Jude Bolton

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Dpw
Nico and NMW, what would you do with jude seriously trade or keep him?

I am not stirring just want your thoughts.

I suggested we consider trading him a couple of years ago, but he had the good year last year so that suggestion was dismissed.

I'm not sure what value we would get out of trading him as I'm not sure if anyone would rate him as a top midfielder.

If we had a better midfield, like I said, I think he could be useful as the honest toiler type.

He looks unlikely to become a really useful and damaging midfielder, more likely just one of those ordinary players who manages to keep going.

I don't really give it enough serious thought to work out the best outcome as that is a waste of effort.

Honestly I'm not sure what to do with him. He is very frustrating. If we are going to keep him (which seems most likely) someone needs to work with him on how to effectively get the ball out and how to be damaging with your disposals.

One of the reasons I find him frustrating, even considering last year's efforts, is that when I see one of the leading opposition midfielders with the ball, I expect to see something happen, an opportunity created. I don't see this often enough with Bolton.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Dpw
Nico and NMW, what would you do with jude seriously trade or keep him?

I am not stirring just want your thoughts.

Ditto to NMW's comments. I don't have a vendetta against him, but I just don't think he creates or gives us much. He certainly doesn't hurt the opposition.

I can't see him getting any better in the long term and if we are to win a flag with him in our side, there would have to be dramatic change in his style and skills. I can't see any value in diving on the footy as he does, if he does not have the ability to get it off to someone.

I would not be unhappy if he was offered up for trade. I think he is verging on being a passenger given his persistence and consistency of his errors. If he hasn't ironed out his deficiencies to a degree by now, he never will.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Schneidergirl
Do you honestly not know their answers already?
It's really quite obvious, Nico is CONSTANTLY harping on about Jude and has said a number of useless times we should trade him.

Get off your high horse Nico and stop ranting on about him every chance you get! You would NOT want to see what our midfield would be like if Jude wasn't there. Kel was quoted in an article (about our midfield) praising B1.

This Bolton Bashing is getting beyond a joke!

I am only making comments on how I see Jude's value to the team. I am not going out of my way to be vindictive. Indeed I was the one who posted the Bolton/Nicks humble pie post a few weeks ago.

Sadly though for Jude it was a one hit wonder.

My comments regarding his inability to improve aspects of his game can be compared to my similar thoughts about Leo Barry early last year.

Leo has made massive steps in improving his game and has ironed out some very obvious flaws in his game much to his credit, and has become a vital player in the side.

Lets hope Jude can do the same for the rest of the season.

[penga]

im normally a bolton basher but i thought he had an alright one last night. the two stat columns that define whether or not jude had a good game is clearances and contested possessions, of which he had 8 and 7 respectively

[monopoly19]

It's interesting how differently everyone sees the game, even supporters of the same team. Three of the most prolific players in my mind after last night were Jude Bolton, Ablett and Doyle, and it was because I thought all three of them played well (and had improved from previous efforts). As it happens, those three exact players have all copped a bit today on this board. It definately makes me wonder if we watch completely different games, but it does make the board far from boring (if sometimes frustrating!).

[Triple B]

Haven't seen any posts bagging Doyle.

He was fantastic last night, particularly in the last quarter. Getting fitter now and will be a HUGE plus for us come finals time if he's still up and running.

[Captain]

Originally posted by BBB
Haven't seen any posts bagging Doyle.

He was fantastic last night, particularly in the last quarter. Getting fitter now and will be a HUGE plus for us come finals time if he's still up and running.

Yep, we need him to play all of the remaining games.

Given suitable game time, the guy will be a gun.

[chammond]

Originally posted by monopoly19
It's interesting how differently everyone sees the game, even supporters of the same team. .

The most sensible comment on this thread.

Bolton was close to best on ground against the Pies. He's an asset to the Swans, and would be swooped on if he was offered for trade.

[dendol]

So his disposal is poor. He doesnt keep his feet enough. He doesnt feed off enough quality handballs out of packs. Is it a case of looking at his pick #8 and comparing him to other top draft picks? If so, then clearly he isnt as good as he should be. If not, and we see him for purely the role he plays in our team, then I think he does well enough to warrant keeping.

If we consider him as trade bait, what do we expect to get in return? thinking of similar players, do we expect a sam mitchell, mark coughlan? Thats never going to happen. So we'll get a 1st round draft pick. Which means waiting a few years to see if the trade was worth it. Meanwhile, we'll have to hope Fosdike and Ablett, Thewlis, Malceski step up to take his place whilst Schmidt and Willoughby hopefully prove they are good enough as well.

He is that hard, clearance-getting midfielder we need right now. We think we have ready ball-winning replacements for him in Buchanan, Bevan, Schneider, but they are all untested in the midfield (full-time midfielder) - theres no guarantee they will be any better.

There are several other players I'd consider trading before Bolton at the moment - look at all the outside receivers we have running around.

[swansrule100]

Bolton was awesome... a few kicks get turned over but its not the worst problem to have... he can improve that aspect of his game anyway and as others say he kicks under pressure a lot...

I think its one of his best games for the swans

[Schneidergirl]

Originally posted by monopoly19
It definately makes me wonder if we watch completely different games, but it does make the board far from boring (if sometimes frustrating!).

I agree Monopoly.



Strange how some one can be so highly disregarded by some and yet be in the 'best' players for the night.

Jude gets a rough trot on this board and it really does drive me crazy.

[EMJ]

Thlewis did okay except for one bad kick at the beginning of his time. Nerves I guess.
Watching the replay I saw some really good things Ablett did - that I didn't see at the game. I have no complaints on any of the players from Sat night only the umpires.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Schneidergirl
Strange how some one can be so highly disregarded by some and yet be in the 'best' players for the night.

Its nothing new, happens in any sport. If you know anything about David Campese, you'd know that even today people are fairly evenly divided between those that thought he was a god, and those that thought he was hopeless.

[Bron]

OK. On saturday night, I thought that Jude had had a dud game (Liz and Swanette are my witnesses!). Having seen three quarters of the replay, I retract those thoughts! He had a great game, lots of clearances and always seemed to be in there.

I was quite down after the game, thinking it was a real struggle. I always like to see the two perspectives - at the game and then the replay. I am even more annoyed at Fox, that I missed out on my sunday cheer cheer!

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Bron
OK. On saturday night, I thought that Jude had had a dud game (Liz and Swanette are my witnesses!). Having seen three quarters of the replay, I retract those thoughts! He had a great game, lots of clearances and always seemed to be in there.

I was quite down after the game, thinking it was a real struggle. I always like to see the two perspectives - at the game and then the replay. I am even more annoyed at Fox, that I missed out on my sunday cheer cheer!

I've just finished watching the replay, and my thoughts about Jude havent changed much. He was awesome at the hard ball gets all night. But his disposal under pressure left a lot to the imagination IMO. Lets hope he can really develop those skills and he could make a damn good inside midfielder.