Seriously how bad is Finch?

[eloquentEEL]

At least he's managed to do one thing that no other player has... he's relieved some pressure from the rest of the team by uniting all Parra fans and becoming everyone's new scapegoat (in this case, deservedly so, even after a good win, when you don't need to have a scapegoat).

 

[Ron Jeremy]

That's so true!!! woohoo we needed a new one!

 

[Vira]

Maybe if Finch saw this thread he will consider leaving parra...

 

[niall]

(words of reg reagan) FINCH GO AND GET STUFFED!! ur useless you cant use team confidence or enythin like that as an excuse, because even when everyone is playin well and things are goin right you still manage to screw up sumthin, IMO the best thing you did in that game was walk off the field!!

srsly wat have u offered to our team that we cant replace, youve been given enough chances and wat do you do, give us a kick into touch ON THE FULL first set of the game u moron!!

GOSH i am sooo happy that the eels r doin so well atm, the only thing downing my vibe is FINCH!!

*yobo singin voice* hes a tool, hes SMOKER and he really is a joker. he really should get dropped, if he doesnt IM GUNNA STRANGLE SUMONE BECOS IM SO ANNOYED AT HIM!!!!!!!

that is all- well done parra (bar finch)

 

[fredericko]

I was willing to give Finch some time to see how he would work out at 5/8 with Smith but after 5 rounds i have to agree it is time for him to move back to PL qand let Green play 5/8 he seems to be a pretty solid player.

The only times I remember seeing Finch tonight was when he kicked out on the full, kicked dead in goal, and had the ball stripped from him. Oh and of course he ran across field and passed back inside a couple of times. The best part of him being at 5/8 is that Smith throws a nice long cut out pass straight past him most of the time.

 

[Eelementary]

we would of been better served had Blake played outside Timmy instead of putting him at Hooker.

I totally agree. I think Green is a fine player. What impresses me so much about him is his defence - he loves it!

If we played:

6. Green
7. Smith
9. Marsh

14. Riddell,

we would look so good!

 

[Eelementary]

OK, here's the thing...

I reckon some of you guys need to calm down a bit. You're acting like Finch has no talent whatsoever. OK, his form is just woeful at the moment. But the guy can play. We've all seen him do it.

At this stage, I would rather have Green in my team, because he's just shown so much class on and off the field. But really - Finch is way above guys like Kusto in terms of natural ability.

 

[Y2Eel]

Finch is still riding on kicking a field goal... Bloody Ian Hindmarsh kicked one tonight with his left foot...

 

[Redback71]

plus we have I.Hindmarsh so we dont even need finchy for his drop goals.

 

[eloquentEEL]

I reckon some of you guys need to calm down a bit. You're acting like Finch has no talent whatsoever. OK, his form is just woeful at the moment. But the guy can play. We've all seen him do it.

seen the odd standout performance, but never seen him do it consistently. on the other hand, the poor performances have seemed to be consistent for long periods.

Hagan's comment the other day was very interesting, about the young guys and whether they could handle first grade week in week out. it's a valid question. we don't know the answer with Blake because he's only had 2 weeks (and impressed on both occasions mind you), but we do know the answer with Finch... he CAN'T handle first grade week in week out.

 

[Eelementary]

He may have an attitude problem...But let's try to look at things objectively:

* Is he trying out there? Yes
* Is he putting his body on the line out there? Yes
* Is he clapping and talking and trying to get everyone pumped out there? Yes


Now, he's having a dig, but his form isn't anything to write home about. To me, this indicates poor confidence.

And ask yourselves - weeks down the track, when we're in the Finals...Who would you rather: an in-form, experienced, level-headed Finch, or a relatively green Green? No doubt, Blake is a class player. But under the immense pressure of Finals footy, at this stage, I'd take an in-form, experienced Finch.

So what we should do is help him get his groove back ASAP.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Elementary, he's playing like crap, no excuses.

 

[Eelementary]

seen the odd standout performance, but never seen him do it consistently. on the other hand, the poor performances have seemed to be consistent for long periods.

