So we're looking for a draw then...

OK I don't subscribe to the view that its a"crap" team or even a "mediocre" team - that pack should be a match for anyone, and that's how it is looking so far, I'd suggest?

But substitute "backs" for "team" though, and on paper and now also from showings so far its becoming increasingly harder to object, I'd suggest? The worrying inability to create opportunities and break defences will have to be addressed somehow.

It seems pretty clear the club tried to partly address that with quality signings in the backs that never came to fruition. One assumes - hopes - there remains something in the kitty for this purpose?

But, leaving aside whether Macca is in truth a good or bad coach - and thats something no armchair expert can be truly qualified to know - I agree entirely with your financial argument, and in particular the emphasis on the real-world financial limitations.

Unfortunately, the Negative Tendency continues to seem unable or unwilling to grasp this rather fundamental issue. Nor for that matter do they seem to grasp how some other teams now seem to be able to "fit" rather more (supposedly) top-drawer players "within" the cap than we are perceived as being able to do. But anyway,as you say, c'est la vie.

I'm sure that if we had the wealthy backer that the majority of SL clubs now have, we'd be able to afford any coach he chose and quite probably find ways and means of recruiting more marquee players...still within the cap, funnily enough. But we don't, so we have to work with what resources we have.

That all said of course, Norris and Sir James (as you indicate) are in their own ways currently driving coach and horses through the argument that its primarily down to money.

Before the backsliding began, one or two of the Negative Tendency undertook to restrain themselves till after ten matches. Maybe that remains not a bad idea generally? By then, it should be much more clear whether Macca's optimism is justified - not that I'd expect the NT to have much appetite for humble pie even if it was - or whether it is just so many words.

If it should prove the latter - and I bloody well hope it does not, but the worry is there - then the club will have its work cut out to explain why the problems are not all down to the coach and to stop the NT bandwagon. We'd sure need some plain talking then?

[sizeAnd OK, having reappeared myself, I may post a few more times now the "I-never-was-a-Bulls-fan" who threatened to ban me (after I took issue with one of his beloved Punisher phoenixes) is no longer able to do so. And speaking of said phoenixes, I see its latest incarnation has arisen. For now.[/size

I was willing to give him 10 games but after the first 2 games where I truly hoped we would show some improvement but it's not happened even in the slightest. We went through all these arguments last season and it never got any better why all the hope it s this year theirs nothing to suggest it will. Other than that welcome back Adey.

Who brought most of these backs to the club? Who coaches them? Who picks them? Who has done nothing to correct the problem? Who has exacerbated the problem by releasing/loaning out players to create a complete lack of competition for positions 1-7?

Unless McNamara, as coach, has had no say in signings or team selections and has no input in training, surely he's the prime candidate to carry the can for the backs' crapness?!

One would hope that a new coach would see that our halves and backs are clueless and do something to start rectifying the situation.

Yep.

Indeed.

Such as?

Show an element of tactical nous that would allow us to get the best out of the limited pool of players that we have at our disposal. Good managers can do this.

We are stuck with the dross that McNamara has signed but maybe someone else could make them a bit more tactically aware.

Anybodys thoughts on Jon Sharp, i believe he would be great for the bulls

No pedigree as a coach IMO.

I do wonder whether the finances are so bad that it is having an effect on recruitment despite the assurances from the chairman. If not then it is down to the coach IMO.

BTW welcome back.

Pick players on form (instead of just talking about doing so), sign someone, loan in someone, recall the players we've loaned out, create competition for places and, as Mystic suggests, actually improve the players through coaching... You know, the kind of things that other club's coaches do.

McNamara's approach (of apparently doing nothing to address the problems in our halves and backs) clearly isn't working.

If you can't pay the dosh (one way or another) then you aint gonna attract the big signatures.

Macca's contract is up at the end of this year along with those of a whole shed full of players.

It's unlikey that Macca will be offered a new or extended contract so why go to the expense of sacking him now? Particularly if his intended targeted replacement is not currently available.

The absolute worst that can happen is that we finish bottom. We're not going to suffer the ignominy of relegation. If we can't afford to pay him off then let him work for a new contract. If he still doesn't deliver then shake his hand politely and jog him on at the end of his contract.

A thing I'm looking for this year is to see us improve around the ruck. In attack we need to take the ball up with more purpose so we can get a quick ptb. Players need to work on getting the right body position so they don't get turned over.

In defence we need to get bodies in the takle and prevent the opposition doing the above to us.

This area's been a problem for some time against Hudders it was more apparent than ever.

are you having a laugh!!!!! forgive me if this has been replied to but i couldn't read thru all of em before replying....brian noble = joke FACT!

rode on the back of matty elliott and bri smith....yeah we won stuff but he did nothing and we're still playing the same game....which is getting us no where....so I say again Noble = joke!