The Venting Thread - Do it here!

[THATSGOLD]

I just wanted to quickly post something I was thinking about earlier. When I was watching the 3rd quarter after both Riewoldt and Fisher had gone down, it was as all momentum was going our way. The play seemed to mimic this as well, but we didn't convert any goals. Then come 4th quarter, we were outplayed in all aspects. I'm amazed that they players didn't take advantage of this momentum switch.

totally agree... the game shifted into there favour.. we were really on a roll untill then and could of been 3-4 goals in front.

 

[Anth_5]

I love being right.

As I said before my ban, we are WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off the true top 4 of St.Kilda, Hawthorn, Bulldogs and Geelong.

Tonight just highlighted it.

Paul Roos pulled off the biggest scam in AFL history in the Jolly deal, he's useless.

McCarthy; more scraps for Buckley to throw out.

The Malthouse game plan - let's just play into St.Kilda's hands by trying to pinpoint a forward amongst 4 on 1 contests.

WHY NOT GET THE PLAYERS TO FOLLOW THEIR MEN INTO THE F**CKING FORWARD LINE YOU DINOSAUR USELESS COACH?!?

At least then you give your team a 50/50 chance of getting posession as opposed ot kicking CONSTANTLY to a 3 on 1 or 4 on 1 contest every time.

And GOD FORBID we do some goal kicking practise because these precious treasures might what? Strain their hammies if they do WHAT THEY'RE PAID TO DO?

Hurry up and finish 9th and quit Malthouse so Buckley can come in and clean up the shit you've left behind.

If Malthouse were to instruct all the players to follow their men into our forward 50, not only would it make it, near impossible to find an option inside 50 it would also result in us losing all defensive structure. And rather than St Kilda having a somewhat impeded run to goal by our zone that is in place because our players don't follow their men into our forward line, St kilda if we followed them would be allowed to run freely, and due to their ability to break lines, score goals at will.

In modern day football, you cannot go into a game without zones and structure. We played man on man football against Melbourne last week and almost got beaten. If we played man on man football against St Kilda tonight, we would of lost by 10 goals. Look at all the best teams in the comp, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Geelong, all play the best structural defensive football in the competition, and until we match that, we won't win a premiership.

 

[Copeland]

Remember when we had Bucks out in a final i think it was against Port over there, the rest of the side lifts. There mid's smashed us and our kicking skills r gunna cost us, maybe a granny. They didn't panic after loosing Roo, they're so confident in each other lifting, a bit like Geelong. Gee Jollys a wory.
In-Wood
Out -Jolly

 

[Jimthegreat]

If Malthouse were to instruct all the players to follow their men into our forward 50, not only would it make it, near impossible to find an option inside 50 it would also result in us losing all defensive structure. And rather than St Kilda having a somewhat impeded run to goal by our zone that is in place because our players don't follow their men into our forward line, St kilda if we followed them would be allowed to run freely, and due to their ability to break lines, score goals at will.

In modern day football, you cannot go into a game without zones and structure. We played man on man football against Melbourne last week and almost got beaten. If we played man on man football against St Kilda tonight, we would of lost by 10 goals. Look at all the best teams in the comp, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Geelong, all play the best structural defensive football in the competition, and until we match that, we won't win a premiership.

Actually, we did that to the Swans last year and smashed them. The proviso is that your defensive aspects in the forward line is very strong. If not they will run it out easily into space as you said and you get smashed. By applying defensive pressure the ball permanently in our forward line with the opposition unable to get it out due to numbers and pressure. Anything permanently close to goal puts great pressure on the opposition and they cracked bigtime. We did exactly the same to St.Kilda too and while we lost we kicked for the winner with a minute to go in one of the best games for the year. Unfortunately our defensively pressure wasn't always consistent to the point we were called, rightfully, downhill skiers by Terry Wallace by season's end.

 

[Buena]

Last night just seemed like same-old, same-old. What has really changed since last year? Everybody shouted Jolly's name from the roof tops about 8 weeks ago, now we are all left feeling confused and jaded. Otherwise, we have the same hot and cold performances from Didak, Davis and Medders, the same "are they going to make it" 10 posession games from MacArthy and McCaffer, and the same ol' 1 goal, however many behinds (+ a few out on the full) from Cloke. And if Leroy F@#king Brown is not in the 2's next week against the Hawks, then i'll ask the question, "Who the f@#k is in charge over there?" He has had 15 touches. This year. I'm no real supporter of Dawes, but at least he has promise. Anything Brown promised, he delivered 8 years ago. Our forward line needs something. Jack wouldn't have had a kick last night, so who then? Dawes/Reid/Rus/Nate Brown? Worth giving somebody a go, as any of them couldn't have functioned any poorer than our options last night. Maybe Nate Brown. He is heading head-on towards oblivion, so why not give him a crack?

