thaipantsman

agreed!

It is true! Dees should have picked him up. I think he liked a beer too much. He's better than Macdonald and Mac's not bad.

As I've said many times buck stops with the Coach. BP doesn't make decisions on his own.

Very unlucky Gawny went down with another knee. I saw him play a couple of times last year v Bombers and Tigers. He gives Jamar a good rest and we didn't lose any momentum His height and extra spring made ruck work look easy. Jamar is Gutsy no doubt about it and I reckon deep down we all love him but he is no Cox/Mumford/Nicnat/kruezer. Not even close. Martin seems to have Co-Ordination issues a BA and poor disposal. Martin takes forever to get the ball from hand to foot. Reminds me of of Jack of all trades but master of none. For all Martin's attributes he should of gone forward leaps and bounds this year but sadly has gone backwards. Perhaps it's the game plan holding him back? Back to Jamar Trade time perhaps a good three way trade may come at Season's end and by that time Gawn, Fitzpatrick and Co may be available. What do you think boys?-another gun midfielder to work beside Viney, Jones, Moloney, Jurrah, Trengove and Sylvia.

OK Range Rover! What do Demon Punters think of these comments/view of Neeld made clear today? To put in perspective the comments were made after critique of MFC culture by Malthouse. After a series of tough pre season talks our Coach seems to have softened his approach considerably. These comments are worrying for the average Melbourne Punter. If Neeld is indeed of this opinion why did we move from Bailey who at least had us pushing the 8 last year. "The culture of the Melbourne footy club is pretty strong, the core of the player list are working really hard, their morale is good, the way they train is pretty good and we are expecting higher standards," Neeld said on Monday. Asked about how the club was working when he arrived late last year, Neeld replied: "I didn't notice any problems at all." As much as I want Neeld to succeed and earlier agreed it's much too early to bag him these comments are a worry. If he really has this opinion why did we sack Bailey? (by the way I agreed Bailey should go on the condition we got someone with senior coaching experience) I now agree you are right we should not blame Neeld but we should direct blame at the team who selected him and Bailey before him. A better choice would have been to wait a year with Viney (as Carlton persisted with Ratten) and then go for a Malthouse if Viney didn't come up? What ya reckon?

Mark Neeld and his co-selectors could point the finger at several under-performers. Forward Stefan Martin was ineffective and subbed out early against Richmond, Aaron Davey is still struggling and Rohan Bail and Luke Tapscott couldn’t find the footy too often Forward Ricky Petterd won the ball well with Casey Scorpions but wasted it with inaccuracy and rookie Tom Couch continued to push his claims. Dan Nicholson and Jake Spencer took positive steps for Casey after returning from injuries. We must continue to wield the axe, despite not having a lot in reserve. If nothing else, it will show that sub-standard performances are unacceptable. But it’s a balancing act to maintain a structure and team unity Underperformers: Garland, Bartram, Mckenzie, Grimes(only for concussion-not form) , Bail, Davey, Martin, .etc etc...nice to get Moloney back.

I was at that game. we left at the 15 minute mark of the final q, got to the car, turned on the radio and sprinted back in to witness a nail biting last few minutes. Hence will never give up again.

it sure is ugly Ned! will turn around though. Dees have enough youth to pull us through this one in the second half of the season. In the past when we've been in similar situation the players were reaching the end of careers but this new batch it's the start.

Cheer up Boys. Sunday night the mood of this forum will be a little better. Melbourne will definitely beat Bulldogs. This is a statement game for Neeld and his team (our team). A flogging is not acceptable.

Neeld told us. He is worried we'll drop off. Show him Sunday.

emphatic NO to a suggested Blease trade. The kid broke his leg in the school ground and needs to be given time. I've seen enough in him to suggest a star will emerge. I even set my bike lock to 4646 sadly to see a number change. That all said if members check my earlier posts, Dees do lack a Mentor. Off the top of my head Barassi as a player in 64, Hassa Mann, Robby Flower, Stan Alves, Gary Lyon, Jim Stynes, Sean Wight and many more. Alves might have been the medicine at the time he took over at the Saints. The passion of the red and blue seems to be lacking in the current group with hands out for the pay packet without the red and blue passion. Why didn't we offer the job to Ratten? He worked well with Melbourne Midders. His Navy blue passion would have quickly changed to red and blue..he's the type! It may come though! Watch for Watts and Blease. Sylvia and Moloney may spark big MJ back to some All Australian form and the rest can feed off this. In a much earlier post I made mention of Leigh Williams without knowing a lot about him. I think he kicked around 80 +goals for Norwood last year is a big body but sadly also injured. Also friends quietly don't disagree that Fevola may have been worth a risk with a one year performance base contract. Melbourne require the services of one very goal hungry forward. I agree we must wait till the end of this season and then form a judgement on Neeld however the buck does stop with him. Privately yes I'm worried as we all are.

Cheers MD. I worry we are not encouraging "good spread" with the long kick to the boundary policy and missing opportunities for link up create a spare man footy ahla the Luke Hodge comment.

