Some people need to stop whinging and get over themselves

[Ron Jeremy]

You see its this sort of thing I find amusing, because quite simply fans of the eels have a track record of being massively wrong. These are the same fans that championed the Witt brothers.

At the time our halves were diabolical, we needed fresh blood, and Michael Witt done well. I actually thought it was great that we didn't re-sign them.

Now would you like me to mention some of the names i was absolutely pissed off loosing? my strike rate is pretty good, i don't know about others though.

If you could name the guys who have left from our lower grades (ala tony williams) and made a big splash at another club I will happily agree with your above statement.

Willie tonga, Casesy Mcguire ring a bell?

There is only one that fringe first grader who left and went on that I can think of and thats Jason Cayless who left because he had two international front rowers in front of him. But as you said the fans know best.

So you have to be an international to be considered a decent player? c'mon keep thinking, you'll think of the others.

These are the same fans who thought that weller Hauraki and Junior paulo were going to be great for us, because gee they have been good in lower grades.

So you have given up on them already? last i saw Paulo was making more of an indent into the opposition then our captain on $400,000. Funny, these two players were instrumental in us beating Penrtih.

One of our great problems at the moment is our bench is perhaps the weakest in the comp and where do they come from, our lower grades and the fans pinpointed them as future stars.

Managment and coaches responsibility isn't it? mmmmm wonder what i'm whinging about, they're paid to make sure tht doesn't occur!

The reason I made a point of KK is quite simply to listen to certain fans you would believe that everything he does is gold and everything certain other players do is dust. KK has done some good things, but for a guy we want to use in the halves he lacks direction. Thats why I compared him to Soward.

Comparing juniors to juniors? so you think that is a smart thing to do? there is more to playing first grade then natural ability, able to learn, cope are two significant parts of being a succesful first grade player.

Now back to RON, your statements about dogs getting hannant and newcastle cross and us only re-signing finch. No the correct statement would add that we resigned Hayne and Inu the hottest young outside backs in the game. But we are best not to let reality in on a good rant.

ok, so other clubs didn't have to re-sign players as well? lets see, re-sign Hayne, Inu, Paulo, Weller, Oak and finch, 3 of those players wouldn't have been that significant upgrades, 2 of them absoluetly, one of those was re-signed to a ridiculous amount for 3 years!

While I don't think Fitzy is perfect (I think he is a clown actually), but in terms of recruitment and retention what club is perfect. I mean Brisbane just lost hannant and lost tate last year and they lost petero

Yet they signed Simms, Clinton and PJ plus RE-SIGNED the likes of Taylor etc, please do go on..

Dogs have lost half and origin team in recent years and sonny bill is unhappy.

They lost Mason and O'Meley yet have signed Kimmorley, Hannant ( both SOO players or former) as well as re-sign many of the JUNIORS as well including whinitana etc

Storm have lost kidwell, cross, crocker.

So who's Crocker playing with now?

Last year Matt King, prior to that stephen bell and orford. Which at the time people felt was the end of them because nobody rated cronk. Tigers didn't resign lafranchi. Roosters didn't keep hodges.

Melbourne prioritised, they new they and were confident in therir youngsters eg Chambers, plus you forgot to add the deal King was offered...no NRL club could re-sign a bloke like that for that money.

They still have Inglis, Slater, Cronk, Crocker, Johnson etc, more SOO players then us, yet they can manage the books....

Its the way the world works, that where I get annoyed with all this carry on because it forgets to include some reality in the picture. Its not about sitting on the fence, its about not getting carried away when something that is not worth getting carried away about. If we had of lost Hindy or Hayne or Inu that would have been worthy of some of the outlandish statements we have heard on this site.

You continually go on about Hayne and Inu? when i just pointed some of the stars Melbourne has who are all SOO players!

Same people will be saying how wonderful we are if we come good later in the year. For some fans of our club it takes a player to sneeze on the field for them to jump up and down. I prefer to support the players and the club, unless something really bad happens. I bet most of the people who are currently ranting are the ones who helped run Brian Smith out of town.

If we come good i'll be happy, however i don't think that will be happening this year, the best we'll get is 8th.

And as for BS, he had to go, 10 years was sufficent, players needed a change and dont regret it one bit.

Now here is challenge for you Ron and the others on your merry bandwagon. How would you fix it???

Fix what? recruitment?

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Ron J and Bazal = Bill and Ben, the Flowerpot men. or Bib and Bub, maybe Abbott and Costello, perhaps Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, or even Laurel and Hardy.


