: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:08 pm  

The Chair Maker wrote:

Where you guys saying this last year when Salford won the championship grand final, finished league leaders and also won the northern rail cup.

I think not.

Actually, I'll think you'll find people were. No one's been impressed with McRae's standard of coaching and the team's playing style even last season at a lower level.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:10 pm  

the difference is the players at Cas and HKR looked like they wanted to play, Salford do not look like that, there is no effort and we have signed second rate Aussies again, this has a knock on effect with the English lads, McRae was a very bad coach in Aus, infact some of our Aussie players who were here when he came had never heard of him, these players were quickly got rid off for McRae to bring in some of his players from aus, remember he won the wooden spoon two years on the trot over there, got the hat trick with us, then we were lucky in the NL and won despite his coaching. Heres to his fourth wooden spoon because with ordinary players he has to earn his crust and he can not do that.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:23 pm  

And yet, as I think I've said on here before, with us McRae won silverware. That tells me it's your team, not you're coach that is the fundamental problem.

McRae was not the strongest defensive coach we have had and maybe defences are on top more often now so perhaps you could do with a greater defensive effort. However, the coach can be Mr Supremo Coacho yet if he's got a bunch of blokes who have no sense of being part of a team working towards a greater goal then he's on a hiding to nothing no matter what he does.

I know Cas and Hull KR have been cited before but Cas only won four games in their whole first season in SL and they had been here before too. Also, at the end of that season, they shipped 10 of that team out, recruited well (because they were now in a position to do so, being in receipt of greater funds as teams are in SL) and now look at where they are in the table. They've won more matches so far than they did the whole of last year. Hull KR aren't doing too badly either!

If you need to compare yourselves to anyone, compare like for like. Compare yourselves to Celtic and to the Cas of last year and Hull KR of the previous year because that is the realistic thing to do. Comparing your Salford, even with only a year (?) out of SL, to established SL sides is only going to lead you to disenchantment when to go down that road could mean you lose out on the better times when they come, which they will.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:31 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

And yet, as I think I've said on here before, with us McRae won silverware. That tells me it's your team, not you're coach that is the fundamental problem.

McRae was not the strongest defensive coach we have had and maybe defences are on top more often now so perhaps you could do with a greater defensive effort. However, the coach can be Mr Supremo Coacho yet if he's got a bunch of blokes who have no sense of being part of a team working towards a greater goal then he's on a hiding to nothing no matter what he does.

I know Cas and Hull KR have been cited before but Cas only won four games in their whole first season in SL and they had been here before too. Also, at the end of that season, they shipped 10 of that team out, recruited well (because they were now in a position to do so, being in receipt of greater funds as teams are in SL) and now look at where they are in the table. They've won more matches so far than they did the whole of last year. Hull KR aren't doing too badly either!

If you need to compare yourselves to anyone, compare like for like. Compare yourselves to Celtic and to the Cas of last year and Hull KR of the previous year because that is the realistic thing to do. Comparing your Salford, even with only a year (?) out of SL, to established SL sides is only going to lead you to disenchantment when to go down that road could mean you lose out on the better times when they come, which they will.

who did he take over from i bet there was a good team already in place how long was he there and when at hull did he not inherit a very good brian smith team dont think he lasted too long at them clubs did he not 5 years anyway in both jobs jointly maybe the problem is when he brings his own methods in it all goes wrong

coach : Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:42 pm  

And yet, as I think I've said on here before, with us McRae won silverware. That tells me it's your team, not you're coach that is the fundamental problem.


with due respect to the saints players,my mum could of coached the players that were at saints when fat boy was a coach there, all he had to do was turn up, pick a few players and that was it, no coaching involved.

there again i dont think he is doing any at salford either .

time for him to go and take simms with him and the aussuies he signed,

who to bring in ?????

maybe let the players who want to stay and play for the club and the fans,
coach themselves, train themselves, and be honest with themselves and pick the team themselves,

i dont care what but fat boy has got to go and the players who dont want to play aswell.

we have got some good youngsters at the club and if we dont get it sorted by september they will be gone,

and i like most on here think the youngstrers we have got are the future of salford, we just need the rite coach and mcrae is not that coach.

end off, and like a few others i did not go today but had to put up with bbc humber no manchester on the internet??????? why???

