: Fri May 22, 2009 10:05 pm  

Under SM the team is getting worse and I dread to think how much worse we can get! I don't know what the answer is but it isn't Steve McNamara.......

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:12 pm  

No, I'm not. But don't think anyone else can either. We're not a top 8 team anymore, face it!!

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:16 pm  

Not very confident no, although we clearly have no easy games this year, how many easier on paper do we have left this year than celtic and Salford? And they both taught us a lesson in Rugby League basics within the space of 6 days.

did we get to the bottom of if maccas contract is up at the end of this season or next?? As I was convinced it was this but it seems to be now the end of 2010? Anyone able to confirm this either way other than just that Sadler piece?

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:21 pm  

Bradford boss Steve McNamara:

"I thought it was a very tough game and for a large majority of it we were in controll

"We never put the ball down when we were over the line on four separate occasions and if we'd have done that we'd have probably gone on to win the game.

"Salford got a couple of chances and the ones they got they took and we didn't."

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:29 pm  

My answer is no.

He's had 3 years and in that time he's taken defending champions to near wooden spooners. These are not the actions of a coach who can turn this around.

If we take another example as Justin Morgan at Hull KR, he's done the opposite. He's taken a team that came up and started off taking a few kickings but he's held it together and pushed on and now KR are near the top of the league and looking like a good bet for the grand final.

McNamara's selection policies are questionable. His use of subs, unfathomable and his recruitment is laughable.

Time and time again we're told the players "didn't do what we practiced in training". I'm sorry but that's damn unprofessional. If you've a problem with the coach or the coaching methods then take it up with the coaching staff on the training pitch. Don't just not bother when it comes to game time because THAT is a slap in the face to the hard working men and women who pay to watch you play and whos money goes to pay your wages.

But this is something that goes two ways. If the coach can see the players are not playing as coached it's his job to find out why. Do the players not understand what's expected of them? Do they not understand how the set moves are supposed to work? Do they feel unhappy with the level of training they're recieving?
We were told earlier in the year that McNamara knew what was went wrong and it would be fixed. But every loss has changed that story to the point where you have him saying "I don't have the 1st clue what's going on or how to begin fixing it" That is an untenable position for any coach as how can the players get behind a coach who doesn't know what he's doing? How must players like Morrison and Menzies react? Between them they've pretty much seen and done it all as far as RL goes. CAN they really be happy playing under a coach who says he doesn't know what he's doing? I don't think so.

Really, I think McNamara has had his final drink in the Last Chance Saloon. It's time he went out, flagged down a cab and got them to take him to Reality Street. He doesn't have the skills or the ability to take us out of the hole we're in and should do the honourable thing and walk away.

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:31 pm  

I ticked yes but I was confused I meant no.

Really, really, really sorry to say this but I think a regime change to freshen things up and try and create a buzz about the place might be needed now. I'll be at all the home matches at least that's a given but I would just like to enjoy my sunday afternoons at Odsal and the few away games I make it to. That doesn't neccessarily mean a win. Last year away at Saints was the best time I've had at a rugby match in a long time and we got tonked.

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:31 pm  

At this moment in time I can't see where a win is going to come from. OK we beat Wakey the last time we played them but if we do lose that next up, that is followed by:

Wire away (who are playing well again)
Saints at home
Leeds away

If we don't win any of these games (which is now a high possibility) I dread to think what our crowds will be for the home games after them.

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:35 pm  

If we'd appointed a respected assistant coach from down under who the club had no previous links with when Noble went...then he turned in what we have seen over the last couple of seasons, would this hypothetical aussie still be in a job today? i suspect not. are the club giving Mcnamara more time because he's "one of ours?"

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:37 pm  

Maybe nobody else wants the job!

: Fri May 22, 2009 10:39 pm  

Duckman wrote:

If we'd appointed a respected assistant coach from down under who the club had no previous links with when Noble went...then he turned in what we have seen over the last couple of seasons, would this hypothetical aussie still be in a job today? i suspect not. are the club giving Mcnamara more time because he's "one of ours?"

We are starting to remind me of Wire under Paul Cullen - only we are worse!

Wire stuck with Cullen far too long and we are doing the same now with Macca.

Sometimes you've just got to bite the bullet. Short term it might be worse but we've got to get this sorted. The fans keep the club going financially and if most of them leave you don't have a club.