House Keeping...

[PB]

Hi all;

A few house keeping matters for me football and non football related.

firslty non football: I apologise to those of the more social thread orientation that i know longer participate i these threads/PM's etc... Time commitments invarably mean i only have time to jump on, have a look around, occiaionally leave my opinion, then scoot off. So i apologise, but maybe over summer i will have more time.

Now Football. (instigated by the way M.Witt leaving the club, instantly becomes a B.Smith issue)

Few points (my opinion)
Michael Witt has left the club as the club no longer wanted him. Did the kid have an attitude problem? I think, watching his behaviour on field, and the several documented cases of him skipping training etc... would suggest that he did.

Do we need a first grade quality halfback? Of course! Is Michael Witt a first grade quality half? No, at this stage he is nothing more than a fill in half. If he was willing to be that for a couple more years and learn his trade, then he would definatly be worth having, but his behaviour and attitude when returning to ressies, indicates this is not the case.


Next: The theory that "players leave Parra because they don't want to be coached by Brian Smith"... Please if you are going to develop an opinion on this, remember who is the sole, repeat SOLE, person responsible for this theory. R.Hadley. Now if you don't think he has alteria motives in making up such statements, then you are very naive. The fact that so many players have stayed, and so many have joined who have dealt with him at rep level, indicates this to be false. Is everyone going to get along with Brian SMith? Of course not. Do you get along with everyone your involved with in sport/work? I doubt it. It doesnt make them a bad person, nor does it make you, its just a fact of life!

When you develop your opinions, please consider who it is you are listening to when collecting information to make your OWN opinion.

 

[True EEL]

i know players don't get along with BS,
i know BS play favourites

therefore Ray Hadley is not the sole peddler of this paranoia

 

[Eelementary]

Quite frankly, the concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has some merit to it - he goes around signing players and then screwing them over.

Why would anyone want to play under him?

 

[BD5733]

Quite frankly, the concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has some merit to it - he goes around signing players and then screwing them over.

Why would anyone want to play under him?

Then why do players keep coming back?

Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe, Robinson, etc all returned after being coached by Smith.

Morris, Morrison and Tahu also returned to be coached by Smith after he coached them at rep level.

 

[True EEL]

exactly eelementary....and he has a history of signing players over the top of existing stars to piss the existing ones off (either metaphorically or literally)

Hodgson over Schifcofske
Taylor over Marsh
Dykes and MacFadden over Marsh
Riddell over Morris
Marsh, Perenara and possibly Leulaui over Witt

get the picture???

 

[Eels Dude]

For the record I don't think anyone would disagree with the signings of Taylor and Riddell, we needed strength in that area. And McFadden was signed after Marsh had left the club, as had Dykes if I remember correctly.

 

[Eelementary]

Quite frankly, the concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has some merit to it - he goes around signing players and then screwing them over.

Why would anyone want to play under him?

Then why do players keep coming back?

Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe, Robinson, etc all returned after being coached by Smith.

Morris, Morrison and Tahu also returned to be coached by Smith after he coached them at rep level.

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!

Tahu wanted big bucks, as did Pig.

Morrison wanted to play Origin.

Out of the ones you mentioned, Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe and Robinson are the ones who came bac because they want to be here - although they probably did (apart from PJ) get pay rises.

Anyway - that was Smity then. Back then we were at least semi-competive. In 2002 we finished 6th.

Since then we have sucked like donkey's balls.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Just you all remember what you have been saying as you bow down to kiss Brian's ringhole while Nathan Cayless hoists aloft the Telstra Premiership Trophy.

 

[Utey]

Exactly. Iam willing to give Brian one more go to make a go of this.

 

[oldmancraigy]

exactly eelementary....and he has a history of signing players over the top of existing stars to piss the existing ones off (either metaphorically or literally)

Hodgson over Schifcofske
Taylor over Marsh
Dykes and MacFadden over Marsh
Riddell over Morris
Marsh, Perenara and possibly Leulaui over Witt

get the picture???

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Sorry - but this is funny!

You say he signs players over the top of existing stars and then you quote some examples which don't show that!!! As already stated, Marsh was GOOOONE when Dykes and McFadden signed. And Taylor wasn't signed OVER Marsh - rather to TEACH him (and they both ended up in first grade).

But then the best bit - you're saying that Witt is an existing star???????

Come on Ray, sign in under your own name if you're going to troll this forum!!!
I guess signing Pearson was the reason 'existing stars' Heckenburg and Lueluai left as well??

