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       #Post#: 93190--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: FatQuin
       Date: July 21, 2022, 3:25 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I didn’t ask you and I don’t agree with you.  It really doesn’t
       need an essay.  Just don’t tell people to ‘move on’.  It’s up to
       me if I do that and I choose not to.  I’m sure you’ll live.
       #Post#: 93192--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: July 21, 2022, 3:29 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
       >
       > Here's what we'd look like if we lost 7 international
       players...
       >
       > 1 Kerrod/SGB/Baxter
       > 2 Riley/Musk/Head
       > 3 Collier/Louw
       > 4 Lamb/Herbst
       > 5 Lewies/Hammond
       > 6 Lawday/Jurevicius/White
       > 7 Kenningham/Evans/Wallace
       > 8 Chisholm/Taulani
       >
       > 9 Gjaltema/Steele/Stafford
       > 10 Edwards/Allan
       > 11 Murley/Morris
       > 12 Anyanwu/Hyde/Bradley
       > 13 Northmore/Beard
       > 14 Lynagh/Cleaves
       > 15 Green/David
       >
       > That's with: Marler, Walker, Dombrandt, Care, Smith,
       Esterhuizen, Marchant (7) missing.
       >
       > I really don't think Sarries' squad depth is as scary as
       people are making out. Quoting players like Duncan Taylor -
       whilst technically an international - is patently grasping at
       straws.
       --- End Quote ---
       Why's that grasping at straws? He's a fine, international-class
       player who when fit is an excellent choice.  He has 28 caps for
       Scotland!
       --- Quote ---
       > And just having internationals does not a Prem-winning team
       make. Add to that the fact that I haven't put duplicate names in
       brackets like you did to try and make it look like there are
       more options than there actually are and I really don't think
       there's much between a lot of the top Prem teams in terms of
       actual depth of talent available in squads.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       ?! That's a weird accusation. I pretty obviously was trying to
       say who the next preferred option would be in that position, and
       in some cases they'd want to swap players around. If I was just
       going to list all available players for the spot I'd have linked
       to their website. If someone can play lock and 6 to a high
       standard I'm going to list them as being an option for both
       positions!
       Anyway - your team looks good but you've got 16 players in there
       who are very inexperienced and who have at best a handful of
       games for Quins. You've got 3 academy kids as your options for
       12. That's fine, that's how it should be. It's largely how it
       isn't for Sarries, and that's the point.
       #Post#: 93194--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: July 21, 2022, 3:33 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       To answer your question:
       --- Quote ---
       > I'm still yet to understand exactly what people want to see
       happen with Saracens, the club (and please, for Heaven's sake,
       don't start bleating about the Wray family). In reality, all I
       can glean from most people on here is that the club would need
       to go under before you can sleep easy at night - unless you can
       tell me what else would satisfy you that they're "no longer
       benefitting" and the game is worth watching again. Oh, hang on,
       we're all still here watching it... Can't have ruined it for you
       that much.
       --- End Quote ---
       I think their collection of heavily capped internationals is
       wildly skewed compared with the rest of the league - caps matter
       because they impact wages - and I think there's a fair chance
       players are still being paid under their market value as a
       result. I have no faith that this is occurring out of altruistic
       desire by the players and considering Saracens refused to open
       the books I think it's still very suspicious. Until something
       happens - either their squad reverts to something more akin to
       the rest of the top sides in the league, or some sort of
       financial transparency - then I'd be foolish to just assume they
       were doing everything by the book. I did that last time, and it
       blew up in my face.
       #Post#: 93195--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: July 21, 2022, 3:45 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Yareet link ---
       >
       > That for me has been the big difference for Sarries between
       pre- and post-relegation.
       >
       > During the period in which they they were found to have been
       working outside the cap, Sarries were able to call on a
       suspiciously impressive bench. Now, there seems to be more
       believability that the whole XXIII fits under the cap.
       >
       > Take second row as an example. Pre-sanction, they had Itoje
       and Kruis with Skelton on the bench. For the recent final it was
       Itoje and Isiekwe with Christie (or Wray) on the bench.
       >
       > I’d say that marks a considerable step down.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Well, that's why they signed a future international from the
       champions.
