Roast The Chronicles of Alan Richardson

[Dr Spaceman]

I’ve tried to bite my tongue on this topic for 2 years now but I honestly think Richo is getting worse, not better. Some of his pig headedness (particularly at selection) has been astounding. Players knowing that some of their teammates get a free pass on certain aspects of Richo’s “gameplan” while others are ridiculed in front of everyone.
The absolutely farcical gameplan that Richo came up with over summer that was identical to the previous years, even though everyone knows that it won’t work. Then over the whole pre season we can see that it’s not working but we don’t fine tune, we just keep rolling along.
The game in Geelong where Richo was petrified of a hiding so he played 1-2 extras around the footy all game, giving us absolutely no hope at all of winning from the first bounce. To see him chuffed that we were winning clearance but bombing it long to Paddy vs 3 Cats defenders was embarrassing. We continued with this crap all game to lose by 50 points while kicking 7 goals. This was the final nail in the coffin for me, seeing our youngsters running around clearly frustrated, clearly knowing they were being given no hope to win by their coach. Players were pleading to line coaches at the breaks to at least even the numbers up in front of the footy only to be ignored. Line coaches being ignored when pleading to change set ups as it wasn’t working.
Only a few in the media really highlighted the worst tactical effort from an AFL coach that I’ve ever seen, and Robbo was one of them.
How can our youngsters ever hope to learn when that is the way they are being asked to play?
I have nothing personal against Richo, he’s a decent bloke as we all know, but I can’t stay silent and let him ruin players careers. Our club is in crisis and if we do indeed keep Richo for at least another year then I shudder to think where our footy club will be at. I won’t say anymore, I’m just so upset with where my club is at and where it’s headed. Bloody heartbreaking.

 

[tbarker]

I’ve tried to bite my tongue on this topic for 2 years now but I honestly think Richo is getting worse, not better. Some of his pig headedness (particularly at selection) has been astounding. Players knowing that some of their teammates get a free pass on certain aspects of Richo’s “gameplan” while others are ridiculed in front of everyone.
The absolutely farcical gameplan that Richo came up with over summer that was identical to the previous years, even though everyone knows that it won’t work. Then over the whole pre season we can see that it’s not working but we don’t fine tune, we just keep rolling along.
The game in Geelong where Richo was petrified of a hiding so he played 1-2 extras around the footy all game, giving us absolutely no hope at all of winning from the first bounce. To see him chuffed that we were winning clearance but bombing it long to Paddy vs 3 Cats defenders was embarrassing. We continued with this crap all game to lose by 50 points while kicking 7 goals. This was the final nail in the coffin for me, seeing our youngsters running around clearly frustrated, clearly knowing they were being given no hope to win by their coach. Players were pleading to line coaches at the breaks to at least even the numbers up in front of the footy only to be ignored. Line coaches being ignored when pleading to change set ups as it wasn’t working.
Only a few in the media really highlighted the worst tactical effort from an AFL coach that I’ve ever seen, and Robbo was one of them.
How can our youngsters ever hope to learn when that is the way they are being asked to play?
I have nothing personal against Richo, he’s a decent bloke as we all know, but I can’t stay silent and let him ruin players careers. Our club is in crisis and if we do indeed keep Richo for at least another year then I shudder to think where our footy club will be at. I won’t say anymore, I’m just so upset with where my club is at and where it’s headed. Bloody heartbreaking.

Hang in there mate. Nothing is forever.
Media pressure seems to be the go.

 

[saintbill]

I’ve tried to bite my tongue on this topic for 2 years now but I honestly think Richo is getting worse, not better. Some of his pig headedness (particularly at selection) has been astounding. Players knowing that some of their teammates get a free pass on certain aspects of Richo’s “gameplan” while others are ridiculed in front of everyone.
The absolutely farcical gameplan that Richo came up with over summer that was identical to the previous years, even though everyone knows that it won’t work. Then over the whole pre season we can see that it’s not working but we don’t fine tune, we just keep rolling along.
The game in Geelong where Richo was petrified of a hiding so he played 1-2 extras around the footy all game, giving us absolutely no hope at all of winning from the first bounce. To see him chuffed that we were winning clearance but bombing it long to Paddy vs 3 Cats defenders was embarrassing. We continued with this crap all game to lose by 50 points while kicking 7 goals. This was the final nail in the coffin for me, seeing our youngsters running around clearly frustrated, clearly knowing they were being given no hope to win by their coach. Players were pleading to line coaches at the breaks to at least even the numbers up in front of the footy only to be ignored. Line coaches being ignored when pleading to change set ups as it wasn’t working.
Only a few in the media really highlighted the worst tactical effort from an AFL coach that I’ve ever seen, and Robbo was one of them.
How can our youngsters ever hope to learn when that is the way they are being asked to play?
I have nothing personal against Richo, he’s a decent bloke as we all know, but I can’t stay silent and let him ruin players careers. Our club is in crisis and if we do indeed keep Richo for at least another year then I shudder to think where our footy club will be at. I won’t say anymore, I’m just so upset with where my club is at and where it’s headed. Bloody heartbreaking.

