As always its a little from Column A and a little from Column B.
We are a team that has horrendous depth, as we were still building our list. Now throw in the following and it is absolutely no shock why we are where we are-
-Losing two important key posts - Crameri and Ryder. Has forced to shuffle players and plug holes (not a big deal in isolation)
-TBC having horrible form and fitness due to injury OR just not being good enough (not a great big deal in isolation because our first class mids can compensate)
-Having 2 of our first class mids out all season as well as Jobe, Zaka, Cooney, Chapman all guys who would rotate through there battling injury ( issues are starting to compound on top of each other)
- SAGA (enough said, what effect it has we don't know but its there. Not an excuse but its there)
- Hird missing a year, your main problem appears to be we have stuck with guys who haven't shown form. The issue is (and Im not defending it, just that I understand why its happening) is the last time he coached, these guys had credits in the bank. They were performing. Chappy showed some good form last year in patches and by all reports his training standards were very high this preseason, he earnt the right as best 22 for a team that felt like it was in a position to challenge.
The club is in a poor position (no one would suggest otherwise) but we don't need a full rebuild, and we don't need massive changes, we just need to get back on the path we started 4 years ago, but seem to have stepped off in the last 18 months. Clear out the older guys (but show them a little respect and let them finish their careers properly) blood the new guys (but don't just give them games for the sake of it, they are dropped if not performing) and bring in some new talent for the future through the draft.
The sky isn't falling but things aren't all sunshine and rainbows. There are reasons for the way we are at the moment, they aren't excuses because they certainly aren't shielding our club or individuals from pressure and criticism. My only real point is allow the people there to work through those issues and see if we cant come out stronger.