Very well put post

I wonder if the 'Fax fans in the "Strikers Bar" in Tenerife are still as enthusiastic in their support of Halifax - "Come on Shad Lad!" As a Leyther it became a little monotinous being surrounded by the "Yorkies".
See you in November 2010 and March 2011.

Some great points raised Claire. As somebody who has played the game for a number of years, I will try and answer some of your points as I see them. I do nozt know everything about the game but these are just my thoughts on your points

This is why I do not think Matt can take us any further. We have had problems with defence, attitude, Discipline and playing for 80 minutes for many years. Matt has had 2 years to sort the problems out and we are still struggling with these problems. Yes he did get us to a Grand Final-but it was a close run thing with a group of some of the finest players outside SL.


Is Matt costing the club more money though? Out the Rail Cup, People staying away as fed up with the attitude and performance of Matts Players and his comments. A negative is like a cancer, that can destroy much of what is good that has happened at a club. The question is when do you remove the problem?
To be honest I do not care about developing Young British Coaches for the good of the game. The people running the game have not helped the Championship teams, so why should we look to develop Coaches? I want a Coach who gets his team playing with 100% and has a good knowledge of the game. One who has a number of tactics to break a defence down. One that has the players tested and learning all the time. Calland is not doing that for me.


I see no reason why Martin should go. His job is to bring in quality players. In most cases he has done that. Due to the Salary Cap teams are always going to have players who maybe are not good enough. Other players maybe just do not fit in or simply have been a let down for whatever reason.


If the players are clueless that is the fault of the coach in most cases. The team and individuals should have certain goals to reach-look to complete sets of six with a good kick. Player X should aim to make XX Tackles and XX Hit ups for example. There could be small Individual/team awards/penalties depending. The players should receive a detailed report of the players they are most likely to face in there position. What good and bad points the opponent has. What hand they hold the ball in. Whether they can tackle with the left shoulder well or not,Whether a player can step or not etc. That for me is not happening at Fax


According to Phil Clarke, Maguire at Wigan has got his players running harder and faster and with more purpose in to tackles both in defence and attack. I also believe you can fine tune players. Better fitness and discipline for example will mean your players can run harder and faster as well as have more stamina. They also have more strength in the tackle and last longer.
This also goes down to preparation. By knowing certain opponents have fitness problems or weaknesses you get your team to work at them areas. So for example if you have somebody who is lazy and gives penalties away after 15 minutes through being tired you target him that you want your forwards to aim at. Also look to aim runners at halfbacks. Partly to tire them out, but also the size difference between a Prop and Halfback is often 15- 20Kg difference


Do not think Booing achieves much to be honest. The players need a strong leader on the field to get them to play how the coach wants. Also to set an example when needed as well as encourage the team and individuals. They need a General off the field who can send the message down when he sees a weakness in his or the opponents team. They need to feel confident that the game plan they have will work most times. They need to feel the Coach knows what he is doing and what he has to do to get the team back on track when the form dips-which happens with every team! If somebody was booing you all the time whilst playing you feel negative and dejected a lot of the time. Plus it adds more pressure on the players when something fails and the crowd just Boo them. I suggest gett behind the players and give them the feeling that we are on their side.


Calland has brought the players in or kept them. For me he should be backing them not saying "some are in the last chance salloon" even if that is the case. For me a coach should never blast his players in public-that should be done if at all in private. If somebody criticized me on the Radio and paper I would feel sod you. If he said to me privately or in a group in training then I would have more respect for him. I think sadly the time is up for Calland. Even if we do beat Toulouse and Keighley.

Unfortunatley it does look like Hall and Calland come as a package and I doubt the BOD would want Hall to withdraw his money afterall hasn't he put more money in to the club than all the other directors combined?

No.

LOL, I was waiting for the clamour of admirers to show their appreciation for claire's post .... she rarely posts original stuff but always gets the plaudits ... I wonder why!!

She's one smart babe !
AND, she's been missed on here lately

Because Greg Florimo's Boots is just too damn ugly. I'd pat him on the back otherwise

God, I just love being a halifax fan!

so Ian Millward isn't a great coach, just because of his time at the Pies.
So why are we 'at the other end of the table' this season. Is it because of robbie paul, ricky bibey, & the dual registered players ? That is part of the reason, BUT in our 36-6 win at Toulouse yesterday, 13 of the 17 man squad, were from last season's RELEGATED Squad. Ian Millward is a TOP coach.

I'm not denying Millward is a very good coach, Budgiezilla, of course he is. But he's a well known "hot head" who'll blow it ....... eventually. If he is a genuine GREAT coach, with the utmost respect, then he wouldn't be coaching at Leigh. Would he?

ouch!

no, but WHATEVER he is in your eyes - I'll settle for him being OUR coach.
thank you and goodnight.