Brewer to Get Rid of Players
Sale rugby coach, Mike Brewer, says he is ready to axe low quality players from the playing squad as he tries to take the club in a new direction.
Sale has been very active during the close season and has been attracting a host of players who have signed long-term contracts with the club. Obviously more players coming in means that some will have to leave and it seems that this time has come.
Brewer risks ruffling a few feathers unless he handles the departure of loyal Sale players well. Some fringe players have been at the club for a very long time and will lose all the respect they have built up for the club if they leave in the wrong manner.
On the one hand this is very exciting news for all Sale fans because it proves that there is some vision and direction behind the endless number of summer signings. On the other hand Brewer is risking the inner structure of the club, which is equally important.
The Positives
The positives for Sale are very attractive because they can push on and try to reach heights that many never thought were possible. It is encouraging to see a coach with some ambition and someone who will do what it takes to get his team touching on success.
The players coming into the club this summer have not been bad players. Chris Brightwell, Paul Williams, Kyle Tonetti, Matty James and others have bolstered the club's line-up as they seem bent on trying to win a championship.They all look as though they will genuinely add something to the team and if the coach can narrow down the squad then Sale will form a very strong unit.
Brewer can rely on having the support of ambitious fans so long as he handles the players who will leave the club well. This means that is he wants to try something new or a little bit outrageous then he'll have support from the majority of the fans.
He said: "We've come to the stage where we've given the guys affected enough forewarning as regard my intentions and the likelihood of their playing which is next to zero."
The Negatives
The main danger that Brewer will have to keep an eye on is squad harmony and morale. He may well handle player departures in the right way but the players leaving are still good friends of others at Sale. This means there could be a temporary impact on team morale that would threaten the team's pre-season program.
There is always the chance that at some point a key player or two is going to get injured. The coach may well end up regretting his decision to allow others to leave because it may turn out that he needs them. However, Sale have a budget just like any other club and right now this will be a risk he's willing to take.
Betting Advice
Sale remain a very unpredictable outfit but there are clear signs that they are going to be going for it next season. They are not likely to challenge for a title spot so be wary if they head the league after a few games.
Brewer still has a lot of work to do and Sale may have a better chance of Premiership glory after a successful season this year getting players to play well together and cementing their Premiership reputation. However, if you like a romantic bet then by all means place a small amount on them to win the league.
This is achievable but the point is that this season may have come a little too soon for them and next year they may stand a stronger chance.
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