Christian Salem - future position role

[Bobby Clark 121]

I'm really liking Salem in the middle. Where do you see him playing majority of his footy in the future? 

Back, forward or midfield?

For me i'd love to see him playing majority midfield & a little bit of forward. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,120]

Where he played yesterday

[Dante 2,739]

16 minutes ago, Bobby Clark said:

I'm really liking Salem in the middle. Where do you see him playing majority of his footy in the future? 

Back, forward or midfield?

For me i'd love to see him playing majority midfield & a little bit of forward. 

I'm just happy he's still playing for Melbourne, there were more than a few who wanted to trade him last year and regarded him as just trade bait. Salem will be a star I said it then and I'll say it again, questions over his hardness are just ridiculous, he gets his own ball and uses it better than most in the side, that goal he kicked from the wrong pocket yesterday shows that.

 

 

[Bobby Clark 121]

1 minute ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Where he played yesterday

yep, he is brilliant in the middle

[McQueen 17,867]

21 minutes ago, Dante said:

I'm just happy he's still playing for Melbourne, there were more than a few who wanted to trade him last year and regarded him as just trade bait. Salem will be a star I said it then and I'll say it again, questions over his hardness are just ridiculous, he gets his own ball and uses it better than most in the side, that goal he kicked from the wrong pocket yesterday shows that.

 

 

I was one of those people.

I thought he looked great yesterday and I'm really hopeful he can continue to improve. 

[Adzman 2,154]

The middle for me. Jones is getting closer to 30 and can't play there forever, and Bernie has already shifted some playing time out of the middle as he gets on in age. Salem is a great ball user and is building his endurance, I think having him in the middle makes us dangerous. He would also compliment your tracs and Oliver who are going to be good inside guys in the middle.

[Adam The God 30,403]

I thought it could be the right time to trade him, but I'm glad I was wrong.

He, like as many of his team mates as possible, should play in multiple positions. We want to be unpredictable and really hard to counter. With this in mind, he should play mid, forward and back. He could be an asset off half back with his kicking, a danger in the forward half with his ability to execute and another strong midfield rotation option.

[Steve Lattimer 29]

Midfield and on the wing.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

3 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Where he played yesterday

Where was that SWY?

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Is he our potential Burgoyne?

[Dante 2,739]

31 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Is he our potential Burgoyne?

Not as smooth yet, but yes. 

 

[Maldonboy38 6,405]

Midfield rotating forward. His decision making, toughness and quick skills are wonderful to watch. But his kicking demands time forward, especially wih Lewis and Jones playing back. 

[dieter 3,325]

I loved his game yesterday.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Where he played yesterday

At Casey? 

[Basher 75]

Salem/Jones/Lewis to rotate Midfield/Half Back/Interchange. Less pressure on Jones and Lewis in the midfield to extend their careers. I don't like Bernie at half back or in defence as can be careless at times and he can kick a nice goal. 

[Lord Travis 10,763]

6 hours ago, Dante said:

I'm just happy he's still playing for Melbourne, there were more than a few who wanted to trade him last year and regarded him as just trade bait. Salem will be a star I said it then and I'll say it again, questions over his hardness are just ridiculous, he gets his own ball and uses it better than most in the side, that goal he kicked from the wrong pocket yesterday shows that.

 

 

I was one of those people. It was never about his ability, he is clearly a very talented footballer. It was because he could never get on the park. It doesn't matter if you're Chris Judd, if you play less than 10 games a year on average then you're of no use. I'm glad he's playing well and I hope he continues to play well and stay fit and healthy. He deserves a good run at it to build some form and show everyone what he can do.

I like him in the midfield and forward. He's a liability down back, teams would often target his opponent for attacking forays (source: opposition coaches) as he was poor in defensive one on one contests and often caught on the wrong side of his opponent or losing body contacts at crucial times. In the midfield he is tough, fast and skilled. Love him there and resting forward as he can chip in with a few goals. He's got a great balance of inside and outside skill. If he can stay fit he'll be one of our best midfielders for years to come. Hoping he turns into a harder version of Adem Yze.

