Dragons Season Thread - 2018/19 - aka Year 2 of the 3 Year Plan

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

So we made it to the end of the 2017/18 season.  We've seen/endured the first year of Bernard Jackman's plan.  I think most of us have been through a rollercoaster of emotions, similar to previous seasons but perhaps even more so this season given the new injection of life and investment into the Dragons.  First there was the hope - the new coaches, some new players, the new pitch, new chairman, new cash injection.  Then we started to stumble - it's all down to the new coach and getting used to the new systems, we said.  Then came the face plant and the realisation that this trend was going to carry on for the whole season - a couple of wins in the league, a few in Europe, a lot of spankings, not many losing bonus points.  Very poor return.  The hope turned to despair and BJ's methods were being questioned.  Then the hope comes again with the announcement of new signings ('stellar' signings, compared to previous years!) and the assurance that the 1st year of the plan was always going to be difficult and that year 2 would be the one to judge BJ on.....  

So.......on to year 2 (2018/19).  Where are we?  What are our expectations (realistically)?  What's the best team we can put out on paper and how competitive will it be?  For a number of years we've been stuffed in the league so seem to try to get some solace from a decent showing in the Euro 2nd tier comp.  However, should we forget about Europe and try to put all of our focus on the league?  I think so.

Transfers - we've lost more than we've gained, although the quality of the transfers in could/should be better than those leaving.  But I'm worried we'll be thin on the ground when the inevitable injuries hit.

Players In: = 14
Jordan Williams from England Bristol Bears
Rhodri Williams from England Bristol Bears
Ross Moriarty from England Gloucester
Rhodri Davies from England Rotherham Titans
Richard Hibbard from England Gloucester
Huw Taylor from England Worcester Warriors
Josh Lewis from England Bath
Ryan Bevington from England Bristol Bears
Aaron Jarvis from France Clermont
Dafydd Howells from Wales Ospreys
Tiaan Loots from Wales RGC 1404
Jacob Botica from Wales RGC 1404
Rhys Lawrence from England Ealing Trailfinders
Brandon Nansen from France

Players Out: - =21
Sarel Pretorius to South Africa Southern Kings
Phil Price to Wales Scarlets
Scott Andrews to Wales Neath
Luke Garrett to Wales Neath
Adam Hughes retired
Pat Howard to England Ealing Trailfinders
Rhys Buckley to Wales Bargoed
Barney Nightingale to Wales Bargoed
Keagan Bale to Wales Bargoed
Angus O'Brien to Wales Scarlets
Nicky Thomas to Wales Scarlets (return from short-term loan)
Dorian Jones to France Angoulême
Charlie Davies to England Northampton Saints
Lloyd Lewis to Wales Pontypool
Sam Beard to New Zealand Canterbury
Sam Hobbs released
Thomas Davies released
Liam Belcher released
Ashley Sweet released
Robson Blake released
Carl Meyer released

I'll try to update the Ins and Outs as we go.

[SecretFly]

Sh1t flavoured lard?

Oh me God, the very best kind! The caviar of lard. A big dollop of it on a pan with some nice bacon and sausages........... divine.

[RiscaGame]

The fact that Buttress has been quiet on Dragons matters today (and after the game) and hasn’t given his usual all pull together chat, is making cling on to the glimmer of hope that either Bernard has done the right thing and resigned (no chance), or he’s about to be put out of his misery. I doubt it, but it’s nice to have a dream.

Even the most bullish of the you can’t sack the coach crowd have lost faith. That’s when you know things are bad. Mine went last season, but I didn’t think some would lose faith after 1.5 seasons of the 3 year plan.

Plus our Dragons might be getting a rocket for locking or blocking supporters in the ground as well. Not from H + S, but the Human Rights Act for torturing their support.

Never mind. We play Timisoara Saracens next month, so another win might be on the horizon. Onwards and upwards. Let’s all pull together.

[Stone Motif]

Sh1t flavoured lard?

Oh me God, the very best kind!  The caviar of lard.  A big dollop of it on a pan with some nice bacon and sausages........... divine.

This pile came with a potato for a head and a load of tripe. And no dessert.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I left after their full back scored - the first time I've ever left before the final whistle. The atmosphere was flat as a pancake almost the whole time. People aren't even angry any more, or even surprised. I found it hard to care, which is pretty worrying.

This is as strong a squad as we've hard for years. Lyn and Kingsley (and Darren Edwards, and Paul Turner) would have loved to have this squad, and they'd be getting a damn sight more out of it.

