I bit off more than I could chew at Eels - Kearney

[emjaycee]

Anymore than zero hasn't been a good investment. What makes the dollar quality is not the amount, it's what it was used to purchase.

The numbers are irrelevant.

Ok, so lets assume for discussion sake that Sandow and Roberts were both hired on minimum wage ($80k). Would you say that was still not a good investment?

 

[IFR33K]

How much did he spend on each of these please?

EDIT: Oh and a link to either the ATO, their Player Agents books or a scanned copy of their contract will suffice as proof in this case.

So it's safe to say you agree with poo poo, and our squad is in good shape with plenty of salary cap space?

So I'm assuming you know what all the players are on and may have a scanned copy of their contracts as proof of this.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Anymore than zero hasn't been a good investment. What makes the dollar quality is not the amount, it's what it was used to purchase.

The numbers are irrelevant.

How does this make sense? Clubs need a squad of about 35 players. They can't all be quality first graders or they wouldn't all fit under the cap.

It stands to reason then that less will be expected of some players than others, and those players will be paid less. Therefore a high quality backup (one capable of playing 20+ games) on $70k is a better investment than an ex-star giving ordinary performances for $350k.

 

[emjaycee]

So it's safe to say you agree with poo poo, and our squad is in good shape with plenty of salary cap space?

So I'm assuming you know what all the players are on and may have a scanned copy of their contracts as proof of this.

Actually I have NFI what any of these players are actually on however I am not naive enough to believe all the shit i read in the paper or wherever it is that people get their information from. And I don't care what they are on.

I also do not blindly follow the views of what supporters of this or any other club say about player x or y, but I do listen to the views of people I respect, people that have a standing in the game and people that know a lot more about RL than I ever will. And of the 3 names thrown out there by Sphagnum I think only Sandow has received any real support.

Do I agree with Pou Pou about the shape of our squad? Partially yes - because I think he is right in saying that we have a squad that has its best years in front of it (in the main) and not behind it, which is where it was at the start of 2010. More so in the forwards where we have been 'weak' and lacking mongrel for about 6 years (and before I get flamed, I loved Cayless, Hindy, Smith and Fui but for some reason we consistently seemed to be dominated in the forwards regardless).

Is this all Kearney's doing - no, not all however a part of it is without doubt and that can't be argued given who was signed while he was here.

I have no idea where we truly sit with regard to cap space - we obviously have some room given we are still signing players and haven't yet announced Jennings and Toupou for 2013 :roll:

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So it's safe to say you agree with poo poo, and our squad is in good shape with plenty of salary cap space?

So I'm assuming you know what all the players are on and may have a scanned copy of their contracts as proof of this.

We know we have plenty of contract space because of the established players we were chasing this year.

I expect Stuart to re-sign a few of our younger players before the start of next year though, and their upgrades will limit how much is left over. But the room we have in our cap will allow us to re-sign the ones we want to keep before other clubs get a shot at them.

 

[IFR33K]

We know we have plenty of contract space because of the established players we were chasing this year.

I expect Stuart to re-sign a few of our younger players before the start of next year though, and their upgrades will limit how much is left over. But the room we have in our cap will allow us to re-sign the ones we want to keep before other clubs get a shot at them.

Has it ever occurred to you we have salary cap space for 2013 because the cap is going up? Or should we be thankful toward SK for that luxury.

The only logical reason we have a youngish squad is because SK couldn't entice the more experienced and established players, regardless of the $$$ thrown there way.

 

[Sphagnum]

I wasn't claiming to know what they were on or that they were getting more than they should. I was merely stating that I don't believe the quality of recruitment from Kearney is any better or worse than his predecessor and that I don't agree he has left us in better shape than he found us.

Does that clear up what I was saying?

 

[emjaycee]

I wasn't claiming to know what they were on or that they were getting more than they should. I was merely stating that I don't believe the quality of recruitment from Kearney is any better or worse than his predecessor and that I don't agree he has left us in better shape than he found us.

Does that clear up what I was saying?

It does nicely thanks - and I will agree to disagree on Sandow but for what its worth, I never rated Roberts as a long term solution (neither did Kearney) or Esi Tonga. I just don't think we paid much for either and they didn't hurt the squad balance seriously.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Has it ever occurred to you we have salary cap space for 2013 because the cap is going up? Or should we be thankful toward SK for that luxury.

