This is true, but I'm fairly happy to assume that yesterday's forward line is improved by, for example, including Dawes for Pedersen, or using Dawes as a marking forward rather than Howe.

I agree, but I'm holding my breath... this is the melbourne footy club

Brisbane suck, and we lost to them, sure. But West Coast is lower than them on the ladder and a fortnight ago we lost to them by 94 points at home. Today we lost to a side above them on the ladder by 28.

That is crap. Before the round began WCE were 12th and Brisbane were 16th. Talk about being selective,

I have seen no improvement this year. We are terrible. OUr efforts are appalling. We have no intensity. OUr player look like they are not trying (I am sure they are). Something is drastically wrong.

Bottom line.

Did the MFC need another Toumpas or a ready to go Wines Hardnut to work in tandem with JV??

Which road did we go down?? again....

We went with Evans this year, leaving us with Toumpas, Viney, and Magner to develop and introduce next year.

If your looking long term, I don't think its a bad decision.

That is crap. Before the round began WCE were 12th and Brisbane were 16th. Talk about being selective,

I have seen no improvement this year. We are terrible. OUr efforts are appalling. We have no intensity. OUr player look like they are not trying (I am sure they are). Something is drastically wrong.

No, it's not crap. Both WCE and Brisbane are having bad years so far. WCE has played about 6 good quarters all year.

You've seen no improvement this year? Either you didn't see Rounds 1-3, or you haven't seen Rounds 4-5. Either way, you're blind.

I've always been sceptical about Neeld (unlike others who accepted a "rebuild" for a year), and would love him to just shout "I WANT TO WIN AND I'M GOING TO DO ALL I CAN" over and over in press conferences as well. What he needs to rectify is our midfield set up (which at times today, looked like a few players standing around watching Brisbane players run through the middle) and our tendency to ALWAYS kick in to the same places (although at least we kicked longer today), as well as looking backwards when we get the ball for other players to help out as opposed to just getting it forward at all costs. I think Neeld is basically deluded that what works at training will work against real opposition, we just aren't good enough at kicking to kick across goals. That said, I'd like the Captaincy situation cleaned up too. I'd like to be proven wrong, but I really think it's affecting Grimes' and Trengove's games. Grimes is missing targets regularly and Trengove is slow, slow to dispose and kicks with no penetration. The only good thing he has going is his tackling.

Several years ago when we played Essendon at Ettihad in a NAB cup game they beat us easily and one of the problems we had was getting the ball out of the backline; at the time both MacDonald and Grimes were the players we had chosen to do the job. At that time I commented that Grimes and MacDonald were both missing targets and their decision making was terrible and guess what; nothing has changed. I have great regard for Grimes, and for Trenners too, but they are simply doing too many things wrong at the moment.

We should reconsider the captaincy and ask them to stand down; I know that would be difficult but they need to get their game back on track, they are much better than this.

Several years ago when we played Essendon at Ettihad in a NAB cup game they beat us easily and one of the problems we had was getting the ball out of the backline; at the time both MacDonald and Grimes were the players we had chosen to do the job. At that time I commented that Grimes and MacDonald were both missing targets and their decision making was terrible and guess what; nothing has changed. I have great regard for Grimes, and for Trenners too, but they are simply doing too many things wrong at the moment.

We should reconsider the captaincy and ask them to stand down; I know that would be difficult but they need to get their game back on track, they are much better than this.

Firstly, you are falling for the media bulltish that says that the captaincy doesn't work for these two. Maybe it does. Maybe asking them to relinquish the captaincy will make them worse players. You can't just assume that demoting players will improve them.

Secondly, and this is what people miss when they bag Neeld, what is the alternative? Who is knocking the door down to captain this footy team? There isn't anyone.

We have bred a culture devoid of senior leaders. I presume if Jones had the qualities to be captain, he would have been chosen. Same with other senior players, such as Frawley.

Several years ago when we played Essendon at Ettihad in a NAB cup game they beat us easily and one of the problems we had was getting the ball out of the backline; at the time both MacDonald and Grimes were the players we had chosen to do the job. At that time I commented that Grimes and MacDonald were both missing targets and their decision making was terrible and guess what; nothing has changed. I have great regard for Grimes, and for Trenners too, but they are simply doing too many things wrong at the moment.

