Windsor Spitfires 2019-20 Season Thread (Part 2)

[windsor7]

There is a very good chance you did not see everything, you seem like the kinda guy that hides under his coffee table when the game gets rough

Thats your opinion.
Think what u want.
I know the truth.
Carry on...

 

[windsor7]

Right now, I don't touch the leadership group unless forced. In January, depending on how things play out, I look at my options.

So hold on to everybody.
Got it.

 

[windsor7]

I think standing pat or a couple of small additions are the worst moves they could make.

Stand pat, hope everyone who can return does and go into next season hoping everyone takes a big enough jump that they don't have to add since they will have fewer assets at their disposal to add with.

Make a couple of small additions and hope to get to, and out of the second round and hope, like standing pat that everyone returns, probably have even fewer assets to do something with next year.

Both lead to years of mediocrity.

Be bold this year and go one of two ways.

Go all in and accept another long rebuild since it would cost most of what they have.

Move their big pieces, add youth and picks and set themselves up for multiple years of success with a ton of extra picks and adding some good/very good young players that likely doesn't change where they finish once other teams load up.

Rychel's best year as GM was 07/08. He had a team exceeding expectations, like this year decent assets and what did he do?

He sold, added young players and picks and gave us 08/09 and 09/10 with the potential for a third year in 10/11.

Standing pat won't do that and neither making a few small additions.

Bowler needs to be bold, one way or the other. If there's a potential buyer in the background, if it were me I'd want a team built for the future, not one that is sitting at the start of a rebuild or slated for years of mediocrity.

If this group is in it for the long haul, buy and deal with a rebuild if they want. If there's a buyer or they really want to build a long term competitive product, sell your 2000s and have something serious to work with.

Stand pat and continue with the same results year over year that we're all tired of.

True.

 

[OHLTG]

I think standing pat or a couple of small additions are the worst moves they could make.

Stand pat, hope everyone who can return does and go into next season hoping everyone takes a big enough jump that they don't have to add since they will have fewer assets at their disposal to add with.

Bowler needs to be bold, one way or the other. If there's a potential buyer in the background, if it were me I'd want a team built for the future, not one that is sitting at the start of a rebuild or slated for years of mediocrity.

If this group is in it for the long haul, buy and deal with a rebuild if they want. If there's a buyer or they really want to build a long term competitive product, sell your 2000s and have something serious to work with.

Stand pat and continue with the same results year over year that we're all tired of.

Don't forget, I said stand pat "right now"; the deadline is a whole other story. If this team is in the same spot, then adding to make a run this year and next isn't a bad idea.

 

[windsor7]

Don't forget, I said stand pat "right now"; the deadline is a whole other story. If this team is in the same spot, then adding to make a run this year and next isn't a bad idea.

#playing both sides???

 

[member 71782]

Don't forget, I said stand pat "right now"; the deadline is a whole other story. If this team is in the same spot, then adding to make a run this year and next isn't a bad idea.

Right now is fine, I figured all of this was based on what would people want to see at the deadline.

There's no need to make any moves before then unless something completely unforeseen happened.

I doubt they have the pieces for this year and next again, unless something completely unforeseen happened.

If they go into the break in first place in the conference I can understand the urge too go on a run. I think it costs them the 7 x 2nds they have, the couple of 3rds and 4ths plus Johnston and at least one or both of McDonald and Robinson.

That's a steep price and probably means no run next year and if they don't get all of Afanasyev, Angle, Douglas and Corcoran back they'll have to move the kids to get draft picks just to be able to start a rebuild.

That's another potential long, extended rebuild to bet on a one and done team that's having a good start to the season but so far haven't accomplished much else yet.

 

[m2m]

Anyone want to tackle this?.... I have to go son's minor hockey game... This may help decide if you were a GM what to do..

List separately all OA's, then the 19's, and 18's (I am using these age ranges as having most impact in team success)

Comparing their stats the past 3 yrs, predict each player/group's percentage of 'productivity' in a way that can be seen/ measurable and you can see possible hypothetical scenarios if you traded certain player/groups? Don't know if my research methodology is sound as I am just typing as I think at moment but would be fun/interesting to see what would happen if you trade certain players or their influence on the team?

