New Coach

[johnnyhoward]

In my prediction for a Bulldogs win, I expected the roof of Telstra Dome to be closed, and the Dogs to run all over the Saints.

The roof was open, and that played right into the Saints hands.

We won the game fair and square.

We started off slowly last year and were a bench away from the Grand Final, so I'm not prepared to write off the side yet. If GT doesn't get the team to the GF then he has to go. But until then I'll continue to bemoan his tactical decisions and see how he goes. Good luck Grant

 

[go fullta]

Who should we get?
I would say an out-sider, a new face.... like what Rodney Eade has done with the bulldogs

i reckon the saints need a new coach desperately, i would get back malcolm blight...i no it sounds stupid but it was rigged not giving him enough of a go and bringing in grant thomas so quick...what did that do.....it might have got yas a good list but he aint coachin the team to the best of there ability...he should have coached this team to a gf

malcolm blight,david parkin or robert walls are all good canditates...

 

[panthers]

Ok, we all accept that GT is not tactically astute.

But what about Rendell and McGuane - they are supposed to be tactical geniuses. So what's their problem, why are they not performing?

sack wallet ...ur team has been beaten by over a 100 points in 2 games so far this season and you have the gall to come in here and bag saints coaches ...well blow me down terry

 

[bfra]

i reckon the saints need a new coach desperately, i would get back malcolm blight...i no it sounds stupid but it was rigged not giving him enough of a go and bringing in grant thomas so quick...what did that do.....it might have got yas a good list but he aint coachin the team to the best of there ability...he should have coached this team to a gf

malcolm blight,david parkin or robert walls are all good canditates...

Malcolm Blight???? He stole from us...certainly didn't earn his pay. He isn't coaching St.Kilda for the same reason he parted with the Crows, No heart left.
We've played some terrible footy, but also showed some good spurts, don't write the Saints off.

 

[SpInNeR]

Will you still be calling for a new coach after the Saints' are up on the dias, displaying the Cup with red white and black streamers flying from everywhere and peals of "Oh when the Saints Go marching in..." issuing from all directions.

Grant Thomas lets the boys celebrate for a while, then Lukey Ball takes the cup from being passed around and wanders over to GT, both hold it high and the cheers and applause grow thunderous. Photographic flashes syncopate with the applause. The Saints in the crowd, an orgy of smiles and satisfied grins. Everyone is happy.

Then, up near the back, two lone St Kilda supporters look forlorn.
The camera zooms, it's Snickers and _Ron_, both seem unhappy.
If a special effects mike could have been set up, it might have registered _Ron_ saying to Snickers; "I still think Walls would have done a better job"

It is St.kilda supporters like you that have plagued our club its entire existance. How can you even defend GT. It a disgrace.

They are all buddies in the St.kilda board and this has to be changed. I have actually thought of Walls before (even though i dispise him as a commentator). He would be able to put a rocket up the arses of our players. Tell them what needs to be said.

Grant is coaching a bunch of individuals. There has been no TEAM at St.kilda for the last 5 years. This is fact. And if you disagree with this you obviously dont watch and have never played football.

He is not an AFL coach, he dosnt have the skills or the experience to do this.

And BTW how the can you defend someone like Murray. He is one of the biggest waste of time i have ever seen. He is a good VFL player and thats it. Nothing else. Defending him is an absolute joke. Its judgments like these that severly effect your credibility in football circles.

If any team is going to stuff things up its us. And its because of supporters like you that prevent the big decisions from happening due to your unheralded support of the St.kilda board. Thomas needs to go, end of story.

 

[panthers]

It is St.kilda supporters like you that have plagued our club its entire existance. How can you even defend GT. It a disgrace.

They are all buddies in the St.kilda board and this has to be changed. I have actually thought of Walls before (even though i dispise him as a commentator). He would be able to put a rocket up the arses of our players. Tell them what needs to be said.

Grant is coaching a bunch of individuals. There has been no TEAM at St.kilda for the last 5 years. This is fact. And if you disagree with this you obviously dont watch and have never played football.

He is not an AFL coach, he dosnt have the skills or the experience to do this.

And BTW how the can you defend someone like Murray. He is one of the biggest waste of time i have ever seen. He is a good VFL player and thats it. Nothing else. Defending him is an absolute joke. Its judgments like these that severly effect your credibility in football circles.

If any team is going to stuff things up its us. And its because of supporters like you that prevent the big decisions from happening due to your unheralded support of the St.kilda board. Thomas needs to go, end of story.

You talk a load of shyte SPINNER how the heel does wat st kildonan or any poster in Big Footy influence a Football clubs thinking...Take a look at yourself spinner and think about an apology to st kildonan

 

[St DAC]

This is fact.

Actually, it's opinion. Yours, in fact, which makes it worth exactly the same as anyone elses'; bugger all.

It's true we are stuggling at the moment, but we can still turn it around. Why not wait until we know the result of the season before going ballistic? You may yet be in for a pleasant surprise.

 

[Kildonan]

It is St.kilda supporters like you that have plagued our club its entire existance. How can you even defend GT. It a disgrace.

