meher baba wrote:I know it's a big call, but I reckon this is the worst thread I've ever read in my 12 or so years of reading threads on Saintsational. A lot of carrying on about nothing much by a poster who I find it difficult to take at all seriously, and whose only supporters seem to be posters with whom I regularly find myself in disagreement.
We had an ok season. Quite a few players took some forward strides in their development - Ross, Sinclair, Billings, Webster, White, Membrey, Gresham, Longer - and some new faces at the club went well too: Carlisle, Brown, Steele, Stevens. After looking like his career was over, Savage made quite a good comeback later in the season. For sure, Jack Steven didn't have a great year, and I was also a bit disappointed in Newnes, Bruce and several others. But, on the whole, I still think the team is going forward rather than backwards.
In the end, Melbourne beat us by not that much in a game on their home ground (where we hadn't played all season) and in which they had a bit of luck on their side. If we'd beaten Melbourne, we'd have probably made the finals and would have had a measurable improvement over 2016. But it looks like the end result for 2017 isn't going to be any better than 2016.
But I still think that, on the whole, we are improving. If we can snare some talent over the off season - ideally Kelly, but perhaps there are other options - then I'm confident we'll make the finals next year.
I hope/trust that those in charge of the club don't panic and do something drastic like sack Richo. Our club's biggest problem is that we have panicked and then chopped and changed too much over the years. Unfashionable though my view is, I still regret that we were unable to stick with Thomas beyond 2006. My preference for the club has always been that we plan for the long-term and try to turn ourselves into one of the top clubs. I think that, after we abandoned that goal between 2006 and 2013, the current leadership of the club is now on that journey.
Of course there will be ups and downs along the way. Yesterday was a down moment, but I for one will be keeping the faith.
?
Let me try to make sense of that....
So the team is average, but if they'd been better they may have made the finals?
They have underperformed though, and only a few players improved - and you're kind of thinking that the team has gone forward.
But you're going to keep the faith anyway just cause. No reason, just cause.
Makes sense.
However I see everything you've written as reason to
clearly be questioning those at the club - not keeping blind faith in them.
They didn't have an Ok year at all. It's been rubbish. Four years into a rebuild, four years practicing a 'game plan' (and I use the term loosely), and they're getting worse. Individually, I actually think most players have gone backwards.
We've taken a no. 1 draft pick with enormous raw talent, and turned him into god knows what! I don't even know what sort of player he is now. And I certainly don't think he knows.
Bruce is a mess, Steven has gone from A to C+ almost, Gresham is lost, we recruited Billings because of his kicking - yet he can't kick a goal to save himself, Hickey is gone, Wellar can't get out of his own daylight, Dunstan has gone from B to D....I could go on. I mean, Billy Longer takes 1 mark FFS and we're backslapping each other about what a season he's a having!
Just try to imagine this season without the addition of Carlisle, Stevens and Brown? Go on, Just imagine it for a second. We'd not only have gone backwards - we'd be battling it out with Brisbane and Carlton for the wooden spoon. That is a blight on those who have been developing the players, the list and the game plan for the past 4 years. It's also a blight on the players themselves.
I tried to tell you in March that we had problems. You cried. I was right. You were wrong.
I tried to tell you after the GWS game that there were potential concerns. You whined. I was right. You were wrong.
I tried to tell you a month later there were major problems. You moaned. I was right. You were wrong.
I'm now telling you that the people at the club do not deserve or warrant the support of the fans. They deserve scrutiny. Their performance is, and has been woeful.