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Agreed selling makes the most sense. Staying pat makes the least amount of sense. Honestly they would be better off going for it than staying pat.

 

[OHLTG]

Right now is fine, I figured all of this was based on what would people want to see at the deadline.

For me, deadline is determined come mid-December or so. See where they're at. I don't sell off, though, unless you see a major tailspin.

 

[member 71782]

Anyone want to tackle this?.... I have to go son's minor hockey game... This may help decide if you were a GM what to do..

List separately all OA's, then the 19's, and 18's (I am using these age ranges as having most impact in team success)

Comparing their stats the past 3 yrs, predict each player/group's percentage of 'productivity' in a way that can be seen/ measurable and you can see possible hypothetical scenarios if you traded certain player/groups? Don't know if my research methodology is sound as I am just typing as I think at moment but would be fun/interesting to see what would happen if you trade certain players or their influence on the team?

Here's the stats from the OHL site for the last three years. I removed any stats from other teams, only Windsor stats as a number of players were acquired via trade. I also included everyone on the team this year and all years are only players who are still with Windsor, broken down by birth year so the stats will be 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 where available.

Of course unless someone is willing to go game by game what you don't see, and what Windsor has are a few players who are very streaky such as Purboo and D'Amico.

Hopefully this will help with what you are hoping to see. I don't know if anyone else wants to get deep into all the stats combining all the years but this will show any progression/regression etc and the basics.

