Coaching Angst - ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

In reply to Cosimo:

a) It's certainly not that I don't criticise anyone. I'm certainly in the SHUT UP GARETH brigade, and I'm no fan of Lia or Lochhead and will not miss them if they go. Also, Manny, Siggy and Dura have sucked this year compared to previously, and I'd like more discussion on why that might be.

b) My thoughts on the coaching situation: I have none. I have no insight into what goes on in the Nix dressing room. The closest I got was watching the open training at Eden Park and all I noticed was that the passing was not much different to what it's been in games, i.e. mediocre. I suppose my main point of contention is that it's clear that the existing Phoenix squad have lost heart, but is that Ricki's fault for being a delusional goose, Welnix's for trying to shift the team culture, or the players for being lazy and/or old? 

I certainly think that a new coach might help, or it might not, but there seems to be a view that part of the role of a professional football coach is to be Nicholas Cage in The Wicker Man, sacrificed to the footballing gods in return for their favour. If we get a new coach, let it be as part of an all-around holistic approach to reform at the Nix, which will have to include somehow putting a rocket up the existing core of long-term players who have clearly lost something this year.

The other thing about sacking Ricki altogether is it means effectively sacking the AW coach (or making him part time) as well, because the Nix subsidise his wages. If Ricki gets "kicked upstairs" at the Nix (DoF or some such) while still coaching the AWs that might be a good compromise.

We have to remember it was RH who wanted to play "total football" Not Welnix.

??? First I've heard that. 

??? First I've heard that. If so, you've just given an argument for him to have one more year to finish what he's started, and made it clear that the results for this season really are of secondary importance.

You two go and do your homework and stop burning up your parents' data allowance.

You two go and do your homework and stop burning up your parents' data allowance.

we already have Ricki Herbert !

I apologise if I have broken the rules. Is it to do with animal cruelty? Sorry, I have already been told off using the name Rick Hermit. Parents havent blocked dungeons and dragons, Ill jump off and leave you all alone for awhile.

 Ricki said to win the league, we need to play a possession based game. Welnix said "ok then".

A season? Anyone who thought you could turn a team based around Siggy, Dura and Manny into a possession-based team in a single year should have their head examined. Certainly if Ricki promised he could win it this year with the squad he had he should be sacked.

On the hand, if he wrote off this season and decided to play around with Boyd, Fenton, Totori (*sigh*) et al, getting them used to The Big Time, and hunting down Hernandez's signature, in the hopes of winning the 2013/14 league... some might say that project is still on track.

If we're still cellar-dwelling this time next year, trust me, you'll hear SACK RICKI loudest from this quarter.

What about this guy? Would fit into Welnix's budget

Newsflash: Phoenix midfield shit!

Saved you all 10 minutes of reading.  Thank me later.

He's done alright in 6 years for a guy who doesn't know what he's doing! Maybe someone should send him on a coaching course or two, then imagine how well he'd do!

He's done alright in 6 years for a guy who doesn't know what he's doing! Maybe someone should send him on a coaching course or two, then imagine how well he'd do!

Playoffs four years in a row Including 2 fourth placed finishes and one game away from a grand final,  is quite good for a guy who doesnt know what he is doing id say, yeah. 

No - in 2009/10 it was Ritchie Herbert who coached the team to the almost grand-final-if-it-wasn't-for-the-cheating-chris-payne.

So take that best year out of the calculations.

Playoffs four years in a row Including 2 fourth placed finishes and one game away from a grand final,  is quite good for a guy who doesnt know what he is doing id say, yeah. 

Humbert Humbert (Nabokov)