Squad Complete

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I'm not quite sure where your getting your information from?
Both Joel Conlon and Tom Griffiths have signed 'deals' for the season so for the year they are our players (however can be re-called in an emergency.
On top of this we have signed:

Myles Dorrian (Fly Half)
Sam James (Hooker)
Jordan Burns (Scrum HAlf as above)
Mark Flanagan (2nd Row)
Jack Culverhouse (Prop)

2 x Wasps Loanees
Piers O'Conor (Fullback)
Alex Lundberg (Prop)

4 x Sarries DR's
Biyi Alo
Hayden Thompson-Stringer (2nd season)
Henry Taylor
George Perkins.

So I make that 13 new faces including Dorrian and Thompson-Stringer.

Try Blues is the only one that knows what he's talking about when it comes to the squad, see thread 'current squad' first page. This post from blues brother just confuses the issue. Do something useful and get the player profiles updated on the main site!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:07:21:17:02:38 by Jonathan Wilcox.

So..........what is the squad for next year.

Here are the new additions with their status

Signings
Culverhouse - Hertford - Prop
James - Wasps - Hooker
Flanagan - Mont-de-Marson - 2d row
Conlon - available to Saracens on loan if required - Back row
Burns - Harlequins - Scrum half
Dorrian - London Irish - 2 year contract - fly half
Blanchet - signed from England 7s - centre
Tom Griffiths - available to Saracens on loan if required - centre

DR's
Taylor - DR – Saracens - Scrum half
Perkins - DR - Saracens - Wing
Thompson-Stringer - DR retained - Saracens - Back row
Alo - DR - Saracens - Prop

Loans
O'Conor - Loan - Wasps - Full Back
Lundberg - Loan - Wasps - Prop



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:07:22:19:07:23 by TryBlues.

Squad of 34 made up of:

20 retained, 8 new signings, 2 loans (Wasps), 4 DR's (Saracens)

Confirmed signings

Coach Gulliver & playing at Ampthill.

Prop (7)
Williams
Culverhouse - Hertford
Lundberg - Loan - Wasps
Boulton
Parilli-Ocampo
Currie
Alo - DR - Saracens

Hooker (2)
Clare
James - Wasps

2nd Row (3)
Flanagan - Mont-de-Marson
Howard
Wells

Back Row (6)
Fenton-Wells - 2 year contract
Tupai
Blanchet
Thompson-Stringer - DR retained - Saracens
Buggea
Conlon - available to Saracens on loan if required

Scrum Half (3)
White
Burns - Harlequins
Taylor - DR – Saracens

Fly Half (3)
Sharp
Dorrian - London Irish - 2 year contract
Jones

Centre (5)
Blanchet - signed from England 7s
Dodge
Staff
Le Bourgeois
Tom Griffiths - available to Saracens on loan if required

Wing (3)
Tapley
Adamson
Perkins - DR - Saracens

Full Back (2)
O'Conor - Loan - Wasps
Pritchard

We could do with a big number 8 !!

Yes NFW is not it!

That's a good looking squad. I'm quietly confident this season and by confident I mean top half rather than playoffs. Hopefully we will see the DR boys regularly in which case 4th may be a possibility.

I think a couple of big players would excite the cròwd, has dòwn in the past

Many thanks to TryBlues from all of us who use this forum for our main source of information on The Blues, a lot of hard work from you and I suspect little help from club...... Thanks.

Here here, well said

That's ok, I'm happy to help and it's good to see how the squad takes shape! It's a shame the main site doesn't have a list of the current squad as and when the signings are made.

The one thing I do not know is how many Academy trialists we have, but I imagine not many will make it into the 1st team squad.

Thanks TryBlues

Thank you for all your time and hard work TryBlues

Good stuff TB, presents a good view of the shape of the squad. A couple more biggies as said, would round it off nicely.

Squad complete . . . . Not if the rumours are true.
Watch this space.
May not be in time for the first few weeks of the season but dependent on how far his team gets in the world cup!

Is this the number 8 from Tonga?

I see that James Stephenson has been just released by Worcester.

