Opinion: Focus on the psychology
When your side goes this close, it's easy to shrug off the loss and say 'we can do it next year' however Parramatta needs to address some fundamental deficiencies if 2008 is to be any different to what was served up this year.
On face value, Parramatta should be well-placed next year to at least match this year's result. They retain the bulk of this year's squad and young talents like Inu, Mateo, Cordoba and Hayne all go into next year with far more experience under their belts. Yes, they will miss Timana Tahu, who simply can't be replaced, even by someone as good as Inu but they have enough talent coming through the ranks to suggest that next year can be even more successful than this year.
However, I am worried about Parramatta's ability to address what has been their major failings all year, and which was apparent again, against Melbourne.
Firstly, for all the experience in the Eels side, we do not have the kind of leader who, when backs are to the wall, will take it upon themselves to lift the side and turn the momentum in a game.
We do have some great leaders in Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh. Brett Finch and Mark Riddell lend support but none of these players are high-impact players who's game lends itself to being able to change the flow of the game. The only real high-impact, senior player for Parramatta in 2007 was Timana Tahu and he won't be here next year.
There was no better example of the kind of leadership I'm talking about then what Michael Crocker produced against us yesterday. Don't think that there is any coincidence that Melbourne are undefeated with Crocker in the side. When Melbourne was lurching aimlessly yesterday Crocker came up with some massive plays in both attack and defence which literally turned the game.
Unfortunately for Parramatta our high-impact players are our younger, inexperienced players like Tim Smith, Feleti Mateo and Jarryd Hayne. All these players will be better next year but will they be ready to take on the kind of leadership role that is desperately needed by the club?
I think each of these three players are capable of growing into leaders. Tim Smith shows leadership in spurts, Feleti Mateo showed great leadership potential in last year's Premier League grand final and I liked some of the passion Jarryd Hayne displayed yesterday.
IMO, Michael Hagan needs to have these high-impact players take on far more senior roles next year if we're to go to the next level. They need to realise that when things aren't going well, THEY are the players who the team relies on to turn things around.
Young players can take on this role. Sonny Bill Williams is exactly that kind of leader for the Bulldogs. Smith, Hayne and Mateo need to have their leadership qualities nurtured and fostered so they make the rapid progression in seniority that Williams had made.
Secondly, Parramatta needs to learn how to concentrate for a full eighty minutes. I'm not sure if Parramatta have a sports psychologist on staff, but if they don't, it should be the first priority for next year and if they do, they need to get a new one. It's simply not good enough for a professional sporting team to be so up and down both during the season and during a game. The players need to learn the kind of headspace they need to get into, which enables them to perform as close as possible to maximum effectiveness, for every minute they're on the paddock representing their club.
This is the umpteenth year that Eels fans have had to suffer through a season where every second week there are questions asked about attitude and commitment. It needs to be fixed and fans should expect that they will see their side perform week in, week out. For the most part it wasn't even about effort, it was simply about mental strength and concentration. The Eels showed in recent weeks they are at the same level as Melbourne and Manly yet they finished many wins behind them and based on that, probably didn't deserve to get to the Grand Final.
Parramatta have proven they are as professional a club as any in terms of junior development, training techniques and resources. Unfortunately, none of these things matter if you haven't gotten right the single most important variable in the performance of your team - and that's whats between the player's ears. Hagan has brought a calmness to the club and the player's seem to genuinely enjoy the environment, but something is missing - a degree of ruthlesness or focus - that is inhibiting the type of winning culture that both grand finalists have shown this year. In the review of 2007 and when preparations are made for 2008, that needs to be where our club's attention is directed.
http://www.filthy_spammers.com/
Very interesting read from 1eyeedeel. Makes a lot of sense imo. Just a little X factor is missing.
When your side goes this close, it's easy to shrug off the loss and say 'we can do it next year' however Parramatta needs to address some fundamental deficiencies if 2008 is to be any different to what was served up this year.
On face value, Parramatta should be well-placed next year to at least match this year's result. They retain the bulk of this year's squad and young talents like Inu, Mateo, Cordoba and Hayne all go into next year with far more experience under their belts. Yes, they will miss Timana Tahu, who simply can't be replaced, even by someone as good as Inu but they have enough talent coming through the ranks to suggest that next year can be even more successful than this year.
However, I am worried about Parramatta's ability to address what has been their major failings all year, and which was apparent again, against Melbourne.
Firstly, for all the experience in the Eels side, we do not have the kind of leader who, when backs are to the wall, will take it upon themselves to lift the side and turn the momentum in a game.
We do have some great leaders in Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh. Brett Finch and Mark Riddell lend support but none of these players are high-impact players who's game lends itself to being able to change the flow of the game. The only real high-impact, senior player for Parramatta in 2007 was Timana Tahu and he won't be here next year.
There was no better example of the kind of leadership I'm talking about then what Michael Crocker produced against us yesterday. Don't think that there is any coincidence that Melbourne are undefeated with Crocker in the side. When Melbourne was lurching aimlessly yesterday Crocker came up with some massive plays in both attack and defence which literally turned the game.
Unfortunately for Parramatta our high-impact players are our younger, inexperienced players like Tim Smith, Feleti Mateo and Jarryd Hayne. All these players will be better next year but will they be ready to take on the kind of leadership role that is desperately needed by the club?
I think each of these three players are capable of growing into leaders. Tim Smith shows leadership in spurts, Feleti Mateo showed great leadership potential in last year's Premier League grand final and I liked some of the passion Jarryd Hayne displayed yesterday.
IMO, Michael Hagan needs to have these high-impact players take on far more senior roles next year if we're to go to the next level. They need to realise that when things aren't going well, THEY are the players who the team relies on to turn things around.
Young players can take on this role. Sonny Bill Williams is exactly that kind of leader for the Bulldogs. Smith, Hayne and Mateo need to have their leadership qualities nurtured and fostered so they make the rapid progression in seniority that Williams had made.
Secondly, Parramatta needs to learn how to concentrate for a full eighty minutes. I'm not sure if Parramatta have a sports psychologist on staff, but if they don't, it should be the first priority for next year and if they do, they need to get a new one. It's simply not good enough for a professional sporting team to be so up and down both during the season and during a game. The players need to learn the kind of headspace they need to get into, which enables them to perform as close as possible to maximum effectiveness, for every minute they're on the paddock representing their club.
This is the umpteenth year that Eels fans have had to suffer through a season where every second week there are questions asked about attitude and commitment. It needs to be fixed and fans should expect that they will see their side perform week in, week out. For the most part it wasn't even about effort, it was simply about mental strength and concentration. The Eels showed in recent weeks they are at the same level as Melbourne and Manly yet they finished many wins behind them and based on that, probably didn't deserve to get to the Grand Final.
Parramatta have proven they are as professional a club as any in terms of junior development, training techniques and resources. Unfortunately, none of these things matter if you haven't gotten right the single most important variable in the performance of your team - and that's whats between the player's ears. Hagan has brought a calmness to the club and the player's seem to genuinely enjoy the environment, but something is missing - a degree of ruthlesness or focus - that is inhibiting the type of winning culture that both grand finalists have shown this year. In the review of 2007 and when preparations are made for 2008, that needs to be where our club's attention is directed.
http://www.filthy_spammers.com/
Very interesting read from 1eyeedeel. Makes a lot of sense imo. Just a little X factor is missing.
