How long has Phil Davies got ?

Well, the question is in the title really, one try in three games, inept performances from his unmotivated team since last season onwards, never really achieving anything in his coaching career, one EDF cup with Leeds, a semi final in the HC with the Scarlets, a few relagations, a complete disaster in his second season with the scarlets, how long will the Blues hierachy put up with these performances ? O.k, when you lose to the better side you can walk away and say fair enough, but the Blues at the moment look clueless and all we keep getting from big Phil is cliches and excuses, time at the bar for him me thinks.

who was the better side tonight?

According to my old man who was there, Zebra just about edged it, the Blues kept giving away pens, missing tackles, knocking on and the less said about the scrum the better, decision making was non existant as well, oh, and they cannot blame the pitch anymore either. He told me they look as though they are carrying on from last season.

The Blues will not be in the HC next year if it is still going unless they can engineer one of the other regions to go bust.

Davies destroyed the Scarlets the guy is rotten to the core, how he keeps getting top jobs i will never know.
Scarlets still bare the scars he left behind.

Give credit where its due. Everyone runs Italian rugby down (similar to what Scottish clubs had to endure a few seasons ago) when in fact they probably played really well and deserved it. They where always going to beat someone at some stage.

All that said, isn't Robbie Deans for hire? The man does have a pedigree of winning trophies at provincial level.

LordDowlais wrote:According to my old man who was there, Zebra just about edged it, the Blues kept giving away pens, missing tackles, knocking on and the less said about the scrum the better, decision making was non existant as well, oh, and they cannot blame the pitch anymore either. He told me they look as though they are carrying on from last season.

Your Old Man is alright and probably a bit mad I reckon. Nowt wrong with that I may add.
As for the bloos, well, what can be said different to what has already been said in the last 10 years or more even?
Doesn't help either having a Terk in charge, a Terk captain and a Terk vice captain, but there we go.

He is very old school CD, but he does know his rugby, he is Blues/Cardiff to the core and with the players that are there they should be doing a lot better.

I think the blues look a better side this season, Zebre have improved massively, the whole league has stepped up a level. It's gonna be close this season.

Blues fans might be embarrassed by the result, but it could of happened to anyone in the league.

It could have happend to most of the teams in the Rabo away in Parma, But at home. . . Congratulations to Zebre, but i can't help but feel gutted. With our pre-season i thought we were looking up this season. It's only going to get tougher from here now.

Coleman wrote:It could have happend to most of the teams in the Rabo away in Parma, But at home. . . Congratulations to Zebre, but i can't help but feel gutted. With our pre-season i thought we were looking up this season. It's only going to get tougher from here now.

It was gonna get tougher from the start.. look at the quality in all the teams involved...

It is not a surprise that a team that is now as good as Zebre beat Blues at CAP

Zebre beat Cardiff Blue?

Blimey.

I still think that dargons will slow and Scsrlets and blues will catch them but it is going to be interesting to see which region comes fourth. Surely Scarlets are doing as poorly as the blues.

I think the problem with the blues (as an outsider) is that players know no matter how well they play when Warbs and co come back they are in the team regardless of performance. That leads to the others not trying so the standard drops.

Brendan wrote:I still think that dargons will slow and Scsrlets and blues will catch them but it is going to be interesting to see which region comes fourth.  Surely Scarlets are doing as poorly as the blues.

I think the problem with the blues (as an outsider) is that players know no matter how well they play when Warbs and co come back they are in the team regardless of performance.  That leads to the others not trying so the standard drops.

The same could be said of any team. I don't agree with you though. There is certainly no reluctance to try in last nights performance. More skill errors and a tough ride at the breakdown.

maestegmafia wrote:

Brendan wrote:I still think that dargons will slow and Scsrlets and blues will catch them but it is going to be interesting to see which region comes fourth.  Surely Scarlets are doing as poorly as the blues.

I think the problem with the blues (as an outsider) is that players know no matter how well they play when Warbs and co come back they are in the team regardless of performance.  That leads to the others not trying so the standard drops.

The same could be said of any team. I don't agree with you though. There is certainly no reluctance to try in last nights performance. More skill errors and a tough ride at the breakdown.

It can be said of a fair few teams and i think Edinburgh struggle with the same issue.

