds.

Welcome to the Saintly Throng.
Hope this means that the other "recently talked about" Kiwi was not all bluff.

Wonder why Diamond hasn't exploited him more - seems like his type?

Still, an interesting acquisition, although perhaps with more potential and promise than performance at this stage.

Was wondering if Mr burrell was on our radar.... a canny move for a canny player. beefcake.

Sounds like a promising prospect, but we seem to be signing an awful lot of those at the moment. However, we know that Jim is great at getting the best out of players that have struggled elsewhere (look at Foden as an example).

Despite this, I'm a bit worried that the new signings are going to mean that we have to rely on the current squad (minus the departing players obviously) for part of next season while the new guys find their feet in the Wanderers (whatever happened to Cesar Sempere?)

I'd quite like a big name to get excited about at some point, and I was rather hoping it would be at either no.8 or inside centre, and our last two signings would seem to exclude this option. However, Jim does have a tendency to announce the big names in the close season so we'll wait and hope I suppose!

Herbie,
Did sign a big number 8 last week from South Africa

Well it sounds like a good signing to me.. He will probably be another one of those players that 3 weekes into the season we all wonde how we ever lived without them.

Jim makes 3 types of signing in my oppinion.
1) Unknown/underused players that come in and perform almost streight away.
2) Future prospects who have to spend a year in the Wandies learning to play the Saints way and developing physically (Academy+)
3) Fly Halves.

Chris, I know we did sign a big no.8, but that's not really what I meant by a big name.

Van Velze is an exciting prospect, but he's only played one game of Super Rugby in his career, and has only recently broken into the Blue Bulls Currie Cup squad - what I mean by a big name is a more experienced international.

Welcome to the Saints Luther!

Herbie - Jim's not really known for signing "big name" players, there's not been many people join Saints during his time with more than a handful of international caps. This has meant he's saved money and made the squad a lot stronger than just the first XV.

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he's been an interesting talent for a few years.

trying to play him as a crash ball 12 outside McLeod at sale has proved fairly relatively unsuccessful , mainly i'd guess because McLeod plays so deep and has no running game himself, and i'd guess he may struggle with positioning etc for 13 (albeit he's easily fast enough).actually deciding that he is a 12 is a good start.

i can see him being a success in due course, but will, i think, need a mixture of good coaching, good players around him and a decent amount of gametime in one position - oh, and a good pre-season with The Hood.

Welcome to the forum herbie!

I know what you mean but if you look at the recruitment policy under nobby & Jim they've looked to bring in relative unknowns and make them into star names...

dicko, woody, dows, etc. etc.

I don't subscribe to star names at the best of times, bruce or AB wernt star names when they arrived, but they gave 100% and changed the club for the better. lets have a few more of those.

Just seen pics of the guy and now can't wait for him and big George to team up. Could be very good to watch. Tbh Scott Armstrong as back up isn't exactly small!

Starting to come together now. I'm still thinking there's a big name coming as the amount of money we are saving from the guys leaving must be a decent amount.


FHS

Quote:

Former Hollywood Saint
I'm still thinking there's a big name coming as the amount of money we are saving from the guys leaving must be a decent amount.

All depends how much it cost to keep all our new England players. But i should imagine theres either a big name on the way of a few more good players.

Welcome to the Saints, Luther. Intriguing signing given Jim's comment that he is only going to sign players who can play at the top end of the AP and HC. A centre who is not an AP regular and a back rower from the Championship! Jim does a good job within the salary cap but this signing does not at first glance say he'll be a first team regular. Replacing Greg Tonks perhaps but Jimmy Downey? And either way what does it tell us about our playing style next year?

Can't tackle for toffee and gets caught out of position (was probably at fault for at least 2 sarries tries. however good with ball in hand, quick and strong.

could be a good one for you if you sort out his defensive issues.

Not completely new, I have posted here a few times before!

I'm well aware that Jim's not known for signing 'big name' players but it's never too late to break a habit. I'm all in favour of signing relative unknowns (although it's perhaps harsh on Bruce and Allan Bateman there, who were both capped internationals before they moved to the club). I'd just like to see another player with some decent international caps come along, to complement the excellent prospects we're signing at the moment.

It's always a bit of a gamble to sign a big name, sometimes it works and helps a club kick on to a higher level (a la Buck Shelford) and sometimes it fails (a la Carlos Spencer). However I think we're ripe for such a signing at the moment, as it could help galvanise the squad and shift us into top gear to really mix it with the big boys of European rugby.

