Bubble was great, i had the pleasure of befriending him on the book of face for a while a few years ago, the bloke was funny, fat little that he was,

He's the person i miss on Matchdays, Mr Draper, if you're reading this, bring him back.

Correct me if I'm wrong but he wasn't out of a job a couple of years ago so unlikely he'd have come here anyhow but I then take it from your post that Agar has your full blessing when/if he takes over from Smith?

Absolutely not you don't seem to have understood my posts on this. ...agar has a decent record as an assistant. ...grand finals and challenge cups etc... His record as head coach is not good...its like Brian kidd in football...great assistant manager....its easy to grasp. ...

Tony Smith is the only proven winning coach we've employed since I've been watching wires. ....guess what ....its been a successful formula

.if smith leaves we should employ a similar "winning" coach... like a Hasler Bennett Bellamy.


or


a mcdermot or wane .

The question is, what has had the greater impact on this season; the departure of Michael Monaghan or the arrival of Richard Agar?

its not been all roses with Monas... he was one po faced miserable error prone player in his early days but he was given time....

how many times did you freak out at his scrum half play when he lost us possession and put his hand up to apologise time after time....

to quote a description of Alan Hansen. His hand was up so many times they called him the vet....

If Morley Briers Hodgson Solomona and Monas were still here Agar would be putting out cones and slicing oranges at training....as I suspect Marshall and poaching did.

unfortunately they've all gone ...Like I said Agar is just plain unlucky.....

Neither or both but not either. The coming and going of each was at close season. Which ever you pick the answer is always the same for both.
The only way to answer that question is if their contracts overlapped, with that you can see if form improved with Agar, then after season and Monas leaves, you see if the standard had decreased by as much.

I'm a bit mystified also by the "Why did we let Michael Monaghan" comments on here. I liked him as a player very much, in 2011 I wouldn't have argued against him as man of steel, but he did have a couple of subsequent years when it looked like his body was shot, although I was as delighted as anyone that he finished his playing career on something of a high and a return to form last season. But he retired, so people can't be asking why we let him go as a player, so it must mean as coach. Taking on a newly-retired player as a coach is something of a gamble on an unknown quantity, and although I hope he turns into being a very successful coach at Catalan I find it hard to see any particular evidence one way or the other about his coaching ability based on half a season at the moment.

Saints found a coaching spot for the recently retired Cunningham, and I'd suggest that Monaghan is the Wire equivalent of Cunningham, with regard to his influence during our upturn in fortunes between 2009-2014.

I'm not sure on Monaghan's relationship with TS, but I'm staggered he brought in an outsider like Agar ahead of a club legend like our former hooker.

Did monas have thew correct qualifications for the work permit over her? That's never been asked when this crops up

I was told a few months ago that tony smith does not have his level 3 coaching badge which I required for super league , don't know how true it is tho.

Well something along those lines was said when he joined, hence his inflated title.

I thought Smith's title was due to the fact that Lowes was technically never demoted or sacked?

Message boards ! Don't you just love 'em.

Speculation and conjunction with a hint of truth probably.

IF it was a really good 'clear the air talk' and has resulted in a real common purpose then it's been good.
If it's not then there's a problem.

Would love to know if there is really anyone with any real knowledge of the roles of Smith and Agar at the club - rather than 'my friends neighbours dogsitter told me ......'

There was a fair point made that Smith can get the best out of good players but building a team with less able players is more difficult.
In the past it's been said that TS doesn't do much in attack or much with the wingers, so it begs the question what does he do? (if you believe that).

I was disappointed that we did not take Monas on.
TBH I'd have had him instead of Briers.
Briers was an incredible player with lots of natural talent / off the cuff ability and it's sometimes difficult for someone of that type to translate that to a more 'normal' player.

Leigh match is going to be interesting.

Spot on.

I can't believe no one has mentioned this earlier. We look knackered in the second half of most games this season and subsequently throwing away decent leads.

I don't know much about the new conditioner but I know Baron was very well liked and was obviously here during our successful spell. We do look absolutely knackered in the last 20 minutes of games now mind.

I think it takes a few years before you can really step back and can see if a coach is really good or not, and indeed I would say that's still true for Cunningham. He and Michael were both fine players, (as was Briers), and in my gut if I had to choose any of them to develop into a coach in the long term I'll admit I'd go for Monas, as I hold him in the highest regard, but I could hardly criticise the club for not feeling they could take him on (particularly as Briers was already on the payroll). I'm no fan of Agar either, but given TS went for him it suggests he wanted a more experienced coach rather than a recently-retired player.

Glad I'm not the only 1 who's noticed this.Think the RFL should consider playing matches 40 mins from 80 as we'd prob be near the top nowicon_wink.gif

If they need to "walk the walk"............ tomorrows game is one which one paper Warrington should win. Yes its a cup game and "anything can happen" but based on perceived talent, structure, professionalism and all that other stuff Wolves should overcome Leigh. Here's an idea ............................ no win, no wages.

I can remember in the 90's when we played Saints in a semi final & it was ..no wages no win... We lost 80-0

1996 Regal Trophy semi-final. We were unlucky. Brian Johnson lost his job after the game I think.

Johnno resigned straight after the 80-0

I still can't believe that happened or understand why.
Was there disquiet in the camp or soemthing?
It was just sooo different to hat had gone on before.

I'll never forget going to that 80-0 drubbing. I've never seen a side so vulnerable to any type of attack. The most embarrased I've ever been watching Wire. I don't think they did them then, but the Wire hoodies they now sell would have been ideal to cover my face walking away from the ground.

Ashton Sims is going to be mic'ed up like the ref in the game tomorrow.

The semi draw will be on Sunday straight after the widnes saints game. It's a 4pm kick off so unless there is extra time I would expect it'll be just after 6pm.

I really applaud the beeb for the mic'ing up.
It was great with Peacock, but would have liked the unedited version !