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:47 pm  

mctiques headband wrote:

who did he take over from i bet there was a good team already in place how long was he there

He took over from Bluey's dad in 1995/96 when the changeover to Superleague happened. We were a good team, yes, though a bit soft on defence. We won the challenge cup and championship (Grand Final) that year and then the challenge cup only the following year. Because we came I think it was third in the league the year after that, the board sacked him. But remember this is the same board who sacked Ellery Hanley after just one season and he also took us to a Grand Final and won. So don't interpret the sacking of McRae as a comment upon McRae! Our board was pretty dismal back then. Things picked up hugely when our chairman took over (saving us from administration in the process).

Like I say, I think it's primarily your team that is the problem. When McRae is able to get his hands on more cash, as he will be able to do come next season, I reckon then is the time to judge him.

However, I'm not the one supporting a struggling new SL side so what do I know? Sometimes kicking out the coach and bringing in someone new, for a new task in hand, can work. Not totally sure that would work for you - it is so easy to blame the coach - but who knows? Either way, I hope your team find a way through because I for one want some competitive Lancashire teams. We can't let the Yorkies dominate Superleague, dammit!

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:51 pm  

Saintsfan get your facts right before going to print Cas won 7 games last year scoring on average 22 points per game with 32 against, now compare this to Salford this year on average we have scored 15 and had 38 scored against us. Meanwhile the other newcomers Celtic have scored 14 per game and 27 against.
not the best comparision with only so few games played but it is the best for now and illustrates how bad our defence is, infact in our last three games we have scored on average 12 (each game) and had 42 scored against us so we are getting worse and the coach admits in interviews he doesn't have a clue what to do. Now that doesn't sound like a good coach to me it sounds like a water carrier out of his depth.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:02 pm  

Bigpev wrote:

Saintsfan get your facts right before going to print Cas won 7 games last year scoring on average 22 points per game with 32 against,

My humble apologies. I thought they had won 4 and drawn one. I'm not that bothered about my mistake, however, because the point remains equally valid.

now compare this to Salford this year on average we have scored 15 and had 38 scored against us.

Now you need to get yourself sorted out. You don't get away with quoting a whole season's Cas figures but only a quarter season's Salford figures! Not heard of a fair test? You're skewing the averages. You can only play the averages game at the end of this season.

Yes, your defence is poor and I think I referred to defence? I personally see defence as the divider between you and the Crusaders and indeed defence was Cas's problem last year also - in spite of your skewed averages - and they had some tonkings too. Oh yes they did! On that I know I am right. However, they also managed to beat both Leeds and Saints, which won them kudos at the time.

They were still bottom of the table throughout the WHOLE season, however. You haven't been bottom at any time during this season, so far. If the Crusaders win then yes, you will be unless you win too because Celtic have been better than you defensively.

So your team needs to put in the effort to defend. They are bound to have the structure there because for the first half today they quite clearly defended. But they don't seem to have either the effort or fitness to last the full 80 (neither do Celtic, it has to be said, but I think they may be closer to achieving it than you at the moment).

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:11 pm  

saintsfan i did mention it was not the best comparison but it is what we have as well as a bunch of players who for some reason do not want to play. But thank you for your concern about our club and the lack of Lancashire teams in the Superleague.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:21 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

And yet, as I think I've said on here before, with us McRae won silverware. That tells me it's your team, not you're coach that is the fundamental problem.

Yeah, it's the team. We haven't got Goulding, Martyn, Joynt, Newlove, Hunte, Prescott, Sullivan, Cunningham and Matautia (that I can recall off the top of my head) in their prime playing for us.