YEAR	RANK	POS	#	BY	NAME	GP	G	G	PTS	P/M	PIM	PPG	PPA	SHG	SHA	SOG	GWG	OTG	FG	IG	SOGP	SO-G	ATT	SOWG	SO%	FOA	FOW	FO%	PTS/G	PIM/G
2019/20	10	RW	61	1999	Boka, Luke	12	8	1	9	6	0	1	1	0	0	26	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	48	19	39.6	0.75	0
2018/19	7	RW	61	1999	Boka, Luke	64	12	20	32	-2	46	2	5	1	1	136	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	100	361	162	44.9	0.5	0.72
2017/18	4	RW	61	1999	Boka, Luke	64	15	25	40	-8	42	1	3	0	2	130	2	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	112	34	30.4	0.63	0.66
2019/20	3	RW	26	1999	Purboo, Cole	14	5	9	14	1	4	2	3	0	0	32	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	0.29
2018/19	1	RW	26	1999	Purboo, Cole	68	29	26	55	-26	49	6	7	2	2	208	1	0	5	5	3	0	3	0	0	13	3	23.1	0.81	0.72
2017/18	1	RW	26	1999	Purboo, Cole	68	21	28	49	-4	40	6	7	0	1	172	2	0	1	4	1	0	1	0	0	8	2	25	0.72	0.59
2019/20	17	D	22	1999	Stevenson, Thomas	14	3	0	3	3	13	0	0	0	0	16	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.21	0.93
2018/19	16	D	22	1999	Stevenson, Thomas	60	1	9	10	-5	20	0	0	0	0	41	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.17	0.33
2017/18	18	D	22	1999	Stevenson, Thomas	67	3	5	8	-12	22	0	0	0	0	57	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	66.7	0.12	0.33
2019/20	1	C	7	2000	Angle, Tyler	14	10	10	20	2	16	4	5	0	0	52	1	0	3	2	1	0	1	0	0	219	106	48.4	1.43	1.14
2018/19	5	C	7	2000	Angle, Tyler	58	20	24	44	-11	34	8	11	1	0	156	0	0	1	2	2	0	2	0	0	886	462	52.1	0.76	0.59
2017/18	12	C	7	2000	Angle, Tyler	67	10	7	17	-17	42	0	0	0	0	113	1	0	2	3	1	0	1	0	0	727	345	47.5	0.25	0.63
2019/20	8	C	39	2000	Douglas, Curtis	14	5	6	11	13	17	0	0	0	0	46	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	155	90	58.1	0.79	1.21
2018/19	2	C	39	2000	Douglas, Curtis	66	27	26	53	-1	74	7	6	1	0	208	4	0	7	1	3	1	3	0	33.3	252	140	55.6	0.8	1.12
2017/18	3	C	39	2000	Douglas, Curtis	38	15	13	28	11	28	1	4	0	0	108	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	301	139	46.2	0.74	0.74
2019/20	19	LW	16	2000	Playfair, Chris	14	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	174	101	58	0.14	0
2018/19	12	LW	16	2000	Playfair, Chris	49	10	10	20	-16	7	0	1	0	0	71	3	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	801	423	52.8	0.41	0.14
2017/18	13	LW	16	2000	Playfair, Chris	66	5	12	17	-4	27	0	0	1	0	64	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	525	270	51.4	0.26	0.41
2019/20	6	D	8	2000	Corcoran, Connor	14	4	8	12	1	6	2	4	0	0	33	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.86	0.43
2018/19	8	D	8	2000	Corcoran, Connor	68	10	22	32	-45	30	4	12	0	1	155	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.47	0.44
2017/18	6	D	8	2000	Corcoran, Connor	63	3	21	24	-11	40	0	5	0	0	94	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.38	0.63
2019/20	2	LW	11	2001	Afanasyev, Egor	14	6	8	14	5	8	3	2	0	0	39	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	0	100	11	2	18.2	1	0.57
2019/20	5	C	29	2001	D'Amico, Daniel	13	4	9	13	7	22	1	2	0	0	28	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	1	100	11	6	54.5	1	1.69
2018/19	4	C	29	2001	D'Amico, Daniel	67	21	25	46	-22	25	5	7	1	1	148	3	2	4	2	3	1	3	1	33.3	60	27	45	0.69	0.37
2017/18	10	C	29	2001	D'Amico, Daniel	59	12	7	19	4	31	1	0	0	0	63	3	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	5	45.5	0.32	0.53
2019/20	9	D	43	2001	Henault, Louka	14	1	10	11	12	8	0	0	0	0	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.79	0.57
2018/19	11	D	43	2001	Henault, Louka	66	2	20	22	0	28	0	2	0	0	66	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.33	0.42
2017/18	21	D	43	2001	Henault, Louka	42	0	2	2	-5	22	0	0	0	0	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.05	0.52
2019/20	13	D	3	2001	Ladd, Grayson	13	1	6	7	10	2	0	0	0	0	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.54	0.15
2018/19	13	D	3	2001	Ladd, Grayson	48	2	16	18	15	6	0	1	1	1	39	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.38	0.13
2017/18	19	D	3	2001	Ladd, Grayson	30	0	5	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.17	0.07
2019/20	21	G	1	2001	Piiroinen, Kari	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2018/19	22	G	1	2001	Piiroinen, Kari	27	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019/20	11	LW	13	2002	Cuylle, Will	14	2	7	9	-5	9	2	3	0	0	26	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	66	44	66.7	0.64	0.64
2018/19	6	LW	13	2002	Cuylle, Will	63	26	15	41	3	50	5	6	0	0	187	1	0	4	1	3	0	3	0	0	131	59	45	0.65	0.79
2019/20	4	C	93	2002	Foudy, Jean-Luc	14	6	7	13	-3	4	1	2	0	0	28	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	105	40	38.1	0.93	0.29
2018/19	3	C	93	2002	Foudy, Jean-Luc	63	8	41	49	-19	16	1	10	1	1	120	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	260	98	37.7	0.78	0.25
2019/20	16	RW	81	2002	Maggio, Matthew	12	1	3	4	3	4	0	0	0	0	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.33	0.33
2019/20	12	RW	25	2002	McDonald, Kyle	13	5	3	8	4	4	0	1	0	0	15	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	2	25	0.62	0.31
2018/19	15	RW	25	2002	McDonald, Kyle	39	4	11	15	3	10	0	0	0	0	62	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	5	55.6	0.38	0.26
2019/20	7	D	88	2002	Rafkin, Ruben	14	1	11	12	-1	18	0	5	0	0	25	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.86	1.29
2019/20	14	D	5	2002	Robinson, Dylan	14	1	5	6	3	12	1	1	0	0	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.43	0.86
2018/19	19	D	5	2002	Robinson, Dylan	8	1	3	4	-3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	0
2019/20	20	G	30	2002	Medina, Xavier	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019/20	18	C	55	2003	Johnston, Wyatt	9	1	1	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	34	15	44.1	0.22	0.22
2019/20	15	RW	91	2003	Zito, Pasquale	11	1	3	4	4	7	0	0	0	0	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	8	57.1	0.36	0.64

