Close matches

[Kennyrocks]

Without giving Rooch to much ammo... Hello Michelangelo, I thought the title might get you into this thread to mention in tomorrow/tuesday's paper how crows fans are disgruntled or some rubbish like that.
We don't have a good record in close matches lately, here are my thoughts as to why:
-Firstly and most critically, our skills are not up to scratch. Particualrly our forwards, we miss crucial goals. There were much better sides than our friends down the road at Port Adelaide last year but they took their chances inside 50. Its one of the most important aspects of the game.
-Craig's match day coaching. I am confident he can turn it around as he seems to want to always improve and develop in all areas, including himself. He does seem a little pig-headed at time though. Craig is as good in his preparation as someone like Blighty was in the box but I just keep thinking he lacks it on the day.
-Again to pick on Craig, which I dont like to do because I am actually a fan of Neil but some of his matchups make you scratch your head. The infamous Massie on Franklin is a standout example, Rutten on Welsh was strange and the worst of the lot was Shirley on Johnson, which was absolutely mind-boggling.
Having said that I have faith in Craig to improve, it worries me that he seems so stubborn, sure you have to back yourself but if a match up isn't working, he rarely seems to change it. Even going so far as to say that if we played the EF against the hawks again he'd put Massie on Buddy again, and leave him there-what the? Well Craigy, we'd lose again!
It didn't hurt us that much today apart from some awful turnovers (its round 1 after all and a high paced match, to be expected) but I want to emphasise how strongly I feel about our skills letting us down. Particularly the lack of a small skillful goalsneak type up forward, I really like macca up there.
Well tahts my thoughts, what do others think? Sorry about the mega-long post, I hope its worth reading.

 

[achancely]

Craig has made zero effort to improve his match-day coaching.

He simply does the same pig-headed shit over and over.

I've lost faith in any improvement. He's had 3 seasons to improve the skill everyone criticised him for initially, and he still hasn't.

He'll be a solid coach because he prepares well, but not a premiership coach.

 

[The Karma Bus]

A huge area we give up vital goals and at vital times is multiple players flying for marks when one of the opposition stay down.. Also multiple players tackling someone and they manage to squeeze the ball out to the guy on their own.. It happens repeatedly and costs us badly..

 

[macca23]

-Craig's match day coaching. I am confident he can turn it around as he seems to want to always improve and develop in all areas, including himself. He does seem a little pig-headed at time though. Craig is as good in his preparation as someone like Blighty was in the box but I just keep thinking he lacks it on the day.
-Again to pick on Craig, which I dont like to do because I am actually a fan of Neil but some of his matchups make you scratch your head. The infamous Massie on Franklin is a standout example, Rutten on Welsh was strange and the worst of the lot was Shirley on Johnson, which was absolutely mind-boggling.

Here is the heart of the matter. With the exception of match-day coaching Craig is an outstanding coach.

However, his match-day coaching is piss poor.

I couldn't believe the match-up of Rutten on Welsh, but worse was to come - when I saw Shirley on Johnson my heart sank. A total and utter mis-match - and so it proved.

These are the reasons we lose the close ones - poor match day coaching and we will continue to lose the close ones as long as we have such ridiculous mis-matches as we saw today.

 

[SugarShane]

He'll be a solid coach because he prepares well, but not a premiership coach.

Exactly, remember back to the 1997 Prelim Final where Jars wasn't havign a good day, Blighty shot him up forward and ended up winning us the game. Craig would never have the balls to try something like that.

 

[birdmanptr]

I have a question

Should this be a issue in the 3rd quarter we had them on the ropes and could not deliever the knock out punch

Last quarter 2 up under 5 to go and could not finish it of or shut it down

Yes we struggle in the close ones but they should not be close ones we should win them and win them easy

Would they have fought as hard as they did if laughing boy was not playing his 300th

 

[The Karma Bus]

Its cos he's all about structure and sticking to rigid ways rather than being visionary and trying something.. Yes his preparation is in depth but match day is another thing..

