View Full Version : NLM vs Slatts
kelvin_sheedy
14 Sep 2008, 15:41
Probably the two most maligned players at the club now. Both seem to be vying for one position next year. Who's the better player?
If you could only pick one in the 22 who'd it be? Why?
I'd take NLM over Slatts any day of the week. :thumbsu:
essendon2008
14 Sep 2008, 15:44
I think Slatts shows more courage and possibly a better work-rate, however at his best NLM shows more run and confidence. At this stage I would take Slatts as NLM is often too un-disciplined.
dirtywhitepacker
14 Sep 2008, 15:45
Slatts - Because Slatts isn't a puss
kelvin_sheedy
14 Sep 2008, 15:47
I think Slatts shows more courage and possibly a better work-rate, however at his best NLM shows more run and confidence. At this stage I would take Slatts as NLM is often too un-disciplined.
:confused:
Frees Against:
Slatts 35
NLM 31
essendon2008
14 Sep 2008, 15:52
:confused:
Frees Against:
Slatts 35
NLM 31
Without knowing the stats, I would say off the top of my head that more of NLM's free kicks are quite avoidable and often a sign of frustration, whereas Slatts are 'professional free kicks'. That's how I see the two players anyway, could be wrong.
cAsEy_18
14 Sep 2008, 16:02
Slatts by quite a long way. I had a go at Knights earlier in the year for signing him onto a 2 year contract, i thought he may be a chance to be delisted. Once again, our brilliant new coach has fooled me. Slatts does the job on small forwards for us, if anything we need another Slattery type. As for Lovett-Murray, as the season went on he just went further and further downhill. And i'm not just referring to the Saints match, he shouldn't have played on Riewoldt and i think just about everyone knows that. But i can't see any place for him downback, too soft for the big forwards, not agile enough for the small. And we are tall enough down forward. Get a decent offer for him, i'd be trading him.
AndyLesPaul
14 Sep 2008, 16:07
Slattery.
main reason being simply because he was the person that made every other essendon player feel compeled to win the 2nd carlton match this year :D
Slattery.
Always gives his all, never afraid to cop a knock, doesn't go missing, and actually knows how to play as a defender (even if he doesn't always get the job done, but then when Essendon are playing terrible footy we have a habit of allowing plenty of inside 50's to the opposition, so it isn't always the defenders fault.)
Having said that he still gives away too many frees, but he has slowly improved this year. I have been a critic of his at various times but he is still young and always looks like he is trying to improve so while he may not be our best player he still has time to grow and mature. NLM on the other hand...
Barnsey3150
14 Sep 2008, 16:11
Slatts has had his best year at the club so far.
Oh and:
Both seem to be vying for one position next year.
Wouldn't Nat-Rat be fighting with Pears and others for the 3rd tall spot? Not the small defender spot....
TimeIsRunningOut
14 Sep 2008, 16:28
Slattery. Lovett-Murray's best game of the season was against Hawthorn. If he played like that a high percentage of the time this thread wouldn't even be a contest, unfortunately his best is rarely ever seen. Slattery is younger, has greater consistency and is the gutsier of the two.
loopy_cam
14 Sep 2008, 16:29
Probably the two most maligned players at the club now.
Chook'll be happy then.
Darealrath
14 Sep 2008, 16:44
Slattery is our in our 18 unless we decide to move either Welsh or McVeigh back to defence (or someone else comes along), which I doubt will happen. He has a lot of good qualities (courage, sacrifices his game for the team etc) but quite a few weaknesses too (lack of pace, often concedes a few goals). He's still young so has plenty of improvement left in him I hope.
NLM is more talented, but I don't know if he has a position now. His run out of defence is fantastic, and he can do a decent job on mid size, average forwards, but if he's ever matched up to stars he usually gets well beaten. He is also very dangerous up forward but we hardly ever use him there anymore.
