Ward Becomes a Coach
Former England international, Micky Ward, has secured the role of front row coach at Newcastle ahead of the new season.
Ward has become one of the latest former players to successfully move into the world of coaching and it seems he has a long-term vision, which he hopes that Newcastle will share.
He says he is very happy to have signed a deal, which will let him give something back to the sport. He's also said that Newcastle do not have a bad side by any means and should be considered a threat by all teams next season.
Ward possesses a number of key attributes, which are going to make him popular and productive during his new coaching role. It's important to consider these but don't forget about his lack of experience as a coach, which could hamper the Newcastle front row slightly.
Attributes
Ward will take a number of positive attributes into his new role. He has a great deal of playing experience in the bank and he can use this to make the transition into coaching smoother. He will know what players in the defence do and don't like and he can start coaching his area of the side in this way.
He's a popular guy and this is very important because he will be working every single day with some of the players. If he was not a nice man or someone that very few people could get on with then it would mean that he would never have got the job in the first place.
He still has a buzz and an energy, which is going to spread across the rest of the team. It's important for coaches to be passionate and active in what they do because it helps to keep the interest of players being coached. He can keep things fun and entertaining while he's in charge of the front row and this will also increase his popularity.
It Takes Time
There are a few reasons to be a little pessimistic as Ward embarks upon his coaching career. He has little experience as an actual coach and this could mean that it takes longer for him to get his ideas across. However, the actual impact on the Newcastle front row should be limited because the players there are good enough to adapt and cope.
There may be a few coaches in the Newcastle side who would have been hoping to either carry out the front row role along with what they're already doing or instead of what they're already doing. This means that there could be some friction developing within the club and this could have impacts on other areas.
It's unclear at the moment how Ward is going to react to the pressure of being a coach. When Newcastle have a bad game in terms of the front row, the emphasis will fall on him to do something, which will change the fortunes of the team in this particular area.
Ward is quite right that Newcastle will be an outsider and nothing more. Be very wary if you are going to bet on them to win the title this season because they are lacking in more than one area, which is going to show as the season rumbles on.
Ward looks to have a good future in coaching but keep a close eye on him for a few games. You can see if he's having an impact and if the side goes on a downward spiral then you'll be ideally placed to bet on the eventuality of him getting sacked.
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