parkeysainter wrote:Truth is. We mere supporters will never know if Richo is the main problem at the moment relating to the Saints poor form. Its probably a combination of alot of things so lets be truthful and honest about it. I still always reckon the majority of the blame has to lie with the players this year. Their skills, inside 50's and goal kicking is deplorable and its snuffing out any chance of getting a victory at the moment. I have no doubt the coaches and players are busting to change things, but for whatever reason its not clicking at the moment. Something isn't right.
If only we could be a fly on the wall of the inner sanctum for a week!
I just ignore the rabid and insidious Richo hate. Its pointless at the moment and counter productive. We should judge the coaching team at the end of season unless we are 1-10 or 1-15 or something silly like that during the season.
I couldn't disagree more. If the stats (as you have shown in previous posts) indicate that we are breaking even or winning most of them what does this say? It says structurally we are setting up terribly so we have NOWHERE to kick the bloody thing. That is the coach purely and simply. Starting with an extra in the backline is fine, but if we can't release that player to effective and the opposition are STILL walking into open goals, whose fault is that?? Every time we go fwd Paddy is competing with 2-3 players. Now I know that Paddy is no Roo and never will be. Roo could get separation on his opponent through work rate and speed, something paddy has neither of right now. However even when we win the Centre clearances we still bombed it on his head with the extra number. The frustration in Roo's voice during special comments was palpable.
How can it be after 5 pre seasons that Jack Billings still can't stick a tackle or kick consistently for goals or even kick consistently around the ground? How is it that Jack Newnes runs into open goals from 40-50m out with minimal pressure and still sprays the ball?? Is Jack Newnes really the best we have to offer? He is a below average AFL footballer and he's over 100 games into his career. Where is the f****** development for f**** sake!!! Why are these guys still crap? Mav Weller can't even get a game. Neither could Gilbo before this week. These were guys in our leadership group 2 years earlier. Weller should be in his prime. Seb Ross should be entering his prime. Last year he actually looked almost fast and in the early rounds his left foot was like a laser. Now he just slams the ball on his foot. THat's because he has no-one to kick to... Richo was brought in on the back of his supposed record of developing players. I've never seen a group look so under developed. And on that. we look weak in the contest on the ground and in the air. How many easy uncontested marks did the Cats take in packs yesterday. We couldn't even create a contest. That's because physically we are pissweak. What chance do we have when we pick Lonie, Sinclair, Billings and Gresham in the one team?? These guys are midgets and are physically weak. Look at the Hawks. Their midgets are Puopolo and Rioli. Both electric fast, both in foot and in mind. Great skills. Tough!! And bloody strong!! Foot speed is about the only thing our 4 little guys are comparable in (and I still reckon we're slower than the Hawks duo) All 4 of these guys should be laying a minimum of 5 tackles a week each. They have the speed to pressure, then use it!!
We need to face facts. We are a bottom 3 team. Only the blues and the Lions are comparable with us. People keep saying we are better than this. Are we? On what proof? Because we beat Richmond last year and the GWS? So what? Each of those games Roo and Joey played and both played bloody well. Roo in particular has shown that he carried this team for too long. Without him we are rudderless. Completely impotent moving the ball fwd. So much so we are a laughing stock of the competition.
I have never called for a coach's head while following footy (and I've followed some crap teams, trust me. I followed the Roys in their darkest days and knew that the coach could only do so much with the reserve grade players at his disposal. But Richo simply HAS to go. He's had 5 years and he has failed miserably.