The biggest problem I have with this is not the selection of players for a train on squad that in reality is not going to beat Australia any way.

It's the blatant abuse of powers as the national head coach in appearing to be picking players for the squad becuase they play for him. ATEOTD and IMO neither Harrison (yet) or Bridge would be any where near the squad if Smith wasn't in charge.

I like Smith as a coach and the effect he has had on the domestic teams he has coached cannot be argued with, however at international level he just has not cut it (not had the cattle perhaps).

I just don't like the advantage this gives him/Warrington when it comes to delivering a message of 'come play for me and the national setup awaits', nor do I feel to comfortable in having some of the leagues best youngsters in the presence of someone who is appears to not be bothered about abusing his position.

This squad would of had 8 Warrington players in it if Atkins hadn't pulled out, thats more than both Leeds and Saints are likely to have and don't tell me that Smith didn't play the I'm the England head coach card when trying to sign Myler/Atkins

I don't particularly blame Smith more the RFL/system, it was the same whilst Noble was in charge it just didn't seem as 'in your face' as it does right now.

I like the idea of train on squads and bringing players who are on the fringe into the setup for the experience but as far as I am concerned the coaching setup should be headed by a full time coach (no idea who) who is not linked to any club and is therefore not providing any unfair advantage to any team in the league.

Whilst last year was pretty poor, the way you and many others talk, you would think the 2007 series against NZ never happened.
How did the team we stuffed do a year later?

Is it a full time job though? What does he do for 10 months of the year? Who are you going to get for the job if it's a full time role? The honest answer is that we would get a coach not regareded as good enough to have an SL or NRL head coaching position.

There also the fact that in a sport not awash with cash, a full time England coach might not be the best use of what would be a much greater expense for a full time coach than it would for a PT coach.

Beating half-a-side is hardly comparable. Look how they did against us in the 2008 World Cup.

IIRC, they had a full 17 out each game.
Look at what we did to them in 2007.

Why do we have such a hard time accepting success?

It's almost as if our supporters prefer to see their team lose, so they can bitch about it.

Quote Durham Giant="Durham Giant"When i posted thisthread i had my doubts about Tony Smith viewtopic.php?t=430528 Now with this it has confirmed them www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... gland.html Is Bridge really going to be an England half back ahead of Pryce, Myler, Tompkins, Rachford, Burrows etc. Is Harrison going to be ahead of Wilkin Burgess, JJb etc. then why are they in the train on squad for England now . What has it done to attempts to get a meaningful international competition now Ireland have lost two key players. Between the RFL and Smith they are messing up International RL. Aditionally what does it say to club players come to Warrington and i will get you in the international squad. The sooner Smith **** off the better for England internationally he is incompetent, nepotistic and possibly a fifth columnist for the ARL and RU. What a waste of space Particularly when you look at the players left out. Dale Ferguson should have walked in ahead of Harrison. What a joke'" Really........ you sure about that???

Quote Durham Giant="Durham Giant"When i posted thisthread i had my doubts about Tony Smith viewtopic.php?t=430528 Now with this it has confirmed them www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... gland.html Is Bridge really going to be an England half back ahead of Pryce, Myler, Tompkins, Rachford, Burrows etc. Is Harrison going to be ahead of Wilkin Burgess, JJb etc. then why are they in the train on squad for England now . What has it done to attempts to get a meaningful international competition now Ireland have lost two key players. Between the RFL and Smith they are messing up International RL. Aditionally what does it say to club players come to Warrington and i will get you in the international squad. The sooner Smith **** off the better for England internationally he is incompetent, nepotistic and possibly a fifth columnist for the ARL and RU. What a waste of space Particularly when you look at the players left out. Dale Ferguson should have walked in ahead of Harrison. What a joke'" Really........ you sure about that???

now that is a bold statement!! (not literally

)

You know what I meant. The 17 they put in the Tests against us was nowhere near the same side as they had out in the World Cup. In fact, they were so weakened, I'd never heard of half the players.

OK, even if I gave you 2007 (which was against a very depleated and poor NZ setup, which if I recall correctly, changed it's coaching setup immediately afterwards) last year was more than embarassing and that was with Smith full time, how can it possibly help the situation to go backwards and then make him part time?

You know what....the 17 England play this series will be quite different to that of 2008. Will Australia and NZ be trying to qualify out their wins over us in 2008 because of that?
Why do we find it so hard to accept success?

So why so keen to make excuses for when another country loses, but when it's England everyone wants to revel in misery?



Was he actually coaching full time, or did he have other responsibilities that have now been filled by others?
I have already said why I don't feel the role is a full time one.