[RiscaGame]

Never mind. He will keep the hot seat warm until McBryde or Howley are done with Team Wales, I reckon. There’ll be a few more dark days to come yet, this season.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

After we scored our try, to make it 19 - 10 I think, they started playing 'We Will Rock You' on the PA. That's taking the piss when we were 19 - 0 down in no time.

It felt like the end of something on Saturday. Like the fight had gone out of the crowd, if not the players. I know I was on the North Terrace which can be quiet anyway, but there was so little coming from the Hazell.

EDIT: It was actually 26-3 before we scored. Don't insult your customers with 'We Will Rock You', FFS.

[RiscaGame]

Well you know I hate things like that, as you’ve probably seen me kick off about Dragons writing trrryyyyyyyyyy like that, when the try doesn’t make a difference to the result.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Maybe if they wrote 'consolation trrryyyyyyyyyy' instead

[LondonTiger]

Maybe if they wrote 'consolation trrryyyyyyyyyy' instead

Well, we got hammered by Bristol on Saturday BUT our only try has been nominated for try of the week

[Stone Motif]

Maybe if they wrote 'consolation trrryyyyyyyyyy' instead

Well, we got hammered by Bristol on Saturday BUT our only try has been nominated for try of the week

See how much of a consolation that feels when you ship a bonus point slaughter every single away game

[LondonTiger]

Maybe if they wrote 'consolation trrryyyyyyyyyy' instead

Well, we got hammered by Bristol on Saturday BUT our only try has been nominated for try of the week

See how much of a consolation that feels when you ship a bonus point slaughter every single away game

Home or away matters not a jot to us - we are handing out TBPs to the opposition like sweets at halloween.

Not sure though if it is worse to be us - with memories of having once been good, or you guys who have always been ... well not very good. Perhaps we will meet in the European Mickey Mouse Cup next year?

Anyway please accept my commiserations from one who knows what it is like to watch a team that seem to have given up with senior management who just seem to be taking the piss.

[RiscaGame]

Maybe if they wrote 'consolation trrryyyyyyyyyy' instead

It might help.

[Stone Motif]

Maybe if they wrote 'consolation trrryyyyyyyyyy' instead

Well, we got hammered by Bristol on Saturday BUT our only try has been nominated for try of the week

See how much of a consolation that feels when you ship a bonus point slaughter every single away game

Home or away matters not a jot to us - we are handing out TBPs to the opposition like sweets at halloween.

Not sure though if it is worse to be us - with memories of having once been good, or you guys who have always been ... well not very good. Perhaps we will meet in the European Mickey Mouse Cup next year?

Anyway please accept my commiserations from one who knows what it is like to watch a team that seem to have given up with senior management who just seem to be taking the piss.

I know just the coach to turn Leicester around.

[RiscaGame]

Good to see Uncle Bernie putting all his eggs into the derbies basket. He’s a very shrewd man. Never mind the fact that we have to bed in a new defensive system before them and all that. One win in the derbies will save his skin.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I fear what the score's going to be over in Clermont. At least you can enjoy the cuisine.

[RiscaGame]

I would’ve been happy to go still. The atmosphere would be incredible, if they’re running in that many scores.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Late injury to Arwel Thomas, so Josh Lewis starts.

Northampton: G Furbank, O Sleighholme, R Hutchinson, L Burrell, T Naiyaravoro, D Biggar, A Mitchell, A Waller (captain), J Fish, B Franks, A Ratuniyarawa, A Moon, J Gibson, T Wood, T Harrison. Replacements: R Marshall, W Davis, E Painter, D Ribbans, M Eadie, C Reinach, F Strachan, A Kellaway​.

Dragons: H Amos, D Howells, A Warren, J Dixon, Z Kirchner, J Lewis, T Knoyle, R Bevington, R Hibbard (captain), L Fairbrother, B Nansen, L Evans, H Keddie, N Cudd, O Griffiths. Replacements: R Lawrence, A Jarvis, N Thomas, M Screech, H Taylor, J Benjamin, R Davies, J Williams.

Referee: Thomas Charabas (France)

https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/17283506.team-news-lewis-in-at-10-for-dragons-for-northampton-after-late-robson-blow/

God damn it, it's still a much stronger side than previous seasons even with (almost) all the Wales players missing, but it's impossible to have any confidence that we'll get a result.

[RiscaGame]

Arwel who?

