Sack Flanagan

[since77]

What players can you say Flanagan has improved? Serious question

Trying to answer this in a balanced way.

Standout example would be Lomax - went from a perennially underachieving centre to a genuine representative class winger.
Hamish Stewart has bloomed into a player Penrith, Brisbane, Roosters were seriously chasing before he resigned with us. Was easily our best player against the Titans.
You could make arguments that T Couchman and S'ua have been consistently good under Flanno.

Standout failure would be Sloan (and there's plenty of evidence that's more Sloan's fault than the coach).

Then there's a whole lot of players (not including the young forwards coming through) who are either past their prime or had realistically no improvement in them to start with. Without trying to defend Flanno - I'm getting to the point where I'm genuinely ambivalent as to whether he stays or goes - I just want to win - we still have a squad heavy with players who in general are way below the top, and sadly even the second and third tier in terms of NRL quality. There's not a lot of juice in them to squeeze IMO. Lawrie, Guler, Sele, Kyle, Kerr - all below par - and that's 5 who took the field last weekend. Then add Gutho, Cook, Holmes - all past their best - and seemingly going downhill at an alarming speed - there's another 3 who played on the weekend - so that's 8 out 17 from last weeks team who have zero upside to them IMO. I counted a grand total of 3 players who you could tick off as having a "good game" against the Titans.

I honestly think he's stuck trying to get blood from a stone with at least two thirds of the squad. The pundits tipping us for the spoon this year weren't doing that based on the coach - they were basing it on our squad. That of course doesn't mean he doesn't have things he should be held accountable for. The "solid" selections, the panicked and flawed recruiting before Daniel Anderson came on board, choosing "experience" over speed and youth, and the game plan that Vlandysball has left behind - those things are all on him.

I really worry about the team list that will come out this afternoon - if he shows this afternoon that he hasn't learned from whats happened so far this season I will have probably be extending one foot onto the step of the "Sack Flanno" bus.

 

[Rob-Dragon]

Trying to answer this in a balanced way.

Standout example would be Lomax - went from a perennially underachieving centre to a genuine representative class winger.
Hamish Stewart has bloomed into a player Penrith, Brisbane, Roosters were seriously chasing before he resigned with us. Was easily our best player against the Titans.
You could make arguments that T Couchman and S'ua have been consistently good under Flanno.

Standout failure would be Sloan (and there's plenty of evidence that's more Sloan's fault than the coach).

Then there's a whole lot of players (not including the young forwards coming through) who are either past their prime or had realistically no improvement in them to start with. Without trying to defend Flanno - I'm getting to the point where I'm genuinely ambivalent as to whether he stays or goes - I just want to win - we still have a squad heavy with players who in general are way below the top, and sadly even the second and third tier in terms of NRL quality. There's not a lot of juice in them to squeeze IMO. Lawrie, Guler, Sele, Kyle, Kerr - all below par - and that's 5 who took the field last weekend. Then add Gutho, Cook, Holmes - all past their best - and seemingly going downhill at an alarming speed - there's another 3 who played on the weekend - so that's 8 out 17 from last weeks team who have zero upside to them IMO. I counted a grand total of 3 players who you could tick off as having a "good game" against the Titans.

I honestly think he's stuck trying to get blood from a stone with at least two thirds of the squad. The pundits tipping us for the spoon this year weren't doing that based on the coach - they were basing it on our squad. That of course doesn't mean he doesn't have things he should be held accountable for. The "solid" selections, the panicked and flawed recruiting before Daniel Anderson came on board, choosing "experience" over speed and youth, and the game plan that Vlandysball has left behind - those things are all on him.

I really worry about the team list that will come out this afternoon - if he shows this afternoon that he hasn't learned from whats happened so far this season I will have probably be extending one foot onto the step of the "Sack Flanno" bus.

This is a pretty balanced assessment Since77. I agree with almost all of your thoughts. We're just stuck in the gutter mate, and because of many of the things you point out. My issue with Flanngan is he's implemented a game plan that is so far off the pace and demands of the 6-again changes that we look like we are playing a different game to the other teams, albeit with not a great squad. The absence of 2nd phase play, the continuation of block run, after block run, followed by a bomb is demoralising. LTK was not great when he came on agains the Titans, but he had about 20 minutes to manufacture something coming in cold AND at least he digs into the defensive line. At least he goes to the line with the ball in both hands and asks some questions of the defensive line. Your right, this afternoons team announcement will be very revealing.

 

[getsmarty]

https://archive.md/iwPlR

 

[Dragons4me]

The team against the cows has been announced. There's enough dialogue around without me to add my 2 cents worth. Go and have some fun fellas. Throw the ball around and let's see what you've got. No-one gives you a chance in hell (except me).

Go you mighties!!

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Lomax.

This club is strange. Our last few coaches have all seemed to start positively for their first season or so and then get increasingly worse and stuck in their ways…

 

[KogarahWarrior]

Trying to answer this in a balanced way.

Standout example would be Lomax - went from a perennially underachieving centre to a genuine representative class winger.
Hamish Stewart has bloomed into a player Penrith, Brisbane, Roosters were seriously chasing before he resigned with us. Was easily our best player against the Titans.
You could make arguments that T Couchman and S'ua have been consistently good under Flanno.

Standout failure would be Sloan (and there's plenty of evidence that's more Sloan's fault than the coach).

