Toast Scott Thompson Appreciation Thread

Pilchard_Adams

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So whats the opinion on Thompson? It was revealed on 5AA by Bicks the other week that over the years, his defensive work and work off the ball have always been an issue, and coaches have been forever drumming it into him to work on it. Since he came back into the side the zone hasnt been as effective. Do you think there is any relationship between the two there? One caller suggested that he never play again because of this. If he gets 30 touches, but allows 30 touches the other way, is that enough reason to look at dropping him for M Crouch?
 
Aug 17, 2007
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So whats the opinion on Thompson? It was revealed on 5AA by Bicks the other week that over the years, his defensive work and work off the ball have always been an issue, and coaches have been forever drumming it into him to work on it. Since he came back into the side the zone hasnt been as effective. Do you think there is any relationship between the two there? One caller suggested that he never play again because of this. If he gets 30 touches, but allows 30 touches the other way, is that enough reason to look at dropping him for M Crouch?

Is interesting Bicks would say that. As it is something I have thought for years about Thommo.

Although I did think he had done ok against the Dees and our formation did hold for most of the game.. Hard to gauge against the Doggies as the press seemed to fall away completely anyway.
 
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So whats the opinion on Thompson? It was revealed on 5AA by Bicks the other week that over the years, his defensive work and work off the ball have always been an issue, and coaches have been forever drumming it into him to work on it. Since he came back into the side the zone hasnt been as effective. Do you think there is any relationship between the two there? One caller suggested that he never play again because of this. If he gets 30 touches, but allows 30 touches the other way, is that enough reason to look at dropping him for M Crouch?

I would suggest, after watching Matt closely in the SANFL, that he has that same issue with defensive pressure that Thommo does. So it would essentially be replacing Thommo with a younger, less experienced player who is pretty much the same. I thought Thommo's defensive run was pretty good in the Melbourne game. Against the Bulldogs he was the one player I thought in the midfield who actually continued to try and was at least partially effective.
 
Aug 17, 2007
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I would suggest, after watching Matt closely in the SANFL, that he has that same issue with defensive pressure that Thommo does. So it would essentially be replacing Thommo with a younger, less experienced player who is pretty much the same. I thought Thommo's defensive run was pretty good in the Melbourne game. Against the Bulldogs he was the one player I thought in the midfield who actually continued to try and was at least partially effective.


Offensively I felt he was near BOG for us. This is from watching live, CBF watching the replay.


I don't think our defensive structure/setup/action was that bad on Sunday. We got hammered by our own lack of skills.

I believe I saw that they scored 11 goals from turnovers. Hard to defend against a fast movement caused by a turnover stemming from a skill error.
 

Pilchard_Adams

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What specifically did Bicks say? Or when did he say it?

It was last week. Maybe Wednesday on 5AA. I cant remember if the caller mentioning Thommos weaknesses came first that prompted Bicks to speak, or if it was Bicks first, then the caller. But Bicks said the club was well aware of what Thommo brings to the table, they know he is a contested machine and clearance specialist, but he has had to work on his defensive running and work off the ball his whole career, and it has always been his weakness or downfall. The caller mentioned that they hope Thommo never plays again because of this. He said Thommo causes as much good as he does bad, or something along those lines.

Cant say I have noticed it myself, but I am usually enjoying the game with the guys, not dissecting it as the play unfolds. But i have noticed he gives a lot of free kicks away for holding and other silly things, which could be a bi-product of these issues?
 
May 29, 2011
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Why do we look so bloody ordinary with Thompson back in the side? His performances have been very good yet overall the Crows look worse. Do we have an issue with team balance? We don't seem to be covering the ground all of a sudden. I'm not blaming ST as he has been bloody decent since coming back. Is it just patchy form from the midfield in general? Maybe has nothing to do with Thompson at all but it's certainly pretty coincidental to say the least.
 

Pilchard_Adams

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Why do we look so bloody ordinary with Thompson back in the side? His performances have been very good yet overall the Crows look worse. Do we have an issue with team balance? We don't seem to be covering the ground all of a sudden. I'm not blaming ST as he has been bloody decent since coming back. Is it just patchy form from the midfield in general? Maybe has nothing to do with Thompson at all but it's certainly pretty coincidental to say the least.

Thats exactly what prompted me to ask...

We have seen teams improve after supposed key players have left for other clubs in the past.
 

tigris72

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I was at both games since Thommo has been back and yes he gets lots of the ball but what I have noticed is that he isn't providing the opportunities for direct play into the forward line or quick enough to provide the run on play. Often he gets the ball and handballs backwards or more frustratingly kicks straight to the flanks from the centre. There is a tendency to stop the flow and hold onto the ball from a mark or free allowing the opposition to set up.

I like Thommo but I don't think he has improved our side since coming back in, if anything I think it has slowed us down and been detrimental to our structures.
 

Pilchard_Adams

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I was at both games since Thommo has been back and yes he gets lots of the ball but what I have noticed is that he isn't providing the opportunities for direct play into the forward line or quick enough to provide the run on play. Often he gets the ball and handballs backwards or more frustratingly kicks straight to the flanks from the centre. There is a tendency to stop the flow and hold onto the ball from a mark or free allowing the opposition to set up.

I like Thommo but I don't think he has improved our side since coming back in, if anything I think it has slowed us down and been detrimental to our structures.

