: Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:11 pm  

Postmeister wrote:

It's eloquently not eliquently.

brilliant

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:55 pm  

He may as well read them the Beano. It isn't going to make any difference.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:29 pm  

The question we should be asking is why is it Malcolm Alker saying extra training is needed. Surely this is Shaun McRae's call.
However, I don't think the training will make much difference. Super League has improved but the problem is more we have gone backwards ever since McRae took over.
Look back at our performances towards the end of the releagtion season. We got progressively worse, who can forget the Hull KR humiliation. Our performances last season were pretty poor all round. Have we forgot how the side was booed off at the Willows on several occasions, being ripped apart by a rookie scrum half at Whitehaven and the poor away form. Winning the league and NR Cup masked deficiences, the same ones being more ruthlessly exposed at Super League level.
We lack ideas in attack especially near the line. There is no real go forward because the forwards are always stood still when they get the ball. The kicking game is atrocious. Defensively we cannot tackle to save our lives. We lack pace and overall fitness. The failure to stop teams keeping the ball alive is as much a fitness issue in my view as the players lack the upper body strength to shackle the opposition. This is not a new problem either teams did the same to us last season.
I keep hearing that it takes time to adapt to Super League and how the youngsters need time. The youngsters have been our better players and why is the pace of Super League catching us out. Most of the players have played in it before or in the NRL.
Also we keep getting told about this being the 1st year of a 3 year plan. What have the other close on two years been about?
I would have hope of us improving if we could even do the basics but we cannot.
I was genuinely excited when I first heard we were geting McCrae, an established coach instead of a rookie. However, I have been disappointed with us throughout his reign. We have seen the likes of Myler and Ratchford come through under him but any other coach would have had to do the same with the budget constraints of National League. I cannot think of any other aspect that has improved at the club during his tenure.
Time to go McRae.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:36 pm  

stadge wrote:

The question we should be asking is why is it Malcolm Alker saying extra training is needed. Surely this is Shaun McRae's call.
However, I don't think the training will make much difference. Super League has improved but the problem is more we have gone backwards ever since McRae took over.
Look back at our performances towards the end of the releagtion season. We got progressively worse, who can forget the Hull KR humiliation. Our performances last season were pretty poor all round. Have we forgot how the side was booed off at the Willows on several occasions, being ripped apart by a rookie scrum half at Whitehaven and the poor away form. Winning the league and NR Cup masked deficiences, the same ones being more ruthlessly exposed at Super League level.
We lack ideas in attack especially near the line. There is no real go forward because the forwards are always stood still when they get the ball. The kicking game is atrocious. Defensively we cannot tackle to save our lives. We lack pace and overall fitness. The failure to stop teams keeping the ball alive is as much a fitness issue in my view as the players lack the upper body strength to shackle the opposition. This is not a new problem either teams did the same to us last season.
I keep hearing that it takes time to adapt to Super League and how the youngsters need time. The youngsters have been our better players and why is the pace of Super League catching us out. Most of the players have played in it before or in the NRL.
Also we keep getting told about this being the 1st year of a 3 year plan. What have the other close on two years been about?
I would have hope of us improving if we could even do the basics but we cannot.
I was genuinely excited when I first heard we were geting McCrae, an established coach instead of a rookie. However, I have been disappointed with us throughout his reign. We have seen the likes of Myler and Ratchford come through under him but any other coach would have had to do the same with the budget constraints of National League. I cannot think of any other aspect that has improved at the club during his tenure.
Time to go McRae.

