Dan’s Not the Man.

[Bart S]

Is he gone yet?

Who? So many to choose from....

[Bart S]

Judging contract extensions is always tricky and easy to look at with hindsight. Lots of people slate ulster for getting rid of mcglock after a European final but the decision was taken much earlier in the season, when ulster's league form was dire and from memory had lost at home to Treviso. It was after that Afoa came over early, I Humps had one of his good days and out of nowhere ulster beat a strong Clermont team that things turned around, with rumours of significant player involvement.

Similarly EOS was given an Ireland extension after almost landing the 2007 championship for the 1st time since 1985 I think. Shortly after was the disastrous world cup and early termination.

Agree that there were alarm bells last season with The Sale game and others plus question marks over whether Dan could take ulster any further. It is a difficult balance sometimes in reality.

[damianmcr]

Is he gone yet?

Who? So many to choose from....

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Whoever comes in I just hope they have a pair and are prepared to do what is necessary to move the club forward.

Too many fringe players, hangers on who play a blinder for a few matches when contract is due then slip back into mediocrity afterwards.

Says it all when Gilroy stated the othernight that Wee Dave has been with the province over a decade. I mean, I like Wee Dave, I really do, but ten years or more being no better than 3rd choice throughout that? I know we need squad players, but that's stealing a contract, shirley?

... and yes I know he made a great follow-up chase and bundled an Osprey into touch the other day, but that should be run-of-the-mill, not something worthy of comment because we don't normally expect to see a physical side from him. Even beagle although wee had a physical side to his game and never ducked out of making a challenge even against guys twice his size.

[TheBoat]

Whoever comes in I just hope they have a pair and are prepared to do what is necessary to move the club forward.

Too many fringe players, hangers on who play a blinder for a few matches when contract is due then slip back into mediocrity afterwards.

Says it all when Gilroy stated the othernight that Wee Dave has been with the province over a decade. I mean, I like Wee Dave, I really do, but ten years or more being no better than 3rd choice throughout that? I know we need squad players, but that's stealing a contract, shirley?

... and yes I know he made a great follow-up chase and bundled an Osprey into touch the other day, but that should be run-of-the-mill, not something worthy of comment because we don't normally expect to see a physical side from him. Even beagle although wee had a physical side to his game and never ducked out of making a challenge even against guys twice his size.

3rd choice in a position should not be held by a journey man. It should be reserved for academy players

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[HammerTime]

Just confirmed from Ulster Rugby. Cunningham getting more responsibility.

[Big-al]

That’s what stood out to me. Cunningham has been every bit as poor as McFarland, perhaps even more so.

The amount of rubbish players he has signed that haven’t been good enough for professional rugby is taking the pi$h.

He talks a good game, but if he was working in the private sector he’d be found out fairly quickly.

[Dave]

Just confirmed from Ulster Rugby. Cunningham getting more responsibility.

That bit was weird. I don't get it.

[HammerTime]

That’s what stood out to me. Cunningham has been every bit as poor as McFarland, perhaps even more so.

The amount of rubbish players he has signed that haven’t been good enough for professional rugby is taking the pi$h.

He talks a good game, but if he was working in the private sector he’d be found out fairly quickly.

Nice guy and passionate about UR obviously but he's there for a job for life. The likes of Humphreys had ambition.

[Deraless]

3rd choice in a position should not be held by a journey man. It should be reserved for academy players

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

I wish we didn't have so many journeymen in 1st and 2nd choice slots never mind 3rd choice.

At the end of the day money talks, and the business brains have seen what crowd figures next year would be like if this horlicks continued. Will need a big upturn in performance to keep season ticket numbers up.

[justinr73]

Given that we’re fishing a from a pool that basically consists of players that have been binned off or overlooked by Leinster or Munster or have an Irish granny, I’d contend that the recruitment since Dan joined has, in fact, been reasonably good.

Not sure what (IQ) rabbits people expect BC to pull out of his hat….

[HammerTime]

It's funny listening to all the rugby analysts/ex players/commentators all sharing their wisdom on the situation. Where was all this criticism when Dan was actually in the job?? Not one of them had the balls to speak up.

[CIMANFOREVER]

Given that we’re fishing a from a pool that basically consists of players that have been binned off or overlooked by Leinster or Munster or have an Irish granny, I’d contend that the recruitment since Dan joined has, in fact, been reasonably good.

Not sure what (IQ) rabbits people expect BC to pull out of his hat….

Well the academy has produced some backs and now forward talent in fairness recently - just they don't by and large kick on. Is that BCs fault?

Ref Iq- on paper Jordi, Moore Mads looked good signings- in true Ulster fashion, 2 became crippled/ unfit and Madigan under deployed- could Bryn be held to account for internationals that didn't deliver/ became injury prone? Madigan was p#shed up the wall imo. I thought Jordi was initially good business. Still young and a very recent international BR.

Even with NIQs we seem to be an elephants graveyard since RP/ Ludik. Ludik was a great example of ROI for an NIQ squad player. RP a Golden God. Both invested in UR.

[gpjmoss]

And away......
https://ulster.rugby/content/dan-mcfarl ... CcgNxSypV0

[CIMANFOREVER]

It's funny listening to all the rugby analysts/ex players/commentators all sharing their wisdom on the situation. Where was all this criticism when Dan was actually in the job?? Not one of them had the balls to speak up.

It's always the way HT. Scavengers circling brad pitt.