There is a certain amount of criticism of Ossie on this site.
While the man is not beyond criticism (I didn't like the public announcement of contract negotiations being put on hold) I think we need to examine certain facts.
At the time of their signing most people were impressed with his signing of Poore, Shackleton and Tahu.
At the time we were pleased to have Morts signed in spite of the pressure from the dogs.
All pundits were so impressed that we began the season as favourites.
We started the season with more recognition for fans than we had ever had before. In fact, I can never remember as many opportunities presented for fans and members as we have had under Ossie.
Then this year unfolded and players did not perform. For whatever reasons (and we all have our opinions) they just didn't.
So we look to who is responsible. We consider the players that didn't perform, the positions that are weak, the lack of direction and the lack of passion.
So what can Ossie do? The board and the fans won't accept consecutive seasons of failure.
Attempts are made to sign players (in conjunction with the coach) but there is not much success (as yet) in that department.
As much as I liked Anderson (esp as he was a local boy) it would seem that the players would not perform for him.
Kearney was a coach becoming more in demand in the NRL coaching market.
So Ossie signs the coach who other clubs were circling. All the emotion that comes with a sacking is raised in the media who love to make headlines about our club.
Come on people - we had to make changes to have a better year next year. We made the biggest change that we could. That was a brave move and certainly not a stupid one.
So we now have some money to spend and the possiblity of a significant signing to come.
Don't rip into Ossie before the job is done.
And let's get behind the club for an improved 2011.
And if things do improve because of the changes we know who will be responsible for it!
Replies
The reason I changed my mind - and I did so over time - was due to a couple of really ill-advised comments to the media. Now I accept that Parra are a favourite club of the media (in particular the DT) because there are enough people around the club good for a headline, and our supporter base is sufficiently large to sell a high volume of papers.
But it behoves a CEO to be aware of that. I often compare Osborne to Greenberg. Like it or not, the Dogs are also a heavily supported club who sell papers - and considering their litany of recent off-field dramas over the last few seasons and there re-emergence last year, it stands to reason that they would be an oft reported about club in media circles as we are. Yet there's been bugger all controversy at Belmore hence no scuttlebutt from the media.
Paul Osborne is the administrative face of our club. Spagnolo and co might wield significant power, but in reality, the three faces of our side in 2010 were Osborne (admin), DA (coaching staff), Hayne (playing staff). Now, in my opinion, both Hayne and DA conducted themselves throughout with aplomb yet Osborne, perhaps a victim of his own affable nature, couldn't seem to help himself providing that one remark too many (e.g. the inevitable Quade Cooper signing) and thus fuelled the campaign of rumours and innuendo that surrounded our club all season.
Whilst I wasn't happy that DA was sacked, I accept that it became the only real outcome by season's end and SK's appointment may yet prove to be an inspired one. Osborne (in consultation with SK) really does need to land one more marquee signing in the halves to tie up our loose ends and if we're able to replicate the form that catapulted us into last year's GF throughout the course of next season, no doubt all we be forgiven.
My only (slight) variant in thought is that Osbourne is WAY too involved with chasing players - media wise.
As CEO I accept that he does have a role in signing players but not too the extent that Osbourne has done.
One gets the impression that ALL sigings are at the CEO's instigation and he alone is the instigator - negotiator and full stop to everything associated with the team.
The CEO should run the day to day affairs of the club and as you have pointed out - remain out of the spotlight with player negotiations and signings.
If we observe the more successful clubs it is always the coach making public statements about players and team movements with support from their respective CEOs where as Osbourne has appointed himself as the (loose) mouthpiece for all things Parramatta Eels.
To this end, I simply cannot understand how the club, on one hand publicly declared that it was DA's call to release Mateo, Inu and KK and to sign Matua and Webb (because DA had sole power to hire and fire), then on the other hand hear Osborne publicly confirm that it was at his behest that the club investigate Quade Cooper (even though DA "didn't want him"). You can't have it both ways!
As for Quade Cooper - it wouldn't be the first time that NRL and Union have been played off each other to up the value of a contract.
So Ossie has secured an in demand coach.
Looks like getting a half who was under contract elsewhere.
That is pretty good work in my opinion.
I think some negative views on our lack of signings have been fueled by all of the rumours about signing this player or that player and then not getting them. Rumours do not relate to a CEO's work.
as usual, you put together a well constructed, well thought out posting ....