Like to get him back.

No, he was a show boater

Well one mans meat and all that, I liked him. I wouldn't necessarily pick him ahead of Pat or pretty boy but I think at this level he'd be a good addition. And he has prem experience all be it limited.

And he could tackle!!!!

From memory, defensively he was poor which is why he hasn't made it

There could be a number of reasons why he hasn't made it at Worcs no disrespect to the guy but he just may not have been up to prem standard.
At this level I think he has a lot to offer, and he'll do a job for someone, hopefully us.

Iron B - your comments sum up all of our team at this time - not Good enough for the Prem - which is just what we want - I am happy with that - still think we need an old head or two to make us competitive- even then if we are not - I am happy to go down

He isn't physically big enough for the Premiership. Also from memory he had a great step to break the line and good pace over 30m but lacked the real pace to finish it off. Though this still created opportunities for others to score.

A good player for this division, although I think we have enough cover in the backs already and the money could be spent better in other areas.

Look we need a decent 8 and we haven't got one with enough experience. The A's have an ex international and not only in the back row....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:07:31:06:03:54 by Jonathan Wilcox.

Quote:

Blue for you
Iron B - your comments sum up all of our team at this time - not Good enough for the Prem - which is just what we want - I am happy with that - still think we need an old head or two to make us competitive- even then if we are not - I am happy to go down

Difficult to say who out of the current squad would be up to premiership standard we haven't seen most of them.
As for being relegated, be carefull what you wish for. I think if we went down it could ruin us financially and it would be a long time before we came back, if we came back.

Also we have no idea yet as to the quality of recruitment elsewhere in the league. With a quality 8 we have every chance at being in the top four this season.

No pressure then on the number 8 who ever he may be

James Stephenson let go by Warriors, maybe we could get him back?

Keep up at the back Devon.

No way would we be staying at Goldington road in a lower tier. Attendances wouldn't warrant it, not to mention what the atmosphere would be like. Quick look on wiki says attendances ranged from a low of 128 to a peak 2278. GR would be like a ghost town on matchdays.

Like IronBlue says, it would be the beginning of the end.

On the plus side, wouldn't be so difficult to see over people's heads.

I should have referenced attendances were for Nat League 1 last season. Only Coventry and Darlington had average attendances of over 1,000 (1,506 and 1,041).

Quote:

Garlic sausage
Keep up at the back Devon.

Whoops now how did I miss that bit of news GS? Still never mind treat it as a reminder.

Dev.

Quote:

ran58y
No way would we be staying at Goldington road in a lower tier. Attendances wouldn't warrant it, not to mention what the atmosphere would be like. Quick look on wiki says attendances ranged from a low of 128 to a peak 2278. GR would be like a ghost town on matchdays.
Like IronBlue says, it would be the beginning of the end.

On the plus side, wouldn't be so difficult to see over people's heads.

Where is the evidence to support your posting. Bedford fans are the most loyal in the land, nay the universe, why would attendances drop then? What were the attendances when we were in the old 3rd division and when we played in merit tables? If we are tied by a lease to Goldington Road then we would have to stay, unless somebody formed a new company for the rugby club as we know a new company means all of the history and previous achievements disappear.

Yes utter rubbish

Quote:

Jonathan Wilcox
Yes utter rubbish

What are you referring to?

ran58y posting, why????

Agreed, total nonsense.

1500 to watch TWO DOGS SH..... I am happy

Quote:

Jonathan Wilcox
ran58y posting, why????

Just checking it wasn't a sticky keyboard again, BTW what is the most common way for men to get a sticky keyboard? Do you work for a merchant bank?

Red that's good coming from you, I recall a misspelling of one of your recent threads......perhaps it's you that has some sticky habits. No I'm afraid I'm a railway bridge engineer and a wind up merchant in my spare time, lol

Firstly, let me just say that I hope we stay up, I am a loyal fan (played for the club as a Junior Blue and even believing that the last 2 seasons have been a success based on the fact we are a part time club in a full time league) and that Goldington Road is where I would like to go and watch the local team but for what it's worth here's the thinking behind my post:

Nobody knows the details of the lease (correct me if I'm wrong) and I seem to remember we signed a 50 year deal a few years back, but I would have thought both the Council and Club would want the protection of a break clause that could be triggered by certain events (i.e promotion or more likely relegation).

