View Full Version : Is 4 years too long?
OzBomber
28 Sep 2010, 12:04
I'm starting to warm to the idea of having Hird coach alongisde Bomber but I'm concerned about the length of his term. We extended Knights contract an extra 2 years, I thought 3 years would have been fine.
Thoughts?
stay true
28 Sep 2010, 12:06
It's fine with me. I think you're just looking for something to not like about it mate hehe.
No short- No.
The long version- No way.
xMichaelx
28 Sep 2010, 12:09
3 for me personally
This.
He denied, but I'm sure he would've asked for 5, the club said 3 and the trade off was 4.
3 would be right though.
He'll need around 4 years to get the team playing how he wants but I think it's unnecessary to give him those 4 years straight away. If he has us back down at the bottom of the ladder at the end of the third year there'll be big questions, especially after Knights this year.
I woud have offered a 5 year contract.
Call Me Cake
28 Sep 2010, 12:41
Four is good.
You can tell that he was honest with the board about how long it could take, and that it won't come easy.
Isn't that what we all wanted?
Plus, there is no reason to suggest that it will take 4 years to be a contender. It just means he'll be there with us along the way. :thumbsu:
If you want to show faith in a coach, and you believe you have the right person to take you forward, then what better way is there than to give him the time he needs? It'd be an oxymoron to cut short (or have doubts) about a person you trust to bring you success.
Ess_don
28 Sep 2010, 12:44
Personally, 3.763 years...
Lol nah dont worry about it, we're Essendon, we can sack coaches midway through their contract if we dont like them remember? We are awesome that way... :p
Not that we'll need to with Sir James! I have faith!
Just hope fans dont have super massive expectations and start whining next year if we dont make Top 4...
Zacstars
28 Sep 2010, 12:52
Not at all. We will need at least 4 years to turn around the (for lack of a better word) debarcle that has become the Essendon playing list.
I hope we as supporters do not expect change straight away. Great teams take time to build. We haven't been heading in a good direction for around 8 years. This will hopefully be the re-build we have been waiting for. I would expect the plan would be to make an impact in the finals in 2 years time, and go from there. Top 4 team in 4 years.
We need to give this coaching team time though. We have a really strong coaching team, now lets look at the list.
strategy
28 Sep 2010, 13:14
not if we get 2 quick mids and 2 fwds that can kick goals
Wahooti Fandango
28 Sep 2010, 13:39
3 for me personally
I would have preferred 36 months.
EVERLAST
28 Sep 2010, 14:15
No, it will take a season to get rid of the deadwood being the players who cannot adjust to Hird's strategies and demands, then three years to build and captialise.
BullDurham
28 Sep 2010, 14:25
No, it will take a season to get rid of the deadwood being the players who cannot adjust to Hird's strategies and demands, then three years to build and captialise.
Welsh, Lovett-Murray, Slattery, Davey, Williams, Laycock, Bellchambers, Lonergan, Dyson, Quinn, Williams, Neagle.
BullDurham
28 Sep 2010, 14:30
Sorry back to the topic. Yes four years is good. Insulates him for 2.5 years, then it's time to deliver. I think this list will be good in about 3 years - imagine three more preseasons in Hurley, Pears, Zaha, Melksham, Colyer, Carlisle etc.
Would have liked five years for stabilities sake as we are taking out insurance with coaching directors - Bomber/Choc/Junk Yard Dog (Laidley) who can be changed quite quickly and with a lot less fan fare.
Mrs Mercuri
28 Sep 2010, 14:31
Welsh, Lovett-Murray, Slattery, Davey, Williams, Laycock, Bellchambers, Lonergan, Dyson, Quinn, Williams, Neagle.
Take Natrat, Davey, TB and Willo off that list and you are about right....
BullDurham
28 Sep 2010, 15:52
Take Natrat, Davey, TB and Willo off that list and you are about right....
Natrat and Davey, Williams because of age and inconsistent form.
We will be competative in 3 years if all goes to plan. All three will be 30ish or pushing. If they are not stars now, they will not be at 30.
Bellchambers is a spud. Gumby and Ryder would be a much better ruck duo once big Hille winds up.
Mrs Mercuri
28 Sep 2010, 15:54
Gumbleton as ruck...... you gotta be joking..... his young body wouldnt handle that...
Not a Wellman
28 Sep 2010, 16:10
Lovett murray will show you next year he can play, he was killing it out of the middle at the start of the year and just lost his his faith in Knights I rekon. He was a massive part of our purple patch that we had.
Bellchambers will be very very good, he's young for a ruckmen and you can tell he's got a good footy brain, can take a grab and looks for someone when he has the footy doesn't just bomb it like gumby.
I'd like to see in the pre season either Hille or Ryder out of the square permantly and belly as our 2nd ruckmen and see if we can get a proper full forward. Pre season experiement though.
zamboyz
28 Sep 2010, 16:47
You can't please everyone....just be happy that he's at the club....and support him every step of the way....
four years is fine. standard contract for a new coach is three years so it's one extra.
knightsgone
28 Sep 2010, 17:32
Welsh, Lovett-Murray, Slattery, Davey, Williams, Laycock, Bellchambers, Lonergan, Dyson, Quinn, Williams, Neagle.
Yep lot of dead wood in there. Forgot atkinson though.
BullDurham
28 Sep 2010, 18:15
Yep lot of dead wood in there. Forgot atkinson though.
Had his name was on the list but deleted it.
I will confess I worked as journalist in Shepparton and interviewed Atkinson in 09 when he was at Rumbalara doing a footy clinic with the indigenous kids. He was a top bloke - despite forgetting his shoes - and I could not name him. (PS Cara Pelchen's nose is even bigger in real life).
If I am being honest I would say he is gone, but his pace is an asset I would just love him to have one season under Jim to see if he can work out his kicking and decision making and we might get out of Atkinson what we wanted Dempsey to be down there. That's not to say Dempsey won't develop but I think he is a midfielder/forward and not a defender.
But you are correct - he should be added to the list.
I think 4 years is enough, i would of only given him 5 years if he had metal arms
footywhereever
28 Sep 2010, 19:38
4 year contract just shows how bad things are and what real work is required to fix the damage caused over the last 5 (yes im incluing the last 2 year under the great Kevin)
The next 2 drafts will be tough with GC & GWS so the 4 years is needed to develop the list
Trade and clean out the list now while getting the weights and as much game time into our young guns
The_Trav
29 Sep 2010, 13:44
Welsh, Lovett-Murray, Slattery, Davey, Williams, Laycock, Bellchambers, Lonergan, Dyson, Quinn, Williams, Neagle.
I agree with most of them but Bellchambers and Lonergan. We are short on ruckmen on the list at the moment and given time in the midfield, Lonergan could become a handy player to support Jobe. Knights wasted a lot of time on him playing him in the forward pocket all the time but on the occasions he played in the middle he looked a very handy player i thought.
And on the topic, 3 with an option for a further year probably would've been the smart option but after 4 we should have a good idea of how he is going. Hird has made it fairly clear that his first intentions are development.
Valve Bounce
29 Sep 2010, 13:46
I'm starting to warm to the idea of having Hird coach alongisde Bomber but I'm concerned about the length of his term. We extended Knights contract an extra 2 years, I thought 3 years would have been fine.
Thoughts?
I think Jimmy will get the job done, so forget about the number of years, OK!!:thumbsu: