Time is key, both on the management/squads side of things and ours. They need time to mend and to blend back into a good form. We as the clubs supporters need to also give more time for this to happen. We can’t have our cake and eat it. To get better Harlequins need to do what’s best for the long run. Here’s hoping time is on our side
Totally agree, just wondering what and where people think it went so wrong? Have we kept players too long - are there negative people in the dressing room? It can't be just raw talent because we know the team sheet reads just fine.
It must be tied in with confidence etc but this falling off tackles and poor strength at the breakdown is a relatively new phenomenon dating to last season...Gustard must be wondering what he's got himself into.
We just seem to freeze in the face of a resurgent opposition - which is bound to happen in every game every - that's how the game ebbs and flows, the good sides manage those periods perfectly.
I personally and honestly think it’s been a pressure issue. Ever since 2012 Premiership winners, the next seasons aim was about trying to replicate our achievement and defend the title, or atleast bottle up the same formula of playing attractive, champagne rugby all the while keeping a near top position. We did that to a degree with earning an Anglo Welsh Trophy, but aside from this and ever since knocks to confidence and pressure have been our fork in the road.
Eventually Connor left for a fresh venture and Quins hired internally with Kingston who, unfortunately couldn’t turn things around for whatever reasons. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks I’m guessing with Kingston and maybe, although a well respected coach at Quins, the players at the time didnt 100% back the game plan etc probably due to lack of fresh ideas. Pair this alongside the last few seasons having our fair share of a higher number of England call ups and Injury lists, didn’t help what I guess was an already dying confidence. Having to push players on the little juice they have left or rushing back from injury just to field a decent XV just didn’t help matters either. Long periods out injured/the sad retirements of JTH/GL through injury with what was a promising and league winning centre partnership, losing G. Robson in my opinion a year or two too early before moving to France, big time signings who for whatever reason didn’t live up to the mark or spent much time again injured, This list goes on..
Then, and it is to be expected and you can’t blame us really, all these things mounting took some cheer out of The Stoop, and some of that great passion morphed into frustration from the stands. However as much as we did stand by and still support, it just wasn’t enough (I in no way intend to offend anyone or all Harlequins Supporters, my feelings were up and down like a yo-yo last season and feel many Quins fans shared this feeling). Management too change happened late for many’s liking, but finally here we are; with what seems like a good catch of the day in appointing Gustard (dare I call him Gussy 👀 ). We seemed to have once again hired well and although there are still injury’s and we still have a high number of international players for a couple of nations, something seems different this year with regards to depth. I sense a good, healthy, positive vibe inside the Harlequins camp and that’s not something I’ve sensed coming from the players or even the club in general for a good while. What next who knows, but whatever happens atleast we can finally say (at the moment) we seem to finally have a direction both the club, players and supporters seem to be agreeing on and looking forward too.
(Sorry I do go on a bit once I get going!) 😂
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