Warrington Wolves • Re: Today’s match v Castleford
Of course it's not going to plan -transitions such as this are rarely without bumps or big bumps in this case.
This is how see it and I should have perhaps posted this earlier:
Board meet during last season on the back of diminishing crowds and 2/soon to be 3 1st round knockouts in playoffs.
To address this, they appoint Powell, who has track record of improving teams and playing attractive RL. Most people, at the time, backed this.
Start of his tenure: Powell sets his stall out to the players demanding higher standards. Certain key influential players don't like it for example: Cooper won't be able to design as many underpants. Also, the more experienced players may not like this upstart telling them that they need to improve, despite the players poor record during Price's reign.
Certain players, probably the more experienced, react and effectively down tools as they won't agree to the suggestions. This causes division in the players and many younger, new to the club players are naturally influenced by this, affecting performance.
Senior players won't budge, so Powell has to get rid. This speeds up the need for squad change which would have inevitably happened due to players ageing. This also provides opportunity for young players to come in, but in some cases, it's perhaps a bit early.
Some might say that Powell went in too harsh. But others, including myself, believe that if players weren't prepared to improve for the sake of the club, then they need binning. Given that we needed improvement, and this has been identified by the board and by fans after 4 years of malaise, then Powell hasn't got much choice. Any incoming coach would have faced the same issue: New incoming coach speaks:
"Players, we all need to improve because we've been crap for 4/5/6/7 odd years. We need to complete the full training sessions as your paid for that time...and sorry Coops, the undies 'll have to wait".
Its not going to go down well.
So, some experienced players leave. We've got players promoted into positions too early and new recruits coming in to add to the mix. We've also got senior players (though less now) still peeved off and undermining Powell's leadership.
It may or may not be Powell's fault that this crazy situation has occurred in having so many new and inexperienced players playing in a team. And the only club experienced players being peed off. But this is a nightmare to manage with so many things to work on at the same time - that's why he needs time.
If we go back a bit. It was inevitable that things needed to change. If Powell was tasked with this job to improve things, and players weren't buying in, what choice did he have?
An example:
Price was like the substitute teacher at school. Well liked but nothing ever really got done. The headteacher has identified the underperforming class and appointed a stricter teacher deploying harsher rules to achieve higher standards. At first pupils ride against this as their freedoms are encroached, but eventually they fall into line. Medium to weaker kids will follow the top dogs in class who rebel against this, but at some point, when the new teacher gains control, the improvements start to happen.(Obviously the teacher can't get rid of the naughty ones so this isn't a perfect example).
We're hopefully, given the last 2 games, seeing some change, although a long way to go.
Whether you like Powell or not, any new coach would have had to make those changes if the players weren't willing to change and that's why we have a virtually new team after 6 months - I think it's unheard of at any top level club.
If you thought Powell was the right appointment, you should stick with him, despite an imperfect start. If it's poor next year then fair enough. But given the crazy player situation, whether you think Powell was at fault or not for this, he still needs backing perhaps now more than ever as he's basically responsible for all of next years squad. We can't go back in time to change the coach, so it would be ludicrous to change now in the midst of this situation, as he's ironically probably the only person who can get us out (he's taken us into the maze, so he's probably the only person who can see us out).
If you don't want Powell to stay, please make a suggestion of what to do next. I think we've debated this long enough and I think we all agree that most people don't like him, therefore, what do we do now?
(Just in case anyone was unsure, I'm sticking with Powell. Also, if we get rid of him now, you won't be able to take the mickey out of me when we lose).
This is how see it and I should have perhaps posted this earlier:
Board meet during last season on the back of diminishing crowds and 2/soon to be 3 1st round knockouts in playoffs.
To address this, they appoint Powell, who has track record of improving teams and playing attractive RL. Most people, at the time, backed this.
Start of his tenure: Powell sets his stall out to the players demanding higher standards. Certain key influential players don't like it for example: Cooper won't be able to design as many underpants. Also, the more experienced players may not like this upstart telling them that they need to improve, despite the players poor record during Price's reign.
Certain players, probably the more experienced, react and effectively down tools as they won't agree to the suggestions. This causes division in the players and many younger, new to the club players are naturally influenced by this, affecting performance.
Senior players won't budge, so Powell has to get rid. This speeds up the need for squad change which would have inevitably happened due to players ageing. This also provides opportunity for young players to come in, but in some cases, it's perhaps a bit early.
Some might say that Powell went in too harsh. But others, including myself, believe that if players weren't prepared to improve for the sake of the club, then they need binning. Given that we needed improvement, and this has been identified by the board and by fans after 4 years of malaise, then Powell hasn't got much choice. Any incoming coach would have faced the same issue: New incoming coach speaks:
"Players, we all need to improve because we've been crap for 4/5/6/7 odd years. We need to complete the full training sessions as your paid for that time...and sorry Coops, the undies 'll have to wait".
Its not going to go down well.
So, some experienced players leave. We've got players promoted into positions too early and new recruits coming in to add to the mix. We've also got senior players (though less now) still peeved off and undermining Powell's leadership.
It may or may not be Powell's fault that this crazy situation has occurred in having so many new and inexperienced players playing in a team. And the only club experienced players being peed off. But this is a nightmare to manage with so many things to work on at the same time - that's why he needs time.
If we go back a bit. It was inevitable that things needed to change. If Powell was tasked with this job to improve things, and players weren't buying in, what choice did he have?
An example:
Price was like the substitute teacher at school. Well liked but nothing ever really got done. The headteacher has identified the underperforming class and appointed a stricter teacher deploying harsher rules to achieve higher standards. At first pupils ride against this as their freedoms are encroached, but eventually they fall into line. Medium to weaker kids will follow the top dogs in class who rebel against this, but at some point, when the new teacher gains control, the improvements start to happen.(Obviously the teacher can't get rid of the naughty ones so this isn't a perfect example).
We're hopefully, given the last 2 games, seeing some change, although a long way to go.
Whether you like Powell or not, any new coach would have had to make those changes if the players weren't willing to change and that's why we have a virtually new team after 6 months - I think it's unheard of at any top level club.
If you thought Powell was the right appointment, you should stick with him, despite an imperfect start. If it's poor next year then fair enough. But given the crazy player situation, whether you think Powell was at fault or not for this, he still needs backing perhaps now more than ever as he's basically responsible for all of next years squad. We can't go back in time to change the coach, so it would be ludicrous to change now in the midst of this situation, as he's ironically probably the only person who can get us out (he's taken us into the maze, so he's probably the only person who can see us out).
If you don't want Powell to stay, please make a suggestion of what to do next. I think we've debated this long enough and I think we all agree that most people don't like him, therefore, what do we do now?
(Just in case anyone was unsure, I'm sticking with Powell. Also, if we get rid of him now, you won't be able to take the mickey out of me when we lose).
Statistics: Posted by Gazwire — Sun Jul 17, 2022 2:41 pm