Jump to content

Some serious questions asked about Paul Roos ...

Featured Replies

If it were an important game next week I'm sure Riewoldt could kick 5 goals and take 15 marks.

  On 30/07/2015 at 12:10, demoniac said:

I think some Dees fans have forgotten how bad we were when Roos took over.

I think haven't forgotten that we traded one painful loss in 2011 for 4 even more painful and frustrating years

 

The goalposts that people moved after the Geelong game is making the last month harder to swallow...

  On 30/07/2015 at 23:58, rpfc said:

The goalposts that people moved after the Geelong game is making the last month harder to swallow...

Is that such a bad thing though?

If Paul Roos is worth what he's (reportedly) being paid, surely, at some point, the fans have a right to demand better?

Last weekend's performance may not have been '186' bad, or even 'the first 3 rounds of 2013' bad, but it was still putrid.

To improve, we have to raise expectations. I don't think asking questions after the performances shown over the past month is asking too much. It may be a knee-jerk reaction, but why should Paul Roos be immune when so many other coaches are not?

 
  On 31/07/2015 at 01:30, Dr. Mubutu said:

...but why should Paul Roos be immune when so many other coaches are not?

For the reasons I outlined above.

It is no longer the coach, it is the players and the culture of the club. Changing coaches or putting pressure on the coach, will perpetuate this culture.

We are stable off field, in both administration and in footy department. Let those two teams do their thing before agitating for further change.

Historically, we know that constant chances at the MFC hasn't worked. Let's try something radical and back them in to sort the mess.

  On 31/07/2015 at 01:30, Dr. Mubutu said:

Is that such a bad thing though?

If Paul Roos is worth what he's (reportedly) being paid, surely, at some point, the fans have a right to demand better?

Last weekend's performance may not have been '186' bad, or even 'the first 3 rounds of 2013' bad, but it was still putrid.

To improve, we have to raise expectations. I don't think asking questions after the performances shown over the past month is asking too much. It may be a knee-jerk reaction, but why should Paul Roos be immune when so many other coaches are not?

We blew through expectations against Geelong - raised them through the stratosphere. And that is on Roos too.

I would hazard a guess that the view of the average MFC fan prior to that game would have been a ten goal loss down at Mordor being 'par' for this team.

And then that performance happened.

And we went from glorious enjoyment to cold, hard expectation lift very quickly.

And, again, that's fine, but don't forget that Geelong game happened and it happened under Roos' watch.


  On 31/07/2015 at 01:56, deanox said:

For the reasons I outlined above.

It is no longer the coach, it is the players and the culture of the club. Changing coaches or putting pressure on the coach, will perpetuate this culture.

We are stable off field, in both administration and in footy department. Let those two teams do their thing before agitating for further change.

Historically, we know that constant chances at the MFC hasn't worked. Let's try something radical and back them in to sort the mess.

How long have we heard this? How may players do we still have on the list since we heard this?

It is the coaches' job to make sure that the players are ready to play AFL football.

What I saw on Sunday makes me question that.

  On 31/07/2015 at 01:56, rpfc said:

We blew through expectations against Geelong - raised them through the stratosphere. And that is on Roos too.

I would hazard a guess that the view of the average MFC fan prior to that game would have been a ten goal loss down at Mordor being 'par' for this team.

And then that performance happened.

And we went from glorious enjoyment to cold, hard expectation lift very quickly.

And, again, that's fine, but don't forget that Geelong game happened and it happened under Roos' watch.

If you can honestly say that, barring the Geelong game, your expectation was for this side to lose by 6 goals to St Kilda, and see the slop that was served up the last three rounds, you're far more pessimistic than I.

Edit: Forgot the deplorable showing against Essendon*.

  On 30/07/2015 at 12:17, Lamashtu said:

Will be interesting to see how McCartin goes without Roo to take the best defender.

Still won't get best defender, Bruce will.

 
  On 31/07/2015 at 02:31, Dr. Mubutu said:

If you can honestly say that, barring the Geelong game, your expectation was for this side to lose by 6 goals to St Kilda, and see the slop that was served up the last two rounds, you're far more pessimistic than I.

I wouldn't be a disappointed or surprised if it wasn't for that game down at Mordor...

And when we lose well, people on here say that is a façade - it doesn't exist. If you lose, you lose. But I have argued that there is a difference between a loss like the one we had last week and the loss we had against Collingwood.

I think we would be better off extolling how we played more than just the results - because what Roos is trying to do is grind out wins rather than build a style of confident footy that the players and fans can embrace.

