We have been playing sh**e for years and were beaten by some high scores. We played crap rugby had no backs and it was a gameplan of frustrate the opposition and take our points.
Were supporters we live in hope of wins and a few near misses or heroic losses.
Were on a bad run and we have had to flogg most of the lads that could change a game when needed.
But we have some great lads coming through. When did we last have a secondrow as good as McCarthy. Who was the last great hope. We have Toh who is better than Carr. We have Griffen who is developing into a great player. We have some lads playing great at underage.
We can get through this season and build a team around a few more young lads a few good signings and the best we have now.

I knew we would struggle this year with the squad but we are unlucky that we didnt win at least two or three of the losing streak.
However hard it is for us as supporters Its a hell of a lot harder for some of the team who have given everything to Connacht.
Its going to be a poor weekend weather wise so dress up warm.

Benji wrote: Go on lads your rightly pissed off but by Wednesday can we try and be a bit positive.
We have played some good rugby but were knackered. Lets hope the team can put in a performance that we can be proud of at the weekend.
I'll travel in hope rather than fear.

Benji I really admire that attitude, seriously I do. But it's hard to keep doing it without seeing the results, no matter what kind of rugby we are playing.

sea_point wrote: [
If he's that good and given he's coached at the highest echelon (International Rugby), how come there aren't teams clamouring all over his ass to sign him up given he's been back on the market for ages now?

Because he resigned in November, there were no jobs available! Everyone has their coach for the season appointed at that stage. Theres only two jobs made available so far and thats at Sale and Biarritz. Biarritz need a French speaking coach who understands their culture and he's the favorite for the Sale job. The Ospreys job is up for grabs too but he wont get that with Gatland as coach of Wales

He wont coach at international level again imo unless its for Italy imo.

sea_point wrote: Sorry but O'Sullivan is not the answer, he is not the personality to move Connacht upwards or forwards. If he did come in, and it didn't work out the effect would be absolutely disastrous for us.

I'm not calling for Eric for the ax, not at all. And I never called for Eddie getting the job either, but I certainly dont think he'd be a step down or an atrocious appointment if it ever happened speaking hypothetically. Like I said too it is never going to happen because he probably wont want to coach in Ireland again. I merely defended him because I think he did a good job with Ireland and I dont think theres any shame in publicizing interest in a job.

probably because they all had coaches before he left eagles.

The bottom line is that the whole set up has to change and accountability has to be brought to the forefront where it belongs. The rugby we are playing atm isnt exactly setting the world alight.

Id settle for a winning brand of rugby at home at least and anything else will be a bonus. There is nothing attractive about coming to connacht atm. A high profile proven coach could help change that.

Go on lads your rightly pissed off but by Wednesday can we try and be a bit positive.
We have played some good rugby but were knackered. Lets hope the team can put in a performance that we can be proud of at the weekend.
I'll travel in hope rather than fear.

Porterbelly wrote: <strong>The one thing for sure with Eddie O Sullivan is that there'd be no comfort zones, no excuses.</strong> That's the environment we need. There'd certainly be accountability with Eddie. We need someone who's going to tell things as they need to be told and have a clean slate. Eric and Dan have been there so long that it can be hard to be objective at times and criticise players who they've soldiered with for years.

Would ya pull the other one, the guys a complete spoofer and a malevolent one too. No excuses..... you mean except for him of course. Straight talking is certainly not his style, anyone remember the bolloxology he came out with after RWC 2007?

Sure he'll do anyone who stands in his career path, if that's the style of ruthless you require. But his vision of rugby is not what we require thanks. His contribution to the Lions tour to NZ in 2005 was what precisely, anyone able to identify it yet.....?

If he's that good and given he's coached at the highest echelon (International Rugby), how come there aren't any serious teams (I don't count the US as serious) clamouring all over his ass to sign him up given he's been back on the market for ages now?

Everyone forgets that Gatlan took on the Ireland job and was given nothing in terms of resources y the experts at No.62. He brought in RO'G/Stringr/BO'D etc.... They then handed O'Sulivan the keys to the coffers when they kicked out Gatland and O'Sulivan then just mimicked Clive Woodward for the rest of his Irealand career...

Cryotherapy Eddie?
Has Clive used it? OK yaww then lets have it like...

A team of coaches and specialists to manage?
Does Clive have one? Ok yawwwww thanks lets do it so......[/quote]

The one thing for sure with Eddie O Sullivan is that there'd be no comfort zones, no excuses. That's the environment we need. There'd certainly be accountability with Eddie. We need someone who's going to tell things as they need to be told and have a clean slate. Eric and Dan have been there so long that it can be hard to be objective at times and criticise players who they've soldiered with for years.

I don't think replacing Eric is the answer. Where he has been most at fault is in playing the same players too often. Now they look tired and jaded. You can only go to the well a certain number of times before you come away disappointed. He has been asking too much of the same players. While the excuse given regularly for poor performances is that we have a small squad, it's amazing that he hasn't given more of the squad game time. Now we come to two of our Marquee games of the season and a large number of our first teamers have run out of gas or are injured. Eric's player management -_-s. I think that he should use the rest of the season to blood our younger players and let us see who is up to the task, who has potential and who should not have their contract renewed. Eric is the heart and soul of Connacht rugby but he needs to use his head also.

its_phil wrote:

_nobody_ wrote: I strongly feel the Eddie O is not the right man for the post. He is desperate for a job at the minute and as any comes available he is in the paper saying he is interested.

