There are plenty of armchair critics in the world of fantasy league who will be telling Ivan Cleary what he needs to do to sort out the mess at the Wests Tigers.
What some people will tend to forget is that he has been appointed coach, not dictator of the club, although it could be argued that’s just what this particular basket case needs.
What with the players trying to run the show in the past few years, a good dictator may be just what this joint needs.
If Cleary had been appointed with the power to do whatever he thought was necessary, well, he may start with the cleanout of the club board.
Then Ivan the Terrible may work his way down to the chief executive office and just keep swinging with that broom till the stables were completely clean.
It’s all hypothetical of course, including appointing a club dictator – that sort of thing went out a long time ago.
But there are things that coach Cleary can do and indeed may do.
But what would you do if you were Cleary?
Well, let’s see what would be the Top 5 changes we’d make if our name was Ivan Cleary the coach, not Ivan the Terrible dictator.
Number 1. Beat the Cowboys this Saturday night. There’s nothing like the confidence boost you get from winning games. Sorry, meant winning a game.
Number 2. Sign Aaron Woods and James Tedesco to long term contracts and build the club around them.
Number 3. Cooper Cronk’s on the market, what a stroke of luck, what great timing for Cleary. Have a showdown with the young halves, offer them what you think they are worth and tell them to sign now or see ya later.
Number 4. Change the compressed defensive structure which leaks easy points at the edges every week.
Number 5. Long term, tell the club that two home grounds are more than enough.
2 HG’s is 1 too many