On 14/05/2018 at 09:40, jumbo returns said:

Watching those pricks beat us in the Granny was bad enough, but their supporters around me were even worse

Laughing when Greeny was bleeding in his throat, cheering when Long dogged Simmonds.....I hope they never, ever recover from this

Just like Carlton I hope they are only 2 decades in to their 5 decades of horror.

The football produced by the Dees under Neeld's leadership is the worst AFL football I have ever seen, bar none. And I am talking Dees and Saints in the 70's, and the Bears a bit later. A limited if not incompetent senior coach, and an atrocious communicator. 

But I really feel for him here. A genuine sadness and disappointment for another human being burnt by AFL footy. Can you imagine giving 20+ years of your life to the game, only to be thrown on the scrap heap like this?

And for those back-room whisperers and leakers at Essendon, pouring out confidential info so Neeld becomes a scapegoat for issues probably belonging to the whole coaching group - I hope you reap what you have sown here. 

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:34, Lucifer's Hero said:

The gory details from from Foxfooty: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/mark-neeld-resigns-from-coaching-role-at-essendon/news-story/c1c9569342c0f29a9bbb181edccfd71e

"Foxfooty.com.au understands the dynamics among the coaching panel had become unsustainable this year, which filtered down to the players".

"It’s believed that aside from John Worsfold, Rob Harding (game intelligence and opposition strategy coach) and Neeld, no assistants were permitted to discuss specific strategy and tactics with the senior coach or players.

This extended to game day in the coaches’ box, with almost every suggestion regarding a heavily criticised game plan funnelled through Neeld.

This alienated other assistants Mark Harvey, James Kelly, Paul Corrigan and Hayden Skipworth.

On several occasions, at least one of the assistants who was not allowed to discuss strategy or tactics, had to discreetly tell the runner messages behind Worsfold and Neeld’s backs in order to get their message out there.

Ultimately, the structure didn’t work and Neeld was moved on — the scapegoat in a system that had broken down".

It is a terrible structure and process to channel everything through one person and keep other assistants out of the loop but Neeld didn't put the structure in place - that is a Football department decision. 

Key word in last para of quote:  Scapegoat. 

Glad for him he is out of there

Watching the arrogant EFC implode again will be such fun...more popcorn anyone! 

 

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

I wonder who exactly had anointed he and Harding the sole voices of authority when it came to strategy? And I wonder who made the gatekeeper role so rigid that it was starting to pizz off the other assistants? Whoever it was, they also need a boot up the arze.

If it was Woosha, then he needs to take some responsibility for this but I would find it hard to believe that a man of his experience would allow that to happen in the first place.

It sounded like an extreme situation if people had to 'sneak' messages behind people's backs.

Edited May 14, 20186 yr by Colin B. Flaubert

Time for a new game plan for Mark "Neeldy" Neeld.

 

I just heard Whately and Robbo say Ess should get Craig Jennings to Ess to help Worsfold- that is OUR Craig Jennings!

Hope he has enough sense to see we are going places and not be tempted by the money they might throw his way.

Edited May 14, 20186 yr by Lucifer's Hero

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:20, Dee Dubya said:

Have to feel a bit sorry for this bloke. His football career is effectively over. The vitriol that is coming from the immature children on this forum is palpable, just as it was when he departed from Melbourne. Please keep in mind when you are commenting that his family will also be affected by this.

Well said. I would hazard a guess the 95% of the posters in this site never met Mark. I would have zero bad things to say about him, obviously we wanted him to succeed as a Demon - but it was not to be.  

But I agree the vitriol directed towards him / "'opinions" does the wider MFC community no good - but such is life.

No good arguing with idiots. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. Much better to just move on and enjoy life. 

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Nasher said:

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

Ah....but who's out to dry in that respect...i.e what Coterie , what power brokers would be exposed ?..all murky'sville at the hanger

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Nasher said:

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

But a lot cheaper

Although Neeld couldn't coach a Labrador to [censored] ,it must be said that he was not exactly handed the most talented list in history.

He struggled to inspire the team to rise much above their shyteness.

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Nasher said:

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

Not mid-season though, at least not yet. (technically, we're not even mid-season).

You wonder how they ended up with this coaching structure or why this season it has all gone pair-shaped. Given the players at their disposal, they did well last year to make the finals (we didn't, by the way), and they must have figured that with a bit of tinkering, plus bringing in the likes of Stringer and Sahid, they could push deeper.

Unlike some here, I take no pleasure in this. A footy club is still just a workplace for those who work there, and none of them deserve this level of turmoil and the ensuing stress.

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:54, Lucifer's Hero said:

I just heard Whately and Robbo say Ess should get Craig Jennings to Ess to help Worsfold- that is OUR Craig Jennings!

Hope he has enough sense to see we are going places and not be tempted by the money they might throw his way.

Ah Grasshopper...if he has enough sense he stays...if he doesn't.. we don't need him

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Nasher said:

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

What no, keep him in charge. Let's see how much damage this arrogant, pompous ***** can inflict on the druggies organisation.

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:54, Lucifer's Hero said:

I just heard Whately and Robbo say Ess should get Craig Jennings to Ess to help Worsfold- that is OUR Craig Jennings!

Hope he has enough sense to see we are going places and not be tempted by the money they might throw his way.