But looking at the difference a good coach makes can kind of be seen in the performances by dargons compated to last year

I'm not really sure if PD was really a step-up from B&B now that I think about it. I did air concern over the Davies appointment a while ago however, pointing to his track record as evidence and was shouted down. They are a good coach and a few signings away from being a brilliant squad. That's something we've been saying for a couple years now...

Gareth Baber inherited a side that had smashed Gloucester in the EDF final by 50pts and lost out on a HC final by a penalty shootout. They were scoring tries for fun and spent that spring as the most attacking team in Europe.

He has not completely destroyed the Blues backs.

Seriously, 6(?) years on, I am still waiting for a set play move from the Blues backs...or at least an inside ball!

No one doubts that Baber is dreadful apart from Pies. I don't like the quick sacking culture of football but Phil hasn’t made any progress. We need a new coach, with a real philosophy on playing rugby and how to build a successful team (25-25 is not enough sorry). We need to clear out most of the back room staff, bring in someone with a clue and let them build a backroom staff to produce a team with a winning ethos.

Coleman wrote:No one doubts that Baber is dreadful apart from Pies. I don't like the quick sacking culture of football but Phil hasn’t made any progress. We need a new coach, with a real philosophy on playing rugby and how to build a successful team (25-25 is not enough sorry). We need to clear out most of the back room staff, bring in someone with a clue and let them build a backroom staff to produce a team with a winning ethos.

We could have gotten Mike Rayer - who has built a very good championship team with no money

We could have gotten Kingsley Jones and Lyn Davies - both were in the wilderness when we needed a coach and both are now turning around the Dragons

We could have given the Chief a go, the most successful coach in the premiership by some distance, and he could have brought Paul John with him who would make an excellent backs coach.

Even this season, we could have given Mark Ring the backs coach position when it was clear Baber was dire.

Peter Thomas always claims he searches the planet for new players, I just wish he had done the same when looking for coaches - rather than choosing whoever he bumps into at the pub.

Oh, and it is until November according to some on the Blues forum

and that was the deadline at the start of the season, so last night was a nice big black cross

I really don't think Phil is getting the best out of the players he has, you could argue that we have quite an inexperienced squad with the amount of young players we have but still, the player management and coaching hasn't shown much in the last couple of seasons, the Blues blow very hot and cold.

What they don't need is another trip to the RDS anytime soon.

Jiffy didn't say it directly on Srum V yesterday but he went on about concentration, tackling techniques and commitment to the breakdown, all this must come from the coaching and the Blues players are, at the moment a shambles, they realy do need someone to come in and give them all a kick up the backside, Phil Davies out, Dale Mackintosh in, this is what is needed, even bring the arrogant Mark Ring in to get the backs moving.

LordDowlais wrote:Jiffy didn't say it directly on Srum V yesterday but he went on about concentration, tackling techniques and commitment to the breakdown, all this must come from the coaching and the Blues players are, at the moment a shambles, they realy do need someone to come in and give them all a kick up the backside, Phil Davies out, Dale Mackintosh in, this is what is needed, even bring the arrogant Mark Ring in to get the backs moving.

Jiffy will never bad mouth Phil Davies, their brother in-laws.

Phil is an awkward one because he is a top bloke, and a hard man to dislike on a personal level. However as a coach he is not really up to the standards of the regions. I think he is a bit better at being a motivator of a team who feel they need to prove something, than as a man who can instil pride and self belief (damn Kingsley/Lyn Jones for constantly using that word). He is a bit like one of those teachers you had in school, who wants to be your friend.

I can understand the Nov. deadline for him, if it is true, as the Currie Cup and ITC should be done by then, so there may be a chance of picking up a Saffer or Kiwi coach wanting to try overseas work.

As noted in the other thread, i stood by him last year but this year there's no progression. He had a full summer to get signings done and if it's Peter Thomas holding the purse strings why blow so much money on gethin jenkins? We could have both a Currie Cup/ITM centre/number 8 on his wages alone and they'd be with us all season.

Ridiculous, it's this matey matey culture within wales. Gavin Evans is vice capt apparently, says it all really.

