: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:50 am  

It can be a lot more difficult in the second half of the season.
Playing teams for the second time when the element of surprise has gone.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:27 am  

Piston Broke wrote:

It can be a lot more difficult in the second half of the season.
Playing teams for the second time when the element of surprise has gone.

Couldn't all the office and support staff just line up outside the tunnel, just out of sight, and shout BOO!!! as they come onto the field.

That would surprise them. They'd not be expecting it.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:19 am  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

In all honesty i dont think you are playing any different to how you were playing at the beginning of the season. Bit like Hull City if you ask me, riding along on the crest of the wave. A few defeats and then you get shown up for how good you actually are. In Barrows case i just think that is an average workmanlike team.

Dont talk poop !!

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:48 am  

Meddling chairmen who would love to be coach himself.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:55 am  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

In all honesty i dont think you are playing any different to how you were playing at the beginning of the season. Bit like Hull City if you ask me, riding along on the crest of the wave. A few defeats and then you get shown up for how good you actually are. In Barrows case i just think that is an average workmanlike team.

Ask Wigan (fans and coaches) how average and workmanlike we are !

We really haven't put in a good 80 mins since we beat Widnes - and that was WEEKS ago. Clarky stepping down hasn't come as a great shock to me either - he had to be talked into taking the job in the first place.

He's done a great job in getting us promoted and to a final, but with the quality of our squad we should be putting in far better performances. I think teams have sussed us out a bit and hopefully a new coach can mix things up a bit. It's great that Clarky is staying on at the club and shows that the decision must have been reasonably amicable.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:05 am  

justthebasicfax wrote:

Meddling chairmen who would love to be coach himself.

Don't agree. Des has A LOT to do with where we are today. His contacts, time and money have played a huge part in us gaining promotion and assembling a competitive squad for the Championship.

We have lost 3 of our last 4 league matches and also lost in a final. If our current form continues we could well miss out on a playoff spot.

Hence the change. No meddling - just management.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:35 am  

Wrong time of the season to make a change like this in my mind and shows Des's naivety. Youre still in with a shout at the top of the table. Deakin may be a good coach, but the players dont know his ways and will take time to adjust. By then the season will probably be all over.

Personally I would have stuck with Clark as I for one think he has done a great job. You may think your team are full of superstars, but with one or two exceptions they are average NL1 players working damned hard for each other. That type of team ethic can win things and I think Des has overlooked/ignored this due to impatience. Rome wasnt built in a day and all that

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:56 am  

Deakin may be a good coach but had bags of cash at Oldham and failed to deliver them anything at all, with on paper one of the best squads. He died by the samer sword of failure Dave Clarke has.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:21 am  

I have to agree with [b]Justthebasicfax[/b]. Johnston comes across as wanting to make team selection. He said as much in interview before the Fax game, saying that the players need to put in performances to earn a place in the semi-final.
That is a perfectly fine statement, but only if made by the coach. He is the only chairman in this league that does so much talking.
What if Deakin fails and they continue to lose form?

Would make a great 'fly on the wall' documentary on SKY. like the footy one at Peterborough with Barry Fry.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:24 am  

Gary High wrote:

Even though recent results have been VERY poor ? The new coach has 6 weeks to stamp his authority and try and get the team playing good rugby again. Things had gone stale and we had no plan B.

gary even you cant put spin on this one, and the reason clark is still at the club is his community role is with the rfl so dessie cant touch him