Healy on the Swans

[giant]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Again crap. They won a prize only half the clubs competed for, and its a knockout competition. Hardly representative of a 26 week tournament. They are actually quickly sinking since then regardless, with only one win from four attempts.

As for the Swans "plateauing", are you surprised? The improvement will only come once we have a settled and talent side across the paddock. Until we have star-quality players in the KPP roles, and a few genuine game breakers in the midfield, our performances will continue to fluctuate between Gabba-esque and Manuka-esque performances.

Again disagree. We've got a potent forward line, a good (but not great) midfield and an excellent rebounding backline. There's no excuses for the fluctuating fortunes we've seen in 2005, especially with a (til now) fullish playing list.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by giant
Disagree. They'd lost at least 5 games by 8 pts or less some of whcih we wuz robbed. No comparison in terms of personnel as evidenced by our performance in 2003

With the personnel at their disposal (some for their last year of AFL), this was the most shocking fact. Dare you to remember the Round 5 clash with St Kilda? Or the 54 point thumping by a Western Bulldogs team who struggled to kick a goal against every other side in the comp?

When Roos took over, we were headed to the bottom. Hence the sacking of Eade.

If Roos can be blamed for anything at this stage, is that he did too much in 2003, and short-sighted fans have bloated their expectations too quickly.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by giant
Again disagree. We've got a potent forward line, a good (but not great) midfield and an excellent rebounding backline. There's no excuses for the fluctuating fortunes we've seen in 2005, especially with a (til now) fullish playing list.

A great forward line (arguably the best in the league), a very average midfield with no true game-breaker (unlike every other club bar a couple of non-contenders) and no true CHB or FB to speak of yet (until Schauble returns).

No-ones making excuses, but a little reality check is required. It is still a team that will play without much consistency, until the game-plan settles down and the players start finding form. It would be naturally very different if we had a Judd or Del Santo in the midfield, who seem to be a cut above the rest even when out of form.

[NMWBloods]

So given your analysis, where is the dramatic improvement going to come from for us to win the 2007 flag? And not just win a one off, but actually become regular contenders in future years, as Roos wanted?

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
So given your analysis, where is the dramatic improvement going to come from for us to win the 2007 flag? And not just win a one off, but actually become regular contenders in future years, as Roos wanted?

Obviously from unearthing a CHB and a game-breaking midfielder or two.

From what I've seen and heard of Schmidt, Willoughby, Moore and Clarke, we may well have the midfielders we need.

The CHB possie seems harder to fill but we'll continue to experiment.

BTW Roos is not "wanting" all of this, he is "doing." I for one am glad RWO does not run the club (... into a shambles) because of one or two bad rounds, or because we dont win the Premiership every year

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Obviously from unearthing a CHB and a game-breaking midfielder or two.

So in other words , no idea.

From what I've seen and heard of Schmidt, Willoughby, Moore and Clarke, we may well have the midfielders we need.

We'll see - it's a very long way for them.

The CHB possie seems harder to fill but we'll continue to experiment.

Again, we have nothing really here.

BTW Roos is not "wanting" all of this, he is "doing." I for one am glad RWO does not run the club (... into a shambles) because of one or two bad rounds, or because we dont win the Premiership every year

What a load of absolute crap. How long have you been following for - 5 minutes?!? It's not because of one or two rounds, it's because of decades and decades of underperformance. A premiership every year - how about one every few decades just for a start!!

This has to be one of the most idiotic comments I have seen here for a such a long time, "one or two bad rounds", "Premiership every year"... FFS...

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
What a load of absolute crap. How long have you been following for - 5 minutes?!? It's not because of one or two rounds, it's because of decades and decades of underperformance. A premiership every year - how about one every few decades just for a start!!

This has to be one of the most idiotic comments I have seen here for a such a long time, "one or two bad rounds", "Premiership every year"... FFS...

Actually I have been following the Swans since 1986. But I for one am not going to blame Paul Roos for "decades and decades of underperformance." Or the fact that we haven't won a premiership since Adam was a boy.

Being a critic is so easy isn't it NMW. You've not contributed any constructive comments on this thread either, yet you have attempted to butcher everyone else's positive opinions.

What are your suggestions? Dont be afraid, I wont hack into them like some others do.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by liz
When Roos took over from Eade he attributed the immediate improvement in form to releasing the team from its fear of making skill errors that they seemed to have developed in the later Eade years. He told them to go out there, relax and have fun. Their confidence lifted immediately and their skills improved tenfold.

He seemed to continue this mantra in 2003 and again the team's skills were probably at the most consistently high level that we'd seen for years.

This year he said that the main focus over the pre-season was improving skills, because turnovers kill a team. So now that's what the team is most worried about, their skills have completely disintegrated.

If you ever want to put someone off their game - in any situation, work, sport, games etc - just tell them to concentrate on not making mistakes. It's the best way to stress them out, make them retreat into their shells and make more mistakes. Everyone must have observed this, and there is lots of psychological research to back it up.

Last weekend in the final quarter the team didn't care about individual mistakes and they made plenty. But, it didn't matter. Because they were so focussed on running hard, attacking the ball and moving it forward that they made up for their mistakes, won the ball back and eventually created enough scoring chances.