In short I think NLM is better but more expendable. I'd like to see him used off the bench next season as a utility. He's the type who could regularly spark us and not having him regularly going up against gun forwards would rid us of his main weakness.
kelvin_sheedy
14 Sep 2008, 16:49
Oh and:
Wouldn't Nat-Rat be fighting with Pears and others for the 3rd tall spot? Not the small defender spot....
I think NLM's best footy is when he plays on someone smaller or of similar size. He's been asked to do some tough jobs on bigger guys this year and has found it very difficult. I have a feeling that a Pears or even McPhee will play back next year leaving one defensive spot open for them two.
NLM has dominated at times this year down back whereas Slattery best has been to break even with opponents.
I'm surprised a lot of picked Slatts. I would have thought that NLM is a fair way ahead of him.
monfries_monster
14 Sep 2008, 17:00
Slattery for mine. He is courageous, hard at the ball and a good defender. He has decent skills and disposal and although giving away to many free kicks they are mainly due to professional free kicks and the fact that the ball is coming into our defensive 50 that much there is alot more pressure on him. He is good enough to get a run around in the midfield to add a bit more steal around the contested footy on occasions. He is still young and can only improve. This year we were dominated by the small fowards and the role he will be play on these small fowards will be so important in the coming years.
NLM although skillfull and provides much needed run of half back, his defensive side is not that great. I believe Pears should be given a chance to cement the 3rd tall next season, and players such as dempsey, myers, slatts, nash, houli, etc can provide the run of half back. To mistake prone at times and although handy on our list, I would not be unhappy if he was traded for something ok to give some of our youngers guys a spot. Is not really going to be a player that will be in the defensive group to win our next premiership.
Ben the Gooner
14 Sep 2008, 17:35
Slatts.
In before Ben
You didn't do me justice:
Henry Slattery > Nathan Lovett-Murray
footy_brain
14 Sep 2008, 17:58
they are both in our best 22! nlm can player fwd aswell, we will need him if we dont recruit a KP back this year. he was always a fwd until sheedy threw him into defence a few years ago. slats is a tough courageous player who can play mid like welsh the tagging role.
Midnight Vultures
14 Sep 2008, 18:01
I think Slattery has lost his "maligned" tag with his excellent form this year. Very impressed by him.
eth-dog
14 Sep 2008, 18:21
henry slattery>>nathan lovett-murray
Ben the Gooner
14 Sep 2008, 18:23
Henry Slattery >>> Nathan Lovett-Murray
eth-dog
14 Sep 2008, 18:31
cbf doing this, but:
Henry Slattery > times infinity Nathan Lovett-Murray
Wahooti Fandango
14 Sep 2008, 18:41
I love the way NLM goes about his footy, but I think Slatts is a more polished player. NLM is a great utility, whereas I think Slatts is more of a speciality back man.
AhSteveSteve27
14 Sep 2008, 18:52
we need more players like slatts, less like Lovett-Murray. NLM started as a forward and should never be played anywhere else, I don't even know why he was moved in the first place. Plus NLM is 26 now, so you'd take the younger Slatts.
I told Chief it was a bad idea to reinstate font size :mad:
TimeIsRunningOut
14 Sep 2008, 19:33
I told Chief it was a bad idea to reinstate font size :mad:
Agreed.
Those people have no respect
B-Bomber
14 Sep 2008, 20:23
With NLMs physical attributes you would think he could play very well on the small forwards. He has pace and strength to at least match all the small forwards in the comp plus a height advantage.
Plus, he also has attacking flair in abundance which Slattery lacks somewhat.
Problem is, he tries to use this attacking flair a bit too much at times and gets caught.
If NLM would play a bit more tightly on his opponent and using his ability to rebound a bit smarter I think we would have a winner. Not sure if he has that in him however which means Slatts is the man.
The_Young_Gun
14 Sep 2008, 21:29
NLM...
Brings much more to the table than slatts.
NLM can pretty much play everywhere. Up forward, down back, on the wing, RUCK!!!
