There's more to life than football but...

[liz]

Originally posted by SimonH

But to revert to a 'why is it a crime to have a different opinion?' complaint, to me just smacks of someone who's losing the argument. It's not a crime: it's just that some opinions are more believable than others.

Futher to Simon's final comment above, no-one (at least in this thread) has accused you of being a scourge on Swans fans everywhere for daring to wish that Roos had said something else.

Those who have responded "defending" Roos' comments are merely disagreeing with your posted view. Why post your thoughts at all if you weren't expecting others to come back with comments, many of which you must have expected were going to disagree with you.

And I suspect most - maybe all - who have "defended" Roos comments have done so not because they believe that Roos is a demi-god beyond any criticism, but because they actually consider that Roos' comments in the context and at the time they were made stand-up to scrutiny, and do not wish he had said something else.

To my mind, the comments come across as being gracious in defeat above all else, by acknowledging the closeness of the contests between the two teams and indicating his respect for West Coast as an opponent and as the victor on that particular day. There is nothing I can see in his comments that is inconsistent with him - or his players - being extremely disappointed that they had lost.

[Piobaireachd]

Originally posted by Demsone
It's easy to say on an internet forum 6 months after the event. Too easy actually.

And particularly when you aren't directly involved in the loss.

Flippant would have been my on camera speech. Realistic would have been my locker room speech.

Edit: Exactly as SimonH has said. Liz is on the money too.

[hammo]

Originally posted by liz
There is nothing I can see in his comments that is inconsistent with him - or his players - being extremely disappointed that they had lost.

I'm sorry Liz, but "that's just footy, that's life" does not portray extreme disappointment to me.

Originally posted by SimonH
A recurrent theme with Roos (and most coaches who deal with the media professionally: read 'not Malthouse or Laidley') is that there doesn't need to be any great relationship between your (in-house) coaching persona and your media presence. As Sir Joh said, press conferences are 'feeding the chooks'; Roos will ultimately be judged as a coach on the team's performances, not on words he says in post-match press conferences. Which is as it should be. He could have brought his Opus Dei whips into the post-GF press conference and started flagellating himself: still wouldn't have changed the fact that we lost by a point.

Most fans are unable to attent post match functions, dinners etc and get their news on the club from the media, hence the importance of accurate and honest appraisals of performance, injury reports etc.

The Swans fans I know were gutted by the loss and dirty on the first half performance, but still proud of the players' efforts. I don't think these views were reflected in Roos' comments to the media.

[AnnieH]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
snip ... I ma not sure why it is a crime to disagree with Roos and to be critical of things he does. I find it interesting that so many mould their own opinions to those of his, as though he is some guru. Paul says it is ok to blow the flag, then it is ok to blow the flag, Paul says it is ok to let the leadership group select the team, it is ok to let the leadership group select the team, etc etc. It's bollocks. Paul Roos is a good coach but not faultless - unless you listen to him.

Like I said, if it's warranted, I'm the first to bag Roosey.
To you, it seems warranted.
Fair enough.

[SimonH]

Originally posted by hammo
...
Most fans are unable to attent post match functions, dinners etc and get their news on the club from the media, hence the importance of accurate and honest appraisals of performance, injury reports etc.
...

I don't rely on the club for accurate and honest appraisals of performance. I rely on my own eyes, failing that on Liz's game reports*, and failing that on any intelligent independent journos who might happen to write about the game. I rely on the club for the 'official line', i.e. mostly PR fluff with the occasional interesting novel bit of information thrown in. Maybe I'm overly cynical.

Injury reports is a different issue entirely. The fact that most clubs publish complete and honest ones has been a cultural issue (i.e. we've always done it this way, and have never thought to change). No doubt there are many professional sporting comps around the world in which the idea that a club would publish accurate and precise injury information about its players, would be viewed as hilariously stupid. As a fan, obviously I'd rather know the truth than not, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the tactical approach starts to take precedence in the coming years.

* Free plug.

