Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

I wasn’t suggesting Marmion should start ahead of Blade. I was saying he should be in the 23 ahead of Reilly.

I've never seen anything to suggest that connacht rugby was anything but a tightly run ship. Not to say that they shouldn't look to make any available savings but don't think there is anyone riding the connacht gravy train.

The simple fact is our income is too small and that's not an easy problem to fix.

Remember there's Revenue sharing in European knock outs.

I'd say that having less knockout games (if lack of home advantage means an early exit) will have more of an effect than the difference in attendance between a home and away knockout.

Very quick Google search delivers this discussing how Munster got boosted money (65% instead of 50%) because they moved last years quarter final to a bigger venue.

I can't find a source about the challenge cup quickly but I'm pretty sure it's the same rules as the champions cup.

Wouldn’t agree with that at all. I’d have no issue with it personally and do think they could do more outreach around the province generally speaking.

The venue is a huge advantage though I think, there’s thousands going to Connacht games who have limited enough interest in rugby (or at least did when they started attending) but enjoy an evening out and a five minute walk to town. I’d be very sceptical about attendances getting anywhere close to same level elsewhere.

There’s still room for growth at the sportsground too, need a proper stand for older people, better facilities generally, that combined with a reasonably competitive team should see considerable growth.

Apark and ride system (which will be here eventually) will do the same thing...

A lot of Connacht fans are there for the night out and enjoy the apres match experience. This includes many away travellers as well...

The Connacht ground is close to the Train & Bus as well as the city bus routes... It is a great location for a ground rather than outside the city... I remember the odd game in Cortintians... There no experience compared to the game experience now... There is no per and post match atmosphere...

In fairness all the provincial rugby grounds share this type of atmosphere... Compare that venues that are in the middle of nowhere...

If a park and ride facility was setup at the airport for games I'm sure it would help hugely in getting fans from around the province in and out. A 5 euro charge for the bus would be reasonable. Start 2 hours before kick off. Not everyone can make the chartered busses from around the province so this could be an option.

I reckon there would be more complaints as no one would be able to walk in.

Travel some distance to Galway for the games. Never had an issue with parking. So it depends on how early you travel as to how close you can park but I never have to walk more than 5 minutes to the Sportsground so this is a pointless discussion.

Maybe a more interesting discussion is do we really want a huge stand which will be largely unpopulated for most games. Always loved being able to snuggle into the Clan. Would prefer that the terraces behind the posts were covered.

And as for the comment about Caolin's wellbeing if Marmion continues to be his backup is utterly ludicrous. I don't care about Caolins feelings. I care about Connacht rugby. If Caolin feels that way then get a life elsewhere.

On other matters it is clear there will be zero new introductions come the end of this year. So we are left with who we have while losing Marmion and Wooten and God knows who else (I suspect Bundee will indeed be leaving to Munster. He simply can't stay in Connacht. He is unwelcome by both team and management).

So if we have to play inside our current confines then we have to look inside our player base to solve our key issues. And while I may not be a Caolin fan, the primary issue is 10. So as Zeugnis says if Forde can step up to the mark maybe next year has hope. And my thoughts is Daly should also be considered.

But we all know Carty has been a failed experiment for so long and that Hawkshaw is a centre. So can we just stop this.

As others have said the venue is actually perfect. Now you could try get park and ride/buses from other areas of province. Moving out of city would be madness and make it harder to attract people not increase interest.

Connacht very much want and need a stand. you can sell seated tickets for more, plenty of people wont go to games if standing in an uncovered terrace at end of pitch. with redeveloped clan etc there will be less of that. covering terraces behind posts is difficult with dogs remaining

I watch a lot of Connacht games when in Sportsground from either Bohermore or College Road terraces. if you had better covered facilities people are more likely to go. Connacht have got a lot more people going to games with the clan terrace. even on bad days(performance wise as well as weather). why because its a decent covered stand. would attendances be as high if what was there before clan was built? No.

Agreed. There is no issue getting to the ground or parking close by. A big horrible unpopulated stand might be an issue rather than a warm covered area for all. Reality is the visibility from all areas is rubbish. People attend for the atmosphere. And if you have a big f### off stand it will do nothing for the atmosphere. We all go for the atmosphere and a bit of fun. We can watch the game afterwards

I know moderators have been more than decent with my posts which tend to be argumentative. So I will desist and no longer post in this forum. I understand and appreciate my posts, while not necessarily completely inflammatory, are simply an irritation to others. It's just the repetitive nature that irritates. It struck me recently that I have being simply being too much and as such have made this forum unbearable. So I wish all of you and Connacht the best. I doubt I will be missed.

I don't find you annoying: wrong? Yes, sometimes. Unkind? Occasionally. But Connnacht need tough love and you give it. Maybe consider how useful some of the repetition is, and avoid being so personal in your criticism of individual players. But don't give up, there's plenty you say that i find thoughtful and challenging, and that expands the 'Overton window' of how we understand the team's limitations. That's an important antidote to the fan dreaming and marketing codology we're fed a lot of the time.