PJ Marsh "Tim Smith is the 3rd best halfback in the comp"

[bartman]

Fair enough. But he could be setting Tim up for further failure saying outlandish stuff like that, given that the guy seems to have been so tempramental in his play anyway?

I had a bad feeling when I saw Tim scream at his teammates a year or so ago, for not being where he hadhappened to pass the ball, instead of just accepting that he'd thrown a crap pass... PJ's comment may just serve to make the head even bigger, and so perhaps it's no wonder there's been little cohesiveness in attack and players outside of him have been looking to leave?

 

[Bigfella]

Personally, I agree that Smith is as gifted as the top tier.

But he certainly isn't as mentally tough.

He was brilliant at times (notably when PJ was going forward from dummy half rather than when everyone else crabbed sidewards from there - and not just Riddell either).

But when it came to the point where his outside men weren't where he wanted them to be - he just threw the pass regardless.

I strenuously disagree with PP that he isn't up to it - and I am starting to doubt whehter Finch actually has the core skills to play in the halves in first grade at all - but I do query Tim's mental attitude.

As someone posted above, Sterlo could make average forwards perform.

Mind you, Sterlo's forwards did what he told them to. I think our side looks like there are a few different agendas operating at any one time.

BTW LOL at Brett Kenny - "Tim Smith should be dropped. Apparently the PL 5/8 is pretty good".

He hasn't seen him play; and he wants to drop a half for a 5/8!

 

[parra-matters]

Tim Smith could be great if he was playing behind a forward pack that wasn't get smashed.

 

[Hurriflatch]

I see Hagan has instilled the 1 man team mentallity at Parramatta. With the comments about Hindy the same as Knights players talked about Johns.

Once Hindy comes back it will all turn around
Once Hindy comes back we will be stronger mentally
Once Hindy comes back I won't drop the ball

 

[Suitman]

Fair enough. But he could be setting Tim up for further failure saying outlandish stuff like that, given that the guy seems to have been so tempramental in his play anyway?

You make a very good point Bart about the added pressure that puts on Timmy.
He doesn't need it at the moment.

Suity

 

[Gronk]

Disagree totally. Reminding Tim that he is a good player (which he is) and that the team backs him will hopefully allow him to play without feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Nothing wrong with positive reinforcement.

 

[forward pass]

mmm -do the words Willie Peters ring any bells ?????

 

[Hurriflatch]

Gronk: How long do we give Tim to find his 2005 form again

he's already had the 2006 season, 2007 pre season and 2 games of 2007

do we wait till round 10 2007?
round 20 2010?
round 2 2017?

 

[Gronk]

Gronk: How long do we give Tim to find his 2005 form again

he's already had the 2006 season, 2007 pre season and 2 games of 2007

do we wait till round 10 2007?
round 20 2010?
round 2 2017?

He played some good footy at the end of last year. I'm prepared to give him a few more games. End of round 5 or 6. In the meantime, no harm in providing that sort of support is there ?

I agree though, whilst I want the kid to succeed, it's becoming increasingly obvious that he has to be dropped if he doesn't shake the yips pretty soon.

 

[Suitman]

The thing that gives me hope about Timmy is that whenever he has played behind our pack when they have been going strongly, he has performed well.

eg. most of 2005 and the few games at the back end of last year.
When our pack has struggled, so has he. Most halfbacks would be the same.

It has been said a million times but if our pack pull their fingers out, I can't see any reason for both him and Finchy to start to run the show how we expect them to.

Suity

 

[Freak2]

Being a huge critic of Tim's for a long time now I feel sorry for him that people are starting to turn on him after supporting him previously when under performing. EG 2006!

But can I just say don't give up on him yet! He showed glimpses of NRL required standards on Sunday in the first half. If he can continue to develop and play basic football and look for repeat sets of 6 instead of attempting to score every touch of the ball than he is a chance of proving the doubters (like me) wrong.

Let's hope so anyway!!

 

[Utey]

Tim's biggest Asset is his ability to get the back to back sets. His swift little kicks were unreal in 05, even at times in 06. But stop with the fancy crap! Lets play ball, hold it first and then build pressure.

