Yes, personality would have been the trump card to get the players onside and make up for the lack of credentials. That didn't happen - nowhere close.
I think their main approach was ingratiation, blowing smoke up the players arses. That obviously didn't work, they'd have been better off pulling off some unorthodox Mad Dog moves
Our players had just beaten his team 9-1 on aggregate last season, is it any wonder their confidence fell through the floor at being lead by him?