estibador
16 Jun 2007, 15:47
Watching the Hawks last night it struck me how tight knit they appeared as a group. Their team discipline, unselfishness and genuine delight and affection in celebrating each others goals really stood out for me. Their team ethic was outstanding and they look like a group who would be ready to die for each other (if you'll pardon the tired old cliche).
Granted, it's probably easy to look that way when you're winning by 100 points but I can't help that think the fact that all the players were brought into the fold as youngsters and developed together as a team plays a big part in it.
One of our main problems seems to be getting our side to play cohesive, disciplined team football. We have outstanding individual talent but our team's performance often seems to add up to less than the sum of it's parts. Too often our players play like a collection of individuals instead of a well oiled machine. Could one of the reasons be the fact that we have 10 regulars (or semi regulars) who are recycled from other clubs?
Don't get me wrong I love most of the players we've traded for. But having so many players on the field who were bred at different football clubs with different football ethos' only to be transplanted into our team could be one of the reasons our team lacks cohesiveness and that indefinable quality that binds a team together and makes them play above their collective talent.
The odd recruit is fine as they can assimilate into the club ethos but having over half your side as mature recruits who arrive with their football philosophies already set by another club can't be beneficial to developing our own team ethic. Especially with new players arriving every year and constantly having to bed them in.
Just a theory I thought I'd throw out there. Personally I would prefer it in future if we just concentrate on building through the draft.
Granted, it's probably easy to look that way when you're winning by 100 points but I can't help that think the fact that all the players were brought into the fold as youngsters and developed together as a team plays a big part in it.
One of our main problems seems to be getting our side to play cohesive, disciplined team football. We have outstanding individual talent but our team's performance often seems to add up to less than the sum of it's parts. Too often our players play like a collection of individuals instead of a well oiled machine. Could one of the reasons be the fact that we have 10 regulars (or semi regulars) who are recycled from other clubs?
Don't get me wrong I love most of the players we've traded for. But having so many players on the field who were bred at different football clubs with different football ethos' only to be transplanted into our team could be one of the reasons our team lacks cohesiveness and that indefinable quality that binds a team together and makes them play above their collective talent.
The odd recruit is fine as they can assimilate into the club ethos but having over half your side as mature recruits who arrive with their football philosophies already set by another club can't be beneficial to developing our own team ethic. Especially with new players arriving every year and constantly having to bed them in.
Just a theory I thought I'd throw out there. Personally I would prefer it in future if we just concentrate on building through the draft.