elwood new connacht boss

outwest

it been confirmed, he get a one year deal as per irfu rules when it comes to connacht, bradley got 7 for crying out loud

be gald to see him go, elwood will do a much better job.

Cosmo Kramer

One that could go either way really, no real past experience to rate him based on. At least he's not exactly having to follow in the footsteps of a coaching great anyway...

I wish him all the best.

outwest

he got the under 20 to a grand slam

he is lucky he is following bradley

PhatPiggins

outwest wrote: »

he got the under 20 to a grand slam

he is lucky he is following bradley

You guys really hate Bradley dont you?

He has had to work with largely has been's, kids and journey men. I cant see how Elwood is going to do any better on that kind of budget.

I'd like to see Bradley at another team I think he could be a very decent coach with the right tools.

thomond2006

I think Bradley could be a good assistant coach. Maybe he needs to do an "apprenticeship" as it were, just like Tony McGahan at Munster, before he is head coach material.

Elwood's first job is to improve Connacht's away form, no win away from home in the Magners League since April 2008 (open to correction) is a shocking record.

If Munster or Leinster win the Heineken Cup, Connacht qualify for the Heineken Cup the following season. Connacht suddenly becomes more attactive to the likes of Nagle, O'Mahony, Macken, Conway etc. If that happens, Elwood could potentially have very talented players at his disposal. Didn't he coach the U-20s to a Grand Slam?

outwest

bradley mentality was there to be seen in the last game, within a try to win the games and he tells them to kick at goal with 5 min left,

we didnt hate him at the start but his decisions have been awful letting go durcan, and riordan,

elwood will atleast get them competitive, one loosing bonus point away in 2 years i think,

anyone can be a good coach with the right tools, he had warick for years and played him in centre, us supporters saw what he could do at outhalf and full back in the few games he did play in those positions, riordan was conancht biggest prospect and bradley took away his confidence by palying him out of position, we had mcphilips a solid winger whot got trys ,i think 20 with connacht put he startes to play him a 9, it ended his career at connacht,

PhatPiggins

PhatPiggins wrote: »

You guys really hate Bradley dont you?

He has had to work with largely has been's, kids and journey men. I cant see how Elwood is going to do any better on that kind of budget.

I'd like to see Bradley at another team I think he could be a very decent coach with the right tools.

I'm sure Tony McGahan and Schmidt will welcome him with open arms to Munster or Leinster!

profitius

outwest wrote: »

bradley mentality was there to be seen in the last game, within a try to win the games and he tells them to kick at goal with 5 min left,

we didnt hate him at the start but his decisions have been awful letting go durcan, and riordan,

elwood will atleast get them competitive, one loosing bonus point away in 2 years i think,

anyone can be a good coach with the right tools, he had warick for years and played him in centre, us supporters saw what he could do at outhalf and full back in the few games he did play in those positions, riordan was conancht biggest prospect and bradley took away his confidence by palying him out of position, we had mcphilips a solid winger whot got trys ,i think 20 with connacht put he startes to play him a 9, it ended his career at connacht,

Not forgetting James Downey who is a regular for Northampton and who wasn't good enough for Connacht.

boredatwork82

Elwood is the easy choice for Connacht by the IRFU. he has a poor manner (witness his pitch side manner) and is a terrible choice. He has not got the tools to do anything with connacht.
He has pretty much been coaching connacht for the past 2 seasons. despite bradley been the head coach ( he spent half his time at home in cork from what i heard)

One year contracts for all the players and ****e coach like this. The irfu are doing there best to destroy connacht. Between this and the west offaly lions issue, you'd wonder why they even bother with connacht. its a disgrace

SOME MORE NAILS IN CONNACHTS COFFIN

Podge_irl

Connacht were never going to be able to get anyone else while hamstrung by this one year contract nonsense.

Nukem

profitius wrote: »

Not forgetting James Downey who is a regular for Northampton and who wasn't good enough for Connacht.

