Michael Vella

[Eelementary]

OK. Some of you need to take a chill pill.

I agree - Vella's performances aren't always brilliant. But to question his loyalty? To make personal attacks on him? Grow up.

Anyone who knows Micky knows he loves this club. And he probably would take a pay-cut just to stay.

And you know what? I believe there are good reasons why he doesn't always perform:

* I haven't seen a game he's played where he hasn't gotten absolutely creamed by the defence

* He's always playing with niggling injuries

* When he's good, he's great, but even then he is NOT our go-to man, and yet he is used as such.

If you want proof that he has heart, just look back at the Manly game @ Parra, where he came from nowhere to chase Donald.

"King" Hindy and co. just stood there like stunned mullets.

 

[William Hung]

"King" Hindy and co. just stood there like stunned mullets.

'King Hindy' watched from the Grandstand like a stunned mullet. He missed that game through Origin duty.

Any more flashbacks?

 

[Eelementary]

"King" Hindy and co. just stood there like stunned mullets.

'King Hindy' watched from the Grandstand like a stunned mullet. He missed that game through Origin duty.

Any more flashbacks?

Oops.

Guess I put my foot in my mouth. :lol:


But the point is still the same - not even Burt made that much of an effort, and he is quicker than Vella.

 

[Belly in Brisvegas]

And you know what? I believe there are good reasons why he doesn't always perform:

* I haven't seen a game he's played where he hasn't gotten absolutely creamed by the defence

* He's always playing with niggling injuries

* When he's good, he's great, but even then he is NOT our go-to man, and yet he is used as such.

If you want proof that he has heart, just look back at the Manly game @ Parra, where he came from nowhere to chase Donald.

"King" Hindy and co. just stood there like stunned mullets.

One point at a time here....

* Pull a front rowers job spec out from the filing cabinet...I think it will say somwhere that there is a fair chance they will be creamed by the defence.

* Who isn't playing with niggling injuries in the NRL, particularly a front row forward...look at Webcke, Ryles and co.

* Once again the man is an ex-Test and origin rep. I believe the "go to" men in a footy side are the halves but if Vella is not an example of a "go to" man in the forwards I don't know what is. I have said it before that a man of his size and supposed talent should be KILLING them.

* I think it is inspirational to chase down a winger who is faster but I would be looking for better examples of heart from a front row forward ie. when Webcke played the GF qualifier against us in 2000 with a not fully healed broken arm....that's heart.

* Hindy might have been buggered from doing all of Vellas' work. ;-)

 

[Eelementary]

I agree that all front rowers get creamed.

But I think Vella gets creamed even more - ask the other NRL props who is the softest and funnest to smash, they'll probably say Vella. I think he gets 'extra attention'.

He should be our go-to man, but he's not - a go-to man needs to be reliable, safe and cool under pressure. Hindy and Dykes.

 

[Misty Bee]

Vella worked well in 2001 because we had a lightening quick dummy half (Drew) - thus giving us an advantage in attack momentum. Under the dominant tackle rule, speedy lightweights like Vella are at a disadvantage.

Example, we all bag Vella if he plays bad. Fair cop. But if Stapleton plays 'as bad' we say he is trying. I like Stapleton, but he ain't Dean Pay, nor is Vella. We look to Vella as our forward leader, when he isn't. Cayless is our forward leader, and when there's no Cayless, there's no leader. Hindy doesn't step into those shoes. Wagoin tries, but is useless. Periodically, a new boy like Hopkins last year, or Pearson, will try and fill the void. But in reality - half a season Cayless aside - we have not had a forward leader since Dean Pay retired.

 

[Belly in Brisvegas]

I like Stapleton, but he ain't Dean Pay, nor is Vella.

....and Stapleton is not Vella which emphasises my point that Vella, besides Hindy and Cayless when he is there, are our forward leaders.

Vella should be intimidating but he simply isn't.

 

[William Hung]

Vella should be giving you the same stuff week in week out.

i.e 15-20 hit ups for 150+ metres

15 + tackles

Thats what is expected of the starting front row forward at most clubs. When was the last time Vella did 2 effective hit ups in one set.

Yes he lifted against the Rooters and to a lesser extent the Cowboys- but he has to find the consistency and durability to do it every week. Front row is the simplest position to play- sure you get smashed but you're generally one of the biggest guys on the field- just bash it up repeatedly.

 

[The Colonel]

I think its safe to say that Vella doesn't lay a platform for the other forwards to follow but works better off the platform that the other forwards have laid. ;-)

At the moment our forwards don't lay the platform every week.

 

[William Hung]

I think its safe to say that Vella doesn't lay a platform for the other forwards to follow but works better off the platform that the other forwards have laid. ;-)

At the moment our forwards don't lay the platform every week.

I don't know- generally when Michael Vella plays well we play well.

What came first? The chicken or the egg? ;-)

 

[The Colonel]

True - which generally means the forwards are laying a platform and getting him into the game. As the Bee said Vella was at his best in 2001 with quick service out of dummy half allowing him to get through the advantage line - if they play well its safe to assume they are dominating from dummy half with quick play the balls. ;-)

 

[William Hung]

Yes- but in order to get quick play the balls guys like Vella must be dominating the ground- it's a vicious circle-

Moral of the story- show up with your balls on every week Mick and we'll be sweet.