Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:18 pm  

No, he has to get to the MPG. Unless by some minor miracle we end up in it playing against another side in total disarray, then we all now know we have no chance of winning it. So you can't sack a coach for that. And anyway, they didn't sack him this year, when we could and should have won it, so why would they next year if we get easily controlled by a superior quality SL team?

Having thought a lot about the permutations this year, I'm convinced that the best chance of promotion from this division isn't the MPG, it is somehow making the 3rd spot. It's not a lot easier than the MPG but if the combination of fixtures and critically other results goes our way, there would be a way to sneak in via the 3rd place door. Essentially what you need is one of the SL teams to have a mare throughout the playoffs.

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:57 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

No, he has to get to the MPG. Unless by some minor miracle we end up in it playing against another side in total disarray, then we all now know we have no chance of winning it. So you can't sack a coach for that. And anyway, they didn't sack him this year, when we could and should have won it, so why would they next year if we get easily controlled by a superior quality SL team?

Having thought a lot about the permutations this year, I'm convinced that the best chance of promotion from this division isn't the MPG, it is somehow making the 3rd spot. It's not a lot easier than the MPG but if the combination of fixtures and critically other results goes our way, there would be a way to sneak in via the 3rd place door. Essentially what you need is one of the SL teams to have a mare throughout the playoffs.

It makes you wonder why we didn't turn up against Wakefield in the first meeting in the Middle 8s. Would that have given us third place if we'd also bothered to try against Halifax and beat all Championship opposition plus two SL teams?

[Bulliac]

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:37 pm  

Our best chance of rising is maybe that one of the SL clubs goes through the same kind of financial problems which laid us low. I wouldn't wish that on any club though, but it must remain a medium [at least] possibility, the way things are and maybe even a bigger possibility if the clubs start overreaching themselves with their 'marquee' signings.

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Fri Oct 16, 2015 3:53 pm  

I fully expect the coaching situation will be decided well before we get to the play off's in August.
If you were in charge would you leave such a big decision to a few games in September?
I would decide after Easter if Jimmy is the man for a third season. If so, then give him an extension. If not - which I suspect most fans will now say is their preferred option - then start looking in May or around then so the new man can start planning.

I will say now that I expect to hear calls for Brian Smith to be offered the job when Jimmy completes his contract. I will be very surprised to see Jimmy offered a new contract early in the season. If he isn't, then Green is waiting to see how they go but he can't wait too long. Jimmy needs to know early or the new man does or we are playing catch up for a third year.

Imagine this situation. In June we offer Smith a job for 2017 and he accepts. Wakey then end up in the play off's again. What will their chairman do as his coach will be coaching against his new club in vital games. Would Smith really want to stop the Bulls getting promotion as it would hurt his chances of SL. It would be hilarious reading the posts on the Wakey site questioning Smiths loyalty. This is just a thought - but a possibility!

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Sat Oct 17, 2015 2:34 am  

Blotto wrote:

Considering the Bulls had been playing with "Skinny" squads for the past few seasons, I suspect part of the brief was to make sure there was large playing squad to increase competition and cover the usual injuries accrued from pre season right through to season end. Hindsight by some says quality over quantity, which considering the Bulls precarious finances meant good players were not going to be easy to find.

Not quite sure how you accommodate your ethos under a different salary cap..Quality costs money usually at the cost of quantity.

[Bulliac]

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:05 am  

atomic wrote:

Not quite sure how you accommodate your ethos under a different salary cap..Quality costs money usually at the cost of quantity.

You need [or are able to obtain] different levels of player dependent on the playing level of the club. Finances would mirror that.

We operate on sound business principles whereby the owner will invest more on the basis that the investment pays for itself. In SL, the salary costs and player ability would rise, as would the income, via crowds, TV money and competition disbursements. The club hasn't always done so but nowadays operates in a cloth cutting and businesslike manner.

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:58 pm  

Bulliac wrote:

You need [or are able to obtain] different levels of player dependent on the playing level of the club. Finances would mirror that.

Still not sure how you fit that in under the current cap.Your saying possibly 10-15 fringe players to cover injuries or rotate.That will get you to the 8's again but then what?

[Bulliac]

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Sun Oct 18, 2015 10:36 am  

atomic wrote:

Still not sure how you fit that in under the current cap.Your saying possibly 10-15 fringe players to cover injuries or rotate.That will get you to the 8's again but then what?

That statement was pretty general, and covers different possibilities, and definitely not just about next season but for any possible future years in SL where a different cap applies. There are already clubs wanting to raise the cap in the Champ anyway.

For next year, from what we're led to believe, it's the club's intention to wind down from the around 36 players we had last season, [when around five of those didn't even get a game] to something like 30. This isn't just about cap but finances in general - remember, unless things have changed, it's only the top 25 who count under the cap anyway, so ten our last years' squad wouldn't have counted, though they would have to be paid, of course so it impacts on club's bottom line.

As for the eights, with clubs on different levels of cap it's many miles from a fair competition, which is exactly what the RFL always wanted imo.

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Mon Oct 19, 2015 2:42 am  

The RFL must surely be sweating a bit now on the Bulls situation though. I mean, it worked out kinda OK for one season in the Championship - we spiced that up, it restored a feelgood factor and we made the MPG and thus the Super 8 format, an arguable success. But the RFL now know what's wrong with the Super 8s format, and that in reality it is not a genuine chance of promotion barring accidents. And they will be watching very warily what happens at Bradford as they can't afford to have a properly run Bulls out of SL for long, because there is no long-term or even medium-term future for the Bulls as we know them in the Championship.

Re: Sorry Jimmy but...... : Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:51 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

The RFL must surely be sweating a bit now on the Bulls situation though. I mean, it worked out kinda OK for one season in the Championship - we spiced that up, it restored a feelgood factor and we made the MPG and thus the Super 8 format, an arguable success. But the RFL now know what's wrong with the Super 8s format, and that in reality it is not a genuine chance of promotion barring accidents. And they will be watching very warily what happens at Bradford as they can't afford to have a properly run Bulls out of SL for long, because there is no long-term or even medium-term future for the Bulls as we know them in the Championship.

I think you're over emphasising our importance to the game. Yes, it would probably be better for SL if we'd replaced Wakefield. It certainly wouldn't have harmed the average crowd numbers. But I really believe that the RFL already KNOWS that the current format is not genuine promotion and relegation as the format is designed to ensure the status quo, while giving the illusion of P&R