Horse's hands on the reigns

[ugg]

We have a relatively inexperienced list, however the difference between 2010 and 2011 is that the younger players have another pre-season and 12 months development under their belt. Even blokes like Kennedy and Mumford went into season 2010 with less than 50 games under their belt.

Bolton injured himself in round 4 and didn't play again for the rest of the season, I don't think 3 and a bit games rates as a substantial input. Bradshaw played 7 out of the first 9 and wasn't seen again until the Bulldogs final. He helped us get off to a flier but again I don't rate 7.5 games as substantial input.

It's a pretty thin argument

How about having your B&F winner miss 6 games and subbed off early in 2 others.
We've also lost Brett Kirk, and while his actual numbers had dropped off in 2010, do not underestimate the intangibles that he brought to the side in his leadership and organisational skills.

[caj23]

How about having your B&F winner miss 6 games and subbed off early in 2 others.
We've also lost Brett Kirk, and while his actual numbers had dropped off in 2010, do not underestimate the intangibles that he brought to the side in his leadership and organisational skills.

We haven't had a horrible run with injuries, Fremantle have half of their best side out and are still above us on the ladder

[ugg]

We haven't had a horrible run with injuries, Fremantle have half of their best side out and are still above us on the ladder

Well good on the Dockers but I don't see how that relates to how we are performing at the moment or why Longmire is supposedly a bad coach. Also, Freo have a very tough draw coming up so let's see where they sit at the end of the season before using them as some kind of measuring stick.

The fact is of the 3 players named Bolton, Bradshaw and Jack, we've only really managed to replace Bolton. We're still searching for a replacement full-forward and no one's been able to step into Jack's shoes as a line breaking midfielder.

[ShockOfHair]

It's only round 15 of Longmire's first year as coach. A bit early to shoot the Horse, or to blame him for our lack of a forward target.

We weren't outplayed by the Crows, we just wasted scoring shots. There were a few much bigger losers over the weekend. I thank the footy gods I don't follow Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn (all got smashed) or Geelong, who lost a grudge match to a team ten places below them.

[Sauce]

Well good on the Dockers but I don't see how that relates to how we are performing at the moment or why Longmire is supposedly a bad coach. Also, Freo have a very tough draw coming up so let's see where they sit at the end of the season before using them as some kind of measuring stick.

The fact is of the 3 players named Bolton, Bradshaw and Jack, we've only really managed to replace Bolton. We're still searching for a replacement full-forward and no one's been able to step into Jack's shoes as a line breaking midfielder.

Says a lot about our depth which many of us were so excited about last year and the begining of this season.

Again Bolton and Bradshaw havent played since rpound 6 last year..ok bradshaw had one last game and that was it.

Thats a year and a bit to groom or find replacements in our list.

But hey lets keep using those two as a main excuse why we havent done much this year.

The reality is - our skills are deplorable, yep they are average..the same skills that keep us from winning games or losing games with.

It's depressing when you watch other teams who make simple things - which we butcher - seem or look so easy.

[Dan]

Says a lot about our depth which many of us were so excited about last year and the begining of this season.

Again Bolton and Bradshaw havent played since rpound 6 last year..ok bradshaw had one last game and that was it.

Thats a year and a bit to groom or find replacements in our list.

But hey lets keep using those two as a main excuse why we havent done much this year.

The reality is - our skills are deplorable, yep they are average..the same skills that keep us from winning games or losing games with.

It's depressing when you watch other teams who make simple things - which we butcher - seem or look so easy.

I agree completely, our skills are just not good enough to beat the top teams, and obviously the bottom. Another problem i think we have is that we play to the level of our opposition (for parts against the top teams) and this is due to our @@@@ skills and sometimes terrible decision making (1ft handball into traffic, kicking to a player standing still, blazing away)

[ernie koala]

Nothing to do with the fact that Horse has pretty much the same list to work with as Roos did in 2010?

Given that Roos at least got some games out of Bolton and Bradshaw last year, and Horse has been without our two best performing players from last season for large tracts of this one, surely one could argue he has achieved about the same with a bit less?

The point is the same defensive game style has emerged. Which answers your second comment...Same players, same style...similar results.

[liz]

The point is the same defensive game style has emerged. Which answers your second comment...Same players, same style...similar results.

