I do think that there are some positives (strong forwards, decent juniors 2-3 years away) but even so this 'reset button' is the side that I'm on. For me McNamara is not the long term option so let's start looking for it.

The questions that I've stated earlier in this thread still stand for anyone defending McNamara (whether as devil's advocate, financial pragmatist or whatever) to answer:

"Where is the line beyond which McNamara is no longer good enough? In the argument on this thread what would need to happen for there to be a regime change? What criteria for success as coach of Bradford Bulls should we be applying in the short, medium and long term?"

Personally I think the first two have been passed. The third for me is a short term goal of reaching the play-offs, medium term of top 4 next year, and a long term goal of having a top, title contending/winning team when (if) we move into OSV in 3-4 years time.


By he way, I certainly didn't boo but I was immensely disappointed when Platt came on as I just couldn't work out what the purpose of the substitution was beyond rotation for the sake of it.

(Platt for his part did then try to make up for the previous 60 minutes by running the full width of the pitch and slightly backwards 3 times!!)

McNamara hasn't missed the play-offs in his three seasons, has finished in the top 4 twice and narrowly missed it once, and has contended for the league leadership despite a points deduction and MM resulting in an effective six point defecit against Leeds.

And even if McNamara misses this arbitrary line, where is the evidence that his replacement will be more likely to hit it and keep hitting it?

I guess we're going to disagree as I am looking forward and you are looking back.

My impression is that the team, regardless of the league position (which certainly flattered us last season) is moving backwards and that we are significantly worse today then 3 years ago. I won't rehash all of the suggested reasons elsewhere but that is the historic position as I see it.

I just don't think that SM will take this team forward.

PHILISAN wrote: Regardless of results/funding etc..The players are professionals,as is the coach and in Super League terms,at present our Club is not appearing to be anything like,whatever deficiencies there may be in skill levels.

[iOf course we note Junior progress and are all aware of a need for stability within the Club as a whole as we rebuild.No matter how responsive the players are through the week in training and disregarding negativities,my point was...'how things appear'..They are paid to perform better.[/i

I don't doubt you honestly believe this, perceive this to be the case. But given the number of games we lost by a score or less, can that statement really be justified objectively?

My only disappointment was that Platt had been dropped to start with. He was the only back who played fairly well at Wigan. Unless in training it was an obvious confidence issue then he should have kept his place.

As it was it seemed a huge roll of the dice on Macca's part that line up yesterday. He decided to play Crookes - fine. Yeaman taught him a few lessons for 60mins which if learnt will stand him in good stead. Sykes had been poor at Wigan and his reward was to move him to a more important position to see if he can find some form.

From what I saw, he ran a bit straighter than platt - and that was it. Similar ability under the high ball as Platt, not as brave as Platt coming onto a short kick, and an open door policy regarding last ditch tackles (unlike Platt).

So, in summary, that change cost us the ability to tackle at full back, it lost us the ability to take a short ball - but at least we gained an extra 10m when doing a kick return!

Bullseye's Wayne Bennett sig is useful to read here. If there was not a training ground reason for that change then Macca made a huge error of judgement.

And also FFS - if confidence is an issue then booing him at Wigan after pulling off a try saving tackle on Tomkins (but giving away a penalty) and telling him to go back to Salford. Then booing him at Odsal as he is waiting to come back on is not going to help - is it?

I'm sure I've been on record saying that I don't rate Platt but the reaction to him on the terraces is way OTT and totally counter productive. To abuse the bloke before he's even gone on the field is crazy. That would affect anyone.

I thought that dropping him was perhaps the wrong move given that he was ok versus Wigan, however this could be down to him getting a knock last week. Pitting Crookes versus Yeaman was a big ask. Sure he'll learn a lot from it but might it have been better to give his debut against a less accomplised opponent?

I thought Platt was one of our best players at Wigan but he still got a load of stick, he deffinately deserved a start yerterday. The Jerk shouting at him behind the sticks at Wigan was a total disgrace and is the kind of fan we can do without. It was good to see that he was treat with the contept he deserved by most of the fans who were sat around him.

I've always had that underlying feeling that McNamara is our version of Daryll Powell.