Don't take life so seriously boys. You're not going to get out of it alive. It is a game of sport..not the Cold War.

parra pete=Ab Simpson

 

[Swiftstylez]

Ant, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments and don't let the detractors tell you otherwise, they know exactly what they are doing. They expect too much of a team. They expect the eels to win a premiership every year because they support them. Consistently making the finals and being up there with some of the best in the last decade is not good enough as long as "the tropic cabinet is bare". You can't win premierships every year, skill and luck plays a pivotal role come finals time and yes, THE EELS DO CHOKE IN FINALS (Not the individual storm game itself, last year, it was just part of the theme).

The eels blatantly released a statement saying that they could not fit him under the cap because they knew this was going to happen. We retained excellent players this year, but no, the insatiable eels fans hunger for more. They hunger for perfection. They hunger for a club where nothing goes wrong. They live in their own little fairyland where they think just because they have supported the team for so long they have the right to say what they wanted, exclaiming unrealistic pleasantries for the whole of this cynical eels forum to hear.

I think I have lost faith in eels fans, and I'm hoping that it's just the members of this message board. 9 bad games, still winning four, and everyone should be fired and the Tony Williams should run out by himself and win the game with his supernatural powers, bestowed upon him because we re-signed after talent such as Inu and Hayne and we can't be happy with what we've got. But if we retained Williams and had to let someone else go, the knifes would still be as sharp. I've met eels fans that are pleasant and are happy to support their and team and it's decisions, I'm just hoping this is an exclusive membership club where the blackboard in the treehouse has an algebraic diagram done up where "If Eels are not 1st on ladder:
Fire x, stand down y + Complain about z a

x = coach
y = players
z =management
a= player retention (Just so you know, there is a limit to the amount of up and coming superstars one club can keep, as Ant has pointed out, it is not often the wish of the club itself).

When some of that changes, say we get certain players/a new coach... everyone rejoices for a while only to have their newly found optimism crushed because we did not win the premiership.

You can't actually see that we are not a mediocre club and have done exceptionally well for a team that hasn't won a premiership. The guy who said this season is already over is the embodiment of what I am talking about as well. If the team finds the flow it hard at the end of last year again then we can return to being a competitive force in 08. Breathe and pull your head out of the clouds, because the loyalty some of you guys possess is shrouded by your unrealistic expectations.

And why would you compare Melbourne to Parramatta, that is an obscurity and that is the reason they are better than everyone else. And guess what, no one, not even your fairly land Parramatta team, are going to reign supreme over the Storm at present, even if you were running the show.

You know what, maybe the players aren't putting in emotionally because some of you don't have any hearts either. Have you ever considered that? Why would you care about a fan base that is going to tear you apart if you aren't godlike every week, when even if you do play good it's only a matter of time before the vicious circle starts again and your status as a professional rugby league player becomes increasingly more tarnished by the day. I'm sure they want to, but it would be really hard to with all the pressure. Because, after all, it's the fans opinion that counts. Maybe that's why so many players want to get the f**k out of here, not because of the management, but because of YOU. Hell, the management probably even want to stop managing the team because nothing will ever be good enough. That's the reason why so many players go on to other clubs and do so well over there. I could imagine Hayne and Inu at another club who would appreciate them, with a solid culture high on morale. They are doing the best with what they have got, and in my opinion it has been good enough up until now. Who would want to perform for a bunch of such ungrateful and unrealistic people?

You are just as much to blame as anyone else.

And you should be ashamed of yourselves for it.

Go The Eels against the Broncos, I hope you silence a few of these fans... at least for another week. Though if you lose, no big deal or anything but the pressure will be even higher, both for you to win a game and for you to want to leave this hostile environment.

 

[chef]

You know what, maybe the players aren't putting in emotionally because some of you don't have any hearts either. Have you ever considered that? Why would you care about a fan base that is going to tear you apart if you aren't godlike every week, when even if you do play good it's only a matter of time before the vicious circle starts again and your status as a professional rugby league player becomes increasingly more tarnished by the day. I'm sure they want to, but it would be really hard to with all the pressure. Because, after all, it's the fans opinion that counts. Maybe that's why so many players want to get the f**k out of here, not because of the management, but because of YOU. Hell, the management probably even want to stop managing the team because nothing will ever be good enough. That's the reason why so many players go on to other clubs and do so well over there. I could imagine Hayne and Inu at another club who would appreciate them, with a solid culture high on morale. They are doing the best with what they have got, and in my opinion it has been good enough up until now. Who would want to perform for a bunch of such ungrateful and unrealistic people?

You are just as much to blame as anyone else.

And you should be ashamed of yourselves for it.

Go The Eels against the Broncos, I hope you silence a few of these fans... at least for another week. Though if you lose, no big deal or anything but the pressure will be even higher, both for you to win a game and for you to want to leave this hostile environment.

An excellent example of the art of spin...there's a position waiting for you in the Rudd razor gang after that diatribe Switstylez, and your fellow forum propagandists must be so proud...

