Mac moves on!

[spacejammer]

It's official according to the Eagles website Ian Macleod is stepping down as head coach at the end of the season but he is moving on to another role in the organisation.

Whilst I half expected this to come after the season was finished it doesn't suprise me as writing has been on the wall for weeks.

And I applaud the Eagles and find it really respectable that hes being able to branch elsewhere in the organisation.
Unlike a certain other BBL Club that completely bit the hand that fed them.

More on the story here
newcastle-eagles.com/news/macleod-to-take-on-new-role-this-summer/

[kol]

Unsurprising. Fab's coat tails ran out a long time ago and his own abilities got found out for what they are

[stevetino]

Had to happen, been found out and everybody else has stepped
Up

[D44]

Apr 16, 2022 11:22:12 GMT kol said:

Unsurprising. Fab's coat tails ran out a long time ago and his own abilities got found out for what they are

I think it's a bit of an over simplification as Fabs last few seasons weren't fruitful at all. Not sure how involved Mac is in recruitment but this years roster was both short and unbalanced, and in my opinion is exactly where it should be. Having said that he seemed to run out of ideas and the teams inability to defend or play for 4 quarters whilst having some good pieces is worrying.

[spacejammer]

Apr 16, 2022 11:39:29 GMT D44 said:

Apr 16, 2022 11:22:12 GMT kol said:

Unsurprising. Fab's coat tails ran out a long time ago and his own abilities got found out for what they are

I think it's a bit of an over simplification as Fabs last few seasons weren't fruitful at all. Not sure how involved Mac is in recruitment but this years roster was both short and unbalanced, and in my opinion is exactly where it should be. Having said that he seemed to run out of ideas and the teams inability to defend or play for 4 quarters whilst having done good pieces is worrying.

Agreed but to be honest under Fab the worst I ever seen us finish was 3rd.
And I like to think we wouldn't have fallen this far under him.

As I mentioned previously when Fab left it was sudden and we never really put the Eagles head coach job on the market.
So I am now curious to see who takes over and what candidates throw their hats in the ring.

Although for now despite the terrible season I hope Mac gets a good and respectable send off for his final game.
After all he has done well to last 3 seasons for us and has delivered all but the BBL Championship in that time.

[A tall man]

Newby is the hot favourite in bbl circles but with stuetal at teesside and Manchester going belly up there's a good few options

[D44]

Apr 16, 2022 12:01:37 GMT A tall man said:

Newby is the hot favourite in bbl circles but with stuetal at teesside and Manchester going belly up there's a good few options

Don't know of I'd consider Newby a significant upgrade over Mac. He's certainly not in terms of winning trophies. Gardner would be an interesting choice, although he'd have to get used to working with a non franchise bankrupting budget 🤣
It would have to be Steutel for me. Worked miracles with GB and would be in it for the long term as based in the NE.

[A tall man]

Stuetal is the logical choice is a million more ways than anyone else, but he was when Mac got the job so there must be something

[Solly]

Apr 16, 2022 12:13:15 GMT D44 said:

Apr 16, 2022 12:01:37 GMT A tall man said:

Newby is the hot favourite in bbl circles but with stuetal at teesside and Manchester going belly up there's a good few options

Don't know of I'd consider Newby a significant upgrade over Mac. He's certainly not in terms of winning trophies. Gardner would be an interesting choice, although he'd have to get used to working with a non franchise bankrupting budget 🤣
It would have to be Steutel for me. Worked miracles with GB and would be in it for the long term as based in the NE.

Newby should be the selection. First year at a club with a decent budget and he wins a trophy and was building something special in Worcester before the plug was pulled.

Fair dos to Steutel in getting the GB guys motivated, but that job fell in his lap. Lower division NBL surely cannot be good enough for a former BBL powerhouse.

Forget Gardner, another with insufficient BBL achievements.

If they consider giving the job to Steutel, or even worse Gardner, then they may as well give Love another BBL go...

[spacejammer]

For me I would go for Steutel or Newby but Steutel would be my No1 choice.
Being based in the North East with Tee Side and acting GB head coach the role would fit perfectly with him I reckon.
And it would be a step up for him as well going from NBL 3 to the BBL.

Although speaking of the NBL are their any other potential coaches that could step up from NBL 1?

[mac]

Not really a surprise given the rotten season we have had. It's been a perfect storm of inconsistencies, injuries and covid. I wonder if he will revert back to his original post? Now we play the waiting game.

[isthaturinal]

I think that some folk think that past glory years is a guarantee for future success,
Success is not forever, Mac brought Eagles 3 trophies in 3 years,
Ask a few Scorchers faithful if they would be up in arms if those 3 trophies came to them……me thinks not

Yes I’m happy right now with the success that Riders are having but I more than remember the barren years,
Enjoy success when it comes the long ride is full of ups and downs

If by some miracle Eagles make the playoffs and actually win them, I’m sure you’ll all be at the O2 calling for Macs head.

