George Ford signs for Bath?

Read in the mail that George Ford has signed for bath for next season? This sounds like a done deal which would bring him to the club where his dad coaches. Not sure what to think about this one, bath already have an excellent young fly half in tom heathcote however Stephen Donald has been a waste of money and will need replacing. There's no doubt George has buckets of talent but also has a lot of developing to do and bath are notoriously poor at bringing players along. If it works out George will be starting a lot more games and bath will have a quality English flyhalf, if it doesn't bath will have a big dent in the salary cap on an overhyped, undersized young flyhalf.

His dad has denied its true

Great news for Bath if true but once again yet another player is linked with Bath, to be honest we'll believe it when he pulls on a shirt at the Rec.

It could well just be agents talk to beef up his next contract? Bath are 'linked' to anyone out of contract it seems.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9784379/Bath-coach-Toby-Booth-denies-that-Leicester-fly-half-George-Ford-will-be-joining-the-club.html

Toby Booth has said that George Ford won't sign for Bath.

beshocked wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9784379/Bath-coach-Toby-Booth-denies-that-Leicester-fly-half-George-Ford-will-be-joining-the-club.html

Toby Booth has said that George Ford won't sign for Bath.

Toby also said he had no intention of leaving London Irish at the end of last season. This interview was published a week and a half before his departure was confirmed:

http://sport.uk.msn.com/rugby-union/toby-booth-to-stay-at-london-irish

You never know what's happening behind the scenes.

Didn't Bath denie Jonathan Joseph too, yet the word is his on his way.

Maybe the Bath has a leak?

Maybe it's the only way they can keep Bath supporters interested! Sorry. I'll leave now.

Bath have said there not signing Ford and that Ford wants to stay at Leicester. They cite Mike Ford as the source.

Ford has said he wants to stay and is in negociations with Tigers. Bath have three tens on the books and need a backrower, 9, OC, IC and any quality front rowers they can get their hands on. A ten is way down the list. This rumour is lazy journalism or stupidity by Bath.

I don't think this is down to Bath, So I'm guessing it was lazy journalism.

It was the Mail after all.

Yeah I mean it wouldn't be like bath to place stories in the press in an attempt to unsettle players would it
It was the same last season, they were linked to pretty much every player in the premiership

formerly known as Sam wrote:Ford has said he wants to stay and is in negociations with Tigers. Bath have three tens on the books and need a backrower, 9, OC, IC and any quality front rowers they can get their hands on. A ten is way down the list. This rumour is lazy journalism or stupidity by Bath.

Not strictly true mate, as Donald is almost certainly off, so that leaves us with Heathcote (now likely to be lost to Scotland) and Devoto (talented but very young) and Vesty (only a squad option) as our tens, so there's definitely space for Ford on the books.

Ten is quite low down the list, but it's not a crazy idea. It would be strange to have 2 young FHs fighting for the same spot though, you'd think it would be better to have 1 old experienced pro and 1 young tyrant

Keep forgetting how young Ford is.

He's only 19. Will be 20 in March.

I think he should stay at Leicester actually but needs to get reassurance he'll get more game time.

Who should Bath get at 10 if you are indeed right Bathite?

Who knows? There's logic for Ford with his Dad, but there's always logic for it not working for us either. God knows who else there is out there. I wouldn't mind having Heathcote as first choice to be honest, as others have said other areas need more recruitment. If we got a 12, maybe they should have a strong kicking game

beshocked wrote:

Who should Bath get at 10 if you are indeed right Bathite?

I'm always right!!

Who do you see as realistic prospects in those positions?

There was speculation last year that Joe Simpson was coming to Bath, has that rumour resurfaced at all?

From a Bath point of view, a few months ago I would have been happy to bring Heathcote on and when Donald leaves(Japan next season I heard) I would have liked him to be given more game time.

But now he has chased the cheap international cap/buck, sorry I mean fufilled his life long ambition of playing for the country he resided in before being able to walk or speak, Bath may have to assume that at some point he will be off.