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[member 71782]

For me, deadline is determined come mid-December or so. See where they're at. I don't sell off, though, unless you see a major tailspin.

I think most look at the deadline period as returning from the Christmas break so yes, mid December when they go on Christmas break is when a team needs to know what they're going to do.

Here's the picks, totalled up minus the conditional picks. I guess what I'm trying to figure with what you're saying is when do you hope to see the team to decide if they're making a run, tinkering a bit, standing pat or selling. What would they have to looki like to sway you one way or another?

If they're not all in this year, next year is a host year so take into account that picks in 2020 will no longer be part of that total.

As far as I can tell all picks belong to Windsor, no outstanding conditionals owed and the conditionals owed to Windsor are obviously undetermined which is why I didn't include them in the totals.

YEAR

RND 1

RND 2

RND 3

RND 4

RND 5

RND 6

RND 7

RND 8

RND 9

RND 10

RND 11

RND 12

RND 13

RND 14

RND 15

2020

WSR 1ST

FLT 2ND LDN 2ND

---

KIT 4TH OSH 4TH

---

---

WSR 7TH

WSR 8TH

WSR 9TH

WSR 10TH

WSR 11TH

WSR 12TH GUE 12TH

WSR 13TH

OTT 14TH

WSR 15TH

2021

WSR 1ST

BAR 2ND

---

WSR 4TH FLT 4TH

WSR 5TH ERI 5TH

WSR 6TH SSM 6TH

WSR 7TH

WSR 8TH

WSR 9TH

WSR 10TH

WSR 11TH

WSR 12TH

WSR 13TH

WSR 14TH

BAR 15TH OTT 15TH

2022

WSR 1ST

OSH 2ND OTT 2ND

---

ERI 4TH

WSR 5TH

WSR 6TH KGN 6TH

WSR 7TH

WSR 8TH

WSR 9TH

WSR 10TH

WSR 11TH

WSR 12TH

WSR 13TH

WSR 14TH

---

2023

WSR 1ST

OTT 2ND

HAM 3RD (COND) KIT 3RD KNG 3RD

---

---

WSR 6TH

WSR 7TH

WSR 8TH

WSR 9TH

WSR 10TH

WSR 11TH

WSR 12TH

WSR 13TH

WSR 14TH

NIA 15TH (COND)

2024

WSR 1ST

KIT 2ND

BAR 3RD

WSR 4TH

WSR 5TH HAM 5TH (COND)

WSR 6TH

WSR 7TH

WSR 8TH

WSR 9TH

WSR 10TH

WSR 11TH

WSR 12TH

WSR 13TH

WSR 14TH

WSR 15TH

TOTALS

5

7

3

6

4

6

5

5

5

5

5

6

5

5

4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[OHLTG]

Just in - Spitfires ranked 8th in Canada.

 

[Spits1963]

Just in - Spitfires ranked 8th in Canada.

Don’t want to look past North Bay, but Sunday against Saginaw will be a litmus test.

 

[I guard the door]

Don't see any of the OA's moving - Boka in his final year seems to be putting it all together - not going to be moved. Purboo and Stevenson have no real value in a move so they stay.
Angle, Douglas and Corcoran are the ones that may be shopped depending on whether or not they will not return next year? Realistically I think only 1 of them may move but not all of them. Not going to be shocked if they stand pat this year.

