Grand New Flag

Jazza, I don't have the time nor patients to go through this subject again. Fellow posters certainly don't want a rehash of previous posts. Please refer to my posts in "Time to go Mark Neeld". All your questions plus the source is spelt out in this thread.

The appointment of a coach like Roos would save us from the walk out! Neeld's management of Watts has been atrocious.

Yes, I am calling them all liars......... if that's what you want to call it. Call it a professional lie, call it a required lie, call it a necessary lie, call it a legal lie, call it what you want, this is what happens. When a coach is in contract a club simply cannot be seen to be luring another coach. Surely you can see why this is.

WE have little choice but to go for a high profile coach like Roos. I understand your argument but in reality a high profile coach like Roos will pay for himself via increased media interest, this in turn increases sponsorship and members. Just imagine the excitement and speculation coming into next season with Roos as coach. We have no choice but to go for the lowest risk, highest profile coach who has the best chance to rapidly make us competitive, if Melbourne cannot become competitive within a couple of years our finances will continue to deteriorate, we will become insolvent and the AFL WILL relocate us in time for the next broadcasting contract. I feel few understand the magnitude of the situation we are currently in. We must go all out for Roos or a coach of similar criteria. As I said, simply we have no choice.

There is a realistic chance that Roos will coach Melbourne next season. I am aware of "sounding out" discussions with our club (directly from board member). It means absolutely nothing that Roos denies or semi denies. Roos and the MFC must deny such contact as Melbourne currently has a coach in contract until the end of 2014. All parties simply have no choice but to deny. This situation reminds me of Malthouse and Carlton last season. Malthouse denied interest and denied contact and discussions with Carlton, but never absolutely closed the door on the possibility. Just like Roos has done. It is now common knowledge in the football community that Malthouse agreed to terms with Carlton around mid-season while Ratten was still coach. All at Melbourne have their fingers crossed that one way or anther Roos takes up the challenge and saves our club.

Harry Taylor was set to be a Dee, he woke up on draft day excited to be going to Melbourne but he ended up at Geelong. I saw an interview with him once and he said he was initially devestated, but as it turned out the best thing that ever happened to him. He will not come to us for money. Next

The board is ultimately responsible for the health of the club, so there needs to be responsibility taken and some change in personal at board level. It is my view that they kept Schwab too long, however, Schwab was doing an excellent job with sponsorship, and keeping the books in the black. It was an outstanding achievement for our club to make a profit last season, Schwab was responsible for this and deserves all credit. Where Schwab went wrong was playing politics and trying to influence what happened on-field. As time goes on it becomes more clear that at least some of the seeds for our divided club were sewn by Schwab. This is why he is no longer at the club. The board must stand up and take responsibility for this but whether a complete turnover at board level is in the interest of the club is debatable........... it probably is not. Some board members will resign, new board members will be appointed and Mclardy will step down for Freeman. To me this is probably enough, it would be dumb to turnover every senior position, it would leave the club in a weaker position. I see mass changes in FD and Administration, keeping some old heads on the board who know what has gone on and why we are where would be smart. My view, as everyone knows, is that the monster mistake has been made with the appointment of Neeld. Simply he is the wrong man for the job. Neeld has done untold damage (please see my other posts). The board must take responsibility for this appointment and quickly rectify the situation. If they do not do this imminently then they too have become part of the problem and a alternative ticket should be taken to the AGM.

Depends how long they hold onto Neeld.

Pennant: On reflection Sydney were much, much better in 2002 than we are today. Still Neeld must go and go quickly.

Yes, but 26 is. That's the number of players that have been turned over since Neeld arrived.

Total hogwash. As I said: suggesting Neeld is not responsible is defending the indefensible. Are you watching the games?

deelusion: There is only one way to test this market and that is by setting this up. Are you able to do this? The marketing of this venture would be the easy bit once it is up and running...... crazy things can happen when you combine social media and traditional mediums. Personally I think this idea is well worth the effort.

This is out and out rubbish. Since Neeld became coach in September 2011, half our list has been turned over. Only half our list even played under Bailey. These are Neelds hand picked troops. We are not even half the team we were in 2011. Either: The recruiting has been terrible - this is Neelds responsibility. Or: The players are alright but the coach can't get them to believe in him, other players, the club or themselves - this is also Neelds responsibility. Which ever way you look at it responsibility lies with the head coach Neeld. Reality is Neeld has recruited poorly, and coached poorly. He has divided the playing group and his people management skills are beyond appalling. He has shattered self belief, he has destroyed self confidence, he has publically humiliated players (Watts, Green, Maloney, Martin, Rivers) on numerous occasions. He has traded players we should have kept for worse, older players. He has put up the two most inexperienced captains in the history of the sport in the most difficult of times. Do I need to go on? This bloke is a disaster, suggesting Neeld is not responsible is defending the indefensible.

