Playing strength

[greena]

My thoughts on our playing strength and in particular up an coming players in 2004;

New Players

Feliti Mateo - undecided, needs at least one more year in the lower grades, defence lacking at times and his involvement is inconsistent

Tim Smith - good organising half with good kicking game, not a high work rate in defence. His chances in first grade hinge on Dykes being out - styles are too similar.

Brett Anderson - excellent finisher, definate first grader next year

Jeremiah Pai - average, would not resign for next year

Ryan Hinchcliffe - won't get past premier league

Josh Cordoba - agression and high work rate, good prospect

Brendan Oake - A real prospect, high work rate in both attack and defence, I like his aggression. Possibly my favourite

Michael Basan - out injured, impressive early in the season - good utility

Jack Afamasaga - gaining confidence and getting more involved every week - a good game against Manly

Brett Delaney - dominates in jersey flegg, a real prospect if he can stay injury free.

Ben Smith - handling the call up tp premier league well

Joel Reddy - aslo handling the call up to premier league well

Chris Thorman - shows flashes of brilliance, maybe needs another Aussie season to shine just like Adrian Morley did.

Established Players

Lee Hopkins - good backup, would not resign for next year

Michael Witt - dissapoints too often, I would release him if we sign a first grade half back from elsewhere

James Webster - really only a premier league player - would not retain for next year.

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[The Engineers Room]

Jim Curtis - He is showing a lot of promise as a good first grade bench option.

 

[greena]

Yes he is. Ii don't know a lot about him - age etc.

Probably a good premier league player but may not have that bit extra to step up.

 

[The Engineers Room]

I think he might well get the chance in the next year or two. He would be an inspirational influence on his team mates to copy.

 

[Belly in Brisvegas]

Guys,

Going back to the trial against Cronulla in Ballina, there was a bloke running around for us who they called "Froggy"...I think a back, possible 5/8...does anyone know who this is??

Hindy is particular was referring to this bloke as "Froggy"???

 

[eels_fan]

I dont think releasing Witt is particularly a bright move...he has a future at our club and im pretty sure over the next year or so he will become the playmaker of our side and good things will come...he is a Queenslander and i have no doubts that within a few years he'll be wearing the maroon

 

[The Engineers Room]

Well seeing as he has a 4 year contract that is not an issue.

 

[greena]

Witt is not improving. He hasn't been consistant in premier league and has not been up to scratch in firsts. How long can we wait for him to perform rather than show promise.

Parra has a couple of young kids coming through such as Smith, Green & even Hodkinson & Keating from the Harold Mathews side. We need a halfback now and if one is available on the open market we should be prepared to release Witt - he is obviously not in favour with BS (due to his lack of form rather than any personaility issue).

I don't have any major issues with Wiit, simply hate spending good money on average players.

 

[eels_fan]

I doubt he is getting paid very much in the first place. Maybe 100-150k a year, with incentives. He has played two games this year in 1st grade...one which he won us the game due to his goalkicking...and you wana get rid of him...he is a better prospect than Burt for goalkicking...Burt may have got 8 from 9 on Sunday but they were all easy except for the one he missed. And are you forgetting about last year when Witt was awesome in the back end of the season?

 

[eloquentEEL]

Guys,

Going back to the trial against Cronulla in Ballina, there was a bloke running around for us who they called "Froggy"...I think a back, possible 5/8...does anyone know who this is??

Hindy is particular was referring to this bloke as "Froggy"???

I think Delaney played 5/8 in one of the trials. Could be him.

 

[bartman]

Froggy could also be Luke O'Dwyer perhaps? I can see a slight resemblance...

 

[Eels Dude]

Witt is not improving. He hasn't been consistant in premier league and has not been up to scratch in firsts. How long can we wait for him to perform rather than show promise.

Parra has a couple of young kids coming through such as Smith, Green & even Hodkinson & Keating from the Harold Mathews side. We need a halfback now and if one is available on the open market we should be prepared to release Witt - he is obviously not in favour with BS (due to his lack of form rather than any personaility issue).

I don't have any major issues with Wiit, simply hate spending good money on average players.

