[Bullseye]

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:44 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

...especially if it means disruption and sacrificing longer term objectives.

Would a change in head coach mean that would happen? I don't think it would. Any new coach would be working with similar constraints as McNamara and the board could stipulate that they require junior football to be given the same amount of consideration.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:21 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Would a change in head coach mean that would happen? I don't think it would. Any new coach would be working with similar constraints as McNamara and the board could stipulate that they require junior football to be given the same amount of consideration.

Thats my thoughts exactly.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:24 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Would a change in head coach mean that would happen? I don't think it would. Any new coach would be working with similar constraints as McNamara and the board could stipulate that they require junior football to be given the same amount of consideration.

Haven't Leeds and Saints changed coaches and still carried on the junior development.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:27 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Haven't Leeds and Saints changed coaches and still carried on the junior development.

Spot on. If Hood wanted to change coach he would. Whether its down to financial constraints or something else i don't know, but it wouldn't be too hard to find another coach who could work just as well or better with the juniors and the junior system.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:32 pm  

Does anyone know when Rinaldi's fit anyway?

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:54 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Haven't Leeds and Saints changed coaches and still carried on the junior development.

I'd say both Leeds and St had more mature junior development systems so the transition was probably smoother. We've certainly taken steps to put in place the systems (Medley into head of junior development when Stuart Barrow came in) so we could be in a position to do that but nobody really knows how much work the head coach is putting in to junior development. What it would do is any new coach would have to become familiar with the juniors and that might slow down their progression to the first team.

[Bullseye]

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:44 pm  

childofthenorthern wrote:

I'd say both Leeds and St had more mature junior development systems so the transition was probably smoother. We've certainly taken steps to put in place the systems (Medley into head of junior development when Stuart Barrow came in) so we could be in a position to do that but nobody really knows how much work the head coach is putting in to junior development. What it would do is any new coach would have to become familiar with the juniors and that might slow down their progression to the first team.

Saints and Leeds have certainly been doing it for longer than us. I suppose there will always be some unknowns such as how much time McNamara is putting into the juniors though we were assured at the fans forum that savings would be made in other places in the business to ensure that the football side of things weren't impacted. Hopefully McNamara isn't being forced to do two jobs due to financial constraints. As for familiarity with the players that wouldn't take long given that all games are recorded.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:50 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

As for familiarity with the players that wouldn't take long given that all games are recorded.

Yeah but given everyone who wants a new coach is pointing at the performance of the first team as the reason to change you'd expect that would be a priority for any incoming coach rather than reviewing junior games.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:58 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

Spot on. If Hood wanted to change coach he would. Whether its down to financial constraints or something else i don't know, but it wouldn't be too hard to find another coach who could work just as well or better with the juniors and the junior system.

How do you know? What if in fact McNamara is far better in that respect than anyone else, or at least as good as anyone available? To say it "wouldn't be too hard to find" is making a statement as if it is a known fact, but it most certainly isn't.

FWIW the only direct evidence that I know of is the numerous comments I've heard and read over these past couple of years in relation to signing promising juniors and these all seemed to have referred to McNamara in the most glowing terms.

So I can't sy for sure, but I reckon maybe it would be a damn sight harder than you think.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:31 pm  

childofthenorthern wrote:

I'd say both Leeds and St had more mature junior development systems so the transition was probably smoother. We've certainly taken steps to put in place the systems (Medley into head of junior development when Stuart Barrow came in) so we could be in a position to do that but nobody really knows how much work the head coach is putting in to junior development. What it would do is any new coach would have to become familiar with the juniors and that might slow down their progression to the first team.

We have had academy squads just as long as Leeds and Saints so I don't understand your point.