We should reconsider the captaincy and ask them to stand down; I know that would be difficult but they need to get their game back on track, they are much better than this.

Grimes is and always has been susceptible to brain fades. Would you want to see your captain having brain fades? I know I wouldn't. It's not Grimes' fault (or Trenners for that matter) that they were selected captain by the MFC. It was one of the dumbest decisions in modern footy, and is not likely to bear fruit. They can't change the culture by being out of their depth. We had a record of brilliant leaders up until our dark days: Lyon, Viney, Neitz, McDonald. This time round we selected leaders on the basis of idealism not output and this needs to be put right. Chris Newman is an example of a player having the captaincy taken off him and still contributing. It's not the end of the world. It's not like the MFC can embarrass itself any more.

On twitter

@melbournefc: Neeld: We thought that under 5 goals on the road was a positive.

No, not it is not, a 5 goal loss to a top of the table interstate team, maybe.

A 5 goal loss to a team as bad as us who kicked poorly at goal and had over 100 possessions more is pathetic.

PATHETIC!!!

Here, here.

Our talent is not that bad. If the team is this bad it is the coaches fault. Losing Moloney (life long Dees supporter) and Rivers, Martin, Petard was these players losing confidence in Neeld, and thus the MFC. Make no mistake with this.

Neeld should resign in shame. If the board don't fire him, the board must resign or they will face a humiliating spill.

Firstly, you are falling for the media bulltish that says that the captaincy doesn't work for these two. Maybe it does. Maybe asking them to relinquish the captaincy will make them worse players. You can't just assume that demoting players will improve them.

Secondly, and this is what people miss when they bag Neeld, what is the alternative? Who is knocking the door down to captain this footy team? There isn't anyone.

We have bred a culture devoid of senior leaders. I presume if Jones had the qualities to be captain, he would have been chosen. Same with other senior players, such as Frawley.

We've [censored] off most of our former senior players so I guess you're right; there is no one, maybe Jones and Mitch.

You are or your? Retardly?

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Abraham Lincoln

Wow.

I actually believe you must be having a lend, that or your mildly retardly.

Oh yes. If we all say something, it will happen.

I guess if we all say 'MFC for the flag 2013', that will happen too.

So Titan do you think we should all say nothing, accept the rubbish the team has played for 6 years and be happy with the weekly press conferences?

Haven't MFC supporters been doing that for too long?

I will bet you $$'s that more people inside the club read this site than you think.

I have no problems keeping the heat on.

We went with Evans this year, leaving us with Toumpas, Viney, and Magner to develop and introduce next year.

If your looking long term, I don't think its a bad decision.

yes i get that.

But Vines is long term as well.

Ready to go NOW LONG TERM

Toumpas is still needing education.

I find this thread so funny. I'm in the USA at the moment so I missed the game, but you have to understand that I have been going to sleep expecting the worst and find something even worse than that when I wake up.

People are saying Neeld was happy with a 28 point loss. BS he is taking positives to build on with the playing group, any massiah coach we got in that's had this start to the year would say just about the exact same thing. Of course they bloody well play to win, but sometimes it's good just to say, "well at least.......".

Finally some sense.

People need to realise that we are a football side devoid of confidence. Neeld is simply attempting to restore it. Don't forget rounds 1-3...

Finally some sense.

People need to realise that we are a football side devoid of confidence. Neeld is simply attempting to restore it. Don't forget rounds 1-3...

Actually it is the last 6 years that is sitting front & center in my mind.

Who is responsible for this list being "Devoid" of confidence?

Mark Neeld really has to cool it with the 'development phase' rhetoric. Us supporters aren't stupid we know where we're at.

But don't talk about Brisbane as being some powerhouse with an experienced list and excuse inept performances as positives because we got within 5 goals of a bottom 6 side on the road.

Please!

I checked the stats and Brisbane put out a younger side than us yesterday and only slightly more experienced:

Brisbane ave age: 23y 328d

Melbourne ave age: 24y 208d

Brisbane total games: 1572

Melbourne total games: 1500

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/2013/111920130428.html

Edited April 29, 201312 yr by Ash82

Neelds mantra to the supporters and all in sundry is defeatist. Other lists have young players, other lists are developing, this [censored] must stop.