They are all buddies in the St.kilda board and this has to be changed. I have actually thought of Walls before (even though i dispise him as a commentator). He would be able to put a rocket up the arses of our players. Tell them what needs to be said.

Grant is coaching a bunch of individuals. There has been no TEAM at St.kilda for the last 5 years. This is fact. And if you disagree with this you obviously dont watch and have never played football.

He is not an AFL coach, he dosnt have the skills or the experience to do this.

And BTW how the heck can you defend someone like Murray. He is one of the biggest waste of time i have ever seen. He is a good VFL player and thats it. Nothing else. Defending him is an absolute joke. Its judgments like these that severly effect your credibility in football circles.

If any team is going to stuff things up its us. And its because of supporters like you that prevent the big decisions from happening due to your unheralded support of the St.kilda board. Thomas needs to go, end of story.

Firstly it is spelled St Kilda, not St.kilda.
I’ll forgive you your numerous spelling errors, but not THAT one.

How dare you call ME a disgrace !!

I will stand up for your right to post your own opinions and beliefs here.
This is what this forum is all about, bringing together all the disparate personalities that make up the St Kilda supporting public.

We are not going to agree on everything, but we share the same love for the club.

I have followed St Kilda since 1964.
I have seen hard times and I have seen worse times.
I have been disappointed, I have been heartbroken, I have been exultant and I been ecstatic.
There have been times when I was angry and felt let down, I’ve even lost interest at one time, but never have I been disloyal like you are now. That IS the disgrace here.

Seeing that you seem to have no knowledge of it whatsoever, I will quote the club motto for you:
Forteus quo fidelius; Strength through loyalty.

Let me pre-empt you before you go all childish and start insisting that the loyal thing is to point out GT’s (or the players’) weaknesses in order to strengthen the club.

The club releases a Media Handbook each year that anyone can download (requires acrobat reader).

In this release it defines our core values:

Passion: St Kilda is involved and energised, and we care deeply about what we do.
Character: St Kilda is unique, exciting and edgy, with reflections to the suburb of our origin.
Unity / Team: St Kilda believes in an "all for one" attitude and will be proud to be part of it.
Commitment: St Kilda are prepared to give all and fight to the end.
Trust: The players, members/supporters and the Club have complete faith in each other.
Accountability: St Kilda is the cornerstone of professionalism to the Club, players, members/supporters.

Brand Essence: Always exciting
Brand Personality: Quality football with character.

Grant is coaching a bunch of individuals. There has been no TEAM at St.kilda for the last 5 years. This is fact. And if you disagree with this you obviously dont watch and have never played football

Just stating “This is fact.” doesn’t make it so.
I disagree.
Does that mean all those games I’ve played, and all those games I’ve watched suddenly went **** and disappeared?

I am not going to convince you by stating my opinion, so I’ll just remind you of what Nick Dal Santo said when asked if he considered going elsewhere for much more money before re-signing with the Saints. “No. Never.”

And BTW how the can you defend someone like Murray. He is one of the biggest waste of time i have ever seen. He is a good VFL player and thats it. Nothing else. Defending him is an absolute joke. Its judgments like these that severly effect your credibility in football circles.

I don’t know how Murray is going to go. He doesn’t seem to be cutting it, but my 'defence' of Murray was to allow him to play a few games in a row so that we can see if he is going to make it or not. My feeling is that this is his last chance, this year. If he doesn’t produce the goods now we should delist him at the end of the year.

What if Murray only racks up 5 - 10 possessions? Does that make it a failure? What if next week he gets another run and gets 10-15, then the next week; 15 -20. Is this still a failure? What if all Murray needs is enough time to adapt to the pace of AFL - has the move to give him that time been a failure?
If Murray doesn't perform this year, he will probably not be signed next year. He needs to be given his chance to prove himself. The club has been patient and it must be remembered that to keep players on the list has a significant cost. We have carried a few players with injury and others who are not performing to required levels and are looking for output now. Jason Gram has taken his chance. Schwarze is another fringe player who is making his play for retention. Leigh Fisher would be another one. McGough and Ferguson might be as well. Some people might have Fiora and Montagna in that same category. Brooks is definitely in that category. He has recently returned from injury, so he may have been adjudged to not be quite ready yet, but I expect his time will come.

I feel frustrated at our lack of success, so I can empathise with your angst, but I don't agree with you or your approach.

Do you really think that getting rid of GT mid year is going to benefit St Kilda?
Where is the super expert coach that will take over?
How will the players react if GT is sacked?
The players have a pact to stay together and work towards a joint goal - a premiership. They want to make history for the St Kilda football club. GT is a very big part of that. If he is sacked, they will see that the loyalty only goes one way. They will be disillusioned and several may well leave us for greener pastures. You are kidding yourself if you think that dismissing GT wont have serious ramifications.

Even the president released a statement to curb the ranting of fans overreacting with our current situation:

Butterss calls for calm
16 May 2006 Herald Sun
Mark Robinson

ST KILDA president Rod Butterss yesterday had a message for disenchanted supporters and critics: have faith and lay off the coach.