Clubs have been aware for a long time what next year's cap will be. This is why we see clubs showing evidence of cap pressure (i.e. releasing players or losing them to other clubs) this year.

The only logical reason we have a youngish squad is because SK couldn't entice the more experienced and established players, regardless of the $$$ thrown there way.

While it's true that shit clubs have to pay overs for stars (because money is all they can offer), everyone has a price. That's why previous wooden spooners were able to sign a bunch of established first graders, albeit on inflated contracts.

To Kearney's credit he refused to offer overs and focused on youth. Because one thing a weak club can offer more than a strong club is opportunity to play first grade. And as we continually see, young players can become stars almost overnight. Established (and highly priced) mature first graders don't usually have much improvement in them, so they offer no chance of 'beating' the salary cap, in the same way as a youngster on $100k who suddenly starts playing like he's worth $300k+

 

[IFR33K]

It does nicely thanks - and I will agree to disagree on Sandow but for what its worth, I never rated Roberts as a long term solution (neither did Kearney) or Esi Tonga. I just don't think we paid much for either and they didn't hurt the squad balance seriously.

You know for fact SK didn't rate Roberts? It makes it a very odd signing, if he doesn't rate the guy.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You know for fact SK didn't rate Roberts? It makes it a very odd signing, if he doesn't rate the guy.

He didn't rate him as a long-term solution. That's why he only signed him for two years.

We needed someone who could create line breaks, and Roberts was one of the few blokes available. If Kearney really rated him he would have picked him in the Kiwi side and signed him to a longer contract like Sandow.

 

[Sphagnum]

He didn't rate him as a long-term solution. That's why he only signed him for two years.

We needed someone who could create line breaks, and Roberts was one of the few blokes available. If Kearney really rated him he would have picked him in the Kiwi side and signed him to a longer contract like Sandow.

I predict we won't see much of Roberts next year unless Stuart can perform the same miracle that Hasler did on Kris Keating and turn him into a competent first grader.

I remember watching Keating play half for us and fail at football fundamentals (feeding scrums so we win, finding touch on penalties, kicking the ball in another direction besides backwards)

Although Roberts doesn't get the same opportunities, you can clearly see that for all the brilliance that exists, there lacks the ability to do the simple things correctly on a consistent basis.

He has talent that kid, he just doesn't know how to harness it into becoming a complete footballer.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

One on one he's as good an attacker as anyone in the game. If he was bigger he'd probably make a good centre.

He also has a good boot and a decent passing game. But his lapses in concentration have really hurt his career.

 

[Avenger]

To Kearney's credit he refused to offer overs and focused on youth. Because one thing a weak club can offer more than a strong club is opportunity to play first grade. And as we continually see, young players can become stars almost overnight. Established (and highly priced) mature first graders don't usually have much improvement in them, so they offer no chance of 'beating' the salary cap, in the same way as a youngster on $100k who suddenly starts playing like he's worth $300k+

If you knew the details and backloading of Sandow's contract you would finally shut the f**k up. Kearney never had an idea. I'd hate to think what Hoppa's deal is worth.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If you knew the details and backloading of Sandow's contract you would finally shut the f**k up. Kearney never had an idea. I'd hate to think what Hoppa's deal is worth.

Still full of shit I see.

Sandow is one of the best attacking halves in the game. But like any halfback he's not as good behind a weak pack.

 

[emjaycee]

You know for fact SK didn't rate Roberts? It makes it a very odd signing, if he doesn't rate the guy.

From what i was told by a reliable source Roberts was bought out of necessity and came at a price that reflected the view the coaching staff at that time.

 

[IFR33K]

Still full of shit I see.

Sandow is one of the best attacking halves in the game. But like any halfback he's not as good behind a weak pack.

Sandow's attacking game is good, but thats only 1 aspect of a halfbacks game.

He lacks in decision making, passing and organizational skills . I just dont see him being the long term solution required to build us into a premiership threat. On top of all his faults, God knows how much salary cap he is eating up.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

That sure is bizarre that we bought a half we didn't rate. Kearney sure was a thinker.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Bennett bought Albert Kelly, and he obviously doesn't rate him.

Some players are signed just for depth.

 

[IFR33K]

That sure is bizarre that we bought a half we didn't rate. Kearney sure was a thinker.

And for two years, not one.