I made the trip down that day and I have to agree, 1 of the most bizarre coaching performances I have ever witnessed.

The inlaws are big Cats fanatics, and as the only Saints supporter sitting in the Cats members, must of had at least 15 Geelong supporters independently ask me why we were letting 2 players loose in defence. Worst still we were still letting cats players kick goals out the back.

When casual supporters are all noticing our putrid game plan, questions have to be raised.

When Brisbane get flogged it looks far different. They take risks and make mistakes. They are been taught a game style that will eventually hold up.

We on the other hand go into self preservation mode and try and limit the damage whilst still getting flogged.

 

[Mikka84]

I’ve tried to bite my tongue on this topic for 2 years now but I honestly think Richo is getting worse, not better. Some of his pig headedness (particularly at selection) has been astounding. Players knowing that some of their teammates get a free pass on certain aspects of Richo’s “gameplan” while others are ridiculed in front of everyone.
The absolutely farcical gameplan that Richo came up with over summer that was identical to the previous years, even though everyone knows that it won’t work. Then over the whole pre season we can see that it’s not working but we don’t fine tune, we just keep rolling along.
The game in Geelong where Richo was petrified of a hiding so he played 1-2 extras around the footy all game, giving us absolutely no hope at all of winning from the first bounce. To see him chuffed that we were winning clearance but bombing it long to Paddy vs 3 Cats defenders was embarrassing. We continued with this crap all game to lose by 50 points while kicking 7 goals. This was the final nail in the coffin for me, seeing our youngsters running around clearly frustrated, clearly knowing they were being given no hope to win by their coach. Players were pleading to line coaches at the breaks to at least even the numbers up in front of the footy only to be ignored. Line coaches being ignored when pleading to change set ups as it wasn’t working.
Only a few in the media really highlighted the worst tactical effort from an AFL coach that I’ve ever seen, and Robbo was one of them.
How can our youngsters ever hope to learn when that is the way they are being asked to play?
I have nothing personal against Richo, he’s a decent bloke as we all know, but I can’t stay silent and let him ruin players careers. Our club is in crisis and if we do indeed keep Richo for at least another year then I shudder to think where our footy club will be at. I won’t say anymore, I’m just so upset with where my club is at and where it’s headed. Bloody heartbreaking.

 

[Snailspace13]

NRL club Penrith Panthers who currently sit 5th on the ladder with 3 minor rounds games remaining today sacked their coach because he wasnt Coaching to the Standard the CEO had expected.

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

it won't get to that point, new boards are hard to come by.

just don't renew your membership, email or call the club and inform them why. enough people do that and i doubt the current plan of keeping richo, sexton and kingsley comes to fruition.

sorry mate but thats a shit post .... undermind the work i do the work every supporter group does all the membership department does cause you want a guy sacked ... thats shit house really it is

 

[VDS66]

it won't get to that point, new boards are hard to come by.

just don't renew your membership, email or call the club and inform them why. enough people do that and i doubt the current plan of keeping richo, sexton and kingsley comes to fruition.

Brilliant and constructive solution.

Help send the club broke...

 

[VDS66]

sorry mate but thats a shit post .... undermind the work i do the work every supporter group does all the membership department does cause you want a guy sacked ... thats shit house really it is

Quoted directly without seeing your post.

I'd rather follow an average club than a non existent club.

Next well be hearing its because they "care" about the club.

 

[Lightsxo]

This is a true story.

I sat with the sister of a Bulldogs player on Saturday.

He’s been on the list a while but will most likely be going to another club at the end of the year and was just playing his second game of the year.

So I was just talking shit with her and she’s casually saying she hopes her brother plays in defence cause she knows he’ll mark the footy when we bomb it in. I’m just sitting there gobsmacked cause she barely if ever even watches western Bulldogs games and she still knows our patented game plan.


