Mega Thread The Mark Neeld Mega-Thread

[CrashTestDummy]

People saying that Neeld is a horrible coach, can't coach or is one of the worst coaches of all time because he looks to have failed at Melbourne.

He probably wasn't given the power of a full personnel audit. Top to bottom. That's what is needed.
The new coach will have to go in and kick heads (egos) otherwise they are finished.

 

[melbournemartin]

He probably wasn't given the power of a full personnel audit. Top to bottom. That's what is needed.
The new coach will have to go in and kick heads (egos) otherwise they are finished.

He did change a large amount of the playing list and almost all of the coaches though.

 

[QuietB]

He probably wasn't given the power of a full personnel audit. Top to bottom. That's what is needed.
The new coach will have to go in and kick heads (egos) otherwise they are finished.

Isn't that what he did? Kick heads, insult egos and change everything. That has had the effect of half the good players leaving and the other half probably about to leave. This is going to be the real damage.

 

[Grongey]

Sheeds is on his last year at GWS

 

[Ted38]

Anyone who thinks that by sacking Neeld Melbournes problems will be solved is kidding themselves.

 

[vast]

Given it didnt happen in rnd 1 or 2. I expect it wont be until very late or at the end of the season.

 

[syl]

If and when a new coach has been confirmed for 2014. Better not jump to conclusions and sack him at round 9,what a farce.

 

[vast]

Anyone who thinks that by sacking Neeld Melbournes problems will be solved is kidding themselves.

Everyone understands its not just the coach, but they have gone so far backwards since he took over he will get the blame in this business. Also the idea is to get a really good coach in there to at least make them competitive and get the best out of their ability. Which is clearly not happening at the moment.

 

[Lach72]

They have no clue how to play. Watch Mzungu's 2 goals in the second quarter yesterday. You just shake your head.

Get rid of him. Throw $$$ at Roos. They won't win many if any. But he can spend 12 rounds teaching them the basics of defensive play.

They were seriously embarrassing.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

He'll be sacked when a proven coach is available

 

[half_back_flank]

Sheeds is on his last year at GWS

On gameday Sheedy spends more time marking scores in that record he always has under his arm than actually coaching.

 

[Anja_Nees]

I don't think anyone doubts that Melbourne's problems run far deeper than the coach, but since he took over things have become noticeably worse. Only those in the inner sanctum would really know what's going on (and frankly I wouldn't even trust them to have a clue) but there's no way Neeld can survive this. Were it my call (and I'm glad it's not) I'd wait till the mid-season break and appoint a caretaker. Come season's end, I don't think they can afford to go down the untried-but-well-thought-of-assistant track again.

Short list - Eade, Roos, Williams with Ayres as the smokey (if no one else will consider it). You'd think all of them would at least have some luck getting the players on board. Then again, Captain Feathersword would have more luck getting the players on board than Neeld at the moment.

 

[Pipefitter]

Looks like he survives another week.

 

[lemon chicken]

I don't know how somebody who isnt already involved there could just come in and take over straight away, maybe it would be an improvement long term but how would the players react to a somebody they've never met or know coaching them within a week turnaround.

 

[Cosmic Energy]

It's difficult to see him continuing if things continue as they are, but you get the feeling that just about anybody would have struggled at this time. He's coached through post-tanking fallout, was accused of racist treatment of his indigenous players almost immediately, Jurrah (the 2011 leading goal kicker) obviously had his issues, there's been post-MacDonald delisting fallout, Connolly got banned from the club, Schwab got the sack, and now there's PED investigations. He's made some questionable decisions himself, but they are a tough set of circumstances for a first time coach.

At least getting in an experienced, successful coach would make the "can this guy coach?" noise go away. And really the only coaches around who could make that happen would be Clarkson, Worsfold, Longmire & Chris Scott. Longmire & Scott would seem immovable of course. Maybe thinking outside the box even throw Ross Lyon in there - contracts were made to be broken . Bomber Thompson also, if he survives these PED investigations.

They might get Roos by throwing a lot of cash his way, but he seems fairly reluctant and if things don't go well pretty soon you'll get the "only in it for the cash" types of criticism (refer Malcolm Blight). And with Mark Williams, if things don't go well immediately it will be "He's not up to it any more".