[Sir Why You Little 37,120]

1 hour ago, Deestroy All said:

At Casey? 

Not bad!

[DeeSpencer 26,070]

11 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

I was one of those people. It was never about his ability, he is clearly a very talented footballer. It was because he could never get on the park. It doesn't matter if you're Chris Judd, if you play less than 10 games a year on average then you're of no use. I'm glad he's playing well and I hope he continues to play well and stay fit and healthy. He deserves a good run at it to build some form and show everyone what he can do.

I like him in the midfield and forward. He's a liability down back, teams would often target his opponent for attacking forays (source: opposition coaches) as he was poor in defensive one on one contests and often caught on the wrong side of his opponent or losing body contacts at crucial times. In the midfield he is tough, fast and skilled. Love him there and resting forward as he can chip in with a few goals. He's got a great balance of inside and outside skill. If he can stay fit he'll be one of our best midfielders for years to come. Hoping he turns into a harder version of Adem Yze.

There was nothing wrong with his defensive efforts in 2015. He held Charlie Cameron to 3 touches in a game against Adelaide over there. He struggled last year but it became obvious his thyroid was playing up. I've got no doubt if he's fit he can go back to half back and defend against the right opponent.

I'd play him in whatever the best position for him to stay healthy and develop as a footballer. 

To me that's probably on ball for maybe 40% game time, a bit of a stint on a wing and then enough time forward to not be gassed. The midfield to half back rotation is a big work load for a young player. Once he matures I expect he'll shift between on ball and half back. 

[old55 23,687]

Salem is one of the highlights of this preseason.  A bit like Montagna, relentless quality.

[Sleeve 67]

Salem is absolutely a midfielder.

Its laughable that people say he doesn't possess hardness.... You've obviously been watching a different Salem, he's strong at the contest and his skills are superior to Jones, Viney and co. 

I guess it's yet to be seen whether he possess' the consistency to win enough football through the midfield but I'm genuinely excited by his skill set.

 

The guy is improving and he looks a natural goal kicking midfielder. 

 

 

[Lucifers Hero 40,314]

Salem with be in our top players whatever position he plays in.

The main reason Roos played him in the back line is because we didn't have the right people to play there.  Anyway, it was good for his development. 

We now have several players who can be attacking and accurate out of the backline so don't see a reason for him to play back again.  He is much more dangerous around the middle and forward.

[Dante 2,739]

27 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

I was one of those people. It was never about his ability, he is clearly a very talented footballer. It was because he could never get on the park. It doesn't matter if you're Chris Judd, if you play less than 10 games a year on average then you're of no use. I'm glad he's playing well and I hope he continues to play well and stay fit and healthy. He deserves a good run at it to build some form and show everyone what he can do.

I like him in the midfield and forward. He's a liability down back, teams would often target his opponent for attacking forays (source: opposition coaches) as he was poor in defensive one on one contests and often caught on the wrong side of his opponent or losing body contacts at crucial times. In the midfield he is tough, fast and skilled. Love him there and resting forward as he can chip in with a few goals. He's got a great balance of inside and outside skill. If he can stay fit he'll be one of our best midfielders for years to come. Hoping he turns into a harder version of Adem Yze.

If it was injuries that caused him to miss games, then fair enough, but it was an illness which, once discovered, was treatable. He is going to be a very good player and we would have regretted it, in spades if we had traded him.

Remember, he's only 21 and has only played 30 games, wait until he's played 50 or 60, trading him will be a distant memory.

 

 

 

[Moonshadow 17,676]

IMO won't be a pure mid this year, but he could be in '18 or '19. Just hoping he stays fit, with the thyroid and concussion issues behind him.

One thing I am certain of, his middle name should be 'Sublime'.

[rpfc 28,734]

We didn't get Hurley, but Hibberd and Melksham mean Slaem can start to do what he did yesterday.

[KingDingAling 3,758]

Salem was hard as nails as a junior. Hard at it and a fierce tackler. He possesses all the right attributes to make it as a midfielder. It is just that his body allows him to play that role this year, whereas in the past he was a bit undeveloped and had an illness. Will be a gun mid. Was always going to be the case eventually.