I think the AB referred to was Blowers not Mr bateman - but I could be wrong.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

I'm with you, Herbie. To take us up another notch in England and Europe I think we need someone, or two, of proven ability at the top level. Our bread and butter newbies are 25 year old, English and promising. That could help us tread water. There have to be a couple of key positions where we need to think big. And that does not mean big names but big players. Been there, done it before players.

Carlos Spencer a 'failure?'
Robby calls our new signing a 'Beefcake?'
Alan Bateman not a 'big name'?

Is this what the Twilght Zone is like as I appeared to have logged into it!

"sup·port·er"

Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.

Consider yourself very fortunate - regardless of foolish Sale fans who don't rate Luther (they don't know anything). He is an exceptional talent overlooked and misused by the long gone Hanks.

Burrell will do very well for you if he is given an opportunity, I rate him as an excellent centre who can play on the wing, he has great pace, can cut through defenses, great strength and ball handling skills. Defensively against sarries the entire team were Sh*te at at times, so for Stevene to single out Burrell is idiocy. Shame that Sale could not develop this and make him the great player that he will prove to be.

Good luck and best wishes.

can i refer everyone to the COYSDC glossary?
Alan Bateman's nickname was Batman.
Andrew Blowers is AB.

We discussed this last week guys, i'd love a Liam Messam or a Jerome Kaino, but it simply isn't going to happen, not under the current salary cap structure around europe.

When Leinster can just amble in and bring Brad Thorn in at the drop of the hat what chance do we have?

pick your battles guys....

To my knowledge, we haven't announced a marquee signing yet so that would appear to leave the door open for as big a name as we want - remember the salary cap exemption is designed specifically for these purposes (although I do seem to remember that Jim suggested maybe just using it to take one of the current squad out of the salary cap to free up space for development players).

I stand corrected on the Blowers/Bateman matter.

Welcome Luther!

If he can develop a solid centre partnership with Pisi..............such fun!

Quote:

Rugger Ho
Consider yourself very fortunate - regardless of foolish Sale fans who don't rate Luther (they don't know anything). He is an exceptional talent overlooked and misused by the long gone Hanks.
Burrell will do very well for you if he is given an opportunity, I rate him as an excellent centre who can play on the wing, he has great pace, can cut through defenses, great strength and ball handling skills. Defensively against sarries the entire team were Sh*te at at times, so for Stevene to single out Burrell is idiocy. Shame that Sale could not develop this and make him the great player that he will prove to be.

Good luck and best wishes.

watch the highlights mate, I was there and watched him get turned inside out by Wyles and Hodgson tempt him out of the line too easily and then put his opposite number into space. Yes the performance was rubbish but Sarries did their homework on us defensively targetting Miller with the high ball and our outside centre channel. Luther comes out of the line too early quite a lot and gets picked off. When he does get to his man he doesn't use his shoulder in the tackle often enough and is all arms when tackling and therefore is often shaken off and his opposite number can offload.

Going forward he is very good, has pace and power and hits the line hard. I thought he would be really good signing for Sale from what I had seen of him going forward with ball in hand at Leeds and I could never understand why Back didn't start him more last year.

Having had him at Sale this season I can see why, its due to concerns about his defence, that can be the only reason. Or are you saying both Neil Back and Tony Hanks/ Steve Diamond are wrong for not selecting him more often?? Ask any other Sale fan about Luther's defence and I bet they will say the same.

We have enough defensive issues to deal with next season with having Cipriani aka turnstile defending the 10 channel next season, whoever stands in the centre needs to be top notch defensively.

Rob, AB was a big name in a very competitive AB back row.

Jim seems to think he's a good defender, and I'll take his word for it:

"He carries the ball very well and gets over the gain line. But he also has the ability to bring other players around him into the game as well, and is a strong defender"

I have seen Luther play many times. To play him against Sarries when he had not started a Prem game all season (I think I am right about that),and after they had been smashed against Exeter is not his fault that he was turned inside out, where was his cover and 2nd tackler? Poor decisions were made by the entire team on Friday against a team that were out for a stroll by comparison. To blame Luther for a couple of errors and ignore the several errors made by most of the backs and a few of the forwards is foolish. If he had been coached to play a certain way defensively, I am not suprised he did not look good - none of our players in the back line did.
IMHO it is very obviously the defensive coaching at fault and not the players, just as it is the attacking coaching/game plan that did not give us a try, not the lack of endeavour and effort given by the team.

