Team confidence is perplexing - it starts with the coaches!

[WinnersOnly]

Team confidence is a perplexing emotion – but it starts with the coaches!

It is obvious that SAINTS are playing with no confidence and like everyone I have been pondering as to why this is occurring. We have the playing talent to match most sides in the competition and when playing confident football would win games we have lost this year. So what is wrong?

IMO Ross LYON’s has been concentrating too much on the opposition strengths and does not back or rate his own side’s talent. Consequently he has become far too defensive (negative) in his match up’s and approach to games. Where is the passion and aggression that the team displayed in previous years? IMO LYON’s needs to release the defensive reins and simply concentrate on getting the teams free running game going. Encourage the teams’ aggression, team play and get the players back to enjoying their football and their team mates.

Another point has been our inability to kick a winning score when most weeks we have more inside 50’s than the opposition. If LYON was to encourage our midfield to move the ball quicker into the forward 50, rather than attempting to construct goals it would help greatly. We have become too robotic and LYON’s coaching has stymied the natural playing talents of the team. When the opposition is flooded back and they have 3 blokes on ROO and KOSI encourage the runners to start having shots from distance. This would create a much more positive response than turning the ball over across our half forward when attempting to construct the perfect goal.

As a whole we don’t seem have the foot/kicking skills of other clubs – why is this? Again this has evolved by our blokes second guessing their decision making and not being able to back their instincts. Like Sydney we have become robotic and it appears that our blokes are simply being ‘over coached’.

Just one last point on our team structure. It is apparent that Sam FISHER is one of our form players and the opposition continually take him away from the play down back. With MAGUIRE/DEMPSTER and HUGHTON now playing, why not mix it up and rotate FISHER through our half forward line. He has played their in the past and has the skills to have an impact. Just food for thought!

Finally I don’t think the SAINTS are too far from being a top side! With both ruckman (GARDINER/KING) playing and SCHNEIDER back. It will be only a matter of Ross loosening the defensive reins, for the blokes to find confidence and the flow on winning form….

[asiu]

Encourage the teams’ aggression, team play and get the players back to enjoying their football and their team mates.

he had balls
he could take a mark
he could kick
he could read the play

why did we get rid of vossy again ?


at least he was passionate

[esaint66]

why did we get rid of vossy again ?


at least he was passionate

Exactly loved vossy.

Whenever i think of him i just think of how hard he played and also when he was going crook at the umpire in the 04 wizard cup grand final.

I dont think he suited ross's GAMEPLAN !!!

[iwantmeseats]

Absolutely 100 % spot on the mark Winners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One result of all that is ultimately it sucks the natural football instinct right out of the player. Without that, ya screwed. In fact, thats a big reason you were able to make it to AFL level in the first place!!


Im three times as concerned as I was last week. I was listening to the usual Lyon spin at the presser this week, thinking well ok....this is how it is and what he thinks.

Then he thinks 10-12 goals max is the ultimate target and what we should be shooting for??

Like I siad, three times as worried. Cause that is out and out WRONG and just STUPID. Now Im not a a AFL coach of course, but sorry, thats the wrong track to go down a thousand times over.

Anyway, still early days for 08. Still time. Some monumental shift is needed though in approach and application.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

Encourage the teams’ aggression, team play and get the players back to enjoying their football and their team mates.

he had balls
he could take a mark
he could kick
he could read the play

why did we get rid of vossy again ?


at least he was passionate

he was also slow
ageing
and badly out of form after his injury

Vossy was a great servant for the club but his time was up

[saint66au]

he was also slow
ageing
and badly out of form after his injury

Vossy was a great servant for the club but his time was up

Exactly. This time last year everyone was bleating that the game had passed him by..short memories ppl

[True Blue Sainter]

he was also slow
ageing
and badly out of form after his injury

Vossy was a great servant for the club but his time was up

Exactly. This time last year everyone was bleating that the game had passed him by..short memories ppl

True. Play with him in the Ammo's now though down at Old Haileybury. He's been BOG along with Tony Brown the last couple of weeks...

[hotdish]

I disagree that our 'slump' has much to do with confidence. Confidence does not start with coaches. Its about having belief in your team and its talents, that you have what it takes to win.

The days of a coach giving the players a rev up to get them to give that extra 10% are over.

I am sure the coaches don't spend all week plotting against the opposition. They will be working on how to get Dal free off tags, how to structure our forward line up etc...

Regardless we will beat Richmond.

[aussiejones]

"We have become too robotic and LYON’s coaching has stymied the natural playing talents of the team. When the opposition is flooded back and they have 3 blokes on ROO and KOSI encourage the runners to start having shots from distance. This would create a much more positive response than turning the ball over across our half forward when attempting to construct the perfect goal. "

I tend to agree .....perhaps its even over coaching so it takes initiative away ..

anyway we had better fix it quick.

And out kicking to our players must improve as well as shots on goal.

Picking the best option and executing it with precision ......

[hotdish]

Both Lyon and the leaders of the club have come out and said that the game plan gives players a license to be attacking, but players are ignoring the game plan.

Not the coaches fault. full stop. If players don't want to follow the game plan, then we will continue to be mediocre at best.

[saintsRrising]

"We have become too robotic ......

Look at all of the good teams....and you will see that they are all robotically sticking to their game plans.....and tactics...

The Hawks are to many a very exiting team to watch......but they are actually one of the best drilled teams going around slavish to Clarke's innovative tactics.

[JeffDunne]

Both Lyon and the leaders of the club have come out and said that the game plan gives players a license to be attacking, but players are ignoring the game plan.

Not the coaches fault. full stop. If players don't want to follow the game plan, then we will continue to be mediocre at best.

Talk about a cop out.

Whose job is it to get the best out of the players?

Whose job is it to get the players performing as a team?

Of course it's Lyon's fault if it aint happening. It's his job to make sure it is!

[JeffDunne]

"We have become too robotic ......

Look at all of the good teams....and you will see that they are all robotically sticking to their game plans.....and tactics...

The Hawks are to many a very exiting team to watch......but they are actually one of the best drilled teams going around slavish to Clarke's innovative tactics.

Here's a secret sRr . . . don't tell anyone.

Game plans usually don't determine who wins and who loses.

Workrate, hardness and unity are what makes good teams. Without them your game plan doesn't count for sh*t.

Unfortunately we are lacking in all 3.

[asiu]

on vossy .....i certainly didnt agree with his sacking

thought he was railroaded myself

just coz everyone was bleating on dont make it correct