"As a young coach at both the Waratahs and Leinster, I was very fortunate to have great chief executives and chairmen. I can tell you that this is very rare in professional sport. They supported and empowered me by giving me the time to develop a quality team. "
A brief piece of nonsense by the STA, ostensibly advice to Joe Schmidt but hard not to read as yet another "poor poor pitiful me" piece by the most persecuted coach in world rugby.
STA, wasted space happening in a newspaper near you.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
Ah Matty is a decent chap. Although I do quite dislike the memories of his time as Ulster coach. I feel that the Ulster team (much like his time at Scotland) of the day was completely incompatible with the type of rugby he wanted to play.
The Ulster team of today would be ideal for a coach like Williams imo. I know you may not have an awful lot of time for him up in your neck of the woods, but I think with the right squad of players, he's a good coach.
LeinsterLad wrote:Ah Matty is a decent chap. Although I do quite dislike the memories of his time as Ulster coach. I feel that the Ulster team (much like his time at Scotland) of the day was completely incompatible with the type of rugby he wanted to play.
The Ulster team of today would be ideal for a coach like Williams imo. I know you may not have an awful lot of time for him up in your neck of the woods, but I think with the right squad of players, he's a good coach.
He's an awful man for the grudges though.
I can understand your affection for him in Leinster, I remember being at a meet Matt Williams meeting at Newforge and he talked a good game, sadly that was the most tangible thing he left behind him - lots of hot air. That said I know there are some about who thought him good and I have no doubt he helped some of our current squad to improve their games. I just can't get by his consistent whinging about coaching a young team.
I reckon very few pro coaches wouldn't be decent with the right squad of players though doubtless some could still blow it.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
Whether he was a good coach or not is a moot point. Nowadays, he is a spoofer of epic proportions with a massive ego which he takes out and strokes in public at every opportunity. Not a good look.
LeinsterLad wrote:Ah Matty is a decent chap. Although I do quite dislike the memories of his time as Ulster coach. I feel that the Ulster team (much like his time at Scotland) of the day was completely incompatible with the type of rugby he wanted to play.
The Ulster team of today would be ideal for a coach like Williams imo. I know you may not have an awful lot of time for him up in your neck of the woods, but I think with the right squad of players, he's a good coach.
He's an awful man for the grudges though.
LeinsterLad, what did you think of him about his time at Leinster?
For Ulster it was the lowest point I have ever experienced except perhaps the year after we won the European Cup. Under Williams it took great resolve as a supporter to keep going.
If we're half as good in the next game as we were in the last game then we were twice as good in the last game as we will be in the next game.
LeinsterLad wrote:Ah Matty is a decent chap. Although I do quite dislike the memories of his time as Ulster coach. I feel that the Ulster team (much like his time at Scotland) of the day was completely incompatible with the type of rugby he wanted to play.
The Ulster team of today would be ideal for a coach like Williams imo. I know you may not have an awful lot of time for him up in your neck of the woods, but I think with the right squad of players, he's a good coach.
He's an awful man for the grudges though.
LeinsterLad, what did you think of him about his time at Leinster?
For Ulster it was the lowest point I have ever experienced except perhaps the year after we won the European Cup. Under Williams it took great resolve as a supporter to keep going.
There were glimmers of hope under MW - in early 2009 the wins against Munster at Thomond and beating Quins in a gale showed the team had some belief at its core.
The tail-end of the McCall era, the time between coaches, the departure of Bowe and the stories of unrest within the squad during late 2007 and early 2008, were worse IMO.
He uber shafted Chad ... yet despite generous offers Chris stayed and has become one of our corner stone players ... the Sundance Kid was a monumental epic tool. He's like Inspector Clouseau ... ruins everything put before him and after he has passed on like a tornado in a trailer park - he takes credit for the 24/7 effort put in by the relief workers trying to save bodies and salvage anything from the trail of devastation left behind him.
Always ask yourself, "What would Big Rodney do"... And every time the answer is... "Eat It"
Wonderful imagery there Fleg - SAT and a trailer park - apt.
NEVER MOVE ON. Years on, I cannot ever watch Ireland with anything but indifference, I continue to wish for the imminent death of Donal Spring, the FIRFUC's executioner of Wee Paddy & Wee Stu, and I hate the FIRFUCs with undiminished passion.
LeinsterLad wrote:Ah Matty is a decent chap. Although I do quite dislike the memories of his time as Ulster coach. I feel that the Ulster team (much like his time at Scotland) of the day was completely incompatible with the type of rugby he wanted to play.
The Ulster team of today would be ideal for a coach like Williams imo. I know you may not have an awful lot of time for him up in your neck of the woods, but I think with the right squad of players, he's a good coach.
He's an awful man for the grudges though.
LeinsterLad, what did you think of him about his time at Leinster?
For Ulster it was the lowest point I have ever experienced except perhaps the year after we won the European Cup. Under Williams it took great resolve as a supporter to keep going.
There were glimmers of hope under MW - in early 2009 the wins against Munster at Thomond and beating Quins in a gale showed the team had some belief at its core.
The tail-end of the McCall era, the time between coaches, the departure of Bowe and the stories of unrest within the squad during late 2007 and early 2008, were worse IMO.
I'd agree with that tbh, he did what he could with a limited budget and an incompetent CEO. Like all people he had his good traits and bad traits but I think it is unfair to completely discredit anything he did with Ulster. He was also treated quite poorly by the CEO and the 'Blazers' at the time so he could be forgiven for grinding an axe or two.
I also don't buy that Fleg, it could actually be argued it was the making of Henry as he moved away from the pipedream of being a 6/8 (not big enough) to working hard on his game as a 7. Bare in mind also that Dawson, Pollock and even Faloon were all regarded as better 7's at the time, and rightly so IMO. Pollock was greatest unfulfilled Ulster talent since McMillan IMO, Dawson a canny old operator and Faloon was a complete headcase/livewire. Henry was caught in a bit of a rut but credit to him he is now one of our most influential players.
BuckRogers wrote:
I'd agree with that tbh, he did what he could with a limited budget and an incompetent CEO. Like all people he had his good traits and bad traits but I think it is unfair to completely discredit anything he did with Ulster. He was also treated quite poorly by the CEO and the 'Blazers' at the time so he could be forgiven for grinding an axe or two.
I also don't buy that Fleg, it could actually be argued it was the making of Henry as he moved away from the pipedream of being a 6/8 (not big enough) to working hard on his game as a 7. Bare in mind also that Dawson, Pollock and even Faloon were all regarded as better 7's at the time, and rightly so IMO. Pollock was greatest unfulfilled Ulster talent since McMillan IMO, Dawson a canny old operator and Faloon was a complete headcase/livewire. Henry was caught in a bit of a rut but credit to him he is now one of our most influential players.
The thing is, I seem to remember the Ulster blazerati at the time going after Williams with unseemly haste. Did they even go through an interviewing process for other candidates? I thought they just went out and targeted Williams for the job. Things must have soured after that...
I also agree about Henry. Even at Pro12 level, he was really underpowered as a no. 8. I don't know who pushed him to switch to 7, but as you say, Henry deserve huge credit for making the transition.
Although I do quite dislike the memories of his time as Ulster coach. I feel that the Ulster team (much like his time at Scotland) of the day was completely incompatible with the type of rugby he wanted to play.
