Cannon.......get your nose out of EWF business

[BDAVEY]

Former Force and Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon believes time may be running out for John Mitchell in the west.

Cannon also said he thinks Wallaby prodigy James O'Connor must be moved to flyhalf to save the Western Force's season.

The Force will travel to New Zealand this week with their backline in tatters after injuries to Mark Bartholomeusz and Cameron Shepherd cruelled their Super 14 preparations.

The club is also sweating on scans of Richard Brown's injured shoulder, which may require a full reconstruction.

And after the nightmare suffered by Sam Harris in his elevation to the number ten jersey coach Mitchell must make a decision on who will be his playmaker the Hurricanes.

Cannon, the first ever signing for the Force, said O'Connor was the obvious candidate.

"The Force will sadly struggle without a good flyhalf as we saw on Friday night, it is such a specialist position," Cannon said.

"I would bring James O’Connor to flyhalf as he would liven up the attacking options and he would appear to be the best chance of giving them the direction the team requires."

Blogging for an eastern states newspaper, Cannon said the pressure should be starting to mount on Mitchell, with the bookies now having the Force as second favourites for this year's Super 14 wooden spoon.

"Mitchell has another year on his contract after this and if within that time he is unable to obtain a top four finish then it is time to take another direction for the organisation," Cannon said.

The Force leave for New Zealand on Thursday, with Shepherd, Bartholomeusz and Brown all out, and Haig Sare and Matt Dunning struggling.

The club has been given dispensation to sign an injury replacement, with former stars James Hilgendorf and Scott Staniforth both possibles

[WF2006]

Bill, as often is the case, your point here is lost on me.
I see Cannon as a Force advocate, just voicing his opinions. I can't see any interference or malice in these comments.

[BDAVEY]

His dig at JM is what I was concerned about. The rest is old news... I felt he was putting in his 5c worth which is what it is worth.

[shasta]

Well, even as a defender of John Mitchell, I'd have to say Canno is pretty close to the mark. After 5 seasons, if we are not in the top 6 at least (there will be 6 finalists next year), it will be time to try someone else.

[Elf1]

Well, even as a defender of John Mitchell, I'd have to say Canno is pretty close to the mark. After 5 seasons, if we are not in the top 6 at least (there will be 6 finalists next year), it will be time to try someone else.

Ditto

[blutackey]

Wow there are some really biased people on here, Cannon is dead on the money here. And on putting his nose in, he was obviously asked his opinion by a journo and gave it - something he is more than entitled to do.

The sense of unjust on these forums by some people makes me cringe sometimes.

[GIGS20]

I have consistently (and loudly) defended John Mitchell on this forum since my first post. I'm with Shasta and Elf, there is pressure starting to mount. If he doesn't produce a good season before the end of this current contract I too will be calling for change.

Canno's got that part nailed.....I don't agree with his assertion that JOC needs to go to 10 though because then we would have no 15. James showed very well last week that it doesn't matter a cracker what number's on his back. Harris might pull up better after a week of soul searching and specialist training, Stef MIGHT be the man. I don't know, but I reckon we've got fewer options to cover 15 without Shep!

That being said, at least I have to craft an argument to refute Canno's points there.......he's probably right to ask the question at least.

[Burgs]

Canno isn't going to get paid if he tries saying, "nah, they are fine it'll all work out".

[Piet Van Ziel]

With the rabble J. Mitchell has at his disposal, I don't want any other coach. The man has done a great job and I won't hear a bad word against him

JM for el presidente

[laura]

Of all the well-known people or media to comment on the topic, Canno's opinions are worth more than most. He might not have been around for a long time but I'm pretty sure he still has a vested interest in the club & wouldnt do/say anything to jeopardise that. He seems to only want what's best for the club. AND at the very least, he has got inside knowledge and he does actually know something about the sport in comparison to the regular journo crap where its predominantly speculation and rumours.

[MI5_Dog]

Wow there are some really biased people on here, Cannon is dead on the money here. And on putting his nose in, he was obviously asked his opinion by a journo and gave it - something he is more than entitled to do.

The sense of unjust on these forums by some people makes me cringe sometimes.

welcome to the internet

[Rodent]

The only reason any pressure is mounting is the media keep talking it up! The force lost 2 fly halves and their best winger in the week before the first game. They are also without their second best winger (Cummins), which is why I think Cannon's other point of putting JOC at 10 is moot.

While JOC may well be an improvement over Sam, it doesn't solve the problem of having no other strike power in the backs... Sadly Shep is out for at least 6 weeks, but Cummins shouldn't be too far off now, if Hilgy can get back here that solves our problem at 10.
I think this weekend we just have to gut it out... No point throwing JOC into 10 only to move him out of their in 2 weeks time, especially while he is playing so well at 15.

Just my 2 cents but I think Cannon needs to look at the facts. Mitchell managed to get a side decimated by injury to stay with what is supposed to be the stand out side of the competition... All of that with a 10 that was thrown into the position one day before the match. Not a bad effort when things are taken in perspective.

[brokendown gunfighter]

His opinion was quite reasonable IMO
Even Mitchell himself would admit results are a major part of his KPI's,regardless of circumstances

after all look what happened to his assistants after last season!

[jazza93]

Its too early to judge the team/coaches. Cannon has some points but now that he is in the media he has to come up with BS storys all the time just like the rest of them. He will have something else to write about next week, maybe Dunning to scrum half.

[AndyS]

Whether you agree or disagree with him I would have said that, unlike most of the media hacks sticking an oar in, Cannon has earned the right to have an opinion on the Force. I personally think that putting JO'C at 10 would hugely simplify the opposition's task of shutting down what little attack we can muster at the moment, but Mitchell will make his call and live with the consequences.

There is one thing I am certain of though - if the Force loses it won't matter what Mitchell did or how the game panned out, it will be all wrong, all his fault and he will need sacking. Even if the team somehow manufactures a win, it will be a credit to the players alone and Mitchell will just be a dead weight who has failed to put together 33 players all of Test standard and totally interchangeable on a moments notice. Not that anyone is playing the man though....