Well that's just one opinion of a coach and you know how they go down. Best ever is Tommy Bowe is too slow for a winger - EOS:D

Co45

Nukem wrote: »

Well that's just one opinion of a coach and you know how they go down. Best ever is Tommy Bowe is too slow for a winger - EOS:D

Hook said that not O'Sullivan

Sherifu

Good luck to Eric.

RND

Unfortunately until the Connacht branch change thier approach to running the province any coach is going to have minimal impact.

phog

I wish him and Connacht the best of luck, hopefully, he'll bring them on another level.

Nukem

Co45 wrote: »

Hook said that not O'Sullivan

DOH!

2040

Nukem wrote: »

DOH!

I think Eddie actually advised Tommy to move to Ospreys, something which has done great things for his career.

pappyodaniel

Best of luck to him, he'll need it.

siltirocker

Came across as a fcukin' legend bursting at the seems with passion in the press conference earlier on. Sweared once or twice, table punching, etc in stressing how badly he wants to get off the bottom of the league and thrashed Connacht folk who travel to Limerick (but stressed he needs the results to stop this). Shame Gerry Kelly CEO seemed flabergasted at these claims. :rolleyes:

"It won't be 3 + 1 no more, it'll be 4 again!"

Also slipped that he has Matthews, Keatley & Carr ready to re-sign.*hints that many stalled till the new head coach was relieved.

Robbo

siltirocker wrote: »

Came across as a fcukin' legend bursting at the seems with passion in the press conference earlier on. Sweared once or twice, table punching, etc in stressing how badly he wants to get off the bottom of the league and thrashed Connacht folk who travel to Limerick (but stressed he needs the results to stop this). Shame Gerry Kelly CEO seemed flabergasted at these claims. :rolleyes:

"It won't be 3 + 1 no more, it'll be 4 again!"

Also slipped that he has Matthews, Keatley & Carr ready to re-sign.*hints that many stalled till the new head coach was relieved.

Full audio available on KnockOn.ie.

I'm feeling immensely positive about this after hearing the press conference and the slip about resigning Matthews/Keatley/Carr. There was also some very encouraging stuff about developing indigenous talent which I hope will take in both local lads and a few more Sean Cronin's who need gametime.

Son of Stupido

First thing Elwood needs to do.....


BUILD SOME F****** BETTER FACILITIES FOR THE FANS

Robbo

Son of Stupido wrote: »

First thing Elwood needs to do.....


BUILD SOME F****** BETTER FACILITIES FOR THE FANS

Yes, because that's the brief of a coach.

There's planning for an enclosed stand on the clubhouse side, the funding needs to be found. I gather that they'll start working on the finance soon.

Diom

Son of Stupido wrote: »

First thing Elwood needs to do.....


BUILD SOME F****** BETTER FACILITIES FOR THE FANS

What? Him personally?

He did talk about it in the press conference, but there is very little that the coach of the team can do about the facilities at the SG.

Eric is a proud Connacht man, and is utterly committed to the cause. Bradley didn't even spend the majority of the week in Connacht, so that right there is a step up.
Congratulations to the man, and I honestly can say that I am fully supportive of him in his new role.

CatFromHue

i dont know if anyone heard Elwood on off the ball last night.

He was interviewed for a few mins.

It was interesting, he mentioned that the IRFU are doing a commerical review (i think thats the term he used) into both the on and off field components of Connacht.

That maybe the Connacht union need to be more "pro active" about how they approach things and that while connacht needed some help from the irfu they needed to help themselves more.

He was also very pleased at the amount of players staying on for next season, in comparison to previous season where they had a big turnover in players.

Co45

Son of Stupido wrote: »

First thing Elwood needs to do.....


BUILD SOME F****** BETTER FACILITIES FOR THE FANS

Why bother? They can't even fill out the current ground so why waste money making it bigger and more empty?

PhatPiggins

Co45 wrote: »

Why bother? They can't even fill out the current ground so why waste money making it bigger and more empty?

Chicken and the egg isn't it. Start winning bigger crowds, bigger stadium more revenue,better team start winning. Cant build a team without the revenue. Cant get the revenue with limited capacity.