Grant Thomas has been strongly maligned by fans – mostly on talk-back radio – since Friday's night's loss to Geelong's super-flood at the Telstra Dome.

The Saints sit in 10th position with three wins from seven games, with an injury list that includes some of their best names.

Thomas's inability to dismantle the Cats' game plan was the focus of supporter anger.

"If the guy could just get a bit of luck," Butterss said.

"He's actually very good in this situation . . . and he doesn't get a lot of credit.

"I thought he coached brilliantly the week before against the Doggies, he really dismantled their game plan and we beat them.

"They are a crack side, a form side, but we don't get a lot of credit for that as a club and that's a bit disappointing.

"(But) Thommo's actually going well. We had a long chat yesterday (Sunday) and he's probably as frustrated as the next bloke.

"He's got a very positive frame of mind, has great faith in the playing group."

Supporter angst is not new in football, nor is it new at the Saints. But Butterss argued it was expected at a club with high expectations within the industry.

"We'll carry that burden, but I encourage everyone to see the year in its fullness and not pick out one or two weeks where you're clearly underperforming," Butterss said.

"Last week it was Geelong supporters, two weeks ago it was (Dockers coach Chris) Connolly, and that's the madness of footy.

"And we respect their right as supporters to express their view, but one of the things we've learnt about footy is that you've just got to hold your nerve, be prepared to have faith in your people and processes.

"When we are playing badly we're not getting smashed, that doesn't make it right, but we're not far away from being very good again."

Butterss acknowledged the club was feeling the heat, but he said injuries had derailed the start of 2006, and most of the past 30 games.

The key injured players include Justin Koschitzke (head), Aaron Hamill (knee), Xavier and Raphael Clarke (soft tissue) and Nick Riewoldt (shoulder last year).

"There's an element of frustration and we understand that," Butterss said.

"I think we're hard marked at times and that's OK, too. We'll cop that, and last year was horrendous injuries and we finished third.

"Other teams with horrendous injuries were finishing 13th, 14th and 15th.

"It's just frustrating."

 

[Kildonan]

You talk a load of shyte SPINNER how the heel does wat st kildonan or any poster in Big Footy influence a Football clubs thinking...Take a look at yourself spinner and think about an apology to st kildonan

Thanks for sticking up for me panthers.

Loyalty is a great trait !!

 

[chas]

Trust: The players, members/supporters and the Club have complete faith in each other.

Did we show enough faith in Malcolm Blight? why does Grant the man get better treatment than Blight who is a dual premiereship coach? and who also coached team to many more GFs ???

 

[Kildonan]

Because Grant made an effort, whilst for Blighty, coaching St Kilda was an inconvenience that interrupted his golf.

 

[FrediKanoute]

I think you guys are crazy suggesting a new coach......Alves takes you to a GF and you sack him 2 years later, Blight has a disasterous coaching stint, quits and leaves you in the lurch and Thomas steps in. Sure he's not the best tactical coach, but you guys have had a heap of success and its still only early days in season 2006......for the record, if you do sack Thomas, the man for ht ejob is Peter Rhode.....he'll get you back to where you want to be

 

[Kildonan]

If we do sack Grant Thomas, then we deserve Peter Rhode !!!

I really wonder if those people who want GT sacked have thought about it enough to earmark a replacement for him.

I wonder if they realise that we'll lose several of our "stars" to higher bidders.

But the good news...

at least we could get Spida back

 

[chas]

what about rik wordsworth??? the hockeyroos woman's hockey gold medal winning coach ???

He can shape up these pussies

 

[Kildonan]

what about rik wordsworth??? the hockeyroos woman's hockey gold medal winning coach ???

He can shape up these pussies

That's what I thought - you are just a troll.

Dr Rick Charlesworth is in too much demand from all the other clubs, Chas, here have this carbon rod instead.
Oh, you've already got your own.

Thought as much.

 

[SpInNeR]

If we do sack Grant Thomas, then we deserve Peter Rhode !!!

I really wonder if those people who want GT sacked have thought about it enough to earmark a replacement for him.

I wonder if they realise that we'll lose several of our "stars" to higher bidders.

But the good news...

at least we could get Spida back

One question, IS GRANT THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB? You must have spent a day on that reply post yet it didnt answer it. And judging from the way you write he isn't. You dont keep an average coach because your scared the players will leave, and i remind you Eade and Wallace were avaliable.

You went completely off tangent. And displayed the typical thick headed qualities that have plagued our club since its existance.

 

[Kildonan]

One question, IS GRANT THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB? You must have spent a day on that reply post yet it didnt answer it. And judging from the way you write he isn't. You dont keep an average coach because your scared the players will leave, and i remind you Eade and Wallace were avaliable.

You went completely off tangent. And displayed the typical thick headed qualities that have plagued our club since its existance.

I refer you to an earlier post of mine in this very thread

As for coaches, well you seem to have made your mind up. I have too. I believe GT to be the right coach to take us to the premiership. You disagree. Neither of us can be said to be right or wrong until adjudged by history, after the fact.