And did i read before the zebre game that he needed to rotate to give players some p[laying time? I'm sorry, but we're not toulon and don't have the luxury to rotate. We have a young squad and we need to be playing our strongest team EVERY match, if Lou Reed is not in the team it should be because her's not good enough. PD shouldn't feel obliged to play Reed, if he ain't good enough he don't get on. Taking out players for the sake of 'giving others game time' is a stupid way of managing a team like ours.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Jiffy didn't say it directly on Srum V yesterday but he went on about concentration, tackling techniques and commitment to the breakdown, all this must come from the coaching and the Blues players are, at the moment a shambles, they realy do need someone to come in and give them all a kick up the backside, Phil Davies out, Dale Mackintosh in, this is what is needed, even bring the arrogant Mark Ring in to get the backs moving.

Jiffy will never bad mouth Phil Davies, their brother in-laws.

Phil is an awkward one because he is a top bloke, and a hard man to dislike on a personal level.  However as a coach he is not really up to the standards of the regions.  I think he is a bit better at being a motivator of a team who feel they need to prove something, than as a man who can instil pride and self belief (damn Kingsley/Lyn Jones for constantly using that word).  He is a bit like one of those teachers you had in school, who wants to be your friend.

I can understand the Nov. deadline for him, if it is true, as the Currie Cup and ITC should be done by then, so there may be a chance of picking up a Saffer or Kiwi coach wanting to try overseas work.

I seriously hope not, what is wrong with Dale Mackintosh, he has won all that can be won at club level, yet he is constantly being overlooked at regional level, also the players would be to scared to step out of line with him there.

Lord - you need to ask what the Chief has done wrong? He is from Ponty, simples.

Being serious he would be a good option, but I have a feeling that this supposed November deadline is to coincide with the end of the SH season.

LordDowlais wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Jiffy didn't say it directly on Srum V yesterday but he went on about concentration, tackling techniques and commitment to the breakdown, all this must come from the coaching and the Blues players are, at the moment a shambles, they realy do need someone to come in and give them all a kick up the backside, Phil Davies out, Dale Mackintosh in, this is what is needed, even bring the arrogant Mark Ring in to get the backs moving.

Jiffy will never bad mouth Phil Davies, their brother in-laws.

Phil is an awkward one because he is a top bloke, and a hard man to dislike on a personal level.  However as a coach he is not really up to the standards of the regions.  I think he is a bit better at being a motivator of a team who feel they need to prove something, than as a man who can instil pride and self belief (damn Kingsley/Lyn Jones for constantly using that word).  He is a bit like one of those teachers you had in school, who wants to be your friend.

I can understand the Nov. deadline for him, if it is true, as the Currie Cup and ITC should be done by then, so there may be a chance of picking up a Saffer or Kiwi coach wanting to try overseas work.

I seriously hope not, what is wrong with Dale Mackintosh, he has won all that can be won at club level, yet he is constantly being overlooked at regional level, also the players would be to scared to step out of line with him there.

I'd welcome Macintosh in to the coaching team but i would prefer him to come in as assitant/forwards coach before taking over. Him coming in to a set up like ours as the guy in charge, if we continue to fail then he gets made a scapegoat and a big excuse for ponty fans to say we've nicked their coach and then fired him.

Long term successor - yes
Next guy in charge? I'd prefer him to learn pro coaching first. It's a lot different coaching a semi pro team than a pro team, no disrespect. I just would like him fully clued up and then ready to take the reigns when it's right.

gcBlues wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Jiffy didn't say it directly on Srum V yesterday but he went on about concentration, tackling techniques and commitment to the breakdown, all this must come from the coaching and the Blues players are, at the moment a shambles, they realy do need someone to come in and give them all a kick up the backside, Phil Davies out, Dale Mackintosh in, this is what is needed, even bring the arrogant Mark Ring in to get the backs moving.

Jiffy will never bad mouth Phil Davies, their brother in-laws.

Phil is an awkward one because he is a top bloke, and a hard man to dislike on a personal level.  However as a coach he is not really up to the standards of the regions.  I think he is a bit better at being a motivator of a team who feel they need to prove something, than as a man who can instil pride and self belief (damn Kingsley/Lyn Jones for constantly using that word).  He is a bit like one of those teachers you had in school, who wants to be your friend.

I can understand the Nov. deadline for him, if it is true, as the Currie Cup and ITC should be done by then, so there may be a chance of picking up a Saffer or Kiwi coach wanting to try overseas work.

