Malcolm Blight to coach the Swans.

[liz]

Originally posted by Legs Akimbo
Liz, agree to an extent but the difference here is the way the team is playing. Just look at some of the stats being thrown around recently with number of scoring shots, etc etc.

Saturday was horrible - no doubt about it. But there wasn't much wrong, statistically, with the scoring chances created against the Bombers or Dogs. One week does not a trend make.

Teams evolve as the players learn about each other, other teams learn about them, playing personnel subtely change. Sometimes it just takes one or two players within a squad to lift a level for the whole team to suddenly "click". Many teams go through down periods in their evolution and I'm not arguing that the Swans are in one at the moment (despite still mostly being competitive).

But it probably won't take much of a tweak for things to change around. Maybe that will be a Williams and Davis returning, it might be a Kennelly starting to find some form, it might be the sudden discovery of a tall KPP (eg an LRT suddenly finding his feet) to free up Leo. It may be a Moore or Schmidt being introduced into the middle and effecting clearances more regularly so we get first hands on the ball more often. It might be a Matty Davis or Malceski coming in and dazzling on a flank. Or Willoughby or McVeigh using their pace and skill through the middle, or Schneider regaining confidence in his hamstrings. It might just be a miniscule lift in confidence across the team that leads them to take more chances.

I'm not suggesting this will happen overnight. It might not happen this season. But changing coach whenever a team hits a bit of a trough is over-reactionary. All you will get is repeated first year "honeymoon periods" (as Wallace is currently experiencing, probably Roos did in 2003, Eade did in 1996) rather than sustainable development of a squad.

I've already pointed out how Geelong and Melbourne played dire, tentative and losing football two years ago. Suddenly they are two of the more exciting teams in the comp. Last week St Kilda were being lambasted for their style of football against the Crows. This week they are back to being heros, and yet are nowhere close to the exhilerating, unbeatable football they played for 10 weeks last year. This time a year ago West Coast were near the bottom having hardly won a game. Now they are the most fluent and confident team going around.

I've watched a fair amount of the reserves play this year and last and believe we do have some genuine quality coming through. The improvement of some of the second year players this year has been encouraging, while Grundy and Shaw look definite "possibles" from this year's crop, alongside Moore. But I also think that Roos is right to introduce them to the senior team gradually. I'll be disappointed if we haven't see at least three more debutants by the end of the season (and I predict we'll see one this week) but bringing them all in at once would be a disaster. Brisbane may have played 10 first year players but they are losing game after game despite having the likes of Akermanis and Brown in pretty good form, and Lappin and Power too before their injuries.

I know this has been a long rant but I firmly believe that evolution, not revolution is what is called for and my view that Roos is as good a steward as any others available hasn't changed one iota despite the recent performances.

[Rob-bloods]

As a now (Melbourne) based supporter, Saturday night as our first game of the season was heartbreaking.

However, I have attended a few games this season and seen most on the TV, and North Melbourne are STILL the worst side I have watched.

Saturday night was our worst performance yes,but, despite being unable to break the lines and barely being able to string a handball or kick and despite the umpies really giving it to us we were in a position to win the game late in the third. (So much for Saints!)

North vs Carlton particularly, Carlton were appalling but North continually kicked backwards and sideways and although thumping the Blues the Shinbonerswere absolute rubbish.

But all we heard was about their 5 goal streak, and of course an overweight AFL Adminstrator with a Cypriot background would not mention their bpring style of play would he...he played there.

[footyhead]

There is just one point to all this which makes the need for Roos to quickly change his game plan or be replaced by Malcolm Blight:

THE SWANS ARE CURRENTLY PLAYING THE MOST BORING GAMES OF FOOTBALL EVER SHOWN ON TV!!!!!

How do you think Aussie Rules got so popular ???

When it's played correctly it is great to watch.

Paul (the wrecker) Roos has single handedly done more to destroy the spectacle of the game in 2004 and 2005 than anything in the last 40 years.

