lets lay it on the line here

[TimN]

Connolly has already had his two fails in a row TimN. He's now on a hat trick.

Ah yeah ... I guess my brain just glossed over last year. The more I think about it, the more I think that two results of 50% or less is not good enough and he should go.

Having said that, I don't have an obvious replacement in mind, so maybe we are better off with the devil we know? The only other reason that I can think of to hang on to him is to avoid getting a Richmond-like reputation for having a revolving door for coaches, which would make it more difficult for us to attract a suitable replacement.

 

[theGav56]

When CC began, he said that in this season he expected the club to play, and win a final. He has come up short, but not that far short.

One option is to get rid of him. The list of obviously better replacements who are avialable comes down to "nil" in my opinion. Sumich is the the leading contender!!! Closely followed by Wayne Carey. Why anyone expects them to be an improvement is beyond me.

CC has in fact easily been our best coach, and he took over when were stoney broke last, and an utter disgrace on and off the field, including in the Board Room. At the very least he should get next year with full support, and if they don't make the finals I'd be very surprised, and would expect that changes might be appropriate. And I'd give him until the end of the year, not round 6, or 11, or some other arbitrary figure. Look at the clubs record after when the Georges called for him to be sacked, and look at clubs like Geelong, Bulldogs, Port Adeliade, Melbourne, WC. All had seasons where they shone and faded.

 

[tico]

SO rip i am waiting mate ... let us know now your opinion if we miss the 8 next year where do you stand?

if we make the 8 and get flogged where do you stand?

if we win a few finals game where do you stand?

 

[Freo Shark]

SO rip i am waiting mate ... let us know now your opinion if we miss the 8 next year where do you stand?

if we make the 8 and get flogged where do you stand?

if we win a few finals game where do you stand?

So Troll what happens if we make the 8 next year and win a final ? No doubt you be saying CC should be sacked for not winning the Cup ?

 

[tico]

So Troll what happens if we make the 8 next year and win a final ? No doubt you be saying CC should be sacked for not winning the Cup ?

No not at all i am just stating that i don't like him as a coach but if he can succeed all the more power to him and great for the club. i think he has failed completly over the last 2 seasons and we have not improved enough under his guidance. what is wrong with that?

i have never backed away from my comments nor am i scared to answer a question put to everyone and anyone how about you?

 

[theGav56]

So Troll what happens if we make the 8 next year and win a final ? No doubt you be saying CC should be sacked for not winning the Cup ?

Spot on. No one will be satisfied until we win a Premiership. And then, unless we dominate for another year. And then....ad inifitum.

 

[tico]

Spot on. No one will be satisfied until we win a Premiership. And then, unless we dominate for another year.???And then....ad inifitum.

another year.???

 

[wehavethepassion]

Supposedly if connolly gets the side to finals in 2006 then he has an option for an extension into 2008. extension onto the extension.

he needs to shuffle the deckchairs with his assistants. let Broadbridge have the midfield and move malaxos sidways.

he needs to reinvent the "port of pain" quickly at Subi but to do this he needs more speed in the midfield(stating the bleeding obvious) and a decent game plan.

 

[dicko]

When CC began, he said that in this season he expected the club to play, and win a final. He has come up short, but not that far short.

One option is to get rid of him. The list of obviously better replacements who are avialable comes down to "nil" in my opinion. Sumich is the the leading contender!!! Closely followed by Wayne Carey. Why anyone expects them to be an improvement is beyond me.

CC has in fact easily been our best coach, and he took over when were stoney broke last, and an utter disgrace on and off the field, including in the Board Room. At the very least he should get next year with full support, and if they don't make the finals I'd be very surprised, and would expect that changes might be appropriate. And I'd give him until the end of the year, not round 6, or 11, or some other arbitrary figure. Look at the clubs record after when the Georges called for him to be sacked, and look at clubs like Geelong, Bulldogs, Port Adeliade, Melbourne, WC. All had seasons where they shone and faded.

I would give him until mid year and then chop chop chop if the team is still playing the same brand of football as this year.

I agree that he has taken the club from the pits of hell that they were in a few seasons back, however they dont seem to be able to take the next step, and that is where you may need a new coach to achieve this

A comment was made about his ability to keep players at the club, however if they do not succeed then the light will fade, and that is when it could unravel, which is the last thing you would want

Look at Mcleod, who was disenchanted last season and almost gave it away, however a new coach has reignited the flame.

You must be wary of that with the likes of Pav etc as you only have one or two more seasons I would say of good will from the players before they really question the dream

 

[wehavethepassion]

Who is going to give connolly the chop? Cam? Rick? The Board?
Too much self interest here because the ones that put him there will lose all credibility if he get the flik.

 

[sabre_ac]

Who is going to give connolly the chop? Cam? Rick? The Board?
Too much self interest here because the ones that put him there will lose all credibility if he get the flik.

Ding Ding Ding
We have a winner...
Conolly unfortunately isnt going anywhere.