Diom

Co45 wrote: »

Why bother? They can't even fill out the current ground so why waste money making it bigger and more empty?

Better facilities != Bigger Stadium.

A club-side shelter. More toilets. Larger bar on the clubhouse side. I realise you are probably just trolling, but those are the kinds of minimal investment required changes that would improve the experience of the punter and make them more likely to come out to enjoy themselves in the SG.

Amazotheamazing

Oddly enough, the biggest Connacht fans I know aren't from Galway, they are from Mayo and Sligo, places Connacht should try and play a few home games now and again. Galwegians for the most part are fickle when it comes to supporting teams.

f1dan

Robbo wrote: »

Yes, because that's the brief of a coach.

There's planning for an enclosed stand on the clubhouse side, the funding needs to be found. I gather that they'll start working on the finance soon.

Even if there is a shelter on the clubhouse side, the wind and rain still blows directly across the pitch. I don't think a shelter is going to do much.

siltirocker

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Oddly enough, the biggest Connacht fans I know aren't from Galway, they are from Mayo and Sligo, places Connacht should try and play a few home games now and again. Galwegians for the most part are fickle when it comes to supporting teams.

And did these friends of your's go to every home game. Connacht receive next to no support outside of Galway. (Ballinasloe, Portumna, Clifden, Westport, Ballina & Sligo town all have a few supporters though). And i can guarantee 90% of the folk in The Sportsground and at away games are from Galway.
Last year they started an iniative to have charter coaches from Sligo, Roscommon, Ballina/Castlebar, Clifden/Oughterard & Athlone/Ballinasloe to The Sportground for €5, then for free, then for free and with a €5 off at the gates. Not a soul on them, week in week out. No interest. Connacht Rugby isn't even in Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim or Roscommon press, just Galway's. Also of the Connacht Senior squad and the Academy seniors only 2 home-based players aren't from Galway (Kennedy - Roscommon, Duffy - Mayo).

I completely disagree Amazo. Also that last statement is ridiculous.

Panda Moanium

siltirocker wrote: »

And did these friends of your's go to every home game. Connacht receive next to no support outside of Galway. (Ballinasloe, Portumna, Clifden, Westport, Ballina & Sligo town all have a few supporters though). And i can guarantee 90% of the folk in The Sportsground and at away games are from Galway.
Last year they started an iniative to have charter coaches from Sligo, Roscommon, Ballina/Castlebar, Clifden/Oughterard & Athlone/Ballinasloe to The Sportground for €5, then for free, then for free and with a €5 off at the gates. Not a soul on them, week in week out. No interest. Connacht Rugby isn't even in Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim or Roscommon press, just Galway's. Also of the Connacht Senior squad and the Academy seniors only 2 home-based players aren't from Galway (Kennedy - Roscommon, Duffy - Mayo).

I completely disagree Amazo. Also that last statement is ridiculous.

Well, as someone from Mayo who goes to nearly every home game, the only reason I can is because of my work flexibility. How do you expect people from outside Galway city to get to a game that nearly always starts at 6.30 pm on a Friday evening? I have to typically leave no later than 3pm to get to a game which is essentially taking a half day off work for most people. I personally know a lot of people who would go to at least some games if they were at other times, and I don't mix in particularly rugby circles.

I've no problem with some games at that time but why not some on a Saturday afternoon. I know there is the tie-in with the greyhound racing, but its a bit rich to expect people from outside Galway to get to these games at the time they are being scheduled and then blame them for non-attendance.

siltirocker

Panda Moanium wrote: »

Well, as someone from Mayo who goes to nearly every home game, the only reason I can is because of my work flexibility. How do you expect people from outside Galway city to get to a game that nearly always starts at 6.30 pm on a Friday evening? I have to typically leave no later than 3pm to get to a game which is essentially taking a half day off work for most people. I personally know a lot of people who would go to at least some games if they were at other times, and I don't mix in particularly rugby circles.

