Changes for Round 13

[msb]

Originally posted by swan_song
Here are some post traumatic-loss syndrome ramblings...
While Nick and Leo have plenty of cred points in the bag to use up, there comes a time when some others from last year's premiership team must make way for some new blood. Last night, to me, the Swannies looked slow, almost disinterested at times, hands on hips, heads down...and that's three shockers in a row now! But not as bad as being beaten by the drunks in the wet. Still when your team only kicks 2 goals in a half of football, you might as well be watching the soccer. And how many times in the past few years have we gone goalless in a quarter -- too many...
Others may disagree but I could hardly tell that Willo, Mathews, and a few others bothered to turn up last night. Others like Crouchie, Fossie just had shockers. And no matter what the press says, though Magic did some good things when moved up the ground, I thought his kicking and confidence were well down. Return him to the wing or half forward? Or maybe he needs a week or two off.
I believe that Sheedy reckons that a team has to turn over three or four players each season to maintain enthusiasm. We didn't do anything except pick up a couple more real duds in Chambers and Richards at the end of last year.
I'm philosophical though, I knew that this year would be a huge let down after 2005, but Id have hoped the players would still hanker for the glory. I've seen us win one premiership at least, and thats something many Swannie supporters have never done!

Agree....it was always going to be a tough year after last and it is comforting to think that at least syd won the granny last year, so in a way who cares about what happens this year? I know they should strive for back to back and so on but being realistic it was never and wont happen this year, syd arent a brissy lions who had the talent to do it (3 times for that matter!) consecutively.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by msb
but being realistic it was never and wont happen this year, syd arent a brissy lions who had the talent to do it (3 times for that matter!) consecutively.

Actually, being realistic I think we have (had?) a very reasonable chance of going back-to-back. The standard of the competition is fairly even and there are no real standout teams. We have the potential to beat any of them, so we are wasting a fantastic opportunity.

[hammo]

Originally posted by msb
Agree....it was always going to be a tough year after last and it is comforting to think that at least syd won the granny last year, so in a way who cares about what happens this year?

What a pathetic attitude. If you want to make excuses for your side playing appalling, disinterested football then go and support another team.
We can't bask in the grand final forever and sooner or later Roosy is going to make some tough decisions about some premiership players who simply aren't putting in any more.

[Zlatorog]

Originally posted by liz
If Mathews wasn't fit and couldn't train, it was criminal to bring him back into the team. It's one thing to persuade yourself not to tinker with the existing team, quite another to rush a player back in before he's ready.

I've got a strange feeling that some of them ar enot as injured as Roos is leading us to believe. I have a sneaking suspicion that he's trying to get out of the hole he dug for himself sticking up with the palyers that don't deserve to be in the best 22. How many times it was said we must not put players on the paddock if they're not 100%? I'm more and more incline to agree with the opinion with the likes of ROK Lobster who was saying that Roos is a master manipulator and is not telling the truth. My gut feeling is that he's siding with the players who were his faithfull servants since 2002 and will stick with them to the bitter end whatever that might be.

How does that sound for a melodramatic ending?

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by liz
My thought exactly. I don't recall seeing him out there a single time. Did he touch the ball.

I trhink he touched it twice that I can recall, and both times it resulted in a turnover.

If he was really a leader in the club, he would realise that he should not be in the seniors. That's what leaders do, especially when they are out of form.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Zlatorog
I've got a strange feeling that some of them ar enot as injured as Roos is leading us to believe. I have a sneaking suspission that he's trying to get out o fthe hole he dug for himself sticking up with the palyers that don't deserve to be in the best 22. How many times it was said we must not put players on the paddock if they're not 100%? I'm more and more incline to agree with the opinion with the likes of ROK Lobster who was saying that Roos is a master manipulator and is not telling the truth. My gut feeling is that he's siding with the players who were his faithfull servants since 2002 and will stick with them to the bitter end whatever that might be.

How does that sound for a melodramatic ending?

Well I was thinking about starting a thread on Roos and questioning whether he is the coach to continue with us. Sounds very harsh and I haven't actually made that decision. However, I think he is showing too much loyalty to the premiership players. Sure some guys have medallions, but that means squat this year. In some cases it didn't really mean a lot last year.

However, Roos needs to show that he is picking the best team he can and developing the team to go further, not picking who he likes because they are mates or because he thinks they deserve a year of premiership credits.