What do you expect from the young bloke? He's shown a lot of promise for a guy who's played less than 20 first grade games. You're being way to harsh on the kid, he got the call-up to first grade last year way earlier than he should have and handled that step up particularly well. He's played 2 first grade games this year and while he hasn't stood out, he hasn't done anything wrong either.

What do you think Parra should do? Go all out to buy Matt Orford, and then lose all the players you've hailed are the future of the club. I think all in the know realise Witt is a very good prospect, releasing him would be a major mistake. What makes you say he is out of favour with Brian Smith, from what I've heard there is mutual respect.

 

[Eelementary]

It is true that Michael hasn't had a very good year. However, a number of issues can be atrributed to it:

* He had an injury in the off-season. I believe it was a shoulder injury. And for a half, a shoulder injury is a bad injury as it takes time to heal and limits your passing game

* He was down in confidence and form

* He played halfback last year and, without being exceptional, played very well

* Now he is playing 5/8 and having to slightly adjust his game

* He is still a tad raw (for instance, his running game is not as strong as his kicking, but it will get there).

Two things Mick has for him: he is young and has talent.

He'll come good.

 

[greena]

What I would ask everyone who is so passionate about Witt is if Parra buys a few talented palyers for next year and becomes a serious title hope do you think Witt is capable of leading around the side.

I don't. I think he will never be better than average. He does not have a good kicking game, his defence will never be better than ordinary and his organisational skills are lacking. I would prefer young Smith.

As I said, I would only release Witt if we are able to buy an established first grade half. I would not but Orford unless he was willing to accept a 3-4 year contract, but would be interested in Firman/ Head and even Thurston (his style would suit Dykes)

 

[Avenger]

We were all upset at Lyon leaving because he broke his contract. It workks both ways. Therefore Dykes is still with us until the end of next year as is B. Smith until 2006 and Witt until 2007. Stability is needed not chopping and changing.

 

[Eels Dude]

What I would ask everyone who is so passionate about Witt is if Parra buys a few talented palyers for next year and becomes a serious title hope do you think Witt is capable of leading around the side.

I don't. I think he will never be better than average. He does not have a good kicking game, his defence will never be better than ordinary and his organisational skills are lacking. I would prefer young Smith.

As I said, I would only release Witt if we are able to buy an established first grade half. I would not but Orford unless he was willing to accept a 3-4 year contract, but would be interested in Firman/ Head and even Thurston (his style would suit Dykes)

Witt does have a good kicking game, he just needs to be playing with some confidence in him. If Parramatta buy a few talented players then i'm sure Witt will improve with their experience and become more consistent and confident in himself.

I don't think Head, Firman or Thurston are that high ahead of Witt at the moment. What has Thurston done this year to impress anyone? Witt and Firman were going toe to toe last year as the best young halves in the comp. Head's playing well this year, I wouldn't go as far to say that we should release Witt to take a gamble on any of these players. It is a ridiculous idea.

As Avenger said, you can't just release players willy nilly and whenever you feel like it. It's a double standard to criticize Lyon for ending his contract prematurely, but then want to do the same thing to other players.

 

[GoParra]

greena you are dead set kidding and a tad blind if you can't see Witt has talent to burn and with that a huge heart. Mark my words he will come good and you will be eating yours ...

 

[HRVTSKA]

People Witt is our future and for ya'll saying that his go no talent!!!! Hahah its gonna come n bite u on the arse.
He would be playin SOO this yr if he had the full season cause his got game all over Prince!
Just give him time to settle in his new position...He will come good!

 

[Utey]

Why do we need another half when dykes is preforming the way he is. In time Dykes may be a great potential to our attacking force. Witt was positioned in reggies at 5/8 to most likely p[artner dykes. Why change a winning combination. At the moment dykes is a good 1/2

 

[JessEel]

People Witt is our future and for ya'll saying that his go no talent!!!! Hahah its gonna come n bite u on the arse.
He would be playin SOO this yr if he had the full season cause his got game all over Prince!
Just give him time to settle in his new position...He will come good!

preseason he was picked in the QLD train-on squad!

if he had been in parra first grade from rd1 he would have come into serious contention