midfield smashed

[CJK]

he came up with the great idea of, and reallly he's thinking outside the square here, giving Barry Hall a run in the ruck!

Made me laugh - then and now

[snajik]

Good call liz - I'm concerned because I thought we were seriously ordinary in the second half of last year but it's far too early to be writing 2009 off.

As for Walls, who gives a stuff what he thinks. Gets his predictions wrong all the time and watches less footy than most of us.

Has anyone else noticed that whenever the Bloods dig themselves into a hole and the forward line looks ineffective Walls always trots out without fail "I think what Paul Roos needs to do is give Barry Hall a run in the ruck". Every time without fail like some kind of automatic mantra. When has Roosy ever given Bazza a "run in the ruck" to get them back into the game? Man this makes my sphincter scrunch up!

[royboy42]

Oh c'mon now liz, no reason to be harsh on Robert.Would you believe when we were struggling in the game he came up with the great idea of, and reallly he's thinking outside the square here, giving Barry Hall a run in the ruck!

I don't think there has been a game in the last five years where Walls has not suggested Bazza should get a run in the ruck! He must have three lines in his notes on each team and just regurgitates them!
And how refreshing was it to see a smart , young foiotball thinker like Hird on the couch last night!

[Swannette]

I was so sick and tired of Walls' boring same-old same-old (and Lane's unbridled hatred of the Swans) that I turned the commentary off in the second half. I was so worked up I declared (to the cat and dog) my intention to write to channel 10 to have a go at their abject failure to come up with any new commentary talent. Most other channels refresh their personnel at least every couple of years, but not tired old 10 who will probably keep trotting out (on zimmer frames) Walls and Lane forever. Boooooring.

[Nico]

Don't you just love it, footy's back. Nothing ever changes when it comes to the fans.

Flossie, you have to understand, footy is the people's game and every person has an opinion. That's the beauty of it and RWO. Sure Roosey knows more about what's going on at the club but it doesn't mean he is right to play blokes like Crouch and Buchanan ahead of others, in the opinion of the fans.

Go to any other clubs fan sites and you will see no difference in the variance of opinions. Just take it all in and enjoy it for what it is. Without dills like Walls the game would be poorer for it. Geez I used to think Carolyn Wilson was way worse than Walls. How wrong I was, she has matured as a commentator and has more reasoned opinions than him.

[Bloods05]

Thank God for Liz.

[chalbilto]

I don't think there has been a game in the last five years where Walls has not suggested Bazza should get a run in the ruck! He must have three lines in his notes on each team and just regurgitates them!
And how refreshing was it to see a smart , young football thinker like Hird on the couch last night!

Totally agree. Very refreshing to see.
I was also impressed by Mick Malthouse in a response given regarding football trends that emanate from premiership winning clubs. He made reference to the 2005 grand final in which he said was an absorbing clash and to Sydney's man on man style, followed that with West Coast the following year with their style, them the next year tear Geelong with their fast handball, direct style and then Hawthorne with their innovative rolling zone defense. Malthouse said that coaches make a mistake trying to copy trends (notice the difference with Sydney and Geelong in 2 years) from winning teams but should mold their style that is compatible with their personnel and strengths.
However, this does not mean to say that some things shouldn't be implemented or copied as methods can always be improved upon.
The interesting thing about this answer from Malthouse was the lack of any response from the writing guru Mike Sheahan, all he was concerned about was what was happening with his coaching career with Collingwood.
Personally, I was rapped that a respected figure from Melbourne praised Sydney and their contested style for their achievement in winning the 2005 flag.

[chalbilto]

I was so sick and tired of Walls' boring same-old same-old (and Lane's unbridled hatred of the Swans) that I turned the commentary off in the second half. I was so worked up I declared (to the cat and dog) my intention to write to channel 10 to have a go at their abject failure to come up with any new commentary talent. Most other channels refresh their personnel at least every couple of years, but not tired old 10 who will probably keep trotting out (on zimmer frames) Walls and Lane forever. Boooooring.

I am glad that I am not the only one with this opinion. Can't wait for the Swan's other games being televised on Foxtell or seven.

[liz]

Personally, I was rapped that a respected figure from Melbourne praised Sydney and their contested style for their achievement in winning the 2005 flag.

Malthouse has been making insightful - and often complimentary - remarks about the Swans and the way they went/go about their football for many years, even back to 2005 when Walls was sticking it to us mid-season. Even now you read the odd snippet from other coaches that indicate they don't really "get it" in terms of the fundamentals of the Swans approach. He has also consistently talked about the need for a team to develop an approach that suits its personnel, rather than trying to create something out of mid air, or implement a carbon copy of other teams' plans. It is a shame that the likes of Sheahan and Walls don't seem to actually listen to the intelligent comments of people like Malthouse, rather than just spout out the same bland, simplisitic and often plain rubbish that they've been spouting for as long as their backsides have been perched on that couch.

FWIW, I think Malthouse's early understanding and clear respect of the Swans approach is a major factor in why we've struggled so badly against Collingwood in recent seasons. He worked out a way to counter it and has managed to get his charges to execute the plan perfectly.