To even suggest that a player would leave the club because they felt unappreciated by the supporters is almost laughable. Unappreciated by senior management, the coaching staff...yes, but by the reaction of the crowd, surely not...

or are you referring to Hindy's little outburst a couple of seasons back, and where is he now?

I think you've hit the mark when you mention "a solid culture high on morale", after all isn't that the issue here...as RonJeremy so eruditely put it earlier in this thread, it's the culture of mismanagement, non-transparency and mendacity at Board level, and poor coaching appointments that has affected the morale, of ourselves and the players, not the culture of a support base that are proactive in expressing disquiet and disgust.

You've suggested in previous posts to: "wait until the season is over before you start chucking tantrums, perhaps even until the end of 2009", but don't you for one moment consider that to do so may be to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Nothing can, or will, be achieved by becoming vocal during the off season, there's no forum/opportunites for directing invective...the tabloids wont run it, and Fitzy will be unconcerned...he knows we'll trot back up to purchase our memberships/season tickets regardless of what's occured over the summer...

I respect your right to have an opinion, but you have copped out by blaming 'potential' player reactions/departures on the actions of your fellow supporters, (no player has ever claimed their reason for leaving was influenced by supporter dissatisfaction). But, obviously this allows you to feel superior (to us naysayers) whilst you remain silent during games, calmly waiting for a modicum of success to arrive, after which you can berate us for our indiscretions and over-reactions.

Surely your comment "it's the fans opinion that counts" was an attempt at sarcasm. Currently, we have one environment in which to express ourselves, the stadium during a game, outside of this our opinion counts for nothing, as has been evidenced over time. Moreover, this milieu only allows us a brief period for expression, once the game's over the management and players don't mull over the crowd reaction, however, we take our emotional investment in the club away with us, that's what supporting the club demands.

It is not, and cannot, ever be the same for anyone in the employ of the club, who by the way, have opinions that are listened to and respected.

Regardless of whether we pick up, have another shot at the finals etc...for me personally it's not about "wanting to see the team win every week", as another poster so narrow-mindedly suggested. Granted, that is the icing on the cake, the piece de resistance, but it doesn't change the fact that there need to be fundamental changes to the the running of the club....

If you're looking to point the finger of blame at anyone comrade, then Fitzy should be the target. He's created the rotten morale and culture at the core of this club, not paying customers no different to your good self...

yours sincerely,

ungrateful and unrealistic

 

[HevyDevy]

Smoke dope....Don't think so!....


And Hevy..do you think you are the only one who gets those feelings? Do you think you invented them?
I remember getting into punch ups at Leichardt and Lidcombe Oval, and being the biggest disher out of abuse on the hill at Cumberland to opponents on the paddock - and fans off it. It is not something I am proud of..but it is part of growing up.
I have great memories of those days..and I wouldn't change one minute of it. It is part of the experience of life.
I was of the era that had officials putting the barb wire around Cumberland Oval.
But mate, you get over it..and it REALLY is ONLY a GAME.

You appear to have taken my comments a little too seriously.

Having said that, I still find the term 'it's only a game' repugnant. There are a lot of people that just don't realise how important sport is.

 

[HevyDevy]

Ant, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments and don't let the detractors tell you otherwise, they know exactly what they are doing. They expect too much of a team. They expect the eels to win a premiership every year because they support them. Consistently making the finals and being up there with some of the best in the last decade is not good enough as long as "the tropic cabinet is bare". You can't win premierships every year, skill and luck plays a pivotal role come finals time and yes, THE EELS DO CHOKE IN FINALS (Not the individual storm game itself, last year, it was just part of the theme).

The eels blatantly released a statement saying that they could not fit him under the cap because they knew this was going to happen. We retained excellent players this year, but no, the insatiable eels fans hunger for more. They hunger for perfection. They hunger for a club where nothing goes wrong. They live in their own little fairyland where they think just because they have supported the team for so long they have the right to say what they wanted, exclaiming unrealistic pleasantries for the whole of this cynical eels forum to hear.

I think I have lost faith in eels fans, and I'm hoping that it's just the members of this message board. 9 bad games, still winning four, and everyone should be fired and the Tony Williams should run out by himself and win the game with his supernatural powers, bestowed upon him because we re-signed after talent such as Inu and Hayne and we can't be happy with what we've got. But if we retained Williams and had to let someone else go, the knifes would still be as sharp. I've met eels fans that are pleasant and are happy to support their and team and it's decisions, I'm just hoping this is an exclusive membership club where the blackboard in the treehouse has an algebraic diagram done up where "If Eels are not 1st on ladder:
Fire x, stand down y + Complain about z a

x = coach
y = players
z =management
a= player retention (Just so you know, there is a limit to the amount of up and coming superstars one club can keep, as Ant has pointed out, it is not often the wish of the club itself).

