The Stalwart

[Bear]

Yet another great game from Crouch. No more needs to be said.

Did everyone know that Crouchy was the captain of the SA Teal Cup team?


Another positive is the continued brilliant form of Leo. Surely would be at least top 5 in B&F at this point.

Matthews worries me - not solid enough in the vital loose ball contests. He fumbles a bit and this is critical for a backman to get right. I would have the little hard nut Fixter (only when fully fit) in his place.

Warfe spent a fair bit of time on the bench and IMO we were more solid down back when this was the case. Surely ( ) close to being dropped.

All up the ship is sailing full steam ahead atm.

[motorace_182]

Fosdike is as bad as Matthews. Warfe hs to go soon, im not saying that cos i want him out as i have said previously as his form has improved, but the limited time he spends on the field isnt wasted as it could be spent developing someone like Powell. But the backs have been very solid and continue to back each other up.

[midaro]

In a perfect world (and IMO) -
Sundquist would make way for Williams
Warfe for Saddo
LRT for Doyle
and Fixter, Matthew and Fosdike would be competing for two spots.

Then all would be good.

[redunderthebed]

you guys don't give up do you?Check the stats for Fossie and Mathews and check them over the season. These players deserve there positions.Fair dinkum, you can have your little' love ins 'with your favourites but don't always try and find a villain.
They all played bad and good last night , Jude was excellent and Leo was Leo.

[midaro]

RE Crouchy.
Yes he is the number one member of the best group of taggers/small backmen in the league.

Crouch
Kirk
Matthews
Fixter

[midaro]

Originally posted by redunderthebed
you guys don't give up do you?Check the stats for Fossie and Mathews and check them over the season.

Nothing against either of them.
But with Fixter to come in there are only so many spots.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by redunderthebed
you guys don't give up do you?Check the stats for Fossie and Mathews and check them over the season. These players deserve there positions.Fair dinkum, you can have your little' love ins 'with your favourites but don't always try and find a villain.
They all played bad and good last night , Jude was excellent and Leo was Leo.

I thought Fosdike's workrate last night was sensational - keeps that up possessions will flow.

I don't know how come B Mathews gets so much criticism

[NMWBloods]

I thought Fossie was alright yesterday, which some good one-take possessions. Nothing spectacular but solid.

As for Mathews, I like the way he looks as a player, seems to weigh up all opportunities and never looks too fazed. However, I still question some of his decision making, choosing the wrong option with handballs to players under pressure. But his backline play still seems pretty good, for example completely shutting down Mercuri last week.

Mathews plays a different game to Fixter. The latter is more an in-and-under player, whereas Mathews is more the 'quarterback' style of defender. I think there is room for both types.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Fixter comes back, likewise when Doyle comes back. Champagne problem really!

I think Warfe will (and needs to) go when Saddo returns as I don't think he really gives us a lot and he really seems to struggle to keep his feet.

[motorace_182]

Matthews looks too slow for mine. Not only in his running but his flow when the footy is in his hand doesnt really follow our free flowing game plan. He is a decent tagger but we have two better than him.
Fosdike i do not rate at all. He rushes himself and seems to have no idea of his surroundings. He tries to be too cute sometimes instead of smart and solid. Not a great player

[midaro]

Fossy is an outside reciever, and as such he is on a knife edge - either he is going to get it together and become a classy finisher (i.e Nick Davis type) or just become Frosty 2.0. A Frosty for the new millenium. No physical presence.

Hang on... 6th on the Swans tackling list with 32 tackles. Maybe I'm just comletey wrong.

[redunderthebed]

and i'm not sure why you say Mathews is 'SLOW'. There were two occasions last night where he took a while to dispose after marking but, as a backman, it is sometimes necessary to hold up play to wait for options moving forward . Now this is a different back man to Leo who just runs before looking at the options and,personally, I don't have a problem with this even though he is gonna @@@@ up a few times a game.
Mathews is not slow in general play and tackles hard.A criticsm has been that he plays wide of his opponent but this seems to vary a bit depending if he is tagging or playing the extra defender.
It is great that Fixter is going to put pressure on our defenders ...and maybe Seymour.

[Plugger46]

Matthews is slow, his decision making is pretty average, he is a receiver, soft, has no impact on games of football and all in all an ordinary footballer.

The only passenger last night in a great win.

[redunderthebed]

plugger 46, i love a man with an opinion.
Yep, Mathews is an 'ordinary player' and he fits in well with our team of 'ordinary players' .Maybe we can consider Goodes,Barry and MAYBE O'loughlin as better than 'ORDINARY PLAYERS'.
Sorry,IMO.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by redunderthebed
plugger 46, i love a man with an opinion.
Yep, Mathews is an 'ordinary player' and he fits in well with our team of 'ordinary players' .Maybe we can consider Goodes,Barry and MAYBE O'loughlin as better than 'ORDINARY PLAYERS'.
Sorry,IMO.

Just my opinion, I have been a knocker of Crouch and Leo, but they're both playing good football at the moment.
I just think Matthews is the weak link in a quality football side. Should make way for Saddo, or Fixter when is right, I doubt that will happen though as he seems to be in favour.

[Nico]

Rowan Warfe - 2 kicks 2 handpasses, 2 clangers.

Could not keep his feet, did not win a contest, was a "hundred yards" behind Harrison in the first quarter. When he went off the defence steadied. Harrison gave him a bath and then hardly touched the footy for the rest of the game when Warfe was banished to the bench.

Surely doesn't deserve his place in the side.

Yep, taking the place of a young developing footballer.