: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:09 pm
Shaggoth wrote:
As the article points out again, we just don't have the financial clout of our competition. And yet I don't think that impression filters out more widely. When I tell people why we aren't the force we used to be they react with incredulity.
I suppose this is a testament to how fantastically well we've done in the past without a sugar-daddy and with a millstone of a ground. I can't feel suicidal about NOW because at the back of my mind is always the fact that we've probably been punching above our weight in the past.
What has changed (in terms of financial clout) with you and the competition since 2005?
Serious question since whatever it was it certainly didn't hold you back between 1996 and 2005.
I think you had some great people behind the scenes at the beginning of SL and no doubt you were the flag bearers. Somewhere, someone took their eye of the ball in terms of junior development and that has led to the current malaise. Players emerge and leave, it happens at all clubs, even Leeds but look at who you have had to replace the likes of Vainakolo, Hape, Pryce, reardon and Peacock with? Journeymen, at best.
I have absolutely no idea what you have coming through the ranks but we managed to fabricate a half decent team from 1997-2001 whilst we were waiting for the current crop. We were lucky that we had a coach like Murray who could get players playing above themselves. We won league games with Marvin Golden in the centres and he made Andy Hay an international, for example.
I think you guys have been very fortunate and enjoyed a golden period of success. Its' over and you have to try and prepare for the next one. That is not an easy sell to spectators especially when we're just down the road enjoying our golden era.