Nate Jones Rallies Around Neeld

[mauriesy 7,189]

I've said we would be better off if Jones was our 3rd or 4th best midfielder. But only in the sense that Ball is next best to Swan and Pendlebury, or Simpson is next best to Judd and Murphy.

I still don't think Jones is a true A-grader, and we can't build a midfield with him at the top.

[Range Rover 1,935]

I wouldn't say he's improved too much but he definitely hasn't looked worse which really makes him stand out. Jones is perhaps the only player left who knows how to play with heart and soul or at least it looks that way. And by the way, I'd definitely be regretting not making Jones captain if I was coach. Eight rounds in, he is the only player who's playing like a captain

I like Jones and his attitude as much as anyone on here but let's all accept that he's not the club's captain. Grimes and Trengove are. The latter of those two is struggling at the moment but the other one is performing admirably in the circumstances imo. Give those two boys time to grow into the role.

Jones is in the LG and is conducting himself like a leader on and off the ground. Fantastic. It's what's expected of him.

Edited May 23, 2012 by Range Rover

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I wonder, with the benefit of hindsight, Neeld may regret not having made Nathan captain.....not denigrating the Jacks, but was it fair to promote them so young when he knew the club was going to have a [censored] (start to the) year?

*cough* see my 'Hindsight...it's a wonderful thing' thread. *cough*

[Range Rover 1,935]

*cough* see my 'Hindsight...it's a wonderful thing' thread. *cough*

Exactly. Let's accept coach Neeld's choice as captain/s and not deviate according to who the best player is month-by-month.

[Weedster 174]

Jones has been a bright light this year, along with big Mitch. All credit to him.

[H_T 3,042]

I've said we would be better off if Jones was our 3rd or 4th best midfielder. But only in the sense that Ball is next best to Swan and Pendlebury, or Simpson is next best to Judd and Murphy.

I still don't think Jones is a true A-grader, and we can't build a midfield with him at the top.

My line of thinking as well.

I had stated in the past that we couldn't have McLean, Moloney and Jones all in the same slow midfield (2009). Alas some of that has worked itself out.

[QueenC 74]

This is the same boy that many on here wanted off the list a while a go.

Ironic, isn't it?

[QueenC 74]

Jones seems to thrive on Neelds approach, which seems to involve 'elite' fitness and constant hard work. All power to him. Surely Clubhouse leader for captain 2013.

You can't seriously be advocating yet another captaincy change? How about hell no.

Plus you have to be kidding, these two quality kiddies (& good leaders as seen by Grimes yesterday) will be captains from here on out.

And with the help of classy leaders like Jones hopefully their positions will become far less stressful in the near future.

Edited May 24, 2012 by QueenC

[Chook 15,001]

You can't seriously be advocating yet another captaincy change? How about hell no.

Plus you have to be kidding, these two quality kiddies (& good leaders as seen by Grimes yesterday) will be captains from here on out.

And with the help of classy leaders like Jones hopefully their positions will become far less stressful in the near future.

Agreed. I'm okay with the leadership overhaul this year because the guys who were replaced aren't going to be here for very much longer. But to essentially say to two lynchpins of our future "Thanks but no thanks" for your leadership skills would be a tremendous mistake. The only thing I could see happening is a 2014 move to a single captain if one or the other of Trengove or (more likely) Grimes becomes a more obvious choice.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Agreed. I'm okay with the leadership overhaul this year because the guys who were replaced aren't going to be here for very much longer. But to essentially say to two lynchpins of our future "Thanks but no thanks" for your leadership skills would be a tremendous mistake. The only thing I could see happening is a 2014 move to a single captain if one or the other of Trengove or (more likely) Grimes becomes a more obvious choice.

I see this as a possibility too. It wouldn't be a slight on Trengove if Grimes established himself as the clear stand-out leader of the two, as he appears to be doing early on.

[hardtack 10,435]

There is absolutely no way there will be a captaincy change, regardless of whether the decision to give it to the Jacks was the correct one or not... the club simply cannot and will not, risk further alienation of the playing group.

I'm sure Jones is quite happy to go on leading by example as he is at the moment without the added pressure of having to deal with the media on a regular basis and I'm sure that being young, the two Jacks will adapt to being in the spotlight quite easily; their best football is ahead of them yet and by then, the responsibilities and the burdens of the captaincy will be second nature.

Edited May 24, 2012 by hardtack

[QueenC 74]

I'm sure Jones is quite happy to go on leading by example as he is at the moment without the added pressure of having to deal with the media on a regular basis and I'm sure that being young, the two Jacks will adapt to being in the spotlight quite easily; their best football is ahead of them yet and by then, the responsibilities and the burdens of the captaincy will be second nature.

Well said Hardtrack......