FEV 44 FAX 4 FT!!

Right, first things first. Something needs to happen down at the club, otherwise we are going to find ourselves losing fans, dropping league places and losing the respect for our SL bid.

Do we sack the coach?! I don't know. Yes, we all know the "off field" things that have been going on with him, Blackpool, Toulouse, Jacks et al do all speak for themselves. But he has taken our team to a grand final, something that no other coach has. Up until 2 weeks ago, everything on the surface was fine and dandy.

People, including myself will argue that this has been going on for a while.

Our defense last year was pants, but we managed to outscore teams. Our last tackle plays last year were unstructured and off the cuff, opposition teams have improved and they are defending a lot better. Our forwards last year, did however set some form of a platform for players like Black, Penky and Gleeson to do their thing, something which we haven't had this year.

Are the players playing for their coach? Do they have professional respect for the coach?

2 weeks ago we were top of the league and in all competitions we were entered for. Is it a form blip, or is this run of results and performances the accumulation of 2 seasons of bad coaching and training styles?

On the flip side, to sack Calland would cost the club money, something which we don't need. Also, in Calland we have a young British coach, something that a lot of professional clubs do not have. Should we not be encouraging his development for the good of the game?!

As faxfan said on a different thread, Hall and Calland don't come as a package, and although I do not agree with a lot of decisions that the board have made this season (dual registration, no reserve grade team, investing in old foreign players rather than young british), we need to keep hold of Martin. He attracts quality players to the club and is a good business man. People in RL respect Martin, he has done everything in the game, and despite his alleged behaviour on certain away games last year, I think he is an asset to our club.

As for the players, last night certain individuals simply weren't good enough. I didn't feel cross, or angry like I felt last week, because I genuinely felt they were trying. We were just clueless.

I am no coach, or player of the game, but can you coach forwards to run hard and break tackles?! I thought that would be insitinctive at this level. Yet, in the first half, going down hill, we failed to break tackles. Except Ostick and Maloney, I thought our front row was dire which unfortunately is a trend that we have kept going from last year.

The problem lies in our cohesion, or lack of it. Last tackle plays were poor, with players not knowing what to do.

Penky, Black, Ostick, Maloney and Worrency all stood up last night in my opinion, and appeared to bust their a$$es for the team. It's a shame that the team aren't gelling, and there isn't a solid platform being set by senior forwards.

So, what to do? Booing the players isn't going to do anything for their confidence, and as I have said, there were players on the pitch last night who definitely didn't deserve booing. They looked like lost puppies walking off the pitch last night, and I felt quite sorry for them. They don't appear to have any guidance on the pitch, and by having 5 captains on the pitch at once, there is no clear leader on, or off the pitch at the momment.

Calland on the other hand, is in the firing line, and I'm afraid it does come with the territory. Blaming training facilities is wearing thin, forwards looked slow and unfit, pretty sure fitness first has treadmills??!

I think we should give Calland until the Keighley game and see how we perform. I will always back the club as long as I feel they are giving 100% for the shirt and the fans who watch them. If Calland feels the same way about the club that I do, he will surely inspire the players to fight for us and we will come through this bad patch.

But if the coach cannot inspire the player, then maybe it is time for a change.