The UAFC

Neil F wrote:Ulster were bridesmaids under McLaughlin when they lost to a much better Leinster side in a Heineken Cup Final.

Ulster were bridesmaids under Anscombe when they, narrowly, lost a Pro12 final that, probably, hinged on the bizarre decision by UR to let a "home" final be held at the home of the opposition at the #ourDS.

Under Kiss, Ulster haven't played knock-out rugby. Ulster are no longer bridesmaids. Right now, Ulster hasn't even been invited to the hen party.

Will jettisoning Kiss turn Ulster into serious contenders for silverware? Probably not. Might jettisoning him give Ulster a realistic chance of avoiding a 7/8 place playoff for meaningful European Rugby next season, in a league with eight Tom Kite teams (excluding Ulster) in it? Probably. Kiss won't solve any of Ulster's problems. Getting rid of him won't solve them all. It doesn't mean he, himself, isn't one of those problems.

I don't disagree with this. I think Kiss has blotted his copybook too much, with his bizarre selections and stupid substitutions, never mind our embarrassing defence. His position has become untenable barring some miraculous change of fortunes between now and the end of the season.

Replacing him won't fix Ulster though. There has to be more changes than just the head coach. An entire culture shift needs to happen, otherwise we'll end up where we are now under the next coach, and the one after that.

Where we are now isn't entirely Kiss's fault. The rot started years ago. Kiss inherited an academy that had absolutely nothing worthwhile to offer him up front. Past coaches, Humphreys, Logan, academy coaches, those who run the schools rugby etc are all to blame as well and should be feeling the heat.

BR wrote:At this point it has to be about stopping the rot.

Exactly.

Correction Neil ... Ulster have been invited to at least 2 Hen parties so far this year ... where for a few bob they publically stripped buck naked for the crowd, wore L plates performed silly acts for a laugh and after the punters had their fun they were allowed to get dressed again and return home.

But Logie is delighted as we hit the jackpot selling naming rights to "Ulstergrams"!

therealspratt wrote:Kiss is broadly useless but it does go deeper than him, the culture as a whole is off throughout the squad. You're dead on Crouchy.

It's the BS that is emanating from every single person at UR being interviewed.

Kiss: we are not far off Leinster
Malone: we change the centres every week because they get tired/injured
Peel: is the defence a problem? No.
Logan: world domination

Ulster has the best academy etc...(don't who said it)

Cornerfleg wrote:Correction Neil ... Ulster have been invited to at least 2 Hen parties so far this year ... where for a few bob they publically stripped buck naked for the crowd, wore L plates performed silly acts for a laugh and after the punters had their fun they were allowed to get dressed again and return home.

But Logie is delighted as we hit the jackpot selling naming rights to "Ulstergrams"!

Never, ever, will the image of Rodney gyrating in a g-string leave my mind... On the plus side, at least Deccie Fitz isn't still on the books.

thecrouch wrote:I don't disagree with this. I think Kiss has blotted his copybook too much, with his bizarre selections and stupid substitutions. His position has become untenable barring some miraculous change of fortunes between now and the end of the season.

Replacing him won't fix Ulster though. There has to be more changes than just the head coach. An entire culture shift needs to happen, otherwise we'll end up where we are now under the next coach, and the one after that.

The question is about what one wants to achieve.

As BR said, part of it is about stopping the rot. If Kiss is maintained, I can't see this ending up any other way than the end of the McCall era, with the players that could be the backbone of a decent enough side heading off literally anywhere else. If that starts to happen, I don't see guys with a serious future in the game (Henderson and Stockdale in particular) hanging around for long. What happens now will could not just damage Ulster now but for years to come. There was a big gap, for example, between Tommy heading to Swansea and Pienaar and Muller arriving to change Ulster's fortunes.

The wider question is about the structures that have allowed this kind of rot to settle into Ulster twice in a decade. I agree, getting rid of Kiss won't do anything else here. But that isn't a good reason for holding onto Kiss. Rather, it is a good reason for fans not to let up once Kiss is out.

Here's the issue. Fans see a problem, and want a solution, they're hurt at the abject failure which is compounded by the patronising soundbites emanating from PR central...

The senior management don't see a problem, they see a difficult transition where they are seeing (somehow) incremental improvement, therefore the club is on the right flight path and the fans are a load of whingers.

The only disruptor with the cajones to call things out has been Fez, but he is not influential enough in UR. There is no-one willing to call things as they are, it reminds of the current situation in the White House ....not the department store in Portrush, rather the current residence of the grand cheesy wotsit in Washington.

Feck me, get you nonplussed ... you'll need a lie down now!!!

Cornerfleg wrote:Feck me, get you nonplussed ... you'll need a lie down now!!!

I'm really not comfortable with a vaguely sensible post.. time for a lobotomy and membership of the URSC/Facebook UABB....

Say 10 Hail Logies and 15 Ulster are Brills .... go in peace my son.

From Bakebook central

If you're not prepared to Stand Up during the lows then you don't deserve to Stand Up for the highs
#SUFTUM

Rooster wrote:From Bakebook central

If you're not prepared to Stand Up during the lows then you don't deserve to Stand Up for the highs
#SUFTUM

Most of the comments on that post are thankfully people telling him to work his head up his bangle.

Sounds to me like he's doing fine as a cranial proctologist without any assistance.

Sounds like it's all kicking off
Both online and at the Hill

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Russ wrote:Sounds like it's all kicking off
Both online and at the Hill

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Spiill the beans Russy baby.

thecrouch wrote:

Russ wrote:Sounds like it's all kicking off
Both online and at the Hill

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Spiill the beans Russy baby.

Few arguments during the "preparation starts now for La Rochelle"

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