Taylor Walker Dropped...

[tribey]

A truly stupid and shit decision, we already have a non performing foward line, why not play a natural foward there?. This is a ****ed up decision.

For a man under the pump it's a superballsy decision vis-a-vis punishing him for a lack of workrate/two-way football - what's left, a woefully out of form/hobbled Tippett and a 31-year old medium forward with a reconstructed knee?

At least you know he's sticking to his principles and not shamelessly chasing results - he was able to think big picture when the team was struggling in the first half of 2009, he just may be steeling himself for a repeat.

 

[Archie87]

Taylor Walker will be the first player signed by Greater Western Sydney

Bloody hope not! I reckon he will stay but Neil Craig will have a lot to answer for should Tex leave, as his management of him as been terrible.

 

[Outburst]

I hope he leaves the ****ing club, neil craig is a ****ing hack

 

[Vader]

At the very least we know he'll never be compared to Robert Shaw. Shaw kept second guessing himself, something which Craig will never ever do.

 

[maxlad]

i thought it was gonna be certain that burton would be out and tex would take his spot this season, sighhh

 

[johnnypanther]

I have been defending Craig, the club, the coaches all week but now I am confused, bemused, frustrated and trying to not degenerate into the spiteful, irrational vitriol that has been thrown at them this week.

I do not understand how we search for a forward for a decade, we find the most natural Full Forward i have seen for many many years, and we play him in the midfield/backlines together with a "no-go zone forward line structure" and then we drop him. I dont know the reasons, i dont know how Walker feels, but i would quite comfortably bet my house that he will be out of the club (to GWS) in no time.

Do we play Petrenko in ruck this week and then drop him because he doesnt get any hit outs.

I respect Vader's time to say what i think.

 

[Alex99]

At the very least we know he'll never be compared to Robert Shaw. Shaw kept second guessing himself, something which Craig will never ever do.

But isn’t that just as bad. His stubbornness to acknowledge they have a problem is just as bad as chopping and changing every 5 seconds and losing is still losing.

 

[relapse]

Bloody hope not! I reckon he will stay but Neil Craig will have a lot to answer for should Tex leave, as his management of him as been terrible.

I can see it now, Walker goes to GWS and becomes a gun full forward and Neil is interviewed later and says, "in retrospect I still would not have changed my management of Walker".

 

[cmndstab]

Very hard decision to understand. I agree that Walker's form has been poor, but so has that of a number of other players, and Walker has been well out of his position (not that he's set the world alight during the periods of time he has been at FF...) - it makes me wonder if there is more going on behind the scenes than just form on the weekends. Pace is a convenient excuse but it goes against much of what Neil Craig says about speed of ball movement being the key.


Something about this makes me think there has to be more going on here than merely poor form and a lack of pace.

 

[Smoooothy]

is it just me or is the stubborness of Craig comparable with one G Ayres?

and we all know how that ended...

 

[Alex99]

I can see it now, Walker goes to GWS and becomes a gun full forward and Neil is interviewed later and says, "in retrospect I still would not have changed my management of Walker".

Or it comes out in the media and Walkers says something like “I gave them the option, it’s either him or me and they went with him”

I can see it now, we will end up with 22 players who show no emotion and only do as they are told. By the look of it, the robot era is coming back.

 

[relapse]

i thought it was gonna be certain that burton would be out and tex would take his spot this season, sighhh

Craig didnt beg them all the re-sign for this year to then turn around and drop them, I am glad that people are now starting to come to this realisation

 

[Paladin]

Since the Freo game Walker has been terrible. Fair enough call. Burton at least is trying and marking the ball. Walker needs to toughen up. Its Hendo time!

 

[beartoo]

starskyCrow87;17505938]Are you implying here that the 32 year old is actually performing? Yes!

Because he clearly isn't. I'd much prefer to develop the inconsistent young, KPF than a 32 year old, who is past his prime, constantly misses easy set shots and ignores team mates in better positions. I'm sure you would, but you are wrong about all of these things. Burton had an off day with the boot last week. A return of 1.3 from 7 shots would be up his nose as much as ours. But this bloke has a career tally of 262 with 5.5. this year. You don't get goals in the multiple hundreds by being a mug that can't play footy. Burton has been a solid footballer for our club since 1999. He does not deserve the abuse he cops from so many posters on this board.

