i blame Benny

[redunderthebed]

if that useless piece of untalented rubbish had been playing we would have lost by 200 points.
All you experts know this.

[Carolyn]

Re: i blame Benny

Originally posted by redunderthebed
if that useless piece of untalented rubbish had been playing we would have lost by 200 points.
All you experts know this.

Mathews didn't actually do anything to make us lose so you can't really blame him for tonight's loss...

[Nico]

Can see the headlines on Thursday night "Mathews rushed back".

[hammo]

Originally posted by Nico
Can see the headlines on Thursday night "Mathews rushed back".

Yes Mathews could start playing a week before everyone else and still wouldn't know what to do with the ball.

[monopoly19]

I reckon he would have actually been useful tonight. We needed someone who could make some tackles stick.

[RogueSwan]

Originally posted by monopoly19
I reckon he would have actually been useful tonight. We needed someone who could make some tackles stick.

A very good point. I have calling for him to be replaced but he probably would have provided good service tonight.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by monopoly19
I reckon he would have actually been useful tonight. We needed someone who could make some tackles stick.

I was actually thinking the same thing during the game. Given that a wet game is often about belting the ball forward and not thinking too much about precision play, he may have been more useful than some of our players in this area.

[midaro]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I was actually thinking the same thing during the game. Given that a wet game is often about belting the ball forward and not thinking too much about precision play, he may have been more useful than some of our players in this area.

It's funny, cos' it's true.

[RogueSwan]

Not really that funny. We lost.

[midaro]

Originally posted by RogueSwan
Not really that funny. We lost.

Too soon?

[redunderthebed]

Re: Re: i blame Benny

Originally posted by Carolyn
Mathews didn't actually do anything to make us lose so you can't really blame him for tonight's loss...

Amazing,i was trying to be ironic.Of course Benny would have been a welcome addition to last nights team and,possibly, been a three point difference.
But don't ever admit to recognising any of Ben's ability on this forum or you will be carved up by the usual brigade of headhunters.

[Xie Shan]

Re: Re: Re: i blame Benny

Originally posted by redunderthebed
But don't ever admit to recognising any of Ben's ability on this forum or you will be carved up by the usual brigade of headhunters.

Well said. Finally some balance to the Mathews debate.

Every Swans (and AFL!) player playing today has ability; if they didn't, they wouldn't find themselves on a current senior list. Of course some have more ability than others, but it's still worth remembering why they're on the team to start with.

This doesn't mean people aren't allowed to criticize players after a poor performance, but on the flip side if the same player does have certain strengths, it's important to acknowledge this too. I don't know how many players from the club read RWO, maybe it doesn't make a difference, but it doesn't hurt to be positive when it's warranted.

[stellation]

I think Ben has a place in our first 22, I don't think it is ideally in our midfield but he deserves a spot in a pocket . I think it is Roos' use of Ben that causes the heartache more than Ben himself.

[liz]

Originally posted by stellation
I think Ben has a place in our first 22, I don't think it is ideally in our midfield but he deserves a spot in a pocket . I think it is Roos' use of Ben that causes the heartache more than Ben himself.

"A spot in a pocket" doesn't really mean much nowadays though. He can't play on a tall forward and most smaller forwards are really quick - which Mathews isn't. He certainly still has a role to play but I think it is more likely to be in the middle part of the ground, playing on a clever but not overly quick player, ala Ball, Grant, Hodge.

And, indeed, this is a role he has performed consistently well over the years.

[stellation]

I didn't particuarly mean just in the backline, he is pretty decent around goals too. I think the problem with him in the midfield is that is just clugs it up with one more defensive player.