Where do we go from here?

So It Is · Post by **So It Is** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:05 am

Burn it down and start again?

rumncoke · Post by **rumncoke** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:14 am

A New forwards coach --

A change in out half and new attack coach and a new on field leader group

big mervyn · Post by **big mervyn** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:17 am

Is it down to the lake I fear?

Big-al · Post by **Big-al** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:37 am

Need a new attack coach, a breakdown specialist who can develop backrowers & most important a good fkyhalf.

We have the worst starting FH in the league. It’s not good enough and Ulster will be no better next season with him at the helm, no matter how hard they try to hide his many weaknesses.

CIMANFOREVER · Post by **CIMANFOREVER** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:53 am

So It Is wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 9:05 am Burn it down and start again?

Get a management team with no conflicts of interest, something new to say, and can get respect from this squad- ruthless and knock the complacency out of them. New 10 and a TH. Even OTB called out the lunacy of no TH depth vs signing Kitshoff. Quinnie in fairness is always well disposed toward Ulster- holding back but clear he knows this organisation is broken.

Trouble is, it will cost us to get rid of Dan and coterie. No 3 months severance here I suspect.

Added to Pitchgate losses and lost SF/ potential final revenue, and diminishing income, is this likely?

We are a team without a heart or soul.

So It Is · Post by **So It Is** » Mon May 08, 2023 9:56 am

We aren't winning anything with Billy at 10. But we aren't winning anything with our current pack.

Billy playing behind a pack of hard ba$tards is a better solution than peak Dan Carter playing behind our current pack imo.

The focus needs to be on the pack, and bringing Ulstermen through in those positions, rather than a new 10.

kingofthehill · Post by **kingofthehill** » Mon May 08, 2023 10:07 am

rumncoke wrote:A New forwards coach --

A change in out half and new attack coach and a new on field leader group

McFarland is the head honcho!

Some questions

1. Some is accountable for extending McFarland- who?
2. Has McFarland lost the dressing room? If the answer is yes then he has to go.
3. With him signing such a long extension it has huge problems. He’s not going to resign as he won’t get pay off and by sounds of it he is stubborn. Ulster probably don’t have the money to pay him off the time he has left.
4. If we are stuck with him and the dressing room is lost then what is ahead of us?

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CIMANFOREVER · Post by **CIMANFOREVER** » Mon May 08, 2023 10:40 am

kingofthehill wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 10:07 am
rumncoke wrote:A New forwards coach --

A change in out half and new attack coach and a new on field leader group
McFarland is the head honcho!

Some questions

1. Some is accountable for extending McFarland- who?
2. Has McFarland lost the dressing room? If the answer is yes then he has to go.
3. With him signing such a long extension it has huge problems. He’s not going to resign as he won’t get pay off and by sounds of it incredibly stubborn. Ulster probably don’t have the money to pay him off the time he has left.
4. If we are stuck with him and the dressing room is lost then what is ahead of us?

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1. Assume Petrie as CEO?
2 &3 He's lost some players at least- I suspect that's true. I'd love to hear DV, Carter, Sutherlands opinions. Too much negativity and rumour around this squad for some of it at least not to be true. Rea in the stands? Sheridan water carrier? Ongoing baffling selections- no inury updates that would at least clear some of the stench- Was a fit Luke not even on the bench? We saw it with Cowboy and Kiss too near the end. Media skirting it but they sniff big issues I suspect. An extended contract was madness- all coaches have a lifespan- he's reached his.
4. Agreed- and if you were a new head coach would you want Dans legacy team or your own? Huge cost to clear all at once. Btw what exactly does Malone do?

The future? Mid table mediocrity with the odd unexpected blue chip win and diminishing home support as people spend their money elsewhere. We can't even be called a development province- who are we developing, apart from supplying Leinster with the odd hooker? A slow bleed as we fall off- Leireland Stormers, Weegies,
Turnips, Edinburgh have better squads/ better coached. Bulls and Sharks will surely get better given their quality. Connact backing and DEVELOPING/ Improving young talent, Benetton on an upward curve- next year, finish ahead of the Welsh and Italians will be seen as "progress?"
After the Demographics whinge, Dan sounded like a coach out of ideas, inspiration and motivation.
If he has anything about him, stand down.

Big-al · Post by **Big-al** » Mon May 08, 2023 11:56 am

Cunningham took the credit when he was hired, so he has a lot of accountability.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon May 08, 2023 12:08 pm

Nowhere. No significant squad changes and the same coach until 2025. A drastic change in our injury luck is the only thing that would help us. So definitely nothing changing.

TinPig · Post by **TinPig** » Mon May 08, 2023 12:39 pm

kingofthehill wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 10:07 am
rumncoke wrote:A New forwards coach --

A change in out half and new attack coach and a new on field leader group
McFarland is the head honcho!

Some questions

1. Some is accountable for extending McFarland- who?
2. Has McFarland lost the dressing room? If the answer is yes then he has to go.
3. With him signing such a long extension it has huge problems. He’s not going to resign as he won’t get pay off and by sounds of it he is stubborn. Ulster probably don’t have the money to pay him off the time he has left.
4. If we are stuck with him and the dressing room is lost then what is ahead of us?

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Totally agree, I think Roddy Grant and Sooer are being undermined or Micro managed. I think Payne jumped ship because of it.
When McFarland said the most intelligent rugby brain in the squad is Billy Burns that said it all

thecrouch · Post by **thecrouch** » Mon May 08, 2023 1:05 pm

I dunno about Soper, I am wondering if the step up to attack coach was just a bridge too far for him.

Grant I don't think is the issue, the problem on Friday was the stupid tactics of deciding not to contest rucks and the bizarre selections. That's on McFarland.

Bell is obviously an issue.

McFarland seems to want us to play basic rugby to win penalties and then maul to death. These are the sort of tactics a team with a monster pack and brad pitt backs might use. We are literally the exact opposite of this. We get away with it against the dross in the league, or when teams send us their rotated sides for regular fixtures, but when we come up against anyone half decent we fall flat.

CIMANFOREVER · Post by **CIMANFOREVER** » Mon May 08, 2023 1:16 pm

Again guys, what does Malone do? Seriously?
Agree ref Grant and still disposed to Soper reverting to skills coach

TinPig · Post by **TinPig** » Mon May 08, 2023 1:20 pm

thecrouch wrote: ↑Mon May 08, 2023 1:05 pm I dunno about Soper, I am wondering if the step up to attack coach was just a bridge too far for him.

Grant I don't think is the issue, the problem on Friday was the stupid tactics of deciding not to contest rucks and the bizarre selections. That's on McFarland.

Bell is obviously an issue.

Do you remember when McCloskey and Hume cut Clermont apart, that was Soper & Payne. Hume hasn’t been at the race’s since New Zealand but still getting picked. Selection for Friday knockout game was farcical, Gilroy not good enough to get a contract but made the bench, Jordie Murphy over Sheridan? 7 players of the 10 players going all made this must win knockout game
Total Madness IMHO

TinPig · Post by **TinPig** » Mon May 08, 2023 1:22 pm

Head Coach takes the majority of the praise and the blame. CEO also

The UAFC