Early tip: Sandow won't see out his contract

[Poupou Escobar]

Souths lost more games than they won in each of those 3 seasons and have since hardly lost a game in the 2 seasons since.

They must not have had a decent halfback when Sandow was there then.

Given they scored more points than everyone else, if they lost games it was because of poor defence.

How many halfbacks are in their teams for their defence? It is a key attacking position, and most teams have to cover for their halfbacks in defence.

If they weren't prepared to accept that liability no teams would use a halfback. Instead they would just use a strong defender who can kick.

So, you're wrong that Sandow is not a decent halfback. He wore number seven for three years in a club that scored more points than every other club. If their defence was poor it was a team effort, whereas attack is mostly the responsibility of spine players - that's why they get paid the most.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Its a redundant argument with him Chipmunk. He's not interested in the reality of wins and losses, just the breakdown of stats.

How about the reality of a halfback's contribution to his team's attack? If he was in such a massively successful attacking team he can't have been such a dud at the things halfbacks do, can he?

I understand he is a poor defender (as are most number 7s, which is why Kelly, Sandow and Thurston are in the NRL top five for missed tackles), but his contribution to Souths from '09-'11 refutes any argument about Sandow's ability in attack.

Wins and losses are a team effort, or is it Thurston's fault the Cowboys are gash this year?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Probably because we haven't really made any high profile signing since Adam Dykes, though I'd argue Timana Tahu the second time, Justin Poore and Willie Tonga were all worse signings than Sandow.

Poore and Tonga were both good signings who were wrecked by injury. Tahu was a bad signing because he was surplus to requirements - we already had Grothe, Inu, Reddy and Burt on the books. Bringing Tahu in just means we would have had one of them in reserve grade.

It turns out Grothe played f**k all footy that year (2010) so we didn't have too much salary cap in reserve grade, but you don't want to spend so much on depth that at full strength you have expensive first graders playing NSW Cup.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Agreed. The Manly 6 & 7 made him look like a schoolboy.

You haven't noticed that the Manly playmakers only ever receive the ball off the back of a quick play-the-ball?

 

[T.S Quint]

Sandow's contribution to Parramatta in '12-'13 refute your argument somewhat.
Apart from the first 3-4 rounds of this year he has done pretty much nothing.
There aren't many who deny that he has the ability to be a good halfback...but pretty much all those people can see he doesn't have the brains to be one.

Can you teach brains?

 

[bartman]

That moment when you realise once upon a time you made a very wise decision....

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Sandow's contribution to Parramatta in '12-'13 refute your argument somewhat.
Apart from the first 3-4 rounds of this year he has done pretty much nothing.
There aren't many who deny that he has the ability to be a good halfback...but pretty much all those people can see he doesn't have the brains to be one.

Can you teach brains?

If our packed played like manly's pack did last night - how do you reckon sandow would go? I reckon a lot better.

Also Last night:
Reni missed a try which lead to a try
William missed two tackles which lead to two tries
Paulo and Roberts missed a tackle which lead to a try

Four soft tries just there , no wonder we are crap - not much a half back can do.

 

[Ratchy]

Agreed. The Manly 6 & 7 made him look like a schoolboy.

Ok lets do a straight out swap before last nights game of the 7's and see how had the better game....:roll:

 

[Tooooks]

If Keating had Cameron Smiths attitude, professionalism, leadership, ability...

A player can improve their own professionalism and attitude - which is how average players can become above average and how good players can become great players - and I'd hoped that RS might help with that.

Of course, Sandow appears to be a dumb footballer, which probably can't be fixed. He'll see out his contract; who else would you replace him with?

 

[T.S Quint]

If our packed played like manly's pack did last night - how do you reckon sandow would go? I reckon a lot better.

Also Last night:
Reni missed a try which lead to a try
William missed two tackles which lead to two tries
Paulo and Roberts missed a tackle which lead to a try

Four soft tries just there , no wonder we are crap - not much a half back can do.

I reckon a bit better.... maybe.
And that's the thing about Sandow - you just never know if he's going to play well or not. Even when he was at Souths and his forwards were dominating he had awful games.
He could be one of the best players in the game if only he could make the right choices at the right times.

