Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:35 am  

My concern is that we have been bad for a few seasons and so we've had to pay people more than they are worth as we need to improve the team.

I've no info, but as a gut feeling, we'll be paying someone like Lui more than he's worth because we were desperate for a half. Similar Ava, who we needed but has had to be attracted to the club mid season. These players have undoubtedly improved us, but there will be a premium attached to their signings which will mean less cap to go around for the class signings we still need.

Regarding the coach and conditioning, if you're not going for the best you can then it's a real mistake. In a salary cap sport having the players well conditioned and with a game plan makes such a massive difference.

Agar has done a good job, but he's not at the level to take us to the title

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:51 am  

So a team that can challenge in the to 5 is out for 2020?
We are now talking about 2021 as the year we return as a competitive top 5 team.
Where does this optimism come from?
Where are the green shoots of development coming from. Certainly not from the under 19s on last night's showing!

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:13 am  

Agar has surprised me & a lot of people but I think last night showed a difference in the quality of coaching. The gap in ability wasn't as large as the score.

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:15 am  

tigertot wrote:

Agar has surprised me & a lot of people but I think last night showed a difference in the quality of coaching. The gap in ability wasn't as large as the score.

Yes, but that wasn't Saints full team remember. They had a lot of fringe players in. That said, it also as the oppossite effect, in that players were trying to earn a shirt for a cup final, which is always dangerous.

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:31 am  

Gotcha wrote:

Yes, but that wasn't Saints full team remember. They had a lot of fringe players in. That said, it also as the oppossite effect, in that players were trying to earn a shirt for a cup final, which is always dangerous.

That's what I mean. The difference in the quality of players on the pitch wasn't that large. If their first 17 had been out there it would have been. The quality of Saints play is very impressive. A number of their players were average under fatty Cunningham.

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:33 am  

It would appear lots of changes to come but players coming in must be better than what weve got ability and attitude

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:41 am  

ant1 wrote:

So a team that can challenge in the to 5 is out for 2020?
We are now talking about 2021 as the year we return as a competitive top 5 team.
Where does this optimism come from?
Where are the green shoots of development coming from. Certainly not from the under 19s on last night's showing!

I think based on the last 6 or so matches we are probably just about a top 5 team. There's a big gap between that and where saints are at the moment.

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 8:21 am  

The Eagle wrote:

I think based on the last 6 or so matches we are probably just about a top 5 team. There's a big gap between that and where saints are at the moment.

Would agree with this.

It looked like we were stretching to match Saints’ speed and power all game, and we ran out of gas a few times.

The second phase plan was OK but we don’t have quite the skill to execute.

We clearly need more structure. When the players are busted they need a shape to revert to; at the moment we’re just winging it or giving it to the big lad. Saints attack more like an NRL side; as a whole team with bodies in motion and plenty of live options to take.

We are trying to make the miracle individually too often.

Someone needs to get hold of Walker and really sort out his passing options joining the line - more often than not he is missing the target and/or slinging it into touch.

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:26 am  

Given that we accept the squad is still going to be in transition next season, it makes sense for Agar to hold the reins for another season. The alternative is risking another Furner-style nose-dive to the bottom if the players don't respond to a new coach, which is detrimental to ongoing development - especially if relegation is retained for next season.

So, Agar to do a 'Powell' (pre-2004 version) for a season or two, while the under-performers are thrown out and younger players brought in, and at the right time bring in a 'Smith' (2004 vintage) to take the revitalised team to challenge for titles. The Agar team should be able to compete in the top half of the table, probably top 5. This is all contingent upon Agar pulling us clear of relegation and the team continuing to perform in most games in the rest of the season.

It's not ideal but I think we have learned this season there are no quick fixes, and we have to be patient.

Re: New Head Coach - who's it going to be? : Fri Aug 16, 2019 9:40 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

I’ve been watching Agar quite closely in media interviews and he just seems to lack that little edge of confidence that the real top coaches have.

He has done a great job as interim IMO and deserves to be kept at the club. I’d even run with the current set-up if we can’t find the right candidate. I think we need someone else to take us back to the top level though.

If a top cannot put in place it makes sense to stick with Agar.