Boka's play this year may be the reason that some teams come calling. He has always been an effective shut down, shot blocking forward who is good on the penalty kill. Teams may see this as a final piece of their puzzle and may even slightly over pay for him... nothing crazy... maybe a couple of draft picks or a young player and a later pick

I think that Angle, Douglas and Corcoran all return... don't think that they are ready for the pros. That being said, if they continue to play as they have so far, I could see them being attractive to other teams

 

[I guard the door]

Right now is fine, I figured all of this was based on what would people want to see at the deadline.

There's no need to make any moves before then unless something completely unforeseen happened.

I doubt they have the pieces for this year and next again, unless something completely unforeseen happened.

If they go into the break in first place in the conference I can understand the urge too go on a run. I think it costs them the 7 x 2nds they have, the couple of 3rds and 4ths plus Johnston and at least one or both of McDonald and Robinson.

That's a steep price and probably means no run next year and if they don't get all of Afanasyev, Angle, Douglas and Corcoran back they'll have to move the kids to get draft picks just to be able to start a rebuild.

That's another potential long, extended rebuild to bet on a one and done team that's having a good start to the season but so far haven't accomplished much else yet.

I think based on your predictions of what it will cost to go all in, that is too steep. McDonald and Robinson are going to be really good for a number of years and without the draft picks, there will be no one to replace them .

 

[windsor7]

Just in - Spitfires ranked 8th in Canada.

Good recognition for early in the season

 

[windsor7]

Boka's play this year may be the reason that some teams come calling. He has always been an effective shut down, shot blocking forward who is good on the penalty kill. Teams may see this as a final piece of their puzzle and may even slightly over pay for him... nothing crazy... maybe a couple of draft picks or a young player and a later pick

I think that Angle, Douglas and Corcoran all return... don't think that they are ready for the pros. That being said, if they continue to play as they have so far, I could see them being attractive to other teams

None of them r ready for pros.

 

[member 71782]

Boka's play this year may be the reason that some teams come calling. He has always been an effective shut down, shot blocking forward who is good on the penalty kill. Teams may see this as a final piece of their puzzle and may even slightly over pay for him... nothing crazy... maybe a couple of draft picks or a young player and a later pick

I think that Angle, Douglas and Corcoran all return... don't think that they are ready for the pros. That being said, if they continue to play as they have so far, I could see them being attractive to other teams

I think based on your predictions of what it will cost to go all in, that is too steep. McDonald and Robinson are going to be really good for a number of years and without the draft picks, there will be no one to replace them .

That combined with what you pointed out, Angle, Douglas and Corcoran probably being sought after is why I think this is a year more like 2007/08, a chance to add more young talent, a decent bunch of high draft picks and set themselves up long term ala 208/09 to 2010/11.

This is the year to remain relatively competitive while focusing on long term competitiveness.

It's great to see the team off to such a solid start bt it really shows just what's gone on the last number of years where the only way to take advantage of it is to go right back to where they've been for most of the last decade, struggling to get in the playoffs while not being able to do much while they were there, 2017 notwithstanding.

I for one am tired of seeing them making the playoffs and nothing else as being some type of victory. Time to get things on the right path finally, especially when you consider the trading of draft picks goes down to four years next year. It would be nice to start that timeframe off with an abundance that can be used for deals, make the picks or if they have extra, flip them to keep the cupboards full.

Now they can simply tinker a bit but that's moving out picks they won't be able to replace which may or may not get them into the second or third round but then what? They have no picks if players return and if they don't they're still going to be going into a rebuild with nothing significant to show for it.

 

[ohloutsider]

The only picks they have to use are the 2020 picks - rest can stay in the bank so to speak. They have an extra 2nd and 4th this year so maybe a player could be brought in that might fit the go for it window? Still leaves them with a 2nd and 4th for drafting and picks high enough kids should be able to make the team. There would be no room for a 1st, 2 2nds and 2 4ths to make the team - can't have that many rookies anyway. I'm all for selling off anyone that will not return but if any of Angle, Corcoran or Douglas are coming back as OA", there is no way I'm moving them out. I was all for moving Boka last year but this year I'm not so sure - if they move others out best to keep the captain in the room. Trade deadline is 9 weeks from Friday - seems to come quicker every year.