So with that in mind, rather than going for a big name foreign star, I would much rather we had a young English FH like Ford or J. Hodgson , maybe with a cheaper solid backup like say Gopperforth or similar. But as Sam says above there are other areas of weakness too.

On a general point, is it better for Ford and indeed Farrell to be playing as bit part players for a top side, or every week for a 'lesser' side? I don't really know the answer, but having 4 top quality English FH's at 2 clubs doesn't seem that logical to me.

Bathman, Gopperth wouldn't be a cheap backup. Glaws spoke to him last season before he re-signed for Falcons. Apparently he was after in the region of £300k!

Bathman in London I would hardly say Farrell has been playing in bit part games.

He has played 5 games starting at fly half in the AP including vs Saints,Quins and Tigers.

In total he has been in 9 games in the AP - 7+2.

In the HC he has played 3+1 - two of them vs Munster albeit only one at 10.

He would have more if it wasn't for the AIs.

Beshocked, I take your point but in terms of minutes played he has surely played less with Hodgson there than he would do at another club. Certainly when Sarries have been on tv so far and I've watched I've seen Hodgson getting a fair bit of game time.

So you don't think its a probelm, fair enough. What about Flood and Ford at the same club? We keep hearing how Ford is the next big thing but he isn't going to get as much time at no.1 FH with Flood there.

In the same vein, would Burns have played for England in the AI's if he was in Fords position? He certainly wouldn't have had as much game time as first choice 10.

Burns was in that position behind Robinson wasn't he? He then showed himself better. It depends if you think a player will only develop being first choice or whether a reduced number of games, but having to fight to start is better. Also learning off someone who is, pretty much by definition, better than you.

True hammerofthunor.

At least Ford and Farrell only have to fight with one player.

Jamie George has to contend with Brits and Smit.

Brookes with Castro and Cole

I'd hate to see Ford anywhere near Bath rugby, until of course, he's in the twilight of his career and a liability, which is when Bath seem to make most of their purchases from Tigers.

Its strange alright Jimpy to see so much transfer activity from Tigers to Bath. I thought they were massive rivals.

Jimpy wrote:I'd hate to see Ford anywhere near Bath rugby, until of course, he's in the twilight of his career and a liability, which is when Bath seem to make most of their purchases from Tigers.

Ha! That's actually quite amusing

Lewis Moody, Sam Vesty, Dan Hipkiss, Horatio Agulla

red_stag wrote:Its strange alright Jimpy to see so much transfer activity from Tigers to Bath. I thought they were massive rivals.

They are, thats why they only sell them players who are old, crocked (or both) or not good enough to be in the starting XV at Tigers.

a cunning plan!

Jimpy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Its strange alright Jimpy to see so much transfer activity from Tigers to Bath. I thought they were massive rivals.

They are, thats why they only sell them players who are old, crocked (or both) or not good enough to be in the starting XV at Tigers.

Agulla is probably a harsh addition to that list. He'd definitely start for you, as an international winger

HongKongCherry wrote:Bathman, Gopperth wouldn't be a cheap backup. Glaws spoke to him last season before he re-signed for Falcons. Apparently he was after in the region of £300k!

I only just noticed this, surely not?! How can a team in the championship be able to afford this!

The way he'd been playing for Falcons before relegation he'd be lucky to get a job anywhere. The fact he was after 300k doesn't mean that he was on anything like that, just that that's what he values himself at or would be prepared to move for. Well, I suppose anyone can dream.

Gopperth is on a fair whack at Falcons, he turned down approaches from a few AP clubs to re-sign.

I think he should stay at Leicester actually but needs to get reassurance he'll get more game time.

I think the Mercury said Flood has started 12 games, Ford has started 9 and come off the bench three times. He's definitely getting games at the club and whilst showing some good touchs isn't looking good enough to displace Flood. I think the competition will be good for him, he is getting games, he is settled at the club and is still extremely young at only 19.

