Porterbelly wrote: Rob Murphy mentioned drop goals on the radio awhile ago. This is a point a few of us have made over the last number of weeks. Why not step into the pocket from time to time and take an easy 3. We find it hard to hang onto ball for anything more than single figure phases when attacking the opponents without making a mistake. We find it so had to break down defences 5 metres from the line when reverting into static pods. Why hasn't our fly half stepped into the pocket from time to time and taken an easy 3 points instead of coming away with nothing? And more importantly why haven't the coaches taken note of this and relayed it to the players?

Couldn't agree more - I've been saying this for ages. If we can build a lead through drop goals and penalties, then maybe teams will need to throw caution to the wind more, which is when the try opportunities might come.

Firmly believe a clearout of players is needed.

BUT, we need to replace these players with better quality and here is the problem. We have had a few clearouts over the last few seasons but have replaced with similar or worse (Thoughts of Bruce being let go and being replaced by average).

Im praying to god that over the last few weeks, when we were against Toulouse or Quins when we were in a very positive shop window that our recruiters were working every hour and made some good links.

Listen mate, O'Connor may look the part, act the part but he's not the real deal from what I have seen of him (and I have been to all home games this year). He has either always picked or on the bench throughout the season so far end of story.

The times he was a sub, he was introduced with 25 mins etc to go.

Jarvis was on the bench last weekend against a Treviso side we should have beaten and I was sick at shouting at Elwood to bring Jarvis on after 50 - 60 mins.

Jarvis has shown glimpses of being something smarter and better for us that either O'Connor and Nikora have shown this year.

The O'Connor situation is only a symphtom of management's subborness and it is costing us points..

We might get rid of some players not pulling their weight but who will we replace them with?

No player worth his salt is looking at Connacht and thinking "mmmm, 8 game losing streak, gotta get me some of that!". We can't afford big names. The likes of McSharry are shocking us precisely because you don't expect to unearth a gem like that, but the rest of the team is unlikely to feature game breakers.

Ummm said

All good points, but I'd point out that the player churn wouldn't have been as large if it wasn't for the one year contract debacle, which pulled the rug from under our feet player wise

Good point Umm and good point above porterbelly about drop goals as well. You'd think with the sportsground weather that we'd make it a specialty.

As for sticking with the deadwood for their contracts length we can always buy them out yes it might cost us a bit but it will cost us more in the long run.

I think EE's been naive tactically as we've seen with no drop-goals and some of the play/team choices. For example why can't he put George on the bench and give him 10-20 mins at eight were he can give his all? Instead of playing out of position for the full 80 when he can't give us a 100%?

P.S Matt Williams is coach of Narbonne so he isn't coming to us not that I's have him after the sh*te he and Neil Francis talk about us on Setanta.

P.P.S. Did you ever see the day when we'd be praising our backs and bitching about our forwards? :silly:

Rob Murphy mentioned drop goals on the radio awhile ago. This is a point a few of us have made over the last number of weeks. Why not step into the pocket from time to time and take an easy 3. We find it hard to hang onto ball for anything more than single figure phases when attacking the opponents without making a mistake. We find it so had to break down defences 5 metres from the line when reverting into static pods. Why hasn't our fly half stepped into the pocket from time to time and taken an easy 3 points instead of coming away with nothing? And more importantly why haven't the coaches taken note of this and relayed it to the players?

i think everyone would have been happy back in the summer if they were told that connacht would finish the pro12 season on 40 pts and win at least 1 game in Heineken cup. atm we have 16 pts from 10 games. we are frustrated because we all know that we should have 22 pts min on board.( im only counting blues and treviso home losses).
the forty points target is still achievable with aironi, ulster, edinburu, glasgow all still to come here.we must also remember that last years team failed to achieve this target so that gives it a bit of perspective.its imperative that we get our home form right and i think this is where eric and co have let us down most. Wins at home are vital to a growing support base and eric needs to remember this when rotating players.Players also need to remember a win is a win ugly or not.

I'm inclined to agree with Porterbelly. Why does Eric persist with the same players whom have now lost him eight games in a row? My view is that we are losing the games mainly due to the middle five players, from 6-10. Our backrow is second best in almost every contest they engage in. George has performed well for us at 8 but is not in the shape he should be in. While he can manage reasonably well in the second row he doesn't get to carry much while there.

Our half backs are ineffective. Frank looks like he's just going through the motions. His passing is reliable but he doesn't look hungry or motivated. Other than pass what did he contribute yesterday? How many box kicks did he put up; how many breaks did he attempt? It's all so predictable. What has Jarvis done to upset Eric? Why hasn't he got more game time particularly given that he and Moore have been doing well for the A side apparently.

At least some new talent has been identified particularly Mc Sharry, Griffen and O Halloran. It's very frustrating to see Fionn Carr doing well for Leinster when the first choice guys are rested. How he could help us in the HEC instead of watching Leinster from the stands.

Where do we go from here? Talk of Eddie O S returning is rubbish. His credibility in Irish rugby is very low. How about Matt Williams? At least he knows what he's doing and plays a good brand of rugby.

ummm, wrote: NOC has kept his place on the bench and Jarvis didn't get any time against Treviso, it's a fair point.

But im making the point of 8 games,he's started 3 and 5 on the bench.Don't think that's stubbornness on Eric's part with O'Connor.

