Don't Sack Marcelo for heaven's sake!!

[Humbo]

The reason we always chose from within is because we had the best players and the best knowledge and promoting from within would lead to an automatic understanding of player and coach. Deano had one slightly bad spell that as soon as wells took over was rectified. We can blame most of it on the world cup though.
Cockerell and howard did pretty well if you ask me. All it is is that we have lost finals now and then, and we suffer from the world cup.
I would not blame any of this on the people within the firm. All we need is a bit of resructuring and replanning as to how to attack a very long and demanding season.

[CharlesStuart]

I had read before today’s articles in most of London’s newspapers a great deal of discussion about the future of Marcelo Loffreda as the Leicester’s Tigers coach; they are still many people in Welford Road who want him out. I am completely astonished with their unfair reaction I find it unbelievable, as I said before only a month ago The Tigers were losing one match after the other, and suddenly this had changed for good until today, and now I am reading again articles like the following:
“Under-pressure Leicester coach Marcelo Loffreda remains uncertain whether he will continue in charge at Welford Road next season after failing to deliver a trophy from his first season in charge”.
“Loffreda took over at Leicester after leading Argentina to third place at the World Cup but the Tigers have endured a frustrating season”.
“The Tigers reached Twickenham twice but lost their EDF Energy Cup title to the Ospreys and now their league title to Wasps”.
“Last week, Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler refused to back Loffreda, stating only that the club structure will be reviewed as usual over the summer”.
“Martin Corry indicated his belief that Loffreda should remain in charge by explaining how the Argentinean has been "planning for the future." Loffreda, though, remains in the dark.”
Really I feel very bad about these sorts of articles in the English press, I admire too much Marcelo and again I believe that it is too early to make a judgement about his abilities, when Leicester was winning the last matches. I am sure that in the next season everybody will be much more comfortable, and ML will know perfectly well how to conduct the team, maybe with some new staff if necessary. I would like to know what you think about what is being published this weekend and if it is accurate or not? Thanks
.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

ML has to stay and be given the chance to chose who his coaches are. Since Wig left the scrum & general forward play has not been to the general level of last season & our defense this season has been a joke. As for the backs we have one of the best wingers in the GP but he is rarely passed the ball which makes his try count for the season even more impresive.
IMHO the problem at present lies further up the greasy pole, the board gave ML the job and should be supporting him, if they sack him they look the charlies, it could become just like Chelsea with Raneri.
ML deserves a full pre-season and season so we can properly judge where the club are.

[penfold]

Sacking ML would be nuts. He's had two competitions to win, and we've gotten to finals in both (can't count the HEC, too soon). It's not like other than last year we haven't struggled in finals in the recent past. Give the guy a chance.

Biggest differences between this year, which seems a disappointment, and last when we were one tired game away from winning it all? Shane Jennings, if you ask me.

Long term absences to Moody, Ellis and Ribena haven't helped the cause either, and Andy blowing hot and cold helps or hinders, depending on what day you catch him on.

I think a real test of MC's coaching prowess next season will be if after 30 minutes he can say to Andy "Just isn't your day, mate", and he can move Flood in nice and early. Also, let's see what the summer brings in terms of personnel. We seem (for the first time in a long time) to lack serious strength in depth in the tight five for me, the lads are either old, young, or not performing. A fit Castro won't hurt there.

Anyway, give the man another season. It's not like a club like Leicester would ever give a coach carte blanche. We lost Deano that way, ML isn't getting full backing. Perhaps Wheeler needs to take a look in the mirror before shipping out the coach as a scapegoat.

[simon redshaw]

Well said Penfold. Fully agree.

It would be ludicrous for the Board to sack ML at this stage, and the constant negative headlines about him in the papers hasn't helped the team IMO.

Also, the stabbing in the back from certain people who should be supporting Marcelo.

The Board have not handled this in the best manner and if they do sack ML they will be admitting they made a mistake in the first place and will far from encourage anybody else to join the club's coaching staff.

Once ML has had more time to stamp his own identity and the issues we have where we are weak are addressed, including poor defence, and lack of specialist backs coach plus addressing deficiences in other areas of the pitch, we can move on to getting top again.

[smalldell]

Excellent summing by the the last two posts..I have said Loffreda needs time and a preseason to get the players thinking along his wavelength.

There does need to be a review and it needs to make it clear that Loffreda is in charge and what he says goes and if certain people do not like it then leave...

The first thing the board should do is ASK Loffreda what coaching team he wants and make sure he gets it...

[NJR]

I admit to being agnostic over the belief that ML is the Tiger's Messiah and I don't know enough about the bloke to form an opinion on whether or not he should be binned.

So, in hope of enlightenment.....

After 6 months in charge, what have we seen of ML in the Tigers play so far to encourage us that next year will be better?

What is it about his vision/wavelength/identity that will make the difference?

[Duggan]

It would be a joke to sack ML, it really would. It was one heck of a day yesterday and every other club would have loved to have been there. Dayglo has an aura, and I know yesterdays result wasn't written in the stars, but hey, you know it was. Well done to Wasps and good luck to Dallaglio for the future. This man has been one hell of a pain in the backside for us over the years but you've got to respect that. He's gone now but we're still here and so is his club. Bring it on.

