ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

The fact that Watts was playing as a loose man from the start meant Melbourne were never going to play well.

I hate the tactic, always have. I would prefer to have more numbers in the forward line with someone to kick it to at all times.

[robbiefrom13 887]

Eddie Newton's role at Chelsea - but would Neeld go for it if it was suggested?... Worth googling if you don't know what Eddie Newton has done for Chelsea..

Will MFC members get vocal about their club, or just sit and moan about it? Is there a think-tank of interested parties working on how to save us from this train-wreck, or are we saying it's ok, and still pretending it's more-or-less how we envisaged the year? (How naive I am! - maybe it's not even pretending - maybe this is as the club - and the tuned-in supporters - saw the year?)

Well, I say, as a school teacher, that once the students are enjoying your class and they know that you see good in them and you like them, there is no limit to what you can ask them to grapple with and master. Turn them off, and everyone plays it by the book, they go wooden, and dutiful, and you are on your own out the front of the room... Bag me out, but there's a big literature about this. Footballers too, just like kids - they are people, like everyone else - treat them well, you get the best of them and natural generosity pours out of them. Proactive engagement and shared ownership and responsibility and all the rest with it. But we don't appear to have any of that at MFC. Students remember the teachers who made it fun, and who respected them - and those are the classes they learn in. Eddie Newton is on the money.

I am gutted to see Jurrah visibly despondent. Puzzled not to see too many others... We think they have shut down, don't we? So get somebody in there to fix it!

Edited May 19, 2012 by robbiefrom13

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Here's one positive. Watching the 3rd quarter Bombers & Tigers, its clear we made the right decision with Brad Miller. Not worth two [censored]'s of goat sh!t.

Yes I noticed that, hes single handedly blowing it for the Toiges

[BIG JIM 508]

BIG JIM, Watts was the best? Really? Really? *sigh*

Open your eye's i know you hate him because everytime he is talked about your first to jump on him 34 touches check mate.

He was great tonight 34 touches after 2 weeks in the 2nds well done jack

Edited May 19, 2012 by BIG JIM

[Hardnut 327]

It sounds over the top but I think you are actually right. Heads need to roll from the top down. Everyone. The only problem is that in reality it just can't happen. there are too many complexities involved. Hence the club will continue to die a slow death.

So do we just sit back and let it happen Stranga - surely there are MFC people out there who can help save the club?

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

I have never felt this bad in 32 years of following this club and I think it was hardnut who said it I am shellshocked, may have to take some time out for a while, I'll continue to support my beloved Dees but really I am finally at a loss.

So much going on in my head, I just don't get it as a proud person I can't fathom what makes our players do that, I know their confidence is at a low eb but the non negotiables come from within.

I spoke with a recently retired AFL player today who's words were that he would hate to be Neeld, the players are not playing for him, he said it's not about the plan and whether you understand it, it's the fact the players are not willing to tackle, block or run. Oh and he gave special mention to Clark & Blease saying it's sad when a new player to the club and one of your young guys are the ones running, tackling and trying their hearts out

Whenever I think we have hit rock bottom I am proven wrong

Im thinking perhaps Big Jimbo might have been holding the players together last year, now without him....well.

[jimcor 212]

Oh dear! Eight games in and, for the first time this season (believe it or not) I'm pretty disappointed with our performance. That might sound mad but up until now, I could see that there had been week-on-week progress. This week, no such luck. Perhaps it was an unrealistic expectation.

I will no doubt get over it by tomorrow but I think Neeld has to continually demonstrate that there is light at the end of the tunnel and, most importantly, that the tunnel isn't too long. And before someone else says it, that the light isn't on the front of a train coming our way. A strong positive was that it wasn't on free to air TV so not everyone at work will have watched it.

[Choko 493]

Choko on 19 May 2012 - 09:39 PM, said:

'Neeld was going to get a job at any one of Adelaide, WB and Melbourne, and he chose us. I would say he is the least of our problems.'

I'm curious Choko - I thought MFC chose Neeld - do you know something about the process?

Yes, we chose him!!! But I am saying that he had a choice of 3 clubs, all who chose him.

[jumbo returns 6,737]

Open your eye's i know you hate him because everytime he is talked about your first to jump on him 34 touches check mate.

He was great tonight 34 touches after 2 weeks in the 2nds well done jack

Please take a breath and assess those touches.....how is Jack going to learn hard, disciplined footy if he's a 'loose' man in defence?

Where's his accountability? Where's his discipline? Where was the GUTS to fill the hole? Neeld gave him the opportunity to show the footballing world he was ready, but, alas, he failed again.

Soft, bruise free footy.

Is that what you want, BIG JIM?

[Hardnut 327]

Yes, we chose him!!! But I am saying that he had a choice of 3 clubs, all who chose him.

OK Choko, but you haven't answered my question. How do you know that all 3 chose him?

[stranga 328]

So do we just sit back and let it happen Stranga - surely there are MFC people out there who can help save the club?

I really don't think there are anymore. We have either burnt them all or they are not the right calibre of people (think Gardner). From an on field perspective, how do you replace a whole playing list and coaching staff?

[stranga 328]

Please take a breath and assess those touches.....how is Jack going to learn hard, disciplined footy if he's a 'loose' man in defence?

Where's his accountability? Where's his discipline? Where was the GUTS to fill the hole? Neeld gave him the opportunity to show the footballing world he was ready, but, alas, he failed again.

Soft, bruise free footy.

Is that what you want, BIG JIM?

100% correct. I don't rate his performance in the slightest. Anyway, the fact that the kid we drafted to be our full forward/chf for the next decade is player loose man in defense says it all really.

[rpfc 28,244]

Neeld has struggled for 2 months.

The players have struggled for 5 years.

When will people realise that these players are condemning their second coach due to their own demons and the fact that they are not good enough.

186 wasn't an aberration.

It's form, and it is the form of our players.

Edited May 19, 2012 by rpfc

[Hardnut 327]

I really don't think there are anymore. We have either burnt them all or they are not the right calibre of people (think Gardner). From an on field perspective, how do you replace a whole playing list and coaching staff?

Understand Stranga, but remember I wasn't advocating replacing the whole playing list.

[Killergrew 2]

Oh dear! Eight games in and, for the first time this season (believe it or not) I'm pretty disappointed with our performance. That might sound mad but up until now, I could see that there had been week-on-week progress. This week, no such luck. Perhaps it was an unrealistic expectation.

I will no doubt get over it by tomorrow but I think Neeld has to continually demonstrate that there is light at the end of the tunnel and, most importantly, that the tunnel isn't too long. And before someone else says it, that the light isn't on the front of a train coming our way. A strong positive was that it wasn't on free to air TV so not everyone at work will have watched it.

Neeld is not the problem. The list is our problem. Hardly one player would get a game in any of the other teams.

To paraphrase Warnie - can't kick, can't tackle, can't hand-ball.

Edited May 19, 2012 by Killergrew

[scarlett 247]

sorry, but so much dribble, maybe because its so close to such a bad display, but honestly the only reason to why everyone is so upset is because everyone talked themselves into having a chance tonight because of Sydney's injuries. Watch the games this season, we are practising our defensive set ups, different setups every match, one week we completely sat defensive side of our opponents as if it was in the defensive 50 at every ball up, the coaches the players, everyone at the club has said we know how to attack but have no defensive skills. We are learning on the run, its just such a sad state that the 2 hours all us supporters look forward too each week is just a side thought this year too everyone involved at the club. is it the right way to do things? i dont know, but its the way neeld is taking it, we gave baily years so lets give neeld atleast until next year to judge.

I know I've paid my membership, I might be lucky to make one game a year but pay up every year, do I get angry at results, damn straight I do but the way some of you are carrying on is childish. It's two hours a week stop acting like your life depends on it, because if the players lives depended on it we wouldnt have any left.

Sorry to be all over the place with my post but there are so many different angles to discuss, I dont post much but spend alot of time on here and understand what we're all going through, but the way people talk around here is just horrible, seriously I bet all the main doomsayers are still posting here next year paying their memberships. It says alot about our members/supporters, we stick tuff, makes the wins all that much sweeter. so in short, harden up princesses.

(I note the irony starting this post with the line "so much dribble" then dribbleing on for so long. sorry.)

edit. spelling.

Edited May 19, 2012 by scarlett

[Hardnut 327]

Neeld has struggled for 2 months.

The players have struggled for 5 years.

When will people realise that these players are condemning their second coach due to the own demons.

186 wasn't an aberration.

It's form, and it is the form of our players.

The playing list has changed considerably over 5 years rpfc (and Neeld has had longer than 2 months) - but this is the crux of the matter. It is easy to blame the players rather than face the tougher questions of who really holds the responsibility.

[Jordie_tackles 354]

Want to hold the coach and the members to the dogs if your knickers get in a knot? Do so elsewhere.

