Des is genuinely one of the great coaches. He has always been noteworthy and even rather daring for his use and stretching of sport sciences (calf's blood chaser anyone?? Go one you know you like it) and tactical acumen but i think his greatest gift is "man management" as they call it. We've all seen occasions when coaches "lose the dressing room": players just decide not to follow their rules. With Des that doesn't happen, he has the standing with the players to lay down the rules and the players follow them. Witness Suli's disciplining and subsequent explosion of form this year. Des i think just has the talent to project that combination of fatherly encouragement, strict discipline and gruff affection that players so much respond to. Honestly, watching last night I was convinced the entire team would wade through fire for him.