BRIAN SMITH MEDIA CONFERENCE - ROUND 4

[The Colonel]

BRIAN SMITH MEDIA CONFERENCE - ROUND 4
03/04/04
Q - BRIAN YOU CERTAINLY MADE A GAME OF IT THERE IN THE SECOND HALF?
A - Yes we did. There were some patches of the game there that we matched them and some patches there that we shaded them but they got that good start again and it was always going to be tough from there.

Q - WERE YOU PLANNING FOR AN EARLY ONSLAUGYHT?
A - I think every team plans for an onslaught every week. We were trying to do the same. They executed really well. I thought they looked as good as they did at anytime last season. I think we'v eimproved a bit - the last time we were here we had the cutters put through us, tonight we fought on well and got ourselves back into the game with some good determination - not such good execution. There were some critical moments of the game where we fialed to aim up - there were other moments where he fought on well and showed some good signs - but we failed too many of the early tests.

Q - WHAT IS THE STORY ON RONALD PRNCE?
A - Ronald suffered a knee injury, the doctor thinks it might only be sprained but we won't know for usre until the results of some scans.

Q - NO OTHER INJURIES BRIAN?
A - No, I don't think so - there are some tired and disappointed boys in there.

Q - ERIC GROTHE DID SOME GOOD THINGS AGAIN?
A - Yes he was really good. Everyone knows what Eric can do in regards to those bulldozing runs that make everyone else look a bit ordinary at times - the best part about Eric for all of us is that he has played 4 really solid games of football, which hasn't really been in Eric's bag of tricks in recent memory. He is realy enjoying himself and doing a good job for us.

 

[Eels Dude]

My only comment is that I don't think Smith should be comparing last weekend's game with the belting we got down there last year. Both were very dissapointing efforts and anything less than an improvement on last year would have been diabolical.

 

[The Colonel]

Firstly - we did some good things in the game and kept it a lot more respectable than it could have been. Even Goose Gould said things are starting to look brighter for the Eels based on Saturday's performance - going that this was the bloke that wrote us off hopefully this is a good thing.

I think we've improved a bit - the last time we were here we had the cutters put through us, tonight we fought on well and got ourselves back into the game with some good determination - not such good execution.

The guys are playing with determination for sure but Brian you have to get some blokes in who are able to execute a damn sight better then the ones you have in first grade. Muspratt, Witt, Pai and possibly Thorman have to be considered this week.


Have to agree on Eric. He has been going well and looks like taking a bag of tries sometime soon.

Gotta say I'm not happy about the way we played either but last week half the people on this board were almost praising Smith. Remember the Canberra side came close to beating the Panthers not that long ago only to go down to an intercept where they could well have scored themselves. The Canberra side are a good side - the main thing we didn't do was control the play the ball and we let them get too much good ball out of dummy half.

I agree that Petersens' defence was not good on the night, two weeks ago v Brisbane it was much better so Smith can't be criticised for picking him on the form he was in. When he was pushed out wide with O'Dwyer in the centres the side looked a lot more balanced.

Some of the boys have to take a long hard look. They were grabbing at shirts whereas Wiki and the rest of his mob were in putting them on their backs.

If the ball had of been held the score line may well have been very different however it wasn't. We build from where we are and over the coming weeks we should be able to build well.

 

[Eels Dude]

I don't know what Gould saw on saturday that things were brightening. Easily more negatives than positives to take out of the match.

 

[parralight]

Its NOT good enough for Brian to say .. we went OK in the second half or we went better than we did last year.
Thats the problem with Brian - he accepts half assed performances.

Sorry folks - the sooner we get a coach that fires up this team and wont settle for crap the better we will go , sometimes we play like we are half asleep.

I read today that now Brian has them fired up in the warm up !!! Wow - this means that in the preceeding years what we went on asleep ???

It really cuts me when we have the talent and it just isnt utilised properly.

 

[parralight]

A press conference Id like to see

Q - BRIAN YOU CERTAINLY MADE A GAME OF IT THERE IN THE SECOND HALF?
A - So ? ... The game is played in two halves. We may have played well in some patches but we were awful in others.

Q - WERE YOU PLANNING FOR AN EARLY ONSLAUGYHT?
A - Well that WAS the plan but the team didnt deliver it.

Q - WHAT IS THE STORY ON RONALD PRNCE?
A - Ronald suffered a knee injury, the doctor thinks it might only be sprained but we won't know for usre until the results of some scans.

Q - NO OTHER INJURIES BRIAN?
A - No, I don't think so - there are some tired and disappointed boys in there.

Q - ERIC GROTHE DID SOME GOOD THINGS AGAIN?
A - Yes he was really good. Its about time some of the other players had a good look at themselves and showed some pride in the parra jersey or maybe its about time I picked specialist players in their specialist positions..... nah.. Im thinking of something completely different - If you play badly Ill keep you in the team but try you in another position - maybe by the end of the year we will sort something out.

 

[wittyz chick]

Its a coaches job to be positive otherwise whats the point of training the team if your negative.
You say you wanna coach that fires the team up...somehow we can win the 2nd half BUT you dont think that Brian has fired them up at halftime. He (probably) and we know that there were times in the game were Parra could have capitilised but they didnt so... thats what training is for and if it dont come through in the next week so... you cant learn everything in one week it takes time and comitment and patience (which I dont think some of you have) relax ... this is not a matter of life or death it is footy these players are doing things they love and trying to bring entertainment and how do you think they feel if your bitching and moaning about them do you think that'll make them feel better? NO
Since at times yeah we do drop the ball but we play exciting footy then as well and if you dont find THAT entertaining then i think somethings wrong
LETS GET BEHIND THE BOYS AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT AGAINST SOUTHS THEY NEED TO BE FIRED UP SO LETS GIVE THEM A GOOD WELCOME WHEN THEY RUN ONTO PARRA STADIUM...please

 

[wittyz chick]

sorry but I had to get that off my chest

 

[parralight]

Thats OK ... That was exactly what I was doing.. venting .... not to be confused with not getting behind the players ..... Comprende ?