Goode Move
James Goode has squashed rumours surrounding his future by putting pen to paper on a new 12 month deal to keep him at Ospreys.
There were plenty of rumours circulating around the club and through the forums of the Magners League that the Wales international may have been seeking a move away from the club in order to have a better chance of getting back into Warren Gatland’s Wales side.
However, he has kept faith with Ospreys for the next season at least and this should produce a number of positives for the player and for the club ahead of the new campaign.
The fans should now really get behind him when they were unsure over to give him some faith and the club will be generally lifted by the fact that they do not have to go and search for a replacement for one of the better players in their side.
Positives
The main positive of this decision is that Goode will keep his respect with the fans and other members of the club. This will mean that they will really get behind him next season and this will be very important in lifting his spirits at low points as he tries to get back into international rugby.
It will also take a great deal of worry and anxiety out of the equation for the player. He may have wanted to stay at the side all along and may have been worrying that he would not have been offered a new deal. If this is the case then he will be buzzing and will start the new season like a little boy full of excitement and endless energy.
This will also be a worry off of the table for the finance department at Ospreys. Every club at the moment is trying to work on their wage budgets and other financial areas. Had Goode left then the club may have been forced into expanding their budget to offer bigger wages to someone with a similar amount of influence.
Negatives
The obvious negative of Goode’s decision to stay is the fact that he will miss out on the buzz and excitement, which generally surrounds someone when they go to a new club.
There may also have been the point that Gatland may be tracking a few players over the close season who are not currently involved with the Wales side. He may have seen a move as a sign of intent and therefore he would have been keeping an extra close watch on Goode at the start of the new domestic campaign.
Although it will not matter to the player he may also be missing out personally. He could have justified higher wages from another club but he is no mercenary. This ultimately could have meant a better way of life but loyalty is a much more treasured aspect of rugby at this moment in time.
Advice
Go after the specials with this individual because they are perfectly lined up. Try and get a deal for Goode to get back into the Wales side by the time their first match arises after the season starts.
You could also toy with a deal that relates to him staying at the club again after the current campaign. However, a lot depends on what happens over the course of the season so if this is something that you are considering then keep your amounts minimal.
Also back him to get the most tries for Ospreys during their first few games. As a forward he will be in attacking positions more often and if you act now then you could still get some good odds by the time the season starts.
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