When some of that changes, say we get certain players/a new coach... everyone rejoices for a while only to have their newly found optimism crushed because we did not win the premiership.

You can't actually see that we are not a mediocre club and have done exceptionally well for a team that hasn't won a premiership. The guy who said this season is already over is the embodiment of what I am talking about as well. If the team finds the flow it hard at the end of last year again then we can return to being a competitive force in 08. Breathe and pull your head out of the clouds, because the loyalty some of you guys possess is shrouded by your unrealistic expectations.

And why would you compare Melbourne to Parramatta, that is an obscurity and that is the reason they are better than everyone else. And guess what, no one, not even your fairly land Parramatta team, are going to reign supreme over the Storm at present, even if you were running the show.

You know what, maybe the players aren't putting in emotionally because some of you don't have any hearts either. Have you ever considered that? Why would you care about a fan base that is going to tear you apart if you aren't godlike every week, when even if you do play good it's only a matter of time before the vicious circle starts again and your status as a professional rugby league player becomes increasingly more tarnished by the day. I'm sure they want to, but it would be really hard to with all the pressure. Because, after all, it's the fans opinion that counts. Maybe that's why so many players want to get the f**k out of here, not because of the management, but because of YOU. Hell, the management probably even want to stop managing the team because nothing will ever be good enough. That's the reason why so many players go on to other clubs and do so well over there. I could imagine Hayne and Inu at another club who would appreciate them, with a solid culture high on morale. They are doing the best with what they have got, and in my opinion it has been good enough up until now. Who would want to perform for a bunch of such ungrateful and unrealistic people?

You are just as much to blame as anyone else.

And you should be ashamed of yourselves for it.

Go The Eels against the Broncos, I hope you silence a few of these fans... at least for another week. Though if you lose, no big deal or anything but the pressure will be even higher, both for you to win a game and for you to want to leave this hostile environment.

In 1995 we won three games all year and I didn't criticise the team once. Now, why might that be?

 

[parra pete]

You appear to have taken my comments a little too seriously.

Having said that, I still find the term 'it's only a game' repugnant. There are a lot of people that just don't realise how important sport is.

 

[forward pass]

You see its this sort of thing I find amusing, because quite simply fans of the eels have a track record of being massively wrong. These are the same fans that championed the Witt brothers. If you could name the guys who have left from our lower grades (ala tony williams) and made a big splash at another club I will happily agree with your above statement. There is only one that fringe first grader who left and went on that I can think of and thats Jason Cayless who left because he had two international front rowers in front of him. But as you said the fans know best.

These are the same fans who thought that weller Hauraki and Junior paulo were going to be great for us, because gee they have been good in lower grades. One of our great problems at the moment is our bench is perhaps the weakest in the comp and where do they come from, our lower grades and the fans pinpointed them as future stars.

The reason I made a point of KK is quite simply to listen to certain fans you would believe that everything he does is gold and everything certain other players do is dust. KK has done some good things, but for a guy we want to use in the halves he lacks direction. Thats why I compared him to Soward. That includes the u/20 games I have seen, he is more an individual runner and support runner than a playmaker. To me he looks like a hooker, the place where nippy halves who lack the ability to direct teams go, like PJ. So I don't think he has played out of position. But I will be happy to prove him wrong. And the comments made about Soward getting a go at the roosters and KK not getting a go here. Soward had spent almost a year longer in lower grades than KK before making his debut for the roosters and only played 22 games over 2 seasons.

Now back to RON, your statements about dogs getting hannant and newcastle cross and us only re-signing finch. No the correct statement would add that we resigned Hayne and Inu the hottest young outside backs in the game. But we are best not to let reality in on a good rant.

While I don't think Fitzy is perfect (I think he is a clown actually), but in terms of recruitment and retention what club is perfect. I mean Brisbane just lost hannant and lost tate last year. and they lost petero. Dogs have lost half and origin team in recent years and sonny bill is unhappy. Storm have lost kidwell, cross, crocker. Last year Matt King, prior to that stephen bell and orford. Which at the time people felt was the end of them because nobody rated cronk. Tigers didn't resign lafranchi. Roosters didn't keep hodges.

Its the way the world works, that where I get annoyed with all this carry on because it forgets to include some reality in the picture. Its not about sitting on the fence, its about not getting carried away when something that is not worth getting carried away about. If we had of lost Hindy or Hayne or Inu that would have been worthy of some of the outlandish statements we have heard on this site. I'd also add do we have no knowledge of recent eels history, our position at halfway compared to the end of seasons. I could rewind the to sometime last season and read much of the same stuff.

