Don't Blame Neeld

[Range Rover 1,935]

He's been handed a poo sandwich.

We may or may not ever recover from the post-Daniher/Bailey/Cameron/Prendergast armaggedon ... but it's not his fault.

At least give him a couple of years to see if he can do something, ANYTHING, with this bunch of hacks.

[deeflog 679]

agreed 100%

Neeld is far from the problem

[Sir Why You Little 34,939]

i would give him an extension right now....Do whatever you need to do Mark.....

Because whatever has come before Neeld is nowhere near the place we need to be.

[Demon2 58]

I blame the shizen culture we have...how can you not stand up and play with passion or heart....thats not neelds responsibility....the players need to stand up and show bloody something.

Aren't they ashamed...don't they read the papers, listen to radio, watch TV....how can they look at themselves in the mirror...

[stuie 7,374]

agreed 100%

Neeld is far from the problem

We had a worse list a few years ago and we had to play everyone in reverse positions to lose to Richmond by a kick after the siren... You say don't blame Neeld, but who then is to blame? And don't give me the typical MFC BS of well it's this and that and no one in particular... SICK OF IT.

[Sir Why You Little 34,939]

What % of the salary cap is being paid right now? if it is anywhere near 100 we are in some deep poo.

Every player should be on an incentive based contract....the stats for todays game are disgraceful.

After 154 years we are still a club with no direction.....

[stuie 7,374]

Neeld's press conference is on right now, talking about how we were even in the last quarter... Think I'm going to neck myself

[titan_uranus 22,779]

I won't blame Neeld for most things. As the OP says, he inherited a terrible list and hasn't had long to work with them.

However, I thought his gameday work today was poor.

Why did we bring Dunn on and then sit him in the forward line during the third quarter rout? Stupid move. Our sub should have run through the middle or at least higher up the ground to give us some drive.

We also resorted too often to a loose man in defence, which doesn't help us at all, and only helped Richmond. And we went in too top heavy.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Disagree.

I think some blame has to go to Neeld. We didn't get 12 goals worse in the space of one off season. We dominated this team, and the bombers... and now we look worse than a VFL team. SOME of the blame has to go to Neeld. His plan may work, but right now, I don't see how humiliation that hurts your club is actually HELPING.

[Jerry Lundergard 392]

We have gone backwards from last year as far as I am concerned.

It's too early to blame Neeld, but it won't be for long.

I don't see any other teams with new coaches getting pounded, and then blaming it on adjusting to a new game plan.

[Sir Why You Little 34,939]

The Players are not fit enough...during the 3rd Q they "hit the wall"

After one pre season that is not the coaches fault....We were told.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

I'm not saying string him up now... But...

I remember Daniher used to say his job was to win games of football. I always found that odd, that that's all he was trying to do... Almost like as if winning a flag was considered a bonus if it happened. I hated that. But I think Neeld is no better. Pig-headedly insisting on hard footy with nothing else, that's too unidirectional again...

[Cheesecake 92]

We have gone backwards from last year as far as I am concerned.

It's too early to blame Neeld, but it won't be for long.

I don't see any other teams with new coaches getting pounded, and then blaming it on adjusting to a new game plan.

Spot on, Jerry. He has to find a way to right this sinking team soon, or he'll lose even the faithful.

That said, I think we are seeing some incremental improvements in the game plan (undoing the 'over adjustment' to boundary hugging defensive play, and getting some run and carry happening). And Neeld seems to be willing to hold the course during this highly stressful time. I've still got faith him in, for now.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Disagree.

I think some blame has to go to Neeld. We didn't get 12 goals worse in the space of one off season. We dominated this team, and the bombers... and now we look worse than a VFL team. SOME of the blame has to go to Neeld. His plan may work, but right now, I don't see how humiliation that hurts your club is actually HELPING.

If I actually knew what his plan was I'd at least know what to look out for but at this stage I can't see any difference between the crap game plan bailey had and the crap way we are currently playing.