       Their squad prior to relegation was absurd, obviously, but Itoje
       + Isiekwe is still one world class player and another who is in
       the top tier in this country who is picking up caps for England.
       You also forgot they could call upon another international in
       Tim Swinson. McFarland can also play lock but he was just a
       canny signing and I don't class him as being expensive - yet.
       With the salary cap reductions, Saracens are still an outlier
       and that'll only be more obvious next season when their options
       are "England legend, England player, best young lock in the
       league, one of the best young 6s in the league who can play
       lock, plus Callum Hunter-Hill".
       That's better than anyone else in the league, I think.
       #Post#: 93197--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
       Date: July 21, 2022, 3:54 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Sarries have restarted from a somewhat stronger position than
       they would have been without the financial naughtiness. They
       took their punishment, which turns out to just have been a speed
       bump and are straight back to the top of the tree.
       If it smells like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a
       duck.....
       #Post#: 93202--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: Yareet
       Date: July 21, 2022, 4:41 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
       >
       > Well, that's why they signed a future international from the
       champions.
       >
       > Their squad prior to relegation was absurd, obviously, but
       Itoje + Isiekwe is still one world class player and another who
       is in the top tier in this country who is picking up caps for
       England. You also forgot they could call upon another
       international in Tim Swinson. McFarland can also play lock but
       he was just a canny signing and I don't class him as being
       expensive - yet.
       >
       > With the salary cap reductions, Saracens are still an outlier
       and that'll only be more obvious next season when their options
       are "England legend, England player, best young lock in the
       league, one of the best young 6s in the league who can play
       lock, plus Callum Hunter-Hill".
       >
       > That's better than anyone else in the league, I think.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Tizard may not have been super expensive. I know that there was
       lots of chat about cash when he was announced as signing for
       Sarries but I would imagine that the deal may have been done
       pretty early in the season.
       Sarries probably knew that Swinson was in his last year as he
       came out of retirement for this season (hence I don't think he
       will have cost much). Tizard is only 22 so may well have been on
       an academy contract at Quins in 21/22 and was looking for his
       first full contract.
       If Sarries approached him before Xmas and offered him
       £50,000/year more than Quins were for 22/23 and beyond, I can
       see how he might be won over especially with the chance to play
       with Itoje.
       He then goes on to have a stellar season, the signing is
       announced in Spring and we all assume he's moved for mega bucks.
       Likewise, Isiekwe apparently signed a 3-year contract in 2020.
       At the time, he hadn't played for England since being subbed off
       in the first half of his maiden test start in 2017. Not exactly
       a strong position to claim you're an England player.
       #Post#: 93204--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: TomBuckQuin
       Date: July 21, 2022, 4:48 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: FatQuin link ---
       >
       > I didn’t ask you and I don’t agree with you.  It really
       doesn’t need an essay.  Just don’t tell people to ‘move on’.
       It’s up to me if I do that and I choose not to.  I’m sure you’ll
       live.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Don't worry, me living was never thrown into doubt because of
       your grudge. I do find it interesting that you either couldn't
       or don't want to answer any of the questions I put to you in an
       attempt to understand your position better - which suggests even
       you don't understand why you're still feeling the way you're
       feeling. At least Jammy's up for a conversation - whereas you've
       just come here and found another opportunity to spout the
       implied "surely Sarries' squad still isn't within the salary
       cap" nonsense. But as you say, we don't agree, which is fine -
       and seeing as you apparently don't want to have a grown-up
       conversation about it then we can just leave it there.
       --- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
       >
       > Anyway - your team looks good but you've got 16 players in
       there who are very inexperienced and who have at best a handful
       of games for Quins. You've got 3 academy kids as your options
       for 12. That's fine, that's how it should be. It's largely how
       it isn't for Sarries, and that's the point.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       It's also largely how it isn't for Quins in almost every
       position other than 12. Which is kind of my point. Every squad
       has perceived "weak positions" - I'd argue Sarries have depth
       weaknesses at:
       - Prop - Barrington and Koch both gone, Bello & Judge as
       replacements is a pretty obvious downgrade, Riccioni will be
       away for international windows, quite possibly Mako too
       - Back row - Reffell will be a big loss, Venter released,
       Vunipola back in the England picture, wouldn't be surprised to
       see Earl called up and Christie has been looked at by Scotland
       so they could struggle here for large parts of the season
       - SH - Looks like they're stuck with the underperforming Davies,
       along with van Zyl who's been uninspiring
       For all the internationals you can name in the Sarries squad, it
       has meant they haven't been able to bolster those weaker
       positions - presumably because of that salary cap people still
       believe they might be swerving. It's up to other teams to
       exploit that on matchday - just as teams might look at our 12
       channel as an opportunity when Andre's away. I'm an optimist so
       I predict Anyanwu will be one of our breakthrough players this
       coming season and hold the fort during international periods.