I think this could be spot on
 
Sep 28, 2014
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Why do we look so bloody ordinary with Thompson back in the side? His performances have been very good yet overall the Crows look worse. Do we have an issue with team balance? We don't seem to be covering the ground all of a sudden. I'm not blaming ST as he has been bloody decent since coming back. Is it just patchy form from the midfield in general? Maybe has nothing to do with Thompson at all but it's certainly pretty coincidental to say the least.
I was there on Saturday and he was so good I think the others thought they would take the night off

I was embarrassed for them that a washed up 32 yr old was hitting each contest with max intensity while they couldn't Fire a shot . Seriously when you match danger, sloane , Douglas talent up against Thommo this shouldn't happen but the guy is so honest with himself

He plays for his life and we don't have anyone except for maybe sloane and Talia that take as much pride in their effort

Him getting criticised after the weekend makes me feel ill

Criticise the others
 

Bicks

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I was there on Saturday and he was so good I think the others thought they would take the night off

I was embarrassed for them that a washed up 32 yr old was hitting each contest with max intensity while they couldn't Fire a shot . Seriously when you match danger, sloane , Douglas talent up against Thommo this shouldn't happen but the guy is so honest with himself

He plays for his life and we don't have anyone except for maybe sloane and Talia that take as much pride in their effort

Him getting criticised after the weekend makes me feel ill

Criticise the others

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This +1
 
Aug 13, 2006
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I was there on Saturday and he was so good I think the others thought they would take the night off

I was embarrassed for them that a washed up 32 yr old was hitting each contest with max intensity while they couldn't Fire a shot . Seriously when you match danger, sloane , Douglas talent up against Thommo this shouldn't happen but the guy is so honest with himself

He plays for his life and we don't have anyone except for maybe sloane and Talia that take as much pride in their effort

Him getting criticised after the weekend makes me feel ill

Criticise the others

Great post mate.

Thommo had nothing to do with most of our side being lazy and disinterested on the weekend.

He could've run himself ragged, been the fastest player in our side, filled his spot in the zone perfectly - but it wouldn't have changed anything given very few of his team mates were willing to do the same.
 
Jun 7, 2011
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I think that both M Crouch and Lyons would clock regular 30's if they were at as many stoppages as Thommo. I don't understand the view that they wouldn't work back any harder, so what would be the point. Well, they're in their first handful of games and can be trained to concentrate on their defensive action more. As Bicks has stated, Thommo won't or can't and he's not going to be delivering us a flag. I'd also like to think that neither of those guys would do the loopy opposite foot kick into a centre square contest like Thommo does and did at least twice again on the weekend.

There's no doubt that Thommo is an absolute marvel at what he dies and to be doing it still is amazing. My view is that there's no place for that these days and if guys like Lyons or M Crouch cannot work defensively, then they'd also have little place in the modern game. But it can hardly be argued they've proven they can't be effective working back after so few genuine games, whereas Thommo certainly has.

The quality of our extraction from stoppages has been ordinary since he returned and he's been in there for most of them. It was a putrid day against Demons, so hard to tell. Not so under the Domes perfect conditions and we were basically worse again.
 
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I love thompson and think he is a champion player still. And in no way was the result on the weekend his doing.

But I think his position in our team throws our midfield out.
I have seen on quite a few occasions players such as Sloane, danger, CEY etc go to get the ball from a contest and thommo has pushed past to reach it first. It then leaves too many of our players close to the contest and out of position.
Before he came back into the team we had midfielders placed around the contest in areas that they could receive the ball and move it safely and not under extreme pressure. And thus not turning it over.
Our contests just seem really jammed with inside players out of position when he is in the team.

Ps sorry thommo I still love you mate.
 

Captain Morgan

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Can one player make that much of a difference ? Did Tommo cause all those F50 bombs on betts head, shocking disposal from smith or softness from Jenkins ?

I can understand that a missing link in a contested possession scenario might cause clearances to go down, but we were out muscled, out ran and out-spirited by the doggies.

They wanted to win, we just rocked up.

Crows learnt a valuable lesson today - to be the best you don't take chances, you don't compromise. Total professionalism, the 1%ers that add up on game day. Walsh spoke about it ad-nauseum preseason didn't he. Perhaps this is why he wasn't that bothered in the press conference - Walsh has just obtained exhibit A to use as an exemplar for what happens when you don't follow his instructions, and you lower your guard.

Tommo is undoubtedly on his last year, but to say ONE player was our downfall ? Sheesh...
 
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Can one player make that much of a difference ? Did Tommo cause all those F50 bombs on betts head, shocking disposal from smith or softness from Jenkins ?

I can understand that a missing link in a contested possession scenario might cause clearances to go down, but we were out muscled, out ran and out-spirited by the doggies.

They wanted to win, we just rocked up.

Crows learnt a valuable lesson today - to be the best you don't take chances, you don't compromise. Total professionalism, the 1%ers that add up on game day. Walsh spoke about it ad-nauseum preseason didn't he. Perhaps this is why he wasn't that bothered in the press conference - Walsh has just obtained exhibit A to use as an exemplar for what happens when you don't follow his instructions, and you lower your guard.

Tommo is undoubtedly on his last year, but to say ONE player was our downfall ? Sheesh...

It's certainly a small sample size, but despite Sauce still getting his hand first to the ball, we're back to the hack fwd under pressure clearances from last year. This wasn't the case in rounds 1 & 2. It may not be related to Thommo's presence at our clearances, but it can't be argued that we haven't gone backwards in clearance quality since he returned.
 

Captain Morgan

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I was busy writing chapter 2 when you replied, I think you identified the key part - pressure.

First two round, the opposition thinks.... It's just the crows.

Second two rounds, they think "better apply some pressure on the clearances...."

One team (dogs) just pulled it off better, wet weather (Melbourne) May have been a noise factor
 
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