I'm not defending management because i don't think they are doing a good job right now,but i just don't think he can be criticized for stubbornness over O'Connor.

it seems pretty clear that eric has his favourites in certain key positions atm. i and a lot of people here dont agree with him on those selections but he is sticking by them. he obviously sees ah you as his 1st choice tighthead. in my opinion he cant scrummage for his life and while he works hard around pitch makes too many handling errors. rodgers is the better scrummager by a mile and should start because of that. loghney also did better there than rodney against treviso.

he also clearly wants to play george but at least he appears to have recognised that george isnt fit enuf for 8 but is insisting on playing him in 2nd row atm. it will be interesting( wit macca available ) to see what he does for saturday.i think he shud go for macca and gannon in 2nd row wit george and swifty(if fit) on bench.

i also feel his favoured halfback partnership is donoghue and nikora.its hard to call here as nikora is definately better than o connor but im not sure on murphy. he definately played better off bench than when starting the other night so maybe eric is right here. i like a lot of you like what i have seen of jarvis. but something must br going on in training as he is clearly a distant 3rd choice.murphy and o connor showed no leadership against treviso.o connor in particular didnt appear to know the score as he never once contimplated the drop goal despite being in excellent field position on a few occasions with the wind at his back. this was particularly dissapointing as it showed a real lack of leadership both for a standoff, captain and pack leaders.nikora is imo an impact player to be used for last 20 but has to start games atm because o connor isnt up to it. they shud look to bringing jeramy staunton home and maybe stringer in because the are losing games in these positions atm. nikora kicking game isnt strong enuf to play full 80 and o connor is just no good. murphy is just too slow and indecisive when he starts also.

the positives are the 3/4s as there is a lot of talent here. i agree with erics 1st choice here. touhy, mcsharry, griffen, o holloran and duffy is the best available and a good backline. I like touhy. he is honest, hardworking and intelligent. an all round good professional winger, he is the best kick chaser and support player in team.he would never be as casual as mccrea was for 2nd try. i know a lot of u dont rate him but i think u just miss carr. there is also good subs in this area.

If eric makes the right selection at 3,4,5,8,9 and 10 we will be very competitive against gloucester. if he persists wit ahyou for instance we will be beaten before kick off as he wil b target in scrum.

There is no point in big clearout as the money on offer will only attract similar players. an experienced scrum and outhalf is all thats required imo. someone like staunton and stringer as i said earlier and a scrum coach to help out there.

for the record i would pick the following team for saturday
wilko, flavin, rodgers
macca gannon
muldoon, ofisa, o connor/grace
donoghue nikora
tuohy, mcsharry, griffin, o halloran
duffy.
Heres hoping eric picks similar.

NOC has kept his place on the bench and Jarvis didn't get any time against Treviso, it's a fair point.

Wasrednowgreen wrote:

100% agree with Porterbelly - plain & simple.

I was Eric to succeed because he loves the club more than all of us put together but 8 defeats in a row and the subborness with which he sticks to O'Connor for example, leaves me numb!!!

It was his first start in 5 games,so I think your using a poor example?

100% agree with Porterbelly - plain & simple.

I was Eric to succeed because he loves the club more than all of us put together but 8 defeats in a row and the subborness with which he sticks to O'Connor for example, leaves me numb!!!

After what I saw at the Treviso game, 8 class players cannot carry the other 7 on their backs and that is what is happening week-in , week-out........................

great points re one year contracts and the glut/ turnover of players year on year, might a point be that this year might be the end of the IRFU "forced" one year contracts and this group of players need time to gel together with 2-3 additions year on year with key players not moving en masse? It must be nigh on impossible to manage a squad with such mass turnover year on year

All good points, but I'd point out that the player churn wouldn't have been as large if it wasn't for the one year contract debacle, which pulled the rug from under our feet player wise

Looking at the positives, attendences are up and there's a glut of new backs who can spearhead Connacht's backline for the next ten years. Eric Elwood deserves some credit for bringing a more positive attitude to the whole organization and for trusting the likes of Tiernan O'Halloran, Eoin Griffin and Dave McSharry in big games.

Trying to look at things through the eyes of a neutral, Connacht are in a very poor run of form but looking at the strength of the squad, is it really all that surprising? One area where I think whoever has been in charge of recruitment over the last couple of years has let us down badly. I've no problem with players like Jamie Hagan, Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley and Sean Cronin leaving if they think it will better their career prospects. That's their decision and good luck to them. What does bother me is the strenght of those who were brought in.

Shane Monahan, Darragh Fanning, James Loxton, Mark McCrea, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Henry Fa'afili, Kyle Tonetti, Dave McSharry, Niall O'Connor, Matthew Jarvis, Dave Moore, Paul O'Donohoe, Dylan Rogers, Jamie Stephens, Rodney Ah You, Stewart Maguire, Barry Fa'amausili, Ethienne Reynecke, Mick Kearney, Dave Gannon, Eoghan Grace, TJ Anderson, George Naoupu, Mike McComish. That's 24 additions since Eric took over as coach. How many have come in and improved on the squad we already had? Maybe five or six, the rest are/were squad filler who haven't improved Connacht rugby although to be fair, some are still very raw.

I think there should be a clearout in personnel. Most of us could point out 10 or so players in the squad who are just taking up space and won't help Connacht progress. Losing their wages off the bill and factoring in the increased revenue from season ticket sales, Connacht should have the finances to bring in a decent proven out half, dynamic hooker and grizzled veteran tight head prop.