Just get your players to play football that brings people through the gate to watch FFS.

Stop feeding the crap to the masses.

So Titan do you think we should all say nothing, accept the rubbish the team has played for 6 years and be happy with the weekly press conferences?

Haven't MFC supporters been doing that for too long?

I will bet you $$'s that more people inside the club read this site than you think.

I have no problems keeping the heat on.

Where did I say that?

Your argument is something along the lines of 'if the supporters continually whinge, the club will listen and do something'.

That is so incredibly stupid and wrong that I can't believe you keep saying it.

Where did I say that?

Your argument is something along the lines of 'if the supporters continually whinge, the club will listen and do something'.

That is so incredibly stupid and wrong that I can't believe you keep saying it.

it's not whingeing. The members need to demand better.

What would you suggest?

No, it's not crap. Both WCE and Brisbane are having bad years so far. WCE has played about 6 good quarters all year.

You've seen no improvement this year? Either you didn't see Rounds 1-3, or you haven't seen Rounds 4-5. Either way, you're blind.

It is crap actually. You made a point and it was plain wrong,

Mark Neeld really has to cool it with the 'development phase' rhetoric. Us supporters aren't stupid we know where we're are at.

But don't talk about Brisbane as being some powerhouse with an experienced list and excuse inept performances as positives because we got within 5 goals of a bottom 6 side on the road.

Please!

I checked the stats and Brisbane put out a younger side than us yesterday and only slightly more experienced:

Brisbane ave age: 23y 328d

Melbourne ave age: 24y 208d

Brisbane total games: 1572

Melbourne total games: 1500

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/2013/111920130428.html

Take out JBrown and the total games changes significantly. Brown did nothing yesterday so its reasonable to view it that way.

I agree. We are trotting out excuses and the players justify it to themselves. DEMAND BETTER PERFORMANCES!!!!!

It sounds like Bailey crap -"oh wait til they get 50 games into them and then we'll be competitive." How did that work out for us?? Hmmm??

Defeatist bulltish.

yes i get that.

But Vines is long term as well.

Ready to go NOW LONG TERM

Toumpas is still needing education.

This is one of the major problems with our supporters, they deny reality. They seem to think that if a player is ready to play from day one he will only last a year or two. Why do we continually deny we got it wrong, why do we seem to think that Darling will be a dud when he's proven he's not? Why do we think that Wines will be washed up after his first year and Toumpass will just get better and better; maybe they'll both improve and maybe Wines will be the better.

What's wrong with picking players that are capable of playing from day one, like Viney, why do they have to be players that need development, did Selwood need development or was he just a great player from the start. What about Judd, would we have picked him or would we have selected a tall forward prospect with room to improve?

Finally some sense.

People need to realise that we are a football side devoid of confidence. Neeld is simply attempting to restore it. Don't forget rounds 1-3...

Too late, he has destroyed their self belief, natural flair and natural instinct. Yesterday was the most offensive, bruise free football I have ever seen. Worse than Bailey, bruise free. Neeld has done an about turn on tactics and style in a desperate attempt to save his career. It's a little like watching Julia Gillard. It's all too late. The players are not listening any more. They have been lost. The quicker move on the better.

Finally some sense.

People need to realise that we are a football side devoid of confidence. Neeld is simply attempting to restore it. Don't forget rounds 1-3...

Why is the side devoid of confidence and who's responsible for that? How could you forget rounds 1-3 they were terrible and there is more of that coming.

We will not win another game this year, I've seen some pretty ordinary MFC sides in the past and this one is right up there.

Take out JBrown and the total games changes significantly. Brown did nothing yesterday so its reasonable to view it that way.

another ripping example of SLBC (self-loathing club-basher) desperately twisting the facts to attack the club

Brown had 19 disposals and 3 goals. If we had Clark at the end perform similarly we would have kicked 17 goals each

and BTW Roan and Davey have a combined total of 341 games, you want to go ahead and just leave them out of the equation also?

pathetic comment

It sounds like Bailey crap -"oh wait til they get 50 games into them and then we'll be competitive." How did that work out for us?? Hmmm??

I'll let you know when it happens, with 10 players in yesterday's game having played under 50