Reds 2015

[Brumby Runner]

'It now seems inevitable that Richard Graham will be sacked, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in form and the Reds win their final few games.'

This is really intriguing. Widely accepted that RG can't coach the team to win, but he will stay on as long as the players take matters into their own hands and achieve some wins. Who at this time would back the players to want to win the remaining games if it means they have to cop RG for another season or more?

 

[Sword of Justice]

Usually I am opposed to player power, but this case seems a little different. The coach appears to have no idea so should go and it is good the players are making this clear.

As well as the fact that Carmichael organised the meeting.

The first thing the Reds need is a plan, not even one that wins them a majority of games just some semblance of a plan and structure to then build on.

 

[RedsHappy]

'It now seems inevitable that Richard Graham will be sacked, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in form and the Reds win their final few games.'

This is really intriguing. Widely accepted that RG can't coach the team to win, but he will stay on as long as the players take matters into their own hands and achieve some wins. Who at this time would back the players to want to win the remaining games if it means they have to cop RG for another season or more?

If there is a more irrational, ill-considered and totally stupid KPI for renewing Graham or sacking him than 'we'll keep Graham if the team win most (or enough) games in the next five', then I can't think of one.

In others words, a long historical track record of poor results over two or more franchises with good-enough players, and now a team in near-revolt, should have little bearing on retaining the coach oversighting all this. Just the next 5 games.

Shows how desperately some faction or otherwise on the QRU board want to either keep Graham - with zero rationale - or not own up with adequate courage to the error they've made. Either way, that's a very concerning state of affairs.

 

[No4918]

'It now seems inevitable that Richard Graham will be sacked, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in form and the Reds win their final few games.'

This is really intriguing. Widely accepted that RG can't coach the team to win, but he will stay on as long as the players take matters into their own hands and achieve some wins. Who at this time would back the players to want to win the remaining games if it means they have to cop RG for another season or more?

Wanted to call out this stupid comment suggesting players would lose so the coach gets the sack, glad I didn't earlier as it feels so much better doing so right now.

 

[biggsy]

Coach "knuckles" in the coaches box in the first half on RG game plan against the Rebels. Thankfully knuckles to over in the second half.

 

[USARugger]

This was worth pushing off work until later in the day for. Fuck yes.

 

[TOCC]

There's a lot to say about last night, both good and bad..

But one player I was very impressed with was CFS, I've been critical of his lazy play all season but last night his work-rate was impressive, some really good runs and good support play..


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[something]

if we play like that every game i wouldn't be adverse to a graham / knuckles dual coaching role in 2016.

 

[Sully]

if we play like that every game i wouldn't be adverse to a graham / knuckles dual coaching role in 2016.

Comments like that could get you banned from GAGR.

 

[Gnostic]

Who would have thought having an actual 10 playing would be advantageous in a game of Rugby.

 

[redstragic]

if we play like that every game i wouldn't be adverse to a graham / knuckles dual coaching role in 2016.

Imagine having no nonsense knuckles teaming up with a another hard arse the players all respect to coach. We might win more than we lose.

 

[something]

Comments like that could get you banned from GAGR.

har har har. I'm just saying, who really knows? I am not a fan of the man, and would be happy to see him go, but someone must have seen potential in him.

Maybe he actually has clever tactics but is just too soft - just needs a hard bastard to help translate his game plans from the white board to the playing field.

 

[something]

at the risk of sounding pro-graham...

imagine if reds went on to win every game from here on out with this coaching combo - what do we do then?

(but by the same token, continually playing players out of position is a big no no, and not learning and adjusting from previous mistakes is also a big no no, probably enough to justify scrapping him even if we do get good results from here on)

 

[Gnostic]

Before too many start singing the praises of Graham, maybe have a look at the way the teams tried to play under him at the Reds and the Force and then look at last night's game. The whole tactical approach was totally different (when there was discernible tactics in past games). The Reds actually moved the ball and attacked with structure that needed people moving off the ball and supporting. Something that hasn't been seen since 2012.

On the case of selections it should be noted that McIntyre was there for selection the whole time, yet consultant Knuckles had to reveal him to RG who didn't think a specialist 10 was needed or could offer more than a 9 standing in at 10. Really? Just that point alone should tell people enough about the qualifications to coach a senior side.

 

[RugbyReg]

On the case of selections it should be noted that McIntyre was there for selection the whole time, yet consultant Knuckles had to reveal him to RG who didn't think a specialist 10 was needed or could offer more than a 9 standing in at 10. Really? Just that point alone should tell people enough about the qualifications to coach a senior side.

Not true. He's only been back from injury about a month.

 

[Brendan Hume]

I think after being so shit for so long, people have got a long way ahead of themselves after one performance in which we leaked nearly 30 points (including four tries), were a long way behind at half time and still struggled to dent the line through our forwards.

Tough matches against the Force - whose abrasive style of play has put off many better teams than the Reds - Chiefs and Tahs will give us a far better idea of where the group is sitting.

In saying that, it is a relief to finally put a few fucking points on the board... geez.

 

[Gnostic]

Not true. He's only been back from injury about a month.

Sorry missed the injury status. The facts remain. If Greene was good enough to be called onto the bench then surely he should have been used earlier in the season unless he too was injured. In all this I still feel for Duncan P.

 

[Ruggo]

Comments like that could get you banned from GAGR.

could get you promoted at the Reds though.

 

[TOCC]

On the case of selections it should be noted that McIntyre was there for selection the whole time, yet consultant Knuckles had to reveal him to RG who didn't think a specialist 10 was needed or could offer more than a 9 standing in at 10. Really? Just that point alone should tell people enough about the qualifications to coach a senior side.

McIntyre actually toured with the Reds squad to South Africa, that would have been around when he was still in team rehab.

Perhaps Greene should have been brought in, I don't know enough about Greene, but McIntyre was evidentially on the cards a month ago hence why he toured with the squad.

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[RedsHappy]

I think after being so shit for so long, people have got a long way ahead of themselves after one performance in which we leaked nearly 30 points (including four tries), were a long way behind at half time and still struggled to dent the line through our forwards.

Tough matches against the Force - whose abrasive style of play has put off many better teams than the Reds - Chiefs and Tahs will give us a far better idea of where the group is sitting.

In saying that, it is a relief to finally put a few fucking points on the board. geez.

Too right. And half the problem in interpreting accurately the Reds win being that the Rebels have been wildly over-hyped in recent weeks, especially in the mainstream media. The team just may have started to join in, and in doing so sowed the seeds of self-destruction that was a factor in the Reds conquest last night.

It's great that they are improving and knocking over some good teams. Good on them. There's a lot to admire in their play and spirit, with a tiny % of Wallaby players, unlike the Reds.

Once the Reds started to get on top of the Rebels late in 1H and then at the beginning of 2H they literally started to fall apart, their line speed fell, their defensive structure fractured, they lost composure, quite badly and they could not recover in time. A sure sign of a team mentally expecting to win, prematurely, and with only a very hazily drafted Plan B, if indeed they had one at all.