Chris Sandow

[Engine]

Im not laying the boot into him here. What the hell has happened to this guy?

Last year, he played off the cuff at every opportunity. Some things worked, some thing didn't. But, at least he had a damn good go and was shaping up to becoming a halfback in the Allan Langer mould. He was great to watch and my main reason for watching Souths.

This year, he has progressively got worse. He looks worried to make an error and plays with negativity. He also does not look happy out there.

I do rate the guy and wish my club had him. But, something is not right. At any other club, he'd be in reserve grade by now.

 

[gong_eagle]

1st player in 09 to 100 missed tackles

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Its pretty clear that second year syndrome has hit this guy. It hits alot of players, some domt ever recover from. Some never get it like Michael Jennings. Jarryd Hayne is one of the best examples of getting over it and very well i might add.

It can be a few things, either he cant handle the expectations of him now, which he never really had last year. It could be he is has gotten big headed and just expects things to happen for him now on the field, forgetting he has to go looking for opportunities. Either way, its something that coach Jason Taylor is not addressing very successfuly.

If he wants Sandow to get past it, he does need to persist with him in first grade and get the team around him to support him, like John Sutton did tonight.

But its not like Sandow is the only player struggling at Souths.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Our extraordinarily conservative structure and game plans are largely to blame.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Our extraordinarily conservative structure and game plans are largely to blame.

Exactly.

The reason second year syndrome exists is because coaches have time to coach that sort of instinctive play out of them while other coaches have enough video to discover weaknesses. Combined it makes for one discontent player.

 

[Patsy]

same thing that happens to all new players in grade who show promise. the opposition start to target them in attack & defence

 

[kia ora storm]

His true ability will be next year to see if he can adjust to current opposition tactics and get back to his old form.

 

[Firedrake]

The rigors of being trampled by 100kg goriillas week in week out has wore him down. His ab-lib is great when on, but this is all the guy offers. He doesn't control/direct the team enough imo, so when his ab-lib is off he's a liability. Wing needs to be halfback. Luke/Falloon are a more than adequate hooker rotation. Not that i'm overly convinced that Luke needs rotating. I could be way off here, but of the bunnies games i've seen this season, including ones over the last month, the bunnies look far more dangerous when both Wing and Luke are on the field. For a plain Jane player, Taylor really does try to get to fancy with his team. I'm not talking about plays, just selections.


Edit: I reckon the kid needed to be dropped back to TYC (if eligable) to get his mojo back. A confident Sandow coming back into a competative bunnies team could've been the spark to get them into the finals.

 

[Firedrake]

Good to see Asotasi and Sutton find some form last night. Both have been horrible of late. Wonder if they can do it against an NRL team.

 

[Firedrake]

lastly

Whats Taylor doing to poor old McPherson? Player of the future this kid. Look at what Bennet is doing with Prior and campare to JT and this kid. Should have stayed a starter imo, was he injured?

 

[hellteam]

Doesn't help Sandow being coached by possibly the World's most boring halfback, Jason Taylor

 

[Broncodr01d]

I don't think the coaching he would be receiving would be doing him any favours. I would love to see him in a Wayne Bennett coached team (look at Bennett has done for another wonder kid in Jamie Soward).

 

[Noa]

Jason Taylor happened.

 

[Titanic]

You can take the boy out of Cherbourg but...

 

[Western_Eel]

Sounds like to much pressure from the coach!

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Doesn't help Sandow being coached by possibly the World's most boring halfback, Jason Taylor

What a fantastic coaching team he'd make with Ivan Cleary.

It'd be workhorses from 1-17 and the few who do show some individual flair will quickly be shafted into positions they shouldn't be playing and their flair will de dulled in the process.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Its pretty clear that second year syndrome has hit this guy. It hits alot of players, some domt ever recover from. Some never get it like Michael Jennings. Jarryd Hayne is one of the best examples of getting over it and very well i might add.

?

Didn't Jarryd Hayne have a celebrated second season where he scored a famous Origin Try and managed a rare RLW 10/10 rating in a game against Brisbane?

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

?

Didn't Jarryd Hayne have a celebrated second season where he scored a famous Origin Try and managed a rare RLW 10/10 rating in a game against Brisbane?

Oh sorry you are right, Jarryd Hayne had his slump in his 3rd year (08). But you do get my point right?

I don't think the coaching he would be receiving would be doing him any favours. I would love to see him in a Wayne Bennett coached team (look at Bennett has done for another wonder kid in Jamie Soward).

I wonder if Bennett would even bother with Sandow. I figure that if Bennett was willing to drop Dave Taylor because of his errors (and lack of improvment on them), I doubt he would tollerate Sandows defencive problems and erratic form.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

?

Didn't Jarryd Hayne have a celebrated second season where he scored a famous Origin Try and managed a rare RLW 10/10 rating in a game against Brisbane?

Jeez, a RLW 10/10 I'm sure that's something the players aspire to :roll:

 

[Big Pete]

He didn't deserve the 10/10 either. He had a great game but it was far from perfect, before he went down injured Hodges was rushing past him as if he was a vacant turn style.

With that said, Hayne still qualified as one of the best wingers in the competition in 2007 - if not the best.

As Tezza said, after the shootings, he was never the same in 2008. Thankfully he's recovered from it and he's the best winger in the competition. Which is a pretty big admission from me considering I really disliked the bloke a few years ago (for such a talent he was incredibly melodramatic).