Crusaders 2024
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:
I don't see how anyone from the Crusaders' Executive could get up and say, with a straight face, "We have faith in Rob Penney to turn it around". Based on what?
The people that appointed him would have to admit a mistake
Mansbridge attacking the media as childish for suggesting Penney should be sacked tells you something about the mentality. Remember how unprofessional the same guy was when Darry signed with the Blues?
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@Duluth Though there's a difference between sacking someone mid-season (I wouldn't have done that, either) and sacking them once the season is done and dusted.
Maybe the waters can be muddied a bit by beating the Blues this weekend, but I doubt that will happen.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
Coaching group I don’t think will change
Even though there are some mitigating factors in terms of injuries and a tricky draw and plenty of close losses - and hopefully getting more games out of the likes of Barrett, Jordan, Taylor, Blackadder and Williams next year would solve some problems - I have zero faith this coaching group will rebound to win the competition next year.
If they'd maybe finished 6th or 7th there might have been something to build on. And there have been some appalling performances.
I don't see how anyone from the Crusaders' Executive could get up and say, with a straight face, "We have faith in Rob Penney to turn it around". Based on what?
He's continued where he left off from the Waratahs.
Unless we simply can't afford to sack him financially, he has got to go and most of his assistants should be scanning the Situations Vacant columns, as well. Maybe not the scrum coach, but that guy is probably also responsible for the lineout, so...
Mate I 100% agree with you,But I don't think they will sack anyone it is not they way they do things,Penny has another year on his contract.
If it was me I would also punt the lot. -
@Kirwan said in Crusaders 2024:
Might not be just the coach. Looking at how unfit a player like Grace looks, and the Strange brain explosions, perhaps the players are more of an issue than the coach?
Culture issues?
Both I think I would be punting the coaching staff and some players and start again.
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@george33 said in Crusaders 2024:
Blackadder to Japan ?
Yes I hear that as well.
Given the coaches like him, I presume he's questioning his own longevity? Cash in now before it's too late?
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@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@george33 said in Crusaders 2024:
Blackadder to Japan ?
Yes I hear that as well.
Given the coaches like him, I presume he's questioning his own longevity? Cash in now before it's too late?
I think that is it, cash in before the body gives up.
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
Mate I 100% agree with you,But I don't think they will sack anyone it is not they way they do things,Penny has another year on his contract.
If it was me I would also punt the lot.Historically, they've been pretty patient - but, historically, we've not had a disaster of this magnitude (since Season 1).
I reckon we might see Penney resigning a few days after the season ends.
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:
@george33 said in Crusaders 2024:
Blackadder to Japan ?
Yes I hear that as well.
That would be sad, but his body is certainly struggling to cope with the rigours of NZ rugby.
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The Crusaders management put up with Blackadder (father) doing not particularly well for eight years. Four I could understand, but they "trusted the system" well beyond that.
You would think that Penney was lucky to even get the coaching gig after his time with the Warratahs, so it will be interesting to see how much they think the system will fix the problem.
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@SBW1 said in Crusaders 2024:
The catchement area of the Crusaders including the club competition in Christchurch surely must still be one the strongest in terms of talent anywhere.
Having played in div1 footy here in Christchurch myself and playing alongside and against some Crusaders and Highlanders over the years, that statement is definitely true. I have asked them myself and they have all said the level is right up there. Although I would say over the last 2-5 years it has changed a lot due to multiple reasons.
A lot of the academy boys are protected and wrapped in cotton wool and barely get on a club footy field these days, NZ u20s boys are away on camps and you might be lucky to get them for 3/4 games. Once you get them back towards the back end of the season, the NPC pre season starts and you're losing those academy or 20s boys again and quite often a lot of them aren’t from Canterbury so they are leaving as their region likes them playing games in their region to be selected for said region. If you’re lucky, a Crusader from out of the region will get allocated to your club and he might play a game or 2 max, they often head back to Nelson or wherever their region is for a game at their local club.
The way players are protected now is why it has dropped down a bit. Shit Lincoln University had the majority of their team on scholarships who were all NZ Schools, 20s or academy players and Crusaders when I was playing them(Could rattle names off but I don’t want it to seem like I’m bragging😂). Im a bit out of the scene now so unsure if that’s still the case but to summarize, there is definitely no lack of talent around. It just isn’t seeing the fields as often.
This season the crusaders have only had wider squad players playing with a sprinkle of a third string players. Kemara has played 1 club game(I think he played a club game in Hamilton as well recently), the 4th hooker I’ve forgotten his name has played a couple, and I think Heremia Murray has also played a couple. Blair Murray is one of the ones playing most weeks for Uni. Unsure why players who aren’t named or close to being in contention are not released to play Club footy each and every week, everyone needs minutes imo. Look at Tamaiti Williams and Fergus Burke coming back straight into the starting line up without club minutes, result speaks for itself.
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@Duluth said in Crusaders 2024:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:
I don't see how anyone from the Crusaders' Executive could get up and say, with a straight face, "We have faith in Rob Penney to turn it around". Based on what?
The people that appointed him would have to admit a mistake
Mansbridge attacking the media as childish for suggesting Penney should be sacked tells you something about the mentality. Remember how unprofessional the same guy was when Darry signed with the Blues?
Yeah he acted like a kid that got told no by his parents for the first time in his life, it was embarrassing, especially with the amount of players they've taken out of the Blues region over the years (which there is no problem with).
Sorry Crusaders fans, carry on, don't want to make it look like us Aucklanders are invading your thread haha, just thought I'd make comment on that particular subject.
All the best for Saturday.
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For those who missed it, the quote was:
“It would be quite nice if the Blues gave us a cheque for the expenditure we’ve occurred, that would be quite nice,’’ he told Stuff.
Will be interesting to see if Razor holds a grudge - his comment also showed some disappointment (the article quotes Darry as saying that Razor was cool with the move).
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:
I reckon we might see Penney resigning a few days after the season ends.
Not sounding like a guy about to quit
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@Duluth Yeah - just saw Rob on TV sounding pretty adamant.
He's at least sticking to the prescribed script - unlike Mansbridge, who possibly should have gone with, "Full credit to the Blues!"
We'll see in the wash-up, I guess. He'd be gone if it was left to me - major underperformance regardless of mitigating circumstances..
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That TVNZ piece on Rob Penny is a real watch. Reporter Thomas Mead certainly won't be getting a Christmas card of or a free scarf after Penny called him a see you next Tuesday
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@SouthernMann said in Crusaders 2024:
That TVNZ piece on Rob Penny is a real watch. Reporter Thomas Mead certainly won't be getting a Christmas card of or a free scarf after Penny called him a see you next Tuesday
Tough questions are fine but there was some low quality shit at the start. Penney did well to stay mostly calm
Full interview here
