Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:34 pm  

McClennan wrote:

Aside from the Saints discussion I find it interesting that being effective but one-dimensional used to be enough to get you to the Grand Final now it's not enough to break into the top four. Now you need to be able to defend and have attacking options that extend further than ball control.

Yep, all of the top sides this year play good stuff: Wigan, Wire, Catalans, Leeds and Hudds all play slightly differently but are all very good to watch with the ball in their hands.

If teams are coached well defensively, the way Saints currently approach the game should not be successful. And it isn't at the moment.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:40 pm  

Very impressed by Long in that article. Comes across as articulate and knowledgeable. Hope he goes far in coaching.

Mike, I'd be very happy with Ricky Stuart at Saints. Maybe Long as his assistant.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:17 pm  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

Mike, I'd be very happy with Ricky Stuart at Saints. Maybe Long as his assistant.

i'd be happy with that

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:12 pm  

Why do we have to have the Australian coach over, why could we not give Long the head coach job? He's showing at Salford that he's a fantastic coach. He's running the show there and they are playing some absolutely fantastic rugby, and are deservedly above us in the table. He'd bring an understanding of the club and it's meaning back and would also bring some passion back. I get laughed at for saying it, but as a club we have all become expectant rather than ambitious and we desperately need someone to turn the mindset at the club back around to what it used to be.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:11 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Why do we have to have the Australian coach over, why could we not give Long the head coach job? He's showing at Salford that he's a fantastic coach. He's running the show there and they are playing some absolutely fantastic rugby, and are deservedly above us in the table. He'd bring an understanding of the club and it's meaning back and would also bring some passion back. I get laughed at for saying it, but as a club we have all become expectant rather than ambitious and we desperately need someone to turn the mindset at the club back around to what it used to be.

I think that pretty much everyone else on here isn't yet ready to commit themselves to an opinion as strong as that on the back of less than half a season of games as an assistant coach. That's nothing to say of your other assumption that there's something wrong with the mindset at the club. It is quite possible that the mindset is perfectly fine but we've been pipped by teams who wanted it a bit more and knew how to get it. It's all part of the learning process for any side no matter what level of experience or quality.

If we were eighth in August we might have more right to be a bit more apocalyptic and dramatic in our proclamations but we're not. We're not and the end of the world is not nigh in March.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:14 pm  

Don't think it's time to push the panic button yet for you guys. Terry O'connor made a grat point in SL fulltime. You lost in the last minute to Catalans, a point to Huddersfield and in fairness a poor perfomance against FC. Catalans and Hudds and currently in superb form and you only just lost to them. I do agree with him however that this is a big game for you, lose to use and your confidence really will be low and then you have Leeds Wire & Wigan.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:19 pm  

McClennan wrote:

I think that pretty much everyone else on here isn't yet ready to commit themselves to an opinion as strong as that on the back of less than half a season of games as an assistant coach. That's nothing to say of your other assumption that there's something wrong with the mindset at the club. It is quite possible that the mindset is perfectly fine but we've been pipped by teams who wanted it a bit more and knew how to get it. It's all part of the learning process for any side no matter what level of experience or quality.

If we were eighth in August we might have more right to be a bit more apocalyptic and dramatic in our proclamations but we're not. We're not and the end of the world is not nigh in March.

August isn't relevant now. The next four games are and will decide whether Simmons is sacked early or just replaced when his contract ends. The last two coaching appointments have taken the club backwards and the next one needs to be a good decision for once.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:25 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

August isn't relevant now. The next four games are and will decide whether Simmons is sacked early or just replaced when his contract ends. The last two coaching appointments have taken the club backwards and the next one needs to be a good decision for once.

Stop being silly.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:36 pm  

If I remember rightly Scully drew a bit of fire for publicly criticising Mick Potter a couple of years ago, so he may be treading carefully. He's right to point out confidence as an issue, though. Long is right too ... We've been dreadfully predictable, and our defence hasn't been good enough.

As for Royce, I suspect that the only way he will go before the end of his contract is if he walks.

Re: George Riley of the BBC blogs about Saints : Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:23 am  

Dux wrote:

As for Royce, I suspect that the only way he will go before the end of his contract is if he walks.

I really can't see that. If we lose the next four games, the reaction from the supporters will force their hand surely?