I have been a critic of BA for some time, posted plenty on this, and engaged in a few heated exchanges. The usual chest pumping banter aside, I wanted to rattle the cage and draw attention to BA, and what I saw as his ongoing deficiencies.
My view on those deficiencies has not changed, however, reading over dozens of blogs these past few weeks, has made me consider the bigger picture. The more I mull over things, the more I think that bringing in ( Quality) Assistants may be the option
The current coaching setup is limited, BA has a bunch of Franklins No Frills Flops, but bring in a J Taylor, Fitzgibbon,Dean Pay, who I put forward weeks ago etc, and let BA weave his man management skills The board needs to make it clear to BA that this is non-optional, and to hell with his preference
We have BA until 2022, he has built up a strong loyalty and team spirit, but a crap coaching crew This may just save him, and the Eels
Interested in other’s views
Replies
Agree
BA + JT could be a good comb
BA + DP would not work - similar strengths and weaknesses
Don't know aboiut Fitzgibbon.
Holbrook could have been a good alternative to BA but can't see any alternitives available now. So BA + assistant that will cover for his weaknesses would be the best option
Your top coaches don't have assistants forced upon them, they choose them. I doubt BA would accept that or it may be cause a lot of friction. He definitely needs help although he strikes me as a guy who may not be open to it. He's clearly a good man manager and a very disciplined coach. His weakness appears to be tactics and changing a game plan to suit. It would take a bit of humility for someone to be allowed to do that for the team. Clearly to go a step further than we have something needs to change. At the moment we seem a team that can't go much further
This is where BAs love for the club comes in - I really hope he sees it. I believe he will. He is a good bloke with best intentions and now is the time!
my gut feel - he succumbed and listened to outside influence the last few weeks .
1. He experimented - he never ever experiments
2. fergo was seeing more ball and was included in attack plan . To the point every man and his dog was ensuring they got it out to him at last.
3. I think things did improve in right side defence issues somewhat as well.
No his weaknesses are more than that.
He doesn't look after defense - Kidwell does that.
He doesn't look after attack - Murphy and Johns do that.
He doesn't have any tactical nous - it's as obvious as the shine off his bald head.
So the question remains, what the fuck does he do besides being buddy buddy with his players and selecting the team?
Assistants over see areas under the direction of the head coach same at every team
Bennett is a great example his assistants have a lot of say on the direction and implementation of it but Bennett guides it.
BA and the players need some new voices outside voices to move forward who that is I don't know but I think you need a assistant who is a head coach in waiting I'd say neither Kidwell or Murphy are that.
I reckon the players may need a new voice other than BAs. He's had his run, 7 years, it's time to move on as a club.
If you keep giving the coaches an out, most will take it. BA could come back every year and say if you give me this I can get better results and the year after say if you get me this we could perform better etc etc. How long is this piece of string?
Hes sucked enough blood out of this club IMO.
It's not as though the guy has 15 other clubs hunting his signature and he understands that. BA knows very well, when his days at Parra end so will his first grade coaching career.
Oh I think he still has currency and I would say a club like the Tigers or Newcastle could look at him if things went bad. He may bring some good ideas and improve a club. Of course our point in relation to BA is that after 7 years, is there really an upside? Is there more in there that could be a positive for the club ? Or are we just riding the sympathy train because he's an Eels man ?
I wonder how someone like a Wayne Bennett would go in a coaching director position at the club ?
I would hate to see BA sacked - that would be absolutely horrendous but if we finish on the wrong side of the finals next year we may have to pull the curtain and that would be a shame .
It won't happen FAT, no way.
His contract may not be extended, but there's no way they punt him. Not this board or club right now.
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