Mate get over yourself, was just pointing out that people get upset about when we play like we do, with the comparison to 186 and people questioning the respect between players and coach ect. At the time people suggested that the players were making a statement and again the players are being brought up as in relation to effort ect and feelings towards admin and coaching staff. i just commented on the similarities (and it was a tongue in cheek comment).

Edited May 19, 2012 by Jordie_tackles

[Farmer Jeff 0]

You won't get a mutiny against a first year coach.

I have to say, I picked us for 16th before the season and I still think we will finish 16th.

Whether Neeld is the man for the job or not, Blind Freddy could see we didn't have a midfield, we lack leaders and we were always going to need to go backwards to go forwards.

Neeld was going to get a job at any one of Adelaide, WB and Melbourne, and he chose us. I would say he is the least of our problems.

Wrong - know for a fact that he was never going to get the WB job even if he wanted it

[Hardnut 327]

Neeld is not the problem. The list is our problem. Hardly one player would get a game in any of the other teams.

To paraphrase Warnie - can't kick, can't tackle, can't hand-ball.

Sorry Killergrew but I categorically cannot agree, but please keep posting - I don't like criticising new posters, we need as many new views as we can get.

[scarlett 247]

The playing list has changed considerably over 5 years rpfc (and Neeld has had longer than 2 months) - but this is the crux of the matter. It is easy to blame the players rather than face the tougher questions of who really holds the responsibility.

sorry hardnut to single you out, but all us supporters seem to need someone specifically to blame, how bout we blame the cohesion between playing group and coaching staff because lets be honest, are we really setting up our structures to win, i believe the coaching staff are setting up different structures just too practice them, most of the time they don't actually suit the stage of the game that we're at, just learning structures. what annoys me is as i said in an earlier post, is it the right way to do it? i dont know, but personally i think learning to win and accept nothing less is a pretty good way to teach attitude.

[Hardnut 327]

sorry hardnut to single you out, but all us supporters seem to need someone specifically to blame, how bout we blame the cohesion between playing group and coaching staff because lets be honest, are we really setting up our structures to win, i believe the coaching staff are setting up different structures just too practice them, most of the time they don't actually suit the stage of the game that we're at, just learning structures. what annoys me is as i said in an earlier post, is it the right way to do it? i dont know, but personally i think learning to win and accept nothing less is a pretty good way to teach attitude.

Please don't apologise scarlett - I have a thick skin. To put it simply, I don't think we are going about the coaching and learning process in the right way.

[Mono 455]

Maybe the team needs the week off.....refresh.....come back and enjoy the game AND follow instructions.

According to Missen, we have hard training during the week (every week?). Maybe time to ease up.

Ed.: they play as if tired, yet we all know they have been training their arses off.

Other teams are recovering during the week. Not us.

Edited May 19, 2012 by Mono

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,589]

Mate get over yourself, was just pointing out that people get upset about when we play like we do, with the comparison to 186 and people questioning the respect between players and coach ect. At the time people suggested that the players were making a statement and again the players are being brought up as in relation to effort ect and feelings towards admin and coaching staff. i just commented on the similarities (and it was a tongue in cheek comment).

Mate i was talking about the players. I meant the older players playing badly because they had issues with the administration - tell me this would happen in any other side in the AFL.

[scarlett 247]

Please don't apologise scarlett - I have a thick skin. To put it simply, I don't think we are going about the coaching and learning process in the right way.

hardnut I'm not trying to get into an argument but what don't you think is right about the learning process, we get to watch 2 hours a week and it seems to me that this 2 hours a week is the most important to us (supporters) but the the coaching staff and conditioning staff it just seems like another chance to train on something else, a few weeks ago I saw Dunn try and pass the ball on a 45 degree angle from the boundry to just outside the 50, it got cut off and didn't work out, but I saw neeld go nuts and pulled him off the ground, spoke to someone's brother who plays for the club and it got brought up during the review of the game, now you might think thats normal because he didnt stick to structure (and by memory it got rebounded and cost a goal), but another player (former leadership group) did a similar thing and it ended up being a goal to us, yet neeld brought this up in the review as well and apparently was as dissapointed with this as he was with Lynden's. This tells me Neeld doesn't want offensive moves just yet.

Sorry to ramble on again i was getting at the point that there is a plan I just dont know if its the right way to teach it and was hoping to get your thoughts on the way you think we should approach it.

edit spelling again, changed did to didn't.

Edited May 19, 2012 by scarlett