[smalldell]

It is very important that we make it clear that we want to keep Loffreda and make sure he is given a chance next season...

There are to many willing to sacrifie him and they need to faed head on.

If he does not deliver next season then thats fair enough but we need to be strong now as a group and make sure the keep Loffreda campaign is heard loud and clear...I suggest we all email Peter Tom and Peter Wheeler to make our voices known.

If Marcelo does not deliver next season I will accept I was wrong but not until he has had a fair chance..

[Mr_Ben]

I agree with Buff.

Watching yesterday's game, the differences I noticed between Wasps and us were:

Wasps made tackles intending to not just stop the man but knock him backwards. When we tackled, the man with ball typically made 2 or 3 yards before being dragged to the floor

The wasps tacklers were also much smarter in that where possible they were quickly back on their feet, competing for the ball whereas our players just laid on the ground next to the takcled man

Wasps players attacked the ruck. I lost count of the number of times where we had more players at the ruck than wasps but their players made sure they either retaineed the ball or stole it because they had hit the ruck at pace and with force while ours just ambled in with no momentum.

While it would be nice to think that our former players can make the transition to being great coaches, the evidence is decidely mixed.

While our peformances have been inconsistent this season, i wouldn't consider reaching 2 finals a poor effort especially when Loffreda didn't arrive until November.

Let's give him chance to put together a set-up that he is happy with and see what happens.

[Andy W]

Actually there is a subtle nuance here which does make a difference.

It is possible that Loffreda may get moved "upstairs" to a Director of Coaching type role, with a hands-on lead coach brought in.

However, and most importantly, if Loffreda is going to get sacked we should not get all moral about him not being given long enough etc etc. Those are valid arguments but the point is that if he is sacked it will be becuase the Board are saying they should never have hired him the first place i.e. they made a mistake. That is not Loffreda's fault and he would get a decent pay-off. It would simply mean that Tigers think they brought in the wrong guy to the wrong situation, and are seeking to put it right. Not necessarily a slight on Loffreda at all. And hopefully we have Directors big enough and ugly enough to own up this...

[dailywaffle]

I admit to being agnostic over the belief that ML is the Tiger's Messiah and I don't know enough about the bloke to form an opinion on whether or not he should be binned.

So, in hope of enlightenment.....

After 6 months in charge, what have we seen of ML in the Tigers play so far to encourage us that next year will be better?

What is it about his vision/wavelength/identity that will make the difference?

Good post. Our American friend, Outlander, has made similar points before.

I completely accept that Loffreda was dealt a bad hand at outset, but what worries me is the lack of preparation and performance we see on the pitch. Particularly the first 20 minutes.

In recent matches we have been comprehensively outplayed in the early stages of matches, be it against Wasps, Gloucester, Harlequins, Newcastle or Leeds. We have been off the pace, lacked invention (does anyone at Welford Road know how to cut an angle?) and defensively suspect. Our work at the breakdown and round the fringes has, frankly, been poor. Mentally we don't seem right, and only hit our straps when our backs are against the wall.

To me, that sounds awfully like a team that is not well drilled, not well prepared, but has got a bit of dog. I have seen no evidence at all that the coaching team have moved us forwards at all since November, and that we only made the final with a combination of flashes of individual brilliance and good fortune.

Its certainly a time for some very hard headed, and unsentimental, analysis.

[Nik]

I'VE CHANGED MY MIND - WE SHOULD NOT SACK LOFFREDA

But as i keep saying he needs to step up and start throwing his authority around to the other coaches.

I also think that he should get rid of the coaches/staff that have openly and publically back stabbed him, he needs full backing from his coaching team - not certain people thinking they can do a better job and then try and publically oust him.

We can't blame anyone player for yesterday - it was the team and you could see in the first half we weren't up for it.

Loffreda has turned his life and that of his family upside down to come over here, job review him, give him performance indicators and if doesn't deliver by this time next year then at least you can both shakes hands and say well it didn't work.

[BSimkin]

The media seem convinced he'll go. Marcello sounds very worried regarding his position and is voicing his concerns to the media. Doesn't look good for him really. The fact he has not been made clear of his position at this point says a lot. If he is sacked I think it is dreadful and I have expressed support for him on this forum many times. ML has taken the team over mid season and got to two finals, better than Pat Howards first season. The only intelligent reason for removing him at this stage is that the board feel they made the wrong decision in the first place and a very good alternative is now available. Is that Jake White?
I will be angry if ML is replaced and I think any new coach will need a simular time to settle in. When the board sacked Deano there was a immediate improvement. That was an individual case and if they think this is a recipe for success they only have to look at football.

[MurphysLaw]

As with, I think, the majority of posters on here, I do not want to see ML sacked.

However, I also agree with Dailywaffle, and others, who have concerns over the way the team seems to be being prepared. Clearly something is remiss, and as with England at the World Cup, it seems to have been the players' spirit and resilience that got the team as far as it did.

Therefore, I really hope the Board acts decisively in adjusting the coaching set-up, and bringing in the support that ML so patently needs.If that means losing some of the existing coaches, in favour of others, so be it.