Comments on: Johnson must relinquish the conservatism and release the flair

By: eddyh

eddyh — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:01:46 +0000

Johnson is the problem, a living example that great players don’t often make great coaches. Sticking to Borthwick as captain when he is obviously not worth his place as a player is symptomatic. Bring back Woodward as Rob Andrews’ replacement and appoint McGeechan as head coach.

By: Uncle Mat

Uncle Mat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:37:40 +0000

Garnetto – I’ve been equally bemused about the Smith situation. Something doesn’t add up there. Most of the problem seems to be crap ball, but it’s not just that. There have been some passages of play where they’ve been moving forward, but the back play is consistently predictable and mostly ineffective.

I think you’re right about coaching changes by year end, but here’s my bet – Wells and Ford will be gone. Johnno is going to be forced into making changes because the poor Autumn series will demand some sort of response (beyond the usual BS about needing time etc.). He’s not going to get rid of Smith – his appointment, and probably one that in the fullness of time will prove out – and indeed, making other changes is likely to persuade Smith to give it more time. But he inherited W & F and he can now send the message that he’s given them enough time and it just hasn’t worked out. Edwards would be top of my list for the defensive role, and I reckon we would see an improvement in defence almost immediately.

I’m a bit puzzled as to exactly how the different coaching roles are intended to combine, but it seems that Johnno’s role should be to bring the combined visions together into one, cohesive gameplan. He’s failed at that so far (and in my view that’s a big part of the Smith situation) and I doubt he could ever be successful at it.

By: Nick Heath

Nick Heath — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:37:42 +0000

Excellent article Tom. Tait’s absence is still a mystery to me. I think he would genuinely bring an air of fear to some opponents who know he’s capable of real magic. Hipkiss may yet prove to shine, but he is clearly more of Johnson’s mould at present in terms of a midfield battering ram.

By: Fakey

Fakey — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:44:08 +0000

Has anyone else noticed. but when England are in competition of the knockout variety, they seem to pull something out of the bag.even in defeat and that does not apply just to Rugby. Cricket and Football are just the same to name but two, even at club level

All sports managers and coaches, in anything other than sudden death elimination matches appear to give the instructions

“Go out there boys, enjoy your game, do your very best to win……………..BUT GOD BLOODY HELP YOU IF YOU LOSE”

Those sort of orders do nothing for the spectators, managers, fans or the team alike.

Maybe Fakey never lined up at such high levels, but in his day we did not need any instructions or bugger all else, we went out on the Park with only one thought and intention in 15 heads…………………Winning!!!!! Preferably without maiming or hurting ourselves or somebody else. If winning went against some coaches’ idea of the ultimate goal, we ignored the coach and got on with it

By: Kemlo

Kemlo — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:04:21 +0000

I think the problem is that Wells and Ford are being evaluated from the start of the Johnson era instead of from when they started their jobs. A quick check on Wikipedia reveals this to be 2006 when Andy Robinson was still head coach! If things do not improve in the next two games then I think it is fair to say that they have had sufficient chance to prove themselves and that it would not be too ‘football’ to sack them.

By: Garnetto

Garnetto — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:04:13 +0000

I’ve been pondering for a long time why Smiths “vision” isn’t materialising. All I can assume is ford & wells are too dominant…

But here’s a thought

if that is the case, won’t we see a world class frustrated coach like Smith pack up his toys and go elsewhere? Surely he will be a man in demand – I think there were lots of rumours linkng him with Aus before England cams knocking. Surely if he is the world class attacking coach we saw at Irish he won’t suffer this interminable rubbish for long?

So let’s wait and see but might be worth an outside £10 bet that England will be one coach short come the New Year. And for what it’s worth, it’s the one we can least afford to lose in my honourable opinion…