Bath sack M. Ford

First topic message reminder :

Well it had to come didn't it? Surprised he hung on as long as he did. He should have gone after messing up with Sam Burgess let alone the day he publicly blamed his players for losing after a match. Yes you can tick players off as a coach but don't ever do it live on TV just after a game. I doubt the dressing room were enamored with him after that little outburst. Then if you take 9th position in the AP in to account well he just had to go. With a decent coach Bath will be back up there in no time.

Sam Ford was flattered by a stuttering Leicester side last season.

You talk about terrible recruitment but they've got most of the same players, how did the RWC hurt them? It's not as if they were the only team who had absentees.

Exeter were unlucky not to make the top 4.

Bath weren't close to beating Sarries in the final. I would say that if they had faced them - Saints or Exeter would have beaten Bath in the playoffs.

9th is a big drop.

Bath were the masters of their own downfall in that final. Asking their tight five to try such an expansive game led to errors and Sarries are masters at exploiting errors.

The RWC started the Burgess fiasco which damaged morale and left them with the unprepared and unsuitable Denton. The loss of Stringer cannot be underestimated, with a young dynamic back line a general at 9 was a must.

Bath's implosion has been spectacular and something had to change.

Exeter were developing as a team last season, Bath were flying high. Exeter improved during the off season, Bath went backwards. Bath were going to the final last season and only Sarries were going to stop them from winning the AP title.

Bath, Irish and Quins all show how difficult it is to turn around losing runs.

No matter what your teams like once you start losing, getting that first win becomes far harder then it should on paper. That was a big part of Baths season, they never got a run of wins to build confidence so ended up playing within themselves.

Sam teams generally are the masters of their own downfall.

Denton is only one player and can probably be molded into a decent asset with the right coaching set up.

Reminds me of the Richie Gray situation at Sale.

Loss of a 38 year old scrum half, when you're relying on him you know you're in hot water...


Bath shouldn't implode but the infrastructure in place is poor. The academy is not functioning as it should be.

Losing one player like Burgess should not destabilise a team like that.

I still believe Exeter would have had a much better chance beating Sarries than Bath last season.

Compare Bath's hooker options to the current top 5 there's a stark difference in quality.


Yappysnap true momentum is important but I think all three of those teams need a coaching change anyway. Two are getting them, not sure what's going on at LI, has their DOR gone?

It's going to be a good job to come into going into the new season. Injured players mainly back, chance for a few new guys and money no object.