Weak.

[Biffen 12,947]

There is a reason Scwhabby doesn't get on with sections of the media.

I don't blame him either.

F%^k what they say.

We know we're [censored] and we should know that there are only 22 blokes who can change the perception and the reality of that .

I am going to watch on Saturday night and hope for a large improvement.

I'm not calling for anyones head.

Another game like that and there will be blood everywhere anyway.

[Carrot Top 947]

There's already a media thread. Don't think we need a new one for every single media comment and article.

[stuie 7,374]

There's already a media thread. Don't think we need a new one for every single media comment and article.

Haha fair call mate. Just thought that seeing this stuff was from the MFC directly it didn't really count as "media". But I take your point.

[Grimseyisgod 378]

We are all passionate Melbourne fans.. we all want to say that we have improved and may be heading in the right direction and we can improve.

But i honestly do not think i have ever seen a worse match in my life. I have NEVER seen Melbourne play that bad before, i have never seen so many half assed efforts on an AFL field. We did not even look to be trying.

How the **** did Port Adelaide consistently have players roaming the field, most of them had the time to have a bat, that go to the local pub and than maybe they could get a kick away.

We are a crap football club heading nowhere and i suggest even lower your expectations. Going to be the worst year we have ever experienced in AFL

[rjay 25,094]

Said it a million times. It's not 1 game. It's now been 23 games.

No 'stuie' it's been since Baileys first game.

[stuie 7,374]

No 'stuie' it's been since Baileys first game.

I'm just talking about people defending Neeld by saying "it's just one game".

[Grimseyisgod 378]

Imagine if on Saturday night, Melbourne go out there and get absolutely flogged by the bombers.

We are as bad as we were on Sunday and we really show nothing, AGAIN.

What happens than? does the S*** hit the fan?

[Buffalo 203]

I remember when Bailey was coaching - the only time we would try as a team was after getting belted. For some reason, the mindset of most of our players has remained the same - they have absolutely no SELF MOTIVATION, therefore NO PRIDE and sooner or later Clark and Viney will succumb - get out while you can boys...

[biggestred 5,140]

Imagine if on Saturday night, Melbourne go out there and get absolutely flogged by the bombers.

We are as bad as we were on Sunday and we really show nothing, AGAIN.

What happens than? does the S*** hit the fan?

then i cut up my membership and find a new true love.

[jnrmac 20,189]

They were arguing about who takes responsibility. They said, that you cannot sack the coach first. The CEO and President need to go first.

Hang on didn't we try that last time. When we got rid of Bailey and kept Schwab?? Well F me that didn't work.

[45HG 1,559]

Was going to start a new thread but didn't want to clog up the boards as this is more of the same but has been building in me since last season.

Our players play like badly programmed robots.

I don't know if this is Mark Neeld's doing, but our players play without flair, fun or excitement. They seem to simply go through the motions of trying to tick the boxes of a new game plan without heart or passion. Players mindlessly guard space - unflinching when an opposition player moves into it. Players man the mark disinterested. Players approach packs and don't expect teammates to win the footy. Players do not spread and push forward when their mates win the footy.

There is a souless element to Melbourne in the past 45 rounds that I don't think I've seen before. Not only is the game plan god awful to watch but the players just don't look like they belong. Confidence has been shattered and, again, I'm not sure if this is the coaches doing.

Melbourne players look like they are over-coached. They play re-actively to situations - all instinct has been sucked out of our players. Rather than attack a contest, our players seem to spend their time thinking about what they should have been doing or what they had to do next. Players are more likely to run to the bench to maintain rotations than tackle a nearby player.

Robots have little-no care for those around them. That's how Melbourne players look. They don't shepherd, they don't work hard for their mates to create space or cover opposition players. When it's their turn to go, so often it's a limp, half-hearted approach that doesn't appear AFL standard.

Bring back the flair, bring back the fun. I don't believe these two elements are mutually exclusive from hard-nosed, attacking teams. I think it's an important ingredient for teams that love winning, love the feeling of kicking a goal and feel the reward for hard work. At the moment it just seems like Neeld is very critical of any player who goes outside of the "plan" - possibly so much so that players are afraid to just play the game.

I was talking to someone last night after the game who was saying that basically all of our players are no good. It's not true. And even if it were, you don't have to be a good player to run hard and work for your mates.

Footy is a simple game sometimes. Run harder than your opposition, tackle harder than your opposition and hit some bloody targets. I think the MFC footy people over analyse the game to disgusting degrees, let the boys play!

[titan_uranus 25,045]

^ This is the position I'm beginning to take.