Slobbo's plan of tempting him to Essendon with a half finished bottle of Bowlers Run and a six pack of Toohey's Red is unlikely to bear fruit. 

The Drug Den is falling apart at the seams.

Karma is a [censored].

  On 14/05/2018 at 10:06, bing181 said:

Not mid-season though, at least not yet. (technically, we're not even mid-season).

You wonder how they ended up with this coaching structure or why this season it has all gone pair-shaped. Given the players at their disposal, they did well last year to make the finals (we didn't, by the way), and they must have figured that with a bit of tinkering, plus bringing in the likes of Stringer and Sahid, they could push deeper.

Unlike some here, I take no pleasure in this. A footy club is still just a workplace for those who work there, and none of them deserve this level of turmoil and the ensuing stress.

I take no pleasure in Neelds pain.

Im comfortable with Essendons

Neeld puked all over Melbourne. Couldn't believe eddendrug would have him as a coach. Maybe a decision they made whilst getting off on crack. Don't care about Neeld or essendrug.

  On 14/05/2018 at 10:19, beelzebub said:

I take no pleasure in Neelds pain.

Im comfortable with Essendons

Quadruple like.

Neeld no doubt gave it his best

Essendon can go [censored] themselves 

Funny thing is a lot of their problems are down to list management- their midfield lacks ball winners, they haven’t drafted any inside mids and they traded in players for positions they didn’t need filled rather than going for midfielders. I would have thought Dodoro and his list management should be most in the gun tbh. 

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:34, Lucifer's Hero said:

The gory details from from Foxfooty: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/mark-neeld-resigns-from-coaching-role-at-essendon/news-story/c1c9569342c0f29a9bbb181edccfd71e

"Foxfooty.com.au understands the dynamics among the coaching panel had become unsustainable this year, which filtered down to the players".

"It’s believed that aside from John Worsfold, Rob Harding (game intelligence and opposition strategy coach) and Neeld, no assistants were permitted to discuss specific strategy and tactics with the senior coach or players.

This extended to game day in the coaches’ box, with almost every suggestion regarding a heavily criticised game plan funnelled through Neeld.

This alienated other assistants Mark Harvey, James Kelly, Paul Corrigan and Hayden Skipworth.

On several occasions, at least one of the assistants who was not allowed to discuss strategy or tactics, had to discreetly tell the runner messages behind Worsfold and Neeld’s backs in order to get their message out there.

Ultimately, the structure didn’t work and Neeld was moved on — the scapegoat in a system that had broken down".

It is a terrible structure and process to channel everything through one person and keep other assistants out of the loop but Neeld didn't put the structure in place - that is a Football department decision. 

Key word in last para of quote:  Scapegoat. 

Glad for him he is out of there

Watching the arrogant EFC implode again will be such fun...more popcorn anyone! 

 

If this is true, and it sounds right because similar things were said about his time at Melbourne especially re the dictatorial attitude, it is staggering that he has learnt nothing. No wonder Essenscum are in a mess and Neeld is probably out of the industry.

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Nasher said:

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

In this case the fish definitely rots from head down

  On 14/05/2018 at 08:15, McQueen said:

AFL site saying he resigned.

As always. the truth will lay somewhere in-between.

Obviously a job for the "integrity department" :-)))))))

  On 14/05/2018 at 08:43, Call Me What You Will said:

Whilst I am neutral in terms of my personal empathy with Mr Neeld, Essendrug’s gradual unravelling is the gift that keeps on giving. May they go down the gurgler slowly and painfully.

I had sort of hoped that they would sack Worst-fold and promoted Neeld

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Maldonboy38 said:

The football produced by the Dees under Neeld's leadership is the worst AFL football I have ever seen, bar none. And I am talking Dees and Saints in the 70's, and the Bears a bit later. A limited if not incompetent senior coach, and an atrocious communicator. 

But I really feel for him here. A genuine sadness and disappointment for another human being burnt by AFL footy. Can you imagine giving 20+ years of your life to the game, only to be thrown on the scrap heap like this?

And for those back-room whisperers and leakers at Essendon, pouring out confidential info so Neeld becomes a scapegoat for issues probably belonging to the whole coaching group - I hope you reap what you have sown here. 

A thoroughly corrupt (dis)organisation

  On 14/05/2018 at 09:50, Nasher said:

If that’s all true, Worsfold *has* to go. Probably Neeld too, but it seems absurd to pick off the 2ic instead of the boss. 

Trouble is that they can't sack Worst-fold.   There aren't any other pharmacists available (as far as I know).

  On 14/05/2018 at 10:34, Moonshadow said:

In this case the fish definitely rots from head down

Higher than the Chemist even

I remember seeing Neeld at a cafe in Northcote shortly after him leaving the dees. I gave him a nod with an sympathetic grin and he just looked at me with those weird crazy twitchy eyes.

I feel like he's at home just watching the news of him and Essendon with those same weird crazy twitchy eyes.

  On 14/05/2018 at 06:41, Ethan Tremblay said:

Why on earth would he have been Essendon’s game day strategy coach?

Were they tanking?

Worsfold learned his coaching trade from Malthouse as did Neeld. I suspect they talked the same language with respect to gameplan and player management which made Worsfold feel comfortable.

My opinion is that the game has moved on from the Malthouse approach (gameplan and player management) leaving both Worsfold and Neeld behind.