Our backline...

[midaro]

Do people realise that Crawford is only about 18 months younger than Williams? ...and coming off a long-term injury?

2nd Round or no thanks.
So... no thanks.

[footyhead]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Our backline...

Originally posted by chammond
Er, does this confirm what I said . . . . that our forward line is better than average, but not near the best? Or have I misunderstood?



Well . . . . I think that Kirk and Williams have the necessary skill and class, and I suspect that Crouch may have also if given sufficient chance to develop.

Bolton adds grunt and plenty of possession, and Mathews is a more than useful back-up. I'm looking forward to seeing Bevan given an on-ball role, and I think the proposal to give Kennelly a permanent midfield role also has definite merit.

I think our weakness in midfield is not so much a particular lack in the players we've got, but more that we haven't enough quality on-ball personnel to maintain a high level of competitiveness for the whole match.

It would be nice to bring in a ready-made "Judd", but I think even a lesser recruit, say of the level of Heath Scotland or Phil Read, could lift our midfield into the top bracket . . . . and I don't think it would cost the earth to get a player of that type.

Chammond , I could stand the fact that you were a nit pickin spelling Natzi who gives people a hard time just cos they don't agree with you. All this I could deal with, if this was all you were.
Unfortunatly you are also a complete ignoramus when it come to all things football.
Oh and I almost forgot, you are a gay actor to..... a frustrated prince of Denmark perhapes?

[footyhead]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
As far as midfielders go, we now have Schmidt, Willoughby and McVeigh, all three of whom have shown talent in the youth leagues. If they can continue to develop they may well yet become superstars.

IMO we need an experienced and talented midfielder to teach the new kids. With Cresswell gone and Willo fading, we need a new role model. I personally would love to see Crawford at the Swans. Their are also some very talented midfielders at Adelaide that may become excess at the end of this year.

Lastly, our ruck division could do with a top-up. Ball probably only has one more year in him, so a seasoned ruckman (Biglands?) would round out the team perfectly, and give time for Eriksen to find his feet.

The midfield is far from fixed, and we need to continue to get more good young midfielders in the draft, at least one or two per year.

[chammond]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Our backline...

Originally posted by footyhead
Chammond , I could stand the fact that you were a nit pickin spelling Natzi who gives people a hard time just cos they don't agree with you. All this I could deal with, if this was all you were.
Unfortunatly you are also a complete ignoramus when it come to all things football.
Oh and I almost forgot, you are a gay actor to..... a frustrated prince of Denmark perhapes?

Natzi??

Does your mummy know you're being naughty again?

[CureTheSane]

Online fights are cool.

Always entertaining

I would say that while I consider our forward like to be one of the best in the league, I generally find Cliff's comments to be well thought out and useful, even if I don't agree with them.

So there

[chammond]

Originally posted by CureTheSane
Online fights are cool.

Always entertaining

I would say that while I consider our forward like to be one of the best in the league, I generally find Cliff's comments to be well thought out and useful, even if I don't agree with them.

So there

Does this mean you're a gay nazi as well?

[ihamilto]

Our Backline

Originally posted by barry
I know this is a dangerous philosophy in footy clubs, thinking we should get a top-up midfielder while Hall and Schuable are in their prime, but I cant help thinking that getting even a crawford type, as long as it didnt cost us too much, would be worth it. We have quite a few young midfielders, so in a couple of years the midfield may not be the problem. Crawford could bridge that gap.

