While the article is spot on (in terms of our woeful history since 2006 on consecutive wins) it doesn't really add any light as to the "why". How about interviewing the Captain, the Coach, the club's psychologist!?? (Do any clubs still have one of those!? Regardless, we need one!!).

We deserved the spotlight after last week but Lloydy could have done better.

Anyone bagging Lloydy as a footballer (other than his staging which I couldn't stand myself) is probably just J that we didn't have him at our club. Guy was a dead eye dick and a super hard worker on all his patterns/leads In order to get the break on his opponent. If the Hulk gets his work rate up anywhere near this his performance/output will go through the roof (if we can get enough ball in effectively!)

...."I was taught very early on in my time at Essendon that respect isn't given, it has to be earned over a sustained period of time and excellence." ....

 

He is 100% correct.

It's the <duration> of the disaster - not about losing a few games at the start of 2016. 

50 minutes ago, Copuchas said:

Lloyd has actually had big wraps on us through the pre-season and has emphasised on several occasions how much potential he sees in the playing list.  I'd opine the article was firmly focused at the playing group and reflects his view that with some consistency of endeavour, the confidence that comes with self-belief and a scalp or two, things could really take off.  Healy is of a not dissimilar view on the potential and was all but barracking ahead of the GWS game to the point that he was visibly checking himself to be seen to remain measured and objective.      

The list isn't the problem... the problem is the culture that infects our boys once they arrive.  that softens them.

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

 

Melbourne have a long history of losing those type of games. I remember a sad day at the G when we lost to the Swans that had lost 25 games in a row. One of many useless efforts I have seen.

At SCG, mid-nineties. Even back then, it was a loss that didn't surprise me. Other than some time during the Northey years, this club has shown little evidence of having a pulse

1 hour ago, Diamond said:

What you just said. That it's a reality not a myth. How can a club have mental frailty for 51 years? The public perception is created by people who perpetuate the myth like Lloyd, Brereton and you.

Te attitude that afflicts our players once they've been here a little while is a too refined culture.  the same attitude that doesn't want our players to rough up opponents. 

Our club does not suffer any player being a bit wayward,  a bit rough,  a bit dirty,  any thing like these. 

Its like our club is too  'churchy',   'too religious',  too squeaky clean.  & too much a pushover on the field.

2 hours ago, Biffen said:

I don't generally read illiterates.

I congratulate him on being able to put words on paper.

I'm rather shocked because he can't even really speak properly.

Why should the intellectually disadvantaged be prohibited from journalism?

 

Indeed and why should they and the seriously incompetent be precluded from all walks of life, such as medicine, architecture and engineering. No doubt this will eventually come about but journalism is brave trailblazer in this equal opportunity area, as any cursory observation television, radio or the print media will confirm So all hail Lloydee sports journalism's  new Neville Cardus.

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, dee-luded said:

Te attitude that afflicts our players once they've been here a little while is a too refined culture.  the same attitude that doesn't want our players to rough up opponents. 

Our club does not suffer any player being a bit wayward,  a bit rough,  a bit dirty,  any thing like these. 

Its like our club is too  'churchy',   'too religious',  too squeaky clean.  & too much a pushover on the field.

They should invite Jake Matthews down to training balls out [censored] sitting in there back yard.

1 hour ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Article is okay - but it's stating the bleeding obvious and everyone knows the issue including Roos and Goodwin. The stats speak for themselves.

In fact, the very point of the article is the very reason Roos is now at the club.

Exactly I thought the article was fair comment, and, after last weeks debacle well deserved The fact is that for a number of reasons canvassed regularly in the media and on this forum post Daniher, Melbourne has been a disaster.

17 hours ago, stuie said:

But what BS? You're saying you agree with him 100% but then saying it's BS?

Why is Roos beyond reproach?

 

I agree with what he is saying, I think he is only doing it because he hates Roos - or jealous. That is just my opinion. I am not going to sit on here all day and argue with you over trivial sh*t. The footy is not far off, so have a nice day stu.

The article was spot on. But it only takes a couple of 'special' players to change it. Players who demand nothing but 100% + from the group and peers gravitate to them. When Hodge, Lewis and Mitchel retire the Hawks will lose a lot more than talent and its hard to get those sorts of players, especially by trade as you just do no let them go!!!

