Choco Royal as Midfield Coach

Sir Hugh Percy

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What is consensus on here of Choco Royal as a midfield coach?

Not trying to pot anyone from the cheap seats, but it seems to me that we’ve turned over most our FD except for him, and my feeling was that our midfield performance was a standout area where we were particularly poor this year. I also don’t see that his previous stints at North and Richmond offer much to recommend him. Fact is though, that I’m just a member who gets to half a dozen games a year, so what would I know? And that’s why I ask the question in the hope that more knowledge opinions might inform me.

If Choco isn’t the right man for the job, are there any opinions on who'd be better? Bolton from the Hawks? Ratts? Robert Harvey? Stewie Dew? And any ideas about their contractual ties?
 

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Jordie_tackles

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#2
What is consensus on here of Choco Royal as a midfield coach?

Not trying to pot anyone from the cheap seats, but it seems to me that we’ve turned over most our FD except for him, and my feeling was that our midfield performance was a standout area where we were particularly poor this year. I also don’t see that his previous stints at North and Richmond offer much to recommend him. Fact is though, that I’m just a member who gets to half a dozen games a year, so what would I know? And that’s why I ask the question in the hope that more knowledge opinions might inform me.

If Choco isn’t the right man for the job, are there any opinions on who'd be better? Bolton from the Hawks? Ratts? Robert Harvey? Stewie Dew? And any ideas about their contractual ties?
Pretty sure he was out of contract and seems to be employed still so muct be going ok,

Did here that we began to break even or win the clearances and contested possession in the middle after about round 15, may be wrong though?
 

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#6
What is consensus on here of Choco Royal as a midfield coach?

Not trying to pot anyone from the cheap seats, but it seems to me that we’ve turned over most our FD except for him, and my feeling was that our midfield performance was a standout area where we were particularly poor this year. I also don’t see that his previous stints at North and Richmond offer much to recommend him. Fact is though, that I’m just a member who gets to half a dozen games a year, so what would I know? And that’s why I ask the question in the hope that more knowledge opinions might inform me.

If Choco isn’t the right man for the job, are there any opinions on who'd be better? Bolton from the Hawks? Ratts? Robert Harvey? Stewie Dew? And any ideas about their contractual ties?
Consensus around here last year seemed to be the only thing that saved his skin was the fact he had a contract. If that was the case, I couldn't understand why he was put in charge of the midfield and can't understand why he hasn't been moved on yet. As the esteemed Wise Guy Sam said, Neeld's been so keen to cut those who aren't pulling their weight that he must be doing something right.
 
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#8
Has he been a part of any successful team? I honestly don't know if he has or not. I'd move him on tbh. Our midfield was embarrassing for most of last season. Really surprised to still see him with us. Maybe there is no one better out there atm?

To be fair to Royal though, he hasn't had a lot to work with. This year our midfield looks a bit better with more depth and versatility. So I guess we will find out if he can do something. Neeld helped turn Collingwood's midfield into an elite one, so I'm sure he knows if Royal is worth keeping or not.
 

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#9
Has he been a part of any successful team? I honestly don't know if he has or not. I'd move him on tbh. Our midfield was embarrassing for most of last season. Really surprised to still see him with us. Maybe there is no one better out there atm?

To be fair to Royal though, he hasn't had a lot to work with. This year our midfield looks a bit better with more depth and versatility. So I guess we will find out if he can do something. Neeld helped turn Collingwood's midfield into an elite one, so I'm sure he knows if Royal is worth keeping or not.
He was at the Saints before he came back IIRC
 

Syrus

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#11
I think most people know where I stand with this. I still dont how/why he is at the club:

This last year we were last in Disposals and Clearances, the most important stats for a midfield, Last also in Uncontested posessions and effective disposals and 16th in Contested Possessions and Inside 50's.
 

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#12
I think most people know where I stand with this. I still dont how/why he is at the club:

This last year we were last in Disposals and Clearances, the most important stats for a midfield, Last also in Uncontested posessions and effective disposals and 16th in Contested Possessions and Inside 50's.
There is a part of me that wants to defend Royal in some small way as our midfield wasn't exactly flash last year but we got fair dinkum smashed in there in 2012 and much of it must land at the feet of Royal.

2013 will tell us alot about him with Viney going in there and, hopefully, everyone fit and firing. If we struggle in there next year then surely he'll get his marching orders.
 

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#13
I beleive Royal had 12 months remaining on his contract when Neeld turned up and given all the other changes he made, I always presumed Neeld was told we couldnt afford to replace Royal and he needed to keep him for at least 12 months.

Will be interesting to see if he lasts another 12 months, but as someone said, if Viney comes in then his days may be numbered. He's never coached a particularly good midfield before.
 

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#14
I beleive Royal had 12 months remaining on his contract when Neeld turned up and given all the other changes he made, I always presumed Neeld was told we couldnt afford to replace Royal and he needed to keep him for at least 12 months.

Will be interesting to see if he lasts another 12 months, but as someone said, if Viney comes in then his days may be numbered. He's never coached a particularly good midfield before.
Yep. Has 12 months to go on contract. Given the commercially disastrous 2013 fixture, paying him out would be irresponsible.
 
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#15
After the wholesale changes with our coaching panel last year Neeld believes that he has his team and now wants to provide some continuity and consistency for the players. Yes, our midfield was awful last year. But looking at the depth and the quality of the personnel, that was hardly surprising.

Adding Rodan, Viney, Toumpas, Kent, M. Jones, Evans and Taggert to N. Jones, Sylvia, Grimes, Trengove, McKenzie, Magner, etc this year gives Royal far more to work with. Let's judge him at the end of 2013.
 
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