Guys I dont think Crawford is the answer he has
struggled with a crook back for a few years now he is close to 30
and now has a broken wrist to recover from. Personally I believe
Willoughby and Schmidt will both play seniors next year and they
both have the class and skill we need, added with the maturing
of Mcveigh I think our midfield woes will improve next year. We
definitely do need another 6ft 4 or so KPP when we lost Schauble
we struggled we need a back up and I would look at former NSW
lad Brent Staker he is coming along nicely at the Eagles but he
might welcome a return home.
cheers Ian

[Dpw]

Re: Our Backline

Originally posted by ihamilto
Guys I dont think Crawford is the answer he has
struggled with a crook back for a few years now he is close to 30
and now has a broken wrist to recover from. Personally I believe
Willoughby and Schmidt will both play seniors next year and they
both have the class and skill we need, added with the maturing
of Mcveigh I think our midfield woes will improve next year. We
definitely do need another 6ft 4 or so KPP when we lost Schauble
we struggled we need a back up and I would look at former NSW
lad Brent Staker he is coming along nicely at the Eagles but he
might welcome a return home.
cheers Ian

Cant agree on Staker, maybe someone else? I think Staker has looked very ordinary for the Eagles this year given there lack of talls hes still only getting a game when others are injured or suspended and has really struggled at East.

[SimonH]

Focus, people, focus! How can it be that a thread entitled 'Our backline' has become principally about ponyboy Crawford and the correct spelling of 'Nazi'?

People who dig those kind of topics should go and start an appropriately-named thread so the rest of us can gloat in the genius of Keneally, Barry et al.

[ihamilto]

Re: Re: Our Backline

Originally posted by Dpw
Cant agree on Staker, maybe someone else? I think Staker has looked very ordinary for the Eagles this year given there lack of talls hes still only getting a game when others are injured or suspended and has really struggled at East.

Being in Perth you would have been able to have a closer look
at how he is going than me but he certainly has showed some
promise at times but if he is struggling at Easts then he may have
a bit of work to do.
cheers Ian

[dendol]

I think what we primarily need is a KPP defender. If we lose Schaule or Barry, Goodes is again forced back to play in a position he is not accustomed to (as shown against Melbourne, Goodes is devastating when playing his 2003 role as opposed to CHB.). With a KPP backman, Leo can be relieved of playing on bigger, stronger opponents - Neitz, Gehrig, Lloyd this year - which will then free up either Bevan or Kennelly to play full-time midfield.

I especially like the thought of Kennelly as an outside receiver going on his great dash's and finishing off with either a goal or a accurate pass onto the chest of a leading foward.

Although a top-notch midfielder will be very helpful, Im hoping that the class in this area will come from McVeigh, Willoughby or Schmidt in the next year or so. On the other hand, I dont know where our KPP defender will come from. One hopes LRT will be the saviour, but Im not convinced so far.

[CureTheSane]

Does this mean you're a gay nazi as well?

Sure.

The finniest thing about saying something like that, is that is has absolutely no effect when it is all untrue.

You aren't a Nazi, or even German from what I know, and not gay, so it's not really even an insult.

He may as well have called you "a red balloon with an unhappy face texta'ed on it" :lol

[chammond]

Originally posted by CureTheSane

He may as well have called you "a red balloon with an unhappy face texta'ed on it" :lol

Only if he'd actually met me

[chammond]

Originally posted by dendol
I think what we primarily need is a KPP defender. If we lose Schaule or Barry, Goodes is again forced back to play in a position he is not accustomed to (as shown against Melbourne, Goodes is devastating when playing his 2003 role as opposed to CHB.). With a KPP backman, Leo can be relieved of playing on bigger, stronger opponents - Neitz, Gehrig, Lloyd this year - which will then free up either Bevan or Kennelly to play full-time midfield.

I especially like the thought of Kennelly as an outside receiver going on his great dash's and finishing off with either a goal or a accurate pass onto the chest of a leading foward.

Although a top-notch midfielder will be very helpful, Im hoping that the class in this area will come from McVeigh, Willoughby or Schmidt in the next year or so. On the other hand, I dont know where our KPP defender will come from. One hopes LRT will be the saviour, but Im not convinced so far.

A very interesting point.

I guess the Swans recruiting team felt that they had the tall backman issue covered long term when they drafted Powell, Hunt and LRT, but it hasn't really worked out (yet?).

I think our defence will be okay for another year or two, but as you pointed out this might mean that we don't get full value for Goodes or Kennelly . . . . who ought to be winning matches rather than filling holes.

I think we need a bit of luck in the trade/draft this year!