Exactly.
The anti Hagan sentiment around here is ridiculous. You guys get up me for questioning the skills of our halfback Benchwarmer, but the rabid criticism and anti Hagan movement on here makes my criticism look timid. At least mine has some basis behind it, unlike the anti Hagan movement.
Michael Hagan had to endure the loss of internationals such as Ben Kennedy, Timana Tahu and Matt Gidley within a few seasons of each other. Add to that Mark Hughes and Bill Peden - 2 toilers who busted their ass for this club every game, and they were replenished with players who were not up to standard. Who wouldn't struggle as a coach?
In addition the injuries Andrew Johns had over the years, and we all know how teams struggle whenever their main halfback and creative force the entire team is revolved around is unavailable for selection. ( Look no further than Brian Smiths first year 15th for how losing Johns early season was a huge blow. We did make the semis the year before after all... )
We speak of Smith highly and we bag Hagan.
While Brian Smith was leading the 2006 semi finalists Knights to 15th in 2007, Michael Hagan was leading the 2006 Eels who were in 14th place prior to Smith being sacked ( finished 8th after a resurgence under Taylor ) into the 2007 semi finals and within 1 game of the GF.
Michael Hagan is not a poor coach.
In fact, the treatment of Michael Hagan by Knights ' fans ' is appalling. He wasn't some ring in. He played for our club and led the Knights to a premiership - question his ' give it to Joey ' tactics all you want - but a premiership should never be forgotten.
Wouldn't Brian Smith have loved to ' give it to Joey ' when he led us to 15th in 2007 after Hagan led us to the semi finals in 2006 with essentially the same team?
Hagan is totally disrespected and unappreciated by you Knights fans.
He toiled for us on the field as a player, and he had success off the field as a coach - including a premiership.
He might not be a tactical genius, but he is a top grade manager of men. Something Brian Smith could well learn from.
In the 2001 GF, its common knowledge that Smith had the Eels wound up so tight they were blown off the park by a Knights team who were relaxed and refreshed by the way Hagan managed their training and preperation.
Belittle him all you like , but I respect Hagan completely.
Hagan had a 54% winning rate during his time at the Knights and some tough years here at the club. He has a 53% winning rate of all first grade coaching level. Our very own ' genius ' you all laud in Smith has a 52% winning rate during his career, and a winning rate in the low 40's here at the Knights.
There is more to coaching than being a school teacher driven tactician. A great coach knows how to manage men, manage individuals. At that, Hagan was top class.
Andrew Johns holds the guy in high esteem, and if that isn't ringing endorsement alone beyond what you and I think, I don't know what is.
Give the guy a break.
How can you say he is a top Manager of men Karma?
Great Coaches get the best out of players.
He certainly has never done that.
I'd give Steve Walters and Warren Ryan as much credit as Hagan for Buderus.I believe Michael Hagan helped turn Danny Buderus into a total champion and he played his best football under Hagan.
I also believe Hagan helped Feleti Mateo reach his potential and he has been publically thanked by Mateo as the reason he is playing first grade right now!
People were raving about Timana Tahu's form for the Eels in 2007 under Hagans coaching. He was playing as good there as anytime he was playing at the Knights that is for sure. Some of his late season 07 form was brilliant. Especially his defence which improved a heap.
Lots of players go backwards under certain coaching. It is also should not be the coaches fault if the players aren't willing to put in.
I think its pretty obvious that Karma didn't have to experience the latter part of the Hagan years (low blow or not), as he considers the rabble that we were from about 04 onwards without Johns or Buderus to be of a better or same level of 'mediocrity' that we have now!
I believe Michael Hagan helped turn Danny Buderus into a total champion and he played his best football under Hagan.
I also believe Hagan helped Feleti Mateo reach his potential and he has been publically thanked by Mateo as the reason he is playing first grade right now!
People were raving about Timana Tahu's form for the Eels in 2007 under Hagans coaching. He was playing as good there as anytime he was playing at the Knights that is for sure. Some of his late season 07 form was brilliant. Especially his defence which improved a heap.
Lots of players go backwards under certain coaching. It is also should not be the coaches fault if the players aren't willing to put in.
Justin Hodges had to leave Brisbane for various reasons before playing good footy under the Stuart at the Roosters. Then when that didn't work out, he had a change again and has played his best footy back under Bennent at the Broncos.
It certainly didn't make Stuart or Bennent poor coaches because the players head isn't in the right spot.
So far, Daniel Anderson, who is regarded as a top notch coach is having the exact same troubles with some of the personalities at the Eels as Hagan did!
I mean we bag out Todd Lowrie etc, yet here is Daniel Anderson selecting Lowrie as a starting second rower in front of other players at the Eels this year!
I just don't believe he deserves the criticism he receives on here. Simple as that.
Some stats don't lie, and that is a 53% all time winning coaching record in first grade Rugby League, which is a lot better than some of the coaches we consider ' great '...
I respect the guy alot.
I'd give Steve Walters and Warren Ryan as much credit as Hagan for Buderus.
As for Tahu he never reached his potential imo he could have been one of the greats, the bloke was a freak who had a very good career but nothing in comparison for what he could have achieved and maybe Hagan is somewhat responsible for it wasn't the reason Tahu left because Hagan wouldn't give him a spot in the centres
Johns and Buderus were once in a generation talents and so central to the teams success that any coach would have had difficulty succeeding without them in their teams.
Imagine the Tigers without Farah/Marshall, Cowboys without Thurston, until recently, the Titans without Prince. Such key players are a nightmare to be without for any coach.
Hagan wasn't perfect, far from it, but he was a lot better than given credit for just the same, and nowhere near as bad as he is made out to be.
Ironically, I'm in here defending a Knight and trying to find positives in Hagan after copping criticism left right and centre for never being positive, while everyone else attacks the bloke like vultures at a carcass :lol:
One of the true strengths of Smith is his ability to contruct a plan and execute it when this is the case.
:lol:, Smithy never had that problem at the eels untill they told him he had been given the arse:lol:So far, Daniel Anderson, who is regarded as a top notch coach is having the exact same troubles with some of the personalities at the Eels as Hagan did!
Yep and Brian smith had the same problems here after taking over from hagan. There is one common denominator in both situations.
You are making this waaaay to easy Karma, lol.