Three names are, apparently, on the shortlist for the head coach job of the national team and Mick Potter ain't on it. Instead, we have such luminaries as Steve Deakin, erstwhile UTC boss who does at least know the French game, Paul Cullen, whose language skills are best described as idiosyncratic, and Mick Aldous.

Aldous by plenty, please.

Am I correct Jon Monie was the boss?

If so whats happened to him?

Cheers

His contract expired after the World Cup and it wasn't renewed. Because he was rubbish.

I'm sure Cullenfucius will be along in a minute to refute these malaspeptic, inallgenic remarks.

Wonder if he still lives in the Carcassone area?

I'll be throwing my hat in the frame then!

That Aldous character looks just like a golly!

Woah steady on there Carol Thatcher has just been sacked from the BBC one show for saying golly

erm.....look closer....

Point taken

Aldous left after his last stint as national coach, on bad terms with Larrat. I am willing to bet (wager) many euros that Aldous doesn't get a minute's consideration.

Mind you Larrat needs to look in the miror himself. He is an arrogant SOB. And he was lukewarm on Toulouse's last application for a Super League licence. Why I do not know. But talk to some top English RFL officials in private over a beer and they will not ever tell you that Larrat is a wonderful man.

Congratulations to my mate Laurent Roldos on his election as VP in charge of amateur rugby league in France.

A very worthwhile choice.

Laurent cares deeply about the game...

Nice to see the top 3 choices are not on the list:
Potter
Kear
Walters

Frankly, if Potter is not available then Kear should have been offered it. Does he have the time to scout in France? Maybe not, but he gets the most out of the players and a good look at French LER talent could help them find a way in to Wakefield.

Alice, since you're on first name basis with the movers and shakers, could you put it to them?

You've really got a thing about crazy frog haven't you?

I think he's a nice bloke but he's nowhere near the standard of Potter, and I'm not sure why he'd be offered the France job.

think kear's record stands up to most coaches, especially potter's.

I keep saying it, no-one listens so I keep at it.

Kear has already coached in France, he does have an eye on the market and was scouting about Fakir before the Catalans joined the SL. Other than Morgan and Potter there is not a better placed Coach in SL to take on the France Job.

Kear has a proven track record in the Cup, punching above his weight as far as the team at his disposal is concerned. This is the type of Coach we need.

Kear has a proven track record of taking players from the lower leagues and turning them into dependable SL quality players. He gets the best out of the available players, as opposed to relying on big name signings and he gets a group of players to play as a team. All good qualities for a French coach.

Those are my reasons. Yes, he is no Potter, but he has proved that he can do well with a team devoid of top SOO players - which is what the French team will be. Potter showed that he can get his players consistent over the league, sign good players from Oz and deliver 3rd place in the league. Excellent, but not necessarily what is needed of the head man in France. Anyway, Potter is not available.

If Kear, based at Wakey, were available, he would have more time available (you'd expect less CC and playoff matches from Wakey - sorry cats fans) and he would have a club-based interest in signing some French players over to fill in the gaps in the side. It could well make sence for Wakey.

...

That said, his name is not in the hat, unless Alice gets onto it.

I feel Kear is able to galvanise relatively average sides too, so in that regard he might be good in the France camp to get a bit of spirit in before the 4n.

Although I am on a first name basis with Larrat, in the sense that we have been introduced twice, I am not a mate of his and have no input with him. But, it should be noted, nor does Bernard Guasch have input on this matter. M. Guasch complains about the fact in his recent interview.

I agree that Kear would be good, but only Mr Richard Lewis could speak to M. Larrat about it, and I am not sure that even Mr Lewis could have a deep influence on this very arrogant man.

And what, pray tell, does the appointment of a new head coach of the French national side have to do with Richard Lewis?

The RFL has been mentoring the French Federation. It is of course a purely French Federation decision as to who coaches the French national side.

Aldous had some great success with the French team in 2004, because he let them play their natural attacking game. They were much less fit then, than the majority of the team is now, because none of the players were professional. So their performance then was impressive. I think that what France needs is someone who gives the side a good defensive structure, but lets them play their natural attacking game. That is why it is a pity that Aldous will not be considered by Larrat.

Announcement on Saturday and the three favourites - according to today's [url=http://www.lindependant.com/articles/2009/02/26/20090226-Sports-L-39-entraineur-du-XIII-de-France-connu-samedi.php5paper[/url - are all English.
Steve Deakin - links with the French game well known.
Dave Ellis - as above, though he has been out of league for some time.
and.....








sit down. You'll need to.....





Bobbie Goulding.

Ellis of those, please.

rotflmao!

I think one of the LER player-coaches would be a better choice.

May I just congratulate Belgian xiii for his informed opinion, well thought out argument, and perspicacity on this thread. It's nice to see that some people have the development of the French game, the French National team, and therefore the development of competitive International Rugby in the Northern Hemisphere at their heart. Keep it up mate. And I thought that Tony Rea was in the frame as well, or has the lure of filthy lucre from the jeux a quinze brigade down under swayed him ? (Super 14 - seems like ordinary 14 to me when you see a full blooded League game, and there are many of them!)

Your taking the micheal.......