: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:59 am  

Roofaldo wrote:

The whole "we're not playing how we're coached" should set off alarm bells with anyone. Why aren't we playing how we're coached. What's the reason? Is there disharmony within the squad? Is it a small clique or is it a larger issue? If it's one or two players then the door is that way fellas.

More good questions.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:04 am  

Re the academy system. If I understand correctly all I have read and heard, this was badly neglected in the Noble years (as was the wider area of promoting the club round the schools and in the wider community). One of the main thrusts of the club in the subsequent years has been to try and get this back on track. But if so, that's not a five minute job so people should not expect immediate answers. Looks like we are STARTING to see some results coming through, but we still have some way down the track to go.

As for chucking the young lads in at the deep end...you can do that with the odd one or two providing you don't do too many at once? There are the exceptions who immediately step up - Fielden was an example - provided they are supported by the rest of a strong team so they don't get stonked and scarred for life. You only have to look at what happened to the young guys at the Piedome who all got chucked in at once to see the longer-term damage that approach can lead to?

But I'm not an expert at all on the detailed playing side (quite the opposite) - my expertise lies elsewhere - so I'd be interested in the views of those who can speak objectively and with some first-hand knowledge about where we are with the academy right now. Those who really know what they are talking about. Anyone?

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:19 am  

Roofaldo wrote:

The whole "we're not playing how we're coached" should set off alarm bells with anyone. Why aren't we playing how we're coached. What's the reason? Is there disharmony within the squad? Is it a small clique or is it a larger issue? If it's one or two players then the door is that way fellas.

Indeed. Sure does with me.

What's really worrying me is that I see parallels with other teams or clubs, in the past, where the team appears to have been performing well below how you would expect on paper. Look to Wigan numerous times; look to Wire ditto (sadly they seem to have finally got their shît together on our time...). Look to US in early 2005. For that matter, look to England in the World Cup. And in each case, what came out (or is/was suspected) is serious disharmony in the ranks between players.

Its all very well Macca and others pointing to injuries - and they have a point - but that will cut no ice with the likes of Wakefield who proved that there are ways of getting through that situation without going into meltdown.

Sometimes it looks like that may be the case here - there are hints of it in Sol's (assuming he did it all) piece as I alluded to earlier - yet at other times (like against Leeds) - there was no evidence whatsoever of it - quite the opposite.

Its got me baffled.

One last thought: in 1997 we played Auckland, the bottom team in the Australian superleague competition. And threw the first game away in the last few mins, and got absolutely stonked in the second and third. Much was made in the press at the time about how a top UK team could get hammered by the bottom Oz team. What a lot of the comment overlooked was that the gap in standards between top and bottom was far far smaller in Oz than it was here. There, pretty well any team could beat any other on its day, as indeed is still the case. That's how it has developed here now.

Someone has to be near the bottom, and there is far less shame in being beaten by the likes of Wakefield or Huddersfield or even Wire than there ever was. Hell, there is no shame at all in it now - provided the players give it their best. The shame comes when we see a debacle like Friday.

IMO, of course.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:07 pm  

Doesn't this defeat the whole purpose of having a squad?
We are now in the situation where the ones who are playing pants know they won't be dropped so can't be bothered to motivate themselves to play any better and the others in the squad are left thinking what's the effing point, Im never going to get a game.
Brilliant management anyway you look at it!

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:31 pm  

And why should they get motivated? I bet half of them want to get out of the game anyway. The wages are crap! I mean what is the point of putting your body through hell for 30-40k a year! They are all probably thinking what is the point? I have a son who is very sporty and if he ever showed 1 bit of interest in playing rugby league I will make him join a rugby union club. I mean look at Jonny Wilkinson, been injured for near enough 2 seasons and is about to sign for a French club and earn a massive 700K a year! Why on earth these kids wanna play rugby league is beyond me when they can probably earn double or triple in the other code!

The salary cap needs to be increased now otherwise this sport is going to decrease in popularity year on year and we will increasingly get poorer and poorer seasons and results. Like the one against Warrington!