Also, I'm not letting those other blokes off. Not by a long shot. But a lot of the time Sandow contributes to the bad defence. His outside man has to protect him and make up for his poor ability in that area. That let's defenders get on the outside quite easily. Obviously it's not all Sandows fault - the coach should be coming up with a better way to hide him.

 

[Chipmunk]

Given they scored more points than everyone else, if they lost games it was because of poor defence.

How many halfbacks are in their teams for their defence? It is a key attacking position, and most teams have to cover for their halfbacks in defence.

If they weren't prepared to accept that liability no teams would use a halfback. Instead they would just use a strong defender who can kick.

So, you're wrong that Sandow is not a decent halfback. He wore number seven for three years in a club that scored more points than every other club. If their defence was poor it was a team effort, whereas attack is mostly the responsibility of spine players - that's why they get paid the most.

Who have since replaced him and virtually him only and have hardly lost a game.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Who have since replaced him and virtually him only and have hardly lost a game.

And changed coach

 

[Chipmunk]

How about the reality of a halfback's contribution to his team's attack? If he was in such a massively successful attacking team he can't have been such a dud at the things halfbacks do, can he?

I understand he is a poor defender (as are most number 7s, which is why Kelly, Sandow and Thurston are in the NRL top five for missed tackles), but his contribution to Souths from '09-'11 refutes any argument about Sandow's ability in attack.

Wins and losses are a team effort, or is it Thurston's fault the Cowboys are gash this year?

It still doesnt mean that he is the right player to be playing 7 at Parramatta in 2013 or 2014.

 

[lingard]

I seriously believe Sandow will be good next year, when we get some better players around him. He's never going to play origin - he's not in that class. But he's a decent half-back and, with better players around him, I'd prefer him to, say, Luke Walsh, Tyrone Roberts, Robert Lui, Peter Wallace, Curtis Sironen or Nathan Friend. He's not the new Peter Sterling but he'll do, I reckon.

 

[Gary Gutful]

I seriously believe Sandow will be good next year, when we get some better players around him. He's never going to play origin - he's not in that class. But he's a decent half-back and, with better players around him, I'd prefer him to, say, Luke Walsh, Tyrone Roberts, Robert Lui, Peter Wallace, Curtis Sironen or Nathan Friend. He's not the new Peter Sterling but he'll do, I reckon.

I'll run with that. With some decent go-forward he will do the job.

 

[emjaycee]

I seriously believe Sandow will be good next year, when we get some better players around him. He's never going to play origin - he's not in that class. But he's a decent half-back and, with better players around him, I'd prefer him to, say, Luke Walsh, Tyrone Roberts, Robert Lui, Peter Wallace, Curtis Sironen or Nathan Friend. He's not the new Peter Sterling but he'll do, I reckon.

Agree he's not the next Sterlo, so interested in your comparison of him v other Parra 7's.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

I agree Lingard. Good post.

 

[Chipmunk]

I seriously believe Sandow will be good next year, when we get some better players around him. He's never going to play origin - he's not in that class. But he's a decent half-back and, with better players around him, I'd prefer him to, say, Luke Walsh, Tyrone Roberts, Robert Lui, Peter Wallace, Curtis Sironen or Nathan Friend. He's not the new Peter Sterling but he'll do, I reckon.

Id take Friend (or Fien if you meant him) as a 9.

 

[Avenger]

I was all for him signing for us but I just cannot see Sandow seeing out his contract. Last night I watched my only game live all season (out of respect for Hindmarsh) paying particular attention to our number 7. Sandow was awful. Withoubt doubt the worst and dumbest defender I have ever seen. Again for the 100th time he tried a stupid shoulder charge missing completely. I appreciate our forwards were woeful but his organisational ability along with his kicking game were crap.

He has been a massive disappointment in 2012 and I cannot see Stuart persevering with him beyond 2013. Just my gut feel. I sincerely hope I'm wrong but I think Luke Kelly will end up being our number 7 by the middle of 2013.

Bump.

Just out by a few rounds. ;-)

 

[fish eel]

Yeah but how do you feel about Luke Kelly now?