View Full Version : Still Better Than Freo.......
russellthemuscle
2 Apr 2006, 18:01
Jeez, after watching Freo i;m pretty happy to be a Port supporter! At least weve had something in 10 years.:rolleyes:
*PAFC*13
2 Apr 2006, 18:37
See what happens in round three.
PJ Power
2 Apr 2006, 21:46
Only saw a bit of the game, but what stood out for me, was midfield. Again, again, again: midfield, midfield, midfield.
If the midfield is on its game, the forwards (in this case Mark Williams) get wonderful service - quick, clean delivery. The backs also have it better because the balls coming in to their opponents lack that same quality.
Hodge, Mitchell and from what I saw Lewis really get in there to win the hard ball. They looked strong in breaking tackles, and forcing the ball their way.
We lack strength, aggression and cleanness out of our midfield.
I think we are going to be mauled by some opposition sides, even ones many of us wouldn't normally rate because their midfields are so much better than ours.
What is the answer?
Do we have the cattle capable of being better?
I don't know.
I heard people leaving the ground last night comment on the fact that Chad looks inefficient when having to move around in circles, as compared to running off HB in a straight line.
Although I assumed he would be critical to our midfield, perhaps his best role this year will come in playing the Montgomery type role across HB next to Chaplin. We know he zones and rebounds well. He also has the size and courage to cut back across the bigger key forwards, and to go head-to-head with the likes of Buckley or Voss when they are played across HF.
In contrast, we all seem agreed that we want to see more of Shaun Burgoyne in the middle.
I also thought Wilbur in the first quarter looked good there (other than that silly 50m he gave up for kicking the ball away after one of their frees).
Symes, Walsh and Cornes to play in defence more and Wilbur and JB on ball?
Leg speed and players who are prepared to run hard up and down the flanks, wings and centre square is something we lacked yesterday. Probably more hard running than fast running.
Since the days of Dickie and Francis, we haven't really played true wingmen on the wings. Rather we have used pseudo-midfielders there: Dew being the classic example.
I'd like to see us try to develop more traditional wingmen to carry the ball for us. Pearce? Showed glimpses yesterday of being able to run well forward. Ebert maybe - give him a permanent spot there? Motlop - like one or two others here, I thought his attack on the ball and his efforts late in the game were encouraging. He might have more strings to his bow, than we realised. It would be a shame to waste him as the next Che.
maccas_no1
2 Apr 2006, 21:55
[QUOTE=russellthemuscle]Jeez, after watching Freo i;m pretty happy to be a Port supporter! At least weve had something in 10 years.QUOTE]
A Ten Year Pin:p '10 years Young':p
Chads major problem last night was his terrible kicking. Had he actually hit half of his targets he would have had a good night. Instead a few of his kicks went straight to an opponent and some others were the wrong option.
Quick movement through the midfield seems to be the key to team success at the moment. Sydney do it, Adelaide do it, West Coast often do it. We do the opposite.
portentous
2 Apr 2006, 22:46
And Josh Carr will probably get rubbed out. At least none of our guys got reported.......
*PAFC*13
2 Apr 2006, 22:49
And Josh Carr will probably get rubbed out. At least none of our guys got reported.......
Even better… so will Pickett. :thumbsu: :D :p
Ford Fairlane
2 Apr 2006, 23:12
A Ten Year Pin:p '10 years Young':p
Your quality insights must be making the posters who called for your reinstatement so proud. ;)