Relegation..

Quote: hindle xiii "Nobody knows for certain, all it could take is a fresh idea or two to tweak things, i.e. perhaps a subtle change to defensive patterns or a shift in balance in training between x and y, and then we could find our form. Of course it's only speculation, but further down the line it becomes hindsight.

Yes, we're low on numbers and Francis has dealt with shiite no other coach has but who's to say he's really the right man? At what point does it become too late to do anything?

There's too much at stake to leave it to "what if". Some may see it as knee-jerk, or changes for changes sake, and of course anyone is welcome to because it's a forum, but I really think drastic changes are needed. The minimum should be another assistant to shake up our defence. However, I'm beginning to think more changes are needed.

What do you think FA?
I think given the unprecedented shiite he has been dealt, and his responses to it, it would be hugely unfair and a real kick in the bollox to thank Cummins by giving him the bullet. I would give him the rest of the season on general principles and as only a bastarrd would not.

Trouble is that in business and sport it is more often the bastarrds that do best.

Cummins has been far more impressive than i could have predicted, and it is true that he has had little or no control over a number of factors, and in team unity, dealing with adversity etc. I suppose no-one could have done better but nevertheless there are a number of things that are in his remit and which he COULD influence, which have not been affected by the calamitous events surrounding him and those include
* our endemic propensity to give up miles of territory by poor technique, dropped ball, poor pass selection etc.
* our endemic concession of serial predictable penalties
* our erratic defensive standard, and frequently shambolic and disorganised attempts at defending (Sure you could talk about getting defensive coach but isn't that the same thing as saying Cummins himself can't coach a decent defence?)
* our tactical kicking, which overall is amongst the worst in the league, especially last tackle plays, especially in the opposition half.

I know we have lost plenty of important players but while with us they all regularly contributed to all of the above, which has been a feature of our play for a long time with little sign of improvement.

So if I were the owner, his job would be safe for the season, but that's perhaps because I'm too soft, and think in fairness he's earned the right to have a chance to show he can improve things on the field now things are (maybe) starting to at last settle down. But I'm pretty sure that with most hard-headed basstard businessmen he would be out the door, in a Koukash-stylee "just do it" kind of way on the basis we don't have the luxury of time.