http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/123889/default.aspx

Thoughts? I hear a lot of negative things about Royal on this forum, is this the right move?

I don't profess to know much about Royal, but as you said, pretty much all I hear on here is negatives so I'm not feeling too thrilled about this one. Time will tell. The other thing is that our backline was nowhere near at the level this year to what they were in 2010, with the difference being Royal. So, as I said, time will tell. I do hope though that it's not a balls up, because our midfield needs to be progressing lots from next season onwards.

It's my understanding that the new Coach is getting what he wants. So, if he wants Royal as the midfield coach, who are we to argue? And, Royal's new assistant sounds like he has the right stuff, too.

So, all looking very positive to me.

I think if Royal did not have 2 years to run on a contract we might have seen something different. At least he is now in charge of the area he excelled at rather than an area that was foreign to him.

I wouldnt have a clue how good or bad a coach Royal is or who the hell Greaves is however I do know that midfield makes the backline look better but flooding back and presenting hard and repeatedly to get the ball out of the back half. I do know that the midfield makes the forward line look better by delivering with precision and chipping in to look good. I do know that everything starts and finishes with the midfield.

The four top sides have some strength in their forward or back half but all of them have star midfields.

Fix our midfield problems and we are 2/3 's of the way to being a finals team.

I don't profess to know much about Royal, but as you said, pretty much all I hear on here is negatives so I'm not feeling too thrilled about this one. Time will tell. The other thing is that our backline was nowhere near at the level this year to what they were in 2010, with the difference being Royal. So, as I said, time will tell. I do hope though that it's not a balls up, because our midfield needs to be progressing lots from next season onwards.

I attended a Before the Bounce event that Royal spoke at and he left me nothing but unenthused. He stated that a key principle he had with our backs was to never leave them in a one on one contest, a player should always go and help out. That puzzled me considering I would back Frawley and Garland one out against most opponents. I then witnessed us give up 4 goals that day from having too many players up at the contest.

I think you will find this is about Neeld wanting to bring Greaves in to work with our young mid fielders.

A bit about him here:

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/11/10/224621_geelong_sports.html

As everyone knows - the midfield is the most important area.

As for Royal, he has been around the block and is a career coach. I am certain, he would be more comfortable away from the backline.

Having said that - it wasn't the backline's fault we allowed so many Inside 50s...

I am, however, much more comfortable with Royal in charge of the midfield than West.

I also think we need to look at this as the new coach setting up what he wants within the constraints the club has:

CC out of Footy Dept but the club has to keep him for now (and he is a good salesman)

Misson in.

Greaves in to help with the midfield (Royal out of the back line)

The interesting question is not about Royal but about who is coming into the backline.

I hear a lot of negative things about Royal on this forum

I wouldn't let that worry you too much.

with , Mahoney in his new role would we need a new forward line coach

I don't mind the sound of Greaves - particularly as it sounds like Neeld is bringing in people he knows. I wouldn't be surprised to see another name or two who've had experience in and around Geelong and the Bellarine area, as that's where Neeld has his footballing background and will have the people he believes he can trust in as coaches.

I'm kind of happy we've let West go. I wasn't convinced, especially after this year, that he was doing a very good job. Whether Royal will do better remains to be seen.

well... wasnt particularly expecting that but hey if thats what Neeld wants then thats fine with me ( atm..lol ) Clever to apprentice Greaves. Possible natural ascension ??

Im happy to wait to see what happens. Its all brave new world

edit:

keep in mind Neeld will set the agenda..not Royal Chokos job will be to interpret and empower the players according to the Coachs directives.

I heard Mick Malthouse mention on SEN that the important thing for Neeld in the first few years is that he controls as much as possible, until he has everyone working to his vision and they have earnt his trust. I expect that to be the case so let's not overstate the impact Royal will or won't have on the overall game plan and performance of our mids.

I think the appointment of Greaves as an assistant says more than the shift of Royal to midfield coach. I read it as Royal has a couple of years left on a contract, has been around the block and can share a few things with Greaves who will eventually take over from Royal once his contract expires.

How often is a midfield assistant coach appointed? That to me says that Neeld might not have full faith in Royal and it's more of a case that we'll use him where we can rather than pay out a contract.

That's my interpretation of it all anyway.

How often is a midfield assistant coach appointed? That to me says that Neeld might not have full faith in Royal and it's more of a case that we'll use him where we can rather than pay out a contract.

Royal appears to have Neeld's faith I cant see how with all the changes he would have to put

up with keeping him if he didn't want him.

I'd be disappointed that we wouldn't pay him out if he was only staying because he is contracted.

our backline wasn't as strong this year, but do remember Chip was coming off an injury, and Garland was down on form early, and we lost Grimes for most of the season... I'm not too bothered by Royal getting the midfield, he'll be teaching them what Neeld wants, and will offer some welcome experience...

now we just need assistants for the forward and back lines, Peter Sumich and David King please!

Royal worked with the midfield 2001 - 2003. Our midfield then wasn't too bad. He couldn't do a worse job than West, or than what he did as defensive coach. I'm not happy with the situation, but if they really wanted him out they would have sacked him - the payout wouldn't have been that much.

I attended a Before the Bounce event that Royal spoke at and he left me nothing but unenthused. He stated that a key principle he had with our backs was to never leave them in a one on one contest, a player should always go and help out. That puzzled me considering I would back Frawley and Garland one out against most opponents. I then witnessed us give up 4 goals that day from having too many players up at the contest.

One of the most frustrating gameplay elements. Especially evident in the first game against Hawthorn. The ball would be kicked into Hawthorn's 50, we'd have about 5-6 players around the ball to their 4-5, all of whose Melbourne opponents are pushing back to protect from the short chip, while the original 5-6 players Hawthorn opponents linger around the 50. We would bash the ball out and get it straight back to a Hawthorn player. It was awful football.

God 2011 was a bad year. Worse to watch than 08 and 09 by a MILE.

I like these changes we are making. Josh Mahoney will be good as the fotty ops manager. He obviously has a good footy brain and even though I thought he had to be rwmoved and get in a freah assistant im glad melbourne saw enough in him to keep in. CC will be better out of the footy department.

I dont ming Royal being our midfield coach. he has an assistant there so at least someone will be giving him freah ideas. Brian was also a midfielder himself even though it was a while ago. If Neeld wants Greeves then he must know something good about him.

I think you will find this is about Neeld wanting to bring Greaves in to work with our young mid fielders.

A bit about him here:

http://www.geelongad...ong_sports.html

Jesus, another teacher!

Jesus, another teacher!

Yeah I know. Imagine getting a teacher to teach football.

our backline wasn't as strong this year, but do remember Chip was coming off an injury, and Garland was down on form early, and we lost Grimes for most of the season... I'm not too bothered by Royal getting the midfield, he'll be teaching them what Neeld wants, and will offer some welcome experience...

now we just need assistants for the forward and back lines, Peter Sumich and David King please!

King appears very up with the modern game when discussing gameplans on TV or radio.

We've got more coaches than the Greyhound Bus company . Everyone happy now?

?.. so let's not overstate the impact Royal will or won't have on the overall game plan and performance of our mids.

To continue the teaching analogy, let's remember that the assistant coaches are working to a curriculum, but they're not writing the curriculum. Neeld is doing that. Royal was implementing Bailey's defensive vision last season and next season he'll be working out of Neeld's lesson book.

Of course top line assistants (like Neeld was) can contribute greatly to the development of a game plan but in Melbourne's present situation, where they'll largely be learning a new playing style, having an assistant who is a good teacher and communicator should suffice.