He has been turned down for a number of jobs in the Pro d12 and the Premiership. I feel it would be a step backwards for Connacht.

If things are going to change it is a top quality coach we need. Eddie won silverware with the greatest crop of Irish players and at that only won triple crown.

When in tough circumstances like he was with USA there were no major advances made, and it is for this reason I personally feel he is not the man

You think Eddie O'Sullivan isn't good enough for a team that has lost 13 on the bounce? Are you joking? Did you see the brand of rugby Ireland played during his reign, it was the envy of most teams in the world! If connacht could play a quarter of that I'd be happy. Ireland psychologically just couldnt comprehend the possibility of beating France and why we have only done it twice in the last decade thus blocking us the titles. How many times did it come down to points difference? Twice in a row! He was a great coach and recorded wins over Australia and South Africa twice each!

So what if he's declaring interest in jobs? It's the same in any sport! Jim Mallinder has declared his interest in the England job? Does that make him desperate? He has declared his interest for the jobs at England, Ospreys and Sale. Ospreys would be getting a better coach then what they have because Johnson is fool but he wont be getting because of Gatland. England will never employ a 'paddy' but the Sale job is something that he should get.

Thinking Eddie O'Sullivan would be a step down from Eric Elwood is insanity. I don't think it's ever going to happen because Eddie will most likely never work in Ireland again after being the Irish coach.

I did see close up the brand of rugby (under the whole of his stewardship) and overall it was absolutely gank considering the talent (and at it's absolute prime) he had at his disposal, whatever about Kidneys underwhelming performance as Ireland coach at least he managed to guide much the same personell to a Grand Slam (albeit playing much the same turgid rugby as O'Sullivan had got the team playing when he took overall control.). We had about a season and a half when we played some decent rugby and creamed a lot of teams, after that we had a lot of dross and the occasional good win, which is why Kidney is under pressure now.

Sorry but O'Sullivan is not the answer, he is not the personality to move Connacht upwards or forwards. If he did come in, and it didn't work out the effect would be absolutely disastrous for us.

the buck stops with eric! thats how it is and how it shud be. new boss would evaluate all other staff.

Its hard being a head coach in those condition. Tired players, A tough game every week. Do you train hard or save the energy for the weekend to try and keep lads sharp. I dont know/
No team does well when its lacking direction at ten unless your the all blacks.
I dont have the ear of the players so dont know how his getting on with them. Maybe the coaching ticket needs to be shuck up but I hope they dont lose Carolan

Is bringing back Eddie O'Sulivan really the answer? Sure we might as well bring George Hook in as his assistant, as swapping their roles around from their last stint over the club might swap around the results as well. I don't think that the problem lies with Eric Elwood, there are some more there that have to come out of the long grass. How much input does Dan McFarland have as Erics right hand man?

_nobody_ wrote: I strongly feel the Eddie O is not the right man for the post. He is desperate for a job at the minute and as any comes available he is in the paper saying he is interested.

He has been turned down for a number of jobs in the Pro d12 and the Premiership. I feel it would be a step backwards for Connacht.

If things are going to change it is a top quality coach we need. Eddie won silverware with the greatest crop of Irish players and at that only won triple crown.

When in tough circumstances like he was with USA there were no major advances made, and it is for this reason I personally feel he is not the man

You think Eddie O'Sullivan isn't good enough for a team that has lost 13 on the bounce? Are you joking? Did you see the brand of rugby Ireland played during his reign, it was the envy of most teams in the world! If connacht could play a quarter of that I'd be happy. Ireland psychologically just couldnt comprehend the possibility of beating France and why we have only done it twice in the last decade thus blocking us the titles. How many times did it come down to points difference? Twice in a row! He was a great coach and recorded wins over Australia and South Africa twice each!

So what if he's declaring interest in jobs? It's the same in any sport! Jim Mallinder has declared his interest in the England job? Does that make him desperate? He has declared his interest for the jobs at England, Ospreys and Sale. Ospreys would be getting a better coach then what they have because Johnson is fool but he wont be getting because of Gatland. England will never employ a 'paddy' but the Sale job is something that he should get.

Thinking Eddie O'Sullivan would be a step down from Eric Elwood is insanity. I don't think it's ever going to happen because Eddie will most likely never work in Ireland again after being the Irish coach.

is richards suspension up?

The more I think about it, the more I think we need to bring in an experienced head coach.

Eric has been there for years and maybe the same voice and the same ideas are not working for the players. Same goes with McFarland, both are from the Bradley era and maybe we need a clearout. I listen to McFarland and he never seems to criticise the players or performances, what does this say about standards?

Alot of players appear to be in comfort zones. A new coaching ticket would rid ourselves of that. I'd have Eric as team manager, a step back from coaching, but still in a position where his passion for Connacht rugby can be used.

I'd love one of Eddie O Sullivan or Dean Richards. Eddie has always been known for his attention to detail and the structure he puts on the team, which is exactly what we need. Richards wants a way back into the game, he's a terrific coach in my book and laid alot of the groundwork at Quins before O Shea took over, and had great success at Leicester. He can mould a pack that's for sure. I'd also allow them to bring in whatever specialist coaches they want, and it means we have to sacrifice an NIQ player or something then so be it. Coaching is the big issue in Connacht.