 

[bartman]

The statement that nobody wants to play under Smith is as ludicrous as saying everyone does want to. The truth will clearly lie somewhere in the middle.

Which comes first - a club no longer wanting a contracted player, or a contracted player no longer wanting to be at a club? It's a bit like the chicken and the egg, but either way "successful" clubs don't seem to have (as many of) these attitude problems arising within?

Smith has merits and he has bad points. He is neither all good, nor all evil - again the truth lies somewhere inbetween. I will happy praise and kiss Brian's premiership win should Nathan be hoisting the trophy at the end of 2005, and will be cheering them on to do so.

But given the past 2.5 seasons, my opinion is that the club should be (and maybe is?) working on fixing "whatever" it is happening behind the scenes that has made our contracts and squad and player attitudes so unstable, and some player performances, fitness and motivation less than it should be.

 

[oldmancraigy]

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!

Tahu wanted big bucks, as did Pig.

Morrison wanted to play Origin.

Out of the ones you mentioned, Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe and Robinson are the ones who came bac because they want to be here - although they probably did (apart from PJ) get pay rises.

Anyway - that was Smity then. Back then we were at least semi-competive. In 2002 we finished 6th.

Since then we have sucked like donkey's balls.

Come on - Tahu was offered MORE by Manly (despite Peter Peters pretending they didn't make him an offer :roll: ).

Pigsy is rapt to be playing at Parra. Sure - maybe money was an influence with him - but you ask him and he is thrilled to be playing under Smith.

Morrison was lured to Parramatta by Sterlo - if he just wanted to play rep footy then he may well have signed for another club in Sydney (although the reason he left the Cowboys WAS to play rep footy) - but nobody who wants to play rep footy goes to a situation where they think the coaching set up is hopeless........

 

[oldmancraigy]

But given the past 2.5 seasons, my opinion is that the club should be (and maybe is?) working on fixing "whatever" it is happening behind the scenes that has made our contracts and squad and player attitudes so unstable, and some player performances, fitness and motivation less than it should be.

Right on!

If the players we've got aren't cutting the mustard then there's no sense hanging around with half-quality first graders.

I think this season showed us that a bunch of journeymen could probably get you in the 8 (I think we all agree that if Cayless and Dykes were fit all year we win the extra game or two that was needed) - but those sort of players are NEVER going to become a dominant team.

I'm kinda glad that some of the players who will be decent first graders, but NOT good ones, are being released. It looks painful, but it means that our more talented players get an opportunity, and in the end you really want to give that a shot! (Now if only that was applied to Wags then we'd be well on the way!)

 

[BD5733]

Quite frankly, the concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has some merit to it - he goes around signing players and then screwing them over.

Why would anyone want to play under him?

Then why do players keep coming back?

Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe, Robinson, etc all returned after being coached by Smith.

Morris, Morrison and Tahu also returned to be coached by Smith after he coached them at rep level.

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!

Tahu wanted big bucks, as did Pig.

Morrison wanted to play Origin.

Out of the ones you mentioned, Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe and Robinson are the ones who came bac because they want to be here - although they probably did (apart from PJ) get pay rises.

Anyway - that was Smity then. Back then we were at least semi-competive. In 2002 we finished 6th.

Since then we have sucked like donkey's balls.

So if players leave Parra its because they don't want to be coached by Smith and not anything to do with other clubs offering them more money.

However if players come to Parra it's because they are after the money and has little to do with wanting to be coached by Smith.

Gotcha ;-)

 

[strider]

A few of the facts as I see them:

1. ALL coaches have favourites.

2. Yes some of Smith's roster moves have been disasters - hindsight is a wonderful thing....we have also let go several duds too - no one whinges about that.

3. Taylor over Marsh: Signing Jason Taylor almost helped us to a premiership...If you are going to bitch about that then you have problems.

4. Dykes and MacFadden over Marsh: Dykes was not signed OVER Marsh - the plan was Marsh at half, Dykes at 5/8...of course the Warriors illegally lured Marsh away - the rest is history....as for McFadden - he was signed longgggg after Marsh left (Marsh announced he'd leave at like 12 noon the day of the signing deadline).

5. Hodgson over Schifcofske: Hodgson represented NSW....having him over Shifcofske was a GREAT move.

6. Riddell over Morris: Riddell is a quality player....if you have a problem with him coming then, again I say you have problems....I hope Morris can still be a great player for our club alongside Riddell.

