Matthew Bate to The Midfield

[rpfc 28,422]

Harrington says 'sit down' son, and Matty is obviously a required player.

He has to be groomed for the midfield.

He isn't a natural forward and is not suited to the 'press' that forwards have to be a big player in.

He is not quick, not agile, and can lose confidence easily.

But he does have a big body, a great footy brain, and played as a mid in his youth.

It's going to be difficult for him from here but I say we get Misson to turn his body into someone who has the ability to run 15km a game and get him into the middle.

We have so many slight bodies in there that he may make it.

Edited October 12, 2011 by rpfc

[Guest Thomo]

Harrington says 'sit down' son, and Matty is obviously a required player.

He has to be groomed for the midfield.

He isn't a natural forward and is not suited to the 'press' that forwards have to be a big player in.

He is not quick, not agile, and can lose confidence easily.

But he does have a big body, a great footy brain, and played as a mid in his youth.

It's going to be difficult for him from here but I say we get Misson to turn his body into someone who has the ability to run 15km a game and get him into the middle.

We have so manyu slight bodies in there that he may make it.

I've always thought that his best football has been played on the wing. He is very good at linking from the backline and delivering it forward. I’ve never understood why the club has tried so hard to make him a forward when he clearly is not.

[Watt and Howe? 16]

Brock McLean v 2.0? I hope not, but I won't hold my breath, good luck Bater.

[beelzebub 23,374]

Ive always thought the wing suited best also, but quite frankly if he wants to go, why not. Harrington doesnt pick the team , hes does the list. If teh bullies want him , then hey.

Anyhow, Im not sure how Bate suddenly gets faster and more aware and astute a user of the ball overninght.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Harrington says 'sit down' son, and Matty is obviously a required player.

He has to be groomed for the midfield.

He isn't a natural forward and is not suited to the 'press' that forwards have to be a big player in.

He is not quick, not agile, and can lose confidence easily.

But he does have a big body, a great footy brain, and played as a mid in his youth.

It's going to be difficult for him from here but I say we get Misson to turn his body into someone who has the ability to run 15km a game and get him into the middle.

We have so many slight bodies in there that he may make it.

You said it not quick, agile and can lose confidence I cant see him in the midfield anytime soon but would love to be proven wring.

[Robbie57 2,020]

You said it not quick, agile and can lose confidence I cant see him in the midfield anytime soon but would love to be proven wring.

Maybe a Ling type role would suit him then.

[beelzebub 23,374]

Maybe a Ling type role would suit him then.

what..you want him to retire ??? lol

[rpfc 28,422]

You said it not quick, agile and can lose confidence I cant see him in the midfield anytime soon but would love to be proven wring.

I would say with footy the way it is, you can only play slow mid-sized players in the midfield.

The forward press requires mid-sized forwards to be quicker to harrass and chase.

Matty has to make it in the midfield or nowhere, no matter what club he is at.

[Robbie57 2,020]

what..you want him to retire ??? lol

its the red hair thing to do at the moment....

[Nasher 33,616]

Bate on one wing with Col Garland on the other one?

I can't see a role for Bate at all unless Misson is able to work miracles. I don't see how his weaknesses are going to be any less exposed playing in the guts.

[Nascent 9,212]

I've always thought that he plays his best when he gets moved into the midfield, knows how to find the pill

[McQueen 17,864]

No reason he can't be a good stoppage player IMO. Big body but maybe down on core strength that allows these guys to burst out and pour on the speed for the first 10 - 20 meters.

Condtion him for that and rotate him with Beamer.

Edited October 13, 2011 by Kick it LONG

[beelzebub 23,374]

We just need a specialist clown coach actually...so we can teach Bate to Zig instead of Zagging !!

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Maybe if the coach shows some confidence in him he will gain confidence in himself. Maybe if he doesn't think he will be dropped every time he makes a few mistakes he will make less of them. I've seen Matthew play some good games for the club and it always seemed to me the more consecutive games he strung together the better he played.

[Axis of Bob 11,809]

To me, it says more about the difference between the old game plan and what Neeld is looking to implement.

In the past, Bate had to push high up the ground, but then had to turn and race back into the forward line to win the ball on the break. It's just the style of game we played. And Bate was unsuited to that role because he just doesn't have the tricks to win the ball consistently in that style.

However he is strong, contests well and has a great work rate. These mean that he is actually well suited to a different style of forward play. This is when he starts deeper and uses his strength and work rate to create contests as he pushes up to the ball.

It is the same way the Pies use Dawes.

That is my guess.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

If his nickname and hair colour aren't enough to deflate his confidence, this story surely must...http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/redheads-rejected-as-sperm-bank-bans-deposits-20110919-1khd2.html

Clearly no point in trading him to Europe in order to organise a father-son pick.

[Rogue 585]

what..you want him to retire ??? lol

Hah, nice call.

[old dee 23,791]

what..you want him to retire ??? lol

Love it BB!

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Can't see it happening he has the turning circle of the Hindenburg and the flexibility of an emery board.

Next!

[rpfc 28,422]

the turning circle of the Hindenburg

A bit soon, SMcFL...

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

I guess my reference went down like a lead balloon...

[Deeoldfart 8,032]

We just need a specialist clown coach actually...so we can teach Bate to Zig instead of Zagging !!

........... or just teach him one or the other for starters. At the moment he can only run in straight lines or big circles, which is why I havn't been 'sucked in' by his touch of late season form in the middle.

[Guest johnjones]

hope he does well

[... 11]

Bate on one wing with Col Garland on the other one?

I can't see a role for Bate at all unless Misson is able to work miracles. I don't see how his weaknesses are going to be any less exposed playing in the guts.

Sprinters are born, endurance athletes are made.

Bate will never be fast, but he certainly could develop an engine to run all day.

He is though, good in the contests, hard, and willing. We have lacked some of this recently.

I hope we give him a go in there. My confidence rating would be ~ 50-60% that he'd be worth having, probably as a tagger/pivot.

Given our new coach is a ranger, I reckon Bater will be VC under Jordie Mac.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I guess my reference went down like a lead balloon...

You don't get a whole lotta love for that.