Andrew McLeod... where's he gone?

[tribey]

Did anyone see if McLeod had a ticket tonight? Because he was certainly a passenger - in fact... he's pretty much been at the back of the bus since the bye.

Michael Voss rocks up with a bad knee, red hair and cuts us up... Macca is apparently 100% fit - or so we're told - and did nothing except wander around like a seagull looking for chips... again.

But he scored 2 goals DT!, you say. But he's Andrew McLeod DT!, you say. He's been nothing but mediocre - if that - these past 9 or so weeks and I want answers.

If he's not injured, then we've got the league's costliest dud on our hands.

 

[Stiffy_18]

He has been very ordinary to say the least. He was OK in the 2nd half but in the first half he has been a shocker. His season so far as been really mediocre to say the least. Gone is the McLeod of couple of years ago. He his not chasing, he is not tackling, he is not doing the 1 percenters. He has been the costliset player on out list this year.

Pull your finger out McLeod. You wanted a big contract, you got it, now its time to deliver. We have been serves some crap games this year for a supposed top 3 player in the comp.

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
He has been very ordinary to say the least. He was OK in the 2nd half but in the first half he has been a shocker.

Not true Stiffy. He was only okay for the 3rd quarter IMO, in which he got 10 of his 22 touches.

12 touches for the other 3 quarters was an ordinary effort, capping off a very poor last third of the season.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

You have to wonder about McLeod's motivation at the moment & whether the rumours about his arguement with some of out club leaders is in fact true. We know it is not a quetsion of his ability, but something in wrong with his mind. We need the real Macca back next year!

 

[ant]

Macca did not have a great game tonight, but I thought he was alright, a contributor. He's certainly not playing at the level we expect him to play at.

As for him not chasing, I saw him make at least 5 long runs after running Brisbane players and managed to affect 2 of them.

I was not completely unhappy with him, he's just not playing like we know he can, but the effort is there IMO.

 

[bluecrow]

Agree 100%.

I really can't remember too many games this year when Macca has really been at his best. Tonight was no exception. One instance that springs to mind was in the 2nd quarter, when Brisbane had the ball around their half forward flank. McLeod's opponent went up for the ball, but Macca pulled back at the last minute. It's hard to explain, but when it happened I thought it was one of the most pathetic, gutless things I've seen by a Crow this year.

People have always said McLeod is a passenger, he's not an in & under player. In fact, it's hard to recall him ever being on the bottom of a pack. One thing that really annoys me, is that throughout the 2nd half of this season everyone excused McLeod, saying he was saving his best for finals. I'm not sure if this is true (he certainly has performed well in finals previously), but he really needs to step up during the season. Whether he hasn't because of injury or positioning, I'm not sure.

There was an interesting article/interview in The Age today on this very subject. They asked Robert Walls & Tim Watson what's happened to Andrew McLeod, and whether or not he can still be named up there with Voss, Buckley & Hird.

The article's here if you're interested:
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/11/1063268515158.html

 

[Stiffy_18]

Welcome home ant.

Good to have you back

 

[ant]

Cheers Stiffy, great to be back, earlier than I'd hoped but, oh well.

 

[Rumourmunger]

Chokers

Goodbye Average Ayres
Goodbye Wayne

 

[CrowBoi]

As soon as Andy is put in the spotlight, he tends to not perform as well...

John**** seems to have indicated he is the same....

is this worrying or what?

 

[kirky]

I remember say to saying to someone at the end of the Roos game to trade him. Well, later that week his contract got stitched up and well we have yet to see him perform at his best. No matter where you play or the coach plays you give it you all and I'm concerned that Andrew is worrying about other things. Tonight there were a couple of examples that were shockers to say the least.

Overall, he has to get his shhit together.

 

[Macca19]

Maybe hes still struggling with his knee that he had surgery on mid year. That would be the logical explanation for his lack of form since the operation.

Would also explain his lack of midfield time over the past 2 months.

 

[Scotty's_Girl]

I don't think Andrew McLeod has ever played well on Shaun Hart. And he didn't play too well last night either, even though he kicked a couple of goals.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Rumourmunger
Chokers

Goodbye Average Ayres
Goodbye Wayne

Ah Kane McGoodwin will be delighted. someone's already nominated themselves for a ban in his short time as moderator.

 

[PrideOf]

I know it's off the topic of McLeod, but from the article that bluecrow posted, comes this quote. Robert Walls, you champion.

"The other thing with Adelaide is that Leigh Matthews will know what he's going to get because Gary Ayres . . . we could just about write down what Adelaide will come up with. I think it would be nice to see a few surprises pulled by Adelaide on Friday night, but going on what's happened in the past, don't expect it."

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Macca19
Maybe hes still struggling with his knee that he had surgery on mid year. That would be the logical explanation for his lack of form since the operation.

Would also explain his lack of midfield time over the past 2 months.

He actually played well directly after that clean out on his knee earlier this year.

My info, rightly or wrongly, is that he has had muscular problems in his back which have prevented him from turning quickly or sharply, which is why they have played him in recent weeks coming off a HB flank, in the hope that most of his footy will be played running straight at the ball.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Whatever his problem has been, be it physical &.or mental, we badly need the real Andrew McLeod back in 2004.

 

[ajmart]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with his knee-fact!

If it's physical there is something else wrong

It appears to me to be mental. The players don't appear to me to be a really happy, carefree group on the field as we've seen previously.

Cheers, a.j.

 

[Asgardian]

Are you sure of your info Ajmart?

The stuff I have heard is that he has a degenerative problem with the rear of his kneecap.

I aint a doctor, but I do know that when the lining behind the kneecap goes, it results in bone rubbing on the underneath side of the kneecap. And trust me gentlemen, when that happens, and the knee is under constant high levels of stress and work, it bloody well hurts. I heard he is having constant injections, and that aint any fun either.

I may be way off the beam, coz if what I have heard is true, it makes no sense for the Crows to give him a highly paid contract.

The maths don't really add up--

1/- We all know McLeod is a champion player
2/- We all know he has been playing under par lately
3/- We all know he has had a knee problem
4/- We all know he has just signed a big contract

Don't know what it really does add up to, but it has to be unsettling for his team-mates, plus the Crow supporters

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Asgardian
Don't know what it really does add up to, but it has to be unsettling for his team-mates, plus the Crow supporters

I agree something doesn't add up. Just hope it is a short-term problem & all will be OK again in 2004.