7. Marsh, Perenara and possibly Leulaui over Witt: and all these are worse than Witt?....I like Witty, but he's no star.

8. "the concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has some merit to it"...utter bullshit!....why did we sign so many good players for next season?....Our TOP line players (Hindy, Caylo) WANT to play uner Smithy.

 

[thedux]

I think the most pertinent thing about Witt leaving is that if he was SUPPOSED to be our future HB star, how come Manly are more than likely to play him at 5/8??!!!

 

[JessEel]

i know players don't get along with BS,
i know BS play favourites

therefore Ray Hadley is not the sole peddler of this paranoia

DITTO

Just you all remember what you have been saying as you bow down to kiss Brian's ringhole while Nathan Cayless hoists aloft the Telstra Premiership Trophy.

that ringhole is reserved for you mate, we wouldn't dare take it from you

 

[Eelementary]

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!

Tahu wanted big bucks, as did Pig.

Morrison wanted to play Origin.

Out of the ones you mentioned, Marsh, McKinnon, Grothe and Robinson are the ones who came bac because they want to be here - although they probably did (apart from PJ) get pay rises.

Anyway - that was Smity then. Back then we were at least semi-competive. In 2002 we finished 6th.

Since then we have sucked like donkey's balls.

Come on - Tahu was offered MORE by Manly (despite Peter Peters pretending they didn't make him an offer :roll: ).

Pigsy is rapt to be playing at Parra. Sure - maybe money was an influence with him - but you ask him and he is thrilled to be playing under Smith.

Morrison was lured to Parramatta by Sterlo - if he just wanted to play rep footy then he may well have signed for another club in Sydney (although the reason he left the Cowboys WAS to play rep footy) - but nobody who wants to play rep footy goes to a situation where they think the coaching set up is hopeless........

Look, I am willing to celebrate and pat Brian on his back IF we are succesful on any level in the next few years.

Doesn't change the fact his retention and signing policies (barring this year's) have been woeful, his tactics stale and his ideas a tad queer.

I love my Eels - I love them SO much NOTHING can stop me from watching them and cheering them every week of every year.

That is why I want them to succeed. And whether Brian can or cannot turn it all aroun - well, at this stage nobody knows. If he can, great! Nigh on 9 years of average football to FINALLY win the big one. If not - then he smiply MUST move on.

I WANT IN ON THE PREMIERSHIP SUCCESS.

 

[Eelementary]

A few of the facts as I see them:

1. ALL coaches have favourites.

2. Yes some of Smith's roster moves have been disasters - hindsight is a wonderful thing....we have also let go several duds too - no one whinges about that.

3. Taylor over Marsh: Signing Jason Taylor almost helped us to a premiership...If you are going to bitch about that then you have problems.

4. Dykes and MacFadden over Marsh: Dykes was not signed OVER Marsh - the plan was Marsh at half, Dykes at 5/8...of course the Warriors illegally lured Marsh away - the rest is history....as for McFadden - he was signed longgggg after Marsh left (Marsh announced he'd leave at like 12 noon the day of the signing deadline).

5. Hodgson over Schifcofske: Hodgson represented NSW....having him over Shifcofske was a GREAT move.

6. Riddell over Morris: Riddell is a quality player....if you have a problem with him coming then, again I say you have problems....I hope Morris can still be a great player for our club alongside Riddell.

7. Marsh, Perenara and possibly Leulaui over Witt: and all these are worse than Witt?....I like Witty, but he's no star.

8. "the concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has some merit to it"...utter bullsh*t!....why did we sign so many good players for next season?....Our TOP line players (Hindy, Caylo) WANT to play uner Smithy.

Is it so f**king hard for some of you illiterates to read?

"The concept that nobody wants to play under Smith has SOME merit to it"

It is obviously not completely a load of crap - it has some substance to it!

 

[strider]

Is it so f***ing hard for some of you illiterates to read?

Sorry genius.....I'll book myself into kindergarden again ASAP.


Here I was thinking that that operative word "NOBODY" might have meant something in that sentence of yours...stupid me #-o

Yes - some players don't want to play under Brian Smith.....AND some players didn't want to play under Daniel Anderson (the man many are wanting to come to lead Parra)....AND a bunch of players didn't want to play under Graham Murray and hence he was sacked from Easts - buts he's done perfectly well with the Cowboys this season eh!.....AND I am willing to bet that some players don't want to play under Ricky Stuart, Steve Folkes, Wayne Bennett etc etc.....so frickin what - it happens at all clubs.

Sorry, but your statement that NOBODY wants to play under Brian Smith has no merit in my eyes cos there are plenty who do.