As for Slattery... Appart from playing BP for the majoritiy of the season, I don't think he can do much more than be a small backman... In Which he isn't that good at anyway.
Slattery_20
15 Sep 2008, 09:34
Slatts was easily our most consistent backman this year. And managed to kick a few goals when freed up later in the year as well.
NLM's pretty poor when the ball hits the ground, gets turned inside out by small forwards. And he's not quick enoug to keep up with Tarrant or Fev. Which kinda limits his options
I actually didn't mind his game on Reiwoldt, just smashing him every time he got near it. I wonder what Knights thought about how that match up went.
Personally wouldn't mind seeing us use him as a scragger backman a la Harry O'Brien/Campbel Brown. Maybe not as a permanent thing but it's not like our backline is untouchable on form
Doug Tassell
15 Sep 2008, 10:00
Slattery.
I would not be suprised if NLM was traded in the next two years!
Slattery_20
15 Sep 2008, 10:08
Slattery.
I would not be suprised if NLM was traded in the next two years!
Would we get much for him?
I think he's a handy guy to have around
He does have that flexibility
Conceivably, if we do have a real run in 2 or 3 years from now, he might be one of those guys who is about 25th in line and can be used to fill holes or create mismatches.
He can play really well, forward and back
He is hard at the contest
He is not ever going to be a top-liner
Smyth94
15 Sep 2008, 10:49
NLM...
Brings much more to the table than slatts.
NLM can pretty much play everywhere. Up forward, down back, on the wing, RUCK!!!
As for Slattery... Appart from playing BP for the majoritiy of the season, I don't think he can do much more than be a small backman... In Which he isn't that good at anyway.
Over-rating much?
NLM is handy, but he lets himself down far too often.
NLM makes poor decisions, lets himself down with his execution and doesn't always do the team thing
Slatts might not have the best skills but he gives you 100% dedication all the time, and sacrifices his game for the team.
I see these two competing for different positions to be honest.
I don't like Lovett-Murray in purely defensive roles. It's not his natural game, and he just doesn't match guys defensively in the air. His chopping of the arms and hanging on is almost a compulsion. He's not without defensive skill, but he gets exposed too often when asked to play a lock down role.
I think there's a spot for him running off half back. That's where he's most dangerous. He hits the ball with pace, he gets to good spots to receive and he's not bad at dropping back again afterwards. Of course, there's competition from guys like Courtenay Dempsey and David Myers, but it would be naive to expect 22 games from both of them, and I'm sure Myers will spend plenty of time in the midfield.
Slatts remains our only purely defensive small defender, so I can't see how he'd be out of the side. I'm not his biggest fan, I think his tackling can be clumsy, his skills can be poor and his pace can let him down, but we simply don't have anyone that can fill his role any better without robbing the midfield. I'd be interested to see Jarrod Atkinson get a chance, but he starts a long way behind Henry.
HighettBomber
15 Sep 2008, 12:43
I don't want either! If i had to choose it would be NLM, because his best is very good, Slattery is not capable of anything above ordinary. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but I'm not hopeful that either will come good.
They play different positions.
Slatts has improved a lot this year where as NLM is still playing average footy, and has been for the last three or four years. NLM isn't in our best 25.
Slattery_20
17 Sep 2008, 19:28
The worm of popular opinion has turned on Slattery
Was our most consistent backman this year, and I don't think that can be denied
The_Young_Gun
17 Sep 2008, 21:38
Slatts got a bit of a spanking by milney round 22.
The only way I can describe him is that he isn't that bad of a player, but isn't that good either.
The worm of popular opinion has turned on Slattery
Was our most consistent backman this year, and I don't think that can be denied
I stuck by him early on in the season when he was at fault for everything!
On a sidenote, the financial crisis is quite obviously Laycock's fault.
