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Eels in the media

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2,627
Crawley may or may not have some valid point, but he certainly is a f**kwit.

What on earth does the number of games a player has played matter if he is, as Gutherson is, a genuine leader?

He certainly is a f**kwit.
We spoke with Eels legends Mick Cronin and Peter Wynn about it this week. Both are absolute gentlemen and there was no way they were going to be roped into bagging the current administration or playing roster for this predicament.
He even admits that this is exactly what he tried to do. f**kn grub.
 

hineyrulz

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148,289
He does actually make some pretty good points.

The captain thing is true. We have not had a player at the club for so long that is a true leader. An experienced senior, respected and admired player who the side will play for. Think back to the last one?

Cayless was given the job when he was just a kid and happened to keep it until he retired - but he was never a great leader. Hindmarsh was not a good captain - nor is Mannah.
Dean Pay???
 

Gronk

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Messages
73,548
He does actually make some pretty good points.

The captain thing is true. We have not had a player at the club for so long that is a true leader. An experienced senior, respected and admired player who the side will play for. Think back to the last one?

Cayless was given the job when he was just a kid and happened to keep it until he retired - but he was never a great leader. Hindmarsh was not a good captain - nor is Mannah.

If Mannah is not a good captain - what does make a good captain ? Who is a good captain for example ? Thurston ?
 

Gronk

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Staff member
Messages
73,548
Crawley may or may not have some valid point, but he certainly is a f**kwit.

What on earth does the number of games a player has played matter if he is, as Gutherson is, a genuine leader?

Overrated. What does a captain do anyway ? He does not even decide if they are going to take the two these days. You need players in your club who set a benchmark of loyalty, work ethic and a never say die attitude to winning. They guy who gets the C next to his name is allowed to talk to the ref and has to go to NRL promotions.
 

Poupou Escobar

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84,160
He does actually make some pretty good points.

The captain thing is true. We have not had a player at the club for so long that is a true leader. An experienced senior, respected and admired player who the side will play for. Think back to the last one?

Cayless was given the job when he was just a kid and happened to keep it until he retired - but he was never a great leader. Hindmarsh was not a good captain - nor is Mannah.
The article is comparing a leadership group (which we have, just as the 1980s Eels had) with one of three team captains who happens to be young and inexperienced. The fact Gutherson is captain over other leaders in our squad points more to his standing as a marketing face and influencer with the refs. The players will still respect the leaders within the group. Gutherson as captain (along with Mannah) aren't any more influential than the other members of the leadership group. If they were there would only be one captain.
 

Poupou Escobar

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Messages
84,160
Overrated. What does a captain do anyway ? He does not even decide if they are going to take the two these days. You need players in your club who set a benchmark of loyalty, work ethic and a never say die attitude to winning. They guy who gets the C next to his name is allowed to talk to the ref and has to go to NRL promotions.
Exactly. The captain(s) will surely be members of the leadership group but they are by no means the last word in leadership at a club. And the coach is above all of them anyway.
 

forward pass

Coach
Messages
10,204
If Mannah is not a good captain - what does make a good captain ? Who is a good captain for example ? Thurston ?

Surely he needs to not be a bench player for starters.

Mannah is a good guy and obviously respected amongst the playing group. But when has he lifted to inspire his side, taken the game by the scruff of the neck or rallied his side. That is a leader. He also does not seem to keeps the refs honest.

Good bloke but no leader - same as Hindy, Caylo, Scott etc.
 

Bazal

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Messages
99,406
Surely he needs to not be a bench player for starters.

Mannah is a good guy and obviously respected amongst the playing group. But when has he lifted to inspire his side, taken the game by the scruff of the neck or rallied his side. That is a leader. He also does not seem to keeps the refs honest.

Good bloke but no leader - same as Hindy, Caylo, Scott etc.

Bench vs starter is irrelevant though. Mannah is a leader when he comes on to the field whether that is at kickoff or in the 60th minute. In fact he's probably only got the official 'C' next to his name so that he can talk to the refs because of the ridiculous new rules

I gotta say, too...this insulting "Caylo was a poor leader" crap is such a great example of how Eels fans turn on their own. Looked like a pretty damn good leader winning a world cup with NZ.
 

Poupou Escobar

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Messages
84,160
Surely he needs to not be a bench player for starters.

Mannah is a good guy and obviously respected amongst the playing group. But when has he lifted to inspire his side, taken the game by the scruff of the neck or rallied his side.
It's not his role. There are other leaders in the group whose job it is to do that.
That is a leader.
It's one type of leader. Mannah sets standards all week off the field, not just during the 80 minutes on it. Preparation is massively important to game day.
He also does not seem to keeps the refs honest.
Agreed
Good bloke but no leader - same as Hindy, Caylo, Scott etc.
All good at leading by example but there are other leadership traits that are important too. Guys like Gutherson (and even Norman and Moses) can provide these, just as they may lack in other areas.
 

Gronk

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73,548
Nah - he sucked, right?

I mean, that's what people keep saying, despite overwhelming evidence (including players who played under him saying as much) to the contrary!
Once again it’s a performance based criticism. We never won a comp so he’s a poor leader. Same criticism is leveled at Hindy. The guy made 60 tackles every week, was always the 1st guy at the kick chase, but apparently not a leader. :rolleyes:
 

Eelementary

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56,108
Once again it’s a performance based criticism. We never won a comp so he’s a poor leader. Same criticism is leveled at Hindy. The guy made 60 tackles every week, was always the 1st guy at the kick chase, but apparently not a leader. :rolleyes:

I think people also expect different things from a leader:

Some expect a guy to scream and yell, and carry on like a pork chop, because that shows passion, and shows leadership.

Others expect a cool head under pressure, who leads by example.

I love the comments that Mannah/Cayless aren't good leaders, simply because they "don't inspire" their teams.

I mean, there are several problems with that logic:

(1) a captain's job is not to inspire; it's to be respected by his team, and the refs

(2) if professional footballers need a cheerleading squad to inspire them, then perhaps they are in the wrong profession

(3) how the f**k does anyone know whether Cayless/Mannah/Hindmarsh were or were not inspirational, unless you played under them? Are you basing it solely on results? Because that's just ignorant, tbh.

/rant

Go the Eels.
 

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