People calling for Lam out really need a reality check, last year in the same amount of time Conn bet Zebre, Leinster, Treviso and Dragons. We'd also been nilled in multiple interpros. The fixtures weren't exactly the same and home/away have been flipped in most cases but its hardly a giant chasm between the two periods.
You also have to remember that despite the signing of the season in Clarke less players arrived at Connacht than left, that has had its own impact.

murph13 wrote: Sorry lads but the clear out has to start at the top and Lam must go. Despite being handed an improving squad of lads already here for a while and quality new signings (Clarke, Heenan) and managed to take us backwards faster than anyone would have imagined at the start of the season. He has failed and needs to go.

Aside from that the priority has to be a quality NIQ ten but with falling crowds, financial problems, main sponsor on the way out, no H Cup next year probably and us languishing at the bottom of the table who can we realistically get? With Parks on the way out and one or two other high earners such as Duffy the money may be there but someone of proven quality has got to want to come to the Sportsground and at the moment that's a long shot.

Nonsense, this isn't the Premier League and we're not Man Utd. Lam will be allowed see out his contract if he wants to. I'd love to see any of our previous coaches or the one suggested by other parties deal with all he has had to (the move, and the horrendous injury list). The only chance that'll we'll have a big clear out of personnell is if we have to cut players to reduce budget under orders from [strike]Leinster[/strike] sorry the IRFU.

And If I hear one more suggestion that Eddie O'Sullivan should replace Lam, someone is going to get a puck in the head...

Can't agree with Pat going. Not had a great run in the early part of the season, but decent performances in the HC (with an historic win) and ok performances since in the Rabo give me hope for the future. Besides, he's only been in charge of competitive games for five months.

Rory McTiernan wrote: I disagree its Lams first year moving from the other side of the world the players seem to like them and we are playing decent rugby,Its certain players that are letting us down *Parks *Duffy *Murphy *Muldowney

I agree that Lam should stay. While the results have been disappointing, I dont blame him completely. Yes he has to take his share of the blame, but I honestly believe that teams are taking us more seriously this year, and to compare results from this year and last year isn't completely fair.

The team Leinster put out on Saturday is stronger than any team I have seen them put out in Galway.
We've improved against both Munster and Leinster away this season.
We've had some tight matches, where we could have won. Apart from Edinburgh away, there hasnt been any stupid performances (I can think of right now)

One thing I really think Lam has improved on, is the professionalism within the squad. No more, do you see the players out on the lash after every game. I was shocked after the match in Toulouse, how all the players, with the Monday off, had no interest in going drinking that night.

I'm not going to blame injuries, as we get hit bad with them each season. But it would be nice to see the same, first choice 15 start a few games in a row.

We're also down a forwards coach (I think???) from last season, which cant help.
I believe that we're playing quite good rugby. It took a while for the players to get up to speed with the style, but I think it's working now.

It was only 2 years ago, when we were on a run of 14 straight losses.

A quick word on Parks, Duffy, Murphy and Muldowney as well
Parks is aging poorly. But I think we knew, that we were only going to get a good year or two out of him.
Duffy, has lost his best position, and doesnt offer too much at the moment, but I dont think he has let us down this season
I think you're a little unfair on Murphy. Has he played two games this season? Very poor against Munster, but he was injured for all of last season. A run of games might help him find his form, but we cant afford to give him those games
Muldowney has been very disappointing

I disagree its Lams first year moving from the other side of the world the players seem to like them and we are playing decent rugby,Its certain players that are letting us down *Parks *Duffy *Murphy *Muldowney

Sorry lads but the clear out has to start at the top and Lam must go. Despite being handed an improving squad of lads already here for a while and quality new signings (Clarke, Heenan) and managed to take us backwards faster than anyone would have imagined at the start of the season. He has failed and needs to go.

Aside from that the priority has to be a quality NIQ ten but with falling crowds, financial problems, main sponsor on the way out, no H Cup next year probably and us languishing at the bottom of the table who can we realistically get? With Parks on the way out and one or two other high earners such as Duffy the money may be there but someone of proven quality has got to want to come to the Sportsground and at the moment that's a long shot.

Duffy,Parks,Murphy all have to go the amount of money spent on these guys wages,Im sure we could afford up to 10 Jack Cartys with Dan Parks wages!!!

paratro wrote: Grassroots to greenshirts. says it all.
Mamion, Carty, Henshaw, Leader Healy all young and good. I like Lams assessment that there are many more to come from the Academy.
Let the others go chasing old left overs let us be the leaders in Ireland and give our own the chances that they need to get that experience that everybody talks of. Most of the guys in the academy have been playing rugby since kids and so have at least 10 years experience how much more would ye all like.

I'm make no apologies for saying that if we have to depend on the young lads from Connacht coming through the academy to improve the team we will be stuck at the bottom of whichever league we're in for a very long time. Give me a left-over from another province any day, we got lucky with Marmion and Henshaw coming through at the same time and I'd say Connacht would be lucky to produce one very good underage player once every 5 years. We're talking top qaulity prospect who can compete at Professional level against not only the other provinces but also the best young lads coming through at clubs abroad.

paratro wrote: Let the others go chasing old left overs let us be the leaders in Ireland and give our own the chances that they need to get that experience that everybody talks of.

Spot on. (But we'd take Stringer if we could get him, even if only to see him in a Connacht jersey?)

Grassroots to greenshirts. says it all.
Mamion, Carty, Henshaw, Leader Healy all young and good. I like Lams assessment that there are many more to come from the Academy.
Let the others go chasing old left overs let us be the leaders in Ireland and give our own the chances that they need to get that experience that everybody talks of. Most of the guys in the academy have been playing rugby since kids and so have at least 10 years experience how much more would ye all like.

