Pretty telling this one. Ol Gully was a pushover that didn’t push the boys.
This team needed a Peters type coach.
I don't disagree that Gully's time here wasn't great and I don't disagree with your opinion, but I really don't think that we need to create a narrative that the failures of the Flames were due to the lack of try on Gully's part. I agree that Peters looks to be the guy we need.
Based on what I recall reading, the team did like Gully at first, but things changed over time as Gully did expect the team to do a lot of self management. However, this was a major problem for several reasons:
1. Gully teaches a system that is cycle based. Self management isn't great for a team well versed in rush style. That's like... telling tennis players to self teach to compete in squash/racquet ball because it's still racquets and a ball. It would perhaps work better on a vet team with lots of cycle experience, but on our roster, it was just bad. Peters seems like a guy who is playing the same game everyone is used to playing. Furthermore, requesting self management isn't a bad thing. For instance, there are anecdotes of the team telling Sutter to stay out and they'd handle it themselves because they liked it that way. Heck, the team figured out something in the middle of Gully's first season here after beers on a train. It can work. But things just weren't clicking right at all under Gully.
2. Gully was a player's coach. Hartley's falling out afterwards were due to rumored dislike of him by players ranging from public humiliation and calling out, singling out guys and tearing into them, being screamed at, psychological games, threats etc. It was night vs day between those two guys. Hartley would frequently bag skate and as such our roster could outwork the opposition on a regular basis (but the injuries stacked up). Gully? No such thing. He threw a stick and it was a situation I'd probably fight back giggles if I were there. The roster needed something in between which Peters seems to be which is encouraging.
3. Gully's system for a team that was playing uninspired was in my opinion actually impressive. 82-88-14 I believe was his record here over two seasons. But keep in mind the team completely folded in ways we haven't seen in a long time at the end of last season. Uninspired teams generally don't maintain around .500 ish. This leads me to believe that Gully will be a good coach one day, but that he is still too much of a greenhorn to take the reigns.
Gully was a bad fit. But there's seriously no reason at all IMO that we need to slag the dude in ways that aren't totally truthful for spite.