Craig can't play Walker in defence/ off the wing then complain about his lower output! I bet Franklin was never played off half back in his first couple of years! Do you think Walker will be as good as Franklin? I take your point about Walker being played out of position, you are not the only one to make it. My take is that if Walker was capable of performing at full forward, that is where he would be playing.

 

[Crow About It]

(not that he's set the world alight during the periods of time he has been at FF...)

He did kick 4 goals playing as a true forward (at times) against Freo. While not brilliant its better than anyone else has done this year.

 

[headache1]

Now I'm no expert, but surely if Walkers problem is a lack of pace, you would play him deep in the forward line, where it's not such an issue and he can utilise his strength. Oh yeah, not to mention, it's also THE POSITION HE HAS PLAYED FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE and what his body type is naturally suited to!

I've always been a bit of a critic concerning Craigs matchday performance, but thought that as far as drilling, developing and preparing a side for a game goes, there were few better. I'm now losing that faith. I know we're only 4 weeks into a long season and also battling a big injury list, but this should be exactly the time to develop young players (aka the future), not give underperforming veterans a free pass.

 

[johnnypanther]

Very hard decision to understand. I agree that Walker's form has been poor, but so has that of a number of other players, and Walker has been well out of his position (not that he's set the world alight during the periods of time he has been at FF...) - it makes me wonder if there is more going on behind the scenes than just form on the weekends. Pace is a convenient excuse but it goes against much of what Neil Craig says about speed of ball movement being the key.


Something about this makes me think there has to be more going on here than merely poor form and a lack of pace.

Did someone say also that he did not train today? (or maybe it was yesterday)

 

[Archie87]

Since the Freo game Walker has been terrible. Fair enough call. Burton at least is trying and marking the ball. Walker needs to toughen up. Its Hendo time!

That's only as a result of our structure... he's our go to man up forward thus he is getting his hands to it more. Walker has been terrible as a result of Burton's presence in the forward line. He is playing in his exact position. Craig has preferred the 32 year old who can't kick straight, to the young KPP to play out of the square. Walker carved up out of the square in round one in a team getting flogged and delivering the ball poorly. He has barely played out of the square since Burton's return.

 

[King Elvis]

For a man under the pump it's a superballsy decision vis-a-vis punishing him for a lack of workrate/two-way football - what's left, a woefully out of form/hobbled Tippett and a 31-year old medium forward with a reconstructed knee?

At least you know he's sticking to his principles and not shamelessly chasing results - he was able to think big picture when the team was struggling in the first half of 2009, he just may be steeling himself for a repeat.

I love you tribey.

You're right.

Still ****ed though.

 

[Wood_Duck]

Every other thread has bagged him for missing shots 30m out, straight in front.

Which makes his performances even more of an issue. I am probably referring more to the game against Melbourne the week before. Others would be referring to last week against Carlton. Either way you look at it, our best option at FF hasnt been playing there.

 

[-CG-]

Did someone say also that he did not train today? (or maybe it was yesterday)

He didn't train today.

 

[Wood_Duck]

Since the Freo game Walker has been terrible. Fair enough call. Burton at least is trying and marking the ball. Walker needs to toughen up. Its Hendo time!

Right on cue. Just when you need someone to poke their head up and say something stupid.

You are quite right Walker is not a very good wingman or hbf.

 

[WALL-e]

Now I'm no expert, but surely if Walkers problem is a lack of pace, you would play him deep in the forward line, where it's not such an issue and he can utilise his strength. Oh yeah, not to mention, it's also THE POSITION HE HAS PLAYED FOR HIS ENTIRE LIFE and what his body type is naturally suited to!

Play midfield as a youngster, unp until his growth spurt.

But yes, he's a natural FF.

 

[KnaveyBlue]

What is this I don't even



Truly shocked.

 

[craig crowing]

He didn't train today.

Hope that doesnt mean was told and already spat it as havent heard any other reason.