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#Post#: 3506--------------------------------------------------
So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: August 20, 2018, 2:16 am
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Regardless of whether you think we can be judged relegation
fodder or otherwise - Gustard said he's never been on the end of
a beating like Glasgow, and while we were fielding new players
and combinations he clearly wasn't happy.
He came in saying that our defence was what needed sorting and
you build everything from there. Then he watched a side go out
and give away dozens of points either side of half time.
Watching the "highlights", once they got level, all the tries
were the same -- no ability to defend around the breakdown
followed by missed tackles once the ball goes out wide.
Now I personally don't believe you can blame Gustard for having
not turned it around already, but what it is that needs doing?
Is there something rotten at the core of the team?
Everyone always says you get a bounce with a new coach, people
out to impress the new boss etc - and indeed we may well win on
Friday - but now I've had time to watch that video of Glasgow it
looks just like last season.
We seem to panic, compound errors and then look like we've
accepted defeat.
The lack of stopping power in the pack was horrible to
watch.....
Anyone?
#Post#: 3508--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: NevsLeftBoot
Date: August 20, 2018, 3:11 am
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As per last year, don’t blame the players blame the coach.....
Oh, hang on?????
In all honesty it is going to take some time to sort out the
mess. There isnt a simple fix, it isn’t a case of “just sort out
the defence”it appears to be a whole attitude and approach.
It will be interesting to see how Gussy interacts this week, off
the back of that result.
He needs to set out his small stall and what he wants, not get
relegated and build. Big job.... and some players are going to
have to get on board or will be moved on......
#Post#: 3510--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By:
Date: August 20, 2018, 3:59 am
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Time is key, both on the management/squads side of things and
ours. They need time to mend and to blend back into a good form.
We as the clubs supporters need to also give more time for this
to happen. We can’t have our cake and eat it. To get better
Harlequins need to do what’s best for the long run. Here’s
hoping time is on our side
#Post#: 3512--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: August 20, 2018, 4:10 am
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--- Quote from: Everyone’s a Quinner link ---
>
> Time is key, both on the management/squads side of things and
ours. They need time to mend and to blend back into a good form.
We as the clubs supporters need to also give more time for this
to happen. We can’t have our cake and eat it. To get better
Harlequins need to do what’s best for the long run. Here’s
hoping time is on our side
>
--- End Quote ---
Totally agree, just wondering what and where people think it
went so wrong? Have we kept players too long - are there
negative people in the dressing room? It can't be just raw
talent because we know the team sheet reads just fine.
It must be tied in with confidence etc but this falling off
tackles and poor strength at the breakdown is a relatively new
phenomenon dating to last season...Gustard must be wondering
what he's got himself into.
We just seem to freeze in the face of a resurgent opposition -
which is bound to happen in every game every - that's how the
game ebbs and flows, the good sides manage those periods
perfectly.
#Post#: 3513--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: Nico Wilson
Date: August 20, 2018, 4:35 am
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I am curious to see what message we will see from Gustard this
week in the lead up to the home game against Ealing.
We should have an insight into Ealing's defence as Codling
recent moved from Ealing to us.
#Post#: 3515--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: Everyone’s a Quinner
Date: August 20, 2018, 4:41 am
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--- Quote from: Blucherquin link ---
>
> [quote author=Everyone’s a Quinner
link=topic=256.msg3510#msg3510 date=1534755576]
> Time is key, both on the management/squads side of things and
ours. They need time to mend and to blend back into a good form.
We as the clubs supporters need to also give more time for this
to happen. We can’t have our cake and eat it. To get better
Harlequins need to do what’s best for the long run. Here’s
hoping time is on our side
>
--- End Quote ---
Totally agree, just wondering what and where people think it
went so wrong? Have we kept players too long - are there
negative people in the dressing room? It can't be just raw
talent because we know the team sheet reads just fine.
It must be tied in with confidence etc but this falling off
tackles and poor strength at the breakdown is a relatively new
phenomenon dating to last season...Gustard must be wondering
what he's got himself into.
We just seem to freeze in the face of a resurgent opposition -
which is bound to happen in every game every - that's how the
game ebbs and flows, the good sides manage those periods
perfectly.