  On 31/07/2015 at 02:36, rpfc said:

I think we would be better off extolling how we played more than just the results - because what Roos is trying to do is grind out wins rather than build a style of confident footy that the players and fans can embrace.

I'd argue that if it is working, and the players actually looked like they'd been coached some skills, the players and fans would embrace the style of play. As it is, the team looks as unskilled and clueless as ever.

I fear that I am one of the supporters that Roos refers to when he says that fans think: 'Here we go again'. If only because I've been shown precious little to think the opposite.


  On 30/07/2015 at 02:03, old dee said:

There is one thing that Mr. Roos and company got right.

Clark.

Vince

Cross

  On 31/07/2015 at 02:28, Dr. Mubutu said:

How long have we heard this? How may players do we still have on the list since we heard this?

It is the coaches' job to make sure that the players are ready to play AFL football...

Firstly, most of them. Yeah we have brought a handful in from other clubs but Roos had only had one podcast season with the chance to turn the list over. So at the end of the day almost all players on the last have gone through the scarring of the neeld era including the instability.

Building a basic list that can compete at afl level takes 3-4 years when you can only being in a handful each year.

It is Roos' job to make sure the players are ready and he needs to be given time to do that job. Not 18 months. Of the players aren't up to it be will change them.

But if you don't believe Roos and Co should be given time, who should? Or do you expect a coach to come to Melbourne and make a difference in 18 months and have us playing finals? If so you are really over rating the playing list

  On 26/07/2015 at 08:07, Tony Tea said:

We were appalling flat track bullies under Bailey. Got utterly smashed by the slightest hint of pressure.

And what we handle pressure like seasoned professionals now Right? We have not improved under Roos!

  On 31/07/2015 at 02:54, Jaded said:

Vince

Cross

Jaded I have already said I was not suggesting that was the only thing or did you miss that?

  On 31/07/2015 at 03:39, deanox said:

Firstly, most of them. Yeah we have brought a handful in from other clubs but Roos had only had one podcast season with the chance to turn the list over. So at the end of the day almost all players on the last have gone through the scarring of the neeld era including the instability.

Building a basic list that can compete at afl level takes 3-4 years when you can only being in a handful each year.

It is Roos' job to make sure the players are ready and he needs to be given time to do that job. Not 18 months. Of the players aren't up to it be will change them.

But if you don't believe Roos and Co should be given time, who should? Or do you expect a coach to come to Melbourne and make a difference in 18 months and have us playing finals? If so you are really over rating the playing list

It was identified by quite a few on this site that it was a player/culture problem pre-Neeld. He was only given 18 months.

Roos has overseen 2 trading and drafting periods by this point. Trisul has pointed out earlier in this thread that 23 players have been delisted, traded or released in this time. That's at least half a list that was turned over. Surely we should be seeing more of a culture change?

I'm not saying that he shouldn't be given time. I'm just saying that we shouldn't blindly accept that it's definitely the answer given what we've seen over the past three weeks.

Surely 18 months of full-time football training (because it is, remember that Roos was appointed almost 23 months ago, for an original period of 24 months) would be enough to see skills improve more than has been on display in game situations to this point.

Again, I'm not saying that Roos isn't the answer. I just think that there should at least be some questions.


  On 31/07/2015 at 04:45, Dr. Mubutu said:

It was identified by quite a few on this site that it was a player/culture problem pre-Neeld. He was only given 18 months.

Roos has overseen 2 trading and drafting periods by this point. Trisul has pointed out earlier in this thread that 23 players have been delisted, traded or released in this time. That's at least half a list that was turned over. Surely we should be seeing more of a culture change?

I'm not saying that he shouldn't be given time. I'm just saying that we shouldn't blindly accept that it's definitely the answer given what we've seen over the past three weeks.

Surely 18 months of full-time football training (because it is, remember that Roos was appointed almost 23 months ago, for an original period of 24 months) would be enough to see skills improve more than has been on display in game situations to this point.

Again, I'm not saying that Roos isn't the answer. I just think that there should at least be some questions.

The problem is I think the questions that people are asking are often short sighted and when answered, the answers aren't considered acceptable to people who are demanding immediate on field results as the only proof of improvement.

23 player turn over means 23 new players who have never played together. It takes a number of yeasts for players to learn systems, to learn how each other play, to work together and trust each other.

23 player turn over in 2 years means it is likely we still have brought 10 players in who aren't good enough. You can't build a finals quality list in 4 years when you have next to no quality on the list to start with.

