INTO DARKNESS: THE BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,589]

The list Sellar, Rodan, Byrnes and Pederson and Dawes were hand picked by this coaching group. 5 key recruits. All are Duds...sad to say.

Dawes might prove alright but the others were brought in to show onfield leadership replacing the leaders we lost at season's end (Green Moloney etc) - and two of them struggle to even get a game and the other two struggle to get the pill.

[jumbo returns 6,737]

Pathetic mate, sorry but that's just pathetic.

Neeld must go, if you have any idea about footy you would see that now.

Fair enough, I understand you're angry and hurting - so am I.

But we have potentially 10 - 12 players who are not up to AFL standard.

You need to acknowledge that, surely?

[Gorgoroth 12,916]

I actually thought Sellar was decent, spoilt everything and did not get beaten in a marking contest that I remember.

[thaipantsman 180]

Realism stuie.

We have a terrible list.

GCS are still developing, but if you get the top 10 - 12 picks in a draft, chances are there's going to be some beauties in there.

No excuses, just cold, bare facts.

This is an excuse...."we have a terrible list"

[stuie 7,374]

Fair enough, I understand you're angry and hurting - so am I.

But we have potentially 10 - 12 players who are not up to AFL standard.

You need to acknowledge that, surely?

It's the coach.

Sure, the list is not necessarily a top 8 list, but the reason we are THIS BAD is Mark Neeld.

All there is to it.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

hugely symbolic moment: after Strauss kicked that nice goal, a few blokes went to him to celebrate, Garland was on one knee doing up the laces on his boot, 3 or 4 teammates crashed into/stepped over him as they were celebrating - just thought it summed everything up nicely, there was no sense or care for your teammates, there was no awareness as to what was going on, there was stupidity, there was clumsiness and it was embarassing.. even the way they celebrate screams ineptitude

[Ted Lasso 19,261]

I think you have hit the nail on the head. It would seem impossible now, for Neeld to pull the players back, mentally, from the place they're in. This is why I think his tenure will probably come to an end in the next week or two. I sort of know what Neeld was trying to do with his tough-guy approach, but most of that list were already demoralised before he came in and it's just made things worse - they are bereft now of any confidence and just look like they hate being there. Of course, some blame has to lie with the players - you don't just sook because you don't like your boss, you should play at least with personal and professional pride.

I think he's gone.

He might be a great assistant coach, but we are in a hole, we need the best coach we can possibly get.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Tapscott shows a bit I think

he had another whopping 7 possessions and 1 tackle today. I'm sorry but other than being a big body who likes to bump and bruise people I see no signs of improvement since his first game.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,102]

A list of the basic errors Melbourne players make over and over again:

• Not watching the hips when tackling
• Not turning around quickly enough to face forward after taking a mark
• Not working back quickly enough to kick over the mark
• Not shepherding
• Not marking their opponent
• Kicking and handpassing to a stationary teammate
• Kicking and handpassing to a teammate under pressure
• Calling for the ball when stationary
• Calling for the ball when under pressure
• Kicking to where a teammate is, not where he will be
• Not talking to one and other
• Not being front-and-centre when ball kicked to a contested situation
• General poor kicking skills
• General poor handpassing skills
• General poor marking skills
• Not sprinting over first two to three metres with and without ball

Feel free to add your own.

Nearly everything you have said comes down to effort and football basics. I have stuck with Neeld to this point and said I would review after the GC but his position just became untenable. The players either don't want to play for him, he can't communicate what he wants to them properly or he is and he purely can't coach. There was no excuses for today. He needs to be gone by tomorrow. Viney installed with basic man on man gamestyle with every player measured on effort and run and nothing else. Edited May 12, 2013 by big_red_fire_engine

[jumbo returns 6,737]

I would rather stick pins in my eye

Et tu, Oedipus?

