Does Brad Arthur deserve the hype?

[Ashley Schaeffer]

Very reluctant to blame the coach as he just doesn't have the cattle to succeed.

It's hard to carry a half back who is completely useless defensively and doesn't know what he's doing when he has the ball let alone 1 or 2 plays ahead.

Our attack lacks any sort of cohesion at all, but realistically we haven't had the same backline on the field all year and the key to our backline (and 1.5mil of our cap) walked out without enough time to replace him.

Which leads to the next point this team isn't just hurting because of the hole $1.5mil of our cap not being there has left, it's hurting because the team was built around Hayne. He took play making pressure off Sandow when required and had the ability to catch up to whatever shit Sandow was doing. Hayne was severely under rated for just how good he was.

We struggle with the fundamentals which has left the coaching staff an enormous task. Whilst our players are still grasping showing up to play every week and the ability to back up a physical performance, other teams are showing different things in defence. Other teams will have the technique of holding the man up while another drives the man back forcing drop outs etc... we can't do that even when the player starts from his own in goal. It's all one out efforts.

Our captain is one of our least effective players and has the body language on the field like he's given up.

Bugger it I can't be bothered writing anymore, this team is mud.

 

[Bazal]

IMO they look like they've never met before at times.

Now, part of that may well be because Sandow just doesn't communicate - but our defense looks uncoordinated, and our attack lacks variation.

You're right in saying our halves are dreadful, though.

I truly hope I'm wrong, but I'm starting to feel he's not the right coach for us.

We crucify coaches at Parramatta, simple as that. Hagan was a muppet, but he got us to the finals. Anderson took us to a grand final, sacked next year to much rejoicing. Kearney was rubbish, but again, sacked to much rejoicing. Every little thing is the coaches fault.

He cannot manufacture a playmaking fullback to fill the gaping void left by Jarryd Hayne. He cannot make Sandow a controlling halfback. I believe that's why he persists with Sef, in the (IMO mistaken) belief that having the extra ball player alleviates this. He cannot make Norman a creative half. Again, I believe this plays a part in carrying Sef. He cannot make Sandow, a career ad lib footballer, play to a set structure. He is a rookie coach. He's made mistakes. I think we'd be far better off bashing sides with our pack, which has the potential to be very good if we change our bench. Then again, BA cannot physically be on the field and prevent Junior Paulo from dropping a guy on his head.

We need a controlling half, and we need a good short kicking game. He's gone out and signed Kieran Foran. We need some starch in the pack defensively and a calm head, he's gone out and signed Beau Scott. We need some class in the fullback position, he is actively chasing Alex Johnston who is probably the best option on the market. We need some class in the three quarters, he's chasing Daniel Tupou. We won't get both, obviously, but the point remains. What else can he do? Drop Sandow maybe, but for whom? Luke Kelly? Beau Henry? He'd be crucified by the same idiots giving him shit for persisting with him...ultimately, his one mistake is his bench selection, but that isn't costing us games and it isn't worth the shit he cops from some sections

 

[Avenger]

apart from moeroa, who else deserves a spot?


no saying i like the side - but what else do we have?

Strides

We need something better outwide. I may be shot down but I would give Goodall a run. I know he hasn't set the world on fire but he has some quality about him. I'd give him a shot at centre or wing.

Pauli should go in for Degois. Degois only play 20 min today and Pauli would offer more.

 

[Bazal]

apart from moeroa, who else deserves a spot?


no saying i like the side - but what else do we have?

Nothing until Junior is back. Then, yes, I'd like to see Junior and Tepai on the bench. Or perhaps Taka to the bench with Toutai in the centres. But that won't change our attacking issues in the opposing 20.

 

[Bazal]

Strides

We need something better outwide. I may be shot down but I would give Goodall a run. I know he hasn't set the world on fire but he has some quality about him. I'd give him a shot at centre or wing.

Pauli should go in for Degois. Degois only play 20 min today and Pauli would offer more.

Pauli went off with a f**king burner after two carries last week and wouldn't come back on! He can toughen the f**k up before he gets another shot, thanks.

Toutai deserves a shot before Goodall IMO.

We miss the shit out of Kenny Edwards. He's a tough bastard.

 

[Parra47]

The problem is that we have been coping the same inconsistent poorly performing first grade team for 30 years. Yes we've had a few better years here and there, but only a handfull and when we do have a better year, the following year we usually fall in a heap again. We have been bog average for longer than some posters on here have been alive.
Its about the overall squad that is assembled every year. We have had such terrible talent identification for retaining and signing players. We have an, "oh well maybe next year' culture in our club where constantly successful clubs are so consistently successful because they simply have better people running their clubs.

 

[strider]

Strides

We need something better outwide. I may be shot down but I would give Goodall a run. I know he hasn't set the world on fire but he has some quality about him. I'd give him a shot at centre or wing.

Pauli should go in for Degois. Degois only play 20 min today and Pauli would offer more.

yeah i've got no idea what is expected to happen with degois on the bench until mid second half - it baffles me

yeah maybe goodall could be worth a shot .... i actually thought hoppa+morgan did ok today - the other side of the field got destroyed

 

[Bazal]

The problem is that we have been coping the same inconsistent poorly performing first grade team for 30 years. Yes we've had a few better years here and there, but only a handfull and when we do have a better year, the following year we usually fall in a heap again. We have been bog average for longer than some posters on here have been alive.
Its about the overall squad that is assembled every year. We have had such terrible talent identification for retaining and signing players. We have an, "oh well maybe next year' culture in our club where constantly successful clubs are so consistently successful because they simply have better people running their clubs.