Same people will be saying how wonderful we are if we come good later in the year. For some fans of our club it takes a player to sneeze on the field for them to jump up and down. I prefer to support the players and the club, unless something really bad happens. I bet most of the people who are currently ranting are the ones who helped run Brian Smith out of town.

Now here is challenge for you Ron and the others on your merry bandwagon. How would you fix it???

At the time our halves were diabolical, we needed fresh blood, and Michael Witt done well. I actually thought it was great that we didn't re-sign them.

Now would you like me to mention some of the names i was absolutely pissed off loosing? my strike rate is pretty good, i don't know about others though.



Willie tonga, Casesy Mcguire ring a bell?




So you have to be an international to be considered a decent player? c'mon keep thinking, you'll think of the others.



So you have given up on them already? last i saw Paulo was making more of an indent into the opposition then our captain on $400,000. Funny, these two players were instrumental in us beating Penrtih.




Managment and coaches responsibility isn't it? mmmmm wonder what i'm whinging about, they're paid to make sure tht doesn't occur!



Comparing juniors to juniors? so you think that is a smart thing to do? there is more to playing first grade then natural ability, able to learn, cope are two significant parts of being a succesful first grade player.




ok, so other clubs didn't have to re-sign players as well? lets see, re-sign Hayne, Inu, Paulo, Weller, Oak and finch, 3 of those players wouldn't have been that significant upgrades, 2 of them absoluetly, one of those was re-signed to a ridiculous amount for 3 years!



Yet they signed Simms, Clinton and PJ plus RE-SIGNED the likes of Taylor etc, please do go on..



They lost Mason and O'Meley yet have signed Kimmorley, Hannant ( both SOO players or former) as well as re-sign many of the JUNIORS as well including whinitana etc



So who's Crocker playing with now?



Melbourne prioritised, they new they and were confident in therir youngsters eg Chambers, plus you forgot to add the deal King was offered...no NRL club could re-sign a bloke like that for that money.

They still have Inglis, Slater, Cronk, Crocker, Johnson etc, more SOO players then us, yet they can manage the books....



You continually go on about Hayne and Inu? when i just pointed some of the stars Melbourne has who are all SOO players!




If we come good i'll be happy, however i don't think that will be happening this year, the best we'll get is 8th.

And as for BS, he had to go, 10 years was sufficent, players needed a change and dont regret it one bit.



Fix what? recruitment?

Ant, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments and don't let the detractors tell you otherwise, they know exactly what they are doing. They expect too much of a team. They expect the eels to win a premiership every year because they support them. Consistently making the finals and being up there with some of the best in the last decade is not good enough as long as "the tropic cabinet is bare". You can't win premierships every year, skill and luck plays a pivotal role come finals time and yes, THE EELS DO CHOKE IN FINALS (Not the individual storm game itself, last year, it was just part of the theme).

The eels blatantly released a statement saying that they could not fit him under the cap because they knew this was going to happen. We retained excellent players this year, but no, the insatiable eels fans hunger for more. They hunger for perfection. They hunger for a club where nothing goes wrong. They live in their own little fairyland where they think just because they have supported the team for so long they have the right to say what they wanted, exclaiming unrealistic pleasantries for the whole of this cynical eels forum to hear.

I think I have lost faith in eels fans, and I'm hoping that it's just the members of this message board. 9 bad games, still winning four, and everyone should be fired and the Tony Williams should run out by himself and win the game with his supernatural powers, bestowed upon him because we re-signed after talent such as Inu and Hayne and we can't be happy with what we've got. But if we retained Williams and had to let someone else go, the knifes would still be as sharp. I've met eels fans that are pleasant and are happy to support their and team and it's decisions, I'm just hoping this is an exclusive membership club where the blackboard in the treehouse has an algebraic diagram done up where "If Eels are not 1st on ladder:
Fire x, stand down y + Complain about z a

x = coach
y = players
z =management
a= player retention (Just so you know, there is a limit to the amount of up and coming superstars one club can keep, as Ant has pointed out, it is not often the wish of the club itself).

When some of that changes, say we get certain players/a new coach... everyone rejoices for a while only to have their newly found optimism crushed because we did not win the premiership.

You can't actually see that we are not a mediocre club and have done exceptionally well for a team that hasn't won a premiership. The guy who said this season is already over is the embodiment of what I am talking about as well. If the team finds the flow it hard at the end of last year again then we can return to being a competitive force in 08. Breathe and pull your head out of the clouds, because the loyalty some of you guys possess is shrouded by your unrealistic expectations.

And why would you compare Melbourne to Parramatta, that is an obscurity and that is the reason they are better than everyone else. And guess what, no one, not even your fairly land Parramatta team, are going to reign supreme over the Storm at present, even if you were running the show.