Surely the plan can't be to play 2 to 3 metres behind your opponent, always pass the ball to your teammate but only if he's outnumbered at least 2 to 1, make sure that you only tackle with one hand, never use the centre corridor even if it's the best option, bomb the ball indiscriminately in to the forward line to ensure the opposition have every chance of clearing the ball, keep to the boundary and all on the one side so the opposition have the chance to spread across the ground and make a complete dick of you.

Is that a good part of it?

I have never been so close in my life to walking away from the club.

[deeflog 679]

We had a worse list a few years ago and we had to play everyone in reverse positions to lose to Richmond by a kick after the siren... You say don't blame Neeld, but who then is to blame? And don't give me the typical MFC BS of well it's this and that and no one in particular... SICK OF IT.

you tell me who's to blame for the start of this season

[BAMF 3,809]

I'm pretty heart broken. Over the past 8 years I have spent on average 5hrs or more a week on demonland. The last few weeks have been 20 mins per week.

Neeld has 3 years. i'll give him that. It's not his fault. But ive completely lost faith at the moment.

[dazzledavey36 49,369]

no! neeld has to take some sort of blame for this! some of our decent young players have gone backwards.

and wtf is goin on with our 3rd qtrs??

[stuie 7,374]

you tell me who's to blame for the start of this season

I am telling you. Neeld.

I like him as much as the next bloke, but if you go purely on evidence then he is the ONLY suspect.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,078]

I think the 'elite' level fitness regime has been too much of a focus - not enough on basic skills and they are tired across the side. its going to be a long season.

Upsides Mitch, Davey and Howe. Our midfield is non existent...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If MFC are in any way accountable then I cant see how Neeld can avoid the burners.

The opposition was ordinary, we were soft and crud.

The coach must wear.

I feel for Neeld give the Mifsid incident and other off field issues but his honeymoon is well and truly over for the on field.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,078]

RIchmond were ordinary in most of the game so there is no excuse. Our skills were almost laughable in the first quarter and our non effort and flatout tiredness was the most telling point in the third quarter.

[Jaded No More 59,150]

How the hell can the coach of the club take no blame?

He makes zero game day changes, dropped Davey for one week, and then comes out after the game talking crap about how we won a quarter.

He has plenty of blame to shoulder.

[stormndemon 1]

Neeld is far from the problem

Well WTF did we recruit him! Neeld is part of the problem - he just too inexperienced to know what to do next, so he reverts to the simplest of motivate "FEAR"! and threats.

We need a 'Wayne Bennett' from the NRL plus a ruthless cull of the deadwood! Goodbye 2012 - so much for the promises of the last 5 years!

[Sir Why You Little 34,939]

RIchmond were ordinary in most of the game so there is no excuse. Our skills were almost laughable in the first quarter and our non effort and flatout tiredness was the most telling point in the third quarter.

That Equals confidence and fitness....

I am not saying Neeld cannot improve his coaching, but as the OP says. He has inherited a shocking state of affairs.

What happened behind closed doors between 2008-11 is still hanging around.

[Demon Dynasty 15,986]

If MFC are in any way accountable then I cant see how Neeld can avoid the burners.

The opposition was ordinary, we were soft and crud.

The coach must wear.

I feel for Neeld give the Mifsid incident and other off field issues but his honeymoon is well and truly over for the on field.

Very much so.

This is no great opposition we faced today and we failed as soon as they turned up the wick a little.

And one bizarre decision for me is Neeld & the selection committee's decision to have Dunn on the bench as sub. To have any chance of winning, or to at least stem the damage in a loss, you need multiple avenues to goal and at this point Dunn is one of those few avenues/options (like him or not) that we didn't have (early enough) today. Mitch Clarke doing a solo act, no matter how courageous, isn't gonna win us many a footy match other than against GWS and GC....maybe. Morton should have been the sub. HUUUUGE error IMO. Basic stuff guys. Lift your game. Fast becoming one of the worst teams i've ever seen open a season for the MFC and crap decisions like this aren't helping.

Edited April 14, 2012 by Rusty Nails