Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:52 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

Hohaia to scrum half.
Lomax to hooker. When Roby comes back alternate with Lomax and loose forward.
Makinson to full back.
Wellens as a full-time substitute (the only role he is now capable of playing).
Remind Jon Wilkin, in the strongest terms, of his responsibilities.
Give Gaskell and Foster a break with Wilkin filling in at stand-off.

Agreed on all points apart from putting Lomax to hooker.

Personally I don't see Lomax as a hooker as I think his running game is too effective to put him in at dummy half. I agree with putting Roby at loose forward though; I think Roby would go well there (I'd like to see Gaskell eventually in this 13 role once matured), but I couldn't tell you who I would play hooker instead as I haven't a clue who would!

Wilkin to 13 and Lomax and Hohaia will be the halves I reckon.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:58 pm  

Albion wrote:

Agreed on all points apart from putting Lomax to hooker.

Personally I don't see Lomax as a hooker as I think his running game is too effective to put him in at dummy half.

I think it's a no-brainer. Lomax's threat comes more from his elusiveness in tight spaces and speed-off-the-mark - not straight line speed. Lomax isn't quick. But he's murder running exclusively at big forwards - especially if they are running low on gas.

Yes, Jonny could slot into the full back role and be effective. But I think he comes up short against Makinson on two counts - raw speed and defence. Makinson is peerless in the latter and his foot speed would give us a hell of a potent weapon attacking from deep.

Lomax is a player who needs a constant supply of ball. The more often you give it to him the more often he's likely to crack the defence. At dummy half he gets as much possession as possible and he's granted the opportunity of running at retreating defenders, where his instinctive eye for a gap (stepping off either foot), supreme fitness and acceleration make him most effective.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:33 pm  

Short term I would work Gaskell at 7 and Wheeler at 6.

Makinson needs to be more involved than being stuck on the wing, I would put him in at centre replacing Meli.

Lance would play 9 moving Roby into a free role at 13.

Lomax on the bench but would replace Wellens the last 15 mins in each half linking into the attack at a tired defence.

Lastly stick a rocket up Perry and LMS and show some aggression.

Finally, get Sean Long as my assistant with the prospect of getting Head Coach's job.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:58 pm  

feilds of knowsleyRD wrote:

Ban use of twitter Why? Why NOT?
Organise a three day boot camp like the idea but it needs to be drills ball in hand, this for me is more of a pre-season idea Nothing to stop it being done now though
Re-register KC didnt last year when we were short on numbers so wont happen Longy then
Pick a squad based on capability the whole team is lacking at the minute forwards seam to be going well getting the yards
Refuse to play players out of position with kids coming up they cant always play their best position then they don't play unless they are the best for that slot
Refuse to rotate the squad how will you blood the young guns I don't think this means ever, just to a point of stability
Ensure tackling technique is mastered so as a new coach you would train the basics? Doesn't every coach
Refuse to play Meli and Flannery until they improve their defensive standards you say below you wouldnt single out players?? Does not have to be done with a press announcement
Recruit for positions that we need and respectfully ask for transfer fees from the board if needs be. we have no money how do you know
I would develop a Plan B, C, D, the plan it to attack better and defend better or we could be talking about plays on the field which we have not been training for
Ensure defence is solid and not reckless. dont think royce was asking players to miss tackles so you would not coach defence at all?
Ensure that the teams mentality is that they succeed as a team and they fail as a team, no individual will be singled out as the reason for success or failure. so if someone plays well you wont say well done in the press? great for morel it's the usual stuff good coaches say directly after matches

hmmmm i hope you didnt take to long thinking this up

Takes even less time to just comment on others than think of something yourself

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:14 am  

Mugwump wrote:

I think it's a no-brainer. Lomax's threat comes more from his elusiveness in tight spaces and speed-off-the-mark - not straight line speed. Lomax isn't quick. But he's murder running exclusively at big forwards - especially if they are running low on gas.

Yes, Jonny could slot into the full back role and be effective. But I think he comes up short against Makinson on two counts - raw speed and defence. Makinson is peerless in the latter and his foot speed would give us a hell of a potent weapon attacking from deep.

Lomax is a player who needs a constant supply of ball. The more often you give it to him the more often he's likely to crack the defence. At dummy half he gets as much possession as possible and he's granted the opportunity of running at retreating defenders, where his instinctive eye for a gap (stepping off either foot), supreme fitness and acceleration make him most effective.

You present some valid points Mugwump definitely.

Personally I feel that 13 role in the future is one for Gaskell, but I've been saying for a while now that I think Roby would excel in that position now.

Will KC and Cunningham be brave enough to make such a decision? I don't think so really.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:23 pm  

Albion wrote:

You present some valid points Mugwump definitely.

Personally I feel that 13 role in the future is one for Gaskell, but I've been saying for a while now that I think Roby would excel in that position now.

Will KC and Cunningham be brave enough to make such a decision? I don't think so really.