Just like 'Minibus', McNamara has a good history with the club he coaches(/coached) and was given the head-coach role at the club a bit too early.

And just like Minibus, McNamara seems to lack that bit of luck that would allow him to ride out the bad times.


For me, the only thing that should save McNamara this year is a decent cup run... if we don't beat Catalans in the next round of the CC, then Mr Hood should be on the phone to Brian McDermot ASAP

...and induce, even "coherse, " him to break his contract with Quins? Seem to recall something of that nature had a lot to do with why we are where we are now?

He will be....


...to arrange the Quins game in one of our free cup weekends....

1. Do you really think Harlequins would give us permission to try to tap up their coach?

2. Why pick McDermott? If McNamara's record was as bad as McDermott's record, he'd have been torn limb from limb by the NT long before now. Harlequins have finished 7th, 9th and 9th in the past 3 seasons.

FWIW I am not having a go at McDermott - but I don't see any reason whatsoever to suppose that he's better than McNamara, or "the answer" either.

1.) Why not? Harliquins/Broncos have always seemed to be a bit of a transitional team whose better 'assets' have moved up north when they have shown potential. I don't see McDermott as being any different, and as long the deal is right for the Quins, I suspect they would be willing to part company.

2.) I think McDermott ticks all the boxes.
He's leading Quins successfully through a transitional period whereby they are playing better rugby and relying more on home-grown talent. I think the days of Quins/London playing a spoiling game to compete have gone, and they now play some pretty decent stuff.

The finishing position of Quins over the past few seasons is a bit a red herring.. what McDermott has managed to do is to get a bunch of pretty average players to play well as a single unit and perform above expectations. Over the years, a number of pundits have predicted Quins to struggle, and that simply hasn't happened; this year, there were a number of posts ridiculing his statement that Quins believe they can win the league, and whilst I doubt they will, I believe they have shown so far this season they will be certainally have a significant role to play in the play-offs.

I also believe that the fact that McDermott is a former Bulls player that helped to build the foundations of our early Super League is a massive bonus. It will help build some goodwill from fans towards to the club that is being constantly eroded by McNamara.

Finally, I've always been concerned that McNamara is more of a 'thinker' than a 'do-er' (I think this was partly reflected during his playing days), whereas McDermott seems more of the self-confident and forthright character needed to to be a successful super league coach.

I sincerely hope that I am wrong, and that McNamara can turn things around, but even given the difficult circumstances the club has found itself in he has yet to demonstrate himself a capable headcoach.

I guess my reaction to that (and I suspect that of most Quins fans) starts somewhere near "Breathtaking naivity".

Perhaps, but as with any business/organisation/team, if the deal is right then it will be made.

I doubt McDermot sees his tenure at Quins as anything other than a chance to prove himself before moving to a bigger and better club.
(I'm not in anyway suggesting that Bradford are currently a bigger and better club)

That likely rules us out then, because IMO its inconceivable that Bulls could afford to pay off one coach AND pay a shedload in compensation to acquire his replacement AND do the same on a smaller scale with the others on the coaching staff AND pay what would surely have to be a higher package anyway?

I also suggest that over this franchising period we will see Quins becoming a "bigger and better" club, and add to that - is it that likely he would want to come anyway? I'd say he has a pretty good opportunity where he is?

Maybe significant that Wire did not go for him despite Moran's millions?

Possibly because McDermott doesn't have any associated history with the club, and isn't the big name that Wire fans would demand.

(Although since when did Warringtons activities become a benchmark for success

)

There IS that...!

I think the reaction to Platt is that, to a large extent, he has failed to live up the expectations he created as an attacking player in his first few matches.

I could forgive any number of defensive mistakes if he were to rediscover the attacking threat he showed at Warrington in his first match for us there.

An indendent valuation of £10,000 should have given us an inkling as to how far on he needs to come.

That was some game and a great performance. Seems like a long time ago now and I wonder whether it was just a flash in the pan? Every dog has its day. Maybe that was Platt's?

That's very true, isn't it?

What happened? Has he changed as a player, or has he been coached differently...?

I just don't think we are creating the same kind of space for him to exploit.

the village idiots at odsal criticise his every move making confidence low.