And yet we've signed a NZ international, and two incumbent Origin players, and are targetting a current Kangaroos winger/fullback and an incumbent Origin winger.

Watmough hasn't set the world on fire, granted, but I think Arthur is already the best recruiter we've had since Smiths 2005 spending spree.

 

[Parra47]

And yet we've signed a NZ international, and two incumbent Origin players, and are targetting a current Kangaroos winger/fullback and an incumbent Origin winger.

Watmough hasn't set the world on fire, granted, but I think Arthur is already the best recruiter we've had since Smiths 2005 spending spree.

And yet we are at the bottom of the table yet again. If you honestly think signing another elderly back rower, who's team got pumped by last placed Manly today, a winger and Foran will make us a grand final contender, your having a massive lend of yourself. We need a lot more than those three.

 

[Bazal]

And yet we are at the bottom of the table yet again. If you honestly think signing another elderly back rower, who's team got pumped by last placed Manly today, a winger and Foran will make us a grand final contender, your having a massive lend of yourself. We need a lot more than those three.

Who should we sign, then, supercoach?

 

[Parra47]

I'm a fan of BA and think he can coach, but he needs a much better squad than we have, that he is helping assemble.

 

[Parra47]

Read some of my other posts, there are a lot of quality players out there who I believe would improve our squad massivly. I've named close to 30 players we could pick from.

 

[Bazal]

I'm a fan of BA and think he can coach, but he needs a much better squad than we have, that he is helping assemble.

That's what I'm saying

Look, will Foran alone make a difference? Yes. Will Scott alone make a difference? Maybe. Will a classy back make a difference? Absolutely.

Put the three together and it addresses most of what we lack. The rest is attitude (and a fullback, if we miss Johnston). Scott is a renowned pack leader and hard worker, Foran is a very good leader and IMO the best five-eighth in the world. It's not just what they offer in playing ability, they are excellent signings. Watmough to a lesser extent, as he's dumb as a post and leads by example, which is hard when the side is playing shit but should hopefully be evident with Scott and Foran around.

 

[Avenger]

I still think DCE would have been a better fit for us.

 

[Bazal]

I think DCE is a spoilt little shit, tbh. We have plenty of those. Foran is the gutsy, smart, hard working footballer we need.

 

[Eelogical]

I think DCE is a spoilt little shit, tbh. We have plenty of those. Foran is the gutsy, smart, hard working footballer we need.

I see no real "team" improvement no matter who we have signed in coaching or playing personnel since 2009. Foran will most likely become one of the devoured ones unless there is a major mental adjustment in the club. My opinion only.

 

[BennyBoy]

I see no real "team" improvement no matter who we have signed in coaching or playing personnel since 2009. Foran will most likely become one of the devoured ones unless there is a major mental adjustment in the club. My opinion only.

No it's mine as well.

 

[Bazal]

I see no real "team" improvement no matter who we have signed in coaching or playing personnel since 2009. Foran will most likely become one of the devoured ones unless there is a major mental adjustment in the club. My opinion only.

I think BA is the first coach to attempt that. I really do. Hagan and Anderson basically let the players loose, it worked with the squad we had but when we were worked out we had no fall back. Kearney thought a game plan was something you introduced in the fifth year of a five year plan, Sticky talked a big game but really seemed to have no plan for the future.

People think Arthur is boring for being fixated on seemingly petty things like completion rates and missed tackles and penalties. I'm glad he is. The very first step to winning a footy game is valuing the damned ball. It might seem remedial, but it really is the focus on the basics that makes the top teams great and we have lacked that for years. We've lacked discipline and we've lacked respect and the willingness to earn the right to attack. It's a basic cornerstone of attitude, and I think it's both a sign of a coach who wants to change the attitude of the side, and a sign of how f**ked up this club actually got. Arthur genuinely for me seems to want to change the attitude of the side from the ground up. No other coach has given me that impression.

 

[Eelogical]

He's taking his f**king time about it.

 

[Eelementary]

I think BA is the first coach to attempt that. I really do. Hagan and Anderson basically let the players loose, it worked with the squad we had but when we were worked out we had no fall back. Kearney thought a game plan was something you introduced in the fifth year of a five year plan, Sticky talked a big game but really seemed to have no plan for the future.

People think Arthur is boring for being fixated on seemingly petty things like completion rates and missed tackles and penalties. I'm glad he is. The very first step to winning a footy game is valuing the damned ball. It might seem remedial, but it really is the focus on the basics that makes the top teams great and we have lacked that for years. We've lacked discipline and we've lacked respect and the willingness to earn the right to attack. It's a basic cornerstone of attitude, and I think it's both a sign of a coach who wants to change the attitude of the side, and a sign of how f**ked up this club actually got. Arthur genuinely for me seems to want to change the attitude of the side from the ground up. No other coach has given me that impression.

You speak a lot of sense, mate.