Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:11 am  

A culture of failure? May be these count:

1. Turning up to a fans forum to be told by the CEO that there will be no further players' presentations in the fans bar because the players don't like having to front up after a loss and that the CEO finds that acceptable.

2. Watching players almost falling over themselves to leave as soon as possible from the ground after a game. After the Featherstone game once the meal had ended there were more ex London players in the bar than present London players.

3. Discovering that 16 out of the 17 from the debacle last Saturday are in the squad for tonight and the one who misses out is injured. This is despite a performance which League Express said appeared to lack ambition, commitment, teamwork and any sense of pride.

I have watched this club for 26 years now and have on occasion seen some pretty poor teams. Before the last five years, the John Monie year and some of the Chiswick sides (a 46-0 home loss to Whitehaven being a particular nadir) come to mind. Prior to then I saw all of Southend Invicta's home games. At no time can I recall coming away from games being so ill disposed to the players wearing the club shirts or thinking that there was a lack of effort. I have always assumed that losses were just because we were not good enough.

Not now. Now I see players who do the bare minimum on the pitch and do not seem to want to put in the effort for their mates, despite including within their number blokes who have won NRL grand finals, played State of Origin and worn their national jersey. Presumably they performed rather better before being contracted to the Broncos. What has changed in their mindset?

Years ago I remember Brian Johnson resigning as coach of Warrington after an 80-0 Regal trophy semi-final loss because he was too embarrassed to continue. In contrast since the team sullenly walked off the field on Saturday in the main ignoring the fans who had spent their hard earned getting to Leigh, there does not appear to have even been a whisper from the club that the debacle was in any way unacceptable.

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:10 am  

I've been told off for booing at the end of a loss and told that I should instead clap the players off so they can have more confidence for next time. Are the actions of the fan in question not a textbook indication of being part of a culture that deems failure acceptable?

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:26 am  

rob13 wrote:

I've been told off for booing at the end of a loss and told that I should instead clap the players off so they can have more confidence for next time. Are the actions of the fan in question not a textbook indication of being part of a culture that deems failure acceptable?

Same as that. Unfortunately this is the result of the political correctness thinking for inclusion and fair play that is brainwashed into kids at school nowadays. There is no sense of competition.
This outfit need to think themselves lucky really - remember the incident between King and Wire fans when he was under performing? he went on to be a great asset to their team not long afterwards, ours cower behind their other halves on social media sites.

When Soward returns home to join Penrith, if he fails to inspire no doubt we will be blamed for breaking his spirit.

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:30 am  

Duncan Disorderly wrote:

remember the incident between King and Wire fans when he was under performing?

spooky.....just watching him in a replay of the bunnies at the weekend and I was thinking exactly the same thing....he was cack when he first landed.....

My memory might be playing tricks on me, but didn't someone post something on here along the lines that our team bus had to turn around on the way back from warrington because we'd found matt king in Tony Clubbs back pocket?

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 8:01 am  

Sarf Essex Taff wrote:

A culture of failure? May be these count:

1. Turning up to a fans forum to be told by the CEO that there will be no further players' presentations in the fans bar because the players don't like having to front up after a loss and that the CEO finds that acceptable.

2. Watching players almost falling over themselves to leave as soon as possible from the ground after a game. After the Featherstone game once the meal had ended there were more ex London players in the bar than present London players.

3. Discovering that 16 out of the 17 from the debacle last Saturday are in the squad for tonight and the one who misses out is injured. This is despite a performance which League Express said appeared to lack ambition, commitment, teamwork and any sense of pride.

I have watched this club for 26 years now and have on occasion seen some pretty poor teams. Before the last five years, the John Monie year and some of the Chiswick sides (a 46-0 home loss to Whitehaven being a particular nadir) come to mind. Prior to then I saw all of Southend Invicta's home games. At no time can I recall coming away from games being so ill disposed to the players wearing the club shirts or thinking that there was a lack of effort. I have always assumed that losses were just because we were not good enough.

