Tom Mitchell

[royboy42]

I'm not too sure what Mitchell has to do to get some sort of wrap from his coach. Been nearly the leading possession getter for two weeks on the trot, making tackles and getting contested possessions.
Says the right things about humility and ' everyone has to earn his place' etc when interviewed after Saturday's match.
But the coach remains non committal about him...almost shrugs off his efforts when interviewers ask about him.
Is there an agenda somewhere here, cos it beats me.
I regard Mitchell as almost a lock for the rest of the season.
Any thoughts?

[Conor_Dillon]

Yeh but when does Horse ever wrap up any of the boys? He's like that no matter who he's talking about, it's just that he's been asked about Tom more than anyone else recently.

[Ampersand]

I agree, royboy. Was disappointed once again by Longmire's very tepid comments.

When Longmire refers to Mitchell it's always something like "He knows how to find plenty of the ball...". The unstated conclusion to that line of thought to me is "...but he doesn't know what to do with it when he does." I think his performance against the Dees puts a pin in that idea. His efficiency and decision making was fantastic.

My only conclusion is that he wants Mitchell to keep working hard on the weaker aspects of his game and is concerned that excessive praise will stunt that development. He's a natural footballer but (this is stupid I know) I do sometimes wonder about the internal politics at the club. Like how hard does he work, does he have the respect of his teammates, has he failed in the past to meet some benchmarks/instructions set by coaching staff etc.

[Doctor]

He also said that he hopes Tom gets an extended run in the side now, so I'd say he's travelling just fine. I think he's just playing it down and making sure Mitchell keeps a lid on it, which maybe he hasn't done in the past?

[Ludwig]

It may be that Horse takes questions about Mitchell's good performance as a criticism of himself for not playing him sooner. There's an implication that all the journo's were right about Mitchell when wondering why he was not getting a game and Horse was mistaken. That may be the reason for his tepid comments.

[royboy42]

He also said that he hopes Tom gets an extended run in the side now, so I'd say he's travelling just fine. I think he's just playing it down and making sure Mitchell keeps a lid on it, which maybe he hasn't done in the past?

But Doctor, even in that quote, the coach is holding back, as if he doesn't really expect his run to continue. And I've followed Mitchell all career cos I saw him at the very start at training and his quality stood out even then. And there is not a more modest, stay in the background type at the Swans.
It just leaves me a bit bemused.

[magic.merkin]

Yeah i'm confused. I think it's a mixture of all the above.

Surely though he has been asked about Heeney and Goodes more than TM?

[erica]

What a coach says to the players directly is more important than what he says publicly. Clubs these days have to speak to the media regularly but there's no reason they have to specify their plans for players nor their true opinions. The media doesn't have a right to know everything, nor do we.

[liz]

What a coach says to the players directly is more important than what he says publicly. Clubs these days have to speak to the media regularly but there's no reason they have to specify their plans for players nor their true opinions. The media doesn't have a right to know everything, nor do we.

Agree with that. And Longmire rarely gets effusive over anyone. At least not publicly.

[royboy42]

OK fair enough..Last word from me on it. but he does speak positively sometimes.
I'm not seeking or expecting effusive Liz, or smothering with praise. He just seems to be holding back.
Anyway, I'm happy to defer to the majority opinion.

[Kelpie_X]

Has anyone on here ever listened to Ross Lyon?

[penga]

As has been discussed, ad nauseum on here, is that Mitchell is a midfield or bust player. So he needs the motor to play there. His injury interruptions has led him to not having the required fitness base to play pretty much permanent midfield. Therefore the one thing that he needs is a continued run in the side, and Longmire wishes for that. I think in its simplicity, Horse has actually highlighted his wish for Tom, and it isn't a throw away line.

[ernie koala]

I agree with Royboy.
I'm also bemused by the 'shrug of the shoulders' type response Horse has given regarding Mitchell.
Then to comment that he "hopes" he can string some games together...
Whilst also referring to team balance, as the major week by week selection criteria.
It's almost as if Horse has him holding onto a senior spot by a mere thread.
I hope it's just what others think...An understated, not very effusive, Horse.

[Aaron]

He couldn't even get a single vote from Horse and Roos in the Aflca?

[Doctor]

But Doctor, even in that quote, the coach is holding back, as if he doesn't really expect his run to continue. And I've followed Mitchell all career cos I saw him at the very start at training and his quality stood out even then. And there is not a more modest, stay in the background type at the Swans.
It just leaves me a bit bemused.

You may be right. I'm just theorising.