Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

irishgrover

KBurke85 wrote: »

Pretty sure I read that when the planning came through they said the pitch would be done at the end of the 19/20 season. They are still waiting for funding etc to come through

ok, that makes sense - so nothing will be done in the next 12 months...

Mr Tickle

KBurke85 wrote: »

Pretty sure I read that when the planning came through they said the pitch would be done at the end of the 19/20 season. They are still waiting for funding etc to come through

Oh really? I thought that the pitch was being done this year. It'd be nice to get the ball rolling.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Original plans were definitely to have the pitch done this summer between May and August.

https://connachttribune.ie/plans-lodged-for-e30m-connacht-rugby-stadium-030/

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Looks like Pre Season started this morning per Copeland on Instagram

macslash

Mul, it's over

KBurke85 wrote: »

Looks like Pre Season started this morning per Copeland on Instagram

What had he up? It's gone now anyway

Zzippy

macslash wrote: »

What had he up? It's gone now anyway

Probably "I hate Johnny O'Connor". Best he take it down alright...

b.gud

New logo, not sure how I feel about it

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1147096464033800192

Edit for those who can't see Twitter at work

BeardySi

You've got a Friend in me

Nope, dislike immensely. The older version with the ball looked my h better.

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

There's a new jersey too, pretty similar to last years but with new crest.

https://www.elverys.ie/elverys/en/Elverys/Rugby/Connacht-Rugby-Jerseys-%7C-Elverys-%7C-Exclusive-Retail-Partner/Connacht-Rugby-Jerseys-and-Kits-%7C-Elverys/BLK-Connacht-2019-Home-Jersey%2C-Green/p/000000000001097318_GREEN

Cosmo Kramer

Much prefer the old one. Why change it, it was fine as it was.

connemara man

The Friend Zone

I like the new crest the Connacht symbol being the focus instead of hidden in a ball.

Jersey is very nice!!

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Looks like the Spurs crest. I hate it.
The jersey is the same as last years. Very weak from BLK and the branch alround.
Why didn't they 1) do a supporters poll on if they want a new crest. 2) do a poll on a number of crests? No need for the re-brand at all! :mad:

Buer

Check out the gun show on that eagle. He must work out.

Cosmo Kramer

Buer wrote: »

Check out the gun show on that eagle. He must work out.

He's flying in pre-season apparently.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Probably don't like it as much as the old one but I'm not particularly arsed either way.

Is there a reason teams always seem to want to rebrand or is it just people creating jobs for themselves?

Diabhal Beag

It's a bit lazy for a revamp. Reminds me of Juve's crest change.

EachSmallChime

Logos are being simplified nowadays because they're being consumed in much smaller formats (i.e Social Media).

Detailed crests, like the old Juve one, are just a blur when it appears in a tiny circle on your Twitter/FB feed.

I'm not saying I like it btw, but I'm guessing that's the motivation behind the re-brand.

Evil_g

Mul, it's over

EachSmallChime wrote: »

Logos are being simplified nowadays because they're being consumed in much smaller formats (i.e Social Media).

Detailed crests, like the old Juve one, are just a blur when it appears in a tiny circle on your Twitter/FB feed.

I'm not saying I like it btw, but I'm guessing that's the motivation behind the re-brand.

That's interesting, and makes sense. I'd say you're right.

freyners

The Friend Zone

Crest is a massive nope for me I have to say.

Jersey is lovely. Not too much of a change but it's a winner for me all the same

stephen_n

b.gud wrote: »

New logo, not sure how I feel about it

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1147096464033800192

Edit for those who can't see Twitter at work

Suns out guns out, the new logo has been hitting the gym.

Your Face

I like the new crest.

The new jersey is boring and too like the last one.
The striped look is horrible.

kingofthekong

Watters not picked up by Leinster Academy, Connacht should absolutely try and get him

stellenbosch

kingofthekong wrote: »

Watters not picked up by Leinster Academy, Connacht should absolutely try and get him

Agreed-very good.

Is it true that players in Connacht academy such as Dean Marys and Obrien Tarf now have to play with a Connacht Club?

Squidgy Black

stellenbosch wrote: »

Agreed-very good.

Is it true that players in Connacht academy such as Dean Marys and Obrien Tarf now have to play with a Connacht Club?

It'd be madness if they do, there's no Connacht club in the first division this year after Buccs were relegated. I can understand wanting to keep them closer to the setup and take out the logistics side of training/getting coaches down to watch home games, but it's a bit counter-productive having them playing a lower standard if they were playing 1A.

Lucas44

stellenbosch wrote: »

Agreed-very good.

Is it true that players in Connacht academy such as Dean Marys and Obrien Tarf now have to play with a Connacht Club?

Yeah it’s true but no academy players will be released for the majority of the first half of the ail season so clubs recruitment will have to be not dependent on academy players

stellenbosch

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It'd be madness if they do, there's no Connacht club in the first division this year after Buccs were relegated. I can understand wanting to keep them closer to the setup and take out the logistics side of training/getting coaches down to watch home games, but it's a bit counter-productive having them playing a lower standard if they were playing 1A.

Exact same applies in Ulster-Greg Jones and Eric O'Sullivan both made leave UCD/Trinity respectively 2 years ago-both dropped from IA teams to Banbridge

siltirocker

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It'd be madness if they do, there's no Connacht club in the first division this year after Buccs were relegated. I can understand wanting to keep them closer to the setup and take out the logistics side of training/getting coaches down to watch home games, but it's a bit counter-productive having them playing a lower standard if they were playing 1A.

Whilst I respect your point I can't agree with your choice of words as "madness".

Having Connacht's club players within the province was recognised early in the decade as crucial when the PGB was formed. It was seen as being important to have players integrate into the province and not just leave when the home province comes calling. Club affiliation was seen as key, and was mooted by former players that this was an issue. It's no coincidence that Connacht's emergence coincided with Corinthians, Wegians, Buccs having a strong showing about 5/6 years ago.

Lucas44

stellenbosch wrote: »

Exact same applies in Ulster-Greg Jones and Eric O'Sullivan both made leave UCD/Trinity respectively 2 years ago-both dropped from IA teams to Banbridge

And look how that turned out banbridge almost going up to 1A two years ago and O’Sullivan turning out into a pro.. it’s not about having players closer or any of that, it’s about supporting the clubs in the region with the best players to bring these respected clubs back to a decent standard, it’s not long ago weigans were 1A when they had academy players playing regularly and look at them, corinthians and buccs now.. all should be in higher divisions and this will hopefully help

Squidgy Black

siltirocker wrote: »

Whilst I respect your point I can't agree with your choice of words as "madness".

Having Connacht's club players within the province was recognised early in the decade as crucial when the PGB was formed. It was seen as being important to have players integrate into the province and not just leave when the home province comes calling. Club affiliation was seen as key, and was mooted by former players that this was an issue. It's no coincidence that Connacht's emergence coincided with Corinthians, Wegians, Buccs having a strong showing about 5/6 years ago.

Yeah probably a poor choice of words on my part. I agree that it's a big boost to the local clubs having the availability of players of that calibre, just not sure if it's the correct decision for a competition where the academy players will be only available for part of the season, to force them into joining a lower standard team. Particularly when you can't rely on academy players due to the schedules.

RobbieRuns

Its not so much the issue of having Connacht Clubs so far down the leagues, for me the issue is, how will you ever get the clubs back to the required level if you give your best young players to Dublin clubs?

Connacht need to grow the local clubs, for me the "madness" would be giving some great young players to clubs in a Province that is already overflowing with good talent. The Connacht academy players will develop within the training systems and playing for the Eagles as well where there will be plenty of games.