View Full Version : Eddie BETTS
How long can Pagan keep playing Betts, when in my opinion he just doesn't do enough to retain his place in the side. He is there as a crumbing forward, yet how many times do you see him "front & square" when the ball comes off the packs? I don't know how many goals he has kicked this year, but it's not many. I know he has been used in the midfield a few times and his tackling and defensive work is good, but as I have already said, he is supposed to be a crumbing forward and that's where we are breaking down at the moment. I think he needs time in the 2's to regain a bit of form/confidence. Who could replace him if he was dropped?
FieryNayta
11 Jul 2006, 00:11
Well as you said yourself, Eddie puts in great defensive work each week with his tackling and second efforts etc.
Nowadays, thats what coaches are looking for in a footballer above anything else. In Pagans eyes, his spirit and enthusiasm is worth his place in the team.
Why drop him when he's learning and executing the 1%ers of football and giving his all? Surely we'd rather have a little goer in the team than someone who has no future.
How long can Pagan keep playing Betts, when in my opinion he just doesn't do enough to retain his place in the side. He is there as a crumbing forward, yet how many times do you see him "front & square" when the ball comes off the packs? I don't know how many goals he has kicked this year, but it's not many. I know he has been used in the midfield a few times and his tackling and defensive work is good, but as I have already said, he is supposed to be a crumbing forward and that's where we are breaking down at the moment. I think he needs time in the 2's to regain a bit of form/confidence. Who could replace him if he was dropped?
I think you've answered your own questions on a couple of fronts already.
Clearly the Coaching Staff are placing more emphasis on Eddie providing defensive pressure, more so than wanting him to snag a goal here and there.
In 2005: 19 games for 19 goals, 6.4 ppg & 2.2 tackles per game
In 2006: 13 games for 10 goals, 11.2 ppg & 3.5 tackles per game
Kicked a goal a game last year, and is not too far off that at the moment anyway.
I think you've answered your own questions on a couple of fronts already.
Clearly the Coaching Staff are placing more emphasis on Eddie providing defensive pressure, more so than wanting him to snag a goal here and there.
In 2005: 19 games for 19 goals, 6.4 ppg & 2.2 tackles per game
In 2006: 13 games for 10 goals, 11.2 ppg & 3.5 tackles per game
Kicked a goal a game last year, and is not too far off that at the moment anyway.by these stats he is winning a bit more of the ball this year probably due to the fact he is playing a bit more up the ground.
one gets the impression that pagan really loves this kid.
Teagueeee15
11 Jul 2006, 13:21
How long can Pagan keep playing Betts, when in my opinion he just doesn't do enough to retain his place in the side. He is there as a crumbing forward, yet how many times do you see him "front & square" when the ball comes off the packs? I don't know how many goals he has kicked this year, but it's not many. I know he has been used in the midfield a few times and his tackling and defensive work is good, but as I have already said, he is supposed to be a crumbing forward and that's where we are breaking down at the moment. I think he needs time in the 2's to regain a bit of form/confidence. Who could replace him if he was dropped?
He's kicked 10 and that makes him 2nd leading goal kicker at the club.:o
one_twelve112
11 Jul 2006, 13:26
Would be interested to know how many goals have resulted from his chasing, tackling and pressure he causes in the forward line. If we had a dozen players that show the determination and effort that Eddie does, we would have had a few more wins on the board.
i couldn't imagine why Eddie would be dropped. I'd like to see him given a shot as a tagger, perhaps not against the Elite, but maybe the second level of midfielder.
keep it up Eddie, love your work.
i couldn't imagine why Eddie would be dropped. I'd like to see him given a shot as a tagger, perhaps not against the Elite, but maybe the second level of midfielder.
keep it up Eddie, love your work.lets face if we have to resort to tagging second level midfielders then we are really rooted.
stokesy
11 Jul 2006, 16:11
Eddie tried hard and all the rest, but for mine he isn't doing enough and should be playing for the Bullants.
lets face if we have to resort to tagging second level midfielders then we are really rooted.
gotta start somewhere.
gotta start somewhere.what i'm saying is you shouldn't have to tag second string midfielders.
irish_setanta
11 Jul 2006, 18:24
How long can Pagan keep playing Betts, when in my opinion he just doesn't do enough to retain his place in the side. He is there as a crumbing forward, yet how many times do you see him "front & square" when the ball comes off the packs? I don't know how many goals he has kicked this year, but it's not many. I know he has been used in the midfield a few times and his tackling and defensive work is good, but as I have already said, he is supposed to be a crumbing forward and that's where we are breaking down at the moment. I think he needs time in the 2's to regain a bit of form/confidence. Who could replace him if he was dropped?
I think eddie is doing fine, he is young, but he is so enthusiastic, something that lacks in some of our players. Anyway if we drop him who will we bring in? Sporn or teague for there 20th last chance, would rather see eddie running around in blue than sporn or teague.