True, but Roos was put in as a temporary coach before mid season, who was there simply to build confidence and self belief in the playing group. He did so well he got the main gig. The board (at great expense) had to renege out of a contract with Wallace to keep him. I might add this was probably the best ever money wasted by Sydney FC. The point I am trying to make, is that we are now in the same position as Sydney in 2003, they too were a basket case (though not as bad). We too have an opportunity to put in a temporary coach who like Roos will be told to build confidence and self belief. You never know our temporary coach may turn out to be the one we have been looking for. Nevertheless, we would have a jump on the other clubs securing the best experienced coach available. Hopefully that would be Roos himself. What ever the case there is simply nothing to lose from dumping Neeld today.

The problem is that Neeld has split the players and lost the players. Few players have developed under him. The players have lost confidence in the coach, so have I. Not changing coaches imminently would be a grave mistake.

Interesting analysis of the Roos rumour. Could possibly be the case, there are many at the club who want him out. I know (as a fact) that Roos has been contacted by the club, and that Roos will coach someone next season. So what I am saying is that although the rumour may have not been precisely true, where there is smoke there is normally fire. I have no idea where conversations have gone between the Board, Jackson and Roos, but I do know there has been at very least "sounding out" talks. Naturaly considering we have a coach in contract any such conversations would be denied by the club. But this being the case you would think that there is a chance Roos coaches or is Head of Football at Melbourne next year. Particularly considering the AFL is highly likely to get behind any move since they now control our club (thank god).

Jazza, if you think Mark Neeld has filled his brief or met his KPIs you are smoking the really good stuff.

We are very, very lucky in that the AFL has just started a new 5 year broadcasting contract. If we were coming into the end of that contract and Melbourne were in this state, things could be much, much worse. Imminent extinction or relocation would be on the cards. As we have it we have 4 years...maybe 3 years to get our act together. The AFL will step in and run our club and get us back on track for the good of the game. However, be warned if we are not strong and independent again in 3 years, the AFL will consider other options. We must move forward, we must sack Neeld today.

Believe what ever you want hardtrack. Convince yourself that Neeld is a good coach. I can't be bothered arguing with you. One little pointer for your future endeavours. When people leave organisations, what they say as their parting remarks rarely has anything to do with the truth and usually has everything to do with politics.

Mate, my source is not this website or big footy. My source is a player manager who will not be happy me. I have been told Frawley's desire to leave is Neeld, just as Moloneys, just as Rivers. Outside of this I find your comments bizarre.

I don't disagree, but I say the culture is the direct responsibility of the coach. The lack of effort is indefensible. However, a good coach has the ability of developing a good culture, of motivating and inspiring players. Getting the most out of your players is the PRIMARY responsibility of a coach. Neeld is part of the problem. He certainly is not part of the solution.

No you are wrong. Roos does want to coach again. He will be coaching somewhere next season. Melbourne is in the hunt. Take this as fact. Although Barassi,s period of coach did not produce finals, I think it would be unfair to say it was a failure. Melbourne made the finals for the very first time since 1964 in 1987 one season after Barassi's departure. It is my view we were unlucky not to win a premiership with this group. The seeds that Barassi sewed in culture and playing group may have taken longer than expected to grow, but they did and Barassi was responsible for kicking off two decades of success. Two decades that we were consistently in the finals.

I know as a fact the Carlton are all over Watts. Watts is very seriously considering. It is well documented that Frawley wants out and will almost certainly leave at seasons end. Three clubs have already approached Sylvia who is considering offers. There have also been enquiries about a number of our mid tier players who are out of contact. Neeld has split and antagonised the playing group. He is the problem. Hardtrack I am not exaggerating or making things up. I am only naming names as I trying to do my bit to help save the club.

Are you serious?? 12 players are out of contract. Other players in contract simply ask to be put up for trade.

When are you guys going to get it? The playing list is the responsibility of the coach. Our list has gone backwards under this hopelessly under qualified coach. At the end of 2011 when there were 4 teams looking for a new coach, Melbourne had by far the most exciting developing list of the 4. The media agreed. We were 4 years into a rebuild with a good smothering of experienced older players with the remainder of the list made up almost entirely of 1st and 2nd round players. The club was in finals contention until late in the season (for the 2nd year in a row), and had some thumping victories. Sure there were some holes and there were issues, but there was also the basis for an excellent developing team. What has happened since this point is nothing short of horrifying. I don't need to rehash in a step by step blow, you have all read it before. What is important to remember is that Neeld is personally responsible for all the stuff ups, poor trading, player management, game plan, etc etc etc. The buck stops with the coach. The leadership style, everything to do with football is the responsibility of the coach. As I first said after 4 rounds last year (and I was smashed for saying this). The appointment of Mark Neeld as coach is the greatest mistake this club has made since the sacking of Norm Smith. I wish my prediction was wrong. The red flags started to shoot up almost from his very first press conference. Anyone who knows anything about management would have started to have serious concerns very early. The way he split the playing group was breathtaking. You cannot understate the damage he has done to the playing group, to the club. I am close friends with one of the player managers who is directly responsible for a number of our better players on our list. I promise that a number of our better players are very seriously considering asking for trades or taking free agency come seasons end. Worse the general AFL community know this, opposition clubs have already started to make moves on our better players. The only chance we have of saving our club from extinction is to sack Neeld today (pretty sure it will happen). Even then the damage he has done may already be terminal. For God Sake cut out this cancer..... Neeld before it kills us.