The unfortunate evidence is that we sacked Basil and Clogger and got worse.

You are not wholly right there, though. One or two who post on this forum do meet those criteria. However, they tend to be relatively circumspect and don't go blabbing their views all over the place. When one of them DOES express an opinion (on here or privately) I tend to listen. As indeed I did last week when one of them gave me some thoughts in response to a question.

Myself, OK I have met and had brief discussions with a couple of the coaching staff, but am in no position personally to presume to offer any comment whatsoever as to their detailed coaching abilities or how the players see them. Which is why I never do. As I have never done about Potter and indeed never did about Macca, despite being labelled by some a Macca Backer.

Just been wondering...knives seem to be out for LSH (in particular) in some quarters. On what evidence precisely do people base that judgment? Do people know what exactly his responsibilities are? So specific failings in the team can be objectively attributed to him? Or is it just supposition and "spot the scapegoat"?

Serious question - would be very interested to hear views?

Strangely, in all truth, though I was involved in those discussions on here, and elsewhere, I don't recollect that being said. Not saying it wasn't, just I don't think it was a widely held or repeated view; if it had been I would surely remember.

I don't recall much reasoned discussion (may have been the odd debate) either regarding Macca being let down by poor-quality assistants, although quite a few had a go at Macca for the choice of his assistants (whether from any actual knowledge or just supposition, I have no idea). I do recall discussion that you probably get what you pay for, and that no doubt if there was a lot more money available you could look to recruit higher-level and probably more experienced assistants (a general argument I put forward ) - but that was a different argument. The more substantial POV I recall being expressed on here was instead that (rightly or wrongly, I have no knowledge) Basil and Clogger carried the can for Macca's failure?

I think that peoples problem with LSH is the fact that he was here last year, and he's here this year!

So was Koppy and Heath and Whitehead and the club doctor and the girls behind the bar at the back of the stand...should we sack all of them too?

My stance is not really based on getting shut of LSH but i do think that we need a very positive motivator with a proven playing career which will get the respect of the players thats why I think Glen Morrison would be a good aquisition. (plus Robyn is well fit!)

I'm not saying I agree with the reasoning Adey.

What I'm saying is that I can't imagine many of the people on here have trained under the current coaching staff. For all we know LSH may be the best of our coaches, but doesn't get enough time with the lads.

Neither am I saying that the coaching staff doesn't need freshening up, because I don't feel I'm in a position to have much of an opinion.

All these people looking for scapegoats in the dugout should look at some of the lads on the pitch. I'm sure the coaching staff aren't encouraging high penalty counts, low completion rates and a load of errors most games. The thing that makes it worse is the fact that we've seen the lads DO have good perfomances in them, they just don't seem like they can be d most of the time!

Rant over.

I think the problem for a lot of people was that they genuinely believed that the only thing wrong with the club was MacNamara's day to day coaching, and that having anyone other than MacNamara in charge would be an improvement. When LSH took over and things got worse, regardless of the circumstances, they could only conclude that he was that (to them) hitherto inconceivable thing - an even worse coach than MacNamara.

My understanding, FWIW, is that LSH is actually highly thought-of by Potter, is pretty good on the one-on-ones with players and is very good indeed with the post-match video analysis and interpretations etc. And that he is doing exactly the job Potter wants him to do. But that is only my understanding - others closer to players or coaching staff can doubtless improve on that.

My t'upenth worth... for what it's worth...

Potters arrival was seen by many as being a new dawn and people expected to see an immediate improvement. As it it I thing you'd struggle to say we've remained at the same level never mind moved forward.

Part is probably due to the fact that knowing a squad from the outside like he did when he took over and knowing it inside out like he should now is the difference between thinking a player, or indeed a coach, is up to the grade and knowing that whether they are. I think the consensus was that LSH was kept onboard to give Potter his knowledge of the squad and their ability. If he offers him a new contract beyond this season you have to imagine that LSH is doing something right somewhere.

If he keeps the same backroom staff and we're tearing it up next year with the additions to the squad I dare say we'll be happy enough. If we're as poor as we have been this year I'd expect the full management team to fall on their own swords.