Diamond gone from Sales

[jimKRFC]

Just announced on Twitter, with immediate effect because of personal reasons.



Don't like the man but hope it's nothing too serious for him or his family.

[Raggs]

There's got to be a story there.

[Shiny]

I posted on the transfer thread I wonder if its anything to do with a COVID fallout for it to be so immediate.

[Digby]

Same bookie as Rob Howley would be a nice twist

[Puja]

Wow. He's deeply embedded in the club as well - on the board too, isn't he?

Wonder what's gone on there.

Puja

[Digby]

Diamond has done what he seemingly always does. Drilled a pack so a club isn't remotely at risk of relegating and then not really known what to do next, and this time has not really known what to do with some huge spends on wages which could well constrain the next incumbent

[Shiny]

I can understand him leaving at the end of the season if he thinks he has taken Sale as far as they can go but its all a bit sudden innit.

[Raggs]

It says personal reasons, and it may well be. If it is, I hope it's nothing too serious.

On the other hand, this is from the man who has managed to sign players that they've had no contact with just days before getting the signature, so I'll take it with a pinch of salt.

[Shiny]

It says personal reasons, and it may well be. If it is, I hope it's nothing too serious.

On the other hand, this is from the man who has managed to sign players that they've had no contact with just days before getting the signature, so I'll take it with a pinch of salt.

You mean you don't always believe "Honest" Steve Diamond the dodgy used car salesman of head coaches. I'm shocked I tells ya.

[Puja]

It says personal reasons, and it may well be. If it is, I hope it's nothing too serious.

On the other hand, this is from the man who has managed to sign players that they've had no contact with just days before getting the signature, so I'll take it with a pinch of salt.

Actually, with that form, this could be the PR campaign shortly before he signs a 10 year extended contract with them.

Puja

[FKAS]

Diamond has done what he seemingly always does. Drilled a pack so a club isn't remotely at risk of relegating and then not really known what to do next, and this time has not really known what to do with some huge spends on wages which could well constrain the next incumbent

Manu us out of contract in the summer which should free up spending for whomever comes after.

I think Diamond has done a fantastic job at Sale. Until recently he had no funds to work with but always kept the club in a good position. You rarely see players fall out with him despite his spikey reputation, in fact the players seem to like him. He's always come across as one of those that you dislike if he's somewhere else but if he's at your club then he's your man. I think he's pretty well balanced but only due to the massive chips he has on each shoulder.

I hope everything is ok with his health and his family. I can imagine he might have a few offers of he decides to return to rugby in the future.

[fivepointer]

No denying he's done a good job. Not everyone's cup of tea for sure.

We'll learn more in the coming days but it is a bit abrupt.

[Digby]

I'd deny he's done a good hob depending on what the criteria are

He did an excellent job stabilising them as a solid Prem side and he's brought in some excellent players, but since stabilising them the development has all seemed to come from player acquisition, and it's not easy to see what's being done with that spend. At best the of the ball is clunky, often times they have enough power that doesn't matter, but it looks a big spend (and it's hardly just Manu) to be 4th-7th

[Puja]

I'd deny he's done a good hob depending on what the criteria are

He did an excellent job stabilising them as a solid Prem side and he's brought in some excellent players, but since stabilising them the development has all seemed to come from player acquisition, and it's not easy to see what's being done with that spend. At best the of the ball is clunky, often times they have enough power that doesn't matter, but it looks a big spend (and it's hardly just Manu) to be 4th-7th

It's easy to forget that it's only very recently that they've not been a bottom-half of the table club. They were involved in relegation battles and haven't finished higher than 6th until last year (when, arguably, they were likely robbed of 3rd by COVID). Until quite recently, they were in the Worcester/Irish position of developing players and seeing them get poached by bigger clubs - Taylor, Gaskell, Wiggy, Hodgson, Foden, Haley, Addison, Thomas, etc.

Yes, he has done some big spending on players and has likely overpaid, but he's had to while raising their reputation and changing them to a side that players will join to be successful, rather than just for a pension.

I don't like the man, but he's done a good job with the money IMO.

Puja

[Digby]

So he's been there a decade, spent a lot of money, won not a lot, barely had a high finish, nothing looks sustainable, I've no idea if there's a Sale way to play or develop how they play, and he's done a good job?

Is this a bar which can be tripped over?

[Mr Mwenda]

So he's been there a decade, spent a lot of money, won not a lot, barely had a high finish, nothing looks sustainable, I've no idea if there's a Sale way to play or develop how they play, and he's done a good job?

Is this a bar which can be tripped over?

Who has done better? I'd've thought he ranks up pretty well if one excludes Sarries.

