Two glaring Rivers mistakes cost us goals in the first quarter. Did I dream that?

Interesting how one or 2 moments/actions can drastically change the way you view a player and his performance.

I'm usually critical of him and don't think Riv is up to it, but I was running late, missing a big chunk of the first and obviously missed those 2 plays.

Taking that into consideration, I thought he was superb.

If the kids are allowed to male mistakes, surely we can make allowances for a player who has missed multiple seasons through injury and is just finding his feet at senior level again?

Not every player is Bob Murphy (comes back from injury in redhot form from day dot)

The gulf will remain wide between Johnson and Jamar because PJ has mastered to any competence the key ingredients of being a big man. Ruckwork, physical contests and strength and marking above his shoulders. Jamar always had those skills but never the belief to do it more often. PJ does not have the base of skills. And you can pinpick the good 30 second stanzas here and there if you like. It would hide the rest of the time. He wont get easier ruck opposition and he just struggled. Tells it all

I enjoyed the Watts handball more and agree with you on the rest.

With Neagle its on the contrary. Neagle's goals were receiver goals. Neagle is a talented but lazy uncommitted footballer that wins very little of his own contested ball and does not work anywhere hard enough when he does not have it.You saw that yourself as Neagle did not make one effective lead from the forward line. Rivers would not get an easier opponent. A bigger challenge for Rivers would have been Hurley/ Gumbleton or a resting Ryder or Hille. Neagle is a small scalp.

Just finished a conversation with a client who is a good Demon man and made mention to him the surprising comments I see daily here regarding Riv. His response was that he thought Riv was having his best season for sometime.

It is all opinion and people see it differently - at the very least I now know who to avoid within Demonland when discussing Riv, which I will just have to do because he will be part of the back line for the next 3-5 years, no doubt!

Edited July 13, 201015 yr by Demon Jack 16

At the end of the day, the club clearly values his contribution, so we need to stop whinging about his deficiencies. It is becoming as useless as those Bruce threads.

Totally agree. Often overlooked. And yes, I'm over it. Again.

No one is essentially disputing that JR is having his best season for many .. But given his past seasons have been nothing of note that as a comparison or grading means nothing . The only thing that has relevance is that we need to field our best team and does this include Rivers. Also where to from now. Can he improve beyond that which another will given the same gametime ? Many still avoid that he's not got the form of his nab rs year !! But that's ok because he's a supporters fav. I recall years back an article about the Dees new twin stellar stars in the making , Miller and Rivers ... All greatness awaited them. They both have been good without brilliance , both have limitations and neither have what they once had . That's a shame. Times change and the game has ( and will ) and what was once a square peg for a square hole becomes less useful when that hole changes. For Rivers to be contributor he ought to be he needs to improve his offensive link ups he needs to make better decisions with the ball and have more positives in his quiver than just a spoil. I await

His response was that he thought Riv was having his best season for sometime.

It is all opinion and people see it differently.

I actually agree with your friend on Rivers year. I just dont think he is that good relative to other options we have. B)