Matt O'Connor has left Leicester Tigers

[Which Tyler]

It's a name that seems persistently li ked with Tigers ,both as speculation and rumour.
It is not a thing I would wish on my worst enemy - which is rather appropriate when talking about Tigers

[Oakboy]

The real Leicester went missing a while back. They used to set the standard. Then, there were all sorts of odd decisions. Good players left to be replaced by worse ones. England need a strong Leicester with the core values at the right level.

I've no idea how things should be put right. Sack the board and get Deano back?

[Mikey Brown]

What the fuck. I really don't see how this happens.

[Puja]

Mike Ford?

Not even funny.

Puja needs to ban you for that

Puja probably put him up to it.

As I said on the Transfer Rumours, Mike Ford's ousted the Germany coach and is going to take them into the repechage tournament for the last RWC spot. So, we'll no doubt wait until after the RWC to get him.

Puja

[Tigersman]

What the fuck. I really don't see how this happens.

what happens?

[Mikey Brown]

How you can start a season in a position where one bad result means ditching your head coach.

[Tigersman]

How you can start a season in a position where one bad result means ditching your head coach.

Maybe it was a complicated pre-season.

[twitchy]

How you can start a season in a position where one bad result means ditching your head coach.

I'm guessing it wasn't one bad result and the end of the line of a load of bad things. In his post match interview he said the reason they lost was because a number of the first team weren't up to speed on fitness (which obviously he is 100% in charge of). Everyone collectively scratched their head.

[Scrumhead]

Board need shooting in the first place for having a "worldwide search for a leading coach" and coming up with our former assistant who left to go be unwhelming elsewhere. After hiring and then firing, they've got to fall on their swords, especially after choosing this timing to do it.

Puja

I sympathise. Feels very much like when Quins did a ‘worldwide search for a leading coach’ and promoted John Kingston.

It’s a good squad and attractive job, but you really do need the right man.

[Tigersman]

You know what I really don't get is people saying it's one game, It isn't though its 13 months.

[Stom]

You know what I really don't get is people saying it's one game, It isn't though its 13 months.

It's just weird to happen 1 game into a new season. Like something has changed between pre-season and now.

And surely it has. If Tigers get their structure right, they'll be back at the top of the game in no time. Can they manage it? Their squad is good enough.

[Puja]

You know what I really don't get is people saying it's one game, It isn't though its 13 months.

If someone's been trusted with pre-season, then they've been given the majority of the prep and organisation time for that season. It's very hard to change course in any meaningful manner after the season has started - you just don't have the training time. So we've set our course, invested in it, and then abandoned it with only one game's worth of evidence of if it was going to work or not.

Basically, if he's been on a knife edge because of last season, then he shouldn't've been given the pre-season at all, and if it was believed that he had the ability could turn around the previous 10 months, then he should've been given more than 1 game.

Mind, there is virtue to abandoning ship early; at least we're still in Europe this time.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

There’s a strong squad there including lots of experienced players.

It’s clear enough that they weren’t buying in to O’Connor anyway, so I’m not sure that him no longer being there makes a huge amount of difference.

Obviously they need a proper head coach but there’s enough experience on the field and in the coaching staff to get the squad organised.

[Mellsblue]

If it’s true, as the times are saying, that O’Connor told Ford to kick the ball away at every opportunity then I’m glad he’s gone. England need a fully functioning Ford - whether you believe that’s starting or just in the squad - if we are going to have a decent AI’s, let alone win the World Cup.
After failing to reach the play-offs for the first time you’d think efforts would be redoubled. Instead, O’Connor returned later than agreed after the summer break and oversaw a pre-season that left the players unfit.

[twitchy]

I think they should go for lancaster.

[Digby]

Eddie? Just to nicely round out coaches leaving England

And I agree with Puja that board resignations should follow, they have specifically guided the club into this mess, even if we allow that wasn't their intent it does rather suggest they're simply not good enough

[Digby]

Obviously they need a proper head coach but there’s enough experience on the field and in the coaching staff to get the squad organised.

Where's the experience in the coaching staff? And I don't just mean taking some sessions, but in this instance taking some failing ideas and a failing squad and transforming it in positive fashion. I'd be of the view they specifically lack experience with so many recent players involved

[Scrumhead]

I was thinking of Murphy and Bakewell

[Digby]

Murphy would be in a grouping I'd label inexperienced

[Mikey Brown]

You know what I really don't get is people saying it's one game, It isn't though its 13 months.

If someone's been trusted with pre-season, then they've been given the majority of the prep and organisation time for that season. It's very hard to change course in any meaningful manner after the season has started - you just don't have the training time. So we've set our course, invested in it, and then abandoned it with only one game's worth of evidence of if it was going to work or not.

Basically, if he's been on a knife edge because of last season, then he shouldn't've been given the pre-season at all, and if it was believed that he had the ability could turn around the previous 10 months, then he should've been given more than 1 game.

Mind, there is virtue to abandoning ship early; at least we're still in Europe this time.

Puja

Yes. All that stuff.

[Puja]

I think they should go for lancaster.

Given how well he's gone with Leinster, I would take your hand off at the wrist if you offered me Lancaster (preferably with Cullen coming across with him).

Puja

[Scrumhead]

For all Saracens’ success, I’d still regard Leicester as the biggest English club in terms of history and fan base.

As with Quins, there is a lot of quality players in the squad who have been underperforming. For an ambitious coach it’s a great job, but I think Leicester can attract a higher profile coach than Quins.

As others have said, Lancaster would be a good shout but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few big names are interested.

I’d go for someone like Vern Cotter.

[BenHK]

Jim Mallinder and Dorian West.

According to Neil Fissler on Twitter they were at the Premiership shield game....

[Puja]

Jim Mallinder and Dorian West.

According to Neil Fissler on Twitter they were at the Premiership shield game....

Ban. For making a moderator cry.

Puja

[Tigersman]

I couldn't stomach Lancaster at Tigers.

I have my list, just not sure the BOD do.
DOR wise
Gatland (With Rowntree maybe coming in as well)
Venter
Haig
Are potentially realistic and I think would be able to work with most of the coaches as is.

Head coach wise should Murphy not be up to it yet.
Gibson
Wessels
de Bruin
Mitchell
Vesty
O'Gara