It was in relation to previous posts, I don't say I am happy with it!

No they wouldn't because as IL has said losing 5 semi finals over the last three years isn't good enough. Teams like Hudds and HKR have done well this season because relative to where they were they have improved so they ought to be pleased about that but there is no way on earth any team would be chuffed to be losing 5 semi finals in three years as it represents no improvement.



Everyone acknowledges he saved us in 2006 but are in the same state now as we were at the end of 2007, that's the problem and why he has lost his job.



There is no one more grateful than me we didn't go down in 2006. When people were suggesting it may even be a good thing to clear out the dross I was going ballistic because the implications of the drop are immense. Since then though it's been a frustrating three years. Dragging up 75-0 as was done in the previous post I replied to when coached by a lunatic like Millward and ignoring some dire losses to Hudds and Celtic when supposedly coached by a far more level headed and conservative coach is a bit of a selective view IMO.

Dave

Widnes for example?

At the end of the day, though, what does getting to a semi-final actually mean?

To me it's just a sign that there was a lot of effort, which is worthy of respect, but that the killer touch was still missing.

Very few remember the losing finalists, but no-one at all remembers the losing semi-finalists. On it's own, it's no achievement whatsoever.

Drawing comfort from getting to a semi is similar to the habit we've got into of being grateful for not being humiliated whenever we play Saints.

This is an innately negative mindset which the new guy can hopefully break.

100% correct.

It's closer to the truth than the selective view portrayed in the original post I replied to.



Just what did he have to do with the Orrell facility? You will be telling me next he negotiated the cheap rent on the DW stadium.

Why was the academy system on its ar$e? What was wrong with it and how did he fix it?

It seems Noble did everything except get results.

Dave

Noble pushed for us to get a training facility away from the JJB stadium as he viewed the facilities and situation there as not fit for purpose. He may not have stumped up the cash for Orrell but he did cause the process that saw us develop it into the training facility to start. I believe he was also involved in deciding the layout of the training centre at Orrell.

It may not have worked as well as hoped on the pitch but Noble did have a positive impact on the infrastructure of the club.

Not a lot. On the other thread you state you would be happy with a top 4 finish under the new coach. What does coming 4th actually mean? Presumably if we get the top 4 finish you expect we should be reaching the final, as you quite rightly point out reaching semis isn't good enough?

Dave O.

Do you ever attend any of the reserve / academy games?
Have you seen the facilities at Orrell?

Ask any of the players who have come through the junior systems during Nobles tenure if they think that the "systems" have improved.

When Noble arrived the young players were buying their own training kit etc. Noble has been the driving force behind many of the changes that have been made.

Incidentally my comments about the academy and the training base at Orrell are not based on Noble's comments this weekend.

The academy and reserves team achieved decent results, but the way it was run was a mess. The way recruitment and re-recruitment of this level of player was being ignored, the coaching infrastructure was also lacking.

Millward left his imprint on the younger players, instructing his staff to train all the weight off his players, even those that relied on their size as part of their game. One such example being Bryn Hargreaves, whos confidence was shattered and who responded after time with Perrelini in his first season at Saints.

Noble sorted out the bodge job of "Saints II' that he inherited.

It was Noble's vision and determination that sought the club house rennovation into a training facility, left shocked by the simple provision of a pitch and changing facilities.

It was a typical example of how he believed the club was not being run as a proffessional rugby outfit from top to bottom. The administration at the time believed that all these things that Noble asked for could be overcome by splashing out large transfer fees and bringing in the marquee players. It was these disagreements that began the final days of Lindsay and Whelan, a good year or so before the CC semi vs. Catalans.

Although it is questionable whether the current administration is up to scratch that is an argument for another day. But Noble certainly did a lot for the club, that coaches previous to him 'just put up with'.

The time for Noble to go was right, emphasised by the sides lack of ideas and stupid plays in the play off game at St Helens. A step on is needed, but Noble has certainly sorted out the basics and I am sure anyone that is familiar with the club from top to bottom will back me up.

Getting to the top 4 would mean that we'd improved noticeably on the previous two or three seasons. Which I guess we all want, no?

I wouldn't expect that it means we'd then get to the final. But it would mean that we'd be in a better position to strike for it, and would be less tired and stressed than if we'd had to fight our way there from 5th or 6th.

Now be fair, that's not difficult.

You quote my comment about 'reaching the semis' in isolation from the rest of my post, which is a bit naughty of you. The overall point I was making is that simply getting to semis and never getting past them is not something to take comfort from. We've fallen into a mindset of underachievement, which we need to break. And the best way to break that, is by winning a lot more league games, thereby increasing our own confidence, reducing the confidence of the opposition, reinventing the notion of Fortress JJB, etc.

I don't think I made a particularly controversial post.

Where did we finish in 2008?

I wish more people would appreciate what Noble has done and admitt it is time for him to leave.

I can't be bothered looking it up, but if you're going to tell me it was in the top 4, all it proves is that this season we've got significantly worse.

The rest of the post stands.