Absolutely bang on the money.
The best post on here for some considerable time, although personally, I can't see McRae going anywhere at present.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:56 pm  

stadge wrote:

The question we should be asking is why is it Malcolm Alker saying extra training is needed. Surely this is Shaun McRae's call.
However, I don't think the training will make much difference. Super League has improved but the problem is more we have gone backwards ever since McRae took over.
Look back at our performances towards the end of the releagtion season. We got progressively worse, who can forget the Hull KR humiliation. Our performances last season were pretty poor all round. Have we forgot how the side was booed off at the Willows on several occasions, being ripped apart by a rookie scrum half at Whitehaven and the poor away form. Winning the league and NR Cup masked deficiences, the same ones being more ruthlessly exposed at Super League level.
We lack ideas in attack especially near the line. There is no real go forward because the forwards are always stood still when they get the ball. The kicking game is atrocious. Defensively we cannot tackle to save our lives. We lack pace and overall fitness. The failure to stop teams keeping the ball alive is as much a fitness issue in my view as the players lack the upper body strength to shackle the opposition. This is not a new problem either teams did the same to us last season.
I keep hearing that it takes time to adapt to Super League and how the youngsters need time. The youngsters have been our better players and why is the pace of Super League catching us out. Most of the players have played in it before or in the NRL.
Also we keep getting told about this being the 1st year of a 3 year plan. What have the other close on two years been about?
I would have hope of us improving if we could even do the basics but we cannot.
I was genuinely excited when I first heard we were geting McCrae, an established coach instead of a rookie. However, I have been disappointed with us throughout his reign. We have seen the likes of Myler and Ratchford come through under him but any other coach would have had to do the same with the budget constraints of National League. I cannot think of any other aspect that has improved at the club during his tenure.
Time to go McRae.

Excellent post.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:08 pm  

And yet, and yet, we won silverware with McRae.

I don't think it's McRae who is your problem. I think it is your team - either their overall level of ability or their present level of skill/fitness/dedication/whatever it may be. Your finances will be strapped for this season but once the money starts filtering through, you should be able to recruit better for next season both on the field and perhaps in backroom staff (with things like fitness coaches, wrestling coaches, etc).

I think Castleford won four games and drew one in their first season? That will give you an idea of what to expect this season. Castleford I think have only lost one of their games this season so far. That's what a year in SL does for a team (fwiw they dropped ten of their original squad at the end of last season).

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:41 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

And yet, and yet, we won silverware with McRae.

I don't think it's McRae who is your problem. I think it is your team - either their overall level of ability or their present level of skill/fitness/dedication/whatever it may be. Your finances will be strapped for this season but once the money starts filtering through, you should be able to recruit better for next season both on the field and perhaps in backroom staff (with things like fitness coaches, wrestling coaches, etc).

I think Castleford won four games and drew one in their first season? That will give you an idea of what to expect this season. Castleford I think have only lost one of their games this season so far. That's what a year in SL does for a team (fwiw they dropped ten of their original squad at the end of last season).

I see what you are saying, but he was coaching a better team with better players, players who could coach themselves, in the two jobs he had since saints here and downunder he has finished bottom in the premier leagues because he has not got the luxury of world class players he can not work with plyers of lesser ability and he has proved this over the last 6 years.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:48 pm  

furthermore every time i saw Cas on sky last year they looked competitive and appeared to have good systems and structures of play in place. They showed promise. All sadly, alien concepts at the Willows.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:59 pm  

Stadge & Others - Mr McRae wont be sacked as the pay off will be impossible to meet. If he resigns then its a different matter of course.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:25 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

And yet, and yet, we won silverware with McRae.

I don't think it's McRae who is your problem. I think it is your team - either their overall level of ability or their present level of skill/fitness/dedication/whatever it may be. Your finances will be strapped for this season but once the money starts filtering through, you should be able to recruit better for next season both on the field and perhaps in backroom staff (with things like fitness coaches, wrestling coaches, etc).

I think Castleford won four games and drew one in their first season? That will give you an idea of what to expect this season. Castleford I think have only lost one of their games this season so far. That's what a year in SL does for a team (fwiw they dropped ten of their original squad at the end of last season).

Cas won 7 games and drew 1, but we had to wait to round 5 before we managed a win, and then brought a few players in (mainly forwards) as the season went on. Think one of your main problems at moment is a lack of confidence, people say winning becomes an habit but i think losing does too.