Brookes with Castro and Cole

Balmain is now also ahead of Brookes. Brookes was sent out on loan to Doncaster to aide his development but he's damaged his collar bone and so isn't likely to be jumping up the pecking order anytime soon.

aitchw wrote:The way he'd been playing for Falcons before relegation he'd be lucky to get a job anywhere. The fact he was after 300k doesn't mean that he was on anything like that, just that that's what he values himself at or would be prepared to move for. Well, I suppose anyone can dream.

Thats a tad harsh. Gopperth was and still is a key player in the Falcons team. Last year, he kicked a lot of ball away but frankly, they couldn't buy tries so his boot accounted for a large chunk of their points. Falcons were relegated because of poor tactics (or that was one of the reasons), not necessarily because of bad players.

This year Gopperth is running more with the ball and scoring tries too. Falcons have scored a lot of tries actually. They're head and shoulders above every other team in the Championship. Gopperth has played a key role in that.

Its debateable he's worth so much money, but lets say they are promoted again, he'll be a Number 10 in the AP and I don't know what Number 10's in the AP get paid on average, but as players in pivotal positions, they probably get paid quite a lot.

Jimpy, from my perspective he played badly in a team that played badly. As a FH he was always in the spotlight being pivotal in a missfiring back line. Happy to see that with better coaching and tactics he and the team have put in good performances this year. Way the best side in the Championship and are dominant there.

Hodgson has been to preferred to Gopperth at FH mostly this season

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Hodgson has been to preferred to Gopperth at FH mostly this season

Only because they can get away with it in the Championship.

Not really, Hodgson has played better than Gopperth throughout the season at FH, especially of late.

beshocked wrote:Keep forgetting how young Ford is.

He's only 19. Will be 20 in March.

I think he should stay at Leicester actually but needs to get reassurance he'll get more game time.

Who should Bath get at 10 if you are indeed right Bathite?

I think he's already getting the game time. Ford has started 9 games and Flood 10 this season.

Who gets most the big games?

Flood of course.

In the AP Ford has started 5 games, 3 as sub.

Ford barely starts when Flood is fit and available.

2 HC games for Ford against the weakest side.

Ford is definitely 2nd fiddle to Flood currently.

Who do you think will start vs Toulouse and Ospreys?

Of course Flood is first choice Beshocked, I don't think that's what is being brought up.

The matter is game time and Ford has been getting plenty.

He hasnt done anything to warrant starting ahead of Flood this season

Hes welcome to try moving, but on his current form hed end up like Geraghty sat behind a donkey like Myler anyway.

I suppose it means how you define plenty.

Plenty for a 19 year old yes. Someone who wants to be considered for England. Probably not.

I agree though - he doesn't need to rush but eventually Ford will need to be given more crunch games.

Burns has had a lot more gametime and is reaping the benefits.

PSW what has happened to Geraghty actually?

beshocked wrote:I suppose it means how you define plenty.

Plenty for a 19 year old yes. Someone who wants to be considered for England. Probably not.
I agree though - he doesn't need to rush but eventually Ford will need to be given more crunch games.

Burns has had a lot more gametime and is reaping the benefits.

PSW what has happened to Geraghty actually?

How old was Farrell Jnr when he was selected for England?

20.

Farrell Jr had also played a lot more top flight rugby than Ford when selected for England.

In total Ford has started 12 +6 in the AP, 2+1 in the HC - 21 appearances in total.


Farrell has 40+3 AP, 14+1 HC plus 12 England caps. 70 appearances in total

If Ford was pulling up trees I'd understand but he's been pretty poor tbh.

Burns is 22 and he's only recently started to come through, plenty of time for Ford.

Sgt Pooly I've been saying there is plenty of time for Ford but compared to Burns he's not been getting the game time (certainly not the crunch ones like Toulouse and Ospreys).

beshocked wrote:

PSW what has happened to Geraghty actually?

Think his contracts up this year and most likely will move ...surprised he hasnt been linked with a move to Bath. Maybe hell move to Munster as a ROG replacement and chase his dream of playing for Ireland