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,589]

hugely symbolic moment: after Strauss kicked that nice goal, a few blokes went to him to celebrate, Garland was on one knee doing up the laces on his boot, 3 or 4 teammates crashed into/stepped over him as they were celebrating - just thought it summed everything up nicely, there was no sense or care for your teammates, there was no awareness as to what was going on, there was stupidity, there was clumsiness and it was embarassing.. even the way they celebrate screams ineptitude

hugely symbolic moment: after Strauss kicked that nice goal, a few blokes went to him to celebrate, Garland was on one knee doing up the laces on his boot, 3 or 4 teammates crashed into/stepped over him as they were celebrating - just thought it summed everything up nicely, there was no sense or care for your teammates, there was no awareness as to what was going on, there was stupidity, there was clumsiness and it was embarassing.. even the way they celebrate screams ineptitude

On SEN they mentioned something similar - when the second Gold Coast player was injured GC all got into a huddle, MFC just stood around alone or in little groups. its every man for himself when the ship starts sinking...

[71 Molloy 266]

I actually thought Sellar was decent, spilt everything and did not get beaten in a marking contest that I remember.

Helped you out there.

[Sir Why You Little 36,954]

I seriously feel sorry for Mark Neeld..The Job of lifting this club is far too big for an inexperienced coach.

100 less possessions and HALF THE TACKLES...This team needs the best coaches in the land.

Mark Neeld i am sure you thought you could do the job, but it is to big for you

No shame in leaving mate....i will buy you a beer.

As i said elsewhere the problems of this club were never properly addressed after 186

That is the job of Peter Jackson to start pulling the layers back.

Mclardy & the Board must walk ASAP.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,102]

Tapscott shows a bit I think, Nicho is quick but poor with disposal, McKenzie tries hard but doesn't do much else, I didn't think Sellar was woeful today and his job as defender is made so much harder by the midfield, Bail keeps falling over and I don't know why, he just can't keep his feet, and Strauss I wouldn't classify as a flat out dud but it's time he showed something.

I think you just dropped those straws you are clutching at.

[rjay 24,849]

he had another whopping 7 possessions and 1 tackle today. I'm sorry but other than being a big body who likes to bump and bruise people I see no signs of improvement since his first game.

He had a great first game and has gone backwards since.

[Roost It 1,434]

At least we'll be in the news this week

[Nasher 33,607]

This is an excuse...."we have a terrible list"

Our list *is* bad, but it isn't 148 points to Essendon bad and it isn't 60 points to Gold Coast bad. We've got at least half a dozen players playing well below their best.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

On SEN they mentioned something similar - when the second Gold Coast player was injured GC all got into a huddle, MFC just stood around alone or in little groups. its every man for himself when the ship starts sinking...

yep I noticed that too.. I was thinking surely NJones could at least have a jog over to the other 2 huddles and give the players a bit of a rev up, even as a token display of giving a stuff.. at that stage it wasn't out of the question that we could do a GWS and storm home to take the match

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Our list *is* bad, but it isn't 148 points to Essendon bad and it isn't 60 points to Gold Coast bad. We've got at least half a dozen players playing well below their best.

why am I being quouted there I didn't mention the list

[thaipantsman 180]

I actually thought Sellar was decent, spoilt everything and did not get beaten in a marking contest that I remember.

Sellar can't mark. The ball simply bounces off his hands while opposition rove to him. Guards his Man instead of going for the ball. Similar to Allistar Nicolson. Nicole was better though . Muc.

[Older demon 2,741]

Words fail me I cannot put in words how bad that effort today made me feel. Of the four friends who go to the footy I look like the only 1 from now we all give up, cannot stand it anymore!!!

[Johnny Karate 559]

Fair enough, I understand you're angry and hurting - so am I.

But we have potentially 10 - 12 players who are not up to AFL standard.

You need to acknowledge that, surely?

I dare say that many of those 10-12 would've been recruited under Neeld's watch. Surely you must acknowledge that.

[rjay 24,849]

At least we'll be in the news this week

Still

[MrMuSiC 4]

That's it. I'm not going to anymore games while we are in this position. It nearly killed me...

But I won't burn my membership as I want a vote when the board are sacked.

Edited May 12, 2013 by MrMuSiC

[Nasher 33,607]

why am I being quouted there I didn't mention the list

Your imagination is running away with you ;-)