[P-man 13,366]

I was talking to someone last night after the game who was saying that basically all of our players are no good. It's not true. And even if it were, you don't have to be a good player to run hard and work for your mates.

Yeah, I don't believe that for a moment either. There is enough talent on our list to make a charge up the ladder, or at the very least be competitve against all teams. I think the problems are much more along the lines of those you have stated. This is a team completely and utterly stripped of its natural flair and confidence. I've never seen a team like it in all my years of watching this game.

The only area where I differ is that I think this falls on the coach. It's difficult to forge an argument to say that it doesn't.

If the team is playing like this in 4-7 weeks time, I'd shed no tears over Neeld going, and hopefully Schwab not being far behind. A completely fresh start is desperately needed at this football club.

Edited April 1, 2013 by P_Man

[Mono 455]

Yeah, I don't believe that for a moment either. There is enough talent on our list to make a charge up the ladder, or at the very least be competitve against all teams. I think the problems are much more along the lines of those you have stated. This is a team completely and utterly stripped of its natural flair and confidence. I've never seen a team like it in all my years of watching this game.

The only area where I differ is that I think this falls on the coach. It's difficult to forge an argument to say that it doesn't.

If the team is playing like this in 4-7 weeks time, I'd shed no tears over Neeld going, and hopefully Schwab not being far behind. A completely fresh start is desperately needed at this football club.

Have to agree.

The team played as if "uncoached". Neeld admitted as much in his pressie. Aside from the senior coach we have a minimum of 6 assistants.

WTF? Maybe get rid of some? Are we "over coached"?

No way is this team this bad. Buck stops with the coaching team;not just Neeld.

[jackaub 1,402]

I have thought the same for some time

They look like they are just playing to a plan and not playing Surely

a good management can see this and do something

Its like all they want to do is seem like an afl player /Coach / Board memeber/ manager pick up the paycheck because the boxes have been ticked and actually never be a player /Coach etc

It is a great concern.

Was going to start a new thread but didn't want to clog up the boards as this is more of the same but has been building in me since last season.

Our players play like badly programmed robots.

I don't know if this is Mark Neeld's doing, but our players play without flair, fun or excitement. They seem to simply go through the motions of trying to tick the boxes of a new game plan without heart or passion. Players mindlessly guard space - unflinching when an opposition player moves into it. Players man the mark disinterested. Players approach packs and don't expect teammates to win the footy. Players do not spread and push forward when their mates win the footy.

There is a souless element to Melbourne in the past 45 rounds that I don't think I've seen before. Not only is the game plan god awful to watch but the players just don't look like they belong. Confidence has been shattered and, again, I'm not sure if this is the coaches doing.

Melbourne players look like they are over-coached. They play re-actively to situations - all instinct has been sucked out of our players. Rather than attack a contest, our players seem to spend their time thinking about what they should have been doing or what they had to do next. Players are more likely to run to the bench to maintain rotations than tackle a nearby player.

Robots have little-no care for those around them. That's how Melbourne players look. They don't shepherd, they don't work hard for their mates to create space or cover opposition players. When it's their turn to go, so often it's a limp, half-hearted approach that doesn't appear AFL standard.

Bring back the flair, bring back the fun. I don't believe these two elements are mutually exclusive from hard-nosed, attacking teams. I think it's an important ingredient for teams that love winning, love the feeling of kicking a goal and feel the reward for hard work. At the moment it just seems like Neeld is very critical of any player who goes outside of the "plan" - possibly so much so that players are afraid to just play the game.

I was talking to someone last night after the game who was saying that basically all of our players are no good. It's not true. And even if it were, you don't have to be a good player to run hard and work for your mates.

Footy is a simple game sometimes. Run harder than your opposition, tackle harder than your opposition and hit some bloody targets. I think the MFC footy people over analyse the game to disgusting degrees, let the boys play!

[CBDees 3,167]

45HG is speaking a lot of sense. When we had Jurrah and Aussie with their flair and unpedicability we managed a few goals and even a few wins. It was also fun to watch and be a Demon supporter. Davey also used to give us glimpses of that as well and there is no reason why Clark cannot produce what Neitz did in the past, [we just need a committed midfield to deliver it rather than just Jones and Viney]. Players with flair don't just entertain, they add excitement and lift the whole team [even more than a game plan].

[Waltham33 475]

45HG puts it well.

After a series of losses in 2003, Neale Daniher coined 'loosen the reigns' - could be an idea to reprise that this week.

[DeeZee 7,445]

Ive never felt this bad before.

Wheni look at the Melbourne pictures on my wall in my office,i see the triple premiership weg posters,and Jim Stynes posters, and i feel physically ill.

I thought we weeded out the non tryers with our last cull.

Sigh......