Kearney

[forward pass]

We had a problem regardless of changes and it wasn't a problem scoring points . It was a problem of checking out of the game.

Do you think we had no problems scoring points MITS? How many complete halves of football did we go without scoring a point? I reckon 6 or 7.

We had enormous problems scoring points. I can't for the life of me see how you can say anything else. And that is why we lost so many games after leading at the 65th minute - our inability to score points in that crucial period. One more try - even a field goal - against the Panthers, Storm, Roosters and Bulldogs - 4 more wins on the board.

We didn't check out at all. We just didn't have the skill to finish the job.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

what you've just described is typical of a team devoid of options, which is pretty much the eels of 2011.

if you only have one mode of play, once your opposition figures you out, you have nothing (similar to using the same moves repeatedly in a video game). by contrast if your opposition has more than one mode of play, if things aren't working for them they have the luxury of being able to switch to something different to gain an advantage. lack of quality and depth was our downfall. if we fail to deliver some decent quality with the new signings then i'd be asking questions of the coaching staff.

Do you think we had no problems scoring points MITS? How many complete halves of football did we go without scoring a point? I reckon 6 or 7.

We had enormous problems scoring points. I can't for the life of me see how you can say anything else. And that is why we lost so many games after leading at the 65th minute - our inability to score points in that crucial period. One more try - even a field goal - against the Panthers, Storm, Roosters and Bulldogs - 4 more wins on the board.

We didn't check out at all. We just didn't have the skill to finish the job.

Sorry but that is obfuscating the problem. The problem wasn't attack, though at the start of the year it was a problem, at the end of the year and in the games were we lost the lead it was defence. We were caved up like a Christmas ham. Sure one point or one try may have helped, but if you let a 3 try lead disappear, then surely attack is not the problem, defence is.

 

[Delboy]

Mark, you can't overanalyse the problem we had last year

It was easy for the opposition to get outside our centres in the past 15 minutes of a game, they were always vulnerable to a lack of lateral movement given their career in the forwards. as soon as fatigue set in, they were punished for not being specialists. Coupled with wingers who did not defend well inside, there were problems.

At the end of the day,I was often surprised at how close we were, and also disappointed at those games where we threw away leads. I do expect a lot more in 2012, but being realistic it still looks like we may have to wait a couple of years to make another big play at the GF, and at my age that is not a good thing.

At the end of the day, lack of skill in the halves and lack of experienced centres was a killer, you cant defend if you cant kick for field position, that hurts when you are trying to defend leads big time

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Defence as definitely a problem, but on the edges.

Guess where teams are going to attack you when they're behind on the scoreboard.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Mark, you can't overanalyse the problem we had last year

It was easy for the opposition to get outside our centres in the past 15 minutes of a game, they were always vulnerable to a lack of lateral movement given their career in the forwards. as soon as fatigue set in, they were punished for not being specialists. Coupled with wingers who did not defend well inside, there were problems.

At the end of the day,I was often surprised at how close we were, and also disappointed at those games where we threw away leads. I do expect a lot more in 2012, but being realistic it still looks like we may have to wait a couple of years to make another big play at the GF, and at my age that is not a good thing.

At the end of the day, lack of skill in the halves and lack of experienced centres was a killer, you cant defend if you cant kick for field position, that hurts when you are trying to defend leads big time

Maybe but some of the turn arounds weren't through lack of field position, they were though poor tackles in the middle that then got the ball out wide behind our players.

Again we are changing our entire side, but as I said and from the above it seems you agree, there is the potential for this to be a long haul. If it is then we have to think about our options based on what we have seen last year and what we will see in the first 1/3rd of next year.

If it is a drastic turn around, well and good. If not, then questions must be asked.

 

[spiderdan]

mark, when you use stupid words like obfuscating* it pretty much confirms to me that you are out of touch with the real world.

as delboy wrote, you are over-analysing it. i read plenty of your posts and appreciate your in depth knowledge of the behind the scenes stuff to do with club operations but i really think you don't have that much of an idea when it comes to coaching science, tactics or application.

if your previous posts are anything to go by, you are still convinced that our side was mentally weak and that caused us to lose. that just isn't the case. to draw a parallel, our side would be like usain bolt giving me a decent lead over the 100m then mowing me down to beat me. i would be slugging my guts out to get to the line first but at the end of the day i just don't have the ability.








*no, i don't know what it means and i won't look it up because it is a stupid word that people in the real world don't use.

 

[Suitman]

*no, i don't know what it means and i won't look it up because it is a stupid word that people in the real world don't use.