Id prob look at releasing some the following

Brian Murphy
Frank Murphy
Miah Nikora
Micheal Swift
Tonetti ( if cant get fit)
Naupou as as suggested a NIQ cant really be taken up by a sub
and about 3 others

Id like to recruit



15. Adam Byrne/
14. Fionn Carr/
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Ivan Dineen/Eoin Griffin/Mcsharry
11. NIQ ? (Matt Healy)
10. NIQ?/ Carty
9. Kieran Marmion/James Hart ( Can kick aswell)/Marcus Walsh
8. CJ Stander/ NIQ?
7. Jake Heenan /Willie Faloon
6. Josh Van De Flier/Dave O'Callaghan
5. Craig Clarke/Ben Marshall
4. Ian Nagle/Quinn Roux
3. Nathan White/
2. Dave Heffernan/ JHW
1. Jack O'Connell / Denis Buckley

ConnachtCows wrote:

phatguerilla wrote: Apart from two high visibility mistakes (which didn't directly affect the game) what has white done wrong? For my money he's the best all round tight head in the country (some might say afoa but as he's increasingly missing and on the way out he's not in the running IMO). Likewise Loughney is truly ambipropsterous and younger than wilkinson or white, you're not going to find a better th than either of those unless you combine their wages and then some. If it were that easy to pick up a quality th then Munster wouldn't still have Botha or archer and Fitzpatrick wouldn't be second choice for Ireland.

George has been inconsistent this season but there's still plenty of value there if he's willing to fight for a place.

Toh I like but he does need to have a look at himself.

Tonetti should be let go IMO.

As already pointed out having a fire sale is all well and good but picking up to 10 new players of BETTER quality is a tall order.

I understand that I'm being harsh on some players, such as White, Loughs, Tiernan, George, but if we want to improve, these are areas where we could target.
I looked at the players I really want us to keep, and worked backwards.
I'd keep

JHW
Henry
Wilkinson
Kearney
Clarke
Browne
Muldoon
Falloon
Heenan
McKeon
Marmion
Carty
Carr
Poolman
Healy
McSharry
Griffin
Henshaw
Duffy
Leader

After that, I feel that the rest are replaceable, and we should be looking to upgrade them all.
I'd keep some of the younger players too, who have potential to improve, but I'm not going naming them all

Gav is eminently replaceable at this stage, even within the existing squad and academy. He offers absolutely no threat from full back, I still believe he should have been moved in the centre years ago.

Replacing White with a player even at his level would not be easy let alone finding a better player for the same (and in reality probably less) money, we are bottom of the food chain when it comes to recruitment (and will be more so unless results improve dramatically).

There'll definitely be changes again this summer but I would bet against too many, Lam will have a better idea of the squad he inherited and will look to clear out some legacy driftwood from Bradley's/Eric's period in charge...

Sol_ie wrote: I think Frank has done his time, a great servant of the game in Connacht but he'd be our 3rd choice scrumhalf at this stage. You can't deny that Dan is one of the all time international greats, but neither can you deny that he isn't firing like he used to (or should) and that Ronaldson and (after Saturday) Carthy deserve his spot more. Gav hasn't hit his stride really this year, don't know is it just a case of getting his head back into it or what, but we shall see.

Brian Murphy needs more time to prove himself. George is a great impact player.

I really, really, really like George, so this hurts to say, but we can afford to use a NIQ on a sub. If George could get back to his rampaging best I'd be all for keeping him, but it needs to happen soon.

phatguerilla wrote: I don't object to the idea that there are better players out there, but the combination of money and reputation means we're not signing them. You've only listed one prop to keep do you think it's realistic to go shopping for five new props? I think you're extremely unlikely to find two props who are better than any of the options we have now and are out of contract and/or willing to join a team in the bottom third of the rabo.

I agree with what you are saying, I am just speaking/typing hypothetically.
I'd keep Buckley as well, just forgot him on my list.

I suppose, another way to look at it, is if every Connacht player was out of contract this summer, and willing to re-sign with us, the guys I listed above, would be those I target first.

I don't object to the idea that there are better players out there, but the combination of money and reputation means we're not signing them. You've only listed one prop to keep do you think it's realistic to go shopping for five new props? I think you're extremely unlikely to find two props who are better than any of the options we have now and are out of contract and/or willing to join a team in the bottom third of the rabo.

phatguerilla wrote: Apart from two high visibility mistakes (which didn't directly affect the game) what has white done wrong? For my money he's the best all round tight head in the country (some might say afoa but as he's increasingly missing and on the way out he's not in the running IMO). Likewise Loughney is truly ambipropsterous and younger than wilkinson or white, you're not going to find a better th than either of those unless you combine their wages and then some. If it were that easy to pick up a quality th then Munster wouldn't still have Botha or archer and Fitzpatrick wouldn't be second choice for Ireland.

George has been inconsistent this season but there's still plenty of value there if he's willing to fight for a place.

Toh I like but he does need to have a look at himself.

Tonetti should be let go IMO.

As already pointed out having a fire sale is all well and good but picking up to 10 new players of BETTER quality is a tall order.

I understand that I'm being harsh on some players, such as White, Loughs, Tiernan, George, but if we want to improve, these are areas where we could target.
I looked at the players I really want us to keep, and worked backwards.
I'd keep
JHW
Henry
Wilkinson
Kearney
Clarke
Browne
Muldoon
Falloon
Heenan
McKeon
Marmion
Carty
Carr
Poolman
Healy
McSharry
Griffin
Henshaw
Duffy
Leader

After that, I feel that the rest are replaceable, and we should be looking to upgrade them all.
I'd keep some of the younger players too, who have potential to improve, but I'm not going naming them all