BTW - Neil Back does not know his *rse from his elbow when it comes to coaching - Pray to your God that he doesn't come to Sale. If he does I won't be watching anymore.

As for the selection process at Sale, as at Leeds, - who actually picks the team? It amazes me sometimes who gets on the pitch, some do who should not be wearing a the shirt but seem to be blessed.... not good for moralle, not good for the team, not good for the players who are more deserved and are overlooked.

Good luck Luther.

I would like to see someone with softer hands and a greater offloading ability at 12. A tom smith if you will.

Welcome Luther...if you're as good at IC as you are at catching criminals then you get my vote!

Sounds like a good signing and excellent cover for Pisi and "Mr yet to be announced"... Don't forget, we have lost two quality centres... I'm sure another will be announced nearer season ticket time..

Quote:

StBleach
... I'm sure another will be announced nearer season ticket time..

....so going on past performance by the Club, we should hear in the next week or two tops then!

simple rule- George is the only back allowed to blitz - everyone else has to stay at home.if he doesn't get the ball, at least he mugs the player.

there has to be another centre as well , and it needs to be someone who can run the defence. at the moment george will be doing everything (attack, defence, ministry of artful grubbers, big hits, charge downs , cheerful smiles and post match interviews) and you don't get any fitness guarantees in the AP

Quote:

Rugger Ho
I have seen Luther play many times. To play him against Sarries when he had not started a Prem game all season (I think I am right about that),and after they had been smashed against Exeter is not his fault that he was turned inside out, where was his cover and 2nd tackler? Poor decisions were made by the entire team on Friday against a team that were out for a stroll by comparison. To blame Luther for a couple of errors and ignore the several errors made by most of the backs and a few of the forwards is foolish. If he had been coached to play a certain way defensively, I am not suprised he did not look good - none of our players in the back line did.
IMHO it is very obviously the defensive coaching at fault and not the players, just as it is the attacking coaching/game plan that did not give us a try, not the lack of endeavour and effort given by the team.

BTW - Neil Back does not know his *rse from his elbow when it comes to coaching - Pray to your God that he doesn't come to Sale. If he does I won't be watching anymore.

As for the selection process at Sale, as at Leeds, - who actually picks the team? It amazes me sometimes who gets on the pitch, some do who should not be wearing a the shirt but seem to be blessed.... not good for moralle, not good for the team, not good for the players who are more deserved and are overlooked.

Good luck Luther.

are you Luther's mum?

seriously the guy is talented but equally has some significant gaps in his defensive technique and positioning. Blame coaches all you want but thats as much about the top 2 inches as to how strong or fast he is.

if he and the coaches at Saints (unlike those at Leeds and Sale) can iron out those issues then they have a gem.

As for all the other guff about team selection at Sale, absolute tosh. Yes there are one or two who I wouldn't have in the starting 15 but then I am sure every fan at every club has a different opinion.

Well, its certainly got Steve talking.

You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.

Richards/Jagger

If he survives the Hood's pre-season conditioning test, all will be revealed.

Watch this space when the going gets heavy in the autumn.


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

I just wish Jim and Dorian would browse these boards for advice before making any signings...

Robbie

A little late for a comment on other signings but just to make you aware that Kaino has signed for a Japanese club. Shame that.


FHS

Quote:

ChrisG
I just wish Jim and Dorian would browse these boards for advice before making any signings...

I thought they did, that's why they rushed this one through to appease the fans

According to someone who's posted above he's been moved on because of Friday nights debacle.

Oh and welcome Luther, enjoy the rollercaoster

Quote:

SD
According to someone who's posted above he's been moved on because of Friday nights debacle.

WOW

SuperAgent
Friday Night - Sale lose
Late on - Burell Blamed
Saturday (?) Burrell "moved on" - details go out to Premiership Clubs
Sunday Lawyers and agents day of rest
Monday Saints Phone him - travel to FG for Interview - - Medical - Offer formulated - proposed - accepted
Tuesday Announced by new club


Amazing speed - must be on double bubble

David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously

They only processed it so fast to try and keep those damned done deal merchants in the dark surely.


If Tigers lose this week can we have Tom Croft?

Burrell and Scott Williams in the centres next year then?