Like clockwork, in the third and fourth quarter they moved him to the defence and he played like prime Dustin Fletcher just marking everything and passing it off to JJ. His second game in the year and he’s already played into form by us.

Worst car ride home ever.

 

[VDS66]

No need to panic guys, we beat Richmond last year so we are capable of beating anybody on our day.
We will sack our assistant coaches and that will miraculously change the fact that the bloke leading us is the most boring, uninspiring, talentless coach to ever walk through our doors.
Once a group of players realise your message is wrong and that you are totally incapable of delivering results then they simply stop listening, it’s human nature.
Richo is no good, never has been. But like I said the other day our club doesn’t have the spine to sack him.
If you thought this year was a disaster wait until next year. This club is going down the toilet.

And when he loses the players, he will go.

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

No need to panic guys, we beat Richmond last year so we are capable of beating anybody on our day.
We will sack our assistant coaches and that will miraculously change the fact that the bloke leading us is the most boring, uninspiring, talentless coach to ever walk through our doors.
Once a group of players realise your message is wrong and that you are totally incapable of delivering results then they simply stop listening, it’s human nature.
Richo is no good, never has been. But like I said the other day our club doesn’t have the spine to sack him.
If you thought this year was a disaster wait until next year. This club is going down the toilet.

no one is saying every thing is rosy ... no one is saying cause we beat richmond last year we were able to beat anyone...
i dont rate Richo as a tactical coach and i dont think he is realistically going to be the man to lead us to success but i also dont belive in burning the place down cause we got some things wrong ...
your perception of the coach based on TV apperances isnt a good indicator of how the players see him or how he communicates to the players ... we had a woeful game , we have had a whole heap of them we had them under lyon we had them under GT and we will have them under other coaches

 

[StCicatriz]

sorry mate but thats a shit post .... undermind the work i do the work every supporter group does all the membership department does cause you want a guy sacked ... thats shit house really it is

i'm not undermining your work trav nor anyone elses, if you truly think that then i don't think you truly appreciate why people are unhappy.

 

[StCicatriz]

no one is saying every thing is rosy ... no one is saying cause we beat richmond last year we were able to beat anyone...
i dont rate Richo as a tactical coach and i dont think he is realistically going to be the man to lead us to success but i also dont belive in burning the place down cause we got some things wrong ...
your perception of the coach based on TV apperances isnt a good indicator of how the players see him or how he communicates to the players ... we had a woeful game , we have had a whole heap of them we had them under lyon we had them under GT and we will have them under other coaches

doesn't help when the president states this:
“The problem right now is performing to our expectations. We said when we set our plan we expect to be around top four and at the start of the year we believed if we got consistency right, we were a side that could compete week in week out with everyone."

“We set some very ambitious goals and we don’t back away from those at all, but I think where we’re at right now is a reflection of not meeting our capabilities more than setting expectations that are beyond those capabilities.

“There’s clearly a big part of our underperformance this year and our being below expectations that come from not getting reward for effort.

“The Richmond result last year, we’ve beaten GWS, drawn with them this year, almost a huge win in Adelaide last year against Port Adelaide, we’ve shown that our top end is highly competitive.”

we have referenced Richmond a lot over the last 12 months. a lot. especially in crisis interviews.

 

[StCicatriz]

This is a true story.

I sat with the sister of a Bulldogs player on Saturday.

He’s been on the list a while but will most likely be going to another club at the end of the year and was just playing his second game of the year.

So I was just talking shit with her and she’s casually saying she hopes her brother plays in defence cause she knows he’ll mark the footy when we bomb it in. I’m just sitting there gobsmacked cause she barely if ever even watches western Bulldogs games and she still knows our patented game plan.


Like clockwork, in the third and fourth quarter they moved him to the defence and he played like prime Dustin Fletcher just marking everything and passing it off to JJ. His second game in the year and he’s already played into form by us.

Worst car ride home ever.

did we do anything to stop JJ's influence. like literally anything at all?

 

[Mowman]

did we do anything to stop JJ's influence. like literally anything at all?

No we didn't and it was mentioned on SEN today

 

[mightymalaka]

And when he loses the players, he will go.

"When he loses the players he will go"
So do you think he Has the players atm?

 

[StCicatriz]

No we didn't and it was mentioned on SEN today

surely we would have tried Dmac on him, given his pace and defencive attributes.

so i'm guessing we just rolled with newnes all game?