You may be a loyal fan but when a sports club gets relegated, attendance drops and those that do come will expect to pay less for the privelage. That's a fact. If we are the most loyal / diehard fans in the world why are there only around 10 regular posters on here?
Also, not sure how many coach loads of away fans make the trip to GR (doubt it'll be a huge contribution) but those numbers will descrease to almost zero for most games.

Finances would become an issue. Less gate money, less takings at the bar, less sponsorship money, less money from Sky for broadcasting, less money from the RFU and still have to stump up money for the rent. The land will be worth a fortune to the Council so I daresay that the cost is significant.

Red Eagle, sorry I'm too young to recall the times you're refering to so hopefully you can dig that up but in reality it's a different sport in a different time now.

Anyway, hopefully it'll be irrelevant and we have a decent season, and in the event that we don't, hopefully we'll stay at GR but personally I don't see it. Apologies for having an opinion.

By your own admission you were not about for the time we were in lower leagues, what is your post based on?

I think there is little doubt that relagation would have a negative effect on our gates. It would also effect the money we recieve from the RFU and we would lose any tv money that we currently get.

Relegation could mean financial ruin for the club, I'm not sure whether or not we would stay at GR but I do believe we could be in league 1 for a very long time. So as I have already said people need to be careful what they wish for.

Echo that IB. Unless the human condition has radically changed over the past year, I would expect most normal sports lovers would want to view at the highest level their chosen team is capable of achieving.

I certainly do not want to consider a lower level, let alone wish it! What is that really all about?

Just look at the decline in away support over the past two years, lower home gates, season ticket decline etc. A drop down will herald years of shrinking capability to recover. Please don't think that we will magically survive because GR is 'the place to be on a Saturday'. Success breeds success; the opposite also applies.

Quote:

iron blue
I think there is little doubt that relagation would have a negative effect on our gates. It would also effect the money we recieve from the RFU and we would lose any tv money that we currently get.
Relegation could mean financial ruin for the club, I'm not sure whether or not we would stay at GR but I do believe we could be in league 1 for a very long time. So as I have already said people need to be careful what they wish for.

Love the bit about "Relegation could mean financial ruin for the club", promotion really helped us financially didn't it.

Yeah but we're not likely to get promoted are we.So not really relevant.

Quote:

red eagle

Quote:

iron blue
I think there is little doubt that relagation would have a negative effect on our gates. It would also effect the money we recieve from the RFU and we would lose any tv money that we currently get.
Relegation could mean financial ruin for the club, I'm not sure whether or not we would stay at GR but I do believe we could be in league 1 for a very long time. So as I have already said people need to be careful what they wish for.

Love the bit about "Relegation could mean financial ruin for the club", promotion really helped us financially didn't it.

Promotion didn't almost ruin us!

If you were to be offered £1m +, £500k or travel expenses to work doing the same thing and you could keep your costs the same, which would you take?

The worst time in my rugby supporting career was when we were in the Premier - in the main stuffed home and away - unfriendly crowds (thinking of Liecester here) - not enjoyable in any shape or form. So no I don't want the club to play at the highest possible level.

I want to enjoy my Saturday - which means - watching a bit of rugby having a couple of beers and moaning and chatting ( good and bad) about rugby. Oh and we win our home games - I don't go away any more.

I am not wishing for relegation (wishes don't come true now do they?) all I am saying I would be ok if it happened. - I would still wander along to GR have a good time regardless of what lower division we were in. - guess I am not normal as defined above- nurse where are my meds ?

Sorry just thinking about it further - I would be happy enough I we played at As level or The Aths level - are their supporters any less of a supporter? Don't think so. Been to the Ath a few times - good day out - was not the Blues though so could not really get involved in the game. My day at Ampthill the same good day out - just could not get involved in the final score.

