Sack Adam O'Brien

[Alex28]

Welcome back, this thread has become an echo chamber - we needed the only Knights fan in existence who sstill wants AOB to come back and balance it out

I only think he should hang around because there isn’t a realistic better option out there that Wests will consider.

Hoping that the Roosters will punt Trent Robertson is the best this post has come up with. It’s a ridiculous thread that serves little purpose.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I only think he should hang around because there isn’t a realistic better option out there that Wests will consider.

Hoping that the Roosters will punt Trent Robertson is the best this post has come up with. It’s a ridiculous thread that serves little purpose.

As unrealistic as it is, it's still a better idea than persisting with AOB..

 

[Woody90]

Waiting until the end of the season means another disrupted preseason and a 2024 full of pre-baked excuses. There a reason why other clubs have already made their moves.

We're too dumb, passive and reactive to act early of course. The thing I dread the most is us getting pumped again this weekend and him still keeping his job, but I see it as a very real possibility.

I know I’m just being optimistic but part of me is hoping that the club plans to sack him after the Bulldogs’ game as we have a bye and it will allow the players an a week to come to terms with it.

Losing to the Bulldogs would also be another level of an inexcusable loss too IMO. It can be argued that even understrength Penrith are a good system team. Losing to the Bulldogs on the back of the last 2 games would be inexcusable though. While they try hard and have won some games when their opposition were really really poor, they’re objectively the worst squad in the comp IMO.

 

[macavity]

I agree that we only sack him if we have a better option, which is not immediately apparent. This club isn't exactly renowned for its inspired thinking either.

 

[Knight Tales]

I only think he should hang around because there isn’t a realistic better option out there that Wests will consider.

Hoping that the Roosters will punt Trent Robertson is the best this post has come up with. It’s a ridiculous thread that serves little purpose.

Look at the squad. Look at the record. This side is a top 8 side in anyone’s language if they find a strong and confident coach who can back up the talk. Our backline is top 5 in this comp. He is out of his depth.

 

[Burwood]

Our spine is piss poor. Ponga is the only one worth feeding.

 

[Woody90]

Look at the squad. Look at the record. This side is a top 8 side in anyone’s language if they find a strong and confident coach who can back up the talk. Our backline is top 5 in this comp. He is out of his depth.

Our back 5 are fantastic, probably one of the best, but the rest of the squad is dead average. Definitely wouldn’t say sure top 8 side.

I do think though that Hastings and Gamble would be better with better service from 9 and forwards that don’t get smashed all the time. They looked pretty good at the start of the year when Crossland wasn’t a thing and the forwards were effective.

 

[Knight Tales]

Our spine is piss poor. Ponga is the only one worth feeding.

Come on man. Jackson has been great. If anything he has overplayed his hand cos he is overcompensating for the shithouse distribution he is getting.

 

[Knight Tales]

Our back 5 are fantastic, probably one of the best, but the rest of the squad is dead average. Definitely wouldn’t say sure top 8 side.

I do think though that Hastings and Gamble would be better with better service from 9 and forwards that don’t get smashed.

That is the coaching mate. He allows them to get away with it. The origin props (cough cough) are taking the piss

 

[Alex28]

Look at the squad. Look at the record. This side is a top 8 side in anyone’s language if they find a strong and confident coach who can back up the talk. Our backline is top 5 in this comp. He is out of his depth.

Is it?

I actually don’t think it is. We have one Origin player, and I would argue that even if we were in form we would probably only have one other picked (Ponga).

The squad is average. The spine isn’t great. We lack depth in the forwards. This squad is not as good as you say it is.

That doesn’t suit your narrative though, does it?

 

[Spot On]

Knights players are generally overrated by Knights supporters Alex, but there’s 5 players in our 17 who have played Origin in the last few years. Not sure their form warranted it but having 5 players represent at that level should mean the coach has a bit to work with.

Either that or as I hinted, they were very lucky to get the gig on the ability they display/displayed.

Which way do you see it?

 

[Burwood]

Come on man. Jackson has been great. If anything he has overplayed his hand cos he is overcompensating for the shithouse distribution he is getting.

Have a look at the sides in the top 8 and their halfbacks.

 

[Woody90]

That is the coaching mate. He allows them to get away with it. The origin props (cough cough) are taking the piss

While I agree re the accountability, I don’t think the issues with the forwards are purely AOB’s fault (and I say that as someone who is very much in the “sack him” camp).

We’ve had issues with the likes of the Safs and Fitzgibbon since before AOB was here and tbh they’ve always been pretty average but the club has overrated and overpaid them due to being locals. I think a few good games for Dan and their Origin selection made us think that they’re both sleeping giants who will be world beaters with the right coaching, but it’s looking more likely that they’re just average and overrated from the beginning. It’s also not like anyone in NSW cup has really deserved FG selection either so I’m not sure who we were ever going to replace them with this year. It’s easy to say they need to be dropped for accountability but you need to be able to replace them. Last time Dan was out the next replacement was Brodie Jones FFS.