You and I must have been watching different games this season. I have witnessed a noticeable change in what the team is trying to do - specifically re long kicking, trying to get the ball into the forward line as quickly as possible, rather than the slow measured way that Roos generally employed. Arguably the team currently has neither the marking power in the forward line nor the precise footskills from the midfield to execute this strategy effectively. Five or so games in teaming rain haven't helped either. But from where I've been sitting, it has been quite evident that this is what they've been trying to do.

Whether this reflects Horse's particular philosophy on the way he likes the game to be played, his assessment of the game plan that his squad will eventually be best placed to execute, or is a reaction to the forward press, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess. I suspect the last factor is significant though.

[Bas]

I've noticed a significant drop in run off the backline as in previous years. I can hardly remember long runs this season by either Marty or Taigh and thought maybe Taigh is carrying an injury.

Great idea to kick long into the forward line. We just need someone there to catch it!

Too early for the glue pot for Horse.

[Peace]

There isn't much Horse can do about the players missing shots at goal or not having the footskills to execute his game plan.... that just comes with more and more practise. We really need a rock in our forward line, we need to exhaist every option to try and find something that works, i really hope Horse has TDL and Spangher next on his list.

[caj23]

There isn't much Horse can do about the players missing shots at goal or not having the footskills to execute his game plan....

No a senior coach can't do anything about that at all

[Flossie]

I think by round 15 we should have a settled team playing, not chopping and changing all the time. Thats one of the reasons Geelong and Collingwood are so successful and why the Swans and West Coast were successful in 2005 and 2006 - a settled team who were comfortable playing together and could anticipate each others moves. Longmire has too many ins and outs for mine, and why he isnt playing TDL (who can at least put the ball through the big posts) is an absolute mystery to me.

It's only round 15 of Longmire's first year as coach. A bit early to shoot the Horse, or to blame him for our lack of a forward target.

We weren't outplayed by the Crows, we just wasted scoring shots. There were a few much bigger losers over the weekend. I thank the footy gods I don't follow Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn (all got smashed) or Geelong, who lost a grudge match to a team ten places below them.

[ernie koala]

You and I must have been watching different games this season. I have witnessed a noticeable change in what the team is trying to do - specifically re long kicking, trying to get the ball into the forward line as quickly as possible, rather than the slow measured way that Roos generally employed. Arguably the team currently has neither the marking power in the forward line nor the precise footskills from the midfield to execute this strategy effectively. Five or so games in teaming rain haven't helped either. But from where I've been sitting, it has been quite evident that this is what they've been trying to do.

Whether this reflects Horse's particular philosophy on the way he likes the game to be played, his assessment of the game plan that his squad will eventually be best placed to execute, or is a reaction to the forward press, I wouldn't like to hazard a guess. I suspect the last factor is significant though.

IMO under Horse the Swans game style is very similar to that of Roos. It is still predominantly stoppage based, contested footy. Move the ball forward, create another stoppage with lots of numbers around the ball....same ol, same ol.
The only difference being more long kicks, which is not a proactive new strategy, it's reactive...it's a response to the press, which nearly all sides have adopted. I'm sure if Roos were still coaching, he too would of adopted more long kicking to get over the press.
It seems pretty clear, and predictable, that Horse , after 8 years under Roos...then hand picked by Roos as successor... would have similar views on how the game should be played. You might not see it that way Liz, but I do.
There has been one exception to the tired old Swans game style.... the game against Collingwood... when we definitely played a faster, more attacking, risk taking, style of game...And what a good game it was. I hope we see a lot more like it.

[Captain]

There isn't much Horse can do about the players missing shots at goal or not having the footskills to execute his game plan....

Yes there is. He could pick players who can kick goals for a start ie TDL.

While he is at it he can stop making poor sub decisions (think Seaby, Everitt, Seaby again) and also make moves earlier in the game (think Grundy on Cloke). Maybe he could also stop playing our full forward half in the ruck and our full back at full forward.

[wolftone57]

Yes there is. He could pick players who can kick goals for a start ie TDL.

While he is at it he can stop making poor sub decisions (think Seaby, Everitt, Seaby again) and also make moves earlier in the game (think Grundy on Cloke). Maybe he could also stop playing our full forward half in the ruck and our full back at full forward.

Yeh, you really know you don't have a forwardline when your Heath is swung to the Forwardline in the last quarter, what was that about, Grunds wasn't ever a very effective forward. Next week he will probably leave TDL in the resies & play Teddy or AJ there, I know Teddy actually does a fair job there, but you know what I mean. Is Longmire an ex-forward who has a complex because he is an ex-forward that he is afraid the perception will be that gives forwards preferential treatment? Maybe he is trying to overcompensate.