I think a lot depends on how Gaskell develops physically in the next year or two. For me he has the ideal frame for a young rugby player upon which I expect he'll add eight to ten pounds. I mean, he's close to breaking the line already. Fully mature he should prove a real handful for defences.

The *big* question is what effect physical maturity will have on his pace and the answer I suspect will go a long way toward determining whether he moves to thirteen or not.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:10 pm  

Firstly, I wouldn't accept the job. I believe the man we want is someone intelligent enough to turn us down. So we are pooched on that front.

Pick the squad on the basis of capability??? Wello just managed to get Simmons sacked because he was hard faced enough to put an out and out fullback on the bench. If the new guy tries to do the same then he will be on the plane as well. Wello has worked out that "playing well" is not something a man of his legendary stature needs to do.

Only play academy players in their own positions. OK first thing first Roby to stand off…. Oh wait

Reregister KC? He had at least one year too many at the end of his career maybe even 2 years. We are starting to sound like the pies pining for the return of pan face.

Don't quite see the twitter fascination some people have, you would think some fans would have players lived in the convent. Such things would just make players get p1ssed off and go somewhere else. Our team does seem to have a good team spirit going, get rid of that and we have nothing.

I would just refuse to play Flannery full stop.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:15 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

I think a lot depends on how Gaskell develops physically in the next year or two. For me he has the ideal frame for a young rugby player upon which I expect he'll add eight to ten pounds. I mean, he's close to breaking the line already. Fully mature he should prove a real handful for defences.

The *big* question is what effect physical maturity will have on his pace and the answer I suspect will go a long way toward determining whether he moves to thirteen or not.

Agreed

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:47 pm  

If I was appointed coach at Saints I'd assemble my crack team.

My Appointments

Saddened: When we lose I'd take on the pre-match and post-match interviews because I'd know what to say in there to stop the internet forums burning up with silly talk. When we win though I'd send Saddened out because he's not just another Mike Phelan. Where I would have a tendency to play down the success until we've actually achieved our goal of winning the final game of the Super League season, Saddened's enthusiasm for victory and the subsequent proclamation of it being a vision on grass would provide a feel good feeling after every win as well as numerous quotable soundbites to be used on posters for future big clashes e.g. for that August Monday clash versus Wire "I've lived in Warrington, it's just one big giant retail park populated by Mungos walking around in substandard Leeds tops."

SaintsFan: If I'm going to be a success I need somebody to counter the Deputy Downers that hang around the club. I think SaintsFan has a contagious and positive approach to the team which, not only do I love, but realise it could be beneficial to us. Also the fact that my surname isn't Potter should get her onside pretty quickly and given the right level of supervision her talents could be well served in a dressing room looking for confidence.

Legendary Supporter/Despondent Dave/The Chair Maker: Any successful coach needs some statistical analysis and any one of these three could provide detail of that slip-up away in Yorkshire, on a Tuesday night, in the 80s. Each has their own specialism but it would be a close run interview process I'm sure.

Rogues Gallery: Controversial, but he'd be my main scout. After all through the ages he's seen the very best and has a track record identifying talent that most others just can't see e.g. Michael McIlorum, George Carmont and many others as detailed in his new book Wigoon's Starting XIII from 1999-2009: A Decade in the Wilderness.

Ski: Kit man, particularly shirts. Risky choice I know but he'll come up good after good learning from previous experience.

Re: If you were offered the Head coach's job - : Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:44 pm  

McClennan wrote:

If I was appointed coach at Saints I'd assemble my crack team.

My Appointments

Saddened: When we lose I'd take on the pre-match and post-match interviews because I'd know what to say in there to stop the internet forums burning up with silly talk. When we win though I'd send Saddened out because he's not just another Mike Phelan. Where I would have a tendency to play down the success until we've actually achieved our goal of winning the final game of the Super League season, Saddened's enthusiasm for victory and the subsequent proclamation of it being a vision on grass would provide a feel good feeling after every win as well as numerous quotable soundbites to be used on posters for future big clashes e.g. for that August Monday clash versus Wire "I've lived in Warrington, it's just one big giant retail park populated by Mungos walking around in substandard Leeds tops."

SaintsFan: If I'm going to be a success I need somebody to counter the Deputy Downers that hang around the club. I think SaintsFan has a contagious and positive approach to the team which, not only do I love, but realise it could be beneficial to us. Also the fact that my surname isn't Potter should get her onside pretty quickly and given the right level of supervision her talents could be well served in a dressing room looking for confidence.

Legendary Supporter/Despondent Dave/The Chair Maker: Any successful coach needs some statistical analysis and any one of these three could provide detail of that slip-up away in Yorkshire, on a Tuesday night, in the 80s. Each has their own specialism but it would be a close run interview process I'm sure.

Rogues Gallery: Controversial, but he'd be my main scout. After all through the ages he's seen the very best and has a track record identifying talent that most others just can't see e.g. Michael McIlorum, George Carmont and many others as detailed in his new book Wigoon's Starting XIII from 1999-2009: A Decade in the Wilderness.

Ski: Kit man, particularly shirts. Risky choice I know but he'll come up good after good learning from previous experience.