Thornton

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

This thread has become the worst.

 

[blue gunslinger]

 

[Sublime]

No plan B, just a sudden remembering of the fact that apart from the rare exception most posters on here (present party excluded of course) are made up of one of the following:

Over 150kgs and rarely venture outdoors without a ventilator and or a team of medical experts and demolition and house re-modelling team;

A 12 year old truant jigging for the day, or in home ec and using the library computers in an unauthorized manner;

An ex footballers offspring....you know who you are!!

The brain dead equivalents of jello that require a disproportionate amount of tax payer funded lubricants;

The rest of the detritus of society one would usually cross the suburb let alone the street to avoid running into.

Have I covered you all?

And you may well ask, if I truly hold these opinions (and I do, it was made abundantly clear to me about a week after joining in on one of the JR hate threads back in 08) why would I bother opening the pages. Well, let me tell you, that even this bunch of miscreants pales into insignificance when held up to and compare with the average ARL fan that I am surrounded by up here.

Why do you put so much time and effort into attempting to prove him wrong, which completely derails the thread from its intended purpose. Yes, obviously you both disagree, but neither of you are going to budge on the subject. Difference of opinion is one of the reasons why we like coming here, but having to trawl through post after post of tedious tennis posting makes it difficult for when people want to discuss on topic.

Fair to say sometimes we can agree to disagree when the posts get to the point where they literally have nothing to do with the subject matter (Bret Thornton in this case).

 

[bluepride]

How many talls can we have though in the forward line?

 

[Windhover]

Interesting analogy guns. When is a person that blows up countrymen a freedom fighter and when are they a terrorist? Not suggesting there is an easy answer btw, just an observation. The ANC were terrorists until the end of apartheid, and Mandella jailed for it, then he became a hero (again not saying I dont agree that he is a hero). But Osama is the devil incarnate. Gaddafi has the same history that led the US to bomb Tripoli in 1986 but somehow over the past decade he reinvented himself and slowly re ingratiated himself with the West (my bet is Blair wanted his Oil), then about 2 years ago he started becoming the tyrant he always was again in the eyes of the western media, sometime about the time he conned Blair into letting the Lockerby killer go.

Anyway, totally off topic. When BF posters start picking our team is about the time I switch to another code.....ARL now theres a code of footy we can all embrace where 10000 is a huge crowd and a player that can mark a ball, an occurrence that happens 50 times a game in our code but ARL fans go apeshit over if it happens once in their end zone, yep this is the sport for me

You and Thy will never support Carlton at the same time. He has converted to a cake decorating support group after Terry the Tan wrote us off.

 

[40yearBLUE]

Why do you put so much time and effort into attempting to prove him wrong, which completely derails the thread from its intended purpose. Yes, obviously you both disagree, but neither of you are going to budge on the subject. Difference of opinion is one of the reasons why we like coming here, but having to trawl through post after post of tedious tennis posting makes it difficult for when people want to discuss on topic.

Fair to say sometimes we can agree to disagree when the posts get to the point where they literally have nothing to do with the subject matter (Bret Thornton in this case).

Sub, you seem like a fair minded man. I cannot argue with you for you are quite correct. It is a weakness in me, many of us have weaknesses, thats one of mine.

All I will say at this point is go back through all of my posts where this has happened and see if this is not true: I never ever post to his posts (I dont recall ever doing it anyway and cant think of how or why I would), I only ever post to his posts to my posts, in other words I retaliate to his posts to mine. I am in a thread posting my opinions whether in agreement or arguing with other posters, and along comes this pickle time and time again he takes a contrary position. It doesnt much matter what my position is, he will have the opposite. And the moment he does I lose it. I didnt at first, I tried really hard to ignore him, even had him on ig for some time, but recently I have had enough of him.

And for a number of other reasons, not least of which, I DONT LIKE HIM!!!!

And once you establish this to be true I will tell you the rest of the story.

Or perhaps BP, you might like to enlighten them as to why I take such umbrage whenever you post to my posts.

