We're Going To Struggle BIG TIME

[Charlie]

antichrist?

I'd say that's putting it a little over the top... but I have several players in mind who I'd be very surprised to see any improvement in, although I'm aware that it is possible. They are Brad Seymour, Rowan Warfe, Daniel McPherson and Jude Bolton.

[Ajn]

I agree with the above, but Jude has far more potential and just needs the fosdike poise under pressure skill. Seems to try too hard sometimes, does Jude, but doesn't trust his ability to stand up to immense pressure. Hope he proves us all wrong this year, as for the others......eh!

[liz]

I disagree with most of the above comments re the core skill ability of Fosdike and Bolton.

I honestly believe they both have decent to good skills. The point of my previous post was that they don't mess up on the ground because they can't kick the ball - I've seen them deliver beautiful passes (yes both of them) too often to believe this.

They mess up because they pick the wrong option, aren't concentrating or take too long decide what they are going to do and then get ball to boot or hand. And they don't do it all the time, just sometimes. Sure, maybe more often than they should (especially Bolton) but to fix the outcome you have to fix the cause of the problem. And hopefully that's what Roos is doing if he is pulling them up at training.

Further, notwithstanding the above comments, I actually thought that the skill level Fosdike showed in the second half of last year was good to very good. I know he was terrible pre-Roos but not after. Sure, he made some mistakes but you will never eliminate them all. And some are because he is trying to be too creative, trying to make something that isn't there. But I'd rather a player who backs himself and his team mates and tries to do something different. The alternative is safe, boring and predictable footy, and that won't win us a premiership. If these risks sometimes result in mistakes, turnovers, even opposition goals so be it, so long as more often they result in a Swans goal (or at least shot on goal) that wouldn't have happened without a risk being taken.

[Xie Shan]

I don't want to get into the Bolton debate except to say it was noticeable when Roos took over last year, most of the young players lifted, while Jude still struggled to find form. Whatever his (many) critics say, I doubt he'll get any worse in 2003. I do hope to see him get better, as I would with any Swans player.

On the pre-season training, the skill level is probably the most worrying thing, but we'd have to account for the fact it's been a pretty hot summer here. Not having followed AFL for long, I wouldn't know what to expect of players' skill levels during summer training.

[Diego]

Sorry Lizz but Jude is a hack. I have to disagree with you.

Yeah he properly hit our forwards lace out like 3 times last year, but how many times did he turn the ball over or kick it out of bounds? Too many Clangers for an AFL player. Not good enough.

And if he cant concentrate on playing the football we need him to play then what's he doing in AFL footy?

Fossie does have foot skills but you can say that he does lose concentration sometimes as evident under Eade.

Hopefully I will be proven wrong this year by Jude. But I strongly doubt it.

One thing I don't question is his commitment at winning the hard ball.

[chammond]

I don't want to get into the Bolton debate except to say it was noticeable when Roos took over last year, most of the young players lifted, while Jude still struggled to find form. Whatever his (many) critics say, I doubt he'll get any worse in 2003. I do hope to see him get better, as I would with any Swans player.

Sydfan83 - don't get too carried away with what's posted on this board. Bolton doesn't have that many critics - there's just a small group that love to stick the boot in every time his name is mentioned - just as there's a group that don't like Seymour, and another that doesn't like Warfe, and so on.

The fact is that Bolton played every game in 2001 and, apart from his suspension, only missed one game in 2002. This, plus the fact that he's just had his conract renewed, shows that the Swans' match committee obviously don't have any grave misgivings about Bolton, and that's the only opinion that makes any difference.

[Diego]

Originally posted by chammond
Sydfan83 - don't get too carried away with what's posted on this board. Bolton doesn't have that many critics - there's just a small group that love to stick the boot in every time his name is mentioned -

I bet your one of those who likes the "oh well the boys tried their best" when we lose every week.

[desredandwhite]

I think Cliff is more the type who prefers to wait for the bad performance before bagging the player.

I'm disappointed with JB's 2002 progress as the next guy, but I honestly believe he has potential (yes, it's a dirty word!).. If the club believes in him enough to retain him on the list for 2003 and can see something in him, I'm willing to wait for performances before criticising his sloppy skills

[Diego]

Well his skills havent improved since 2001. However I am prepared to cut every blade of grass with a nail clipper on the Driver ave field at the end of the season if he is in our top5 performers for 2003!

[desredandwhite]

That's a bold statement, Diego - and I'll remember it come October if Jude cracks the top 5 in the B&F

[Diego]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
That's a bold statement, Diego - and I'll remember it come October if Jude cracks the top 5 in the B&F

Yeah big staement..well lets make it the patch of grass near the goal square.

[Benevolent Ert]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The delivery highlight for me for 2002 was in the last game - Barry Hall to Stephen Doyle. If he wasn't our best option for FF, I'd have him permanently stationed at CHF, delivering to the forward line.

I've said this before too - and from watching Scotty STevens at Port Melbourne last year I'm of the opinion that young "Splinters" does his best work in the goal square. Have 'Big Bad' roaming the 50 and Scotty in the square - and to stretch defences occasionally, plonk big Doyley next to him

[chammond]

I bet your one of those who likes the "oh well the boys tried their best" when we lose every week.

You've found me out, Diego, and as a reward I've found what you've been looking for . . .

http://judebolton.1hwy.com/

BTW, I can lend you a nail clipper . . . it looks a bit like a chainsaw, but it does the job okay.

[Diego]

Originally posted by chammond
You've found me out, Diego, and as a reward I've found what you've been looking for . . .

http://judebolton.1hwy.com/

BTW, I can lend you a nail clipper . . . it looks a bit like a chainsaw, but it does the job okay.

from your website:

Personally Jude is one of my favourite players not only because he?s got GREAT footy skills or because he plays for the BEST team

I can only agree on one thing in that statement..

hehe i am confident i will not need any clippers let alone a chainsaw.

[omnipotent]

the lack of fitness is a worry but also I spoke to a high up official at another club the other day and he said that most clubs expected Sydney to finish in the bottom three and there was some sort of consensus which suggested that we have almost the worst list in the competition. The same person said that's why they can't understand why guys such as Hall and Davis wanted to come to us. They think they must be motivated only by money.