I am loving this

[JackVineyForPresident 310]

The constant criticism of our new game-plan is attracting a lot of negative attention, and i am loving it.

We are playing a defensive game that i remember Sydney playing and also attracting a lot of negative attention.

Our ruthless defence will pay dividends in a manner that i can finally see making us a really top team.

Amongst this, we have an identity. We have an identity that invites a contest, rather than a goal-fest. One of my main criticisms of both the Bailey and Neeld game-plans was other teams ability to destroy us on their offence.

I am loving the criticism and i look forward to more "boring" games that finally result in Melbourne getting the 4 points. Bring on the bombers and north.

[KingDingAling 3,683]

The constant criticism of our new game-plan is attracting a lot of negative attention, and i am loving it.

We are playing a defensive game that i remember Sydney playing and also attracting a lot of negative attention.

Our ruthless defence will pay dividends in a manner that i can finally see making us a really top team.

Amongst this, we have an identity. We have an identity that invites a contest, rather than a goal-fest. One of my main criticisms of both the Bailey and Neeld game-plans was other teams ability to destroy us on their offence.

I am loving the criticism and i look forward to more "boring" games that finally result in Melbourne getting the 4 points. Bring on the bombers and north.

I agree, I hope we make it hell for other sides.

I couldn't care less if our games are boring, so long as we make it hell for other sides.

Everything starts from defense anyway, we are just starting out and trying to get our foundations right.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks so I'm neither here nor there on that.

However the game plan, as frustrating as it was on Monday, is exactly what a good team is built on. The Swans, Freo and Collingwood have all led the way with defensive pressure, Saints under Lyon too. Geelong and Hawthorn have been well drilled for years defensively even though their first to the ball and quick ball movement style is what they're known for.

(Will be interesting to see how Port go against a top team at their defensive best)

The huge difference is Paul Roos has had to work wonders with what I think was one of the worst teams ever that were poorly developed and completely void of confidence. He has worked wonders so far.

Just keep drilling this into them. Adding attacking flair can come when we have the cattle on the park to execute it.

[Chook 14,702]

Am I the only one who actually finds the Paul Roos / Ross Lyon "defence-fest" really entertaining? I mean, I could do without chipping it 40 metres backward for no apparant reason (but then again so could Paul Roos I bet); but other than that I find it much more tactically interesting than the 30 goal a game alternative that I'm "supposed" to like.

[baysidedave 246]

I don't reckon there boring, just enjoying watching us have a crack every week

[Dees2014 2,377]

I have no problem with maintaining possession. My gripe is there have been a number of times in the last couple of weeks when we could have taken the game on by providing a quick hand pass or even kick forward with very little risk. We didn't. We usually kicked backwards. We got no run and put very little pressure on opposition backs. I think it was very revealing on Footy Classified interview with Buckley when they asked him about the "worrying" excess Melbourne had over the Pies in centre field possession, particularly marks. His reply? Well "when the opposition almost always kick it backwards or cross field it doesn't become a problem for us". He is right. The game was played at a snails pace: less contested possessions, less uncontested possessions, less marks, less frees, less goals, less of almost everything. In other words a thoroughly boring game.

On here it has been argued "I don't mind how boring it is as long as we win, or it is a contest". Well after half time it was not a contest, and I might remind everyone we kicked 3 goals for the entire game. At least against Port we took the game on. There was none of that Monday in the most important game of the year when we had the opportunity to stamp our brand on how we wanted to play (something Roos has been very big on). I believe we have won over a large part of the footballing public with our fighting spirit and the genius of Paul Roos this year. it was an opportunity to gain a number of people who might like to choose a team.

Monday was a huge lost opportunity IMHO.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Dees2014

[SaberFang 7,141]

Monday was a reactionary effort to what happened back in round two. And on Queens Birthday of all days, Roos couldn't allow a 100 point flogging after the week of media exposure our team had done.

Clearly they went too far in the defensive direction, but the "outrage" over the match is laughable. People have no patience anymore. Have they all forgotten we were an absolute basketcase for half a decade? We're not going to flick a switch and make finals in one off-season, and there'll be some teething problems along the way.

People would be wise to get a grip of reality with this list and understand Roos is ingraining a defensive mindset first and foremost. What's the point of starting with an offensive gameplan if the team can't defend first?

[Arrow 1,257]

I can see how it would be considered boring watching on the TV where you're forced what to watch by the lens of the camera, but I was there on Monday and everyone was on the edge of their seat for the first 2 and a half quarters. The score might not be entertaining but by God the contest was.

[Deetective Sgt. Taggert 380]

I can see how it would be considered boring watching on the TV where you're forced what to watch by the lens of the camera, but I was there on Monday and everyone was on the edge of their seat for the first 2 and a half quarters. The score might not be entertaining but by God the contest was.

Could this be part of a plan to attract more supporters to the games so as to earn more gate revenue?