       #Post#: 93205--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: T-Bone
       Date: July 21, 2022, 4:53 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       A load of Sarries players got houses, investment in their
       business and other perks. They have not had to repay any of
       that, so they continue to benefit. They can now keep all those
       players, pay them a lower salary to keep under the cap, but
       still be benefitting from their cheating as those players would
       not have stayed had they not already been given such a leg up.
       I'm not saying they're sill getting all those extra benefits -
       I'd hope that they have stopped, but it's not hard to imagine
       that Farrell and co will stay loyal to Sarries and maybe accept
       a slightly lower wage for the last few years of their careers as
       they've already benefitted so much.
       When the likes of Goode, Farrell, Vunipolas, Daly, etc move on,
       then I will consider them to no longer be benefitting from their
       cheating.
       I don't see why people shouldn't moan about the continued
       involvement of the Wray family. It's all part of their refusal
       to acknowledge any sport of guilt.
       It also doesn't help that so many pundits think they've been
       harshly treated and talk of last season like some sort of
       redemption mission. Like they were some sort of underdog
       fighting against the bad hand they'd been dealt. Not just Jones,
       who's a colossal prat, but others who are usually more balanced
       and reasonable
       #Post#: 93206--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: JammyGit
       Date: July 21, 2022, 5:01 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: Yareet link ---
       >
       > Tizard may not have been super expensive. I know that there
       was lots of chat about cash when he was announced as signing for
       Sarries but I would imagine that the deal may have been done
       pretty early in the season.
       >
       > Sarries probably knew that Swinson was in his last year as he
       came out of retirement for this season (hence I don't think he
       will have cost much). Tizard is only 22 so may well have been on
       an academy contract at Quins in 21/22 and was looking for his
       first full contract.
       >
       > If Sarries approached him before Xmas and offered him
       £50,000/year more than Quins were for 22/23 and beyond, I can
       see how he might be won over especially with the chance to play
       with Itoje.
       >
       > He then goes on to have a stellar season, the signing is
       announced in Spring and we all assume he's moved for mega bucks.
       >
       > Likewise, Isiekwe apparently signed a 3-year contract in 2020.
       At the time, he hadn't played for England since being subbed off
       in the first half of his maiden test start in 2017. Not exactly
       a strong position to claim you're an England player.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Can't argue with any of those as they're basically facts but the
       context matters - Tizard played 11 matches last season, we won
       the league, and then he was a mainstay this season. By the time
       Saracens would've approached him he'd have known his future at
       Quins was secure, the club were champions and had a great rep,
       and everyone was aware he was a huge talent. He'd already played
       11 matches by Xmas. So yeah, Sarries would've had to have outbid
       us by quite a bit. Which I'm sure happened!
       By the start of the 2020 season - when he went on loan to
       Northampton - Isiekwe was only 22 and already had well over 100
       appearances for _that_ Saracens side. Eddie Jones aside, he was
       very clearly international class. The fact that he'd already
       picked up two caps as a 19 year old was testament to that.
       #Post#: 93207--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Where will Quins finish
   DIR By: Surbiton Quin
       Date: July 21, 2022, 5:09 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
       >
       > I do find it interesting that you either couldn't or don't
       want to answer any of the questions I put to you in an attempt
       to understand your position better - which suggests even you
       don't understand why you're still feeling the way you're feeling
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Did I miss the rule on the internet where you have to answer all
       questions thrown at you to the satisfaction of the person asking
       the question?
       When answering I want sufficiently argued logical reasons and
       all citations should be referenced by the Havard method
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