Honest: John Mitchell
John Mitchell has bluntly warned his players that the "excuse culture" surrounding Sale Sharks has to stop to avoid relegation.
The Sharks 62-0 hammering against Toulon was the latest chapter in a dismal season that has seen Sale struggle to get going despite a new stadium and numerous big-name signings.
Mitchell arrived back at Sale three weeks ago but the Sharks fortunes are yet to turn around, with a crucial away fixture against London Wasps this weekend now looming.
"Unfortunately, this environment has become too much of an excuse and explanation- based environment," Mitchell told the Manchester Evening News.
"The place is full of excuses and, ultimately, the players are the only people who can turn this around.
"The mindset needs to change and the will to win needs to change.
"We were that far away from breaking Toulon, instead we chose to break, so it's about demonstrating how you can stay in contests regardless of the reputation of the opposition.
"It's more of an emotional thing - they've just lost the art of staying longer in the contest than the opposition and that's what we're trying to re-teach here.
"The boys fell short and gave up on each other when they almost had the opposition broken before half-time.
"Some individuals let us down around that 34/35 minute mark. If we had gone in it half-time just 3-0 or 7-0 down, the contest would have been a different story.
"The contrast between the two Toulon performances at home and then away was a concern and, clearly, some guys are still not reliable turning up week in, week out. It certainly revealed some of the character that I thought was here and concluded some thoughts I already had.
"But that's gone. I'm now focusing on getting a result this weekend and about making sure we get a very reliable tight group out there on Sunday."
Comments
Startledwombat says...
Oh. I thought the headline was about Mitchell and not about the team.
Actually and on reflection, it's always about Mitchell.
Posted 07:38 21st December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Come on Sale. Get some ruddy points so we can get Welsh exiles out of the Aviva.
Posted 17:23 20th December 2012
sirtidychris says...
This guy just can't shut up can he, since the moment he was linked with sale hes been releasing media sound bites slagging off the team, some conversations are best left for the dressing room, I wouldn't be surprised uf he's already isolated himself from most the players....way to go build morale!!!
Posted 13:39 20th December 2012
benski says...
I wonder how long it will be before the next Player Revolt hits Mitchell, not long by the sounds of this article.
Posted 12:17 20th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I hope Mitchell is doing more than just talking his team down in the press. He uses lots of "theys" and not many "wes". He's accountable too and you can start by giving them a rocket as a gamble that you get the right reaction but you've got to do more than that to create a winning culture.
Posted 12:15 20th December 2012