Should Roos go now?

[liz]

I agree with you Liz but maybe making a move or freeing up Hally might have given them a bit of a spark.

That is letting them off the hook. The Bloods football is meant to be about the players taking responsibility for the game plan as much as the coaches.

If Hall has three players on him, two other players must be without an opponent. But where on earth were they? If there are any passengers within the 22 who aren't prepared to stand up and run hard when its their turn, the team will go nowhere.

We had about 8 passengers tonight and that is at least 7.5 too many.

[sprite]

Maybe Roos could have tried something different but it wouldn't have made the slightest scrap of difference tonight. The team was just pathetic and did nothing of the ilk that has taken it so far in recent years.

His job now is to find out who can really be bothered to play at the moment, weed the rest out....

Sorry for the edit - but this is spot on...

They lost a key defender and we couldn't capitalise on it.

Adjust the game plan and move on

[Damien]

I think this thread would be better suited to later in the season.

As much as I get annoyed at "Premiership brownie points", I do think Roos is owed the benefit of the doubt after a Premiership and Grand Final appearance over the past two years, both after reasonably slow starts, and if I recall correctly, some very very annoying losses in both years.

I lack any confidence in us turning it around this year mind you, but i'll see what transpires. This club does have a habit of making us look like fools just when we think we know what is going on.

[Carolyn]

Roos has to STOP playing favourites. Laidlaw would have been much better than Bevan was today!

[NMWBloods]

Yes ugg. We were 3rd.

Didn't you have a go at me for saying 3rd meant nothing and we weren't playing well?

[annew]

It is as if we have lost our mojo but I think we really are too slow now and time for some speedy players to come in. I also think our defense has been hit hard with injury (Kenelly, Dempster, Lewis Roberts) and they have been so reliable. The only thing is I think the Canberra competition is too easy for the reserves and the gap between Resreves and Seniors too great.

[barry]

Didn't you have a go at me for saying 3rd meant nothing and we weren't playing well?

We're playing a lot worse now than then I can assure you of that!

Anyway, this threads about our coaching future, not the form of players.

[Go Swannies]

Right now, I think we should be hailing Roos for taking a bunch of disinterested, mediocre players to a flag.

[liz]

Come on Liz. The players were deliberately going into attack slowly, while St Kilda were giving them a lesson in sharp attack.

2nd'ly, why play a spare man in defense when you're 25 points down in the last quarter. ??

Well that is because the Saints midfielders were going at the ball in the centre while our blokes just stood there and thought "Oh, Jolls has just got another tap, wonder who is going to pick the ball up this time".

That is because the Saints tackled hard and ran in support.

That is because the Saints were capable of hitting a team mate on the chest when he was in space, something our blokes were incapable of doing (Eski and O'Keefe excepted) on the rare occasions it happened.

Yes, I was hoping they'd at least throw everything to the wind in the final term and run run run. At least they did that last week. But if I'd been Roos I'd have been so miffed by their pathetic 3rd term that I probably wouldn't have bothered to point out to them that this tactic might actually put some pressure on the Saints.

[liz]

I also think our defense has been hit hard with injury (Kenelly, Dempster, Lewis Roberts) and they have been so reliable.

No excuse tonight.

They were without Hudgton and Maguire, lost Goddard early on, and also were missing their best midfielder in Hayes.

Yes we missed those blokes but our defence actually held up reasonably well under the circumstances. It wasn't where we were beaten. That was down to Bolton, Crouch, McVeigh and co.

[barry]

Yes, I was hoping they'd at least throw everything to the wind in the final term and run run run. At least they did that last week. But if I'd been Roos I'd have been so miffed by their pathetic 3rd term that I probably wouldn't have bothered to point out to them that this tactic might actually put some pressure on the Saints.

Thats an Ok attitude for a supporter, but if thats what really went through Roos' mind, then he really shouldnt be coaching. At 3-3 you need 100% effort to win your 7th game and kick start your season, whatever tactics it takes.

[Alison]

The ball was flying into the Saints open forward line. Our midfielders need to be putting pressure on the ball as it is coming down.

[ROK Lobster]

Yes ugg. We were 3rd.

No ROK, I dont believe I've ever called you anti-roos unless tongue in cheek.

Apologies then barry. I'm not sure getting rid of Roos is the answer, as I have never had a particularly high opinion of him anyway. I think he did wonders with the side at the time, but I also thought (and said) that the whole player empowerment thing was short-sighted. He is not a great match day coach, but never has been. We are two years older and two years slower than in 2005. Bottom half of the 8 if we are lucky (though I did say that at about this stage in '05, and wanted to say it but held my tongue this time last year).

[NMWBloods]

Right now, I think we should be hailing Roos for taking a bunch of disinterested, mediocre players to a flag.

Or maybe we should be lamenting the loss of all the talented assistant coaches who were critical in our success...

[barry]

The contrast to West Coast is striking.

Over the last 3 years, definately the last 5 years, we have been ahead of WC.

WC talk of turning this flag into a dynasty by all the major contributers (incl worsfold) committing to the club for the long term. (Remember they've won just 1 flag by 1 point to base this off).

Sydney on the other hand, seem happy to be happy with one flag, The Major contributers happy to retire in a few years and spend the rest of their life reflecting on that one day back in 2005.

WC may not win another flag and have no dynasty. Sydney may jag another flag in the next couple of years. Doesnt change the fact that WC have their sights set on the bigger picture and while they hold that attitude will be ultimately more successful than the swans in the long term.