He is hard at the contest
I'm sorry? Which contest was he hard at - as a matter of fact, which contest did he make. Certainly none where he was required to run back into play and (god forbid) maybe take a hit [see the 1 minute 08 second mark (http://au.truveo.com/Henry-Slattery-to-make-quick-recovery/id/3519040790)). Too many times this year he seemed to just be resigned to the fact that his opponent was going to take the mark and didn't show a lot of interest in making them earn the kick.
It's been said many times before, and will be said many more times, he's not a backman - at least not a backman that you want to defend. In short, he's the Anthony Mundine (the St George version, not the shooting-off-my-trap boxing version) of Essendon - all the skills, good when things go his way but no defensive skills at all.
I agree with the comments that he's potentially useful to the club, but play him on the half forward line where he can use his run off half back if needed, and utilise his pace and flair to create scoring opportunities.
SirJimi05
18 Sep 2008, 12:02
NLM is not a defender therefore SLatts wins by default.
TheDon35
20 Sep 2008, 11:28
Slattery - strong, fit, gives everything he's got, couragouse...... But can't play.
NLM - Plenty of skill, ability to cut the lines and set up play.... But doesn't do it enough.
Hopefully neither are in next years side and we start to see some new young blood come through.
SirJimi05
20 Sep 2008, 11:43
NLM...
Brings much more to the table than slatts.
NLM can pretty much play everywhere. Up forward, down back, on the wing, RUCK!!!
As for Slattery... Appart from playing BP for the majoritiy of the season, I don't think he can do much more than be a small backman... In Which he isn't that good at anyway.
This is NLM vs Slatts not Ryder vs Slatts.
NLM is better, but played through injury for a lot of the last 2 years. Slatts started to develop more consistency as the year went on and his accountability is excellent.
To me, NLM is competing more with Nash, Dempsey or perhaps Myers for an attacking half back role. Slatts might be competing with Hocking or Hislop in playing a more accountable role.
The_Young_Gun
20 Sep 2008, 21:45
NLM is better, but played through injury for a lot of the last 2 years. Slatts started to develop more consistency as the year went on and his accountability is excellent.
To me, NLM is competing more with Nash, Dempsey or perhaps Myers for an attacking half back role. Slatts might be competing with Hocking or Hislop in playing a more accountable role.
A bit too excellent.
He needs to focus more on helping his team-mates next season, rather than been only 1 inch away from his opponent at all times, especially when the ball is in his radar but he would rather stick with his opponent.
I hope once he's done working on his core and fitness that he starts tagging those key midfielders again, possibly freeing up Welsh for any reason?
A bit too excellent.
He needs to focus more on helping his team-mates next season, rather than been only 1 inch away from his opponent at all times, especially when the ball is in his radar but he would rather stick with his opponent.
I hope once he's done working on his core and fitness that he starts tagging those key midfielders again, possibly freeing up Welsh for any reason?
I'd leave them where they are. Welsh is a better midfielder/tagger than Slatts because he wins more of the ball. Welsh the backmen is pretty average.
Slattery_20
21 Sep 2008, 14:59
I'm sorry? Which contest was he hard at - as a matter of fact, which contest did he make. Certainly none where he was required to run back into play and (god forbid) maybe take a hit [see the 1 minute 08 second mark (http://au.truveo.com/Henry-Slattery-to-make-quick-recovery/id/3519040790)). Too many times this year he seemed to just be resigned to the fact that his opponent was going to take the mark and didn't show a lot of interest in making them earn the kick.
It's been said many times before, and will be said many more times, he's not a backman - at least not a backman that you want to defend. In short, he's the Anthony Mundine (the St George version, not the shooting-off-my-trap boxing version) of Essendon - all the skills, good when things go his way but no defensive skills at all.
I agree with the comments that he's potentially useful to the club, but play him on the half forward line where he can use his run off half back if needed, and utilise his pace and flair to create scoring opportunities.
He was good at dumping Reevolt after the contest in the St K game... the only thing worth watching. And good at hitting Carr brothers.
He can, occasionally, play good defence
I don't know why he's so up and down, consistency's his biggest problem