.......From when Paul Cullen took the reigns at Widnes, can anybody see any improvement what so ever? Without trying to stir things up I live a long way from my home town now and still try to catch up with all that is happening on the internet. Has he implemented a two year plan? or was his remit to get the club into shape behind the scenes to prepare it for SL?
Because from what I have seen we have actually gone backwards from the game before he took over (i.e v Tolouse at home a year ago). Nobody can blame injury, because all of the players that he has brought in have either been suspended or injured. Just looking for a little clarity really.

I dont think me have moved forward or particulalry gone backwards to be fair.

There have been alot of changes in the form of coaching staff, players, etc.. but there hasn't been a marked improvement in performances if i'm being honest.

Defence certainly hasn't improved

I think he's designed a very strong structure throughout the team, maybe not noticeable on field as of yet. But he's created a strong young overall squad ready for the big additions if you make it to Super League. So maybe no huge sucess this year, but if you hit Super Duper League I believe that's where his tactics will come into shine.

Only my opinion, and hope you all appreciate these compliments from a 'Fax fan.

I think there have been a number of positives since Paul took over the reigns.
Overall I think the style of play has greatly improved from McCormack's five drives and a kick strategy.
The team is more balanced these days in the forwards and the backs.
The team is definately more disciplined.
I think the team is generally fitter (match fitness)
He is prepared to play the youngsters whereas it always seemed to be a last resort with McCormack.
I don't think the defence has particularly improved but it is certainly no worse than it was.
There seems to be more harmony in the squad.

Just in answer to this one point...
Toulouse were a completely different prospect on Saturday night than they were a year ago. IMO from what we have seen this season they looked one of the best teams in the league for 60 minutes..
People could technically blame injuries if they wanted too because no matter how many people try to understate it.. 10 players unavailable from a first team squad of 25 - 27 is a lot to handle. Especially when two of those are experienced props you were counting on. Plus we have lost one DR player for the season, had another recalled and the other one no-one has seen for ages.
Also I'm not sure what you mean by your last point.. those players Paul has brought in have been to replace those that left.
Allen for Fletcher
Ford for Dodd
Haggerty for Morrison... throw Webster into the mix
If these were fit then we would be a completely different prospect and people wouldn't be panicking as they seem to be doing at the moment.

I dont think its panic to be honest Chris. Its certainly disappointment at unfulfilled expectations. I think alot of us thought we would go really well this year and to be fair, people thought that we had a very strong squad at the start of the year.

One point to pick up on Chris.

In what way is the team more disciplined? This isn't a question on your opinion. Just wondering whether you have the facts ie. penalty counts.

I do remember that under McCormack, we won the Fair Play trophy, which I was critical about. Because if you are winning those sort of trophies, you are obviously too nice a team!

To be honest on this board I think the expectation was a little more realistic. Fax strengthened significantly as did Leigh (despite the prospect of them dropping a division), Barrow added quality, Fev have added quality. We lost some decent players and added a few and balanced the side a little better but I think overall the consensus on this board was that we would go okay... anything more would be a pleasant surprise. I think we are where we expected. There certainly wasn't anyone claiming we would sweep all before us.
I still can't believe that people are willing to sweep aside the injury situation as irrelevant. It really isn't?
Lets see how well Barrow go without Rooney or Fax without Black or Leigh without Paul?
As for the discipline issue, I couldn't give you any figures just a general observation (with the exception of one incident in particular). Away fans now seem to think that we are favoured by refs due to the penalty counts for both sides in our games. I think it is noticeable that we have sharpened up in those areas.

It's a huge shame that many Widnes fans, and I suppose RL fans in general cannot see the bigger fixture and look at the last result.

The club is 100% stronger for having Cullen than McCormack. From bottom to top, those that can't see that obviously need to dig abit deeper into the work him and the people he's brought in have done.

I just don't think things are that bad. We've had one of the best starts we've had in the time we've been down here and a with the amount of injuries we have had we were going to lose some games. The squad has plenty of time to iron out the trouble we had in the patched side we had out against Toulouse.

Gerrard made one bad mistake so some people lay into to him. I think aj viking's post sums up the attitude of some Widnes fans.

we can actually apply for super league now, not for one minute do i think we could had ste mccomic stayed in charge

I think an area where Widnes have been smart, is to use the Loan system and Dual Reg system to the teams benefit. I can't recall many players coming into the club in that way under Ste McCormack? They no doubt make the difference and have bolstered the squad in key games.

Do you think we would have won last years NRC Final had the loanees not been there? I wouldn't have been confident in that!

I think the organisation off the field seems better. Previously we had players who couldn't make training, some turning up on some days and some on other days. We had players getting up at stupid O'Clock just to be able to get to training because they lived so far away. PC seems to have simplified everything and taken a no nonsense approach to the recruitment and training.

For whatever reason though, although the changes you would have thought should have made a difference haven't so far. Injuries obviously have had a major roll to play so far this season, but even last year Cullen's record in the league was something like 10 wins 9 losses. We've have played some good stuff at times this season, but for whatever reason the way the players start games is all wrong and its often 60 minutes into a game before we up our game.

IMO the jury is still out on Cullen. We've brought in James and Heckenburg, Ford and Webbo should be fit in the next few weeks, so there can't be any excuses if we don't perform. There are a few poor sides this year and you would think the bottom 3 will be Whitehaven, Dewsbury and Keighley. We only have to finish above one other team to get into the play-offs, which you would have thought is the very minimum we should be aiming for. IMO anything outside the top 3 would be a bad season for us. Its the perfect opportunity for Cullen really - he's got 3 attempts to show what he can do and i would have thought success by winning the GF or finishing top, in any season would be enough to earn him a shot at SL - if we get there. If he can't bring us success at this level however, there should be no way he should be given a contract to coach us in SL.

IMO we have a really good coach.
Considering what he took over last year and yet he still managed to win the NR Cup beating the two teams that would eventually finish top and second in the league on the way. Remember that early last season what a complete mess we were in in and how genuinely we were panicking. Just look at the structure in place now.
Admittedly he did bring in his loan players of Hall, Pickersgil, Penny and Grayshon but for me last season beat my early expectations and this season is looking to do just the same.
I agree that we have some important players returning and I think we will look back at this match as a temporary blip.

Plus we have to remember that he is doing this and at the same time looking after his wife. I can't imagine the strain he is being placed under and yet if no-one told you, you wouldn't know what a hard time he is having. He is still there at nearly every game and I am told that he is at nearly all of the training sessions plus putting in more hours in the office.

For all this I am firmly in the Cullen camp.

I was pleasently suprised with the start of the season and cup, as soon as the injuries came and the fact that we had so many out to begin with it is only to be expected that we had a slide in performances, this won't last for ever.


Remember, Widnes win when it matters