MulMan wrote: You're entitled to your opinion obviously, but while agree the performances at are an all time low for a lot of these lads, it's not beyond repair, the nature of these last 4 games in particular has been a hard pill to swallow and questions will be asked by those who should be asking them. Like I said of Munster and Ospreys for that matter their players were not showing up last season and many fans were saying they weren't capable of producing the goods, they have turned it around, I believe we can too. Just like you don't become good players overnight you don't become bad ones overnight either. I know fans are upset and disappointed, as I feel we have the right to be, but we shouldn't lose hope or turn our back on them. I'm not saying that is ,or is going to, happen but people flogging the players and calling into question their commitment isn't what is needed right now from anyone. Sure vent frustrations but I just hope that we can still rally behind our men because that's the only positive thing that can be done from the supporters side.

but I totally disagree

I don't want to disagree with you but I totally disagree with you. I love the sympathetic idea but that is just nonsensical. Our players, our coaches should be embarrassed at what they witnessed in Thomond. First up our players were an absolute disgrace, second up our coaching is a total disgrace. It was absolutely embarrassing having Munster folks beside me simply laughing at me. And I think it is high time that Connacht Rugby take this on board. You embarrassed me Connacht Rugby last week, you embarrassed me Connacht Rugby this week. You guys should feel embarrassed. Your coaching is substandard and your performances are substandard and do not try and suggest different. Get your ass in gear rather than this pathetic 'we are going to miss Pat'. Grow up you idiots

You're entitled to your opinion obviously, but while agree the performances at are an all time low for a lot of these lads, it's not beyond repair, the nature of these last 4 games in particular has been a hard pill to swallow and questions will be asked by those who should be asking them. Like I said of Munster and Ospreys for that matter their players were not showing up last season and many fans were saying they weren't capable of producing the goods, they have turned it around, I believe we can too. Just like you don't become good players overnight you don't become bad ones overnight either. I know fans are upset and disappointed, as I feel we have the right to be, but we shouldn't lose hope or turn our back on them. I'm not saying that is ,or is going to, happen but people flogging the players and calling into question their commitment isn't what is needed right now from anyone. Sure vent frustrations but I just hope that we can still rally behind our men because that's the only positive thing that can be done from the supporters side.

MulMan wrote: This is the time when we have to stand by the lads,.

Sorry Mullman but that makes no sense. These guys are not even standing up. They are an embarrassment to Connacht. Do they call this rugby. These stupid moves. I would rather have our u-14s represent us rather than the stupidity I witnessed tonight. These pack who continue to shovel rubbish, and the recycle rubbish. They are so clueless , so be careful what you wish for

It was a really poor performance today, every now and then someone might do something positive, like Farrell made a few turns in midfield and got some yards, then we dropped the ball and a minute later 7 points, we can't blame injuries or anything like that for what has happened in the last month, we had the ability to end the season with some pride but we've relinquished our title leaving people wondering how we won it in the first place. The jersey isn't in a great place at the moment but hopefully the end of the year and some reflection mixed with an injection of new ideas can see us move back in the right direction. This is the time when we have to stand by the lads, it might be hard but do you think John Muldoon and the likes are happy either, the last thing they need is us turning on our heels and dwelling on what could have been, we have a hugely important game or ,hopefully, two remaining if they can turn up good and well, if they can't we trudge forward with new faces at the helm in hope that we can restore pride in the team and in the jersey. This time last year Munster were quite close to our position, they maybe were not quite as bad but still. Many of their supporters were calling for men's heads, now they are back trying to deny they ever had doubts. If we turn it around the doubters and the naysayers will try to deny that they lost faith, I for one won't need to deny anything.

If we repeat this over and over again we simply expend a lot of energy going backwards until we make a mistake and turnover the ball.


Sums it up well

Yeah static receivers is insane and it seems to be all we do now. I actually was watching to see who took the ball at a run: Farrell was basically the only one doing it and he actually had several line breaks.

The simple facts boil down to the game plan, nothing to do with preseason or signings or stadiums or coaches leaving.

If the scrumhalf passes backwards to a static forward who then passes it backwards to a static centre, it stands to logic that we are now 15m behind the gain line and we have static ball, if you throw into the mix that the opposition know that you are going to do this then they will simple form a defensive line and rush up on the second receiver and drive them back, now you are 20m behind the gain line.

If we repeat this over and over again we simply expend a lot of energy going backwards until we make a mistake and turnover the ball.

It's said that madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result ...........

