RugbyRebels

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote: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 wrote:

Puja wrote: 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

Mellsblue wrote:

Digby wrote:

Puja wrote: 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

I know Bob, too. Great bloke. Shame about his dyslexia and shame on you for perpetuating the cruel joke.