Beat Munster at home (becoming a big duck on our back)
No games in which we Fin with 0 points scored
40+ Points scored on table
Less of a focus on the garryowen in our tactics
3 wins in HEC
Bigger away support at the Inter pros- I plan on goin to the Leinster and Munster games
Carr to top the try scorers list for Rabo

swift4prez wrote:
for example, paul warwick is gone to worcester, not sure on 1 or 2 year deal but next summer he'll be 33. id welcome him back or someone like him.

make a wish list Pat!

I wish Ronaldson and Carty/Parata/another guy like Reid will make a transition until 2015 when Steenson will be available!

I agree with everyone so far.go points! beat teams when were ahead, have a better game plan.

Players
Sign up willie faloon as early as we can with a nice contract!
If Ronaldson doesnt show good signs in november (i know not much time) that he can push Parks for the number 10 jersey then id be very happy if the branch spent alot of money on an out half.
i fear to think what would happen this year if NOC played instead of Dan.
If Dan finished last season, i would of hoped we would of gone for ROG.
Ill take an ageing player any day over a young unproven one at the most important spot in the team.

for example, paul warwick is gone to worcester, not sure on 1 or 2 year deal but next summer he'll be 33. id welcome him back or someone like him.

make a wish list Pat!

Rabo

Id be hoping for 50 points. i think its very achievable we had 3 games last year that we should have won and missed out on a bp once as well thats 50 points that we should/could have got last year.

HC

3 wins and 2 bps, id settle for two wins and 4 good performances being honest, we need to target the rabo imo.

Squad
continue to strenghten the squad, we now have genuine competition for most positions which will reap its own rewards.


Off Pitch
Continued work on the facilities, There seems to be no drive to keep patrons at the ground after the games, ive been in the tent a few times and they have run out of drink, both alcohol and minerals on two occasions which I found bizarre.Surely if they can entice the supporters to hang around they will spend more money in the bars and the food outlets as well.

Continue making it an all Connacht team, we need to work hard at embracing the counties outside Galway.

Have a stand at the games selling tickets and merchandise, not just clothing but mugs,keyrings and other low value items, kids love trinkets and momentos. it would be a good way to get contact details for people to apply for season tickets or even tickets for upcoming games.

get the attendances up, encourage people to bring friends, give free tickets to schools/colleges for the less attractive games, if you get them in the door they might come back again, run competitions in the local papers.

There is little or no coverage of the Connacht games in the Mayo papers im not sure whos fault that is, but they should be pushing at least a match report every week.

Hopes

League
I said 44 points was the aim last year and we were a bit short but think this is a target we have to reach this year. The minimum we have to hit is 40+. Anything less would be disappointing. We need to pick up more wins & points at home. Better performances in the interpros are a must.

Heineken Cup
2 wins over Zebre. One or more wins in the other 4 games would be great but I'd be happy with competitive performances in the other games and maybe a bonus point or 2. 8/9 would be my minimum aim. 13/14+ would be fantastic but probably not realistic.

Squad Development
We have made what look like good signings on paper but we have lost some major leaders and others are coming to the end. I'd hope to see new leaders emerge within the team. I'd hope to see some new talent coming through. Maybe Shane Layden could be a star this season if things go well for him. Going on underage form he has a huge amount to offer. I'd hope someone can step up to the plate at no.2 and that there are signs that Parks can be replaced adequately from within

Gameplan
For all the strengths Eric brought to the table, for me we were far too predictable to play against and often resorted to needless ping pong. I'd hope that Pat Lam can move our game forward in terms of retention of possession, composure etc. That's going to be a long term process but it'd be nice to see some positive signs in that department

Attendances
I'd hope to see the average improve, some small improvements around the ground and really the place just needs a bit of atmosphere again. The team will be the spark for that but god the place was dead for a lot of games last year whereas the previous season where we were struggling the atmosphere was much better.

It would be a real misfire imo if we don't have a real non-Parks option at 10 by the end of the season.

Parks is a worry and you would thing that the Branch/Lam either have a long term solution in place or are working on one. Hope to see Ronaldson getting some senior gametime with Carty and maybe Paratta seeing action for the Eagles. Nikora is a good player but with only a one year extension signed he's not the long term solution.

1. at least losing bonus points in away interpros. 1 win would be nice.
2. threatening for 3rd best province. On paper we are the only province to have strengthened our squad in off season. 7th place very achievable.
3. jhw stays healthy for season
4. fewer handling errors

off pitch - further developments announced at sportsground - or elsewhere
average attendance to have increased by 500

- No more nil games. There were just far too many last season and iirc all three away interpros were nil losses. Not acceptable.

- At least 7th place, we were really close last season. With the improvements to the squad depth and hopefully skills that should be attainable.

- new signings to bed in well, particularly would like to see Ronaldson become first choice by the end of the season if he proves he is good enough. It would be a real misfire imo if we don't have a real non-Parks option at 10 by the end of the season.

- would like to see new combinations tried out throughout the season when/if possible, mcsharry and henshaw or poolman midfield for instance, marmion and ronaldson halves, clarke and anyone else basically. Some of these (the latter especially) are expected and even necessary, some of them are a bit more of a luxury depending on who's available, opponents, gameplan, etc.

- would like to see a few more players called up and playing for Ireland. Marmion is definitely in the Ireland gameplan at this point, I know its ages away but I see Murray and Marmion as Ireland's 2015 scrum halves.
I think McSharry is the type of 12 that Schmidt likes and I think Ireland need at least one big centre, we know the type of beasts Ireland are likely to face for the new few years and McSharry for me of the young centres in Ireland has the most potential to act as a counter. A lot of people see Marshall as the next in line and he's a great player but he needs to keep his head safe or he won't be playing long.

7th place is what I want and breaking the 40 points mark. Would also like to see more young guys coming through into the first team as this is the best advertisement for attracting young talent into the academy.

What are your hopes and wishes (in terms of the rugby and organisation) for the next season of Connacht Rugby?

For me (off the top of my head) I want to see the steady PRO12 progress continue, we were very close to gaining on Treviso last year and finishing directly behind Munster.
On the pitch I want to see our centres get more regular starts as a partnership and I want to see the young talent that broke through last season continue to improve.
I am hoping that Pat Lam can increase the basic skills level and so reduce handling errors across the park.
At the grounds I would like to see the Stewards enforce clearing the stairs areas. There is nearly always plenty of room in the stands but it is very hard to move about because people insist on standing where the stairs are.