 

[ohloutsider]

Just in - Spitfires ranked 8th in Canada.

Well hopefully the CHL flu does not sweep through the Spits.

 

[ohloutsider]

Agreed selling makes the most sense. Staying pat makes the least amount of sense. Honestly they would be better off going for it than staying pat.

I'm still worried staying pat is being considered an option. Bowler really hasn't shown his cards yet - at least not in public - this is when you miss Warren.

 

[Crease Master]

Big surprise, the Spits are in first place and a bunch of tools are talking about trading things away at the deadline for some alleged future opportunity. Never mind the fact that none of the Spits opponents so far look capable of handling them in a seven game series, lets horde assets instead and then hope our new management can turn that into future success. I hate the perpetual rebuild mentality that prevails on HFboards, its for losers. When you have a good team you go with it. Many of the same people chirping about dealing away at the deadline think our management is bad. I guess they want us to trade our good players for future draft picks that we'll waste on players we can't get to report or who bust? What's the point? Keep what we have, if there's a player worth adding at a price worth paying we do it, and roll the dice on what seems to be a pretty good team. 8th best in Canada I'm told...

 

[TheGremlin]

If you keep what you have and there isn’t anything out there to add for price you want to pay then what’s the point of staying as is. If Boka has value or purboo you trade them. There is no way this team wins as is. If they go for it they may need to even find a goaltender for realistic chance from what they have shown to this point. But hey most of us are just tools and losers for wanting multiple years of success over 1 year of maybe we can do it cause we started out great. Being ranked 8th is nice. But really doesn’t mean much. Realistically no one knows how Windsor compares to any other team in WHL or the Q if they were to play. Nice to be recognized but doesn’t mean much.

 

[RayzorIsDull]

Big surprise, the Spits are in first place and a bunch of tools are talking about trading things away at the deadline for some alleged future opportunity. Never mind the fact that none of the Spits opponents so far look capable of handling them in a seven game series, lets horde assets instead and then hope our new management can turn that into future success. I hate the perpetual rebuild mentality that prevails on HFboards, its for losers. When you have a good team you go with it. Many of the same people chirping about dealing away at the deadline think our management is bad. I guess they want us to trade our good players for future draft picks that we'll waste on players we can't get to report or who bust? What's the point? Keep what we have, if there's a player worth adding at a price worth paying we do it, and roll the dice on what seems to be a pretty good team. 8th best in Canada I'm told...

The point is the team can still make moves and be fine this year while extending an opportunity to be a consistent team year after year. If they moved certain pieces while retaining Foudy/Cuylle/MacDonald/Robinson/Rafkin/D'Amico etc... then you can set yourself up better for the future. A lot of talk of Boka but he has a 30% shooting % that isn't sustainable in the least. They're getting the most they can out of some guys right now. Why not see if someone thinks the same and you can get assets in return.

This isn't knocking #8 ranking but what matters more if they have staying power and can still be #8 say 3 months from now. That's the bigger test and what matters more than what is going on Nov 6th 2019.

 

[OHLTG]

I'm still worried staying pat is being considered an option. Bowler really hasn't shown his cards yet - at least not in public - this is when you miss Warren.

Really, this was something I loved about WR. Bowler is very, very tight-lipped and it's strange to deal with.

I'm curious about something - if Windsor was ranked #1 in a couple of weeks, would people shrug it off because it's only November? Maybe I'm wrong, but it feels like the goalposts are being moved because it's not the second half. I go back to what I said earlier; if you told anyone on this board that the Spitfires would be sniffing the Top 10 come Oct/Nov, you'd have been laughed and, and maybe rightfully so. Now, we're #8, but it's too early. Sorry, it makes me scratch my head a bit.