3 hours ago, Grapeviney said:

Even illiterate people know Mea Culpa isn't French.

 

Yeah everyone knows its Spanish

18 minutes ago, A F said:

Sorry, again, selfless means not trying to be a hero with your possessions. It may mean playing within your own limits. Jack seems to be doing this better now, but previously, he's resembled a rugby league players attempting to take on 15 tacklers instead of taking the right option. Jack seems to be maturing and understanding that rugby Jack is a selfish way to play and doesn't help our midfield. All of our mids have clearly had to learn how to function better together.

In 2018 he dragged the team with him to win finals being a bull ... if others were doing more then he wouldn't need to ... others have changed and he no longer needs to fill the void is whats happened .. selfless means doing more of the pressure and defensive acts ... in the past he had to always the first to try and lift the team when momentum is against us and others are dropping off

Edited April 14, 20215 yr by Demons1858

27 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Yeah everyone knows its Spanish

1 hour ago, deelusions from afar said:

I love Brayshaw and Viney (love all our players) so would hate to see one of them leave.

But I had said a number of times that we have a surplus of inside mids and the lack of outside run is the thing that is hurting us. So at the end of last year, if that was difference between us succeeding or not, I thought we should have looked at it - I thought moreso it would be Harmes or Brayshaw. The signs are really good so far and I hope more than anything it continues.  But we will lose matches this year and our flaws will be exposed (every team has them).  Will all the love still be here when that happens or if we drop a few in a row?  I hope people will not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I still think Brayshaw has played his best football as an inside mid and so for him to play on the wing or a flank is not only a sacrifice for the team - but also for his own career.  But maybe that's what he and the club want.  It is definitely working better than I thought it would in the preseason.  I am very intrigued when Brown and potentially Weid come back, will TMac be fighting with Brayshaw for the wing position?  And does anyone have Harmes in their best 22 anymore?  

What excited me most about the last few weeks on this issue (too many inside mids in the team) is that Viney has shown he can play a damaging role as a manic pressure forward when he's not on ball.  I think most of us thought he could do it, but I don't think we'd seen it consistently prior to this year.  Just like we'd want from Oliver, if our main mids can cause havoc when played forward it adds new weapons to the coach's kitbag that many teams don't have.

 

While we will lose games I don't think you are crediting the team aspect of our stars and role players to combine and succeeed. 
 

It's a letter of how many good footballers are in form and connecting as a team with the same determination we are showing  now. 

2 hours ago, A F said:

Good post mate.

As for your question about Harmes, yeah, I'd have him ahead of Tom Sparrow and/or James Jordon, because he offers the flexibility to play pressure forward or tagger or inside mid.

The coaches seem to be able to get the most out of our guys at the moment. I think Harmes will be the same.

Thanks.

I hope you're right re Harmes.  He was one of my favourite players  in 2018 (and before) but seems to have lost his way since being sent to defence.  I think his tactics of pushing the player he was tagging into the contest also got a bit more attention from the umpires after 2018.  He has the attributes to be a real asset - tough, quick, can run both ways, strong in the air and a goal kicker.  But I feel like his disposal lets him down a bit and maybe he's lost a bit of confidence.  I'd probably have him fighting for a spot with Sparrow, Jordon and Jones atm.  But I suspect the first two in particular are making a big difference to the team largely to their efforts when they don't have the ball.  Can Harmes do the same? I don't know.  While he has shown he can tag - it seems like Viney is more likely to get this role these days.  Can he do what Viney's doing as a pressure forward?  Don't know - but I suspect he will need to show he can if he's to stay in the team as the centre square is already pretty chockers!

As I say - I've been a big fan of Harmes so hope they can find a role for him to get the best out of himself

45 minutes ago, 58er said:

While we will lose games I don't think you are crediting the team aspect of our stars and role players to combine and succeeed. 
 

It's a letter of how many good footballers are in form and connecting as a team with the same determination we are showing  now. 

I think I'm more just trying to manage expectations - things are never as good / bad as you think they are.

I agree, there does seem to be something different this year - the selflessness, the stars maturing, the evenness of the team effort etc.  The team seems to have a steely resolve - I have a feeling many of the confident people here won't match the steely resolve when we lose when they expect us to win.

5 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Say 5 Hail Mary’s and go in peace my child.

Only five??  Very generous of you Chook! 

How about....

all those who suggested / agreed this was a good idea ;

1.  Attend the Manor for a jolly good thrashing from uncle... at least 10 lashes;

2.  Exit fee to avoid further lashings... a bottle of Henschke, Hill of Grace 2012

3.  Attend 5 senior training sessions as the marking / tackle bag; and

4.  In the off seaaon, shout Jack to an all you can eat pancake session at the Pancake Parlour

That should just about do it

Edited April 14, 20215 yr by Rusty Nails

13 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Yes I know 

some of that pressure may be useful in defence with May out. 
late night srategy meetings will be going on right now to see how we cover the next few weeks. 

Not sure Viney for May would be the way to go. 

I like our back six and you'd want a like-for-like player to come in so that lever can continue to do what he does best. 

His pressure would be great all over the ground, but our small defenders are really putting heat on opponents. Hunt is tackling like I haven't seen before. Salem, Rivers and Jetta (to a lesser extent) have been sound. 

I think Viney's presence in the forward-line is another fear factor for opponents. We're still a forward half/territory team who rely on strong forward half pressure. As long as that continues to be strong, our defence will stand up, even with May out. Don't want any more to drop though. 

13 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Yeah everyone knows its Spanish

I thought it was Mia Farrow's maiden name

2 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

Not sure Viney for May would be the way to go. 

I like our back six and you'd want a like-for-like player to come in so that lever can continue to do what he does best. 

His pressure would be great all over the ground, but our small defenders are really putting heat on opponents. Hunt is tackling like I haven't seen before. Salem, Rivers and Jetta (to a lesser extent) have been sound. 

I think Viney's presence in the forward-line is another fear factor for opponents. We're still a forward half/territory team who rely on strong forward half pressure. As long as that continues to be strong, our defence will stand up, even with May out. Don't want any more to drop though. 

I would never have Viney in defence full time, but it will be interesting to see if he spends any time down back “floating” in & out