All I want for Christmas is a leader

Yet again the dragons lose and yet again it was a very lacklustre performance. All the promises of progression and building on last season have vanished. It's not even Christmas and our season is over and I fear it'll get far worse. I'll be amazed if the Blues don't get a bonus point win and even fortress Rodney Parade won't help us beat the Scarlets.
Why is it always, one step forward, then two steps back. The signs looked so promising at the end of last season, as they did the year before. I'm sorry, but puting in a few big performances against the other regions isn't enough. We have humbled the ospreys and blues, but why do we need to be playing a rival to raise our game and don't get me started on our away form.
Don't get me wrong. I'm proud of the players we've produced and lydiate and faletau are two real stars who'll win endless caps, but I feel that part of our problem is a lack of experience and leadership. We're a team playing with no direction and at the moment we are beating ourselves. We over play and over complicate things. We have a very young back-line and I wish we had a Stephen jones to help bring on Tovey. Tovey has all the ability, but his decision making is sometimes questionable. We're in need of a new 2nd row and that was before the news that Big Bird was off to France. Our scrum is an absolutes joke and you have to feel for faletau, playing on the back foot constantly. Wayne evans is out of sorts and the sooner Joe Bedford is shipped out to Bedwas the better. I like the look of our back-line, but even they are mis-firing.
I honestly can't see the dragons qualifying for the HC, so that makes it harder to attract top talent, but the most worrying thing for me, were the insults being shouted by a few fans towards the players. It wasn't nice to hear, it won't help, but it shows how frustrated the fans are. Darren Edwards certainly has a tough job to turn it around. I'm hopeful that we can gain some respectability, but at the moment we're a team that is being left behind by the other regions.

I noticed that the captaincy is handed around on a weekly basis, but who do you recommend should take it on...?

Or do the Dragons need to get a player from somewhere else to lead them.

Charteris is injured. Willis is injured. Ashley smith is injured. I'm happy for it to stay with Gav Thomas for now. Charteris being out for so long is a massive blow and we always miss Ashley as he's a good communicator and an intelligent player, but he's still fairly young himself. I'm pleased that we have a lot of young talent, but we need to bring some experience.

That said mate Gavin Thomas didnt rally his troops yesterday, Dragons should have won that match. They were all over the Chiefs.

when you say bring in experience, what do you mean? Hire some expensive antipodean?

That's exactly what I mean. We were promised 2 big names. We brought in chavhanga and tuilagi. Theyd score you big points at scrabble, but that's about it. In fairness it's too early to judge them.
My real point s, just look at how well the scarlets youngsters have come on. Lyons and king were big influences. They also have the likes of Rees, iestyn thomas and Stephen jones. Big players who've been there and done it. The blues have had Martyn Williams, Tito, rush. The ospreys obviously have had and still have experiences players, but other than Gavin Thomas, we don't have much guidance in games.
We're very erattic, often making bad decisions that have cost us matches. We should have beaten Exeter. We should have also won at the scarlets. We make life easy for the opposition.

mog,

I commented on the match thread that we are missing 'something' and griff agrees just can't seem to put finger on it.

For me we always miss Smith as he seems a vital gog in the centre and Tuilagi will take bit of time. When Smith is injury free then for me he should be captain.

As for leadership I would suggest Lydiate but he will be away a lot through any season on International duty, happy with Thomas at the moment but I think Lewis Evans will come through as our No7 sooner rather than later.

Also what has happened to Gustafson, he was tipped for Welsh honours two seasons back but as seemed to drop off radar.

Talking of players who have been there done it etc I would happily take Goughie back for his last two seasons and it's a shame Shanklin retired as thats the type of experienced players we need in squad at the moment.

It's very obvious that we lack 2 important factors. We lack a leader in the forwards and a leader in the backs. I know you say Ashley Smith but he doesn't always lead by example and is prone to errors. We do look at times like there is little structure. Watching the Exeter game on TV I noticed when they scored the first try the forwards were just standing around. No one was yelling at them to address the issues of why, or what to do. If you watch Paul O’Connell he's a great example of a leader as he is constantly communicating with his forwards.

It's been a difficult season to digest so far, we were promised a new era this year with our new stand etc and told we were going places in all the newspaper articles. Now realistically our season is already over before the New Year. We won't be able to catch the other regions I feel the points difference is too great. I'm willing to stick by Darren Edwards though as he has inherited most of Turners squad and would like to see what he can do next season after we lose some of the big signings that PT made that haven't really worked out. With the money free we HAVE to buy a lock and TH and they have to be pure quality signings!

I was really hoping for a couple of big signings to really move us on. With the new stand, we would have attracted bigger crowds and hooefully got more corporates on board. But another season in the Amlin won't help attract players or sponsors.
We now need 2, 2nd rows with the loss of Big Bird. Credit to Adam jones and sidoli. They've been tremendous for us, but they wouldn't be 1st choice at any other team in Europe. As for Gus, he's playing for Bedwas.

MOG - It's a shame that when i'm standing in the Hazell terrace, the nice posh Bisley stand is always 3/4 empty. I still think it's the ticket prices that are having some effect on this. £28 per ticket is a lot to pay to watch a team thats not even in HC.