I seriously hope not, what is wrong with Dale Mackintosh, he has won all that can be won at club level, yet he is constantly being overlooked at regional level, also the players would be to scared to step out of line with him there.

I'd welcome Macintosh in to the coaching team but i would prefer him to come in as assitant/forwards coach before taking over. Him coming in to a set up like ours as the guy in charge, if we continue to fail then he gets made a scapegoat and a big excuse for ponty fans to say we've nicked their coach and then fired him.

Long term successor - yes
Next guy in charge? I'd prefer him to learn pro coaching first. It's a lot different coaching a semi pro team than a pro team, no disrespect. I just would like him fully clued up and then ready to take the reigns when it's right.

It has not been an issue for Steve Tandy at the Ospreys.

Yes but look at the team he got, this is miles different. How we are now is similar to when Dai Young took over. We need to someone in to steady the ship and get us back to winning ways and, in my eyes, there's a definite role for him in the coaching set up. But i wouldn't want the burden of turning us around to fall on his inexperienced shoulders, that's just unfair.

Ah, now come on gcBlues, when you have players like Warburton, Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkings, Navidi, Lloyd Williams, Harry Robinson, Patchell, you cannot tell me these players will not win you games and turn things around. When these players are playing for their national coaches they look like world beaters, by the time they come to play for the Blues the almost forget how to tackle, pass, run, kick, scrummage, this is down to the attitudes of the players towards their coaches, there is definatley something wrong and I say bring in fresh faces before the rot sets in to deep to be removed.

LordDowlais wrote:Ah, now come on gcBlues, when you have players like Warburton, Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkings, Navidi, Lloyd Williams, Harry Robinson, Patchell, you cannot tell me these players will not win you games and turn things around. When these players are playing for their national coaches they look like world beaters, by the time they come to play for the Blues the almost forget how to tackle, pass, run, kick, scrummage, this is down to the attitudes of the players towards their coaches, there is definatley something wrong and I say bring in fresh faces before the rot sets in to deep to be removed.

Tandy had excellent coaches around him, Humphrey's in particular

McIntosh would have Gareth Baber...if he is unlucky.

Wales606 - and Kyriacou too.

LordDowlais wrote:Ah, now come on gcBlues, when you have players like Warburton, Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkings, Navidi, Lloyd Williams, Harry Robinson, Patchell, you cannot tell me these players will not win you games and turn things around. When these players are playing for their national coaches they look like world beaters, by the time they come to play for the Blues the almost forget how to tackle, pass, run, kick, scrummage, this is down to the attitudes of the players towards their coaches, there is definatley something wrong and I say bring in fresh faces before the rot sets in to deep to be removed.

And i don't disagree with you, i'm just saying Tandy has come in to an environment with a complete squad which is the best in wales. We have good players, but not a good squad. Which is why i would be against giving mackintosh full charge of the whole thing because it would be unfair to him in his first pro job. I've had enough of us giving people their first coaching jobs at the expense of winning and success. We gave Dai Young his start and it was a torrid couple of seasons before we got success. Then he leaves and we give the reigns to Burnell and Baber...in their first years as head coaches and look what happened there. Then we go for Phil Davies, who wasn't good enough to be D.O.R at Worcester yet he is with us? Ridiculous.

Which is why i would like a coach who isn't from wales and has no ties to the national/regional/club game. I want someone who is going to come in and look after OUR intentions, not team wales. I want someone to come in and stamp his authority on the region and drive us forward, not come in and make his former players a coach/captain/vice captain. Someone who isn't bogged down with petty geographical rivalries, we need a fresh start as a region.

Which is why, if he is fired in november, we need someone in from the SH asap to lead the region.

ATTN: Wales 606.
Get out the party hats and confetti...

Cardiff Blues have today announced that Attack/Backs Coach Gareth Baber will leave the region at the end of the year.Baber, who has made a massive impact as part of the coaching team at the region over the last seven years, is to take on a new Head Coach position overseas.
The 41-year-old has enjoyed a long association with the Blues after initially joining the Academy set-up following his retirement from playing in 2007.

The former scrum half, who featured for Cardiff, Llanelli, Aberavon, Bristol Rugby, Pontypridd and Newport Gwent Dragons during his playing days, has also previously worked as Assistant Coach with Wales Under-20s and coached Wales 7s.

