Just because you spend doesn’t mean you win. You need a plan to break down those at the top. That’s why Price couldn’t get us over the last hurdle, and ultimately the same with Smith.

Actually, I gave you a list of names. From memory, Holbrook, McGuire, McDermott, King, Ciraldo and Wellens. I also answered this in more detail weeks ago, even months ago, that the right approach for me would be more structured around a Director of Rugby etc.

Hate to repeat myself though.

It is worth remembering that Watson with Hudds finished 9th last season. Like we likely will.

2 positions below their previous. Discounting the “doesn’t spend the full cap” mitigating argument offered in favour of Powell, nobody would really bat an eyelid at Huddersfield finishing anywhere between 3rd and 10th. It’s not uncommon.

Of course it's not going to plan -transitions such as this are rarely without bumps or big bumps in this case.

This is how see it and I should have perhaps posted this earlier:

Board meet during last season on the back of diminishing crowds and 2/soon to be 3 1st round knockouts in playoffs.

To address this, they appoint Powell, who has track record of improving teams and playing attractive RL. Most people, at the time, backed this.

Start of his tenure: Powell sets his stall out to the players demanding higher standards. Certain key influential players don't like it for example: Cooper won't be able to design as many underpants. Also, the more experienced players may not like this upstart telling them that they need to improve, despite the players poor record during Price's reign.

Certain players, probably the more experienced, react and effectively down tools as they won't agree to the suggestions. This causes division in the players and many younger, new to the club players are naturally influenced by this, affecting performance.

Senior players won't budge, so Powell has to get rid. This speeds up the need for squad change which would have inevitably happened due to players ageing. This also provides opportunity for young players to come in, but in some cases, it's perhaps a bit early.

Some might say that Powell went in too harsh. But others, including myself, believe that if players weren't prepared to improve for the sake of the club, then they need binning. Given that we needed improvement, and this has been identified by the board and by fans after 4 years of malaise, then Powell hasn't got much choice. Any incoming coach would have faced the same issue: New incoming coach speaks:
"Players, we all need to improve because we've been crap for 4/5/6/7 odd years. We need to complete the full training sessions as your paid for that time...and sorry Coops, the undies 'll have to wait".
Its not going to go down well.

So, some experienced players leave. We've got players promoted into positions too early and new recruits coming in to add to the mix. We've also got senior players (though less now) still peeved off and undermining Powell's leadership.

It may or may not be Powell's fault that this crazy situation has occurred in having so many new and inexperienced players playing in a team. And the only club experienced players being peed off. But this is a nightmare to manage with so many things to work on at the same time - that's why he needs time.

If we go back a bit. It was inevitable that things needed to change. If Powell was tasked with this job to improve things, and players weren't buying in, what choice did he have?

An example:
Price was like the substitute teacher at school. Well liked but nothing ever really got done. The headteacher has identified the underperforming class and appointed a stricter teacher deploying harsher rules to achieve higher standards. At first pupils ride against this as their freedoms are encroached, but eventually they fall into line. Medium to weaker kids will follow the top dogs in class who rebel against this, but at some point, when the new teacher gains control, the improvements start to happen.(Obviously the teacher can't get rid of the naughty ones so this isn't a perfect example).


We're hopefully, given the last 2 games, seeing some change, although a long way to go.

Whether you like Powell or not, any new coach would have had to make those changes if the players weren't willing to change and that's why we have a virtually new team after 6 months - I think it's unheard of at any top level club.

If you thought Powell was the right appointment, you should stick with him, despite an imperfect start. If it's poor next year then fair enough. But given the crazy player situation, whether you think Powell was at fault or not for this, he still needs backing perhaps now more than ever as he's basically responsible for all of next years squad. We can't go back in time to change the coach, so it would be ludicrous to change now in the midst of this situation, as he's ironically probably the only person who can get us out (he's taken us into the maze, so he's probably the only person who can see us out).

If you don't want Powell to stay, please make a suggestion of what to do next. I think we've debated this long enough and I think we all agree that most people don't like him, therefore, what do we do now?

(Just in case anyone was unsure, I'm sticking with Powell. Also, if we get rid of him now, you won't be able to take the out of me when we lose).

That's why we need fundamental change, because we're spending top dollar and getting a poor return. (See above post).

We are you pretending the last two games are any indication that we're improving? We beat a Catalan team missing like 8 important players including basically their entire front row, and then we got took to the cleaners for 40 minutes at Cas who essentially put the cue on the rack and almost beat themselves thanks in part to lunacy from Blair. Powell talked up the game as very important and pivotal this week, and despite that, we still sh*t the bed with a team of his choosing.

For the record I wasn't happy when we announced Powell, so I've never been on board and this season is doing absolutely nothing to change that. If we'd have announced Wane, I'd have been ecastatic and I think he's a b*llend as well. He would have got more out of this shower.

It's still not good enough, but there was some improvement in those to games. Those first 2 tries conceded v Cas were individual defensive errors enacted by a young inexperienced player, not a lot Powell or anyone else can do.

We're fragile at the moment and those two scores put us on the back foot.

Are you in favour, out of interest, in blooding the young players? It's always a bit of a gamble. It's the perfect storm: young players finding their feet with new arrivals, plus peeved off experienced player in one team!

Translated as....

'I'm that moaning fella in the South Stand, who spends all the game slagging off the team, & I can't wait for Powell to be sacked so I can come on here, rant at people in the pub, & bore/irritate people at the game, with how I told you he wasn't the right man for the job from the very start.'

He will still call himself a supporter though

Who are you going to bring in?

Jesus christ, mate. I'm not bringing anyone in. It's not my job to do so. It is however my right to call sh*t when I see sh*t. End of. We're crap. Powells crap. He's never won owt of note. Has ruined our defence. No point scoring if the other team can outscore us.