Quote:

Blue for you
The worst time in my rugby supporting career was when we were in the Premier - in the main stuffed home and away - unfriendly crowds (thinking of Liecester here) - not enjoyable in any shape or form. So no I don't want the club to play at the highest possible level.
I want to enjoy my Saturday - which means - watching a bit of rugby having a couple of beers and moaning and chatting ( good and bad) about rugby. Oh and we win our home games - I don't go away any more.

I am not wishing for relegation (wishes don't come true now do they?) all I am saying I would be ok if it happened. - I would still wander along to GR have a good time regardless of what lower division we were in. - guess I am not normal as defined above- nurse where are my meds ?

Yes but that was then, this is now, supporters are different these days they demand more and rightly so it isn't a cheap day out anymore. My thoughts are that we would really struggle in the lower league there are one or two clubs in league 1 with far more ambition than us so we would be down there for a long time and our crowds would dwindle. That adds up to less revenue and it would effect sponsership.I don't like premiership rugby either but I do want us to stay in this league.

TB, how can you say "Promotion didn't almost ruin us! "

Where were you during those couple of seasons?

I think the Don King lawsuit against Frank Warren was a major factor, our cash dried up as a result. Anyway, that is all irrelevant now; we are where we are.

Just suppose our ground was was up to spec, are you detractors still keen to watch two dogs instead of at least trying for the prem? Or even regular top 3 Championship, with bigger gates and match visibility. That is where we should be focusing, not poisoning this forum with negativity.

Get down to the triangular, it will be a good day out, after all you never know unless you go. I would have thought that just seeing the newbies perform was worth the effort.

I don't want to be watching Bedford Blues in lower divisions listening to to the remaining few supporters reminiscing about when we were in the Championship. I witnessed the whole saga of leaving the old first division, it was painfully tough. Joining the new division 1 would be just as horrendous IMHO.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:08:04:09:21:49 by Blue Fox.

Second tier of English rugby for me playing entertaining rugby and winning more than we lose. Get the beer sorted and provide concessions, oh and have a covered terrace

Yes I'll go with that; but we must aim higher just to keep there. Complacency will undermine.

Quote:

red eagle
TB, how can you say "Promotion didn't almost ruin us! "
Where were you during those couple of seasons?

Yes and Blue fox has already answered you!

You must be aiming high to remain in the same division, because if you look to remain static, other clubs will come up and eventually push you down. For example Scottish, Jersey are trying and then there will be others moving their way up the divisions.

Quote:

TryBlues

Quote:

red eagle
TB, how can you say "Promotion didn't almost ruin us! "
Where were you during those couple of seasons?

Yes and Blue fox has already answered you!

You must be aiming high to remain in the same division, because if you look to remain static, other clubs will come up and eventually push you down. For example Scottish, Jersey are trying and then there will be others moving their way up the divisions.

Are you saying that when I ask a question of TB BF answers, are they one and the same?

BTW TB, you forgot Worcester and Exeter both of whom leapfrogged us.

Quote:

red eagle

Quote:

TryBlues

Quote:

red eagle
TB, how can you say "Promotion didn't almost ruin us! "
Where were you during those couple of seasons?

Yes and Blue fox has already answered you!

You must be aiming high to remain in the same division, because if you look to remain static, other clubs will come up and eventually push you down. For example Scottish, Jersey are trying and then there will be others moving their way up the divisions.

Are you saying that when I ask a question of TB BF answers, are they one and the same?

BTW TB, you forgot Worcester and Exeter both of whom leapfrogged us.

It means I can't be on here every minute of my day and Blue Fox obviously saw your question and kindly replied before I could.

I didn't claim to have provided a definitive list of every team, just gave a couple of examples from our division, who were nowhere not too many seasons ago!

Quote:

Come Rain or Shine
Squad complete . . . . Not if the rumours are true.
Watch this space.
May not be in time for the first few weeks of the season but dependent on how far his team gets in the world cup!

Just following on from my post above in Mike Rayer's statement on the website today 'We may be one short in the back row but there is still time'

Watch this space . . . . .