By the nature of the position he plays, he's always going to have good days and bad. FP is a hard spot to play, sometimes you get the crumbs, and sometimes you don't.
Considering we've got nothing to lose for the rest of the year, why not keep playing him to give him some confidence going into next year. He's shown some glimpses of good form over the year, and IMO, should play out the year in the 1's.
what i'm saying is you shouldn't have to tag second string midfielders.
I agree with that, but what i'm saying is that I'd like to see Eddie used as a tagger and I'd like to see him learn the trade on second level opponents rather than the elite. I do believe that he could eventually tag the elite.
TheGeneral
11 Jul 2006, 21:54
Who do we bring in for him?
Chambers? :eek:
He stays.
Playing in the forward pocket is either a feast or famine, let alone when you're a wooden spoon side.
Mr.Kennedy
11 Jul 2006, 22:00
Eddie doesnt exactly have a lot of in form big forwards to crumb off at the moment.With the ball often headed to Fevola in a 3 on 1 situation his opportunities to do so are very limited.He has shown on occasion that he can crumb well and with his pace will trouble a lot of teams in the near future.Very exciting player.
I agree with that, but what i'm saying is that I'd like to see Eddie used as a tagger and I'd like to see him learn the trade on second level opponents rather than the elite. I do believe that he could eventually tag the elite.give me an example of a second level opponent who would need to be tagged? i'm a bit lost.
untapped
12 Jul 2006, 12:11
By the nature of the position he plays, he's always going to have good days and bad. FP is a hard spot to play, sometimes you get the crumbs, and sometimes you don't.
Considering we've got nothing to lose for the rest of the year, why not keep playing him to give him some confidence going into next year. He's shown some glimpses of good form over the year, and IMO, should play out the year in the 1's.
Totally agree with you. The position of forward pocket means getting to the feet of PACKS. Packs are formed by high flying forward such as Waite & Fisher. They present closer to goal ball drops straight to ground and thats where we have seen eddie's best work.
Only having Fev as the only natural target at the moment means searching leads 1 on 1 where the ball is marked or punched forward 20 metres on or out of the 50, where it becomes the midfielders job to crum.
As a 19 year old eddie is adapting well to playing forward pocket that has few chance at cruming and has stepped up his defencive skills to win some ball for the forward line. You can't ask much more
When our Forward line is not depleted as it currently is, Eddie will be/is the final piece of the puzzle.
Without Waite, Fisher, Whitnall? all playing Eddie's impact is reduced.
Our forward unit is a great machine.. but the cogs have been injured this year so we have not seen it at its full potential. The only benefit we've had this year there is the rise of Fev. Imagine next season with Waite, Fisher, Eddie and a full preseason on Kennedy.. and if 3 out of those 4 and Fev have good years next year, we'll all be salivating. Heck Pagan to give Lappin a break might bring him forward again too next year!
Unfortunately injuries have damaged us again... bar injuries next year, there should be no excuses...
I'll say this... if we have a relatively injury free year next year and we are less than 6 wins this time next year then I think some major coaching restructuring may have to take place.
I think Pagan has done a good job, the only thing I feel he's lacking is the FEAR of his players. He seems to want to be too much of a buddy at times.
Look at Lethal... I bet all his players are mildly scared sh! tless of him.
Pagan I feel has mellowed and I think he needs to get some rev back into him and let the beast out pre-season.
GO BLUES 2007
BlueFeaver
12 Jul 2006, 12:33
A small crumbing forward pocket has no long term place any more at afl level, we need to develope Eddie into a player that can fill that hole but can also go and win the ball in the centre. At the moment I think he is still learning this dual role and over the next 2 years we will see great improvement. One thing I have noticed is his fitness is alot better than last years. The guy will be a gun, I have not doubt, it will just take more time.
One thing to take into consideration when rating Eddies crumbing ability is we don't have a true body on body forward. Our forwards are all athletic leading types, this makes crumbing very difficult to read and when achieved correctly you can often be to far out from goal. This body on body role maybe something one day Lance can do, as his weight and speed will effect his game profoundly in years to come. Just think of Fev leading out and Lance staying in the goal square blocking and creating a contest in front of goal.
give me an example of a second level opponent who would need to be tagged? i'm a bit lost.
Faren Ray
bluevegas
17 Jul 2006, 19:56
I think that we should pay Eddie his dues, probably the best tackler in the side. Nick Stevens could do well to learn something from Eddies technique.
Well done Eddie keep it up.
I prefer Betts in the midfield giving us some defensive pressure rather than crumbing goals up front. Sometimes we are exposed when there is no one to crumb off our forwards but Eddie is one of our only guys who has the pace and tackling strenght to chase down his opponent and force a holding the ball decision or ball up and just generally put some pressure on.