Quote: saint at wire "The problem is, given that McManus & Rush had the misguided confidence and trust not only to give KC the job in the first place but to also give him an extension before he was proven, then can you trust their judgment in picking a better replacement for him?
If and when he goes, Long and the rest of them should go with him.
In terms of the team, we have a mixture of players who are just and never will be good enough and reasonable players who are playing poorly coupled with poor tactics and boring rugby.
As you say a bit like Everton (I'm an armchair fan of them). On paper they have some good players but on grass they have lost any mojo they might have had.
Back to Saints, I'm not sure a new coach can fix it with the existing squad or if they are just demoralized and disinterested under KC and just need new leadership. I think the truth is its the former and 6 or 7 players have to go at the end of the season such as Owens, Wilkin, Turner, Richards, Vea, Burns & Peyroux. My mind is not made up about Thompson and Tasi but they need to improve or go or indeed some of the kids such as Spedding (I've not seen much of the others) but Ashworth and Knowles should not be tainted by KC's "tutelage" yet.
So, I've got 4 undecided plus about 6 kids plus others which would be good enough under a good coach e.g. Lomax, Makinson, Percival, Swift, Walsh, Roby, Walmsley, Armor, Greenwood, Fages, Savelio, LMS, Dawson, (probably as he has much improved) and also McDonnell as a back up only.
Can't fault LMS for effort but he is seriously lacking a rugby brain or indeed any sort of brain, even though I like him a lot !!'"
Looking at Wakefield's team before Chester arrived, they didn't look like they had a win in them. It happens an awful lot in sport where players lift their game for a new coach. The opportunity of a fresh slate coupled with the introduction of fresh ideas, motivation and belief can lift a stagnant team to new heights.
Walmsley as an example hasn't turned into an average player overnight.
That said, I don't believe McManus will sack him. He's a business man who doesn't seem to let emotion effect his decisions to much. He could have quite easily sacked Brown in his first season when many (including myself) was crying out for it. He stuck with it and was proved right.