You know what, maybe the players aren't putting in emotionally because some of you don't have any hearts either. Have you ever considered that? Why would you care about a fan base that is going to tear you apart if you aren't godlike every week, when even if you do play good it's only a matter of time before the vicious circle starts again and your status as a professional rugby league player becomes increasingly more tarnished by the day. I'm sure they want to, but it would be really hard to with all the pressure. Because, after all, it's the fans opinion that counts. Maybe that's why so many players want to get the f**k out of here, not because of the management, but because of YOU. Hell, the management probably even want to stop managing the team because nothing will ever be good enough. That's the reason why so many players go on to other clubs and do so well over there. I could imagine Hayne and Inu at another club who would appreciate them, with a solid culture high on morale. They are doing the best with what they have got, and in my opinion it has been good enough up until now. Who would want to perform for a bunch of such ungrateful and unrealistic people?

You are just as much to blame as anyone else.

And you should be ashamed of yourselves for it.

Go The Eels against the Broncos, I hope you silence a few of these fans... at least for another week. Though if you lose, no big deal or anything but the pressure will be even higher, both for you to win a game and for you to want to leave this hostile environment.

An excellent example of the art of spin...there's a position waiting for you in the Rudd razor gang after that diatribe Switstylez, and your fellow forum propagandists must be so proud...

To even suggest that a player would leave the club because they felt unappreciated by the supporters is almost laughable. Unappreciated by senior management, the coaching staff...yes, but by the reaction of the crowd, surely not...

or are you referring to Hindy's little outburst a couple of seasons back, and where is he now?

I think you've hit the mark when you mention "a solid culture high on morale", after all isn't that the issue here...as RonJeremy so eruditely put it earlier in this thread, it's the culture of mismanagement, non-transparency and mendacity at Board level, and poor coaching appointments that has affected the morale, of ourselves and the players, not the culture of a support base that are proactive in expressing disquiet and disgust.

You've suggested in previous posts to: "wait until the season is over before you start chucking tantrums, perhaps even until the end of 2009", but don't you for one moment consider that to do so may be to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Nothing can, or will, be achieved by becoming vocal during the off season, there's no forum/opportunites for directing invective...the tabloids wont run it, and Fitzy will be unconcerned...he knows we'll trot back up to purchase our memberships/season tickets regardless of what's occured over the summer...

I respect your right to have an opinion, but you have copped out by blaming 'potential' player reactions/departures on the actions of your fellow supporters, (no player has ever claimed their reason for leaving was influenced by supporter dissatisfaction). But, obviously this allows you to feel superior (to us naysayers) whilst you remain silent during games, calmly waiting for a modicum of success to arrive, after which you can berate us for our indiscretions and over-reactions.

Surely your comment "it's the fans opinion that counts" was an attempt at sarcasm. Currently, we have one environment in which to express ourselves, the stadium during a game, outside of this our opinion counts for nothing, as has been evidenced over time. Moreover, this milieu only allows us a brief period for expression, once the game's over the management and players don't mull over the crowd reaction, however, we take our emotional investment in the club away with us, that's what supporting the club demands.

It is not, and cannot, ever be the same for anyone in the employ of the club, who by the way, have opinions that are listened to and respected.

Regardless of whether we pick up, have another shot at the finals etc...for me personally it's not about "wanting to see the team win every week", as another poster so narrow-mindedly suggested. Granted, that is the icing on the cake, the piece de resistance, but it doesn't change the fact that there need to be fundamental changes to the the running of the club....

If you're looking to point the finger of blame at anyone comrade, then Fitzy should be the target. He's created the rotten morale and culture at the core of this club, not paying customers no different to your good self...

yours sincerely,

ungrateful and unrealistic

 

[forward pass]

........oh - I dont actually have anything to say. I just wanted to create the all time longest post!!!

 

[Eelementary]

Apparently mediocrity is top 4 nearly every season for the last 10. I'd hate to be a souths fan. The club has placed itself in an ultra competitive position for the last decade with a couple of dips, no we haven't won a title and that is very disappointing, but to say we have been mediocre is ridiculous.

How are we not a mediocre club? Two Premiership chances - two red-hot chances in 6 years - and we choke on both.

This club NEEDS a title in the NRL's current climate, and like it or not, we're a long way off one.

 

[Eelementary]

You know what, maybe the players aren't putting in emotionally because some of you don't have any hearts either. Have you ever considered that? Why would you care about a fan base that is going to tear you apart if you aren't godlike every week, when even if you do play good it's only a matter of time before the vicious circle starts again and your status as a professional rugby league player becomes increasingly more tarnished by the day. I'm sure they want to, but it would be really hard to with all the pressure. Because, after all, it's the fans opinion that counts. Maybe that's why so many players want to get the f**k out of here, not because of the management, but because of YOU. Hell, the management probably even want to stop managing the team because nothing will ever be good enough. That's the reason why so many players go on to other clubs and do so well over there. I could imagine Hayne and Inu at another club who would appreciate them, with a solid culture high on morale. They are doing the best with what they have got, and in my opinion it has been good enough up until now. Who would want to perform for a bunch of such ungrateful and unrealistic people?