Rodney's flood was bad, but Roo's team just puts me and a whole bunch of other people to sleep.

Now if they were at the top of the ladder we may be able to forgive him, becuase at least within the sleep that he has induced in us, we might dream of winning the premiership soon.

But all experts agree, as well as most fans- that is not going to happen.

This problem is huge becuase all but the hard core will turn away from complete bordom. Hell I am hard core and I have turned off the tele many times in the last 2 years!

I used to work in TV. Let me tele you if a plot isn't working the production company either makes the writer change it, or eventualy the network will step in and make the necessary changes happen. Football is supposed to entertain, either by providing a spectacle or hope in the form of ability to beat the best and thereby be the best.

The Swans are doing neither of these.

Either the Swans will enforce Roos to give the public what they want (premiersip winning team and/or attractive attacking gameplan), or the powers that be will step in and fix the situation.

There is just too much riding on it for this situation of utter boardom to go on much longer.

[Wil]

Don't worry about boring games or tactics.

For me the problem with Roos is:

- Poor recruitment. He has had 3 years for the squad - too long to be complaining about the players in the team. It is his team now. Willoughby and Schmidt have had to be the worst draft picks ever. We needed KPP's and he gave us another Jude Bolton and Schneider. Why draft Spriggs? Why delist and redraft James?

- Playing people out of position. Hall, Goodes, Kennelly, Barry, Mathews, Schneider, Buchanan, O'Keefe, Bevan, Vogels, etc.

- Disorganised team. People not knowing who to cover and squabbling about who should be in the centre square on bounces. Having to see O'Keefe sprint down to the backline on numerous occasions to cover someone the defence has missed. Also not having the right play at the right time - the forwards not knowing what the midfielders are doing and vice versa.

Simple stuff, Roos needs to get this right.

[liz]

Originally posted by Wil
Don't worry about boring games or tactics.

For me the problem with Roos is:

Willoughby and Schmidt have had to be the worst draft picks ever. We needed KPP's and he gave us another Jude Bolton and Schneider.

[Wil]

When your team has NEEDS. Like FB, CHB, CHF and Ruck you should draft players for those positions. Not take the "best player available" option. No matter how talented Willoughby and Schmidt are they were wasted as they have yet to have any influence on the Swans where a couple of young KPP's would have (or at least should have be having now).

I still can not get my head around the fact we do not have a second full back in the squad.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Originally posted by Wil
When your team has NEEDS. Like FB, CHB, CHF and Ruck you should draft players for those positions. Not take the "best player available" option. No matter how talented Willoughby and Schmidt are they were wasted as they have yet to have any influence on the Swans where a couple of young KPP's would have (or at least should have be having now).

I still can not get my head around the fact we do not have a second full back in the squad.

Talk about a second fullback and wasted draft picks - redrafting Heath James.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by Wil

For me the problem with Roos is:

- Poor recruitment. He has had 3 years for the squad - too long to be complaining about the players in the team. It is his team now.

Although I don't agree with some of your later points, especially re willoughby and Schmit,
I do agree that the team is Roos team now and that blaming the players is really blaming himself and the coaching staff.

This is why I started a thread at the begginning of theis year stating that this year we were to see the actual Paul Roos team and what it can achieve.

So far not so good Roosy.

For me the boardom coupled with the continual mediocrity is intolerable. Floodney gave us more to look forward to. At least he was creative in the coaches box on match day.

[liz]

But I thought the concensus was that our midfield was the weakest link?

We lost Cressa a couple of years ago and will lose Willo and Maxfield within the next couple, you would think. Our need to replenish with quality in those areas was as telling as in other areas of the squad.

The problem with drafting KPPs at 17 yo is that it is a high risk, low success rate business The really good ones - ie the Riewoldts, Franklins - often go early in the draft. After that it becomes a bit of a lottery, one that the Swans haven't performed well in over recent years. They do not have a good recent track record at spotting the skinny tall 17yos whose bodies will hold out and who might become decent players.