My guess is that in the review of that game Roos pointed out all the skill errors they made and asked them to try to eliminate them. So this week they went back into their shells, didn't bother running for the ball and contesting (because if you don't have possession you can't make a skill error), and when they couldn't help but have possession worried themselves out of it.

We are seeing a repeat of the Eade era - a great first year with no pressure and the emphasis on fun, and then an attempt to address areas that were slight weaknesses backfiring by eliminating what made the first year work so well.

If the team is backing itself and believes it can create enough chances, mistakes don't actually matter that much. But when they stop trying to create they will never ever win because the effect of the inevitable mistakes will be magnified tenfold.

Nicely worded Liz

2003 was a great year, with Malaxos as midfield coach, and Roos' edict giving payers their heads and encouraging them to play attacking football.

Since then our football is getting less adventurous.

The midfielders seem now to be playing without confidence.

I can think of no other reason for what I'm seeing. Midfielders are looking to dispose of the ball ASAP.

I can't think of ny other reason why so many handballs especially, are going to players that aren't calling for it, or standing flatfooted or in an inferior position surrounded by apponents!

Whether it's the players not listening or whatever Ross Lyon's the midfield coach. It's his problem.
Whether he's over coaching them, making things too complicated (The Thomas Dolby Effect) or has BO I don't know but the midfield group is going backwards from where it was under Malaxos.

Posted: 17th April 2005 11:20 PM

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Actually I have been following the Swans since 1986. But I for one am not going to blame Paul Roos for "decades and decades of underperformance." Or the fact that we haven't won a premiership since Adam was a boy.

Being a critic is so easy isn't it NMW. You've not contributed any constructive comments on this thread either, yet you have attempted to butcher everyone else's positive opinions.

What are your suggestions? Dont be afraid, I wont hack into them like some others do.

I was not blaming Roos for the decades of underperformance. I was blaming him and the players for our current underperformance. As long-suffering Swans supporters I think we have some right to expect our team to perform better.

What positive opinions have I butchered? I had a discussion with Liz. You are the one who always seems to jump on anyone who has a negative view or even has an analytical view - you seem to think we always need to be positive.

I gave suggestions earlier in this thread and in others, as well as pointing out problems I see in our game.

You, however, seem to think that any comment that is not blindly faithful is wrong.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
You are the one who always seems to jump on anyone who has a negative view or even has an analytical view - you seem to think we always need to be positive.

Fair call. It stems from my belief that we are "supporters" and there are enough critics outside the club as it is without us picking on our deficiencies too. I trust that the players are already upset enough about their performance that adding salt to the wounds does little. A bit of support actually does help, and I HATE people jumping down the teams throats when the results dont warrant it. Its so selfish.

I gave suggestions earlier in this thread and in others, as well as pointing out problems I see in our game.

In truth I see only a few suggestions and a lot of critique. More importantly you jump on others suggestions and label others' comments as "idiotic." Maybe my faith is a little blind, but at least I have it. Dont be surprised if I jump to defend the faith.

[NMWBloods]

I don't think anyone is immune from criticism, certainly not because they play football for a club we support. It's not a religion!

I labelled one of your comments as idiotic and I can't see how it could be anything but.

You don't seem to mind calling other people's views 'crap' though.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Fair call. It stems from my belief that we are "supporters" and there are enough critics outside the club as it is ......

In actual fact the Swans have less critics and exist under less analysis than other clubs, certainly compared to clubs like Adelaide who have to endure very close examination by some very good footballing comentators in their home press.
Sydney don't have this and indeed may weel be the worse for it, if the result at the weekend is anything to go by.
I think the Swans need to be roundly critizised @ the moment, especially the coach, cos he is where the buck must stop.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by footyhead
In actual fact the Swans have less critics and exist under less analysis than other clubs, certainly compared to clubs like Adelaide who have to endure very close examination by some very good footballing comentators in their home press.
Sydney don't have this and indeed may weel be the worse for it, if the result at the weekend is anything to go by.
I think the Swans need to be roundly critizised @ the moment, especially the coach, cos he is where the buck must stop.

Adelaide football press good? It is some of the most ignorant and biased writing in Australia - no mean feat when the 'Tiser is competing with others in the News stable. But it does give the people of SA something to complain about. I doubt if it'd be reported if Michelangelo Rucci (sp? I get my ninja turtles confused) ended up in a Snowtown vat.

So Sydney's loss at the weekend is the fault of the press?

[anne]

Sydney's loss on the weekend isn't the result of the press but I also think that being based in Sydney the Swans are not criticised enough and get away with sub-standard performances and efforts. If they were a Melbourne team the press (and fans) would not accept their results, questions would be asked and something would be done. What happens in Sydney? Nothing. No-one cares and so it continues. I don't believe the players care as they get paid anyway and they certainly don't stop underperforming. This is the crux of the whole problem - the Swans are based in Sydney and will never be a good team while they are in that environment.

[footyhead]

That is not the Answer, the answer as I have been saying for years is that the people of Sydney need to demand a change of culture at the Swans and then that demand will be met and we will get a flag out of these ratbags.
Either that or get a real hard coach.