Last year I expected us to lose every game, but irrespective of whether we win or lose any more this season, i feel that a more positive and aggressive approach is in place at the ospreys. Just wondering what people‘s expectations are of the team for this season and then over the following 2 years?
I am hopeful of us getting a Champions Cup spot at the end of this season and I’m hopeful of being able to do the same next season. Depending on how well we recruit/replace/develop from the academy, I’m hopeful that in the 2022/23 season we’ll be better placed to challenge for play off spots. What are everyone’s thoughts? Am I being too optimistic?
I think the proverbial nail has been hit on the head. COVID has delayed any recruitment for most teams. How the new owners want to invest into the playing side is going to be crucial. I’m hoping that Ruddock and Booth were both enticed by these now delayed plans, and a steady, continued improvement will continue
My main hope is that the recruitment under Booth and Ruddock reflects the ambition of where they say they want the Ospreys to be in a few years. I love the idea of us developing talent from within but it has to be in tandem with quality NWQ players. Over the last few years, it would be difficult to say we've signed anyone that other teams would have been clambering for (I don't remember other teams outside of Wales giving even George North a difficult decision to make). Clearly you would think the Klims, Gajons and Nemadzes type signings will be a thing of the past under this regime but I won't be able to fully believe it until we see the recruitment over the next season. At least if you're going to sign unproven players, they should be from the region you would think?
I would like to see us going toe to toe with the Irish teams on a regular basis again but they've got one hell of a head start on building the depth and structure needed that I may need to be patient. A more realistic target will be to be the clear number one region again and be the next best beyond the Irish. Less of the squeaky games against the Italians wouldn't go amiss either. When the SA sides join, we'll really be in for it to get anywhere near the top half so let's hope we've got a full squad worthy of challenging these teams.
(and happy new year!)
2021 - the year of the Ospreys Supporters' Trust and the year of the Ospreys.
I think our recruitment will be finalised this month or early next month.
I think providing we make the right moves on the recruitment/retention/release front and build more depth in the squad we can make the latter stages of competitions. We would then need a huge slice of luck to land any silverware. We still have a long way to go and I don't think we will look as good on fast tracks against better sides as we do in mid winter on slower tracks against some of the lower level sides we have played recently. How we handle the 10 position is key in terms of starter and back up is going to be key.
I hope we win half of our fixtures this campaign - a vast improvement on last season.
As for the next two years my hope is that with sensible nwq and other recruitment and with shedding of players that will never make it we steadily improve and have a capable enough squad to compete at the top table ( I believe that we need improved funding to realistically win any silverware)