Hagan's comment the other day was very interesting, about the young guys and whether they could handle first grade week in week out. it's a valid question. we don't know the answer with Blake because he's only had 2 weeks (and impressed on both occasions mind you), but we do know the answer with Finch... he CAN'T handle first grade week in week out.

I see what you're saying...But at this stage, I liken Blake Green to Michael Witt. When Witty made his debut for us, he was really good. Then things went downhill a tad.

Finch, for whatever reason, hasn't been able to consistently perform since he had Fittler to call the shots. But you cannot really question the guy's ability. He has it, and plenty of it. He also has heart. There are just other aspects of his game letting him down at the moment.

 

[Eelementary]

Elementary, he's playing like crap, no excuses.

I agree.

All I am saying is who would be our best chance to win a title this year - an inexperienced Green, or an in-form Finch?

It basically comes down to that decision, really - punt Finch for Green permanently, or punt him until Finch recovers consistency.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I agree.

All I am saying is who would be our best chance to win a title this year - an inexperienced Green, or an in-form Finch?

It basically comes down to that decision, really - punt Finch for Green permanently, or punt him until Finch recovers consistency.

Who would you rather?

 

[Eelementary]

I can look at it two ways:

(1) Knowing that we won't sack Finch, I'd stick with him; relegate him to PL to show him his form is not good enough and, if he really, really wants a spot in First Grade, he needs to prove he's up for it; or

(2) Assuming we're in a world where, although we paid a bit for Finch and he has a wealth of experience, a youngster would get permanently promoted ahead of him in terms of form.

Now, if I was coach, I'd stick with option 1; I believe that an in-form Finch, in a high-pressure match scenario, could be the difference. I rate Green very highly, and would probably have him come off the bench.

But the main factor here is that, while Green's entrance into the NRL has been impressive, he's only had two weeks; if he plays next week, he could have a shocker and then go on to play badly for the rest of the season. So it's a gamble - a veteran who does have it in him, or a promising rookie who's an unknown quantity?

Long story short - if I was the coach, Marsh would be my 80-minute hooker; Riddell would be an impact running forward; and Green would be my 5/8.

 

[eloquentEEL]

I agree.

All I am saying is who would be our best chance to win a title this year - an inexperienced Green, or an in-form Finch?

It basically comes down to that decision, really - punt Finch for Green permanently, or punt him until Finch recovers consistency.

I'll go with option c thanks... punt Finch until (and if) Green plays poorly. If I were the coach, I'd give Green the #6 jersey next week and it would be his to lose. In the finals, I'd prefer a halves combination that has played a lot of games together in the past and has had almost a full season together in NRL to form combos with the rest of the team.

Blake played in a winning grand final team last year. I can't see any indication that he wouldn't be able to handle finals footy.

 

[dazeely]

The good thing is that I think that Hagan has the balls to drop him.

IMO he will persevere with him until Piggy's return forcing his hand if he doesn't find form. Finch has about 3 weeks IMO or else Hags will have no other choice.

Mind you Finch may be swapped with Green for the time being. Lets hope so anyway.

 

[Eelementary]

I'll go with option c thanks... punt Finch until (and if) Green plays poorly. If I were the coach, I'd give Green the #6 jersey next week and it would be his to lose. In the finals, I'd prefer a halves combination that has played a lot of games together in the past and has had almost a full season together in NRL to form combos with the rest of the team.

Blake played in a winning grand final team last year. I can't see any indication that he wouldn't be able to handle finals footy.

I'd suspect that playing a team with the likes of Mason, Maitua, Ryan, SBW, and O'Meley in a Grand Final Qualifier is far more daunting a task than anything he has faced at Premier League level...

 

[eloquentEEL]

I'd suspect that playing a team with the likes of Mason, Maitua, Ryan, SBW, and O'Meley in a Grand Final Qualifier is far more daunting a task than anything he has faced at Premier League level...

that's why he needs as much opportunity to play #6 in first grade during the regular season. my argument is that he seems to have shown the ability to step up from regular season footy to finals footy, and he seems to be showing the ability to step up from PL to NRL, so I don't see any reason to think that he'd automatically be doomed to fail in the NRL finals, especially if he has experienced finals campaigners all around him.