: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:16 am  

Tacitus wrote:

According to the Guardian, this may not be something that Brian Noble will welcome, and I may be interpreting this wrongly, but my first read of this was Eddie Jones going to be a direct replacement for Brian. Either way, this will cause disruption to the Wigan camp. I hope they put these rumours to bed quickly!

We can only wait and see, but if these stories first emerged over Christmas - as The Guardian claims - then it doesn't seem to have affected BN's and IL's relationship much. They were nattering away quite happily at the last couple of friendlies.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:33 am  

If Jones and Brian can work together positively without creating tension or cliques, then this could be a really good move for us. I just get nervous when I hear that Brian and Ian aren't getting along and a third party is being introduced.

On the other hand the press often misinterpret creative tension for the good of a team, as a bust up scenario. Just because two people have different views, doesn't mean they don't work well together.

Up until now I was very positive about this season, feeling that we were coming out of the tunnel and only lacked a few signings off of being a really good team again. I just hope this is not a sign of discord in the camp otherwise we will go backwards again.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:37 am  

As if the press were ever going to put an rosey and positive outlook in regards to another successful coach joining the Wigan staff.

Stuff like this is a reporters dream.

I'm not looking into it too much.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:45 am  

Tacitus wrote:

If Jones and Brian can work together positively without creating tension or cliques, then this could be a really good move for us. I just get nervous when I hear that Brian and Ian aren't getting along and a third party is being introduced.

On the other hand the press often misinterpret creative tension for the good of a team, as a bust up scenario. Just because two people have different views, doesn't mean they don't work well together.

Up until now I was very positive about this season, feeling that we were coming out of the tunnel and only lacked a few signings off of being a really good team again. I just hope this is not a sign of discord in the camp otherwise we will go backwards again.

I would not read anything into it. Brian Noble surrounds himself with 'friends' He would not work with Jones and Lenagan will never sack a coach because he will have to pay compensation.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:12 am  

Charlie Seeling wrote:

I would not read anything into it. Brian Noble surrounds himself with 'friends' He would not work with Jones and Lenagan will never sack a coach because he will have to pay compensation.

If IL wants to hire him in some capacity though there is not much Noble can say, there is no way he can come in as the senior coach, but possibly as a player performance manager which most clubs now have but i am not sure if we do.

Its hard to say what IL has in mind really as Noble is into the last year of his contract maybe IL is looking longer term beyond the Noble era. IL must certainly have started thinking about the coaching position next year. I am sure if he is sacked (which will not happen in my opinion) he will be due compensation, but if he choses to walk away that is another matter.

As i said on the other thread IF he comes it will be very interesting to see in what capacity and Nobles reaction to it. I agree with Alex though to be fair, i would be suprised if the move did happen, as even if he leaves Sarries there must be other clubs in Union that would covet his signature and be able to offer more financially to recruit him.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:27 am  

jonh wrote:

If IL wants to hire him in some capacity though there is not much Noble can say, there is no way he can come in as the senior coach, but possibly as a player performance manager which most clubs now have but i am not sure if we do.

Its hard to say what IL has in mind really as Noble is into the last year of his contract maybe IL is looking longer term beyond the Noble era. IL must certainly have started thinking about the coaching position next year. I am sure if he is sacked (which will not happen in my opinion) he will be due compensation, but if he choses to walk away that is another matter.

As i said on the other thread IF he comes it will be very interesting to see in what capacity and Nobles reaction to it. I agree with Alex though to be fair, i would be suprised if the move did happen, as even if he leaves Sarries there must be other clubs in Union that would covet his signature and be able to offer more financially to recruit him.

Your last point is the more valid IMO. If we can't attract RU players how can we attract coaches? The gulf between the 2 sports is widening daily, with Sky showing up to 8 live games a week. There is simply no way we can compete, I'm afraid.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:34 am  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

Your last point is the more valid IMO. If we can't attract RU players how can we attract coaches? The gulf between the 2 sports is widening daily, with Sky showing up to 8 live games a week. There is simply no way we can compete, I'm afraid.

The only thing that may be of interest to him is that it for his own personal development.

The bloke will not be short of a bob or 2 in fact he is probably financially very comfortable and could retire tomorrow, he does seem to have an interest in League and as has been mentioned on some of the articles is a keen student of the game, if his motivation is purely financial i would doubt we could compete, or would want to given he has no experience of League, but if he is looking at the possibility for intrinsic reasons then there could be a chance.

Its all speculation though and paper talk, i personally would like to see it happen in a Player Performance Management roll, but i just cannot see it.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:53 am  

Don't all Superleague Clubs HAVE to have a player performance manager in place?

I'm sure I've seen in mentioned before.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:12 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Don't all Superleague Clubs HAVE to have a player performance manager in place?

I'm sure I've seen in mentioned before.

Yes they do which is why i thought we may be being linked with him, as i am not aware anyone has that position at Wigan.

: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:17 pm  

jinkin jimmy wrote:

Your last point is the more valid IMO. If we can't attract RU players how can we attract coaches? The gulf between the 2 sports is widening daily, with Sky showing up to 8 live games a week. There is simply no way we can compete, I'm afraid.

I take it that you mean 8 games including matches played in the Southern Hemesphere as well.

Union has a problem coming. Over the last decade most clubs have been proped up by the so called sugar daddies. First of these clubs was the Newcastle Falcons which was ran by the former Newcaastle Fotball club owner. Now its becoming a very expensive game to run and its rumored they can not keep Johny Wilkinson when his contract expires. Bristol is another feeling the crunch. Though teams like Leicster, London Irish do flourish well. Over half the union clubs are now facing a financial problem. The Welsh WRU were forced over 6-7 years ago to go to regional rugby of the clubs would have gone bust.

Almost half the union are clubs are facing a similar dilema in England. A good number of clubs have poor standard stadia compared to what most SL clubs will have and football stadiums in the country.

Re: Eddie Jones there is no chance of him going to another union club in England as that would mean a coach getting sacked for him to get a job in the first place. Apart from Wasps no other side at the bottom of the table would be able to afford his wage demand. Id be surprised if he took the Bristol job given that they are odds on to go down. Newcastle are broke and Worcster has no chance of achieving anything in the next few years. That only leaves Wasps as the only place he could go and that means Ian Mcgechan and Edwards getting sacked, and i cant see that happening.

Eddie Jones is the best union coach over the last decade or so if he does come it will benefit the club in getting it professionally set up. But it cant be at the expense of Nobles authority.