Mann has now had a number of seasons to cement a first grade spot. He does have some good games but overall he can be a liability.
We need big changes to our first grade team and a clean out of our ISP players who offer nothing.
Tend to agree 2010
Doust gave us a coaching mess.
As a parting gesture he could give Demetriou a ring as an act of mercy for us all.
But of course that means a total coaching cleanout that only a departing CEO who has no political back to protect could deliver. Hint.
Do it Peter, and leave renewal as your bold legacy - as should all departing CEO's.
You have to admire the Illawarra half dozen or so on here for their mostly unbridled loyalty to Mary though - Onya boys, I do respect that.
From here in the Canadian Arctic with the tundra howling outside, I have to read between the lines of Forum posts & a bit of media - but sorry to see the boys go down again - I hate it! Maybe everyone in front of us at the end will fall over & we'll do a Cowboys this year.
But I read about 'lack of energy' by the non-SOO players and I think of the inevitable complacency borne of the knowledge of certain selection that comes with being a Mary favourite.
He just won't drop players (unless they're young or the 'outsider' Kurt Mann, whose confidence must be shot after being dropped again for no discernible reason) because political survival for him depends on limiting dissension & murmurings - and not rocking the boat or taking creative (or should I say essential & normal) risks.
Just making the 8 is his benchmark.
Fear of sacking is a great player motivator I would think.
It sure doesn't happen at our club, where the same old retentive team sheet gets trotted out ad nauseum - no new energy via a keen as mustard junior, no renewal, no measured resting of senior players as insurance for the back end of the season.
For Mary it's 'make the 8 & I'm safe'.
His fear is palpable and it's this, along with his own lack of confidence (and intellectually cringeworthy low IQ news conferences) that rubs off onto the players at this time every year. Not the ballsy self assurance of a Bellamy, Bennett or Flanagan (who is my pick for the flag again BTW).
JDB seems to carry the mental burden of this most - if you follow his comments about the team's mental issues come the back end of the season.
But back to my point.
When I'm thinking of complacency of course I'm thinking, like 2010, of our pedestrian & constantly misfiring backline.
If we want a shot at the flag in 2019 changes need to happen there that Mary is psychologically, intellectually and personally incapable of executing - if you get my drift.
It this respect he's just a victim of himself & lack of coaching credentials.
I was going to add experience there, but after 5 yrs he's exhausted that excuse - especially as other rookies have learned the basics far more quickly.
Advice probably goes straight over his head. He seems to inhabit a tunnel-visioned, blinkered world. I've never read so many posts where his 'logic' is seen as so problematic.
I can hear the howls, and they're not wolves, but the cleanout for me has to be the departure of Nighty, Lafai, Aitken & Nene from the backline, despite whatever mitigating stats are out there - because I'm talking complacency, commitment, consistency & technical ability. This team needs game breaking capability & speed to score from broken play from anywhere. Slick passing,acceleration, reliable defence - energy & total desire to bleed for your club FFS
So I'm talking about winning next year with a backline something like: Dufty, Morris, Mann, Herbert, Lomax (and I'm relying on Fittler's good judgement about this kid), Widdop & Hunt.
Field with bench time ( again I see Mary had him in the 20 - a subconscious yearning for more speed?) Of passing interest to those out there deathriding the kid with 'ragdolled' tags?? Tags never applied to lesser (slower but more gifted) statures like Churchill, Les Johns, Sterlo, Mortimer, Lamb, Langer, Thurston & so on??
Anyway I'll cut the rambling and get off that soapbox.
Morris for the experience for the young ones. He just seems the right fit for another flag. The guy bleeds commitment every game, and almost singlehandedly does us over every time we play the Dogs.
Flanagan brings in such experience all the time for one-off title shots ( not 5 yr plans like goof Gould). And not 2nd rate security blanket hacks & journeymen.
FMD Latimore - given so much latitude over Lawrie or Kerr?
So how about Field ( yeah I know, here I go again) to interchange with Hunt, depending on the circumstances & Demetriou's ( I know it's dreaming) Plan B options, as he knows most of these guys' capabilities via ISP & Broncos.
For example Hunt to 9 during some games to mix up a faltering attack & exploit a tiring defence. I mean,FMD, if it's good enough for Bennett & Walters using Hunt as a 9 occasionally then that'll do me.
Inject Aitken/Nene ( who would get the desired rocket up the arse when dropped) from the bench - a bench which should be used far more judiciously ( how loosely I use that word) to counteract the periods of flatness & disinterest (FMD!!!) I'm reading about?
Does Mc Gregor know what LINESPEED actually means/does?
Does he instruct his players to back up the ball carrier ( under 8 stuff).
Does he ever fuc*in challenge his players' performances in a Bellamy-like way occasionally?
Does he ever man up with tough decisions on selection?
Does he, more importantly, select rigorously on form?
And so on .... sometimes you just hanker for a grownup in charge ...