[16th man]

So he's been there a decade, spent a lot of money, won not a lot, barely had a high finish, nothing looks sustainable, I've no idea if there's a Sale way to play or develop how they play, and he's done a good job?

Is this a bar which can be tripped over?

The take over was only in June 2016, before that Sale were regularly well under the salary cap, once the legacy of the title squads spending was off the books.

It's only the last couple of seasons were money has started to really hit the pitch in terms of players recruited.

He'd hardly be the first coach to put his budget in the pack as the start of a longer term development plan.

The not winning anything jab also seems a bit misplaced when you consider that the team who were winning things during most of that period weren't exactly doing it on a level playing field.

[Stom]

So he's been there a decade, spent a lot of money, won not a lot, barely had a high finish, nothing looks sustainable, I've no idea if there's a Sale way to play or develop how they play, and he's done a good job?

Is this a bar which can be tripped over?

Who has done better? I'd've thought he ranks up pretty well if one excludes Sarries.

Dean Richards at Quins for one.

[Puja]

So he's been there a decade, spent a lot of money, won not a lot, barely had a high finish, nothing looks sustainable, I've no idea if there's a Sale way to play or develop how they play, and he's done a good job?

Is this a bar which can be tripped over?

The take over was only in June 2016, before that Sale were regularly well under the salary cap, once the legacy of the title squads spending was off the books.

It's only the last couple of seasons were money has started to really hit the pitch in terms of players recruited.

He'd hardly be the first coach to put his budget in the pack as the start of a longer term development plan.

The not winning anything jab also seems a bit misplaced when you consider that the team who were winning things during most of that period weren't exactly doing it on a level playing field.

The money came in 2016, in which time Sale have gone from 10th, 8th, 7th, 5th - going from being relegation fodder to being highly unlucky not to get into the playoffs. I'd say that's a reasonably good use of money.

Puja

[Raggs]

What were they doing earlier puja? Before that. And considering sarries punishment they were 6th this time round. A position they've occupied often.

[Digby]

So he's been there a decade, spent a lot of money, won not a lot, barely had a high finish, nothing looks sustainable, I've no idea if there's a Sale way to play or develop how they play, and he's done a good job?

Is this a bar which can be tripped over?

The take over was only in June 2016, before that Sale were regularly well under the salary cap, once the legacy of the title squads spending was off the books.

It's only the last couple of seasons were money has started to really hit the pitch in terms of players recruited.

He'd hardly be the first coach to put his budget in the pack as the start of a longer term development plan.

The not winning anything jab also seems a bit misplaced when you consider that the team who were winning things during most of that period weren't exactly doing it on a level playing field.

Money in the pack? Did those wingers from league come for free including no transfer fee, the lumps in the centre were cheap despite signing for multiple clubs?

[Digby]

I would again note I think Dimes did an excellent job to turn around a failing side, a job he's done well a number of times. But beyond that he's never struck me as having much idea of how to develop a side further.

[Puja]

What were they doing earlier puja? Before that. And considering sarries punishment they were 6th this time round. A position they've occupied often.

Oscillating between 10th and 6th before the money came in - IIRC because they used to build a team and then lose it.

If we're inventing an alternate world where Saracens' punishment didn't happen, then we should also have one where COVID never happened at all (they were second when the league paused) or where they didn't lose their final, extremely winnable, game to COVID and thus drop down 2 places in the table.

I would again note I think Dimes did an excellent job to turn around a failing side, a job he's done well a number of times. But beyond that he's never struck me as having much idea of how to develop a side further.

I wouldn't say that was unfair - he's probably not got enough about him to take them to the very top. It really is hard for me to defend him cause I really don't like the guy, but he has been successful by a lot of metrics.

Puja

[Raggs]

He strikes me as being able to instill a real stubbornness in a team, but I think it comes from a underdog mentality, taking on the big boys and putting it to them. It doesn't work so well when your squad is just as expensive and stuffed full of world cup winners.

I had a failing team with few resources, I'd certainly look to him to help save them from relegation, but if I had one struggling for reasons other than resources, I'm not sure Dimes would be my man.

Fairly sure he's had some big fallings out with players as well.

[Digby]

I wouldn't say that was unfair - he's probably not got enough about him to take them to the very top. It really is hard for me to defend him cause I really don't like the guy, but he has been successful by a lot of metrics.

Puja

You get people like Meehan, Jones and so on and you can see what they're trying to do and all the detail therein. You might not like it, it might not even work but there is a lot of detail. Dimes once he's got the effort part sorted seems to have the sort of detail you'd expect from Bob who coaches Apmthill 3rds on a weekend and Thursday nights.

When there was detail at Sale it all seemed to come from Cips, and even Cips had to deal with the Chuckle Brothers at centre.

Still, we now get the enjoyment of a rugby league coach taking over and that's at least brand new thinking