I've no problem with some games at that time but why not some on a Saturday afternoon. I know there is the tie-in with the greyhound racing, but its a bit rich to expect people from outside Galway to get to these games at the time they are being scheduled and then blame them for non-attendance.

I agree completely, it's ludicrious to have Friday games so early. But only 2 games this season has been on Friday at 6.30pm (2 of the CC games i believe). They've all been at 7.30pm or 8 pm. This was set in to tackle this problem and there has been no increase in attendance (infact, i believe they are down 10% with folk commuting just out of Galway unable to hang around the city post-work waiting for the game due to the last bus out west, Athenry/Ballinasloe/Athlone train, etc).

Panda Moanium

Yes, the 7.30 kick-off is neither a here-nor-there - still too early for anyone to come from Ballina or Sligo after work, but as you say too late for the Galway after work crowd.

I do feel that the Connacht branch does very little to encourage the provincial game outside of Galway; that said it is surprising the number of people you see around nowadays wearing Connacht jerseys - there has to be an opportunity to get such folk going to games on a regular basis, but its not going to happen on a Friday evening.

siltirocker

Panda Moanium wrote: »

Yes, the 7.30 kick-off is neither a here-nor-there - still too early for anyone to come from Ballina or Sligo after work, but as you say too late for the Galway after work crowd.

I do feel that the Connacht branch does very little to encourage the provincial game outside of Galway; that said it is surprising the number of people you see around nowadays wearing Connacht jerseys - there has to be an opportunity to get such folk going to games on a regular basis, but its not going to happen on a Friday evening.

100% agree, they do sweet FA to promote out of Galway. As regards the shirts, the Elverys Galway branch dude claims they sold more Connacht jersey than adult soccer jerseys last year, Man U, Liverpool, Celtic included.

Robbo

f1dan wrote: »

Even if there is a shelter on the clubhouse side, the wind and rain still blows directly across the pitch. I don't think a shelter is going to do much.

From what I read of the plans, it's going to be about 11-12 rows, covered. I'll take that in the meantime before a 25,000 bowl is constructed, for I am one of the masochists who prefers the clubhouse side.

I don't know which side to come down on the issue of marketing. I know the Branch do a pretty poor job and their PR is generally terrible (no updates on injured players, sparse and poorly written press releases) but I'd imagine that the morkeshing budgets of Leinster or Munster would pay the wages of near half our squad.

f1dan

Robbo wrote: »

From what I read of the plans, it's going to be about 11-12 rows, covered. I'll take that in the meantime before a 25,000 bowl is constructed, for I am one of the masochists who prefers the clubhouse side.

I'm one myself but a 25,000 bowl? Sure the most that ever turned up was the 5,000 or so for the Harlequins game a few years ago. Chicken and egg though, as has been said previously. More fans need to turn up to justify an upgrade, fans won't show up unless the facilities are improved.

Steyr

Robbo wrote: »

I am one of the masochists who prefers the clubhouse side.

Dont forget me standing beside ya with my bloody cup of tea to keep some sort of heat in my fingers..:pac:

Steyr

f1dan wrote: »

I'm one myself but a 25,000 bowl?

Are ya heading up tomorrow? Myself n Robbo are, PM if ya like.

profitius

Robbo wrote: »

I don't know which side to come down on the issue of marketing. I know the Branch do a pretty poor job and their PR is generally terrible .

That could be one of the main areas the IRFU will focus on. Munster and Leinster have excellent PR teams and it gives them and big boost in terms of growth.

Amazotheamazing

siltirocker wrote: »

And did these friends of your's go to every home game. Connacht receive next to no support outside of Galway. (Ballinasloe, Portumna, Clifden, Westport, Ballina & Sligo town all have a few supporters though). And i can guarantee 90% of the folk in The Sportsground and at away games are from Galway.
Last year they started an iniative to have charter coaches from Sligo, Roscommon, Ballina/Castlebar, Clifden/Oughterard & Athlone/Ballinasloe to The Sportground for €5, then for free, then for free and with a €5 off at the gates. Not a soul on them, week in week out. No interest. Connacht Rugby isn't even in Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim or Roscommon press, just Galway's. Also of the Connacht Senior squad and the Academy seniors only 2 home-based players aren't from Galway (Kennedy - Roscommon, Duffy - Mayo).