And also because serious football talk seems to be the last thing on peoples agenda here. This place is not a patch on the other footy forums, what it does have that the others dont is traffic. If the other forums had the traffic of this place it would be excellent, but I guess with traffic you get all the rest of the donuts with it.

Edit, was a bit rushed and on the phone at the same time, added the rest of what I meant to say.

 

[blue gunslinger]

just trying to cheer u all up

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

How many talls can we have though in the forward line?

As many as we can gain advantage from in mismatches?

When that doesnt work then we try other options.

 

[Erko Blue]

Works for me, this was getting painful

just trying to cheer u all up

 

[Azul]

Thanks for the memories, Bret. Fair weather friends only remember the bad.

Anyway, Watson at either end. If an 18 year old yet to play a game has surpassed you, hang up the boots.

 

[Sin City]

Actually the "small knock" Army copped would not have bothered me either if it hadn't prevented him from running onto the ball he had spoiled and stopped Higgins from goaling unopposed by the 2 blues spreadeagled on the ground. You say Thornton was not at fault and give no reason. I say he was at fault and have explained why.

You say he struggled with spoiling last year. I say he struggled with spoiling for at least the last several years and certainly argued as much with you this time last year.

It doesn't matter what way you try and twist it, he wasn't at fault. As the tall defender coming toward the ball he was doing the right thing jumping at it.

Yes, as I said he's got legitimate deficiencies which can be pointed out. No doubt he's struggled with spoiling for a while now, it was really highlighted last year when he lost his role as a loose man for players who can move the ball forward quicker and he was expected to play on a man and shut him down.

He didn't play the role well at all, even when he sticks with his man on the lead often he didn't raise his arm to spoil. His application to the task was poor, never said that about him when he was our permanent full back but coming back to the role after his perhaps more favoured role he showed a really poor attitude and he'll have to get it sorted out before he returns to the team.

 

[bluepride]

Thanks for the memories, Bret. Fair weather friends only remember the bad.

Anyway, Watson at either end. If an 18 year old yet to play a game has surpassed you, hang up the boots.

An saying from the old man "Leave a year early rather than a year late".

 

[BlueTongue]

would prefer perhaps closer to goal than half forward. people have been mentioning slow ball use... think he might do better as a get out of jail, long bomb in hope type rather than lead up (no doubt that would still be part of his game). if you had to choose between waite or thornton on the half forward line you'd have waite, surely. seen thornton pull down quite a few marks as a backman in a contest, no reason he can't do it as a forward.
he'll probably provide more of an aerial contest than setanta who would be better when it hits the deck, something to keep in mind with the small forwards.

Exactly what I reckon. Great hands overhead and a long bomb into the square could mean he'll mark it more often than not when the 'power forwards' are being minded. Great 3rd tall option.

 

[raymagoo]

he is one of the best cleanest marks of the ball in the league let alone our team & he reads the play very well. Yes he apparently has a shitful attitude but on his form alone in the pre season almost warrants a game. I would prefer him deeper forward thou!

could be an interesting sub in maybe, could coverage if a fwd or back goes down and im sure there would be a player fwd or back that could chop in the mid if there was a mid injury

 

[Stamos]

could be an interesting sub in maybe, could coverage if a fwd or back goes down and im sure there would be a player fwd or back that could chop in the mid if there was a mid injury

Sub will be a midfielder.

 

[Blue since 72]

I can't see a spot in the seniors anymore unless injuries take their toll. His days down back are probably done so if he were to play forward we know he's a great mark, is a good reader of the play and appears to be an accurate set shot on goal. However, he's never been a noted tackler, his defensive pressure would be no better than Fisher's was and he's not particularly quick or agile when the ball is on the ground.

We have better options at both ends when injuries aren't an issue.

For mine, waiting in the wings unless required due to injury.

 

[40yearBLUE]

Sub will be a midfielder.

