Blues 2018
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2018:
@crucial coming 5th over and over in a group of 5 is a strong indicator you haven't really improved.
Removing the vagueness of the pools with home and away, winning your home derbies is a key focus, you come last in 5, you come last in 5, and if you have done that on 3 previous years without improving your position...
That's very much an over simplification. If in the first year you don't win a thing and come last by a mile but by the last year win plenty of cross pool games, have narrow loses against your pool and come last by only a few points you are still improving relative to your own performance.
Don't think umaga should be guaranteed the job forever but if he does get sacked it should be because there is a better option or because of performance across the whole competition rather than just performance relative to the other NZ teams.
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@duluth said in Blues 2018:
Yes its a tough job with high standards.
I don't remember you being so forgiving of Hammett? His results were better. Has any other NZ coach finished last of the NZ teams 3 times and kept their job? I can't imagine the wagons circling other NZ coaching personalities if they got a wooden spoon 3-peat
But it hasn't happened yet.. I expect a tangible improvement and the Chiefs to have a tough season
For one, Hammett operated under a different comp structure which wasn't as harsh. Secondly T is untouchable because he coached CM to their first Shield. He gets a lifelong pass for that.
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@crucial said in Blues 2018:
Secondly T is untouchable because he coached CM to their first Shield. He gets a lifelong pass for that.
Oh I'm aware that some people have an emotional attachment to Umaga for various reasons and are willing to waive normal standards when judging him as a SR coach
Just be honest about the tingly feelings he gives you and don't pretend its a logical position. Your mind is clouded by your love
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@duluth said in Blues 2018:
@crucial said in Blues 2018:
Secondly T is untouchable because he coached CM to their first Shield. He gets a lifelong pass for that.
Oh I'm aware that some people have an emotional attachment to Umaga for various reasons and are willing to waive normal standards when judging him as a SR coach
Just be honest about the tingly feelings he gives you and don't pretend its a logical position. Your mind is clouded by your love
I thought I was just honest about that?
I still stand by my points about the '5th place in NZ' though.
It can be a poor result and it can also be a shit result after good performances missing a pinch of luck or a poor decision. THat's how tight the NZ conference can be.
By all means judge a coach on whether they have an under performing team against sides they should beat. Or when they are obviously a rabble that are under prepared and have bad tactics.
What I see with The Blues is a team that is trying hard but not only are the other sides in NZ more stable and attracting better players, they can't get that 'winning feeling' going that adds the confidence they need to start closing out games. Yes, it is a chicken and egg thing but I think NZers have to be realistic. Minimum of one team will always miss out on the finals. Be that team twice and it is a hard road back up as players prefer the other franchises. Doesn't mean you are a poorly coached team, just means you need to find the way to climb out of the hole.
Give T the Hurricanes and they will still be good. -
Yet I am the one predicting an improvement
You are a huge Umaga cheerleader but expect him to have a wooden spoon 3-peat. Reading re-emptive excuses why Umaga shouldn't be blamed for a poor season he hasn't had yet implies that his biggest fans don't actually rate him.
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@duluth said in Blues 2018:
Yet I am the one predicting an improvement
You are a huge Umaga cheerleader but expect him to have a wooden spoon 3-peat. Reading re-emptive excuses why Umaga shouldn't be blamed for a poor season he hasn't had yet implies that his biggest fans don't actually rate him.
It’s more that I am being optimistic about the Chiefs and I always underestimate the Highlanders.
If there’s one team that kills my tipping it’s the Blues. They lose when I back them and when I try to learn my lesson they win. -
@duluth said in Blues 2018:
@crucial said in Blues 2018:
Secondly T is untouchable because he coached CM to their first Shield. He gets a lifelong pass for that.
Oh I'm aware that some people have an emotional attachment to Umaga for various reasons and are willing to waive normal standards when judging him as a SR coach
Just be honest about the tingly feelings he gives you and don't pretend its a logical position. Your mind is clouded by your love
I think your comparing of Tana with Hammett is way off base (and the reverse emotional attachment?). Hammett took over a team filled with ABs, many who played a starring role in the upcoming RWC. He melted the team down, alienated a large proportion of the fanbase and didn't ever take the Canes to the finals with a squad comparatively better than any of Tana's Blues teams (especially in relation to other NZ squads).
Tana inherited the 5th best team in NZ, with the 5th best squad in NZ and he's had the 5th best squad in NZ for the last two years.
Blues fans might not see any improvement, but I think outsiders have noticed improvements, marginal that they may be.
In saying all that, if he doesn't make the finals this year then he should go, assuming of course there's someone better to replace him.
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I think with Tana it is best to wait until the end of the season and then make an assessment - with the Blues having a very tough first 4 weeks playing with essentially the 3rd choice 10 it could very well start poorly but not necessarily a fair picture of how Tana is tracking.
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I think the blues have improved under Tana in their standard of play , even if its not reflected in results so much ,
Not arguing he deserves to keep his job , but i do believe they have made improvements under his coaching which at least has been better than his predecessors IMO
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2018:
matt-duffie-hugely-motivated-to-complete-his-restoration-mission-with-the-blues
The Blues need a Pact! That'll sort them out
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Looks like Sione Havili won't be on the bench tonight (disappointing but not surprising).
I wonder if Telea and Sotutu are injured? They are mentioned in the article but not in the team named. Jeez the Blues love an injury - what the hell is going on with their strength and conditioning? this isn't exactly the first year injuries have been a real problem for the Blues.
Good to see likes of Reidlinger-Kapa, Funaki, Plummer, Clake and Visinia in there.
Interesting names in the coaching team.
Ahead of tonight’s big game in Dunedin, our Under 20s will kick off the Blues Development Programme against the Under 20s Chiefs in Waihi tomorrow. Leka Tu’ungafasi Luteru Tolai Robb Cobb Ben Sa’u John Akauola-Laula Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (CC) Aleks Dabek Sione Havili Taufa Funaki Harry Plummer Caleb Clarke Sebastian Visinia Scott Gregory Lemeki Namoa Matt Storm Reserves Penisoni Fineanganofo Leon Thambiran Feao Teutau Max Hicks Tamarau McGahan Jack Heighton Wiseguy Faiane Patrick Pati AJ Lam John Cooper Nathan Va’atausili Dan Halangahu, Coach Ben Afeaki, Assistant Coach Steven Bates, Assistant Coach -
@kiwimurph have heard good things about Scott Gregory.