I completely disagree Amazo. Also that last statement is ridiculous.

How can they go to games, Connacht ignore them completely by choosing the half 6 kickoff time. Ofcourseanyone going to gmaeshas to be from Galway, it's impossible for virtually anyone else to make that kickoff time. These guys used to go when we were all students in Galway, now with jobs they simply can't go to a game. their own branch isbasically telling them to get lost.

My commnet about galwegian fans in general is something I've heard off mates of mine from Galway, it's nothing to me.

siltirocker

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

How can they go to games, Connacht ignore them completely by choosing the half 6 kickoff time. Ofcourseanyone going to gmaeshas to be from Galway, it's impossible for virtually anyone else to make that kickoff time. These guys used to go when we were all students in Galway, now with jobs they simply can't go to a game. their own branch isbasically telling them to get lost.

My commnet about galwegian fans in general is something I've heard off mates of mine from Galway, it's nothing to me.

That's only been twice this year. Connacht games are at 7.30 or 8 pm now in an effort to tackle this.

siltirocker

siltirocker wrote: »

That's only been twice this year. Connacht games are at 7.30 or 8 pm now in an effort to tackle this.

In fairness only 2 games have been at 8 including tonight. The others have been at 7 which is an improvement on 6.30 butis still not opening games up to enough fans

sock puppet

Borders no.2 wrote: »

In fairness only 2 games have been at 8 including tonight. The others have been at 7 which is an improvement on 6.30 butis still not opening games up to enough fans

Why are Connacht games on a friday anyway?

sock puppet

sock puppet wrote: »

Why are Connacht games on a friday anyway?

I think the idea behind the Friday games was that they would get the Galway workforce on the way home from work. Personally, Friday suits me whereas Saturday doesn't but I think there is an opinion that Saturday at 6.30/7 would have more success.However, the Connacht Branch don't want to put it on Saturday beacause of the AIL which I don't see as a major issue with games being done and dusted by shortly after 4 and the Galway sides being at home every 2nd week anyway.

raye

Diom wrote: »

What? Him personally?

He did talk about it in the press conference, but there is very little that the coach of the team can do about the facilities at the SG.

Eric is a proud Connacht man, and is utterly committed to the cause. Bradley didn't even spend the majority of the week in Connacht, so that right there is a step up.
Congratulations to the man, and I honestly can say that I am fully supportive of him in his new role.

great news about Eric becoming head coach. Great passion about him. How can you say where Bradley has been during the week? do you stalk him? Go along to the sports ground each week for training & you will see him present for all training, meetings & connacht business. Who cares what someone does outside of work? Do you have to stay in your place of employment outside of your work hours? If he travels to Cork outside of his working hours big deal. Should Sean, Fionn, Ian, Brian or Frank be booted out of the team for travelling to Limerick, Dublin or Cork on their days off? Someone else mentioned this too, so not just you.
Connacht are in a catch 22 situation with the small budget & constraints they operate under from irfu. They need a few decent marketing heads in there to make a go of what they have. Fans will travel to games regardless of times etc, checkout musgrave park on a cold, rainy winter night & you will find a decent crowd. No great facilities there either.
As far as I know & I am open to correction, connacht or any team does not choose date or time of all games. Its up to the TV channel/magners/cc to set the times & dates.

thomond2006

He's on Guinness Area 22 now.

http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Matt-Cooper/GuinnessArea22.aspx

He's made some interesting points about Connacht.

It will be available for audio download if you miss it.

siltirocker

thomond2006 wrote: »

He's on Guinness Area 22 now.

http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Matt-Cooper/GuinnessArea22.aspx

He's made some interesting points about Connacht.

It will be available for audio download if you miss it.

As was i. Won a signed jersey for my question too.