Not so sure about that. Sub IMO will have to be able to play a number of roles, play short or tall and KP if needed. A Walker or an Irish or a Hammer, fits that bill, or a Thornton. He can play forward or back, tall or small, although he lacks a yard of pace and does not make up for it with quickness of mind, but he can hold a mark, is a reasonable kick and can play either end.

If a ruck goes down, there needs to be a second equally capable ruck in the team and a third that can play ruck if a first string ruck goes down, but a KP player such as Hammer as a forward or Irish back or fwd (assuming Kruze and 206 are the 2 rucks) takes a ruck spot and the sub takes the KP spot, (this assumes Waite and Hendo start in the starting 21 which ought to be a given).

We should already have midfield rotations on the bench and on the field, both hbf's or hff's should be able to rotate through the guts, for example Lucas, Collins, Yarran, Simmo, Carrots, JR, Gibbs, Murph, Judd, McLean, would or could all be named in the same team, so thats 10 players out of 21/22, be able to play in the middle or on a flank so that should easily cover that off. Half a team of mids ought to be more than enough. (and in an emergency you could add Scotland, Ellard, Joseph to that list).

The key to maximizing rotations with 25% less players to do it with is the ability for players to rest on the field, and for all players and the sub to be as universal as possible so that in the event of a sub coming in the match ups can be maintained or even improved on. The sub will be used tactically as well as to cover injuries. I doubt a game will go by without the sub being played regardless of injuries. Teams will risk being a man down on the bench if subbing for advantage seems the way to go. Especially if we are losing and need a change up to stay in a game.

The teams that adapt fastest could blitz their opposition and this comes down to the versatility of each teams list. We could be well favored by this rule in the short term.

 

[Stamos]

Not so sure about that.

It will be a mid. Teams will pick their best 21 players, accounting for a properly structured team, with a minimum 1.5 rucks (preferably 2), and enough players to cover KPs.

The sub needs to be:
1. Able to come on to cover for a serious injury that occurs early in the game (or at any time)
2. In the event of no injuries, able to be a fresh impact player late in the third quarter or maybe even early in the 4th quarter.

If the sub is not a midfielder, it is both harder to replace an injured mid, and harder to add a fresh player late in the game, ie. it doesn't really matter how fresh your FF is. If you loose you biggest key back, you're not going to be able to replace them adequately anyway. Better to shuffle you best 21 and add a midfield rotation.

 

[Sin City]

I wondered if it would be a Simon White type player as the sub too but I also think it will definitely be a versatile midfielder.

 

[40yearBLUE]

This topic probably deserves its own thread. There will not only be different opinion about how our team best utilizes its sub but different teams will have different strategy. I am a firm believer that nearly every game is won in the midfield, but I still think the sub will need to be as universally playable as possible, and also think with the quality and depth of our midfield 10-12 that can rotate through without a perceptible drop in KPI's, rest on field and fully rest on the bench, we dont need our sub for that.

 

[Blue since 72]

I wondered if it would be a Simon White type player as the sub too but I also think it will definitely be a versatile midfielder.

Or a Marcus davies ?

 

[Sin City]

Or a Marcus davies ?

I just think midfield depth and rotations are more important these days and so it's more likely the sub position will be an extra midfielder than anything else. We'll find out soon enough I guess.

 

[Blue since 72]

I just think midfield depth and rotations are more important these days and so it's more likely the sub position will be an extra midfielder than anything else. We'll find out soon enough I guess.

I agree and I was thinking he might see some time in the midfield. did he play there as a junior?

We seem to have alot more options for his type of role down back now
with Duigan, Laidler, White and JR.

 

[Sin City]

I agree and I was thinking he might see some time in the midfield. did he play there as a junior?

We seem to have alot more options for his type of role down back now
with Duigan, Laidler, White and JR.

He has played there, probably more suited to half back but he has spent plenty of time there and has a great tank as we know. Reckon there would be too many guys in front of him at the moment for a midfield role though. Hope he makes the grade, love his intensity and when he tackles them they stay tackled.

 

[Bomba Sheldon]

He has shown enough to start as a fwd for the opener - can also be a back-up as Jamo is out if we are struggling down back.