Winning Woes

[ChrisL#12]

Surely we've got enough players back now. There is only a handful of guys out injured now but I couldn't honestly see any improvement in today's performance. We have been claiming injuries as the detriment to our form but I think we have enough players back now to win games. I know that it takes time for players returning to find form and to get up to speed with the game plan, but we should be kicking some sort of score with the players we are able to put on the park now. I saw no evidence today of being able to get a win from any game this season.

I'm befuddled as to what the cause for our poor form is, and was wondering whether you guys had any pearls of wisdom for me?

 

[Harvey's Crew]

Yeah I went to the game yesterday and didn't see much improvement. The main problem is kicking goals at the moment. Unlike 2004-2006ish, saints would frequently kick over 100 points, now they can barely make 60. I think the style has changed since then tho... Back then they'd kick a long ball into a one on one Gehrig and he'd always win, and if the ball spilt Milne would be there.

Unfortunately this year, they keep chipping the ball and are forced to find Gehrig on a lead when really he'd prefer a long ball one out. Also the full backs in the league are getting stronger and Milne can't seem to find the ball.

Riewoldt takes 10 marks a game, but whenever its taken outside the 50 there's absolutely no one to go to. We need some variety instead of the same Gehrig and Riewoldt, because our opponents have worked it out.

Players important to win: In the last quarter yesterday, Lenny Hayes was the one who lifted the team. He's really important because when he gathers the ball in the midfield, he'll get the ball forward instead of going sideways. He also got the momentum up...
The person that needs to step up in the FORWARD line is Koschitzke. A club will have 2 really top defenders at best who will take Riewoldt and Gehrig so Koschitzke has to take advantage of the 3rd he'll get.
Drop Gwilt Please! All he does is grab his opponent constantly and turn over the ball. I don't see any improvement in him, he has gotta go for the team to win.

And the most important Aaron Hamill! He's the leader at the club and although you can argue he might not always find the footy, he'll lift the others and especially that forward line. How can you beat Gehrig,Riewoldt,Koschitzke,Hamill forward?

Any way thats my long opinion... Cheers

 

[tommahawk]

who has the better list now people?

 

[ShadowFax]

Why arent we winning?

From watching yesterdays game i reckon our confidence is totally shot. There are guys making simple mistakes that are usually reliable with their disposal. We're not backing ourselves to run and carry (we did in the last quarter tho) the ball and get it into the forward 50 quickly.

Also, there are TOO MANY PASSENGERS in the side at the moment - we need 22 contributors! It cant be left up to lenny, bally, dal, rooey and gehrig etc every week. Guys like Milne, Fiora, Blake, Rix, Voss, Raph Clarke (is he even fit?) etc. need to be at least doing the one-percenters or making some kind of contribution.

Our disposal (particularly going into the forward50) is terrible at the minute. Again we had more inside 50's than the opposition but didnt use the ball well. Geelong scored 11 goals from our turnovers.

Yesterday we failed to shutdown Brent Harvey. He is a massive key to the Kangaroos and he was instrumental in creating a lot of their goals.

 

[saintsownthedome]

who has the better list now people?

Love this cocky attitude from Cats 'fans'. It makes it all the sweeter when they crap their beds in games that matter.

Its guys like this that make us smile when we think of Nick Davis.

 

[ChrisL#12]

Something I noticed was that our disposal by hand and foot was disgraceful. We consistently coughed it up to the Roos and it cost us. I thought we had plenty of the footy but when we got it we turned it over. With the exception of some, such as Dal, Hayes, Ball, Riewoldt, S.Fisher, the rest turned the ball over. In years past we have been able to rely on good disposal but it seems that the lack of confidence has led to our once exceptional disposal being eroded away.

On the positive side, Leigh Montagna was very good all day. There were also positive signs from Raph Clarke that he can be a contributer, although he was way underfit and not up to speed with the game yesterday.

 

[Persevering Saint]

It's just so darn frustrating. To have this much talent in the side and to see it wasted is driving us all crazy.

It seems to me that we are doomed to put up with this junk, because we chose a coach who is determined to play defensive "tempo" football, whether the team is suited to it or not. More than that, whether they ENJOY it or not. I think that's a huge part of our problem: player-morale is really low, and not just because they're losing, not just because there've been spats all week and the players' loyalty to ex-coach or club is being tested, but also because the game-plan is boring as all hell to play. They hear everyone booing and complaining and think "No kidding! We hate this too..." People will tolerate a tight style if it wins, but if it doesn't, watch out.

Roo doesn't need Thommo to tell him to leave. The game plan means he can't get his hands on the pill unless he's got three blokes on him or he's run 70 metres from goal! The infrastructure is crumbling around him. He's gonna go, and although I hate to see him go, I can't blame the fella.

There's only one thing that can save the Saints, and Lyon won't do it: "... we're all going to Bonnedoon..."

 

[ThomasR]

Confidence is a big thing. I also think we're playing the percentages far too much. Sometimes it's just worth taking a punt and kicking it long to a contest - if you do this quickly enough, the other team won't have time to get big numbers behind the ball and thus you've got a better chance both in the air and once it hits the deck.

The aforementioned list of passengers was spot on. I would rather kids like Jones, Armitage and Sweeney playing in front of them - at least they'll develop into something rather than being permanent hacks. Raph Clarke wouldn't get a look in were it not for his brother - he's just lost out there. Can only hope he improves.

Would like to see Gardiner have a run soon. Also can we inject some pace into the midfield? Dal, Ball, Harvs and Hayes aren't exactly the quickest blokes going around, skilful as they are.

The problem is that we spent too much time messing around with the ball, because we don't have confidence in our disposal, and possibly the bloke at the other end's ability to provide and win a contest. Kicking to Blake or Fiora, for example, one on one is only going to result in a turnover.

Time to get the kids in, they can't be any worse than a lot of these players and with the finals almost gone for this year (I'm still clinging to hope), it can only bode well for next year.

 

[Fehring]

Surely we've got enough players back now.

Gardiner - first choice ruckman? (hopefully we find out)
Doc Clarke - first/second choice ruckman
Harvey - still our best midfielder
Hamill - hard man forward
X Clarke - vital to keeping ball in our fwd 50, loads of class
C Jones - vital to keeping ball in our fwd 50
BJ Goddard - the general of our backline. Was heading all-Oz before injury
Maguire - our full back
L Fisher - vital half back

That's nine of our first-choice 22, eight of our first-choice 18.

Consider also our recently returned who will take some time before contributing consistently:
L Hayes
M Hudghton (horrible presently)
R Clarke (horrible presently)
Thompson

Perhaps even more importantly, we are averaging 3-4 changes to the team each week which saps the team's ability to play cohesive football.

 

[bubblegoose]

who has the better list now people?

Isn't that what Chapman said about 3+ years ago? Geez, amazing he could see that far into the future ... woooo ... eery!

Didn't expect this from such a classy individual!

 

[Persevering Saint]

Hasn't somebody been injured in either the first or second quarter of every game for like, what, six weeks or more? Playing high-bench-rotation footy, like everyone has to these days, when you've got 21 players instead of 22 is always going to mean fade-outs and spurt-performances, surely.

 

[ChrisFooty]

I agree with thread starter. We have enough players back to win. I would rate the saints 100-1 to make the finals now, even if key players start returning.