:lol::lol:

Suity

 

[The EELiminator]

i think part of the problem was our poor kicking game & 5th tackle options stopped us from sustaining pressure in the opposition 20 and when they knew they could hold their line against us all they had to do was wait us out which they did

 

[HevyDevy]

mark, when you use stupid words like obfuscating* it pretty much confirms to me that you are out of touch with the real world.

as delboy wrote, you are over-analysing it. i read plenty of your posts and appreciate your in depth knowledge of the behind the scenes stuff to do with club operations but i really think you don't have that much of an idea when it comes to coaching science, tactics or application.

if your previous posts are anything to go by, you are still convinced that our side was mentally weak and that caused us to lose. that just isn't the case. to draw a parallel, our side would be like usain bolt giving me a decent lead over the 100m then mowing me down to beat me. i would be slugging my guts out to get to the line first but at the end of the day i just don't have the ability.

So other teams let us take the lead?

 

[MarkInTheStands]

:lol::lol:

Suity

Thanks to the peanut gallery.

 

[Suitman]

Thanks to the peanut gallery.

It was funny because it was true.

Suity

 

[MarkInTheStands]

mark, when you use stupid words like obfuscating* it pretty much confirms to me that you are out of touch with the real world.

as delboy wrote, you are over-analysing it. i read plenty of your posts and appreciate your in depth knowledge of the behind the scenes stuff to do with club operations but i really think you don't have that much of an idea when it comes to coaching science, tactics or application.

if your previous posts are anything to go by, you are still convinced that our side was mentally weak and that caused us to lose. that just isn't the case. to draw a parallel, our side would be like usain bolt giving me a decent lead over the 100m then mowing me down to beat me. i would be slugging my guts out to get to the line first but at the end of the day i just don't have the ability.








*no, i don't know what it means and i won't look it up because it is a stupid word that people in the real world don't use.

Firstly it means to hide, via confusion and extraneous data.
Next my touch with reality is fine, thanks for asking.
Do I understand coaching, maybe not. But I do understand that we lost, and people saying it was only one thing is over simplifying the issue.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

So other teams let us take the lead?

In a way, yes.

Plenty of those teams we took a lead against had obviously come into the game taking us lightly.

And as Souths' example shows, if teams really wanted to give us a flogging they should have hit us on the edges from the opening whistle. It's not like we had quality defenders out there to stop them.

Instead most of them tried to control the ball, and played us up the guts until they felt like they were going to lose.

 

[born an eel]

In a way, yes.

Plenty of those teams we took a lead against had obviously come into the game taking us lightly.

And as Souths' example shows, if teams really wanted to give us a flogging they should have hit us on the edges from the opening whistle. It's not like we had quality defenders out there to stop them.

Instead most of them tried to control the ball, and played us up the guts until they felt like they were going to lose.

did you watch the souths game, we had holes all over the park,
you should get a bigger tv or actualy go to a game or two

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But I do understand that we lost, and people saying it was only one thing is over simplifying the issue.

Actually it was three things:

1. Edge defence - we couldn't stop teams when they went wide against us

2. Kicking game - we failed to make the opposition work for their field position

3. General attack - in games where we dominated possession we should have been up by 4 or 5 tries, not 1 or 2.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Actually it was three things:

1. Edge defence - we couldn't stop teams when they went wide against us

2. Kicking game - we failed to make the opposition work for their field position

3. General attack - in games where we dominated possession we should have been up by 4 or 5 tries, not 1 or 2.

And in receiving a few messages today. I would say some people think there are 1 or 2 more issues.

Just for Peanut Suit Gallery, not one of them was talking about the Board.

 

[Suitman]

And in receiving a few messages today. I would say some people think there are 1 or 2 more issues.

Just for Peanut Suit Gallery, not one of them was talking about the Board.

Thanks Mark. That's a pleasant change.
BTW, you haven't replied to this.........

Telll me MITS where exactly is the club? You clearly have an opinion.

Suity

 

[Poupou Escobar]

did you watch the souths game, we had holes all over the park

That's what happens when the opposition forces you to spread out in defence - you leave holes somewhere else.

That's why players like Inglis and Vatuvei are able to 'spread the defence'. The fact that teams push defenders out wider on their side of the field means they are less compressed in the middle, which makes things easier for their teammates inside them.

For this same reason, teams were able to compress against us in defence because their outside defenders were easily able to handle our centres and wingers one-on-one.

Next year our props (and our whole attack) will look a lot better because teams won't be able to get numbers in the tackle as often.

you should get a bigger tv or actualy go to a game or two

Yeah? Going to matches clearly hasn't helped your knowledge of the game.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And in receiving a few messages today. I would say some people think there are 1 or 2 more issues.

Just for Peanut Suit Gallery, not one of them was talking about the Board.

Mate, I woldn't trust the word of anyone who sends you messages about the club.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Thanks Mark. That's a pleasant change.
BTW, you haven't replied to this.........



Suity

Have now.