We need to show some spark, dash, and daring, if we are going to be anywhere near Hawthorn next week. It's not that long ago that they smashed us by 11 goals twice in a season. . And seemingly, very little has changed since then. This shapes as a long season if we can't compete with the best. Looking at their first half against Geelong last week, i'm running scared

The only upside for me right now, is that Harry O has become a mountain, and Wellers has taken a step, if not 2, in the right direction. He goes looking for the ball now, rather than waiting for it to come to him.

Last night, as i watched bleary eyed through to the wee hours of the morning (thanks again channel 7, i hate you, right down to the core), it hit me that i have been losing sleep over this mob for nigh on 30 years. It gets tiresome. It's so easy to get swept up in wave after wave of pre-season optimism. But reality hits hard, and plays dirty. Kicks you right in the balls. This aint our year. We will be competitive, but we lack a genuine match winner. We have match winners, but they only come to play once a month.

Enjoy your Saturday afternoon's, folks. Try not to mope as much as i am. It's not attractive.....

 

[Scodog10]

Leigh brown is mentally tough

He is not mentally tough! A mentally tough individual would not have given away the free kick that gifted the saints there first goal nor the shepard of Reiwoldt 100 meters off the ball that's just plain stupid, but i do agree that he lacks any form of skill whatsoever.

 

[larrikan]

I knew there was something else I wanted to VENT about....

The Didak dive against Dawson...It's so embarrassing that I don't even think " cool, we sucked them in with that one"...

and the umpire was right next to them....I thought they were going to report this.

I think if Dids doesn't get reported for this...other umpires will basically "red card" him and he will get reported during the year.

However, he got away with it again tonight so he won't stop until he does get reported.

what he does is illegal now and will cost us one day.

 

[Greening Magic]

Hawthorn are a good example. We lack the skills by foot and by hand to penetrate their zone.

I know a lot of posters on here really rate our list. I don't. I think we have skill weaknesses all over the ground. In fact there seems to a general consesus amongst many football supporters that Collingwood have, over the last few years, achieved above our ability.

I think this is true and probably due to mental strength as a team. I wouldn't think we have any players in the the top 20 of the AFL, yet last year we finished in the top 4.

Sure certain players such as Didak and Davis have mental fragility but all sides carry such players.

In the first half of tonight's game it looked like St Kilda were more mentally fragile as they got sucked in by our targeting of Jones. When the game settled, it was players like Goddard who nailed their shots at goal when we missed. Their skill level, IMO, was far superior and that's what decided the game.

You make some great points Kev.

Many have been critical of MM's game plan but I thought it was spot on.

If you asked any Pies supporter before the game if we had a game plan that would restrict the Saints to 10.9, and one that would allow us to have more inside 50's and 25 shots on goal, they would be lining up to take it every time. How many times did Saints stream through the middle (or down the wings for that matter) in typical Saints fashion once they'd turned it over? Not many from memory. Instead we repeatedly forced them to become stagnant, and restricted Reiwolts ability to lead up into space and back into space, which nullified his effectiveness in the first half. This is why the Swans continually push the Saints to the limit even though they have far less talent. They simply limit their ability for fast breaks from defence and take away their space up forward. Easy to forget that Saints are 25 from 28 for a reason.

As you said what really let us down was our skill level. We have a number of players whose effort can not be questioned but their skills especially by foot are poor.

 

[SaddaZ]

What a ****n stupid post mate!!!
You're about 15-16 aren't you....

Was pretty dumb wasn't it? Bit annoyed, bit drunk, had a vent. Probably didn't come out the way it should have. Life goes on. Am old enough to should have known better but thanks for asking about my age!

 

[dayna36]

We have no key forwards who can be relied on. None. That is extremely worrying.

Anthony - Fantastic shot but can't take a contested mark to save his life

Cloke - Can take a mark but is the worst shot for goal in the side

Dawes - Probably looking like our best option right now but considering most don't even think he can make it at AFL level so far that isn't great.

Rusling - Can't stay fit.

You wouldn't count on ANY of them to boot more than a single lucky goal in any given game. We're boned.

Totally agree, maybe its time to put Natahan Brown CHF and see what happens ??

 

[beez]

**** me! I thought we were quite good last night, I obviously have rose coloured glasses on. If we play the football we played last night we will win more than we lose (aslong as we kicks straight)

 

[wicksy]

Was pretty dumb wasn't it? Bit annoyed, bit drunk, had a vent. Probably didn't come out the way it should have. Life goes on. Am old enough to should have known better but thanks for asking about my age!