[stevetino]

Apr 16, 2022 15:49:56 GMT isthaturinal said:

I think that some folk think that past glory years is a guarantee for future success,
Success is not forever, Mac brought Eagles 3 trophies in 3 years,
Ask a few Scorchers faithful if they would be up in arms if those 3 trophies came to them……me thinks not

Yes I’m happy right now with the success that Riders are having but I more than remember the barren years,
Enjoy success when it comes the long ride is full of ups and downs

If by some miracle Eagles make the playoffs and actually win them, I’m sure you’ll all be at the O2 calling for Macs head.

Most eagles fans don’t Think
Like that at all I’m sure you will find, that doesn’t
Mean any coaching setup
Is above criticism, oh and we won’t be making the playoffs at the O2

[irf]

It's the right decision for all concerned

Newby would get the club sorted and wining stuff within a couple of years

Eagles actually should be challenging for the league. Not just cups and trophies.

Newby would make that happen sooner rather than later

I obviously hope they give the job to someone else

I'm also glad they've found another role for Mac

He's clearly a good guy and he stepped up to a tough job when asked

[irf]

Just beating scorchers next match would be a big success/relief for Eagles right now

Forget the playoffs

Not even 1 chance in a million of winning them

[erj14]

Would much prefer Newby over Steutel personally. Newby has proven he can recruit very well and was doing a hell of a job at Worcester, under very difficult circumstances in his second year there. Steutel has done great in his GB role but coaching a BBL team is a bit different to what he's doing there.

[spacejammer]

Apr 16, 2022 16:05:01 GMT irf said:

It's the right decision for all concerned

Newby would get the club sorted and wining stuff within a couple of years

Eagles actually should be challenging for the league. Not just cups and trophies.

Newby would make that happen sooner rather than later

I obviously hope they give the job to someone else

I'm also glad they've found another role for Mac

He's clearly a good guy and he stepped up to a tough job when asked

Your right about it being the correct decision.
Yes to other clubs winning 3 trophies would be a dream and it is still achievement especially for Mac.

But we aren't other clubs, we are the Newcastle Eagles and it isn't just because we haven't won anything this year.
There's been a few seasons with Fab where we have finished the season with no sliverware.

But in those season we atleast finished in the top 3 and were competitive.
Whereas this season we ain't finishing in the top 5 and teams like Leicester as well as some of the other have practically steam rolled over us this year.

That should not happen and if we lose to Surrey tommorow it would mean every team in the league will have beaten us at least once this season.

And as a business after such a bad season the Eagles will be wanting to give us something to believe in for next year.
If that doesn't happen and you start losing supporters then you have no choice but to turn things around.
Otherwise you'll find less fans jumping on the Early bird renewal offer that comes through for season tick holders.

So hopefully with this announcement it is shows their is going to be a shake up in the summer and hopefully one for the better.

[irf]

[basketballjoe3]

Am I one of the only ones that feels Mac is somewhat of a scapegoat here?

Corrct me if I'm wrong, but Eagles don't have recent track record of turning nothing in to something. But having said that, there was a relative lack of coaching in the BBL that could be relied on. Ultimately if you're good enough to win the playoffs though, you should be OK.

I think they were likely set up to play a certain way with all out attack with Matt Scott.

They've pivoted and hoped for Peel to be the big replacement and frankly he's a shadow of his former self.

Couple this with recent news of the title sponsor financial issues and it's completely understandable why there were not more signings.

It appears that Toon memories are both long (we love you Fab) and short at the same time (no rope for Mac).

Contrast this with Plymouth, buckets of coaching experience, some absolute luck in terms of signings, Booman coming late in the process, and the war in Ukraine landing us Simons... Still the guy won silverware,chips just didn't fall for him this season.

[spacejammer]

Apr 17, 2022 11:02:35 GMT basketballjoe3 said:

Am I one of the only ones that feels Mac is somewhat of a scapegoat here?

Corrct me if I'm wrong, but Eagles don't have recent track record of turning nothing in to something. But having said that, there was a relative lack of coaching in the BBL that could be relied on. Ultimately if you're good enough to win the playoffs though, you should be OK.

I think they were likely set up to play a certain way with all out attack with Matt Scott.

They've pivoted and hoped for Peel to be the big replacement and frankly he's a shadow of his former self.

Couple this with recent news of the title sponsor financial issues and it's completely understandable why there were not more signings.

It appears that Toon memories are both long (we love you Fab) and short at the same time (no rope for Mac).

Contrast this with Plymouth, buckets of coaching experience, some absolute luck in terms of signings, Booman coming late in the process, and the war in Ukraine landing us Simons... Still the guy won silverware,chips just didn't fall for him this season.

He's not a scapegoat and if we had finished somewhere in the top 5 and looked competitive we would have maybe agreed to keep him.
But this season we haven't looked competitive and whilst I agree things have gone against him.
We have seen far weakened Eagles squads managed to perform better and win even against tough sides.

Whilst I do agree it's not all his fault for this season being bad and their is more to address.
I can't deny looking at the way this season has gone and the manner of some of the losses.
A change was needed at the helm especially if you want to give fans something to hope for next season.