Geez if they do move on Neeld, there's a lot of responsibility on the new coach selection panel. Maybe the AFL could quietly withdraw the "you didn't tank but we'll fine you anyway" fine to help behind the scenes. It might seem like a hard sell to get a quality coach in, but looking at it the other way, they get a good deal of cash & they can't possibly do any worse than the last 6 or so years....can they?

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

People saying that Neeld is a horrible coach, can't coach or is one of the worst coaches of all time because he looks to have failed at Melbourne.

It is a huge job and he had many factors against him, as will the next bloke.

Melbourne weren't that bad - we got absolutely pummeled by Geelong and lost to Collingwood and the Hawks by 80ish points each.

Compare that to North Melbourne who, at the time, also lost to those at least two of those teams by over 100 points during the season (I can't remember if they lost to Geelong by 100+, or even lost) - North stuck to their guns and are improving... with some hiccups along the way

We thought, you know what? Let's sack the coach who's developing our young players and completely change the football direction of the club - that wasn't needed.

All we needed was to sit down, get Bailey a 'Neil Craig' to help him improve the teams defensive side.

And presto, you have a team with a similar game plan to the current Geelong one.

 

[Gibbsy]

Call me ludicrous, but what about the return of the playing captain-coach? If Melbourne want to try something really radical in order to inspire them, than what about something like that?

For what it's worth I think Neeld deserves to stay, but if he is to go then you have to consider all options

 

[jim boy]

They need someone to change the drinking water. Neeld might be quite a good coach, but he is still a first time coach. Neil Craig seems to be completely ineffectual in his role as a guiding hand. Right now I'd sack Craig and get somebody really experienced in to give Neeld a helping hand so that at the end of the season, Neeld can can set sail on a ship that isn't listing badly as it is now. The role wouldn't be too coach, but to turn around the culture of the place as every top Demon now wants out. Somebody who is used to turning players with questionable ethics into hardworking dedicated players. If Melbourne can't afford it, then the AFL should step in and pay for it as the malaise at Melbourne affects the whole comp. That man? Paul Roos.

 

[QuietB]

If he is going to be sacked right now is not the time to do it. You would want to wait until there is about 6 rounds to go and you can create a different atmosphere around the place that is sustainable until the end of the year when players start making their decisions.

Also, why does Neeld keep saying "it is not about me" when referring to the teams performance. He keeps blaming the players outright over and over. Now the players are certainly partly and maybe mostly to blame, but leadership is probably the biggest thing required and passing the buck outright to the players is not good leadership.

 

[Superstar swan]

I don't think they will now, it can't get any worse that what it is. By now they expect to lose every game so if he's managed to keep his job so far, I think hel make it to the end of the year

 

[mick06]

I don't know how somebody who isnt already involved there could just come in and take over straight away, maybe it would be an improvement long term but how would the players react to a somebody they've never met or know coaching them within a week turnaround.

I guess it depends much of a joke the players think neeld is atm. If they can't stand him or his message then anything new will be refreshing.

His pre match interviews hes trying to do comedy and have a laugh. Its no laughing matter what they are putting out each weekend

 

[Belnakor]

Call me ludicrous, but what about the return of the playing captain-coach? If Melbourne want to try something really radical in order to inspire them, than what about something like that?

would be awesome. Won't happen though.

 

[Ted38]

would be awesome. Won't happen though.

Don't know that it would be awesome, but you're right on the money about it not happening.

 

[Running Dog]

The fully-professionalised modern AFL team is a workplace, and players are employees. Sacking a coach only creates an environment of fatalism. Perhaps clubs could 'incentivise' their employees, with negatively-geared performance-based contracts, i.e., turn up and make an effort if you want full pay. Might involve retaining a good industrial relations lawyer, but that could be cheaper and more effective in the long term than watching memberships and revenue plummet while enduring ongoing press scrutiny.

 

[Shoei]

Call me ludicrous, but what about the return of the playing captain-coach? If Melbourne want to try something really radical in order to inspire them, than what about something like that?

For what it's worth I think Neeld deserves to stay, but if he is to go then you have to consider all options

30-40 years ago it might have been an option with static field positions and simple tactics. Now it would be nearly impossible with the speed and tactical changes of the modern game.

There's no way a player on the field could react fast enough or have the oversight to make changes affecting the entire field.