New Glasgow Season Ticket Holder

Just bought my season ticket as I live round the corner from the ground, despite being an English Tigers fan (sorry, but I grew up near there, they were my local team!).

Apart from playing in the same side as Tom Ryder for 8 years (ages 8 to 16!!) I know nothing about the Glasgow team really other than Sean Lineen having been "replaced" by Townsend is probably a bad thing. I saw 2 games last season (Glasgow won both so hopefully I am a lucky mascot or something) but I feel that I should know a bit more about the team now that I will be going to all the home games...

So, 606ers, here are some very basic questions:

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch"
2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?
3. What would be your targets for the season?
4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?
5. Anything else I should know?

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch"

The Lamonts, DTH Van Der Merwe, Rudiah Jackson, Duncan Weir

2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?

Should be a good side to watch, not the most flash, but pretty entertaining.

3. What would be your targets for the season?

Rabo playoff

4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?

Probably, all the rain has come over the summer.

5. Anything else I should know?

Proabably

screamingaddabs wrote:Just bought my season ticket as I live round the corner from the ground, despite being an English Tigers fan (sorry, but I grew up near there, they were my local team!).

Apart from playing in the same side as Tom Ryder for 8 years (ages 8 to 16!!) I know nothing about the Glasgow team really other than Sean Lineen having been "replaced" by Townsend is probably a bad thing. I saw 2 games last season (Glasgow won both so hopefully I am a lucky mascot or something) but I feel that I should know a bit more about the team now that I will be going to all the home games...

So, 606ers, here are some very basic questions:

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch"
2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?
3. What would be you're targets for the season?
4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?
5. Anything else I should know?

Congrats, abdabs Let's hope you are indeed a lucky mascot

1. 5 player's to watch: I'm going to ignore the capped players and focus on the less well-known - I'd go for Pat MacArthur at hooker who should establish himself as Ross Ford's back-up at international level in a season or two, Nick Campbell at lock who looks an aggressive hard-hitting character, possibly ultimately the perfect foil to Richie Gray, Chris Fusaro at openside, a live-wire duracell bunny of a 7, who puts his body in places it should never be, Alex Dunbar at centre who really picked his game up towards the end of last season and will hopefully continue to develop apace, and Taylor Paris, a Canadian 7s specialist on the wing, who looks absolutely electric.

2. Exciting side to watch: they should be - they've recruited well, added considerable depth, they have an excellent defence, and hopefully Toonie can get a talented backline moving.

3. Targets for the season: quarter-finals in Heino, playoffs in Rabo, and retain the 1872 Cup (bragging rights)

4. Sunny home games: just the one, but if you blink you'll miss it

5. Other things to know: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100413121336.htm - I think this is bliwdy clever

5 Players to Watch:

Stuart Hogg
DTH Van Der Merwe
Alex Dunbar
Taylor Paris
Nikola Matawalu

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to the new season now - never been a season ticket holder for anything before!

I'd love to think that all this rain we've had recently means that we won't get any later in the year but somehow I have my doubts...

It does seem from reading posts on here and from looking at the (admittedly very biased) club web site that there is a genuine buzz around the club this season. I think it will take a while to get to know the team a bit better. I'll keep my eye out for 5 players as a combination of the suggestions so far:

DTH
Dunbar
Fusaro
Weir
Paris

You can tell from those choices that I was a back can't you?!

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch"

For me I am looking forward to seeing Hogg and DTH in the backs. Looking forward to seeing if Swinson can have an impact in the 2nd Row and if Ma'afu can produce the kind of ball carrying we need 8. Weir is my 5th player. Not suggesting its a make or break season, but it will be interesting if he can step up his level of performance.

2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?

Will depend on the new coach and also (running theme in Scottish Rugby) if the Centre combination can step up to the plate.

3. What would be your targets for the season?

Home play-off would be by target. Will do very well though to finish in the top four. To still be in Europe after the Pool stages of the HC are completed would be a good achievement.

4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?

No.

5. Anything else I should know

We have one song, it goes something like "Glasgow, Glasgow, Glasgow, Glasgow....." You will get the hang of it eventually.

Engineers Generate Electricity by Tapping Into Algae Cells

Not sure why this is so clever did we not do the same by sticking copper and steel rod into a lemon?

Maybe my School was very advanced and it has taken these scientists a while to catch up

Kingshu wrote:Engineers Generate Electricity by Tapping Into Algae Cells

Not sure why this is so clever did we not do the same by sticking copper and steel rod into a lemon?

Maybe my School was very advanced and it has taken these scientists a while to catch up

Aye, yo is just schmaaart!

Hi Screaming, first off I'm an Embra fan, but watch Glasgow as much as I can, so answers below.

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch?

Harley - fantastic player, probably needs to improve his carrying to be absolutely top class.
Fusaro - breakthrough season last year can he kick on?
Jackson / Weir - Weir seems to have established himself as number 1 but there will be a good battle there
Dunbar - another great young talent who needs to take the next step this year
Hogg - class, but may suffer sophomore sickness this season

2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?