Sorry mate... I was angry last night too....

 

[bushpie]

**** me! I thought we were quite good last night, I obviously have rose coloured glasses on. If we play the football we played last night we will win more than we lose (aslong as we kicks straight)

Its okay Beez there is a few pairs of those glasses out here would be extremely nice if more shared the passion instead of the bashion

 

[ahkemit]

Has Leigh Brown put on weight over the preseason or what?? He's embarassing fat for a professional sportsman..

Oh, and I can remember who posted the comment about Toovey fumbling all the time, but it is right on the money... He has zero skills and shouldnt be there.

 

[kevind]

If you asked any Pies supporter before the game if we had a game plan that would restrict the Saints to 10.9, and one that would allow us to have more inside 50's and 25 shots on goal, they would be lining up to take it every time. How many times did Saints stream through the middle (or down the wings for that matter) in typical Saints fashion once they'd turned it over? Not many from memory. Instead we repeatedly forced them to become stagnant, and restricted Reiwolts ability to lead up into space and back into space, which nullified his effectiveness in the first half. This is why the Swans continually push the Saints to the limit even though they have far less talent. They simply limit their ability for fast breaks from defence and take away their space up forward. Easy to forget that Saints are 25 from 28 for a reason. [/B]

As you said what really let us down was our skill level. We have a number of players whose effort can not be questioned but their skills especially by foot are poor.

Well that is true about MM. His strength as a coach is to set up a dour defensive struggle and our application for 3 quarters in locking the game down in true MM style was admirable.

But didn't it, and doesn't it usually also set us up for an around the bounadry game style with the ball usually ending up for a shot at goal from low percentage angles( combine this with players like Cloke who are poor shots on goal anyway) and score lines like 4 goals 17 behinds.

It was like starting the game thinking 'they are better than us, so our only chance is to restrict them'. Yes they are better than us, so I understand the reason for the game plan, but I would rather we developed a proactive style and develop proactive players. Even if it means some short term pain.

We are living in fantasy land if we think this team and this game style are going to take us to a premiership anytime soon. We may keep achieving above our relative ability, but we will always be found out in the games that really count.

I'd rather we develop proactive players rather than reactive players. And that is not to deny that a good defence is essential for ultimate glory

 

[Greening Magic]

Well that is true about MM. His strength as a coach is to set up a dour defensive struggle and our application for 3 quarters in locking the game down in true MM style was admirable.

But didn't it, and doesn't it usually also set us up for an around the bounadry game style with the ball usually ending up for a shot at goal from low percentage angles( combine this with players like Cloke who are poor shots on goal anyway) and score lines like 4 goals 17 behinds.

It was like starting the game thinking 'they are better than us, so our only chance is to restrict them'. Yes they are better than us, so I understand the reason for the game plan, but I would rather we developed a proactive style and develop proactive players. Even if it means some short term pain.

We are living in fantasy land if we think this team and this game style are going to take us to a premiership anytime soon. We may keep achieving above our relative ability, but we will always be found out in the games that really count.

I'd rather we develop proactive players rather than reactive players. And that is not to deny that a good defence is essential for ultimate glory

Yeah I went off on my own tangent there Kev after agreeing with most of your post.

I suppose what I was trying to say Kev is that if you combine skill with the game plan we went with then I think we win that game comfortably and MM looks like a genius for unlocking the Saints like no other coach has been able to do for over a year. (I include the Cats in that as they have a superior side to us and the Saints threw away the Granny with their own poor kicking at goal). The Saints thrive on sides charging forward at them, forcing the turnover with numbers and killing you the other way.

Any game plan that gets you the 4 points is a good game plan in my opinion.
The Swans won a flag with a terrible brand of flooding football which was terrible to watch but............... they did win a flag.

Anyway next week will be very interesting against a side we have struggled against. If we lose, the world will be ending and if we win they'll be hero's again. Gotta love it.

 

[Chief Ten Beers]

The best teams don't have an off switch and good teams don't have a hibernation mode.

You said it. When we're good, we're a great side. When we're bad - we're quite embarrassing.

 

[Angelus512]

As a broad blanket statement I think everything is great....except the forward line. I know that seems simple but I think thats the easiest way to look at is.

As for Jolly in the stats at least he's up there in terms of hit outs. But he totally negates all that with the massive amount of free's he gives away and lack of anything other than hit-outs....lets hope he puts his game together sometime in the next 2 rounds.

And i'm not going to claim to be a footy brainstrust but really....can't we just have travis running out of the goalsquare or park him in it? I mean travis is a pretty great contested mark.....???
Plus being closer might obviously help him score goals as opposed to points.