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:36 pm  

kiJ wrote:

The salary cap needs to be increased now otherwise this sport is going to decrease in popularity year on year and we will increasingly get poorer and poorer seasons and results. Like the one against Warrington!

Er...shouldn't the same apply to all clubs? Why would a too low a salary cap (supposedly applying to everyone) lead to what we saw on Friday?

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:38 pm  

kiJ wrote:

And why should they get motivated? I bet half of them want to get out of the game anyway. The wages are crap! I mean what is the point of putting your body through hell for 30-40k a year! They are all probably thinking what is the point? I have a son who is very sporty and if he ever showed 1 bit of interest in playing rugby league I will make him join a rugby union club. I mean look at Jonny Wilkinson, been injured for near enough 2 seasons and is about to sign for a French club and earn a massive 700K a year! Why on earth these kids wanna play rugby league is beyond me when they can probably earn double or triple in the other code!

The salary cap needs to be increased now otherwise this sport is going to decrease in popularity year on year and we will increasingly get poorer and poorer seasons and results. Like the one against Warrington!

What's the point of doing that when over half the club's won't be able to afford to spend it????
The only salary cap adjustment i'd make would be a 10/20k exemption on acadamy produced player's.
Your result/performance was nothing to do with a salary cap!!
It was the result of 3 game's in 8 days with a paper thin squad lacking in confidence,quality and 1st class coaching.

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:45 pm  

'paper thin squad lacking in confidence,quality' is because of the salary cap!

Granted there are winners and losers in all sports, but I would much rather see Bradford get beaten playing well and with quality players on the pitch rather then getting battered 22 – 58. 30-40k a year will not attract quality players to the sport!

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:50 pm  

kiJ wrote:

'paper thin squad lacking in confidence,quality' is because of the salary cap!

Granted there are winners and losers in all sports, but I would much rather see Bradford get beaten playing well and with quality players on the pitch rather then getting battered 22 – 58. 30-40k a year will not attract quality players to the sport!

You need to answer my original question for what you said to make much sense to most of us on here!

: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:53 pm  

kiJ wrote:

And why should they get motivated? I bet half of them want to get out of the game anyway. The wages are crap! I mean what is the point of putting your body through hell for 30-40k a year! They are all probably thinking what is the point? I have a son who is very sporty and if he ever showed 1 bit of interest in playing rugby league I will make him join a rugby union club. I mean look at Jonny Wilkinson, been injured for near enough 2 seasons and is about to sign for a French club and earn a massive 700K a year! Why on earth these kids wanna play rugby league is beyond me when they can probably earn double or triple in the other code!

The salary cap needs to be increased now otherwise this sport is going to decrease in popularity year on year and we will increasingly get poorer and poorer seasons and results. Like the one against Warrington!

Are you aware there is a recession on??? Any jobs a good job at the moment. Pr1ck!!!

The reason any sports person plays any sport whether it be professional or not is because they love it!!! Rugby League is no different. Bottom line is if players didn't want to play then they wouldn't! I would guess you havent played much sport yourself, otherwise you would know why rugby league players take to the field again and again.

Now......A little bit of a suggestion here. And please don't feel patronised as I have only been on this earth 23 years and have yet to know for definate that my sperm works.

I will make him join a rugby union club

Isn't that a little definate?What if your son grows up and enjoys rugby league much more, and wants to play it but won't be allowed because on the remote chance of him making it professional his prospective earnings may be less than if he played kick and clap??? It seems what the super nanny would call "negative parenting!" Maybe he could become a financial advisor or something such like as thats what you must be.... i mean how else would you be able to comment on this paultry RL players 30-40k income you seem to know so much about. I think what I'm trying to say is:

Its not all about the money. I'd personally be much happier playing RL on 35k than playing union on 40K. Players sign a contract because they want to. They want to be top of their game and they want to compete and WIN trophies. In answer to your question "why should they be motivated".....the answer is simple. Because we should all be striving to be the best person we can be! Thats what i'll teach my son, whether he wants to be a RL Player, RU Player or whatever.