Depends on the new coach. Last year they were good, but not that exciting, played a lot of 10 / 11 man rugby very well. They have the potential to be a very exciting side.

3. What would be your targets for the season?

Rabo play off and at least Amlin.

4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?

No! Easy one.

5. Anything else I should know?

1872 games will be a blast, Scotstoun just before Christmas and Murrayfield after New Year, hope you can make it.

JS

Good for you, Screaming:

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch?

I should probably pick some different ones to other people:

a. DTH - was sparkling for Canada in the world cup and is one of the few full field strike runners that Glasgow has. Everyone is praying he shows he has lost nothing since the shoulder surgery.

b. Matawalu - Fiji's current 9, this kid looks like a prodigy and is startlingly quick. All Glasgow fans breathed a sigh of relief when he was signed as an early season injury to Cusiter would have been a real problem.

c. Macdonald - has captained Auckland Blues and led them to their 2003 Super 14 win. Capped twice for the Blackness and then took himself out of the equation by playing in Japan. Low key, but enormous pedigree - could be a Glasgow's equivalent of Xavier Rush.

d. Dunbar - interesting one, this. All of the focus has been on Matt Scott at Edinburgh as the latest holder of the Scotland 12 shirt but anyone who watches Glasgow regularly will know that Dunbar has looked special and one of the regretfully few Scottish players who has the calm head and vision to play 'heads up, play the field in front of you' rugby. Toonie will hopefully have the sense not to try and coach this out of him. Could be his season for Scotland honours.

e. Ma’afu - nobody is talking about him much but he had a massive world cup. Was very impressive against New Zealand and was one of the main reasons that Tonga recently beat France. Glasgow need a big, ball carrying bear desperately and Big Villy (as I have recently decided he should be called) looks absolutely the ticket. How well can he work with Fozzy and Harley? That's the key question.

2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?

Agree that Glasgow have the potential to be a very exciting side. Most 606 posters who only care about star names and don't know much about other teams have missed the fact that Glasgow's key strength last season was their beautifully drilled defence (the stingiest in the league).

General wisdom has it that if they can maintain that, their set piece should be solid and if they get the centre pairing correct (who partners Dunbar will be crucial), they should be able to start scoring more.

3. What would be your targets for the season?

Rabo play off and at least Amlin.

4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?

Stop. You're killing me.

5. Anything else I should know?

DTH's full name is Daniel Tailliferrer Hauman van der Merwe and he was actually born in South Africa.
That's why he's good at rugby, you see.

But he's a Canadian emigre. So he likes a good barbecue. But he'll help you clean up afterwards.

justified sinner wrote:Hi Screaming, first off I'm an Embra fan, but watch Glasgow as much as I can, so answers below.


5. Anything else I should know?

1872 games will be a blast, Scotstoun just before Christmas and Murrayfield after New Year, hope you can make it.

JS

My father in law is an Edinburgh season ticket holder so I think the 1872 games are a must for me!

George Carlin wrote:
But he's a Canadian emigre. So he likes a good barbecue. But he'll help you clean up afterwards.

BBQ? Glasgow?

First of all you definitely should be applauded for getting a season ticket for a team you don't know much about and have barely seen! I've been supporting Edinburgh regularly for a few years now and have still never had a season ticket!

So again from an Edinburgh fans perspective:

1. Who are the top 5 "players to watch"

For me it's the flash players that are key to Glasgow - DTH, Dunbar, Hogg etc. They showed last year that they've got the big men to grind out wins but missed several try bonus points by not being able to score lots of tries. If they can combine this grit with improved finishing then they will be a top 4 team definitely.

Others of Note are Fusaro, who is an absolute dynamo and should be pushing Rennie this season for Scotland, and Harely who is Mr dependable in defence but needs to learn how to carry the ball (kind of like a Scottish Dan Lydiate).

2. Will this Glasgow team be an exciting side to watch?
If they play like last year, not really. They were very effective and won lots of games but definitely couldn't be described as exciting!

However, they have a new attack minded coach and have some really dangerous players in the backs who are a year older and more experienced, so I suspect they will be more fun to watch this year.

End of the day though - I'd rather a less exciting team that made the playoffs than an exciting team that got humped every other week!

3. What would be your targets for the season?

Same as Edinburgh - Rabbo top 4 and at least the Amlin

4. Will there be a single home game where it's actually sunny?

I think there was one back in 2002....

5. Anything else I should know?

You chose the wrong Scottish team mate - should have come to Edinburgh!

RDW_Scotland wrote:First of all you definitely should be applauded for getting a season ticket for a team you don't know much about and have barely seen! I've been supporting Edinburgh regularly for a few years now and have still never had a season ticket!

Of course the purchase of a ticket is predominantly due to the fact that the new ground is at the end of my road. Literally at the end of the road. The commute to a game is less than 3 minutes walk!

Have there been any games played there yet?

I wonder what its like with the running track round it (never liked stadiums with running tracks - mind you Connacht's has a Greyhound track round it- that must be pretty unique)

Home Warriors can settle in and create a good home, only thing I see is they could well expand out of it within 5 years.

Kingshu wrote:Have there been any games played there yet?

