Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:04 pm  

Wildmoggy wrote:

Okkkk, thanks for answering Obviously comparing him to Webster's 'team' then I agree he has given the players direction, belief, probably confidence, and he demands respect, all the things that were seemingly lacking under JW for the majority of the season. But I still think it's a bit early to be singing his praises too highly, some tough tests lie ahead, so i'll reserve my judgement until after the next couple of games, which will really tell us if we have truly turned the corner. I do like the way he comes across though, above all else, he seems an honest bloke, and if you are a player as long as you know where you stand, then that's all you can ask for, but I agree, so far so good. Getting back to Kear, I know his perceived 'style' of play wasn't everybody's cup of tea, but when you think he was thrown in at the deep end in 2006, needing to win 4 out of 6 games, with no honeymoon period of 2 months like BS has had, had to work with what was here, what he achieved was nothing short of remarkable in my opinion, and if BS does keep us up, that's not as good an achievement in my humble opinion.

John Kear had a far more capable squad than Brian Smith has!

There were quite a few players available to Kear that are head and shoulders above anything we've currently got in the team with the possible exception of an on form Tim Smith.

Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:11 pm  

The Avenger wrote:

John Kear had a far more capable squad than Brian Smith has!

There were quite a few players available to Kear that are head and shoulders above anything we've currently got in the team with the possible exception of an on form Tim Smith.

Yeah I agree, but we were staring down the barrel weren't we, so to be in that position in the first place, some of those players were underperforming badly, throwing 22-0 half time scorelines away under Tony Smith, given the timeframe he had, I just think he almost performed a miracle. Possibly, depending on results, we may only have to beat SL opposition once in order to stay up? So for me it won't be as good as an achievement, but it's all about opinions isn't it!!

Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:18 pm  

Wildmoggy wrote:

Yeah I agree, but we were staring down the barrel weren't we, so to be in that position in the first place, some of those players were underperforming badly, throwing 22-0 half time scorelines away under Tony Smith, given the timeframe he had, I just think he almost performed a miracle. Possibly, depending on results, we may only have to beat SL opposition once in order to stay up? So for me it won't be as good as an achievement, but it's all about opinions isn't it!!

We needed 4 wins from 6 to get us into a £1Million game, just about identical situations bar some of the opposition being from the Championship but Bradford and Leigh are quality teams.

Halpenny, Demetriou, Evans, Henderson, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, Obst, Korkidas, Solomona, MacGillivray, Betham.
Replacements: March, Elima, Catic, Latu

Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:25 pm  

The Avenger wrote:

We needed 4 wins from 6 to get us into a £1Million game, just about identical situations bar some of the opposition being from the Championship but Bradford and Leigh are quality teams.

Halpenny, Demetriou, Evans, Henderson, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, Obst, Korkidas, Solomona, MacGillivray, Betham.
Replacements: March, Elima, Catic, Latu

There you go, that team shouldn't have been anywhere near the relegation places?! We'll have to agree to disagree mate, but I do get what you're saying, although the Bradford we have just played are nowhere near the Bradford then, and we had to win at Odsal.

Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:38 pm  

The Avenger wrote:

We needed 4 wins from 6 to get us into a £1Million game, just about identical situations bar some of the opposition being from the Championship but Bradford and Leigh are quality teams.

Halpenny, Demetriou, Evans, Henderson, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, Obst, Korkidas, Solomona, MacGillivray, Betham.
Replacements: March, Elima, Catic, Latu

The Bradford game back then was a real do or die and we needed help from Salford (to beat Cas) or we would never have made the decider.

By comparison, the team back then was better although Kear had far less time to turn things round.
It was do or die from the outset
.
The game at Bradford was amazing, especially coupled with Cas getting done at Salford.

The short side move by Solo and Demitriou's getting out of the in goal really stick in the memory.

Certainly a great night.

[PopTart]

Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:05 pm  

I'm a fan of Kear too. Not sure we have to choose.

Re: Brian Smith : Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:45 pm  

J K was the man of the moment and did a great job. That night at Bradford was brilliant. He always came across well on T V and I still like his comments on BBC. I thought the club should have looked at offering a new deal to him, it all seemed to go a bit sour. He seemed to take loads of stick on on the wakey board and I could never understand why.
Brian Smith if retained will totally change our club round from hit and miss to a more stable and workman like team. He will offer advice on off the field matters and I would like to think the club would benefit from his years of experience and manner. One of the first things he did when he arrived was to draw attention to the fans and made reference regarding the passion.
You will never please all the fans and I have no doubt he will be jumped on now and again by a certain few, some have already had a nibble.

Re: Brian Smith : Tue Aug 18, 2015 12:53 pm  

lampyboy wrote:

J K was the man of the moment and did a great job. That night at Bradford was brilliant. He always came across well on T V and I still like his comments on BBC. I thought the club should have looked at offering a new deal to him, it all seemed to go a bit sour. He seemed to take loads of stick on on the wakey board and I could never understand why.
Brian Smith if retained will totally change our club round from hit and miss to a more stable and workman like team. He will offer advice on off the field matters and I would like to think the club would benefit from his years of experience and manner. One of the first things he did when he arrived was to draw attention to the fans and made reference regarding the passion.
You will never please all the fans and I have no doubt he will be jumped on now and again by a certain few, some have already had a nibble.

Well at the end of the day, if you are in such a position of first team coach, you are there to be shot down, they all know that when they take the job. Rightly or wrongly, whatever they are doing behind the scenes so to speak, they will all be judged on results. One thing about whether he'll be here next year, we both know he's no fool. If we do stay up, then it's back to playing Wigan, Leeds, Saints etc, not Bradford, Leigh, Sheffield etc! Even now from the squad we have, whether you rate these players or not, the likes of Washbrook, Moore, Locke, Mullally, won't be here, 4 bodies that have to be replaced. We will be behind the eight ball again when it comes to player recruitment, Widnes announcing NRL signings, Salford supposedly announcing at least 5 new players. I think he will only stay if he can be sure he can attract the calibre of player needed to be able to compete next year.

Re: Brian Smith : Tue Aug 18, 2015 1:30 pm  

Brian Smith will help attract the better players and im sur he would be looking for the backing he needs from the chairman before putting pen to paper.
The club have limited options when we are in S L next year it can either splash some cash or have a season pretty much like the one we have just had.
If the second options the direction the club decide to take Im sure we will also be looking for another coach.

Re: Brian Smith : Tue Aug 18, 2015 9:24 pm  

I'd agree with the last comment.

At present some squad signings like Yates have been made for next season but it's players like Anderson, Scruton, Sio, Godinet etc that need keeping plus a 6 to replace Miller. Unlikely the club will commit unless SL is secured.