17 players on the last who are potentially scarred from previous administration plus are now trying to learn new systems.

A whole bunch of 18 yo draftees who are coming onto a list with no senior leaders on field to enhance their development.

You need to give the coaching administration 3 years to build the list and then when it is stable, more time to enable them to gel and play together.

  On 30/07/2015 at 23:58, rpfc said:

The goalposts that people moved after the Geelong game is making the last month harder to swallow...

I don't agree with this at all.

If you're trying to say that, if we hadn't beaten Geelong, the last three weeks would have been unsurprising, I don't agree - I wasn't surprised at it, given where we've come from.

As for the last three weeks only being disappointing because we beat Geelong, I can't agree with that either - the last three weeks have been appalling football that would be at a low, unacceptable level no matter what we'd achieved previously. We could have had just the GC, Richmond and WB wins and gone into these three weeks still thinking to ourselves that it's three bottom 6 clubs and three chances to put in decent, strong performances. The three weeks have been substandard in most KPIs, most other stats, and obviously results, and the Geelong game has nothing to do with that.

I think it's almost questionable the Geelong result would've occurred if the last 41 seconds of the Saints match had resulted in a win.

Teams respond to heartbreaking losses, but we haven't found a way to respond to wins.

  On 31/07/2015 at 09:48, deanox said:

The problem is I think the questions that people are asking are often short sighted and when answered, the answers aren't considered acceptable to people who are demanding immediate on field results as the only proof of improvement.

23 player turn over means 23 new players who have never played together. It takes a number of yeasts for players to learn systems, to learn how each other play, to work together and trust each other.

23 player turn over in 2 years means it is likely we still have brought 10 players in who aren't good enough. You can't build a finals quality list in 4 years when you have next to no quality on the list to start with.

17 players on the last who are potentially scarred from previous administration plus are now trying to learn new systems.

A whole bunch of 18 yo draftees who are coming onto a list with no senior leaders on field to enhance their development.

You need to give the coaching administration 3 years to build the list and then when it is stable, more time to enable them to gel and play together.

Doesn't mean the system's any good though. You can make all the excuses you want but no one's waiting 3 years unless there's clear improvement on the way. Struggling to score 60 points in each game and having players move the ball like basket cases doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the coaching.

  On 31/07/2015 at 15:19, Je Roos Salem said:

Doesn't mean the system's any good though. You can make all the excuses you want but no one's waiting 3 years unless there's clear improvement on the way. Struggling to score 60 points in each game and having players move the ball like basket cases doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the coaching.

I'm not making excuses.

I am saying that the on field performance is the last bit of "performance" and "improvement".

It is about putting all the off field stuff into place. Good quality coaching. A good training culture. Trust within the playing group. A game plan that all players know.

Once all those things happen, we'll start to see on field success.

Right now, none of us have any real measure to judge or rate the performance of the coaching panel.


Forget about the comparisons with the saints rebuild. The team which was closest to us in terms of bottoming out and rebuilding just comprehensively beat the Hawks.

If we were in the bottom half of the 8 to mid table ok, but we are exactly where we were when MFC and Richmond started out on their respective journeys to the top.

I know the answers why but it is a very sobering thought nonetheless.

Right now, we're roughly where the Saints were probably 2 years ago (going into the 2014 season).

Was interesting to hear the comments on SEN yesterday though about the frustration of MFC fans. More pressingly, the caller who was discussing Peter Jackson and the way he deals with people. Seemed quite scathing but well known amongst industry people about his less-than-charismatic approach to people management. Anyone know what they were getting at?

In reference to my post above there are a lot of board members and past administrators who should be quite embarrassed with their performance over the past decade in light of what's happened. I really would t want my name on that. In any measure, quite possibly he most inept off field performance in the history of the game surely.

9 years and counting. Looks to be another 2 to add to that.

 
  On 31/07/2015 at 02:28, Dr. Mubutu said:

It is the coaches' job to make sure that the players are ready to play AFL football.

There's a limit to what a coach can do if the players aren't up to it.

hmm, after that perhaps the serious question should be - will you stay around the club beyond 2016?


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • NON-MFC: Round 05

    Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

    • 10 replies
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Geelong

    There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Geelong

    I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Essendon

    Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

      • Like
    • 211 replies
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 04

    Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • Shocked
      • Like
    • 273 replies
    Demonland
  • PODCAST: Geelong

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

      • Clap
      • Haha
    • 62 replies
    Demonland