 

[Kickin_Goals]

Do you think the crows would have been minor premiers if Conan Ayres was still their coach?

hell no they probably woulda got the wooden spoon

 

[dominguez]

Who is going to give connolly the chop? Cam? Rick? The Board?
Too much self interest here because the ones that put him there will lose all credibility if he get the flik.

That's the frustrating part. It feels like we are stuck in a maze with no way out. Schwab and Hart aren't going to sack Connolly because it will be an admission that the contract extension was a mistake and they would probably have to go too. Add to that the fact that Connolly and Schwab have been close friends for 20+ years and the impression that Hart doesn't have a clue and is only in the job to improve his profile so he can sell more TV's and it's unlikely that CC will be leaving this decade.

It makes me angry to know that our window is open and we aren't even in the 8. To be honest I don't care who replaces Connolly. Anything would be better than what we currently have. Anyone who demands discipline, can motivate the players and is switched on for game day will be a good replacement. Basically someone who played the game like you would want it played (which rules out the inconsistent full forward currently employed up the road). Tony Liberatore could be a good option. He damaged his reputation for the good of the team as a player and currently works under Pagan.

 

[purp_bling]

Exactly WHTP - Big Rick says he's happy with this year!!! Unbelievable! He states that the decision to re-sign CC is now vindicated. What the?

At worst he should be saying, "its been a tough year, we didn't perform to expectations, some things must change and we'll pour over every detail until we get it right ..."

 

[Ripper]

Well now we have all had a vent as the dissappointment has hit here are my thoughts after having a few days to collect my thoughts.

After thinking about it and checking some stats I have come to the conclusion that no one would have done much better with the list we have in it's 2005 health.

The main reason is the clearance's. The big hole on our list is that we do not have a gun mature bodied inside player.

Port have Francou & James
Adelaide have Ricchitio , Goodwin , Mcleod
Pies have Licuria , Burns
Brisbane Voss , Black , Power
Saints have Harvey , Thompson
Bombres have the Johnsons , Hird & Perveril
Sydney have Kirk & Williams
Hawks have The Extractor.


Hase is the closest we have to that and hence the problem as he has carried whatever he has most if not all of the season.

If you care to check the stats the games we performed the worst in especially the block from round 8 (bombres through to round 15 we lost when Hase's output was down.

Hase's possesions
Round 8 (bombres) 21 touches Lost but were in front at 3/4 time then Jason Johnson dominated the clearances
Round 9 ( Hawks) 16 touchs We were flogged in the clearances all day
Round 10 (Geelong) 25 touchs We won with Hase having a reasonable day
Round 11 (Brisbane) 14 touchs Smashed at the stoppages again
Round 12 ( Sydney) 13 touchs Smashed at the stoppages after 1/2 time although Hase was in defence (probably so he could run in straight lines)
Round 13 (Kangaroos) 10 touchs again spent most of the game at HF
Round 14 (Adelaide) 27 touches Start of the resurgance
Round 15 (Bulldogs) 25 touchs Another win
Round 16 (Carlton) 20 touchs Another win
Round 17 (Melbourne) 29 touchs Another win
Round 18 (Collingwood) 19 touchs Another win but we still got beat at the stoppages
Round 19 (Richmond) 30 touchs Another win
Round 20 (E-girls ) 16 touchs Say no more
Round 21 (Saints) 31 touchs in an inspirational display
Round 22 (Port) 18 touchs Faded in the last quarter.

This goes to show that IMO Hase is our most important player and the only really effective one of that type that we have.
In 2003 Hase Bellie & Pav all were AA and played every game.

Josh Carr & Bellie can pinch hit in that role but are not as effective.


Interesting that Dylan Smith played rounds 5, 6 ,7 , 8 was dropped for rounds 9 , 10 , 11 bought back for rounds 12 & 16 averaging only 11.8 possesions per game.

Back on topic , the problem is that we only have had one week to week Hase.

I would expect that since CC knows of the problem, if it is not fixed by the end of next season He will have lost me.

But he does admit the team will need to bolster its personnel if it is to become a true finals contender.

"We need to strengthen our midfield, we've just got to get harder and stronger and smarter in and around the ball," he says.

"When we've struggled against the top teams it's been our inability to win the ball and then execute our ball use properly."

"So we need more depth and we need to find some really hard and consistent performers in there (centre square)."

http://fremantlefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=225485

However, I do believe that we have progressed this year.

Just about anything that could go wrong did go wrong yet we finished 1 dodgy decison in RD 2 out of the finals.
Our best footy is the best it has ever been.
We have a squad with the best depth we have ever had.
We play a pretty damm good brand of footy when we actually have the ball.
Even when we have been and playing badly beaten we have fought evey game out to the end.

I can understand peoples frustration as I get as upset as anyone but the way to sustained success is not to pull everything down and start yet again.