 

[The Karma Bus]

I have a question

Should this be a issue in the 3rd quarter we had them on the ropes and could not deliever the knock out punch

Last quarter 2 up under 5 to go and could not finish it of or shut it down

Yes we struggle in the close ones but they should not be close ones we should win them and win them easy

Would they have fought as hard as they did if laughing boy was not playing his 300th

Yep i agree, and we do it a lot.. But it will happen from time to time and he needs some answers for those times

 

[birdmanptr]

Yep i agree, and we do it a lot.. But it will happen from time to time and he needs some answers for those times

No one has mentioned we were 21 pts down at 1/4 time so Craigy must have done something to get us back into it

 

[Greatness23]

Somethings have just seemed to have become routine for Adelaide:

- Always losing the close games
- Always losing when the telstra roof is open
- Always dropping our leads
- Always losing when we are down at 3 qtr time
- Always kicking poorly infront of goal

Honestly, if we just improved on our goal kicking we'd never have to worry about those other things because we'd be whooping most teams. Last year included.

 

[The Karma Bus]

No one has mentioned we were 21 pts down at 1/4 time so Craigy must have done something to get us back into it

Its the close finishes thats the problem when the heat and pump is on without a quarter time break coming up to compose, think through moves etc.. Players also rebound after a 1st quarter like that just on pride.. But the first part is the problem

 

[birdmanptr]

Somethings have just seemed to have become routine for Adelaide:

- Always losing the close games
- Always losing when the telstra roof is open
- Always dropping our leads
- Always losing when we are down at 3 qtr time
- Always kicking poorly infront of goal

Honestly, if we just improved on our goal kicking we'd never have to worry about those other thing because we'd be whooping most teams. Last year included.

I have money on this we were talking about that at the start

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Here is the heart of the matter. With the exception of match-day coaching Craig is an outstanding coach.

However, his match-day coaching is piss poor.

I couldn't believe the match-up of Rutten on Welsh, but worse was to come - when I saw Shirley on Johnson my heart sank. A total and utter mis-match - and so it proved.

These are the reasons we lose the close ones - poor match day coaching and we will continue to lose the close ones as long as we have such ridiculous mis-matches as we saw today.

Lets cut to the chase Mac - does Craigy have what it takes to win a premiership?

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Exactly, remember back to the 1997 Prelim Final where Jars wasn't havign a good day, Blighty shot him up forward and ended up winning us the game. Craig would never have the balls to try something like that.

This is what worries me. Can Craigy swing a match winning move which will get us over the line in a pressure game.

It sucks that we lost but what worries me is that these losses come becuase of obvious poor match ups. Poor match ups actually cost us games. And they're blatantly poor match ups, obvious to everyone except the coaches box.

 

[PrideofSA]

Lets cut to the chase Mac - does Craigy have what it takes to win a premiership?

But the problem is that this current team is not a premiership team. Still needs more experience in crucial areas, so the best coach in the world prob wouldn't win a flag with the list at the moment. It is going to get better as players improve.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Craig has made zero effort to improve his match-day coaching.

He simply does the same pig-headed shit over and over.

I've lost faith in any improvement. He's had 3 seasons to improve the skill everyone criticised him for initially, and he still hasn't.

He'll be a solid coach because he prepares well, but not a premiership coach.

If Bock kicks the goal on the siren we wouldnt be having this conversation.
He didn't and we endure yet another close loss.

Its tough but I get the feeling our grit and determination gets us back into a game with minutes to go,instead of caving in. We must be given credit for that

Get used to it because its going to be a long season.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Lets cut to the chase Mac - does Craigy have what it takes to win a premiership?

He would have to get us 5 goals up with 1 minute left.

With 3 and half minutes left they needed 2 goals to win. Barracking for anyone else i'd be confident but the Crows i only rated 50:50 chance of winning...

we are crap in tight finishes. It has gone beyond luck. It is poor composure, poor goalkicking = poor mental strength! Weak minds.

Add to poor mental toughness the absolutely ridiculous coaching. But of course Craig will believe Shirley on Johnson didn't affect the result Gee lets look for the worst possible choice in our team to play on their best player at the crunch moment of the game No wonder Johnson promptly made his way to the goalfront. Only Douglas would have been a worse choice.

Yes the umpires DID affect the result (anyone who says otherwise is delusional) BUT we cannot help that. We still would have won if almost anyone else was on Johnson at the death.

 

[macca23]

Lets cut to the chase Mac - does Craigy have what it takes to win a premiership?

If we were many goals better than the opposition then I believe he could.

If it's a close game ? No!!

His history in close games including finals tells you that we will lose - and invariably due to a ridiculous match-up or a failure to match-up.

I don't think the most stupid supporter on this forum would have lined up Shirley on Johnson - madness in the mould of Massie v Franklin.

I wrote to Triggy at the end of last year saying that we have a glaring need for a strategist in the coaching box.