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Well I was thinking about starting a thread on Roos and questioning whether he is the coach to continue with us. Sounds very harsh and I haven't actually made that decision. However, I think he is showing too much loyalty to the premiership players. Sure some guys have medallions, but that means squat this year. In some cases it didn't really mean a lot last year.

However, Roos needs to show that he is picking the best team he can and developing the team to go further, not picking who he likes because they are mates or because he thinks they deserve a year of premiership credits.

I think we have to remember that Roos is still fairly inexperienced as a coach and he's only really in his second "phase". From the moment he took over, the form line started going up. There have been some form spikes along the way but he has dealt with those by essentially showing faith in the same group of players and last year it paid off, big time.

He himself is probably not sure yet whether this is just another of those spikes or whether there has been a bigger shift. It is human nature to stick with what has worked in the past until it is clearly broken, and I don't think any of us knows for sure whether it is truly broken or just needs a little re-tuning. It is not until we have the benefit of hindsight in another 3 months that we will know, and even then it might not be conclusive. Spotting true trend and patterns when you're bang in the middle is hard, particularly when you've not done it before.

What I am pretty confident about is that if this team has another premiership (or serious challenge) in it, either this year or next, it is far more likely to be delivered with Roos at the helm and with essentially the same approach (albeit with some tinkering) than by wholesale changes. Goodes and Hall aside, we know the team isn't over flowing with flair or brilliance and needs a system and structure that everyone knows and understands.

[SimonH]

Look, 3 vague notes of sanity need to be sounded among all of the baying for blood:

1. This is the same team, playing essentially the same footy (just not as well) as was running around in weeks 5-9. I'm all for dropping unfit/out of form players, but to say that we need a wholesale change of tactics/dumping of half the team/change of coach because of a couple of poor weeks, is just unrealistic. If we finish 10:12 from here and miss the finals, maybe the 'turnover 7 players on our list and try the new broom' approach might be worth considering, but until then: let's not get overexcited.

2. In every single loss this year, Sydney have at some point in the game played very good footy (albeit in the Port game our one good quarter was marred by poor finishing). Not to mention some useful footy in some of our wins as well. We all know that the playing group has the ability to be the most effective team in the league: it's a question of doing it over 4 quarters, week-in, week-out.

3. Again, if a player's not fit or well out of form (and if you have a replacement who is at least as good), you replace them. Sure. But that said: teams who play a large number of players throughout a year finish nearer the bottom; teams who play a smaller number of players, finish nearer the top. Fact. A club that changes 3-5 players each and every week is a team that is losing, and will keep losing until it gets some stability.

[Mike_B]

According to SEN, Willo has been struggling to train and is a candidate to be rested to get over the niggles.

[tez]

I feel we miss Jason Ball more than we thought when he retired.
Jolly is playing a lone hand in the ruck. Ball gave us a contest
and a marking option all over the ground. Chambers, I'm afraid
has not made the grade , despite Roosy comments that he is
satisfied with his effort. Time for him to exit.

I noted that Matthews had a touch in the 1st quarter, which was
a turnover resulting in a goal to the the pies.

Leo, I thought was ok and there was improvement in Micky
compared to his previous.
Monty was ok and was responsible for 2 goals in the 3rd
quarter.

But I agree with most that Matthews, Chambers and Ted should
make way for Vogels, Schmidt, Shaw or Doyle.

[Plugger46]

I'd like to see the following.

In: Doyle, Vogels, Moore.
Out: Chambers, Richards, Mathews.

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by Plugger46
I'd like to see the following.

In: Doyle, Vogels, Moore.
Out: Chambers, Richards, Mathews.

Schmitt should be considered a well. 62 possessions in a reserves game must surely translate into a few possessions at senior level. I'm looking forward to seeing the #36 running around again; the last player to wear #36 was Schneider.

[Agent 86]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
He gave it straight to Collingwood at least three times.

Not bad given he only had 3 disposals.

[NMWBloods]

6 disposals.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Thunder Shaker
Schmitt should be considered a well. 62 possessions in a reserves game must surely translate into a few possessions at senior level. I'm looking forward to seeing the #36 running around again; the last player to wear #36 was Schneider.

Can't remember which article I read this morning that said Schmidt hurt an ankle in the reserves on Saturday - not sure how bad it is, but it could keep him out of contention for Saturday night's game.