And make no mistake that is highly likely to happen. The current group seem to have no problem with the Club or they would not keep extending their contracts.

If it was simply a matter of being "harder on the players" then
Lots of coachs would have a lot more flags than they do.


We have had three starts already 1995 , 1999 , 2002.
18 players have made their AFL debut under CC.
There will be at least a 3 year lead time before most of them approach anything near their potential.

Cheers.

 

[dominguez]

Interesting post Ripper.

I think the players hang around because it's a comfortable environment. It's a bit like having a soft boss in any work place. You take it easy, rock up late, have a good time and love working there, but the company would produce more work with a stronger boss. Another season or two of mediocrity and there may be a mass exodus of players.

A lot of people congratulate Connolly on the depth of our list. Because of the age of all the good players when he arrived the depth of the list was always going to improve because there isn't anyone retiring. Apart from Kicketty how many Freo players have retired since Connolly arrived that would currently be in our best 22?

I agree with you on our clearance issues but it seems like it's been 11 seasons now that we've been a poor clearance side. It's certainly been an issue since 2002 so isn't it Connolly's fault that we are still poor in that area? We have two quality ruckman and plenty of midfielders with the physical characteristics to be a clearance machine.

 

[Ripper]

Interesting post Ripper.

I think the players hang around because it's a comfortable environment.

Lol , With all they have have to cop from the Media & us feral supporters?

 

[Mead]

Just about anything that could go wrong did go wrong yet we finished 1 dodgy decison in RD 2 out of the finals.

Come on, even you must realise how utterly ridiculous that is given that in the return fixture of that game you got home by by less than a goal on the back of a slew of dodgy umpiring decisions and injuries to the opposition.

 

[Ripper]

Come on, even you must realise how utterly ridiculous that is given that in the return fixture of that game you got home by by less than a goal on the back of a slew of dodgy umpiring decisions and injuries to the opposition.

Now you are trolling. Care to list the so called errors both ways or are you just echoing Ed's propaganda.

 

[Mead]

Now you are trolling. Care to list the so called errors both ways or are you just echoing Ed's propaganda.

Just putting all the other borderline pro-st kilda decisions throughout game to one side, the free to McPharlin in front of goal (which got you within 8 pts in the final term) was deadset dodgy, especially given Gehrig spent the entire final quarter being constantly held at the other end of the ground. IIRC, the one you are whining about in rd 2 was a the HTB decision in the backline both these decisions were highly dubious to say the least.

I'm not going to argue the toss about that, any reasonably unbiased individual (which you are obviously not) would say that on the basis of dodgy umpiring, the other team down to 19 fit men and failing to ice the game despite multiple kicks on goal early in the last term, any unbiased individual would say that Freo got bloody lucky against the Saints in rd 21.

Which is fine, every team has their ups and downs, but you finished exactly where you deserved to finish this season.

 

[Ripper]

the free to McPharlin in front of goal (which got you within 8 pts in the final term) was deadset dodgy,

It was 50mts out on the boundary was soft but it still needed a good 50 mt kick to kick the goal.

There were two others unwarranted to Macpharlap as well but we had already kicked goals from the spillage.

There were numerous ones missed at the other end as well as the Medders mark not paid and subsequent 50.

Any good fortune we got from that game pales into insignificance compared to the rough run We got against Melbourne at the MCG , Brisbane, the Roos and in the 2nd Derby.

We were stiffed in Tassie out of at least a draw.

Just the swings and roundabouts.

 

[tico]

RIPPER if we miss the finals next year does CC deserve his coaching job and on the flipside if we make the finals should he be extended?

 

[jarman]

Well if we don't make the finals then that would be a failure. The expectation is to make the finals and win one. That is the bottom line. If that doesn't happen then end of year, might be time to say goodbye.

I would never sack a coach mid year. stupid suggestion. it was dumb with Drum. did it enable us to get a better Coach because he was sacked midyear? we got CC which you guys bag. not only that but it is a disgraceful and unprofessional way to act as a club. You can look for a coach quietly. nobody is going to accept a coaching job midyear either.

Plus, look at this year. the Geaorges all calling for his head, and we just miss the finals. dumb

More b***** stupid for keeping a half a***** coach who has missed the finals in both 2004 /2005 and we give him the opportunity miss the finals in 2006. Sack him now and try and change the "looser culture" we have. ?

 

[Ripper]

RIPPER if we miss the finals next year does CC deserve his coaching job and on the flipside if we make the finals should he be extended?

I thought I had answered it in my post.
No and yes.

Interestingly this year we are the 7th ranked team on form on the Allthestats site which takes into account the fixture.

Rankings

The ratings are on the right.

Make of that what you will.

 

[tico]

I thought I had answered it in my post.
No and yes.

Interestingly this year we are the 7th ranked team on form on the Allthestats site which takes into account the fixture.

Rankings

The ratings are on the right.

Make of that what you will.

sorry mate i musn't have understood correctly. thanks for your input