Hunt, Stevens, even James (through injury) and Powell are all examples that didn't (haven't yet) work out, while LRT is still very much a WIP.

Last year's change of tack by the Swans in the rookie draft was, at least in part, an acknowledgement of this failure in their recent drafting. The hit rate is still going to be quite low but there are certainly promising early signs with Vogels.

We also have Grundy who must have had some perceived weaknesses given how far down the draft he slipped through. Again it is early yet but he looks like he can play.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by liz
But it probably won't take much of a tweak for things to change around. Maybe that will be a Williams and Davis returning, it might be a Kennelly starting to find some form, it might be the sudden discovery of a tall KPP (eg an LRT suddenly finding his feet) to free up Leo. It may be a Moore or Schmidt being introduced into the middle and effecting clearances more regularly so we get first hands on the ball more often. It might be a Matty Davis or Malceski coming in and dazzling on a flank. Or Willoughby or McVeigh using their pace and skill through the middle, or Schneider regaining confidence in his hamstrings. It might just be a miniscule lift in confidence across the team that leads them to take more chances.

Liz, take a look at most of the names you mention there - most of them haven't even been given a chance, while the guys who have experience geting 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances while not performing. This is the frustration I have, and I'm assuming many others too - we have players who have talent and ability, yet they're not being given the opportunity to actually show what they are capable of and whether or not they're up to scratch.

I can only imagine how some of these guys must feel who are delisted without ever getting a run in the seniors feel - admittedly some of those decisions may prove to be correct, but why bother having a player on your list when there is no reserves comp anymore and never play them before you get rid of them???

[footyhead]

Good points Mike.

[liz]

Originally posted by Mike_B
Liz, take a look at most of the names you mention there - most of them haven't even been given a chance, while the guys who have experience geting 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances while not performing.

Of the players I listed, only four are yet to debut and there are reasons for each. One willl debut within the next month I suspect (and possibly even this weekend) and I reckon two of the others are a good chance to do so this year.

Three players have debuted already this year, and if we're complaining at McVeigh and Schneider getting chances in the seniors ahead of Willoughby and Schmidt, remember that these two have been a standout at reserves level this year so arguably deserve their opportunities at senior level ahead of Willoughby and Schmidt.

I think AFL fans can be impatient and expect too much too soon. Players that burst onto the scene and make an impact as an 18yo are the exception rather than the rule. Many of those 10 players who have debuted for the Lions are in their 3rd year on the list. Rivers was in his 3rd year last year when he took out the RS award, Davey was 21 and had a couple of years of VFL football under his belt and Hadley was in his fourth year on the list.

Also, there is no point in debuting young players if you are then not going to allow them time to develop, but rather discard them as soon as they hit a rough spot. How many people on here spent last season moaning about how many opportunities Ablett was getting in the seniors? Strangely (or not) it has become apparent this year that there was actually method behind that "madness".

But the real point of my post wasn't to argue the merits of team selection - merely to point out that fortunes of football teams change very quickly without major spring-cleaning of the list and it is often very hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that turns a team around. So while things are a little "ugly" at the moment, there is no need for despair and pessimism and certainly no call for sacking a coach whose track record for a rookie coach is actually pretty damn good to date.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by liz
So while things are a little "ugly" at the moment, there is no need for despair and pessimism ....

No need for despair ?

The Swans have been playing some of the worst and certainly some of the ugliest and most boring football ever wittnessed at the elite level.

I think that is depressing.

We are the laughing stock right now. Even if we make the finals the style of play of 2004/05 will be rememberd as dark days for the Swans for many years to come.

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by Legs Akimbo

I want to be ENTERTAINED!

Then go and watch a Les Girls cabaret or something

[Ruda Wakening]

Originally posted by Legs Akimbo

I want to be ENTERTAINED!

Stupid and contagious ....