Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:05 pm  

geoffbaxter wrote:

Phil Larder was an excellent coach. But lets be honest that sort of ethos belongs firmly in the dressing room, only for the players ears and backroom staff.

....If that is so, can the club warn us of the games that matter, then my expectations will be lowered. Could they also let me know the games that mattered last season, so I can have a recap of our performance.....

The club is trying to increase support. To post that comment on an open forum is beyond belief.

All games are winnable don't insult the supporters by picking and choosing.

This perfectly illustrates your apparent lack of understanding of (semi) professional sport. As you state that ethos belongs in the dressing room, yet it appears you want Paul March to advertise to all fans (and by accident the opposing teams) the game plan, tactics etc etc.

Of course there will be games targeted, by that i don't mean forget the other games. They will still approach the game with a win or bonus point attitude. Certain games last season tactics became obvious to get points, remember the last game of the season at Barrow? barrow kicked on the 3rd/4th tackle relentlessly to keep the ball out of their half. We played up your jumper, the end being a result that was mutually beneficial to both teams.

You are living in dream land with Phil Larder lamenting finishing 2nd fiddle to Salford in 1995.

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:36 pm  

Panth wrote:

RFL has confirmed today that a championship 1 team will be promoted at the end of this season meaning that 5 will be relagated from the championship.
9th spot is the target then this year.
Going to be really tight I think

Hang on a minute, if my maths is working properly shouldn't that be six down?

2 from SL, + Toulouse, + Ch1 champions = 4. Present championship is 14 teams meaning six down.

The future is certainly not bright if we play like last year, we'll see what happens on Sunday.

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:24 pm  

Hang on a minute, if my maths is working properly shouldn't that be six down? 2 from SL, + Toulouse, + Ch1 champions = 4. Present championship is 14 teams meaning six down. I've not heard anything official saying Toulouse are entering next year. I've seen on another site today saying that it will be 5 down 1 up, so I guess Toulouse havent been given the go ahead. http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_141 ... op-24.html

Hang on a minute, if my maths is working properly shouldn't that be six down? 2 from SL, + Toulouse, + Ch1 champions = 4. Present championship is 14 teams meaning six down. I've not heard anything official saying Toulouse are entering next year. I've seen on another site today saying that it will be 5 down 1 up, so I guess Toulouse havent been given the go ahead. http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_141 ... op-24.html

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:26 pm  

5 down , 1 up from C1 as per RL Express.

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:01 pm  

Its a long time since we had a sensible debate on here, finally a little bit of passion is creeping back

Firstly Cougar time I am not in a psition nor do I think I ever will be anytime soon to through on the table a takeover bid well unless my numbers come up but about rose tinted spectacles I have opinions thats all about something that is passionate to me. While you are on here and since I asked politely can you disclose how the season ticket sales have gone

this_cougar_outfit, I have no intentions of staying away from the ground or any of the games I totally agree with you that this season is going to be very tough, tense and stressful and I think this will be the same for the big boys of the league as well since their is so much at stake. You call us a mediocre team well I wouldn't quite call us that as I think we do have a team that can compete barring a couple of players that can get us in the top eight which none of us can argue about it has to be the ultimate goal. I hate to keep picking one person out because it can't be nice if reading this but Paul March is not the guy to Coach this team and the sooner our directors realise this the better. You talk about targeting teams, yes of course teams like sheffield, leigh and fev your going to aim for a bonus point and anything else is excellent but the likes of batley, dewsbury, halifax etc why cant we beat these teams. Yes a bonus point is great but when ever you participate in something no matter what it is you set your sights on winning.

The directors have to take a gamble this year and to be honest I dont see it been a gamble with the right Coach put in place. You say if I read it right that if we didn't make it in the top eight this year we would survive well your entitled to your opinion and I respect that but for me it's game over because the lower down we finish the less money we will get and the further behind we will fall. Im no expert but to me its not rocket science, we cant live in the past and Im sure we wont see days ever again like the cougar mania era but look at what they did.
They built/created a product and a team that was infectious and Im sure a lot of what they did was a gamble but look at the sponsorship and support and the players it attracted and all that was without all the internet and technology we have to hand now. Everything they did wasn't that hard really when you strip it all back.

All im trying to say is by getting rid of this coach now before its too late and if all three of our directors chipped in along with maybe some of our hardcore sponsors of the club we could attract a big name that would get the town talking like it did when JD was here. Ok the ground wasnt busting at the seems but the attendances and support and attitude from the players is far better than what it is now and many of us on here and in cougar park agreed there was a real feel good factor about the place. The above can be done look at what was done when Daryl Powell came to cougar park, that was through everyone including sponsors chipping in.

Regarding the crowd I completely agree and I know from a database that I created when I was at the club that the biggest percentage of our fan base at games is over 45. All this about giving away season tickets to u16 is agreat idea but what is the point in just giving them to schools and handing them out when it isnt followed up or the places you are giving them arent made to feel excited about the club. Last season when I looked around I bet there wasnt hardly any increase on the younger age groups and during this season just look around the ground and tell me if you see loads of u17

If this is doing things on a budget then I hate to see what we are like with putting nothing into it.
Look we can all have our opinions and say we know best but lets be honest how many other clubs that will seriously be contending at the top end of the table will be doing this with no Assistant and with a part time coach for me this is just ridiculous. How can you run a Top (which is waht we want to be) championship club like this, you cant.

I just feel that our directors have done great in improving the facilities around the ground and getting everything on the cheap/budget and have fantastic and exciting abitions for the club but can they really manage a club at the pace and professionalism thats required, I dont have 100% faith. I believe the real problem in the JD era was they couldn't keep up with him it was more like he was running the club and they were been dragged behind which caused problems with certain individuals images, alter egos and power trips. The word is PROFESSIONAL.

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 4:34 pm  

Regarding targeting bonus points against the stronger teams, this season it will be equally if not more important to stop the teams around us picking up a bonus point against us when we beat them.

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:27 pm  

[quote][/quote]While you are on here and since I asked politely can you disclose how the season ticket sales have gone [quote]

I have no idea - you seem to think I am in the know or have some connection with the club? (I'm not and I don't)

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:36 pm  

Would we have been better going down and winning the league below rather than trying to finish 6th bottom?

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:57 pm  

The team COULD win this league this season, if the players and the coach really want to. Ignore any financial inducements etc. the only thing that matters when playing a team sport is teamwork, utilising peoples strengths, compensating for their weaknesses and making a determined effort to win.
On occasions other teams MAY be better on the day but if a good teamwork/hard work ethic is applied then it is not impossible to beat the opposition time and time again.
It's also a personal thing. Are you a team player? Will you go the extra bit for your team mates? Are you confident they will do the same for you?
Get that right and.....................

Re: Season Ahead : Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:51 pm  

Would we have been better going down and winning the league below rather than trying to finish 6th bottom?

I was thinking the exact same thing.