You are just as much to blame as anyone else.

And you should be ashamed of yourselves for it.

Go The Eels against the Broncos, I hope you silence a few of these fans... at least for another week. Though if you lose, no big deal or anything but the pressure will be even higher, both for you to win a game and for you to want to leave this hostile environment.

Oh, poor little diddums getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep fit and play the greatest sport on Earth. You're right - it's a crappy life, and we fans are evil. :lol:

I used to think like that. Then I woke up to myself. You can blame everyone but the club, but the simple fact of the matter is they are not showing any passion or pride - even for themselves. You can blame the fans and say they don't care about performing for them, but they would care about performing individually to get rep honours, and they're not even doing that.

 

[The Engineers Room]

You see its this sort of thing I find amusing, because quite simply fans of the eels have a track record of being massively wrong.

Yes some do. And the same one's are the one's blowing up about Tony Williams.

There is a marked difference between players that have potential and players that are at their peak.

Tony Williams has potential but would have to improve massively to make the type of impact in the NRL that some are predicting.

 

[Swiftstylez]

LOL @ the guy who created the longest post.

Look, that's just my opinion,t hey have too much pressure placed on them to perform.

...Whatever, you have the right to criticize, lets just hope that there isn't much to criticize for the remainder of the season

 

[The EELiminator]

and of course the media have nothing whatsoever to do with players being criticised or high expectations?

 

[parra pete]

You appear to have taken my comments a little too seriously.

Having said that, I still find the term 'it's only a game' repugnant. There are a lot of people that just don't realise how important sport is.

I am certainly aware of the value of sport and its importance. I live in a small community of just over 3000 people. The town supports four codes of football, Rugby League (Under 8s, 10s, 12, 14s 16s OzTag and Seniors) The Aussie Rules has firsts reserves under 17 under 14 and Auskick teams) Rugby Union has a First XV, the Soccer Club has first grade, Girls and Boys Under 16 teams, Girls U 14, Boys U14, U 11, U10, U8 and the real little kids.The town also supports Netball (travel with the AFL team), Night Netball intratown competition with four grades and over 100 girls, Mixed Hockey - five teams, Tennis (big participation with matches played every night) squash (three grades) bowls (2 bowling clubs) Golf - Mens and Womens.
The sporting Clubs are after the same players. Many double up by playing a different sport on a different day. The football Clubs travel long distances. The League CLOSEST AWAY game is 160 km (100 mile) ONE WAY. The Union team travels over 5 hours for its furthest away games, the closest is also 160 km. The Aussie Rules team closet home game is 80 km. The furthest about 4 hours on a bus..(one way) The soccer Club plays every second game 160 km- one way-
We appreciate our sporting Clubs. We, as a community know the VALUE both economically to the town - and as a social occasion. If a Club hits the wall the community will suffer. The businesses in town will lose out badly. That's why the community fights hard to keep our sporting Clubs alive.
The district has been in the grip of the severest drought seen in a 100 years. Petrol is 1.65 a litre. The town which relies on Sheep and Tourism is suffering because of lack of rain, and the high cost of travelling.
BUT we will keep going. We love our sport out here. BUT It is JUST A GAME. When it starts to become more than that, that's when the sporting Clubs and the community needs to start worrying

 

[Raudonikis]

I dont see what your point is,thats country towns..the NRL isnt just a game anymore.Its big buissness and people put their hard earned into going to matches ect..people expect the team they support to at least put an effort in.Parra lately havent even been doing that..So whats your point pete?

 

[parra pete]

I was replying to Hevy Devy who posted "There are a lot of people that just don't realise how important sport is."
I was advising him that YES..people, especially us here in the bush DO realise how important sport is.
Loyalty by players is determined by which Club has the biggest dollar to spend. If the players don't care, why should supporters become suicidal???? and tear strips off each other. It is ONLY a GAME.

 

[Ant]

Now would you like me to mention some of the names i was absolutely pissed off loosing? my strike rate is pretty good, i don't know about others though.
Willie tonga, Casesy Mcguire ring a bell?

