KK Gone - Report

I think there’s a few things that make a good head coach:

1) Setting an overarching philosophy for the team as a whole.
2) Developing a cohesive on pitch game plan.
3) Getting your players to believe in what you’re doing in respect to the above through strong man management.
4) Dealing with the media and the community and creating a good impression of the organisation as a whole.
5) Hiring unit coaches who share a philosophy in respect to 1) and 2) and have the ability to implement strong, complementary systems.
6) Getting the right players on the pitch at the right times.

By the time we won the league Pat had done an incredible job succeeding in achieving all of the above. My not so expert analysis of KK:

1) Very little evidence of this.
2) Very little evidence of this.
3) Poor, at least from the outside looking in.
4) Poor.
5) Wasn’t given the opportunity.
6) Questionable, but probably deserved a season to figure it out.

If it's true that KK lost the dressing room and the faith of his coaching staff than I'd agree this is the proper move. Without those things it would be impossible for him to implement his vision to turn Connacht around and another season would just be delaying the inevitable. I'd mostly agree with Mark Mostyn's list. In the end it never felt like KK was working towards any recognisable plan for how he wanted the team to play. Maybe this lack of direction is what lost the team for him.

Unfortunately, it's going to take a special coach to step in now and pick up the 3-4 additional players needed to have a successful 2018-19 season. Though ATM I'd be happy with someone who could come in and get us on the right side of the results against Zebre and Cardiff and at least have the team pushing for the Champions Cup through the league.

fatgav wrote: Quick thought on this. We’ve speculated and wondered as to why the signings have dried up... could it be linked with this? Reports say the KK decision was made long before the weekend just gone. I know it’s late on for a coach to be signed, and for that man to be able to sign his own players who wouldn’t already be tied up, but who knows what planning has been going on in the background?

Although the contra to that is, if there was planning in the background, I’m disappointed it’s not going to be Dan McFarland. He’s have been perfect.

KK's interview after the game was all about post season review and didn't give any indication he was leaving, unless he's a really good actor. Which story broke first I wonder, his exit or McFarland to Ulster? Ulster said the latter would not be announced for some weeks out of respect for current employers and then came out of the blue, could it have been to get ahead of a possible Connacht swoop or am I just that paranoid??

Think you're paranoid on that one. It was Scotland's announcement that McFarland was leaving that gave Ulster the green light to announce him as next head coach.

Bingo! First inclusion of Steady Eddie O'Sullivan in a list of potential KK replacement. In the Bindo, unsurprisingly.

salmson wrote: Bingo! First inclusion of Steady Eddie O'Sullivan in a list of potential KK replacement. In the Bindo, unsurprisingly.

Heard two gentlemen speaking last night they were saying Kieran Crowley was top of Connacht and IRFU list.

sligsup wrote:
Heard two gentlemen speaking last night they were saying Kieran Crowley was top of Connacht and IRFU list.

Well he'd be a great choice but you're going to have to be more precise about what you mean by "gentlemen". Were they sporting IRFU blazers, or Paddy Power fleeces, were they oul lads in Wegians jerseys nursing pints in O'Connell's, or is "gentlemen" a pejorative reference to the fourth estate?

Anyone know much about John Kingston? Would he be a good fit for Connacht?

salmson wrote:

sligsup wrote:
Heard two gentlemen speaking last night they were saying Kieran Crowley was top of Connacht and IRFU list.

Well he'd be a great choice but you're going to have to be more precise about what you mean by "gentlemen". Were they sporting IRFU blazers, or Paddy Power fleeces, were they oul lads in Wegians jerseys nursing pints in O'Connell's, or is "gentlemen" a pejorative reference to the fourth estate?

The details and these are as graphic as you get. In a sauna yesterday evening in a south dublin gym two middled aged gentlemen speaking with plums in their mouth ( the ross o carroll kelly accent) speaking about it. And was extremely brief but one said to the other I was talking to Mike and he said the IRFU and Connacht are chasing Crowley as he was top of their list reply was suprised Ulster didnt go after him. Kept my head down said nothing,

Jim Mallinder - anyone?

He was the only one that pop into my mind, It wouldn't be a bad appointment.

He had a big bag of money in Northampton and hadn't the greatest of records. Not for me. Crowley would be my pick based on the names mentioned so far

If they are looking something similar to Pat Lam then Tana Umaga might be about to become available. He is close to getting the sack at Auckland Blues which was the same fate at Pat before he rebuilt his coaching credentials at Connacht. Knows Bundee well from him time coaching Counties in the ITM Cup.

I also don't buy the argument that the ITM Cup in New Zealand is a second rate competition. Standard is certainly on par with the Pro14. All Blacks and Super Rugby players are often involved.

I am based in England and there seems to be a bit of a merry-go-round developing of head coaches which is similar to Premier League football managers. The likes of Dorian West, Jim Mallinder, John Kingston, Mike Ford all seem to get linked to jobs all the time. Plenty of others available too - Steve Tandy from the Ospreys for example.

Cathal wrote: He had a big bag of money in Northampton and hadn't the greatest of records. Not for me. Crowley would be my pick based on the names mentioned so far

That feels disingenuous; be fair to Mallinder, he had money, as did many of his competitors, but he also won the Premiership, would have won a second time if his captain hadn't called the ref a cheat, and he was 2nd in the league another year. He won a plethora of minor trophies such as Euro Challenge Cup, Anglo Welsh, etc as well as a being a HC finalist in 2011. He really only had a bad season this year after 10 years, and that cycle happens to every club, so his record is pretty decent. Are there better coaches available out there, probably, but he is not Mark Hughes or Sam Allerdyce.. Crowley has had a fine year this year with Benetton, but his Canada tenure was very mixed (hard to compare club vs. country), so for me I would prefer another year to see if he can continue to develop Benneton.

The question potential non-Irish candidates should ask is: what will a successful period with Connacht do for my career. Will it get me into a more "A" listed club in the Top 14 or Premiership, or an International team? It worked for Pat Lam, so we need to have a rising star rather than a fading one which works against seasoned coaches like Mallinder and Crowley, and looks towards highly thought of assistant coaches. The new coach also should be charged with developing potential successors within the coaching set up, so next time there is a planned transition.