: Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:38 pm  

Eurob0y wrote:

To be GB/England manager, you need the following.

1. To have been an average rugby player in your time and
2. To have achieved success on the back of inheriting someone elses club team.

Does anyone esle remember Tony Smith playing for Workington?

We should be pulling out all the stops to get someone in, who is a winner. A proper winner.

Who? Is anyone idea. Who would want the job?

Paul Sculthorpe, Andy Farrell, Tommy Martyn, Kris Radlinski? All lacking coaching experience, but top players in their day, perhaps able, with a decent coaching team to rally a squad for the short periods they get together. All decorated players who know what it takes to win. All recent enough players to not be out of touch with the modern styles.

Andrew Johns? Alfie Langer? Freddie Fittler? What are these guys doing?

Even if not head coach, it could be worth looking at them for "advisory" or "mentor" roles for our current international players.

What exactly is Ellery Hanley doing these days??

: Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:41 pm  

Offside Monkey wrote:

Does anyone esle remember Tony Smith playing for Workington?

Paul Sculthorpe, Andy Farrell, Tommy Martyn, Kris Radlinski? All lacking coaching experience, but top players in their day, perhaps able, with a decent coaching team to rally a squad for the short periods they get together. All decorated players who know what it takes to win. All recent enough players to not be out of touch with the modern styles.

Andrew Johns? Alfie Langer? Freddie Fittler? What are these guys doing?

Even if not head coach, it could be worth looking at them for "advisory" or "mentor" roles for our current international players.

What exactly is Ellery Hanley doing these days??

I believe after leaving Donny Ellery is signed upto one of those tv Dancing shows but to be fair he will get known from that then get head coach role for England people will have a browse about what he does.

: Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:14 pm  

Mick Gledhill would win the World Cup as coach of Australia.

Tony Smith isnt the problem the players are.

[Bullseye]

: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:43 pm  

Roy Haggerty wrote:

The situation in our backline from 1-7 is atrocious. I hate how old this makes me sound, but I've been watching rugby for 25 years now, and I have never seen a set of backs so utterly devoid of world class talent. Compared to Newlove, Davies, Offiah, Gibbs, Connolly, Radlinski in his pomp, Edwards, Goulding etc this lot are woeful. Everyone over 30 will recognise how dire it is that I can say this confidently, but if Alan Hunte was playing now, he'd be the best winger in this country by such a distance that Stevo would be tossing off over him. Sculthorpe and Farrell had their detractors (usually wearing either Wigan or Saints shirts), but they were beter backs than any of our lads on this tour, and they were actually both forwards.

You're absolutely right and you aren't the only one to hate how old it makes you sound either!

: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:53 pm  

No showing from Smith at Stan's final testimonial dinner last night, wonder why

: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:55 pm  

NZ have shown with the right coach you can turn an avergae team into World Champs!

Under two coaches they were quality teams, under one they were shocking.

Time for Smith to go, Lets get a Brit with some pride and passion running the squad! They shouldn't need technical coaching by the time they are Internationals, they should just need gelling and firing up!

: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:09 pm  

JB Down Under wrote:

They shouldn't need technical coaching by the time they are Internationals, they should just need gelling and firing up!

They shouldn't, but they do, and perhaps that is the root of the problem. Too often, the basic skill levels are poor - how to carry the ball, passing either side, etc. Tactical awareness from many posters also demonstrates the lack of early level coaching.

Saying all that, the players performed below their individual ability, which has to be put down to the coach.

: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:53 am  

Richie wrote:

They shouldn't, but they do, and perhaps that is the root of the problem. Too often, the basic skill levels are poor - how to carry the ball, passing either side, etc. Tactical awareness from many posters also demonstrates the lack of early level coaching.

Saying all that, the players performed below their individual ability, which has to be put down to the coach.

Why?

: Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:25 am  

John D H wrote:

Why?

One player playing badly = down to the individual player.
Lots of players playing badly = down to the coach.

[Hillsborough Lad]

: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:45 pm  

Has he gone yet?