So you are able to mention 2 players in about the last 8 years well done yeah we have lost heaps. Willie Tonga how would you have proposed to keep him, which international centre would you have released. Oh I know you have hindsight so you'd say either. Those guys were Lyon and Vaealiki were about the best in the business it would have been an uproar if we released one to keep Tonga. Who by the way has had about one decent season and been injured nearly every other one.
Casey McGuire was nearly 10 years ago, he was a utility player, he played 2 origin games when qld were at a low ebb.
Anyone please in the last 5 years, beacuse your strike rate is pretty good. You have gone back 5 and 9 years ago to get 2 names.

So you have to be an international to be considered a decent player? c'mon keep thinking, you'll think of the others.

No I asked you to tell me, I can't do your thinking for you.

So you have given up on them already? last i saw Paulo was making more of an indent into the opposition then our captain on $400,000. Funny, these two players were instrumental in us beating Penrtih.

One game, these 2 guys are our biggest problem they are too slow around the ruck in defence, when they make tackles the opposition gets a roll on, I don't know how many times Paulo or Weller were actually out of the play at marker tonight. You can make the odd indent but if you can't keep up with the play in defence you are a massive liability. Hey and these are 23 and 25 year old guys, not 19 year olds, they need to shape up soon or are you waiting till 30.

Managment and coaches responsibility isn't it? mmmmm wonder what i'm whinging about, they're paid to make sure tht doesn't occur!

This is what I mean you happy to shift blame to certain parties but give others breathing space or absolve them of all responsibility. The simplest response, Its the coaches fault.

Yet they signed Simms, Clinton and PJ plus RE-SIGNED the likes of Taylor etc, please do go on..

Okay invite me to go on I will, Petero, Thorn, Tate, Berrigan, Carlaw. For those above signings, lose 5 origin players, plus they released Tame Tupoa. To sign simms, clinton, Pj, and Wallace. There is no way that quota is equal. And those 6 players they lost in one year would outweigh in quality our losses over 5 years.

They lost Mason and O'Meley yet have signed Kimmorley, Hannant ( both SOO players or former) as well as re-sign many of the JUNIORS as well including whinitana etc

They have also Lost Tonga for next year. Since 2004 and including next year they have lost, Harris, Tonga, Anasta, Sherwin, O'Meely, Asotasi, Mason, Price, Thurston. Thats 7 guys who have played test footy. So please do try and make a case for their balance sheet looking better than ours. Get your blinkers off.

Melbourne prioritised, they new they and were confident in therir youngsters eg Chambers, plus you forgot to add the deal King was offered...no NRL club could re-sign a bloke like that for that money.

They still have Inglis, Slater, Cronk, Crocker, Johnson etc, more SOO players then us, yet they can manage the books....

Yeah this year and last year they have lost or will lose, Cross, King, Newton, Folou, and Crocker, 3 internationals in that lot. The year before they lost Kidwell, Scott Hill and Nathan Friend. The only player they have really bought in was Quinn. So how are they balancing their books, when players come off contract they lose them. Their net balance is not good, once again shift those blinkers please.

You continually go on about Hayne and Inu? when i just pointed some of the stars Melbourne has who are all SOO players!

I go one because they were the hottest properties on the market and we retained them, which says our management is not as bad as you have made out.

Fix what? recruitment?

Fix all that you are complaining about, I don't hear any solutions once again I am not here to do your thinking.

 

[Ant]

To even suggest that a player would leave the club because they felt unappreciated by the supporters is almost laughable. Unappreciated by senior management, the coaching staff...yes, but by the reaction of the crowd, surely not...

or are you referring to Hindy's little outburst a couple of seasons back, and where is he now?

I think you've hit the mark when you mention "a solid culture high on morale", after all isn't that the issue here...as RonJeremy so eruditely put it earlier in this thread, it's the culture of mismanagement, non-transparency and mendacity at Board level, and poor coaching appointments that has affected the morale, of ourselves and the players, not the culture of a support base that are proactive in expressing disquiet and disgust.

I suppose Tim Smith felt the full support of the fans during his time at the club and it had no effect on him.

 

[Ant]

How are we not a mediocre club? Two Premiership chances - two red-hot chances in 6 years - and we choke on both.

This club NEEDS a title in the NRL's current climate, and like it or not, we're a long way off one.

We had a great chance in 2001, no doubt, we lost by a try and anyone could you tell the knights only lost one game all year when Joey played. We were beaten by a better side, with the game's greatest modern player at the helm.

I'm not sure which other year you are talking about probably 2005, you mean the year we finished minor premiers by a whisker then lost Fui Fui and Hindmarsh for the finals. We were not that good in 2005, cowboys finished 4 points behind us on the table, we lost our best player in the final round but still managed to look good beating a terrible manly side, but we let in 22 points. You could see it coming, not suprisingly we were beaten up the middle without those good forwards. I think with Hindy and Fui we go a long way.

I'm sure you will say excuses, but quite simply they are reasons we lost, we were not good enough and not lucky enough.