Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 6:50 am  

I'd bring in Paul Cooke to be our attacking coach the guy has a great knowledge of the game and was our best attacking player for years. Agree with most points Wildie, I'd like to see Connor at 1 for a few games.

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:06 am  

Wasn't Jamie Shaul best man at Radford's wedding?

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:20 am  

Mrs Barista wrote:

I don't think anyone is claiming the job of a professional sportsman is the "most stressful or dangerous", that's a red herring. The point we are discussing is that the team can and does perform better away from the KCOM - I imagine our away record is as good as anyone's this season apart from Saints, which shows what we are capable of. It's not outrageous to suggest one hypothesis could be that the atmosphere is less supportive at home. It may not be a popular hypothesis but it's not outrageous.

It's not really unpopular or outrageous but is over simplistic. The match day atmosphere tends to be the result of team performance, not the cause.

We play well in patches this year of 15-20 minutes (at home, at least). If we score enough points in that patch we tend to win, if not we tend to lose. Plenty of examples of us racking up points quickly then switching off. I'd say this is down to mental approach rather than anything the crowd does. Maybe it's our preparation and/or mentality for away games which is the difference. I also think radford has talked up the kcom effect too much and it maybe plays on the players minds..

One thing is for certain, if we'd been anywhere near as good at home as we have been away, we'd be a long way clear in 2nd now.

Anyway, all this trying to put the blame on the fans is moving the discussion away from (I'm sure that was the intention) the real discussion here

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:22 am  

Ellam wrote:

I'd bring in Paul Cooke to be our attacking coach the guy has a great knowledge of the game and was our best attacking player for years. Agree with most points Wildie, I'd like to see Connor at 1 for a few games.

I'd have cooke nowhere near this team. We need fresh ideas, not another old boy mate of radford's with nothing new to bring to the table, plus he's hardly set the coaching world alight in his past jobs

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:57 am  

Jake the Peg wrote:

It's not really unpopular or outrageous but is over simplistic. The match day atmosphere tends to be the result of team performance, not the cause.

We play well in patches this year of 15-20 minutes (at home, at least). If we score enough points in that patch we tend to win, if not we tend to lose. Plenty of examples of us racking up points quickly then switching off. I'd say this is down to mental approach rather than anything the crowd does. Maybe it's our preparation and/or mentality for away games which is the difference. I also think radford has talked up the kcom effect too much and it maybe plays on the players minds..

One thing is for certain, if we'd been anywhere near as good at home as we have been away, we'd be a long way clear in 2nd now.

Anyway, all this trying to put the blame on the fans is moving the discussion away from (I'm sure that was the intention) the real discussion here

"All of this trying to put the blame on the fans"? I'm agreeing with you that our away form has been really good so it's not a question of capability. The question we're trying to answer is why this isn't replicated at home. Of.course there will be more than one factor, and it's not been suggested otherwise. The difference in support could be one. Certainly feels a different experience as a supporter and that's been the case for a few years, with different mixes of home and away success.

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:11 am  

On paper the 2020 side looks better than the 2019 one. However, in answer to the title question, Radford is still going to be in charge, so no. Our biggest issue still remains.

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:59 am  

Yep think they will. Our pack will be one of the best in the league. The backs will have a field day. IMO will defo be challenging

[Chris71]

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:21 am  

hull2524 wrote:

Yep think they will. Our pack will be one of the best in the league. The backs will have a field day. IMO will defo be challenging

But if we can't keep hold of the ball, continue to give cheap penalties away, simply rely on a crash and bash game plan rather than get a proper attacking structure to our game and don't improve our defensive deficiencies then we are not really any better off other than upgrade on players.

If we actually sorted out the issues that plaque us and have done for the past few years and more (even during the 2 CC winning seasons) we would more than likely have achieved more even with the players we've had and not had the capitulations we seem only too keen to serve up.

We looked absolutely devoid of any sort of structure on Saturday and do not seem to have the mental attitude to put a game to bed, dig in when needed or have any other options available if plan A isn't working.

I like Radford and what he has done to turn the club around but something needs to be addressed within the coaching structure and a fresh face from outside needs to be added as we are just too one dimensional and seem to rely more on the skill of individuals rather than set structures. So if we lose one or two players we just simply can't cope as we don't appear to have the attacking structures in place to cover the loss of players.

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 11:28 am  

As a few posters have said . It is down to Coaching .
Radford is not the man to take us to the next level , to sustain success.
A new broom is needed , fresh ideas to inject some enthusiasm and energy.
We have blown 2nd spot , with an error ridden lacklustre performance.

Re: Are 2019 issues being resolved for 2020 : Tue Aug 20, 2019 12:11 pm  

Irregular Hoops wrote:

To be fair I think the fans have been pretty supportive, even when we had that horrendous losing run last year. The “poor atmosphere at the KCom” is a cop out to be honest.
If they feel pressure, it’s the price you pay for playing for a big club with passionate fans. Can always go and play for London where the atmosphere might be more forgiving.
They also play for a coach with high expectations who tells it as it is - pretty much like the fanbase!

100%. The club wants to be grateful that over 10k are turning up every week after some of the dross they've served us up over the last two seasons. It should be the team who give the fans something to shout about.