[hammo]

Originally posted by SimonH
I don't rely on the club for accurate and honest appraisals of performance. I rely on my own eyes, failing that on Liz's game reports*, and failing that on any intelligent independent journos who might happen to write about the game. I rely on the club for the 'official line', i.e. mostly PR fluff with the occasional interesting novel bit of information thrown in. Maybe I'm overly cynical.

I agree with everything you say - most of the Swans PR is fluff. But are we supposed to guess that Roos was devestated (as some are trying to suggest) when all that is on the public record is that's footy, that's life, the ying and the yang??

[royboy42]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
How about something along the lines of:

This was one that got away and one that we had a great chance of winning. WC were probably the better side out there over 4 qtrs but we showed in the 2nd half what we were capable of. We lost it in the first half. Sure WC played some good footy but we took too long to get into the game. Why? To be honest I do not really know at this stage - perhaps we had the boys too relaxed pre-match, maybe we took an edge of them, I don't really know. But whatever it was we did something wrong and it has potentially cost us a flag. It hurts a lot, it hurts the players a lot, and I understand that it must the fans a lot too. We live and learn. While I am proud of the way the boys fought back I am also disappointed that we did not get it right from the start and that we blew it. We are not going to give it too much thought now. We will get away, have a good break, and address it when we come back for the pre-season, hungry for success in 2007, looking to get back the one that got away.

Well I guess at least you left out 'taking it one week at a time' and a few other cliches, but if Roos had gone down your suggested road, I would have been extremely disappointed in him.The man spoke from the heart...two consecutive grand finals says a alot about his coaching ability.
Sometimes RL. you're constant devil's advocate smart comments become really wearisome.

[stellation]

Originally posted by royboy42
Well I guess at least you left out 'taking it one week at a time' and a few other cliches, but if Roos had gone down your suggested road, I would have been extremely disappointed in him.The man spoke from the heart...two consecutive grand finals says a alot about his coaching ability.
Sometimes RL. you're constant devil's advocate smart comments become really wearisome.

Two consecutive grand finals says a lot about our conditioning staff too.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by royboy42
two consecutive grand finals says a alot about his coaching ability.

Says more about the players IMO.

[swantastic]

Most fans are unable to attent post match functions, dinners etc and get their news on the club from the media, hence the importance of accurate and honest appraisals of performance, injury reports etc.
The Swans fans I know were gutted by the loss and dirty on the first half performance, but still proud of the players' efforts. I don't think these views were reflected in Roos' comments to the media.

Agree 1000% hammo,and i'm still gutted but proud of their second half.

[Young Blood]

ROK Lobster would have preferred Roos to look back at the game and to acknowledge that mistakes were made. Roos chose to take more of a 'big picture' approach, saying that on balance, he couldn't complain that it was one flag each after the two GFs.

I can understand that someone might prefer Roos to have said something else, but I can't see how anyone could consider his comments to be completely unacceptable. To me, both ROK Lobster's and Roos' approaches seem equally legitimate.

[Demsone]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Says more about the players IMO.

thats ok you can admit you don't like roos..say it go on..won't hurt.

I think there are some people on here regardless of what Paul roos would have done they just have an axe to grind with him.

For me it will be a sad day when we loose Roosy.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Demsone
thats ok you can admit you don't like roos..say it go on..won't hurt.

I think there are some people on here regardless of what Paul roos would have done they just have an axe to grind with him.

For me it will be a sad day when we loose Roosy.

Of course you are right, the players are insignificant. Roosy could have coached Essendon to the flag last year.

[Legs Akimbo]

Oct 2006

Nov 2006

Dec 2006

Jan 2007

Feb 2007

[Bart]

Re: There's more to life than football but...

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
...there isn't much more to football than a flag. The bulldust thread got me thinking a bit about why I was @@@@@@ off with Roos' comments post-GF that went along the lines of "there is more to life than football and those who can't get over the loss should get a life". Of course Roos would say that - why would he, as losing coach, want any post-match discussion at all. Out coached on the day, failing to arrive at the MCG with a switched on side, and other things were only discussed by the insane and the tragic. What a way to hide, what a way to avoid the criticism, what a way to slide away from any responsibility for failure... Roos still @@@@s me to tears.

It must be hard being you