Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat May 07, 2011 5:43 pm  

Shark J, what do see happening over the summer at Edgeley Park. What can we expect next season from Sale Sharks?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat May 07, 2011 6:17 pm  

Chaos mate, in a word.

The club is falling apart. Feel free to have a read of our forum sometime and you'll see what the vibe is.

I don't buy into it all, the "revolution" nonsense. Every year we're told it's a transitional season. We're like a revolving door. We're becoming a club with no identity. I sit in one of the ends, and I have always admitted I'm more a fan of a game than somebody who knows the game inside out. I have knowledge, but I couldn't tell you which player should play at loosehead and which player should play at tighthead before the start of a game. Sitting where I do, it's sometimes hard to tell which player is which and with the way we have a completely different team every year it's no wonder when you basically have 17 games to get to know a player before they're off.

There's something like 30 coming and going this summer. Steve Diamond is scrapping people from on the field, right through to media and backroom staff. Will it make a difference though? I don't know if he was letting this season just fly by and waiting to call next season his own, but in the time since he's been back at the club we haven't had very pretty results. We've conceded over 50 4 times this season and we've now only won 2 away games in 2 years, both being Leeds. Steve seems like a down to Earth guy and although I'm not sure where he's from, I know he's a local lad and the club are in his heart. He guided Russia to the World Cup and left to come to a struggling English club side, so the passion is there.

There's just so much tension and friction at the club on so many levels.

Last night Brian Kennedy addressed the Stockport fans via an e-mail and told them that we are looking at moving elsewhere. The rumours have been there for years but finally, the man himself admitted it. I think he's had enough of his name being bad mouthed and realises the relationship is never going to build. At Edgeley Park today chants of "we want Sale out" could be heard and 30 people invaded the pitch and sat on the centre circle in protest.

It's vexed a lot of the fans off, not just now but all season how badly our media side is communicated. We have a policy where we announce signings, but don't announce when a player is leaving. Plenty of times this season a player has left, it's been on messageboards, Sky, the other clubs have confirmed it, but we won't. I find that a bit spoilt and a bit bratty. To have an approach that "we'll let the other club announce it". So there have been so many times when we don't know what's going on. Now for our owner to privately confirm we're looking at options but not to tell us first has infuriated a lot of people.

I really can't think of anything for us that is going right - oh, apart from our youth set up. Our a team actually throw the ball around and score a few tries. We lost the final of the A League against a Leicester team that included an England international or two, so were beaten by an experienced side.

I want to be positive but can't. It's just been a forgetful season and I'm not even sure what's happened. It's been that bland. The season's felt like it's been over for weeks and we've had nothing to play for. We should be happy that we didn't get relegated but there aren't many cheering, let me tell you. Next year will be a big test, attendance wise. I can see numbers coming close to the other Northern clubs. A lot of people are talking about not renewing.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun May 08, 2011 9:48 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Women's European Championships taking place in Galicia, Spain at present. Yesterday the Spanish XV beat Finland 119-0.

Looks like the defences have finally been sorted out. Spain 3-5 England.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun May 08, 2011 12:49 pm  

For those interested – here is the attendance results for the premiership... a comparison of those in the league both this year and last

This is for all home games played at the teams home ground (i.e. no double headers or Twickenham/Reebok games)

Wasps – 2009-10 average 8,543, 2010-11 average 7,902 (-7%)
Leeds – 2009-10 average 6,046, 2010-11 average 5,751 (-5%)
London Irish – 2009-10 average 14,303, 2010-11 average 10,339 (-28%)
Newcastle – 2009-10 average 6,038, 2010-11 average 5,317 (-12%)
Sale – 2009-10 average 7,562, 2010-11 average 7,430 (-2%)
Saracens – 2009-10 average 9,033, 2010-11 average 7,517 (-17%)
Leicester – 2009-10 average 22,461, 2010-11 average 21,096 (-6%)
Bath – 2009-10 average 11,573, 2010-11 average 11,798 (+2%)
Quins – 2009-10 average 11,427, 2010-11 average 12,680 (+11%)
Northampton – 2009-10 average 13,122, 2010-11 average 13,358 (+2%)
Gloucester – 2009-10 average 12,588, 2010-11 average 12,911 (+3%)

Overall – 2009-10 average 11,272, 2010-11 average 10,638 (-6%)

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun May 08, 2011 1:58 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

For those interested – here is the attendance results for the premiership... a comparison of those in the league both this year and last

This is for all home games played at the teams home ground (i.e. no double headers or Twickenham/Reebok games)

