Quote: Juan Cornetto "Here we go again! The usual suspects that went after BM since his first days are at it again. The simplistic logic to always blame the coach when things are not working continues. You would have thought they would have learnt something from our ex coach who produced a record breaking number of Cups despite the constant carping from his critics.
The main problem has been the failure of GH to invest in the team over many seasons. Ironically Mac's ability to produce results with an ageing squad well past their peak may have led GH into delaying serious recruitment. But when Sinfield, JP and Kylie retired we should have gone for some quality replacements especially as Mags and Burrow were soon to follow. These players were good enough to make other average players look better than they really were and with the likes of JJB, Delaney and Albett slowing up too we have been exposed in defence as well as attack.
It was wrong to blame BM for everything and naive to think changing the coach would solve the lack of quality recruitment. Under Sinfield last year the performances deteriorated even further despite some 2nd rate mid season recruitment..
Furner as brought in and finally money splashed out but it is too soon to say if these are the right signings. We are where we are and going after Furner fails to understand the difficulties of coaching players that are just not up to it.
He has not got the power up front in the pack and has not been able to use JJB, Ablet, Crosby and Golding due to injuries and has lost Ward his best defender. His three big signings arrived overweight and have not yet made consistent impact. Watkins has not looked match fit and we have had a very tough set of fixtures most of them away.
The coach will be assessing the players performances and will now know the weaknesses. But he must be given time and money to get his own balance in the squad.
The one on one tackling shown by all the players is just not good enough and we still need an organiser at half back and 2 big props.'"
Good post. We look in for a real long, hard road to recovery here. With Sinfield looking like he's taken some decision making from GH we need to give it all time, although in Crosby, Donaldson, Tui, Hurrell, Merrin the jury is still out. And I really didn't agree at all with our attempt to sign SOL at this stage in his career. Then again recently linked with Wellington Albert...
Sam Walters is a real coup though, pleased there.
Losing Ward again is definitely a blow, he stiffens our middle up considerably and is tough. Watkins has been way off form so far, and is not someone you can easily drop - not that we have anywhere other than first team he could really play. JJB and Ablett look physically shot, although they are both up for it mentally still.
I am starting to agree with those talking about another half. Lolohea looks like a not-as-good-as-Tony-Kemp figure at the moment. Myler is a solid club player, but not a consistent top-4 club player IMO.
All in all we have to recruit and develop players who can defend, roughly half our side looks regularly suspect in D and it's no wonder we're shipping tries. Must be infuriating for those that do put the work in only to see the usual suspects conceding line breaks every chuffing game.