Daniher? He had passion. Daniher was Melbourne and for an ex Bomber that's saying something. Your are right. It's not Neeld's fault but neither was it Bailey before him. Melbourne truly need more experience to ignite this young list. Trengove and Grimes-Neeld Coach. Only dreaming here but a Lyon/Malthouse combination would suit. Perhaps it may come from Viney next year? Sylvia may still step up and Jurrah start flying again?

Did anyone hear this comment yesterday. Seemed to be a direct reference to Neeld coaching plan. Hodge's observation was that Dees consistently bypass the spare man opting to go for the long kick to contest. Players that spread or create a little space and become spare are worn out because the general plan is to kick long and wide (very general). Obviously the ramification then of a mis kick is not so bad because the opposition has the ball in a position not quite so perilous . No more slick corridor and create the loose man style footy that was prominent for example when Neil Balme was coach. My worry is these game plans can be great if there is a brilliant list of players to carry out the plan. All teams are different and the good teams change strategy each week and don't merely play the same plan every week. HIT THE BOUNDARY stuff is what Dad coaches adopted as a technique to modify the drubbing coming-ie from 20 goals to 10 goals. doesn't necessarily bring out the best attributes of a young elite player fresh out of TAC. This did look the case in the Lions/Eagles losses. Everything was a battle, scrap and supporters left wondering where the next goal might come from. I can't recall even in Melbourne's bleak past playing quite this badly. My hope is Neeld can change this around quickly. Any comments.

Little or no change Policy can work when the players are proven performers and are currently under performing. Without mentioning any names there are guys in this MGC unit that under perform week in and week out. If there are hot replacements available at Casey moves must be made and these guys need to given a fair crack. Best example is Josh Tynan. He got one week. Didn't do a lot wrong and didn't look out of place. Clint Bartram is selected every week on the basis of his good first year.

no bad post must qualify and wait to see how Petterd, Tynan, Couch go today. If they are standouts I'm right with you. Watch Green for Casey. If he stars and is in best 3 I think we need him back in. Need some sort of Rudder and Moloney may need a week at Casey.

Can see where you're going, it's frustrating to be a demon supporter at the best of times. The problem with your strategy is blind running won't get us up the ladder.Just gets players tired. We need guys who can "play the game between the ears". Guys that anticipate the drop of the ball. This stuff is best taught by a mentor and with Sylvia, Moloney and Jurrah all out makes life difficult. For example if Judster or GAblett went to MFC on a 5 year deal this effect would automatically rub off on the rest. Anyone watch the effect Ablett had on GC last night as they very nearly beat the Bombers. Solution=keep rewarding the young stand outs for Casey, i.e., Couch and move on the Guys that are under performing for a long time now..dare I say it again, Jamar Davey, Bartram ... Good example of mentor status player is Lenny Haye

Demons to run over a cocky tigers outfit. Watts, Clark, Howe and Jones to stand out. 4 goal win and then are all up for a big one v Doggies. Davey to improve. Go Dees!!!

jordie won't be sub. need an impact player. mac is a nullifier in the mould of S. Godfrey . Dees by 4 goals by the way

Hope so. I tend to agree though my generation has "seen it all before". Melbourne do have a very good crop of young talent. We must be patient with this. Sometimes have to take a little step back again to go forward. OK...imagine Collingwood without Cloke, Pendlebury and Swan. Would they have won on the weekend without these guys. Our 3 of Sylvia, Jurrah and Moloney are not of that class but they are Melbourne's 3 best. Mix this with the sadness of JIm's passing, change of game style and Jamar's lack of form. Be patient. Melbourne may yet win 10 games this season. This week is crucial.

perhaps we can bluff some $out of another club. Russian would be a very good SE Suburban player. He is too slow, lacks any versatility, poor kick and the list goes on. Dees lack mongrel.

interesting no Jamar. Looks ok

hate to admit I posted Jamar as our best option for captain. didn't see the game but his stats looked bad. can't ever recall him running with the ball or taking a bounce? EVER...in any game... given we are getting flogged in the guts that's where we have to start change. backs have little chance if forwards aren't keeping it in and were getting flogged in the centre. ins:Moloney, Couch outs: mackenzie, bartram. Note:Tynan will be good but still too soon for him. Also Greene may be a danger v Tigers..give him one more chance.

Bailey was a legacy of Gary Lyon. Appointed by Gary Lyon as was Neeld.

Moloney is in MFC's best 5. Not going anywhere. Green may get another shot against WC and must play v Tigers. Pressure needs to come from Leigh Williams(Great white hope), Cook, Mcdonald or Dunn. These guys need to score bags of 4+ at lease twice in a row (like FEV) to be considered. If Green played every week for Casey he'd have bags of 4-6 most weeks. Sad right now we must be patient and promote only if form merits a promotion. Sometimes better to stay with the devil you know Guys...Davey may drop back to defence and let Bartram have a rest at Casey. In most of my posts I discussed MFC lack of a someone outside of Petterd and Jurrah (both injured) who love a goal. Most are goal shy. Still hope if we can get these two guys back firing by round 5, If Leigh Williams can continue his form at Norwood (he's a rare goal kicker) and perhaps Mitch Clarke can prove sceptics wrong Dees can still be a force this year. In summary the answer is wrong on all 3 for this week anyway.