[Dees2014 2,377]

Monday was a reactionary effort to what happened back in round two. And on Queens Birthday of all days, Roos couldn't allow a 100 point flogging after the week of media exposure our team had done.

Clearly they went too far in the defensive direction, but the "outrage" over the match is laughable. People have no patience anymore. Have they all forgotten we were an absolute basketcase for half a decade? We're not going to flick a switch and make finals in one off-season, and there'll be some teething problems along the way.

People would be wise to get a grip of reality with this list and understand Roos is ingraining a defensive mindset first and foremost. What's the point of starting with an offensive gameplan if the team can't defend first?

Where did I use the term "outrage". Now THAT is laughable. Surely we are allowed to comment on a game without our loyalty to the cause being brought in to question?

I just found after such an enterprising year that we showed ourselves to be a thoroughly one dimensional football team on Monday. At our best we are better than that. It was an opportunity to show some of it.

If Roos thought that running a PURELY defensive gameplan demonstrated that I would be very surprised. My guess is there was an element of the team having "stage-fright". They are after all very in experienced.

Let hope that is the case.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Dees2014

[SaberFang 7,141]

Wasn't referring to anyone on here, rather the 22 page long thread on BF with every man and his dog attacking Roos for destroying the game. It's also been a focal point in the media all day, from 360 to FC.

[wattsup 470]

I agree I love the way we are playing, I had a fellow dees supporter who I work with tell me he hates it and would rather see us lose by 70 points each week if it means we kick more goals.

My response was your an idiot and have no idea about football if that's what you want

[robbiefrom13 877]

I left early, after yet another free kick against us.

The contest was absorbing for me, only marred by our kicking backwards instead of ATTACKING!, and by seeing Gawn unattended close to goal, and on several occasions our unmarked players in the centre, calling for the ball and being ignored. That all seemed to me to be reminiscent of Neeld's team. I accept that it was stage-fright.

Seeing us scrapping for the ball and winning it is wonderful, still almost unbelievable. Seeing Collingwood miss targets because of our pressure, and our ability to shut down their run when they took off, was great stuff.

Fair umpiring and there would be none of this criticism we are hearing - we'd have had a couple more goals we were robbed of, they'd have had a couple less, and with a few frees to us in general play we'd all have been hearing about "contrasting styles, playing near enough a draw, with the game played on Melbourne's terms". Disappointing result maybe, but if Watts' goals had gone though we'd have been celebrating like we haven't in years. I say, it's coming and you can't miss it.

And how many frees do you think we might get next week?

[Gorgoroth 12,447]

I don't mind what I'm seeing as we were a poor team who could not defend or attack.

With Lyons teams I dislike it as they have stars and should take the game on more.

I hope that once we get better players and a proper forward line that we will be more attacking.

[nutbean 8,837]

On here it has been argued "I don't mind how boring it is as long as we win, or it is a contest". Well after half time it was not a contest,

So deep in the third quarter had the umpire made the correct call on the Jetta handball to Vince for a goal - we would have been within 4 points - not a contest ?

[BAMF 3,920]

I have to admit that by Monday I had already watched a lot of football and wasn't nearly as excited as I usually am.

Yeah it was a dour struggle. Roo's wasn't impressed that we only kicked 3 goals. He was not happy with the ball movement into our forward 50.

So yes we are very defensive and a bit boring now, but its not the end result. Things will get better.

If I was a neutral fan I would have hated it.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,833]

I can't believe Collingwood/Buckley have escaped criticism for the style of game - every time we had the ball every single Collingwood player was sat back in our forward 50, of course we had to chip it around to try and pick out a short target. If that's not defensive ultra-flooding I don't know what is. Don't expect the morons in the media or the sheep in the outer to pick this up though.

[Pipefitter 2,085]

It's boring at the moment but we are finally being taught a plan that will stand up in finals.

[Ted Lasso 17,318]

I thought our footy was really exciting until Monday, even then we defended extremely well but couldn't impact the score

[Satyriconhome 10,091]

I agree I love the way we are playing, I had a fellow dees supporter who I work with tell me he hates it and would rather see us lose by 70 points each week if it means we kick more goals.

My response was your an [censored] and have no idea about football if that's what you want

...that must mean he posts on here as well......

[Satyriconhome 10,091]

I don't mind what I'm seeing as we were a poor team who could not defend or attack.

With Lyons teams I dislike it as they have stars and should take the game on more.

I hope that once we get better players and a proper forward line that we will be more attacking.

So you intend changing the whole list?

[DemonOX 8,578]

I would rather have a defensive mindset and be "boring" than get our arzes kicked every week.

Last season the media were saying how bad we were cause we leaked so many goals and this season we r boring cause we r so defensive.

FFS u just can't satisfy some people.

[beelzebub 22,730]

Just make us the Hardest team to play !!

[DemonOX 8,578]

Just make us the Hardest team to play !!

Go and wash your mouth out with soap bb.

That stuff is what nightmares are made of.

[beelzebub 22,730]

But its exactly what hes doing lol