Johnson Given Ultimatum

The RFU have given MJ 7 - 14 days to decide if he wishes to continue in his role:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15284735.stm

Its rather an odd situation really, since it could be argued that the RFU are the ones responsible for the general lack of progress.

I love how Stuart Barnes is suddenly the voice of wisdom, saying he never thought Johnson should've been appointed despite praising him before the France game. Ah, the glory of hindsight...

So Johno goes....who comes in?

I still think its the coaches that are the problem.

I still think any problem with the coaching/management of the England first team is small fry to the mess that is the RFU board. Get the house in order first then let's worry about our poor line speed and lack of defensive organisation, poor selections and impotent attacking plans.

He should be retained for the 6 nations at least untill they get their house in order. Theres no point in bringing in a new coach now that isnt the one the new board ( when it is formed) would have picked.

Johnson has ben left high and dry by the way he was appointed, and by being undermined by people who didnt want him there since day one.

If they do force him to coimmit suicide then any coach/manager appointed now should be a short term fill in, who is given the opportunity to apply for a long term role once the RFU is re-restructred and its clear who is in charge long term again.

At the minute you ahve a guy in charge who many senior figures wont work under. Thats a much bigger issue than Johnsons short term future.

EnglishReign wrote:I love how Stuart Barnes is suddenly the voice of wisdom, saying he never thought Johnson should've been appointed despite praising him before the France game. Ah, the glory of hindsight...

Nobody named 'Barnes' can do anything wrong im my eyes.

Just sack and reform the RFU and sack the English management. Job done!

MJ should never have been given the role. I feel sorry for the man, but at the same time he should have declined it. That said, it must be a really difficult oppertunity to turn down. I think with the right experience behind him Johnson could be an excellent manager

Why does he need to go? England won a pretty tough group, they beat Scotland and Argentina and massacred Romania and Georgia. They were put out by France who were a better team. End of Story.

I can't see how MJ is held responsible. What he should be held accountable for is the behaviour of his players off the field.

I think this is a poor way to play it by the RFU. "Tell us whether you want to carry on and then we'll decide whether you can". If I was Johnson I'd feel like telling them to shove their job

Barnes is an idiot and like others are just jumping on the bandwagon, if England gone further then the would have been blowing smoke up his you know where.

From an outsiders POV the RFU would be mad to get rid of Jonno, agree some of his back up staff should be moved on and he be allowed to bring in his own team.

mckay1402 wrote:I think this is a poor way to play it by the RFU. "Tell us whether you want to carry on and then we'll decide whether you can". If I was Johnson I'd feel like telling them to shove their job

Looking at it that way though...if he is going to quit he should quit soon so that they can get someone in place with time to prepare for the 6 nations.

After the 2011 6 Nations the same was being said by most about the welsh manager and the back room staff. Maybe people need to stop and take stock a little bit.

Maybe they had a point, Wales havent won anything of consequence since 2008...

But on the other hand, you make a valid point, throwing the baby out with the bathwater would be a mistake in my opinion.

Gotta say as an Irishman I didn't understand his appointment in the first place and didn't like him as a player (not saying he wasn't good) or as a coach for the first couple of years.

However I think he's matured into the role and I kinda like him now and would like to see coach the lions in 2013.

I have to ask what is Andrews position in all this, surley as Johnson Line Manager he should have stepped in and addressed the players on all that happended and back him up, but yet we heard nothing squeky keeping him self clean, now he is chairing a review into the players actions..... he could of sorted this out at the time and nipped it in the bud.... i await but ultimatley Johnson will go coaches will stay and so will all the other incumbents and Andrew will lord over yet another coach... 3 and counting surley it is always the Manager but never the coaches (hahaha) or players or the RFU's fault..........

Great player, but I'm yet to be convinced of his coaching pedigree. One thing I have to say is I absolutely detest the way he comes across in interviews and post/pre game conferences.

Leading by example and taking media pressure in his stride is always going to be part and parcel of any high profile coaching job

humpy wrote:I have to ask what is Andrews position in all this, surley as Johnson Line Manager he should have stepped in and addressed the players on all that happended and back him up, but yet we heard nothing squeky keeping him self clean, now he is chairing a review into the players actions..... he could of sorted this out at the time and nipped it in the bud.... i await but ultimatley Johnson will go coaches will stay and so will all the other incumbents and Andrew will lord over yet another coach... 3 and counting surley it is always the Manager but never the coaches (hahaha) or players or the RFU's fault..........

Part of the role for Johnson is control. Andrew gave him it and is only responsible for putting him in post (maybe not even that as I've heard the board force the issue and Andrew wanted to keep Ashton)

narmstrong wrote:Great player, but I'm yet to be convinced of his coaching pedigree.

Well the problem is that he had absolutely no pedigree when he took over. It was a staggering leap of faith; TV companies make the mistake of assuming good players will make good pundits, but for the RFU to have made the assumption that a good player would make a good manager is way beyond that.

Golden, I wouldn't want Johnson anywhere near the 2013 Lions.

luckless_pedestrian wrote:

narmstrong wrote:Great player, but I'm yet to be convinced of his coaching pedigree.

Golden, I wouldn't want Johnson anywhere near the 2013 Lions.

have to agree there, he really hasnt been helped at all either by upstairs or downstairs.

I'm astonished that this was even made public to me it sounds like the RU are trying to force him out.
The English media are going to have a field day with this.

I agree but is coaching team has got to be looked at. Wells and Ford have
been there for five years and Smith only slightly less than Johnson. The
other area that Johnson needs to look at within himself is his selection
policy. He is a man who appreciates loyalty and will give it back in kind.
That trait must be put on the back burner. Selection should be on form more
than reputation and in future he must br prepared to punish those who let
him down. He must look at players who are prepared to take responsibility on
the field. He is an icon who many do not like to question because of that
status. He must build a culture in the team where every player can put his
point of view but making sure that the team ethos remains. Difficult but
necessary.