I wonder what its like with the running track round it (never liked stadiums with running tracks - mind you Connacht's has a Greyhound track round it- that must be pretty unique)

Home Warriors can settle in and create a good home, only thing I see is they could well expand out of it within 5 years.

I went to the Glasgow Sevens and they had built extra stand at the ends of the ground (normally it's just standing room there) and built a temporary stand in front of the normal North stand on the track. The atmosphere was pretty good to be honest and I think it'll be better than only 3/4 filling one stand at a football ground. If support grows then they can always build the temporary stands at either end (I think they will put them up for big games anyway).

I expected the amostphere would be better, home there are plays to extend it as support grows, never really felt that much inclined to travel to an away game in Glasgow, but think that it may well make the list to see about this year.

Hope you settle in quickly to new home, part of home advantage is being used to the pitch size to find touch, and wind swirls in the conors etc for conversions, think Glasgow will not have a big an home advantage at the start of this season, as teams that are used to their own grounds, but they get to train and play there they will learn more and create a good home, also with more compact crowds the crowd can add more to Glasgows game. (I know it helps Ulster in Ravenhill)

screamingaddabs wrote:

Kingshu wrote:Have there been any games played there yet?

I wonder what its like with the running track round it (never liked stadiums with running tracks - mind you Connacht's has a Greyhound track round it- that must be pretty unique)

Home Warriors can settle in and create a good home, only thing I see is they could well expand out of it within 5 years.

I went to the Glasgow Sevens and they had built extra stand at the ends of the ground (normally it's just standing room there) and built a temporary stand in front of the normal North stand on the track. The atmosphere was pretty good to be honest and I think it'll be better than only 3/4 filling one stand at a football ground. If support grows then they can always build the temporary stands at either end (I think they will put them up for big games anyway).

Temp Stands will be in place for the 3 HC group games and the 1872 game.

Will they allow standing there otherwise? The main stands don't look very big

RDW_Scotland wrote:Will they allow standing there otherwise? The main stands don't look very big

Yes, standing is available behind both posts. Via Season tickets or on a single ticket basis. Seating capacity is around 5,000.

Perfect venue then!

screamingaddabs wrote:Just bought my season ticket as I live round the corner from the ground, despite being an English Tigers fan (sorry, but I grew up near there, they were my local team!).

Hey, snap!

I've seen a few Tigers shirts around Glasgow recently - walking up Byres Road a couple of weeks ago and the day after that on West Nile Street... there are obviously a few of us around!

Good to see you supporting the local team - I did for a while, but since they left Hughenden, it was more of a struggle to get there. Scotstoun could work though - although would need to be a car journey back home

Welcome to 606V2 pjm1!

pjm1 wrote:

screamingaddabs wrote:Just bought my season ticket as I live round the corner from the ground, despite being an English Tigers fan (sorry, but I grew up near there, they were my local team!).

Hey, snap!

I've seen a few Tigers shirts around Glasgow recently - walking up Byres Road a couple of weeks ago and the day after that on West Nile Street... there are obviously a few of us around!

Good to see you supporting the local team - I did for a while, but since they left Hughenden, it was more of a struggle to get there. Scotstoun could work though - although would need to be a car journey back home

Have a look at the buses, there's good links to the city centre and the west end from Dunbarton road, so if you live in either of those two places then it's fairly easy. The train station at Jordanhill or the one at Scotstounhill are both pretty close too.

screamingaddabs wrote:

Have a look at the buses, there's good links to the city centre and the west end from Dunbarton road, so if you live in either of those two places then it's fairly easy. The train station at Jordanhill or the one at Scotstounhill are both pretty close too.

I live in Renfrewshire so it's a bit trickier! I'll check out the bus options though...

Would be good to meet up for a game though once the new season is underway.

pjm1 wrote:

screamingaddabs wrote:

Have a look at the buses, there's good links to the city centre and the west end from Dunbarton road, so if you live in either of those two places then it's fairly easy. The train station at Jordanhill or the one at Scotstounhill are both pretty close too.

I live in Renfrewshire so it's a bit trickier! I'll check out the bus options though...

Would be good to meet up for a game though once the new season is underway.

Good plan, send me a PM when you know which game(s) you are going to. I should be at pretty much all the home games obviously

screamingaddabs wrote:
Good plan, send me a PM when you know which game(s) you are going to. I should be at pretty much all the home games obviously

Will do... once I'm able to send PMs, anyway!

Might work out even better if there's a televised Tigers game on before/after... any ideas when the Rabo fixtures list is released with days & times fixed?

pjm1 wrote:

screamingaddabs wrote:
Good plan, send me a PM when you know which game(s) you are going to. I should be at pretty much all the home games obviously

Will do... once I'm able to send PMs, anyway!

Might work out even better if there's a televised Tigers game on before/after... any ideas when the Rabo fixtures list is released with days & times fixed?

No idea I'm afraid. Probably in a few weeks though I should think.

Just checked the web site www.glasgowwarriors.org and they have confirmed all the home fixtures for before Christmas are on Friday nights. Perfect for me as it leaves the weekend free!