Still a strong Saints team.

Us, I’m happy to see Dixon get a start. He’s been our defensive leader in the backs before this season, so why we haven’t selected him the last few weeks is beyond me, when our defence needs sorting. Finally we see Amos at 15 too. Pretty poor bench for ya. Nicky flipping Thomas mun.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Arwel Thomas He's still got it!

I did hear someone question why our best defensive inside centre has been off playing for Ebbw Vale.

[Stone Motif]

So we're spite-playing Amos in every game I guess before he scoots off down the road?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Actually a midfield of Dixon and Warren is about as sound as we can muster. It's not a bad side at all, I just have no faith it'll do anything.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Amos did well not to slump his shoulders on Saturday. I was watching him in the second half and I wondered what must have been going through his head.

[mikey_dragon]

Only 8 tries to 2.

[Guest]

Yeah, we showed that Northampton lot!

[RiscaGame]

Bloody Edwards Coaches

[Stone Motif]

If the Poopie-flavoured lard isn't gone by Monday this club is being purposely run down. Only joy is that the WRU won't make Frak all from that ground when they do try and sell it.

[Guest]

Bloody Edwards Coaches

Just read about that. So amateurish isn’t it?! We can’t afford to stay over night so get a bus up the day of the game, it turns up really late so we end up arriving in Northampton as Biggar is taking practice kicks - i.e. right before kick off. Great preparation for a pro team

I know sometimes sh*t happens and you can’t help mechanical breakdowns and stuff, but if you had to guess which side this would happen to most people would have Dragons high up their list. It wouldn’t be such a problem if we were staying the night before like most teams would (I expect) as we’d just get to bed a bit later, so it’s a problem directly related to our lowly financial status, and one compounded by the fact that we are gash and need all the help we can get to be able to compete, including a decent arrival and warm up.

[RiscaGame]

It’s inexcusable really. The way Chris Kirwan wrote it, is it made them late for their team meeting in a hotel, which for me means they decided to still go ahead with that, knowing they were late. I don’t get why (when they’re clearly counting every penny), they’re still doing this hotel meeting thing anyway, as there can’t be anything more to discuss when they’ve had since Tuesday to discuss the game (being generous and giving them all of Monday to deal with the Leinster fallout). But if they’re going to do the day travel thing, leave early. I get the bus broke down, but they clearly didn’t leave enough time on their journey for unexpected delays.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Clermont are going to score 80-odd points against us, maybe even 100. I'm not kidding. The only way they'll score fewer is if they lose interest on account of it being so easy.

[RiscaGame]

We might shock people and keep it below 60

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Oosh.

'Dragons have parted company with head coach Bernard Jackman.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46519494

[carpet baboon]

Rob howley to take over?

[carpet baboon]

Or could this be Henson's first coaching job (is he still with you)

[munkian]

Mallinder apparently

[Brendan]

Not surprised to be fair, mutual consent would be leaving before sacked

Any idea on head coach. Is there any way S. Jones would want a shot at it or is he definitely going to Wales. Might be good to get a Welsh coach in.

The short list will be interesting and say alot about where the WRU want to take the Dragons. Think if they could get Deon Davis or that type person who gets the most out of the team it would be great. Is there a hard nose coach like Cockrill who can at least make you hard to break down. I think it is fair to say that of the bottom teams they have improved the least (If at all) over the last 3 years

[Luckless Pedestrian]

We still need a defence coach too!

[Brendan]

Mallinder apparently

That would be a good appointment just don't keep him for 10 years like saints

Is the league becoming the coaching league of second chances

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I think it is fair to say that of the bottom teams they have improved the least (If at all) over the last 3 years

And that's despite having brought in new players over the summer. That's the most damning thing. He's got better players now but he still can't get a tune out of them.

[munkian]

Landman to get more games then

[munkian]

Jackman to Munster.

[RiscaGame]

Landman to get more games then

If he hasn’t decided to move already like Amos.

[RiscaGame]

This is good news anyway. Sad that he has lost his job and all that, but I feel like a weight has been lifted today. Wasn’t keen on the direction we were heading in at all and it’s evident that people were losing faith in Buttress etc too.

[munkian]

Landman to get more games then

If he hasn’t decided to move already like Amos.

Blues were sniffing around before weren't they ?

[RiscaGame]

I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised, if other pro teams rated him more than Jackman did.

[Guest]

Jake White

(just for SecretFly, if he's reading!)