 

[StCicatriz]

And when he loses the players, he will go.

my impression is that it doesn't even come to that. i think if he lost the players he'd still be senior coach tbh. i think they've made their mind up and that's that. unless there are members leaving in droves.

i think they're backing in their bad decision for the next 12 months at-least, coinciding with the presidents term. next year, new pres, process to find the next coach.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

"When he loses the players he will go"
So do you think he Has the players atm?

I don't know what's worse:

1. Richo has the players. And they continue to, multiple times per year, let teams get run-ons and then do nothing/are unable to stop it. Still can't believe we let THAT Bulldogs team get a 72 point turnaround on us.

2. He doesn't have the players. But we are stuck with him from all indications.

We're ****ed either way.

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

i'm not undermining your work trav nor anyone elses, if you truly think that then i don't think you truly appreciate why people are unhappy.

i spend all f**king year building membership for our club as do my counterparts across the country we put in time effort money and our skills cause its our club we love , no matter who is coach no matter who we draft or trade we do this for our club ... by all means if you have had enough of supporting our club then do so but for f**ks sake take you promotion of others leaving our club elsewhere .. i get it your pissed off with the year well guess what so am i but the big picture is a dropping membership may achieve what you want in Richo getting sacked but it will also result in sponsors walking away it will also result in the club having to tighten the belts again , it will result in us going deeper and deeper into a hole ... but hey you will have your guy sacked .....
you got concerns and gripes to air fine come down to our AGM in October Peter will be there tell him your gripe heck ill call Matt for you and you can talk to him but dont undo what 100s of dedicated saints people have built with our membership ...
by all meands bag the coach bag the board but dont undermind our club

 

[Mowman]

I don't know what's worse:

1. Richo has the players. And they continue to, multiple times per year, let teams get run-ons and then do nothing/are unable to stop it. Still can't believe we let THAT Bulldogs team get a 72 point turnaround on us.

2. He doesn't have the players. But we are stuck with him from all indications.

We're ****** either way.

YEP

 

[mightymalaka]

I don't know what's worse:

1. Richo has the players. And they continue to, multiple times per year, let teams get run-ons and then do nothing/are unable to stop it. Still can't believe we let THAT Bulldogs team get a 72 point turnaround on us.

2. He doesn't have the players. But we are stuck with him from all indications.

We're ****** either way.

The whole but he's still got the players argument, has baffled me all season!

He clearly doesn't! As evidenced by our insipid performances for over 12 months now!

 

[triggering bro]

I recommend reading a few recent posts by ToT on SS. He’s one of the most respected posters on all saints forums.

 

[Sir Skid]

This is 100% the problem and exactly why they will “back” him in for another year...because to sack him now is admitting that they made a monumental stuff up ( to put it politely) and they would need to take responsibility for that decision by falling on their swords.

I am so demoralised by what has happened and I think the Ghost is spot on. If we think we’ve seen the worst we are mistaken, it’s going to be another wasted year next year, another wasted year where our players could be getting decent development. I’m wondering how many will request to leave then....and when last did that happen?

Catching up on this thread and a lot of raw home truths. Some genuinely solid posts and analysis!

I don't know everyone who sits on the board but understand Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson are glued to positions. WTF! I mean most of us idolised these guys for no nonsense attitude and owning their actions on and off the field. Seriously disappointed and to me this current situation puts a stench on their careers too.

SACK RICHO NOW BEFORE THE CLUB FOLDS!

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

doesn't help when the president states this:
“The problem right now is performing to our expectations. We said when we set our plan we expect to be around top four and at the start of the year we believed if we got consistency right, we were a side that could compete week in week out with everyone."

“We set some very ambitious goals and we don’t back away from those at all, but I think where we’re at right now is a reflection of not meeting our capabilities more than setting expectations that are beyond those capabilities.

“There’s clearly a big part of our underperformance this year and our being below expectations that come from not getting reward for effort.

“The Richmond result last year, we’ve beaten GWS, drawn with them this year, almost a huge win in Adelaide last year against Port Adelaide, we’ve shown that our top end is highly competitive.”

we have referenced Richmond a lot over the last 12 months. a lot. especially in crisis interviews.

so what do you want him to say ??? "we are shit... no hope supporting us... go follow Richmond" ? he has admitted that we set our expectations too high to our actual ability.. thats him admitting we got it wrong (that you have been calling for) the fact is we have played some very good football in some very small patches the issue is our lapse in concentration we get blown away ...