I think it's blatantly obvious at this point how important Dave Ellis and Andre Bell were to us last year, not just in terms of attack, but in defence as well.

salmson wrote: Why we're so poor:

1) Pre-season. We effectively had just 19 games when the others had 22.
2) Pat leaving. We kept it together for the Wasps double header, but after that we've had a good 80 minutes just once (Cardiff away), and not one solid performance in the last 9 games. He's clearly lost authority, which is understandable, we've seen it happen when coaches announce they're leaving in many teams in many sports. Plus we didn't get to replace Ellis due to the timing.
3) Signings. It's not just that we lost players, or that some weren't replaced adequately, but that players arrived & needed to be bedded in, in August, September, October, November, January....
4) We didn't have far to fall. 15 wins got us 2nd/joint top last year, but would only have got us 4th this year. And you need 12 wins for 6th. So take out our first few games and we had very little leeway.
5) No assistance from the academy. Last year's crop were excellent. Blade and Masterson were promoted to senior after year 2, there were 5 or 6 other lads from the academy around the first team, and two of them - SOB and Robb - came off the bench in the final. SOB in particular was brilliant. This term there just hasn't been anyone pushing through, covering for injuries, and keeping the senior lads on their toes.

In short I don't think it's the players, though Muldowney and (to a lesser extent) Henshaw weren't replaced, so much as the environment. It's been disorganised and disjointed from the first day of preseason.

I think, if you don't have a coach that leads the team, you don't have a team. Watched West Awake last night and there is no doubt that the current coach is not engaging the team for obvious reasons. Please forget about this season including any playoffs. Lets just move on. What we are witnessing is not worth witnessing nor will it somehow get better

Why we're so poor:

1) Pre-season. We effectively had just 19 games when the others had 22.
2) Pat leaving. We kept it together for the Wasps double header, but after that we've had a good 80 minutes just once (Cardiff away), and not one solid performance in the last 9 games. He's clearly lost authority, which is understandable, we've seen it happen when coaches announce they're leaving in many teams in many sports. Plus we didn't get to replace Ellis due to the timing.
3) Signings. It's not just that we lost players, or that some weren't replaced adequately, but that players arrived & needed to be bedded in, in August, September, October, November, January....
4) We didn't have far to fall. 15 wins got us 2nd/joint top last year, but would only have got us 4th this year. And you need 12 wins for 6th. So take out our first few games and we had very little leeway.
5) No assistance from the academy. Last year's crop were excellent. Blade and Masterson were promoted to senior after year 2, there were 5 or 6 other lads from the academy around the first team, and two of them - SOB and Robb - came off the bench in the final. SOB in particular was brilliant. This term there just hasn't been anyone pushing through, covering for injuries, and keeping the senior lads on their toes.

In short I don't think it's the players, though Muldowney and (to a lesser extent) Henshaw weren't replaced, so much as the environment. It's been disorganised and disjointed from the first day of preseason.

I agree Connachta, I think you've got a serious valid point but I believe that the loss of Andre Bell and Dave Ellis was detremental in our season. Credit to Pat for bringing these guys in. But when they left Pats limitations and replacements coaches have being exposed. Because last season the players showed they gave it in them.

connachta wrote: I don't get it

Buckley/Bealham/Roux/TOH/Marmion/McKeon/Heenan/Muldoon were the spinal column last season and are all available.
I don't buy the idea we lost track just because Muldowney and Henshaw left.
What the hell is happening?
And can we recover in 2 weeks and rise up?

I don't get it

Buckley/Bealham/Roux/TOH/Marmion/McKeon/Heenan/Muldoon were the spinal column last season and are all available.
I don't buy the idea we lost track just because Muldowney and Henshaw left.
What the hell is happening?
And can we recover in 2 weeks and rise up?

Is it possible not to play the qualifier? Jesus, that was sooooooooooooooooooooooo BAD!!!

Tall Paul wrote: Defence Coach
Defence Coach
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Defence Coach

I mean the players have a lot to answer for too. A lot of times today they were in the perfect position to make a tackle and just... didn't... And when tackles were made they were soft as shite half the time.

I think Carty can hold his head up and TBH I might take a look at starting Dawai going forward. Farrell mixed the good with the bad but was mostly good, but stupid. fecking. knock. ons. in contact, all season.... what the hell is up with it? It's not any one player, Healy, Niysi and today Kelleher and Farrell were at it too. Hold on to the fecking ball!!

Ah, this is why I said the less said the better. Rant over...

Tall Paul wrote: Defence Coach
Defence Coach
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Defence Coach

Yeah we have no coaches on board for next season with any notable experience of defence coaching, from what I can see. That was the worst defensive performance I've seen in a long time, both in terms of positioning and individual tackling

Defence Coach
Defence Coach
Defence Coach
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Defence Coach