It is and unless there's serious investment the whole project will be pointless. If things stay as they are we will struggle to attract quality into the squad and will struggle to keep our young talent. Just look at Toby. When his current deal runs out, what are his choices? Playing in a beaten pack, in a team that struggles in the league and isn't in the top European competition or treble his wages and play in the south of France with the potential of honours? Simples! I don't blame charteris for going. Only dragons fans have seen his worth. Even in the WC there were fans of other regions saying that Bradley Davies should be in the team. He should make the most of the situation he finds himself in. He has been loyal. He turned the scarlets down when roller-skates bounced down the M4 and chose to stay. So I say good on you Big Bird!

maestegmafia wrote:That said mate Gavin Thomas didnt rally his troops yesterday, Dragons should have won that match. They were all over the Chiefs.

when you say bring in experience, what do you mean? Hire some expensive antipodean?

You're right to be scratching your head. I was stood in the Hazell and we certainly weren't all over the Chiefs. Exeter were the better of two poor teams. The Chiefs didnt play an expansive game, but didn't need to. If you do the basics well against the dragons, you will win.

That's what I thought too. In fairness, Exe don't do expansive, 'tis not our way. Hard-working, honest grafters Dragons could do a lot worse than copy Exe

The dragons don't lack graft, but we haven't got a front 5 to compete with barely any team at the moment. Fair play to Exeter, there's nothing better than supporting a team with a powerful pack. Reminds me of traditional gwent rugby. Back in the day there was many a season that Newport only had 8 players!

There are more than 8 players in a team, you say?!?!

Oh yeah, the little guy that puts the ball in a scrum time, I remember

I'd give Burns a run at the Captaincy - he's alaways charging about in the loose, rather vocal to his team mates and seems to lead by example.

He just needs to sort out the lineout....

I think that most dragons fans are disappointed as we know we are better than we have been this season. Loosing our first and second choice tight heads and not having long dog in the second row is really affecting us. The backs are living of poor ball and it's a big ask for them to win games on the back foot although some of the unforced errors are frustrating.

Injurys (not trying to make excuse) have really halted our progress. With the WC stars not featuring loosing smith, harries, Coombes etc is tough on such a small squad.


I honestly think we are not that far away from stringing a few wins together. We've got talent but like MOG said we lack a leader (3 capt injured)

As for the idiots booin' the team - SHAME ON YOU!
I will be down Lego land and back at Dave supporting the boys!

Take over 112! STAND UP FOR THE MEN OF GWENT

Oh yeah, the little guy that puts the ball in a scrum time, I remember.

Gwent used to grow forwards on trees! I agree with young guns we are not a bad team but we are playing below our potential at the moment and it's very frustrating to watch.

In regards to the Exeter match, they dominated territory and possession in the second half and fully deserved there win! The fly half’s evil slow turn of the head freaks me out though

Haha it was like watching a horror movie (the slow turn of the head not our performance)

Leader

munkian wrote:I'd give Burns a run at the Captaincy - he's alaways charging about in the loose, rather vocal to his team mates and seems to lead by example.

He just needs to sort out the lineout....

Munkian,

Thats not such a bad idea as I don't think he will figure much in the Welsh squad unless injuries happen. I would say he is fighting for third choice hooker slot.

I've thought about it since his return game from the WC - he leads from the front and has clawed his way to playing for his country from lowly beginings through hardwork and determination

I think he will be involved with Welsh squads so gaining the experience from that level but may well end up as the player 'released back' to play for his Region.

So the we could well benefit two fold

Give us Geth or give us death !

Gents, on a slight tangent me and the boys did the unthinkable the other night. Fancying a bit of a change, and fed up with being packed like sardines even during the quiet games due to the argus terrace mob joining us, we chose to pay £5 to upgrade our season tickets from the Hazell Terrace to the new Bisley Stand! I felt very guilty. However, although the atmosphere was a bit subdued to start and obviously quieter it was great! I like a beer at the game and the 8 of us were literally the only ones at the bar. Back to your seat with your round in under 2 minutes. Unheard of in the Hazell! It looks like a mini Millenium Stadium underneath with long bar, the same toilets and food court.

We signed straight up for upgrade for the Scarlets game. Can't wait.

Back on topic though, I agree that both a forward and backs leader is missing. We've attempted to buy in a leader in Willis but he's injured more than Henson. A leader is no good on the sidelines. Obviously you can't help injuries, but Willis seems too injury prone. Hopefully we get shot of him ASAP.

I'm actually not too against overseas signings. I hate it when we choose average NWQs as local lads will do just as good a job, but similarly putting out a 100% Welsh 15 may look great but does nothing for the region. There's a huge disparity between the needs of Club and Country. Country needs as many welsh boys playing as possible, obviously. But Club needs to attract fans, win matches, attract sponsors, etc. This is possible with local talent but when that is not abundant (as in international class) then we have to allow quality overseas boys in to generate interest. As it is now people will not continue watching average players losing games week in week out. Why would they? Splash the cash on stars in un-fillable positions such as tighthead and see where it takes us. Hell, the youngsters may even learn something from them.

The catch 22 is that if we only look to local young talent and the team continues to lose then the crowd will continue to fall, investors pull out and the region goes bust. Then, all those who pushed for us to pick all welsh players will see only 3 regions and even less chance for welsh youngsters. I'm not talking about flooding the Dragons with overseas, but just a few that the kids and occasionals may want to come and see. Attracting them here is obviously another matter, but the longer we go on being unsuccessful the harder it wil be to attract them (also harder to attract locals players too).