Then there's a whole lot of players (not including the young forwards coming through) who are either past their prime or had realistically no improvement in them to start with. Without trying to defend Flanno - I'm getting to the point where I'm genuinely ambivalent as to whether he stays or goes - I just want to win - we still have a squad heavy with players who in general are way below the top, and sadly even the second and third tier in terms of NRL quality. There's not a lot of juice in them to squeeze IMO. Lawrie, Guler, Sele, Kyle, Kerr - all below par - and that's 5 who took the field last weekend. Then add Gutho, Cook, Holmes - all past their best - and seemingly going downhill at an alarming speed - there's another 3 who played on the weekend - so that's 8 out 17 from last weeks team who have zero upside to them IMO. I counted a grand total of 3 players who you could tick off as having a "good game" against the Titans.

I honestly think he's stuck trying to get blood from a stone with at least two thirds of the squad. The pundits tipping us for the spoon this year weren't doing that based on the coach - they were basing it on our squad. That of course doesn't mean he doesn't have things he should be held accountable for. The "solid" selections, the panicked and flawed recruiting before Daniel Anderson came on board, choosing "experience" over speed and youth, and the game plan that Vlandysball has left behind - those things are all on him.

I really worry about the team list that will come out this afternoon - if he shows this afternoon that he hasn't learned from whats happened so far this season I will have probably be extending one foot onto the step of the "Sack Flanno" bus.

Excellent assessment. One of the best posts that I’ve seen in a while.

 

[possm]

Fanno should be sacked immediately and replaced by Willie Talau

 

[I'm Hornby]

Our man

 

[gregstar]

Pffft!

Quitters!

What a bunch of pansies!

 

[arokat]

I would like to know who is picking the team, is it flano should be but is he, we had price blamed him sacked him our man paul sacked him hook sacked him and now flanno. the only ones we have'nt sacked is the pricks at the top. maybe it's time.

 

[Slippery Morris]

Based on Flanno's game plan Burton would be his perfect fit for the team. One out stuff then give it to Burton for his signature torpedo bombs and hope for the best.

This year makes you realise how important Hunt and Lomax were to Saints attack previous years as Hunt's bombs and Lomax tries were the only things that made them look a threat under Flanno's game plan. They were more crucial than we thought and have not been replaced. Flanno was happy to let them go but had terrible ideas as replacements. Val has not come no way near good enough to have the same impact Lomax had as for Kyle. Wow, did SFlanno think he would easily replace Hunt? It really shows how high his opinion is of his son. I think Illias touched on that and he is looking spot on.

 

[since77]

I'm not a huge fan of the Bloke in a Bar podcast but their review of the Titans game and where Saints are at at the moment was probably the final straw in my previous faith in Flanno. They make some points which I just can't argue with.
We're going backwards - something which seemed utterly unimaginable coming out of the Griffin debacle.
I don't care who's in charge anymore as long as they get us heading upwards.
Something needs to change.

 

[Illusion]

Our lot have lost the plot ...... No come to think of it they never had it to lose it ....... https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/86fcfc5db4bdc86590b731eb9aeb17eb

 

[Flinstone]

Our lot have lost the plot ...... No come to think of it they never had it to lose it ....... https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/86fcfc5db4bdc86590b731eb9aeb17eb

It was odd to extend him, they easily could of waited until end of season 25.
Club said it shows security for recruitment. Doesn't matter if your not winning.
Just another dumb decision.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Sack Foran ? Todays interview

Speaking in his first press conference as head coach, Foran said it would do no justice to Walsh to throw him in deep when the club is looking to get its season back on track.

"There's obviously been a lot of noise from the outside about Joey Walsh, but what people have got to understand is that Joey is 19," he said.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Sack Foran ? Todays interview

Speaking in his first press conference as head coach, Foran said it would do no justice to Walsh to throw him in deep when the club is looking to get its season back on track.

"There's obviously been a lot of noise from the outside about Joey Walsh, but what people have got to understand is that Joey is 19," he said.

I know nothing about Joey Walsh. What I find interesting is that Kieran Foran had his first NRL game at the age of 18, and now suddenly 19 is too young.

 

[Number of the Beath]

I know nothing about Joey Walsh. What I find interesting is that Kieran Foran had his first NRL game at the age of 18, and now suddenly 19 is too young.

He spent a lot of time injured and had some other issues.
I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on that one.

 

[Exsilium]

All good to want to sack a coach but who comes in that's arguably better? Its a tough coaching market but by the same token, lesser experienced NRL but solid cup coaches and long term assistants need a chance to stake their claim.

You've got the talent but its been too long between happy drinks at the Taj

 

[KogarahWarrior]

I know nothing about Joey Walsh. What I find interesting is that Kieran Foran had his first NRL game at the age of 18, and now suddenly 19 is too young.

The circumstances were different with Foz. The Sea Eagles back then were a pretty high-flying team, so he could afford to play and make mistakes, because their star players were being more greatly scrutinised. In this instance, there are demands for Walsh because he is expected to come in and make a difference to the team's fortunes, if not their saviour, and if he ends up not being an upgrade from Brooks, he'll cop it from fans for being 'overrated'. Also, Rugby league has changed a fair bit from when Foran was playing. The constant media pile-on of players who weren't performing well, on TV shows and social media, was far less than it is now, so throwing him in this early could very well damage his confidence. We saw it with our young halves a few years ago, especially Bud (although that came from the coach and captain at the time throwing him under the bus).

 

[Dragons4me]

It's now Wednesday from last weekend's disappointing Titans game, and it's strangely quite in Dragonland. No word from SFlan and I'm wondering if there's anything happening behind the scenes ?