Baber will remain at Blues until the end of 2013 and insisted he still had much to achieve in the coming months.

He said: "I would like to thank everyone concerned with the Cardiff Blues, players and staff, but also pay a specific thanks to the fantastic fans who have gone through all the changes with the region and showed unwavering support.

"I started here as an Academy coach and have come through the Blues system into the senior environment and I would like to thank Peter Thomas and the board as well as Dai Young, Justin Burnell and Phil Davies for their roles in developing my skills over the last seven years here.

"Opportunities like the overseas role I will be taking up do not come along very often and I see it as a progression for me in terms of the job specification. It's a good challenge to add to my skills as a coach and I thank Cardiff Blues for their understanding and support with this.

"I am now focussed on the rest of the year at Blues and all we have still to achieve. We have a big European competition to look forward to and a clear focus to gain positive results in the RaboDirect PRO12.

"I truly believe the squad is progressing and evolving under the guidance of Phil Davies year on year and I'm sure the future is an exciting one for Cardiff Blues."

More follows...



My favourite line is the first one, they say he's had a "massive impact" but they don't actually say was a good one...

Good riddance.

YESSSSS!!!!

   

Just a pity we still have 9 months to put up with

I'm am so sorry to whatever "overseas team" end up with the worst coach in the history of the game

9 Months? I thought he was going at the end of this calendar year.

Coleman wrote:9 Months? I thought he was going at the end of this calendar year.

Yep, my mistake

     

Apparently he will be out the door as soon as his replacement is found

gcBlues wrote:ATTN: Wales 606.
Get out the party hats and confetti...

Cardiff Blues have today announced that Attack/Backs Coach Gareth Baber will leave the region at the end of the year.Baber, who has made a massive impact as part of the coaching team at the region over the last seven years, is to take on a new Head Coach position overseas.
The 41-year-old has enjoyed a long association with the Blues after initially joining the Academy set-up following his retirement from playing in 2007.

The former scrum half, who featured for Cardiff, Llanelli, Aberavon, Bristol Rugby, Pontypridd and Newport Gwent Dragons during his playing days, has also previously worked as Assistant Coach with Wales Under-20s and coached Wales 7s.

Baber will remain at Blues until the end of 2013 and insisted he still had much to achieve in the coming months.

He said: "I would like to thank everyone concerned with the Cardiff Blues, players and staff, but also pay a specific thanks to the fantastic fans who have gone through all the changes with the region and showed unwavering support.

"I started here as an Academy coach and have come through the Blues system into the senior environment and I would like to thank Peter Thomas and the board as well as Dai Young, Justin Burnell and Phil Davies for their roles in developing my skills over the last seven years here.

"Opportunities like the overseas role I will be taking up do not come along very often and I see it as a progression for me in terms of the job specification. It's a good challenge to add to my skills as a coach and I thank Cardiff Blues for their understanding and support with this.

"I am now focussed on the rest of the year at Blues and all we have still to achieve. We have a big European competition to look forward to and a clear focus to gain positive results in the RaboDirect PRO12.

"I truly believe the squad is progressing and evolving under the guidance of Phil Davies year on year and I'm sure the future is an exciting one for Cardiff Blues."

More follows...



My favourite line is the first one, they say he's had a "massive impact" but they don't actually say was a good one...

I can't pick a favourite, they are all comedy gold. Sounds like he's spent the last 7 years memorising the management strategisation techniques of David Brent.

Time to get a real job - no future in rugby.

 
Us fans can be quite harsh when we're wound up can't we.

What's a Turk in this context ?

IMO the Blues have been treading water for years. They hung on to Young far too long and allowed him to "learn" his trade (I think he went on to become a good coach but he delivered little success for the Blues). The coaching decisions since Young have been poor - I can't imagine Phil Davies inspiring anyone. I think too many people underestimate the role the coach has. The Blues looked clueless against Zebre - a culture shock is needed.

offload wrote:IMO the Blues have been treading water for years.  

Good euphemism.

Since Young's final year in charge they have been. He left his contract early because he could see it was a sinking ship (thanks to the guys at the top). Guess what, now it's sank!

The Saint wrote:Since Young's final year in charge they have been. He left his contract early because he could see it was a sinking ship (thanks to the guys at the top). Guess what, now it's sank!

Aye, Dai got out at the right time.