 

[Jono078]

Is it?

I actually don’t think it is. We have one Origin player, and I would argue that even if we were in form we would probably only have one other picked (Ponga).

The squad is average. The spine isn’t great. We lack depth in the forwards. This squad is not as good as you say it is.

That doesn’t suit your narrative though, does it?

If the narrative is how shit of a job AOB has done with retention and recruitment in his 4 years here, then it sure does fit the narrative perfectly.

We should be doing better than we are. I've seen it with my own eyes what we are capable of, but AOB fails to consistently get the best out of this team. As soon as we face adversity we crumble.

I've seen a lot of posts from you recently saying how dumb this forum is, but I haven't seen many solutions from you.

 

[Alex28]

Knights players are generally overrated by Knights supporters Alex, but there’s 5 players in our 17 who have played Origin in the last few years. Not sure their form warranted it but having 5 players represent at that level should mean the coach has a bit to work with.

Either that or as I hinted, they were very lucky to get the gig on the ability they display/displayed.

Which way do you see it?

If those players are playing in the same form as what they were when picked for Origin, are they realistically being picked this year?

Friz and Ponga - yes. Safs x 2 and Gagai? I doubt it. They aren’t in the top few of their position right now either way.

Someone above thought our 1-5 is one of the best in the comp - that is laughable. Would be lucky to be in the top half of the comp, and our best player may disappear for weeks - or longer - if he gets a decent hit to the head.

There is plenty wrong with the club. Pinning it on the coach isn’t going to fix it.

 

[Alex28]

If the narrative is how shit of a job AOB has done with retention and recruitment in his 4 years here, then it sure does fit the narrative perfectly.

We should be doing better than we are. I've seen it with my own eyes what we are capable of, but AOB fails to consistently get the best out of this team. As soon as we face adversity we crumble.

I've seen a lot of posts from you recently saying how dumb this forum is, but I haven't seen many solutions from you.

If you are watching NRL360 tonight, they are pinning the recruitment on Gardiner, not AOB.

Either way, he’s done by the end of the year. Get ready for the next sack the coach post.

 

[Spot On]

If those players are playing in the same form as what they were when picked for Origin, are they realistically being picked this year?

Friz and Ponga - yes. Safs x 2 and Gagai? I doubt it. They aren’t in the top few of their position right now either way.

Someone above thought our 1-5 is one of the best in the comp - that is laughable. Would be lucky to be in the top half of the comp, and our best player may disappear for weeks - or longer - if he gets a decent hit to the head.

There is plenty wrong with the club. Pinning it on the coach isn’t going to fix it.

No, our back 5 are no where near top of the pile. I agree with you.

I personally don’t think that most of the 5 that have played origin recently are top class either. However, they have been part of that arena and have that experience. It’s not a bad thing for a coach to look across his roster and see 5 rep players is it?

Do you believe our roster is a bottom 3 or 4 roster?? Even I can’t rate them quite that low.

But maybe I have the Knights goggles on????

 

[Jono078]

If you are watching NRL360 tonight, they are pinning the recruitment on Gardiner, not AOB.

Either way, he’s done by the end of the year. Get ready for the next sack the coach post.

Just watched. Very interesting to say the least.

Something has to give - perhaps a new coach changes a lot of what they suggested. We won't know until it happens.

 

[perverse]

Is anyone here arguing that Gardener doesn't hold some responsbility for what's going on?

When you come up with a way to make him accountable that isn't living in fantasy land then I'm all ears. Maybe we should at least worry about instigating change that is possible? Or do we just continue to do the same thing and accept our fate?

Can't sack or move on the entire squad. Can't sack the CEO, nor would the Wests board ever want to. I wonder who is left in the equation that holds some responsibility over this mess?

Arguing that the squad is producing the best it can is a bit of a joke that I can't even be bothered to engage in. We know they can play better, individually and as a team. It's the coaches job to make the most of what he has. Good coaches even exceed that and get more out of what they have than they should.

 

[Alex28]

No, our back 5 are no where near top of the pile. I agree with you.

I personally don’t think that most of the 5 that have played origin recently are top class either. However, they have been part of that arena and have that experience. It’s not a bad thing for a coach to look across his roster and see 5 rep players is it?

Do you believe our roster is a bottom 3 or 4 roster?? Even I can’t rate them quite that low.

But maybe I have the Knights goggles on????

I don’t think they are a top 8 squad. I don’t think they are in the bottom 4 either. 9th to 12th is about right.

What needs to happen is the Knights get a standalone CEO and Wests undertakes to support the Knights with cash (to an extent). NRL360’s point that the top clubs have the CEO and coach working together, not one dictating, and I don’t think we have that.

AOB is damaged goods here. His time is over. Unless the leadership of the club changes, the next coach is going to have the same issue.

The bigger issue is the attitude of the players. We haven’t had an assertive player leader since Joey. I don’t see where the next one is coming from.