 

[Freak2]

The thing that gives me hope about Timmy is that whenever he has played behind our pack when they have been going strongly, he has performed well.

eg. most of 2005 and the few games at the back end of last year.
When our pack has struggled, so has he. Most halfbacks would be the same.

It has been said a million times but if our pack pull their fingers out, I can't see any reason for both him and Finchy to start to run the show how we expect them to.

Suity

Suity what gives you hope worries the hell out of me!!

Good halves play good under all circumstances whether their forward go forward all not.

Perfect example: Scott Prince

Unfortunately Tim lives by the sword dies by the sword in the way that he plays his footy and when our forwards don't go forward he dies by the sword by pushing that impossible pass consistently!! - Very ugly way to die:x

 

[Suitman]

Suity what gives you hope worries the hell out of me!!

Good halves play good under all circumstances whether their forward go forward all not.

Perfect example: Scott Prince

Unfortunately Tim lives by the sword dies by the sword in the way that he plays his footy and when our forwards don't go forward he dies by the sword by pushing that impossible pass consistently!! - Very ugly way to die:x

True to an extent. Tell me the last time Scott Prince played behind a crap pack?

It is a fact that nearly ALL halfbacks struggle behind an underperforming pack. Only an elite few have the capacity to lift a whole team. (Sterlo, Langer, Johns)
I admit that Timmy is not one of them.
Over the past two weeks, he and Finch have been on the back foot nearly the whole game. For the few minutes in the Warriors game that we gained some ascendency, Timmy had two try assists.
I'm not saying he's a world beater, but geez, I also think atm moment he needs to be cut some slack 'cause basically, the WHOLE team is going crap.

Suity

 

[zuke]

The guy is over-rated. He never runs with the ball. He loves the long pass and 9 times out of ten the ball ends up with the opposition via an intercept. At least Finch runs with the ball. If I was Hagan I would move Finch to half-back and move Mateo to number 6. I think Tim's mind is elsewhere. Maybe he is thinking of his next tattoo design.

 

[the_eel]

I'm definitely far from a Tim Smith lover but i do think that he showed glimpses in the first half that he may not be that far away from returning to his best. At this stage i'd say that if anyone was under pressure in the halves it would have to be Finch whom i believe has been far more substandard than Smith in the first 2 rounds of the comp.

For my way of thinking i'd give them until the end of Round 5 and if we are still in shambles, anything close to last weekend is well and truly a shambles, then you analyse which player has been the better of the two. As i said, whilst Smith hasn't been outstanding, at this stage i'd say he is well ahead of Finch (and Green has been playing 5/8).

 

[ParraDude_Jay]

Eels legend Brett Kenny yesterday said Smith, 2005 NRL rookie of the year, should be given one more week to prove himself or face the axe.

"A couple of years ago people were comparing him to Sterlo. He has shown he is not as good as everyone thought he would be," Kenny said.

"I don't think it is panic stations yet but if they don't perform they will have to git rid of one of them.

I sometimes wonder if the Brett Kenny who played for us is gone and replaced by this bloke. Talks too much and loves bagging the club that he should support. If Tim isn't doing well, how about getting down to training and offering some tips? Seems beyond him unfortunately. I wish a club in England would offer him a coaching job just to get rid of him.

I like what Marsh said, the bloke is more qualified to judge Tim than any of us and IMO the critics are being harsh on him. He looked quite dangerous against Souths, didn't take the line on well but he didn't pass everytime he got the ball, some dummying and stepping away from defence was encouraging. Almost set Reddy up aswell, considering some of the halfbacks we've had in recent history I am amazed anybody here can bag a 22 year old who has done and is doing what Tim is. Can't bag him until he isn't playing behind a pack of girls, and with a 6 who knows what he is doing (look at Benji playing outside Morris, Tim did well to play like he did when they were our halves).

 

[pazzaeel]

deleted

 

[forward pass]

f**k this is getting so boring.

 

[TheParraboy]

Whos the halfback we are playing against this week ;-)