I'm not sure anyone thinks that a head coach is bullet proof, there are just varying opinions over when is the appropriate time to get rid.

On the success of the Noble years one can point to the structures put in place that brought through the likes of Pryce, Peacock, Fielden, Deacon, Paul, Parker and Langley. We certainly seemed to better at bringing through real quality before Noble became coach. After he became coach he was astute at adding players from outside the organisation but the quality of those coming through didn't remain the same. Whether that's down to the systems being neglected or us just being lucky with the talent that came through 96-2000 I don't know. However looking at results nobody can say Noble wasn't a great coach for us.

At the moment we're building for the future. I guess the true test of McNamara's contribution will be to get the best out of the current first team and to get us bringing through real quality young players again (which is hopefully just beginning). Where we have underperformed this year is with the first team and as head coach he's already said he takes full responsibility. What happens between now and the end of the year is critical. If we play like we did in the first half of the season then there can't be any excuses really. He might be doing some great work long term but unless the first team performs to its potential he's vulnerable.

how long would morro have to be over here for before he could apply for citizenship like tony smith did? presumably then he wouldnt need a work permit.

True enough. It`s a never ending chicken and egg situation really; without the first team to finance the rest there is no junior development, then again without investment into the juniors we can`t bring young players into the first team. It`s a matter of balance I suppose.

IMO the first team has to always be the more favored of the two ideally not to the level Noble did.

It would be utter stupidity to re-sign Morrison on a 3 yr deal given his injury proneness. If he re-signs it should be a 1yr deal.

agreed. I'd like to keep morro for another year but he should be behind menzies,jeffries,semi,cook,sykes and maybe james on list of priorities. Also we need to finalise any overseas signings to know whether we can afford to use a quota space on morro or if we need it to bring somone in in another position.

Morrison still has a long way to go IMO about getting a deal for next year. His injury record isn't the greatest and this has to be factored in to any discussions about a deal. As for Cook a I just can't see him signing a new it seem Macca just doesn't have any faith in him.

Morrison is helping out at coaching a local amateur team.....plus he`s just put his house up for sale...going home?????

Buying a new house?

Stalker



Why don't you go and ask him?

tend to think cook will end up leaving. he doesnt seem to have lived up to all hype when we signed him. He's a good solid 2nd rower but not really anything special. think he's been overtaken in pecking order by worrincy and with whitehead, olbison and tate all looking likely to breakthrough in next year or two think his salary cap would be better spent in backs. be a shame to see someone whos come through our academy leave but we need to balance the squad and its too heavily biased towards forwards at the moment.

As I said feel morrisons staying or going will end up being determined by whether we need his quota spot for someone else. dont think the injuries are that big an issue as they arent the same one recurring, which would be a problem, but instead are things that could happen to any player. ?Maybe the injuries he picks up are because of the way he throws himself into game, but I think its justified to risk losing him for parts of season for the sheer impact he has when he is fit

The issue is he is prone to injury, it doesn't really matter if it's a recurring injury or not. He's played around 50% of games in his last two seasons for us. That's a pretty poor return. His impact is quality like you say, but it's not jusfieable to keep a player who is injured an awful lot of time for.

But you can't have a player missing 7 or 8 weeks every season through injury.

we dont seem to have problem with deacon missing a similar amount and his hamstring seems to recur pretty regularly. morro's been unlucky with injuries, but hes just as likeyly go through next season injury free as he is it pick up another knock.

I do and we aren't on about Deacon are we.

His injuries have come about because he puts his body on the line. In terms of general fitness he's excellent. I wouldnt give any player his age a 3 year deal, but he deserves a contract extension of 1 or 2 years. Kicking him out would be tantamount to saying to the players "Dont give it your all and get injured because we'll get rid of you if you do"

I'd go year to year at his age since you don't want to block young players coming through, who might leave if they see their path blocked for 2 or 3 years, but his experience is one of the things likely to help them progress.

I have to agree, I think he is worth a 12 month extension and see how he goes. Despite suffering some injuries he has been consistently very good for us when on the pitch. He is a leader and has a lot of influence on the team and we'd struggle to find a player to replace what he brings to the club.

If he gets through to the end of the season without another big injury then I'm sure we'll be making him an offer.

His fitness is excellent, but he's still injury prone none the less. It doesn't matter how the injuries come about, he picks them up at an alarming rate, and he's also missed and alarming number of games per season over the last 2 seasons for us. Even when he has played for us, the results have been just the same as when he misses, so he doesn't make all that big of a difference. I'd be tempted to look elsewhere.

We need at least another season in transition to fully develop what looks looks like a great crop of young forwards.
Morrison can give us that 1 year in assisting them to come through by rotating with them off the bench.
Dont know how the young players see him, perhaps others could comment, but I expect his professionalism and dedication to be inspirational.
I dont see him as being particularly injury prone, its the way he commits himself and he's been unlucky, it happens.
Buying in a top alternative would mean tying them up to a 3 year contract and imo that is not where we want to be.

Can one of the people who seem to suggest that Macca is unsackable because he's building for the future and if he's sacked all the work will stop and use Leeds as the shinning light on this. Please explain how Leeds then managed to change their coach twice during the rebuilding phase with no detriment to the rebuilding. It didn't all grind to a halt.

Fair question - but Gary H has been there throughout. And for most young players, Steve Mac seems to be Bradford's USP.

But how do you know Powell wasn't for McGuire, Burrow and such.

What does USP stand for?

Universal Serial Puss.

I think.