The Hickey should stay thread

[TheRiddler]

As many of you know, I am originally from Pom land and therefore have witnessed plenty of what some may call dour 3-0 games in my time that have had large crowds on the edge of their seats. This style of play still takes great skill, a belief in your comrades, a complete passion for what you are doing and the understanding that whenever it is required you would be more than happy to throw yourself into a ruck or make that last tackle if it meant you had a chance of giving your team and advantage.

Whilst most of those attributes exist in some form or another in all players, the ability to develop them, to utilise them, to thrive off them, is a vital attribute of a successful coach at any level. Anyone with a technical knowledge of the game can devise a plan based on numbers, percentages, error rates etc. It takes a special person to be able to get the most from their players, to breed that fire and passion. It is my belief that is what rugby fans want to see; commitment and excitement. That can come just as easily from a 3-0 game as it can from a 18 try bonanza.

Watching the Tahs last season and this, I dont think Hickey has that ability to develop these skills in his charges at this level. The lack of ability is manifesting itself in the poor execution on the pitch. Fans recognise bulshit when they see it and thats why they are staying away.

The points raised about pay TV v free-to-air are side arguments. It was only a couple of years ago that there were regular crowds of well over 30,000 at the SFS and 40,000+ sellouts for the flagship fixtures. The TV situation hasnt really changed in that time. Where have those fans gone? I made a statement on another thread earlier in the week that I think we'll struggle to get 20,000 to the first home game against the Sharks, a traditionally strong team, and I've seen nothing to make me change my mind.

Get the right attitude in the coach and players and the fans will respond. Make the experience about rugby. About heart and soul. About passion and belief. If you can do that, excitement will be a natural by-product and you'll often find that positive results on the scoreboard will soon follow.

 

[PaarlBok]

[Sorry to burst in but cant help myself here. I attend the match and thought the Tahs try to run at when they got desperate in the second half. They sure gave it their best shot but unfortanetly they came up against some solid defending. The Stormers defense were the best in last year S14, they better it in the CC and this year step it up even more. Grant, de Jongh(he have no respect for his small frame when it comes to tackling), Fourie are excellent on defense, throw in Schalk Burger and you sure get the results. Remember the Lions dish up 65 points against the Chiefs could only cross once last week in all out second half onslaught of attacking rugby against the Stormers in round 1.

Its not as if the Tahs are a dull team, more that they had to run against a team that know and understand the word defense.

To fire the coach after two rounds of S14 rugby is even worse then us Saffers. Give the man a decent time, like after 14 rounds of S14 rugby and then decide. To even think of firing him now, is vokken stupid!

EDIT: Rule 5, havent swot him at all. :nta:

 

[Scarfman]

Rule 5, people. Rule 5. olice:

 

[topo]

I can't believe I'm agreeing with a Saffer, but you're right Paarlbok. It's early days. I think the fact that the 'tahs have such a good roster counts against them in the early rounds. The Wallaby players and others like Baxter, Caldwell and Mowen have had limited time with the squad preseason either due to post Spring tour rest or injury. Their best players have had 3-4 weeks with the team and maybe 1 trial game. The more Wallabies in the side, the more you feel this effect. No one ever wanted to sack Robbie Deans at the Crusaders when they performed like crap at the start of most S14 seasons. They were prepared to wait and see what developed. Hickey deserves a bit more time before he's sent to the gallows.

 

[Pfitzy]

He had a whole year last year and nothing much improved. He's started this year just like the last, so forgive us if we doomsay

 

[PaarlBok]

I can't believe I'm agreeing with a Saffer, but you're right Paarlbok. It's early days.

Boet you should know that I am not the usual Saffer. Some call me mad , some stubborn or whatever, fact is like I posted on the Reds thread after round 1 when everyone was climbing on bash the Reds thread (before the Saders match), the S14 is a marathon. Its not a case of stay unbeatable, every team can beat the other on his day, its more about standing up after the loss.

I dunno Hickey or the Tah coaches at all but I do know the Tahs came pretty close to a semi spot last year and they have the same change like any S14 team to win the tournament. To try and fire a coach after his first loss against a pretty useful opponent dont make sense to this Boer's head at all. I grow up to back my team, more when they losing then winning and its not if the Tahs had lost at home.

So please continue.......

 

[spectator]

[Sorry to burst in but cant help myself here. I attend the match and thought the Tahs try to run at when they got desperate in the second half. They sure gave it their best shot but unfortanetly they came up against some solid defending. The Stormers defense were the best in last year S14, they better it in the CC and this year step it up even more. Grant, de Jongh(he have no respect for his small frame when it comes to tackling), Fourie are excellent on defense, throw in Schalk Burger and you sure get the results. Remember the Lions dish up 65 points against the Chiefs could only cross once last week in all out second half onslaught of attacking rugby against the Stormers in round 1.

Its not as if the Tahs are a dull team, more that they had to run against a team that know and understand the word defense.

To fire the coach after two rounds of S14 rugby is even worse then us Saffers. Give the man a decent time, like after 14 rounds of S14 rugby and then decide. To even think of firing him now, is vokken stupid!

EDIT: Rule 5, havent swot him at all. :nta:

Well said PB.

 

[CanadianRugby]

As the newest member of the Fire Hickey Club I would like to put in my two cents worth.