Edit: no word of a lie I just had a text from a mate saying he's heard Jake White's name is in the frame! Haha. Linked to every job.

[Guest]

Just read a comment on the Argus site suggesting Sam Warburton for the role (with support). For God's sake! I know Warbs was an excellent player. And I'm sure he won't do any worse than Jackman. But really?! The last thing we need is experimentation and inexperience.

Like the sound of Malinder though. Although, is that realistic or just a name bandied about because he's out of work?

In reality it's the ultimate poison chalice. Take a club at the bottom of the league, with less money than everyone (apparently) but with an expectation to be challenging for play offs, and under the microscope of the Welsh public and pundits. It's a near impossible job. It either needs a ton more money chucked at it. More than the other regions are getting. So that's not going to happen. Or it needs some sort of miracle worker to get more out of the players than any other coach has managed (although this year's crop on paper are better). We need a Neil Warnock type (sorry to use a football example). Or a Harry Redknapp maybe? Someone who seems to consistently get out of the teams more than the sum of their parts. Anyone we know like that in rugby?!

[Guest]

Someone else has suggested Lancaster! Why on earth would he come to the Dragons from Leinster?! He's looking up not looking at rock bottom!

[Brendan]

Just read a comment on the Argus site suggesting Sam Warburton for the role (with support).  For God's sake!  I know Warbs was an excellent player.  And I'm sure he won't do any worse than Jackman.  But really?!  The last thing we need is experimentation and inexperience.  

Like the sound of Malinder though.  Although, is that realistic or just a name bandied about because he's out of work?

In reality it's the ultimate poison chalice.  Take a club at the bottom of the league, with less money than everyone (apparently) but with an expectation to be challenging for play offs, and under the microscope of the Welsh public and pundits.  It's a near impossible job.  It either needs a ton more money chucked at it.  More than the other regions are getting.  So that's not going to happen.  Or it needs some sort of miracle worker to get more out of the players than any other coach has managed (although this year's crop on paper are better).  We need a Neil Warnock type (sorry to use a football example).  Or a Harry Redknapp maybe?  Someone who seems to consistently get out of the teams more than the sum of their parts.  Anyone we know like that in rugby?!

Are Dragon fans really looking for play offs surely mid table would be a happy place to be for the moment.
I think a few(maybe any) away wins, Welsh derby wins (against the blues) and at least be still in with a shot of winning home games at 60mins would make fans happy for a year or two

As Connacht and Edinburgh have shown it does take much to go from near bottom to near Play-offs with no major player changes.

[Brendan]

Plus if Dragons get their act together the fight for 4th might be too nailbitting

[Guest]

Just read a comment on the Argus site suggesting Sam Warburton for the role (with support).  For God's sake!  I know Warbs was an excellent player.  And I'm sure he won't do any worse than Jackman.  But really?!  The last thing we need is experimentation and inexperience.  

Like the sound of Malinder though.  Although, is that realistic or just a name bandied about because he's out of work?

In reality it's the ultimate poison chalice.  Take a club at the bottom of the league, with less money than everyone (apparently) but with an expectation to be challenging for play offs, and under the microscope of the Welsh public and pundits.  It's a near impossible job.  It either needs a ton more money chucked at it.  More than the other regions are getting.  So that's not going to happen.  Or it needs some sort of miracle worker to get more out of the players than any other coach has managed (although this year's crop on paper are better).  We need a Neil Warnock type (sorry to use a football example).  Or a Harry Redknapp maybe?  Someone who seems to consistently get out of the teams more than the sum of their parts.  Anyone we know like that in rugby?!

Are Dragon fans really looking for play offs surely mid table would be a happy place to be for the moment.
I think a few(maybe any) away wins, Welsh derby wins (against the blues) and at least be still in with a shot of winning home games at 60mins would make fans happy for a year or two

As Connacht and Edinburgh have shown it does take much to go from near bottom to near Play-offs with no major player changes.

Well, if you are mid table then often you're close enough to be challenging for play offs. Mid-table tends to be just outside the play off places, and there might be a few teams around that mid point vying for a play off place if one of the teams above slips up.

I'm not saying they should be in the play offs. But certainly an improvement in a 14 league tournament from bottom 3 would be to be aiming for mid table (so around 7th, 8th, 9th, place). That's under the old format too. With the conference system even a team who came 4th out of 7 last year was in the play offs. Dragons were 6th, so an improvement of a couple of places is not that unrealistic.

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