Wasps – 2009-10 average 8,543, 2010-11 average 7,902 (-7%)
Leeds – 2009-10 average 6,046, 2010-11 average 5,751 (-5%)
London Irish – 2009-10 average 14,303, 2010-11 average 10,339 (-28%)
Newcastle – 2009-10 average 6,038, 2010-11 average 5,317 (-12%)
Sale – 2009-10 average 7,562, 2010-11 average 7,430 (-2%)
Saracens – 2009-10 average 9,033, 2010-11 average 7,517 (-17%)
Leicester – 2009-10 average 22,461, 2010-11 average 21,096 (-6%)
Bath – 2009-10 average 11,573, 2010-11 average 11,798 (+2%)
Quins – 2009-10 average 11,427, 2010-11 average 12,680 (+11%)
Northampton – 2009-10 average 13,122, 2010-11 average 13,358 (+2%)
Gloucester – 2009-10 average 12,588, 2010-11 average 12,911 (+3%)

Overall – 2009-10 average 11,272, 2010-11 average 10,638 (-6%)

Leicester leading the way yet again. Maybe the RFU should send the marketing men from the other clubs round to Welford Road to learn a thing or two. Leeds Carnegie crowds will surely fall even further next season, relegated or not. I agree with Shark J that Sale Sharks will see a decrease along with Newcastle unless they can come up with some very generous ticket offers. I'm surprised such a big drop for London Irish as whenever I've seen them they've played some good attacking rugby. The one that stands out for me is Saracens. Top two finish and favourites to make it to the final and yet down from 9,000+ to 7,000+.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun May 08, 2011 2:26 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Leicester leading the way yet again. Maybe the RFU should send the marketing men from the other clubs round to Welford Road to learn a thing or two. Leeds Carnegie crowds will surely fall even further next season, relegated or not. I agree with Shark J that Sale Sharks will see a decrease along with Newcastle unless they can come up with some very generous ticket offers. I'm surprised such a big drop for London Irish as whenever I've seen them they've played some good attacking rugby. The one that stands out for me is Saracens. Top two finish and favourites to make it to the final and yet down from 9,000+ to 7,000+.

For me, what stands out is traditional teams playing in traditional grounds doing well (Leicester, Quins, Bath, Gloucester) while those that are traditional teams in ‘borrowed’ stadiums are struggling (Wasps, Irish, Saracens etc) and the Northern teams continue to find it tough

Overall, it seems that Union is struggling to extend its reach beyond its existing fan base

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun May 08, 2011 2:28 pm  

Neil Back looks up to Super League A cross between Benny Hill and mating season for wild pigs - welcome to the modern scrum 'Even the referee was sick of it all. After 68 minutes of meandering otherwise known as the Waratahs-Force match on Saturday night, Stu Dickinson strode in between the two packs of forwards, and said: ''People are getting bored of this rubbish. Get it right.'

Neil Back looks up to Super League A cross between Benny Hill and mating season for wild pigs - welcome to the modern scrum 'Even the referee was sick of it all. After 68 minutes of meandering otherwise known as the Waratahs-Force match on Saturday night, Stu Dickinson strode in between the two packs of forwards, and said: ''People are getting bored of this rubbish. Get it right.'

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun May 08, 2011 2:34 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

For me, what stands out is traditional teams playing in traditional grounds doing well (Leicester, Quins, Bath, Gloucester) while those that are traditional teams in ‘borrowed’ stadiums are struggling (Wasps, Irish, Saracens etc) and the Northern teams continue to find it tough

Overall, it seems that Union is struggling to extend its reach beyond its existing fan base

And that despite plenty of column inches, being proclaimed the sport of choice by many on national television and radio (ie BBC Radio 5), superstar players and god knows how many plugs left, right and centre.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 12:45 pm  

Catalancs wrote: Neil Back looks up to Super League Back looks at a route whereby Leeds could guarantee themselves a place at the top table for the foreseeable future more like... Even if they don't get relegated because Worcester have a brain explosion (they only beat Bedford by virtue of a very late try from a scrum five yards out), Leeds have lost a couple of their best young players for next season already in Burrell and Myall who have gone to Sale.

Catalancs wrote: Neil Back looks up to Super League Back looks at a route whereby Leeds could guarantee themselves a place at the top table for the foreseeable future more like... Even if they don't get relegated because Worcester have a brain explosion (they only beat Bedford by virtue of a very late try from a scrum five yards out), Leeds have lost a couple of their best young players for next season already in Burrell and Myall who have gone to Sale.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon May 09, 2011 2:45 pm  

Sport England reduces funding for rugby union by £1.1m because of poor participation figures