[/quote]
I personally and honestly think it’s been a pressure issue. Ever
since 2012 Premiership winners, the next seasons aim was about
trying to replicate our achievement and defend the title, or
atleast bottle up the same formula of playing attractive,
champagne rugby all the while keeping a near top position. We
did that to a degree with earning an Anglo Welsh Trophy, but
aside from this and ever since knocks to confidence and
pressure have been our fork in the road.
Eventually Connor left for a fresh venture and Quins hired
internally with Kingston who, unfortunately couldn’t turn things
around for whatever reasons. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks
I’m guessing with Kingston and maybe, although a well respected
coach at Quins, the players at the time didnt 100% back the game
plan etc probably due to lack of fresh ideas. Pair this
alongside the last few seasons having our fair share of a higher
number of England call ups and Injury lists, didn’t help what I
guess was an already dying confidence. Having to push players on
the little juice they have left or rushing back from injury just
to field a decent XV just didn’t help matters either. Long
periods out injured/the sad retirements of JTH/GL through injury
with what was a promising and league winning centre partnership,
losing G. Robson in my opinion a year or two too early before
moving to France, big time signings who for whatever reason
didn’t live up to the mark or spent much time again injured,
This list goes on..
Then, and it is to be expected and you can’t blame us really,
all these things mounting took some cheer out of The Stoop, and
some of that great passion morphed into frustration from the
stands. However as much as we did stand by and still support, it
just wasn’t enough (I in no way intend to offend anyone or all
Harlequins Supporters, my feelings were up and down like a yo-yo
last season and feel many Quins fans shared this feeling).
Management too change happened late for many’s liking, but
finally here we are; with what seems like a good catch of the
day in appointing Gustard (dare I call him Gussy 👀 ). We
seemed to have once again hired well and although there are
still injury’s and we still have a high number of international
players for a couple of nations, something seems different this
year with regards to depth. I sense a good, healthy, positive
vibe inside the Harlequins camp and that’s not something I’ve
sensed coming from the players or even the club in general for a
good while. What next who knows, but whatever happens atleast we
can finally say (at the moment) we seem to finally have a
direction both the club, players and supporters seem to be
agreeing on and looking forward too.
(Sorry I do go on a bit once I get going!) 😂
#Post#: 3516--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: August 20, 2018, 4:51 am
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Pretty much sums up what I think -- hence Saturday's apparent
capitulation being a bit worrying -- for all the positive if he
can't drag them out of this failing/giving up/confidence thing
quickly, a few bad results presumably will make it worse.
Either way I haven't seen a sporting side of any kind go through
this kind of slump in person - it has a ghoulish appeal
psychologically but clearly as a Quins fan I'd rather not be
watching us do it.
#Post#: 3517--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: Everyone’s a Quinner
Date: August 20, 2018, 5:01 am
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--- Quote from: Blucherquin link ---
>
> Pretty much sums up what I think -- hence Saturday's apparent
capitulation being a bit worrying -- for all the positive if he
can't drag them out of this failing/giving up/confidence thing
quickly, a few bad results presumably will make it worse.
>
> Either way I haven't personally seen a sporting side of any
kind go through this kind of slump in person - it has a ghoulish
appeal psychologically but clearly as a Quins fan I'd rather not
be watching us do it.
>
--- End Quote ---
Very much agree, I too haven’t witnessed a sporting side get
stuck this much in the sinking sand. Another thing I guess was
our form away from home. Still back this club, squad and
management 100% and I just hope they can build positively again
#Post#: 3519--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: August 20, 2018, 5:17 am
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I've been left wondering if it's a culture issue that comes hand
in hand with the fact that we're a London club and what that
means in the professional era. Seems like a silly argument, but
do players want to play for us to win trophies or to live the
London life and get paid handsomely? Wouldn't have been such an
argument 10 years ago but now that we're seeing young players
like Marcus earning more money in a year than most people in the
country make in 4 or 5, the game has actually changed entirely.
For me, Billy Millard's role this year is central to everything.
I just feel it has to be a culture thing - on paper we have a
squad that should be able to live with any other squad in the
prem on any given day. So what can Billy realistically do to get
the best out of these guys? That's his remit after all.
#Post#: 3521--------------------------------------------------
Re: So, what needs fixing?
DIR By: DOK
Date: August 20, 2018, 5:36 am
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I'm wondering if we got the right ex-Saracens coach. Perhaps we
needed Brendan Venter to sort out the philosophy, bring the team
together as a unit, work for each other, buy into the culture
etc...
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