Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Sun May 10, 2015 3:09 pm  

Well that didn't take long.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Sun May 10, 2015 3:15 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I was of the view when his appointment was announced that it was too early to appoint Cunningham. However, I don't think another year under Brown is what he needed. What he needs is a couple of years under a couple more coaches with different styles. But even then he might have turned out to be a poor coach. A great player does not equate to a great or even moderately good coach.

This. From everything I see and hear KC does not come across as a particularly astute coach. The points made above are valid in that this is effectively his second stint at it and during both of them I have witnessed some of the most sterile, unimaginative 'rugby' I have seen since the Murphy days of the 80's.

He could do to learn some lessons in how to handle players and the media from someone like Brian McDermott. There are times in interviews where you can see he is fizzing but you never ever hear him criticise his players publicly.

Kieron seems to think it's clever to do so and you never see him demonstrate an element of humility, the lack of which we are always keen to criticise with another certain coach not too far away from us. I wonder whether he thinks he's untouchable on the basis of his playing exploits?

He picks the team. He coaches them. He's as accountable as the players. Except in his head.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Sun May 10, 2015 4:48 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I was of the view when his appointment was announced that it was too early to appoint Cunningham. However, I don't think another year under Brown is what he needed. What he needs is a couple of years under a couple more coaches with different styles. But even then he might have turned out to be a poor coach. A great player does not equate to a great or even moderately good coach.

Exactly, that's why I like a home grown coach to come thru the ranks. Pretty much how Wane has at wigan. He earned his position but KC was groomed and the first players he's coached as head coach is saints first grade.

I'm not bagging KC as its early in his coaching career but I'd have liked to build on the grand final win with a experienced coach.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Sun May 10, 2015 6:51 pm  

I wasn't a fan of appointing KC but I understand why they did it i.e. who was going to come and coach us for two seasons? (Please don't say a coach like Anderson whose time has been and gone). He's been given the job and deserves to grow into it now. If we seriously struggle then there's a case for reviewing it but we haven't. It's no shame losing in France and it was certainly an improvement on last year's debacle. There's been more than enough magic on display to give evidence to the argument that consistency is our current problem and that's the same problem that every other team in the top six has at the moment. Any talk of change is destabilising. He's been given the chance, let him get on with and recognise that he is still learning and will make mistakes.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Sun May 10, 2015 8:35 pm  

It's far too early to have a go at KC, he is only 14 games in and was in theory only scheduled to take over in 2016. He needs a full season under his belt where he will have to overcome bad decisions, wrong tactics, man management skills etc. We,ve had a pretty disruptive period with injuries in the backs which has forced him to play a forward down the middle game, Walsh and Burns have not got us in the right attacking mode at the moment, our biggest problem is our consistency in defence and lack of discipline, I,m sure if KC and his gang sort this out we should go OK for the latter part of the season.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Sun May 10, 2015 9:49 pm  

IMO, one of the major problems is the inherent weakness of SL competition. There are probably no more than three or four clubs capable of winning the title. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that the players at these clubs KNOW IT.

Provided the top clubs don't suffer a catastrophic loss of form they will all reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, it's only at this stage that they really need to perform. At this point in the season no one wants to give anything away. So they are all playing within themselves to some lesser or greater degree.

We can argue about whether first or second spot is an absolute priority because of the draw - but the truth is it's not. All the top clubs know that providing injuries haven't robbed them of key players and the coaching staff has prepared the players thoroughly - winning from third or even fourth is eminently possible.

I'm not saying Saints or any other side is consciously going easy. But based on the performance at Catalans you couldn't say we are in GF mode, either.

There's a definite mid-season "lull" which takes place in SL. Instead of stretching every sinew to the limit players seem to be playing within themselves. It's a real problem not just for the competition, but fans as well.

I mean, when you think about it - what's the point of the regular season other than an extended period of "warm up" matches for the top teams?

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Mon May 11, 2015 7:42 am  

It would be interesting to read the thread we had last year that discussed the appointment of KC.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Mon May 11, 2015 8:59 am  

Can we all just calm down a bit. We've got a rookie coach, new coaching setup, new captain etc. I'd have taken 3rd after 14 games. And of course, can we really judge/write off Cunningham already? Give him a chance to settle in ffs.

No team is consistent this year. Everytime we think a team looks unbeatable and are gonna run away with it, they end up losing a few on bounce. Only a few points separate the teams from second bottom to fourth.

Cunningham will have them sorted. It's just going to take time to put his own stamp on it.

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Mon May 11, 2015 9:09 am  

We're all bagging the style, but if was only a few weeks ago that we were playing some very entertaining stuff, a lot of which was centred around Vea and Greenwood attacking the wider channels. They're missing, but surely Wilkin and LMS can fill these roles?

We did a lot to hinder ourselves against Catalans. We were often rushing up so quick that the line was breaking and individuals were getting stepped easily. We also seem unable to get our tails up in defence without giving away a penalty. We also gave Percival's side practically no ball, fair enough when Turner was having so much success, but once he's gone off?

Re: Cunningham's Excuse this week : Mon May 11, 2015 9:12 am  

If KC just stops half of our penalties that we give away we'll do better?

Catalans had so much time in our half due to penalties conceded that there going to score.

Wilkin as our Leader is a problem who gives most of the penalties away?

KC is doing ok give him some slack FFS.