Who are our potential Hodges/Mitchell/Lewis/Selwood etc coming through???? Maybe Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver??????

Of course it also depends on getting and keeping off field top notch.

3 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

We certainly didn't do ourselves any favours with losing last weekend. 

It's all mental with our players, NAB cup and Round 1 they appeared upbeat and pumped, last week they were deflated. I don't know what it is, but I really have my concerns for the club.

 
I told you we were still garbage several times during the NAB cup but you didn't want to hear it.
Who's laughing now ?...
Yeah, nobody.

 

21 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

I will be disappointed to see another 10 out the door at the end of this year. This year should be minimal turnover if the rebuild is complete as PJ suggests.
While this issue has floated around the club for about 8 years (we win one and we celebrate like we have done something of actual significance), how we got here should not be considered when tackling this problem.
The issue is that we are here and that is enough. Now how do we solve this problem? It might be a case of dropping a few players, a heavy session here or there or something else from left field that should let the players know that a repeat performance of the dross dished up last weekend is unacceptable. 
While what happened on Saturday was unacceptable, we should also note that the journey from A to B is nary a straight line. There will be ups and downs. If the downs consistently outweigh the ups then it's time to change tack. If they are bumps in the road but we can get back on track, then panicking will just make things worse (see 186). 
Today will be a good indicator of how we intend on fixing the problem of our players being easily satisfied/complacent.

 

When I was a kid Melbourne & Essendon were both on 12 Premierships apiece.  And had a rivalry like something fierce.

 

We were a fierce club...  but little did I realise at that time,  that we were changing from  'within'  at our head of business offices.   T

The environment that had Power over our club was changing in a way that would take us down from the great  'fierce years',  supplied to us by  'Checker Hughes'. 

Which we IMPORTED from Tiger-land.

 

Enter the fierce attitude from  'Checker',  together with the MCG's pulling power to attract players who wanted to play on the 'G',  & we were a Power in AFL footy.

.....  the ridding of 'Smithy',  rid the club of this Fierce attitude. 

It slowly withered on the 'vine',  as we went along like a ship without a rudder.  

 

Now it is only recorded in the history books,  that this  'RednBlue'  once feared jumper,  was a once a Power house of a club.

 

I feel so sad  that its once strength,  over in the North,  is now killing it kindly.

 

>>>  Here,  is a little tale which the modern  'Northeners'  can soothe our players with after the teams Losses,  over in the northern social areas.

 

3 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

 
I told you we were still garbage several times during the NAB cup but you didn't want to hear it.
Who's laughing now ?...
Yeah, nobody.

 

I laugh but cry at the same time.

The lens we see that loss in is one that has seen a great deal of failure just like it over the years.

But this FD has changed so much over the last couple of years.

They failed because the players didn't work hard enough to spread, and the coaches didn't adequately prepare the team to treat all teams with the respect of showing your best efforts.

We when talk of a heartless past and a hopeless future - we give the players a convenient out.

When we talk about our destiny being failure - as a few of you are - you just remind me of what Roos said last year about the fans being damaged with negativity.

I hope the 'Woe is Melbourne' brigade didn't criticise Roos then, because you are arguing his point now.

7 hours ago, dee-luded said:

 

When I was a kid Melbourne & Essendon were both on 12 Premierships apiece.  And had a rivalry like something fierce.

 

We were a fierce club...  but little did I realise at that time,  that we were changing from  'within'  at our head of business offices.   T

The environment that had Power over our club was changing in a way that would take us down from the great  'fierce years',  supplied to us by  'Checker Hughes'. 

Which we IMPORTED from Tiger-land.

 

Enter the fierce attitude from  'Checker',  together with the MCG's pulling power to attract players who wanted to play on the 'G',  & we were a Power in AFL footy.

.....  the ridding of 'Smithy',  rid the club of this Fierce attitude. 

It slowly withered on the 'vine',  as we went along like a ship without a rudder.  

 

Now it is only recorded in the history books,  that this  'RednBlue'  once feared jumper,  was a once a Power house of a club.

 

I feel so sad  that its once strength,  over in the North,  is now killing it kindly.

 

>>>  Here,  is a little tale which the modern  'Northeners'  can soothe our players with after the teams Losses,  over in the northern social areas.

 

'Talking to you is like talking to a (censored) whoopee cushion.'
Nicola Murray MP