Shaw on SEN today

[btdemon 475]

Robert Shaw on SEN was speaking very insightfully about the way our midfield only knows how react now. Other teams have worked this out. They stand off the contest leaving space around the ball up. Our mids are totally focused on standing their opponent and then Mohave to react when the opposing mids race on to the ball in the space. Our mids are not hunting the ball or thinking what they can do with it but merely reacting. Is this Neeld or Royal. Whowever it is it Sucks.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,086]

confidence? poor understanding of their role or the structure? I can hardly think this is Neeld since he looks [censored] off for most of the game yesterday indicating that his troops were not doing what he wanted.

[Deers 202]

They don't get playing defensively at all.

They stand next to their man, block him out, but then instinctively dive in at the ball when it's loose and all of a sudden, it's fed to that newly-free Sydney midfielder who clears effectively.

The players have taken on far too much of a new playing style Neeld is trying to implement - far too quickly.

No use trying to backpedal now, though. What's done is done. As the sign reads behind Neeld's office chair: "Keep calm and carry on."

[MelbournePassion 7]

Its hard to believe we won the clearances, 40 to 39. However our inability to turn inside 50 entries into scoring opportunities is a serious concern, going inside 50 35 times to their 71 times doesnt help either.

[Sir Why You Little 35,322]

Even though we were SMASHED by 101 points, the MFC also lost the tackle count 50-80 (approx) How can this happen??

Not even Fitroy in '96 played like that.

This club has "Between the ears Politics" ripping it apart right now....

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Robert Shaw on SEN was speaking very insightfully about the way our midfield only knows how react now. Other teams have worked this out. They stand off the contest leaving space around the ball up. Our mids are totally focused on standing their opponent and then Mohave to react when the opposing mids race on to the ball in the space. Our mids are not hunting the ball or thinking what they can do with it but merely reacting. Is this Neeld or Royal. Whowever it is it Sucks.

I mentioned this on here during the NAB cup how we allowed the opposition to "ring" the contest and wait for the ball to come out giving them a 5 metre, at least, break every time. Nothing has changed and that is the worrying thing, if I can see it why can't the coach as well?

[Guest José Mourinho]

I mentioned this on here during the NAB cup how we allowed the opposition to "ring" the contest and wait for the ball to come out giving them a 5 metre, at least, break every time. Nothing has changed and that is the worrying thing, if I can see it why can't the coach as well?

Pretty sure the coach can, and it's the players who aren't making the adjustment.

Problem is, we still have the same middling players out there that just aren't smart footballers (or people), and it affects everyone else in the team as they try to cover for simple bloody mistakes.

Bartram, Moloney, Sylvia, etc.

Then you get players who are young and haven't even grasped how to play like AFL footballers yet, let alone an AFL gameplan.

Watts, Blease, Trengove, Howe, Grimes, Bennell, McDonald, etc.

Then you get senior experienced players who simply don't play like it, and get beaten consistently by their opponents.

Davey, Green, Rivers, etc.

Too many of each combination is a lethal combination, and it results in leaving holes all through your structures and a gameplan that falls apart at numerous stages.

Not much will change until the kids learn what they need to do and take ownership of this team, but that has been the story for years now.

And yet, we as supporters don't learn.

[mrtwister 650]

So much to comment on, I think here is the most appropriate place.

1. Midfield is reactive. There's no movement, unless they're chasing their direct opponent. Not dynamic at all. When they are first to the ball they are stationary and being tackled as they grab it. Pointless. Surely we have somebody who can attack the footy with some hard pace. Ask yourself, who would be tagged on our team? Nobody. Because nobody can do any damage out of stoppages.

2. A bit has been said about Jamar and his tap work. It's a fair statement because he's winning plenty of hit-outs but not to advantage. But to be fair, I think a lot of that is because of point 1. He's tapping down but nobody is running onto it. I was highly convinced of this until Clark hit the ruck yesterday and created some nice space with a couple of decent sized taps that we cleared easily, so now I have no idea what i think.

3. We get clearances but a very very small percentage of these are directed kicks. We just smash it on the boot in the direction of our goals and it's anybody's. Usually a defender though because they're smart enough to play in front. Look at our opponents. They clear it with a hand pass to a running mid or winger etc, take 4 or 5 steps to compose themself and hit a target. It's partly why our disposal % is poor. Nearly every clearance is a clanger really.

4. We are making mistakes that would be frowned upon in under 9s. I lost count of how many times our players stood and waited for the ball while the opposition ran hard and cut it off. I clearly remember Moloney and Grimes do it waiting for a kick to get to them. How ridiculous. And while I'm on the subject of under 9 errors, I cannot stand it when people mark the ball with their back to our goals and hand pass to someone running past without even looking over their shoulder. How do they have any idea what movement is going on behind their back? Game plan or not, get some awareness, please.

Rant over.

Edit: iPad issues

Edited May 20, 2012 by mrtwister