While normally I would agree with the arguement that firing a coach after two games is insane, I would also point out the Aussies have a history of firing coaches for insane reasons at insane times (Nuciforia). Also, this is Hickey's second season, and the first should count for something.

I agree that Hickey A) doesn't inspire his players and B) seems to be far to saftey first.

Also, generally I respect that a coach knows more than me about a team because he is around the players a lot and (presumably) spends his time researching and developing game plans. But with Hickey he seems to ignore the decisions everyone thinks he should make for three weeks, then makes them late, which usually work out. For example, last year everyone said the Waratahs should start runnign to win games. Hickey had them keep kicking. Then, when it looked like they were in real danger of missing the final four, they started running and started winning more convincingly. It was too late to save the season and they missed the playoffs. Not a good sign.

Also, in regards to this season, people are saying its early. True. But the Waratahs were lucky to beat the reds and didn't even look close to beating the Stormers. Losing is one thing, but looking just awful while you do it is something else. There is more talent on this team then he is using. Time for Chieka.

 

[mark_s]

How did the Hickey must stay thread turn into the Hickey must go thread?

Its too early to tell, lets see how the rest of the season plays out and judge his performance over the whol season. Hickey has fine coaching predigree over many years with different teams. Why isn't their calls for Freind's head? he has the same results as hickey so far?

 

[louie]

the performances from the Brumbies and tahs have been very different.

 

[rsea]

Half the reason Link went were the Tahs dour performances. Enter Hickey and all was going to be new, different and more exciting. But it's not....

 

[Aussie D]

After the magnificent performance against the Bulls there is no way that Hickey should go now. When the 'tahs beat the Guppies this week they should give him a two year extension on his contract.

 

[TheRiddler]

After the magnificent performance against the Bulls there is no way that Hickey should go now. When the 'tahs beat the Guppies this week they should give him a two year extension on his contract.

Magnificent performance? Hate to break some bad news to you but we lost. Came second. Not even a bonus point for coming close. Still kicked the ball away too much. Still had some very strange substitutions. Still some very weird conservative talk around team selections for this weekend's game.

Admittedly, if the Sharks get the absolute spanking they deserve this weekend then the executioner may be able to pack away the hood and noose for another week. Still doesnt get away from the point that Hickey is not the best man for the job and needs to go.

 

[Blue]

I can't believe I'm agreeing with a Saffer, but you're right Paarlbok.

It has been known to cause Herpes. I'd check my gazoonies carefully in the shower tonight if I were you.

 

[waratahjesus]

Half the reason Link went were the Tahs dour performances. Enter Hickey and all was going to be new, different and more exciting. But it's not....

the reason link went had nothing to do with performance actually, it was all about cost cutting, they halved there staff at all levels of the organisation that year, its why link was told if he made the finals he would stay and was sacked a couple of games later when we were still a good chance (and made the finals) the replacements didnt want to do it for the money, hickey took the step up, cant say im inspired by his coaching but he deservs his chnce to see out the year at least without an axe over his shoulder, he is an aussie coach who has gone through the aussie ranks. its not like he is a kiwi with an over inflated cv who costs four times as much and produces nothing.

 

[PaarlBok]

I can't believe I'm agreeing with a Saffer, but you're right Paarlbok.

It has been known to cause Herpes. I'd check my gazoonies carefully in the shower tonight if I were you.

:lmao:

I would have started this one if the Fish & Chips (love that name) Guppies clubber the Tahs this weekend.

 

[Bruce Ross]

the reason link went had nothing to do with performance actually, it was all about cost cutting, they halved there staff at all levels of the organisation that year, its why link was told if he made the finals he would stay and was sacked a couple of games later when we were still a good chance (and made the finals) the replacements didnt want to do it for the money, hickey took the step up,

Are you sure you're not making this up as you go along, wj? My mail was very different to this. I think that the upheaval had much more to do with treachery - toward more than one participant - than an obsession with cost cutting, although God knows the finances were in a mess. And similarly, the reason that some refused to pick up the poisoned chalice had much more to do with lack of confidence in those at the top than concern over the dollars on offer.

 

[waratahjesus]

the reason link went had nothing to do with performance actually, it was all about cost cutting, they halved there staff at all levels of the organisation that year, its why link was told if he made the finals he would stay and was sacked a couple of games later when we were still a good chance (and made the finals) the replacements didnt want to do it for the money, hickey took the step up,

Are you sure you're not making this up as you go along, wj? My mail was very different to this. I think that the upheaval had much more to do with treachery - toward more than one participant - than an obsession with cost cutting, although God knows the finances were in a mess. And similarly, the reason that some refused to pick up the poisoned chalice had much more to do with lack of confidence in those at the top than concern over the dollars on offer.

the obsession with cost cutting is what im refurring to bruce, i know he had detractors and admirers as anyone appointed coach of any team has. but from the guys i know that work there a couple of the coaches they talked to were offered less money than they were after and a restriction on there own appointments to the coaching staff, nto a great way to try to land a big name.

 

[Jethro Tah]

This Tahs fan thinks Hickey should at least stay till the end of the season and then judge his overall performance before booting him or signing him on again. Three games in and calling for his head is a bit harsh. You may say he was crap last year so it's not to soon but we almost made the finals so surely he didn't do to badly.

 

[fatprop]

It would be just dumb to get rid of him, especially at this time of the year.