They’re only strong on paper because they have been underperforming massively. However, if you look at each player individually and think about how they played when they were in form, provided the coach can get them all/majority of the players in form together (which is his job after all), for a consistent period of time, then they are more than just strong on paper. Part of that granted is playing players in form regularly and consistently which Dan has never really done.CIMANFOREVER wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 5:00 pmA bit of hyperbole is forgivable given the hyperbole and hype Ulster have had swirling around them down through the last couple of decades, mostly from themselves or their cheerleaders/ shills in the press or on Bakebook etc. Totally disproportionate.UlsterAreBrill wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 4:24 pmBit of hyperbole there perhaps. Sarries are hardly lighting up the prem currently and IMO their current squad probably has peaked and will only be in decline over the next few years.So It Is wrote: ↑Sun Jan 28, 2024 7:23 am McCall leaving Sarries and turning down probably a host of quality job offers to come to Ulster, would be a akin to him leaving a high-end 6-figure job in London/New York to go work as a Level 4 Civil Servant job on 30k a year at County Hall in Ballymena.
Not. A. Chance.
As far as things go Ulster actually have a very good squad who are underperforming massively, in some sense it is a poisoned chalice of a job in that historically it doesn’t go right for very many, or for a relatively short period of time but if a coach is confident he can get it right there is serious potential as far as the squad goes.
The other thing is, and just purely speculating, I doubt McCall is entirely motivated by money. I assume his salary changed somewhat when Sarries got relegated or at the very least he had offers for bigger pay packets elsewhere and obviously turned them all down.
McCall no chance unless it was a stepping stone to Ireland imo. He owes us nothing for a harsh learning curve despite being Ulster to his core.
This Ulster team, when you break down age and injury profiles, is only strong on paper; paper never won anything sadly. Sarries I believe will rebuild quickly under Small.
Ulster have a significant tranche of senior players with only 1 or 2 years left or 1 injury away from retirement. Change is needed NOW.
Let’s not forgot not that long ago we were beating Toulouse away, Northampton away (not the most significant bar having a backline of nearly all homegrown players), almost beating Leinster in Aviva. So there is evidence of, under the right system, our players can be very good.
The only players i’d suggest aren’t good enough from a likely starting XV, even on paper, would be Treadwell and Burns.
As far as coaches go, we should be throwing all the money at Noel McNamara to join in some capacity.