Nothing has changed. Nothing.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

If Bock kicks the goal on the siren we wouldnt be having this conversation.
He didn't and we endure yet another close loss.

Its tough but I get the feeling our grit and determination gets us back into a game with minutes to go,instead of caving in. We must be given credit for that

Get used to it because its going to be a long season.

YES we would be having the conversation of poor coaching re Shirley on Johnson.

We were in front with minutes to go!! THEY had the G+D to win when it was on the line. We caved in. It hurts but we did...again.

I still believe we will finish the year 14 wins, 8 losses after a 0:4 start.

 

[The Karma Bus]

If we were many goals better than the opposition then I believe he could.

If it's a close game ? No!!

His history in close games including finals tells you that we will lose - and invariably due to a ridiculous match-up or a failure to match-up.

I don't think the most stupid supporter on this forum would have lined up Shirley on Johnson - madness in the mould of Massie v Franklin.

I wrote to Triggy at the end of last year saying that we have a glaring need for a strategist in the coaching box.

Nothing has changed. Nothing.

I think todays match up was worse than the massie one.. Massie had some hope at least.. I just seen johnson kicked 3 goals in 4:31 of footy from 26:29 in the last qtr.. Aaargh

 

[TheLeftFist8]

In the interests of objectivity here are the stats.

I have included NAB Cup finals as they are hard fought games clubs actually try to win as opposed to the rest of the NAB which doesn't count for much.

The margin for a 'close match' was arbitrarily decided as 12 points or less.

2008: 0 wins 2 losses
2007: 2 wins 5 losses
2006: 3 wins 5 losses
2005: 6 wins 4 losses

(Note: Finals 0 wins 5 losses in close games)

So in 2005-06, when for much of the time we were regarded as either the best or second best side, we still only managed 50% win loss ratio in close matches.

Now we are generally regarded as a 'middle of the road' side, who are probably a little over 50% to make finals. So at a time we should be around 50% in close games, we are 2 wins and 7 losses for 07-08.

There is a problem. It isn't fitness. For mine it is 1) poor skills under pressure, 2) mental weakness under pressure (which results in point 1), and at its core...3) poor coaching, which results in point 2 and also in terms of disgraceful match-ups even us armchair critics can spot from a mile away.

Luck does not account for that terrible %

 

[dogbowl]

I wrote to Triggy at the end of last year saying that we have a glaring need for a strategist in the coaching box.

Something a bit off topic here, guys. I went to the Bulldogs President' s luncheon today, and among the guests that were warmly welcomed (Chris Grant, Barry Round, Ted Whitten Jnr, Brad Johnson's entire family, etc), were Trigg and some other high-ranking Crow-eater. It was a fiercely proud Bulldog function, and Smorgon, who introduced Trigg and Co, even made a joke about the 97/98 prelims.

I just find it weird that opposition President's would be comfortable in such an environment, but what would I know.

P.S. Some chick from Adelaide won the business card dinner raffle too, so at least you guys won something over the Dogs today!

 

[birdmanptr]

Something a bit off topic here, guys. I went to the Bulldogs President' s luncheon today, and among the guests that were warmly welcomed (Chris Grant, Barry Round, Ted Whitten Jnr, Brad Johnson's entire family, etc), were Trigg and some other high-ranking Crow-eater. It was a fiercely proud Bulldog function, and Smorgon, who introduced Trigg and Co, even made a joke about the 97/98 prelims.

I just find it weird that opposition President's would be comfortable in such an environment, but what would I know.

P.S. Some chick from Adelaide won the business card dinner raffle too, so at least you guys won something over the Dogs today!

A free lunch is a free lunch

 

[birdmanptr]

If we were many goals better than the opposition then I believe he could.

If it's a close game ? No!!

His history in close games including finals tells you that we will lose - and invariably due to a ridiculous match-up or a failure to match-up.

I don't think the most stupid supporter on this forum would have lined up Shirley on Johnson - madness in the mould of Massie v Franklin.

I wrote to Triggy at the end of last year saying that we have a glaring need for a strategist in the coaching box.

Nothing has changed. Nothing.

Did he write back ?

 

[macca23]

Did he write back ?

He did. He's a good bloke. He'd also make a good politician.

He did however intimate that there would be changes this year.

There has been, with new personnel in Hart and Clarke, but it means fk-all if Craig still makes the final calls as he did when he over-rode Jonas's suggestion in moving Massie off of Franklin in the 2nd quarter last year.

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got.