Balmain

[Miksta]

Dont believe that for a minute, of course there will be a couple of people that are there for coin, but I dont believe they are the fabric of where the club is going. When those players go, there may be a small hole, but its very doubtfull that it is as bad as you are all saying.

[Super_man]

When Balmain finally reach the bottom of their supposedly deep pockets, half of the First Grade team will move on to the next club that will offer them money and the club will crumble.

What a load of rubbish. Wouldn't that apply to most clubs?

[The Insider]

What a load of rubbish. Wouldn't that apply to most clubs?

No that wouldn't apply to most clubs. Sure a lot of clubs would bu affected if the money dried up and they could no longer afford to keep paying players, but the core of the clubs would remain the same.

You have to consider that at the majority of clubs, only the top few are paid and the rest are playing for the love of the game. When you include Under 18s, Reserves and First Grade, there are at least 70 players at most clubs. Do you really think that taking away 3 players, no matter how good they are, will lead to the ruination of the club?

Take Balmain on the other hand, who are supposedly paying most of their First Grade. They no longer have an Under 18's or a 2nd Division and often struggle for numbers in Reserves. If the money dries up and players can no longer be played, a large percentage of first grade will depart, leaving only a handful of first graders and the reserve grade - clearly not a viable number of players to validate the continuation of the club.

[frootloops]

are you sure most of balmain senoirs are getting paid ?

i think maybe 7 or 8 are

[The Insider]

I know for a fact that some of what I would consider "fringe" players are getting paid. Therefore, I assume that the better quality players that are attracted to the club are also paid, and paid a lot more. Assumptions are obviously not cement, but they are based on fairly logical hypotheses.

[Pace To Burn]

I know for a fact that some of what I would consider "fringe" players are getting paid. Therefore, I assume that the better quality players that are attracted to the club are also paid, and paid a lot more. Assumptions are obviously not cement, but they are based on fairly logical hypotheses.

There are def guys there getting paid that would not be getting a cent if they were playing at every other club except Campbelltown and thats only cause we pay every senior player match payments. But that is always going to be the case when you are trying to get players to go to a club that hasnt won a game for two years. You cant blame Balmain for paying blokes to attract them over and hopefully when they can attract a few more quality players the guys that are getting paid over the odds will understand that they need to drop back to help the cause.

[redsox]

victory hangover

tough weekend for the purples, back to reality after the victory over the gong.

losses added to a deficit of 309 points in firsts and reserves and forfeit in 18s.

[The Rooster]

maybe all the knives from everyone taking stabs at us is weighing the club down. hard to move forward if all people do is bag balmain. i have not been there for a few weeks now and cant really comment on too much but i will stand up for them while people try and push the club down.

[The Duck]

My only comment on Balmain is that maybe some of their players excepting payments should keep those payments to themselves. Loose lips sinks ships!

[Booza]

maybe all the knives from everyone taking stabs at us is weighing the club down. hard to move forward if all people do is bag balmain. i have not been there for a few weeks now and cant really comment on too much but i will stand up for them while people try and push the club down.

Rooster, if its costing the club $1,100 ($600 flight, $500 a game) a week for you to play, then surely you won't get the call back given they won't play finals. How many more will you play?

[Norris Lurker]

maybe all the knives from everyone taking stabs at us is weighing the club down.

I really hope that's not the case.
I don't know what went wrong for them on Saturday at Ern Holmes, I wasn't there; but last time I saw Balman play they were a young side that were being badly beaten on the park but were desperate to keep trying.

When I first started doing the match reports on here a few years ago, in the first season I did them Campbelltown didn't win a game and rarely even got close. The next year started the same way, and although they eventually broke through for a win they ended up with the spoon again.
But a couple of years later they were playing finals. There were a few well-targetted signings that helped turn their fortunes around, The Rooster was one of them. But the majority of the players and club personnel were the same ones who were involved with the wooden spoon sides; but had learned from their experiences and stepped up.

If Balmain are spending money they haven't got on players, that's a worry. But if they can spend money to attract players, why shouldn't they? It's hardly an English Premier League situation where the top clubs are splashing the cash around and no other team has a hope of ever being competitive.

[Tim Freedman]

Balmain

A few points here so settle in with a cuppa to get through them all.

Point 1) Balmain or any side for that matter, need to have a strong junior system to ensure long term success. Without this system they will need to continually spend more money than is required to win the ultimate prize.

Point 2) Now that Balmain have forfeited their U18s they need to quickly develop a club plan around getting them back in for season 09 and beyond. How they do that is up to them.

Point 3) You can't have long term success without recruiting players and paying money!!!! This sounds a contradiction but anyone who seriously thinks you can have success purely with your own home grown plyers are kidding themselves!!!!! You need to have a healthy mix of both.

Point 4) You can't have success or long term success without recruiting quality blokes who are also quality players. Why you ask?????

Point 5) Quality blokes attract other quality blokes who are also quality players. They may have played with them before and they want to continue playing with each other. They may have heard good things about them, played rep footy together and simply get on well.

Point A) Quality players who are not well liked for selfish reasons don't attract anyone and will continue to move from club to club as a player!!!! Just look at a players history to work this out.

So unlike most on this forum and I will try to point out some solutions instead of bag Balmain. We need Balmain to improve to ensure we have a competitive competition. (As well as Campbelltown, Wollongong etc)

Point b) Balmain need to have a total football department review. If their current coach is not attracting the right type of players or blokes, then he needs to be held accountable.

Point c) If players continue to leave and players don't show continued improvement underneath the current football department then the coach needs to be held accounatable.

Point 6) Make a decision NOW wether you continue with your current coaching staff and also with your highest paid players. How much worse can you go??????

Point d) Start planning for next year!!!!!

Point 7A) Recruit a coach who is a quality person first and foremost who can attract quality players and blokes.

Point 8) Recruit a coach who is a very good leader and an effective communicator and has the ability to get the most out of players.

Point E) Target your recruitment at 1st grade players who are NOT the best players but are maybe in the 15th -22nd player bracket. This will add depth which you can build around.

Point 9) Immediately re negotiate player payments with under performing high paid players. This will tell you what kind of blokes they are. If they accept it and take responsibility then they are worth keeping. If they don't advise them they are no longer required.

And finally: Build a foundation that is based around CLUB not individuals.

From the outside looking in, it seems to be based around INDIVIDUALS and mediocrity. Whilst the truth may actually be different, PERCEPTION is what counts the most. If this is how you are perceived (and it seems this way) then you will never attract quality blokes first and therefore quality players.

Anyway the mills and boon is done. Take out what you will.

[The Rooster]

Rooster, if its costing the club $1,100 ($600 flight, $500 a game) a week for you to play, then surely you won't get the call back given they won't play finals. How many more will you play?

not entirely sure where you get you firgures from maybe the jackpots at your local pub... i will play as many games as balmain want me to and if wests was my last one for the year then that is fine . . I have gone there to try and add something and help them but could not move back to sydney due to work committments, next year may be different. Unfortuantley we have only won one game but in position to beat campbelltown and fell off in last against wests.. also north shore i believe was close.. but all that aside the club was a chance of being 4 and 2 but are unlucky to be 1 and 5 or 6.

[#31]

looks like u an freo have more than a jumper in common then rooster
i dont think being 1 and 6 and not 4 and 3 can be called unlucky when it happens year after year

tims ideas are right on the money for me

[knownothing]

so what's the plan to get an 18s next year Balmain?