Not now. Now I see players who do the bare minimum on the pitch and do not seem to want to put in the effort for their mates, despite including within their number blokes who have won NRL grand finals, played State of Origin and worn their national jersey. Presumably they performed rather better before being contracted to the Broncos. What has changed in their mindset?

Years ago I remember Brian Johnson resigning as coach of Warrington after an 80-0 Regal trophy semi-final loss because he was too embarrassed to continue. In contrast since the team sullenly walked off the field on Saturday in the main ignoring the fans who had spent their hard earned getting to Leigh, there does not appear to have even been a whisper from the club that the debacle was in any way unacceptable.

100% agree with your post mate, Impressed that someone else went to see Southend Invicta, we know what its like to suffer!!

Where are you in Essex?

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:19 am  

I went to Southend Invicta, got involved through Paul Faires! with his radio background as well, we knew each other, what a mistake that was.

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:52 am  

I'd also add that the players, well the big name ones anyway, seem to have absolutely no respect for the club or the fans. They've come over, seen that we get tiny crowds, seen that the club is badly run, and they've slumped into a cosy little world of their own. They no longer care if they win or lose, they no longer care how hard they train or play, they no longer care about the consequences of their actions. Because their are no consequences. They still get paid, they still get to see London and Europe, they still get to live the life of a pro athlete.

I also believe that's partially why our own youngsters seem to stop developing once they graduate from the Academy. Who's setting the example? Who's teaching them the right way to approach training and games? When you also add in the poor coaching (over a long period of time) and you start to see why highly rated youngsters stagnate at this club.

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 9:10 pm  

Another club ticked off Gus......

gutterfax wrote:

You hold the record for the lowest ever SL crowds in London for the visits of:
Celtic Crusaders
Catalan
Wakey
Castleford
HKR
Widnes
Hull FC
Bradford
Saints.
Leeds CONGRATULATIONS GUS YOU MUST BE SO PROUD
You hold the second lowest records for:
Hudds (watch this space)
Wire
Wigan....the reason being that the lowest gates for these teams were back in the days when they visited London twice in a season.

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:22 pm  

Wigan fan here in peace, exiled in London and attending my second Broncos game of the season. From a neutral's viewpoint (who actually wants the game to succeed in London) tonights game against Leeds was a decent game. Had Broncos not bombed that try on the wing before half time, then who knows what may have happened. But, there are a few things that are blatantly obvious.

Broncos' best player is Soward
Broncos rely too much on Soward
There's no leadership apart from Soward
There's no spine to the team - 1, 6, 9 and 13 just don't get involved and boss the game enough
Broncos are terribly unfit, especially the forwards. I thought Paeleassina was bad, but Kaufusi (spelling?) makes him look like Stuart Fielden in his prime. You could count the number of runs he made on one hand, the number of tackles can't have been much more. Leeds always looked quicker, faster and one step ahead...
Sarginson is dodgy in defence
Broncos look like a team with very little confidence
I'm not sure what they're coached, but it isn't good enough. Apart from Soward's occasional moments of brilliance a lot of the play is predictable and one-dimensional. Not enough support players and not enough dummy runners - their timing is woefully off at times too.
Having been down to the gym where some of them train, the club gives the impression of a group of players simply happy to accept second best. They don't necessarily go out there wanting to lose, but when the chips are down, they're just not interested. The young players who go down there from other clubs just tend to make up the numbers and IMO i think some treat it as a bit of a holiday. I can't think of many who have come down south on loan and have returned to their parent clubs better players. TheyBroncos players lack intensity and drive on the field and off it...
I really want Broncos to be successful, but they're not helping themselves - i can't even start to understand why they went back to TR in the first place. The guy's clueless...

Re: Angus James Mackay FOR THE LOVE OF GOD : Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:29 am  

Back to Gus. I saw him in animated conversation with Gary Hetherington before last night's game. Trouble was, Gus was doing all the talking when he should have been listening!