Catch and pass, catch and pass, feet in sand

[Lyonstomenzies]

We are a poorly coached team!

This statement doesn't mean the TB is a bad coach, just that this season we looked very, very bad in areas of play and structures. Injuries played a massive part along with poor team selections.

I remember watching us a rat park play some teenagers and thinking we should really be playing some better teams to get the side right that hasn't played much together before.
Instead of lots of trial games with different combos it seemed the coach had a pre selected side based on what he (or someone) had promised players to come across.

2015 I know we didn't reinvent our attack it it became somewhat predictable but if the defence was only slightly off it led to tries.

This season the only time we have looked dangerous is when we go back to the old fullback sweeping play. Yes it is predictable, but at least the players know where to stand and the lines to run.

The DCE playing both sides of the ruck was the first thing that needed to be changed. Why mess with someone's game that was so strong and try and make him do it all.

There are too many stupid coaching decisions to go into once again. This site is full of them now after this season.

Rookie coaches with bad lower grade experience rarely have great first seasons. So I'm hoping TB learns from this year and watches every game over again to fix this.

2017 should be fun for us fans.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

A genuine honest question Dan, what do you think was the game plan last night because all season I have tried to work it out each game & I've come up empty. I need help to identify what it was last night please.

They had a game plan ??

News to me!

 

[Manly@capital]

When did someone look at our team sheet and say "oh the best thing for us, with a guy like DCE in the team, is to make him be a catch and pass pivot!"?

What we will do is we will have no real shape and no real go forward or idea what to do, then rather than having even one half that wants to take on the line, run and keep the defense moving, rather than having forwards that roll forward, get up and play the ball quickly, what we will do is have forwards that lumber toward the line, bunch a whole lot of blokes that have SFA what they are doing around the ball, plant DCE as first receiver and then just stare blankly at him whilst our feet are planted in the sand and just watch him catch and pass without moving his feet, thats a solid idea!

So it really has nothing to do with skill level, its either poor coaching, or a bunch of guys who really don't give a **** or are completely clueless and dumbfounded by the situation.

The Turbos go back to their trusty Jake to Tom inside and Tom gets smashed everytime because everyone knows to watch Tom.

It is just so tragically horrific and predictable to watch, right they are playing the ball, either Lewis Brown is going to aimlessly run from dumby-half directly at the only marker who IS onside, or we are going to pass to DCE who is either going to pass the ball immediately, kick it or maybe take 3 steps.

It's not DCE's fault either he tries and tries often, but he has nothing going on around him, the only time there looks to be spark is when he has Ferris or one of the Turbo's around him.

Parcell adds spark and I would keep him, but honestly I can't pick a decent worthy player from the rest of them, not one.

We look horrible out there in every way shape and form, nothing in attack and less in defense, and sloppy penalties that don't need to be blown. The attitude is horrible and the general game plan either gets torn up within minutes or is non-existent.

Beaver shared a great story in his book, about bozo having a fine system for players that were caught walking in the game, for every time they walked they were fined $5 or something trivial. Hoppa disputed it once and came out of the replay with an extra $20 in fines or something.

This team could benefit from that, the amount of times they walk and show weakness and show how unenthusiastic they are is atrocious, they dont run to the next play, they don't know what the next play is and they look at each other wondering WTF is going on.

Its just horrible, there is nothing that resembles a team out there, week in week out and there is nothing that I can see would make a team from the people running out each week. There is so much work that needs to be done in so many areas but I can't pick anyone who looks like they want to do the work.

For those who think Jake T should be captain, think back to the Canberra game when Turbo's try was pulled up for a forward pass.... his argument was not that it was back and he was kidding and that he owes us one now it was "Do you know how hard it is to throw that backwards?"
Yeah Jake, not up here for thinking buddy are we, you just told him you got us he did throw it forward, good job in pulling that up!

Being humble does not make you a good captain, thats not the point, not even close to the point, it helps in some situations, but this team does not need a quiet in the shadows humble leader, thats what teams of superstars need. We need a lead by example, stick a rocket up them and make superstards leader, and I don't see that in our team right now.

This was a horrible year. I wont say our worst as I remember some pretty lean and disgusting years, but this was one of the most disappointing years that I have watched, we didn't improve as the season went on, and there were few if any games I felt we could win. I give it a 1 out 10, I hope the off season is better and we name some signings that will help us move forward and become a team again, right now I don't know who we can sign to do that, because we need players in so many key positions that there may not be a way out within one off season, juniors are not the answer either. Strap yourselves in, i would say we are another 2 years from being in the finals and a good 5 or more until we get close to the pie again.

To top it off, now I have the European winter to look forward to!

This is the result of master coach Barrett, master selector Fulton and slob Zorba.

 

[anthonyb1965]

What do you mean we can't defend! We're the Ministry of Defence and DCE and Dylan are a batman and robin-type seamless halves pairing.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...e/news-story/5de4b7f759eda130fee4571059fe0e20

Think you meant this ministry;

 

[midsteyne]

you will all be back next season,full of hope and positive thoughts for our boys,i know they will be a better team,after all we are MANLY

 

[Fluffy]

At Least Billy ran some tough line and gave DCE and option in his 13 minutes on the field

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

you will all be back next season,full of hope and positive thoughts for our boys,i know they will be a better team,after all we are MANLY

Of course, it's an addiction!!

 

[Ralphie]

Of course, it's an addiction!!

A disease

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

A disease

Yep a more apt description!!

 

[Ralphie]

Yep a more apt description!!

I have tried to walk away a couple of times when frustrated with some of the vitriol that appears from time to time, best I have managed is about a week then I caved.

 

[robbiea]

Game plan is something like ," Go get em boys".

 

[Ryan]

They are keen and motivated. I could tell as I saw Apisai Koroisou, Dylan Walker & the rest of the boys, with half empty Beers in their hands at 8.45am this morning, jumping the "no jump" fence on Pittwater Road to Brookvale Hotel.

Haven't seen the move that fast all season.

PS: Walker went as Goofy which I thought appropriate. I THINK Api's suit was Power Rangers.

 

[nightster]

I believe cherry competes really hard, you just have to look at his defence to see that he cares, but he is often first receiver and dictates the tone. Thurston cronk and even foran once in the red zone take the ball on the run like a forward does.this enables the oustside backs to stand deeper but also be moving at time of possession, thats why choc and horo scored tries. Add a decent line to this and its much easier to crash over
Its called attack for a reason and this is a large part of the reason. This is why we can not score inside the 20 as the defence has the chance to move into us rather than we confront a backpeddling defence, or creat confusion amongst them

This is not all cherrys fault by a long shot but outside players are forced to adapt to his play or over run him

He plays off cuff and is good at it but if he forced the issue with the defence he would create worries in the d line he currently does not. It is impossible to get bodies in motion, decoys etc if as you rightly point out the feet are planted

He then tries to force the advancing defence into making errors which is way harder, robs the team of time and leaves his mates flat footed and easy to smash

Honestly it would be a nightmare playing outside him. You always hear people talk about getting outside backs early ball. That is not going to happen and on the odd times they do, we go ok

Just have to look at when we do it after a kick off, spin it wide after the second tackle.

I have never been anti DCE just anti the ridiculous contract he was offered

 

[qldeagle]

When did someone look at our team sheet and say "oh the best thing for us, with a guy like DCE in the team, is to make him be a catch and pass pivot!"?

What we will do is we will have no real shape and no real go forward or idea what to do, then rather than having even one half that wants to take on the line, run and keep the defense moving, rather than having forwards that roll forward, get up and play the ball quickly, what we will do is have forwards that lumber toward the line, bunch a whole lot of blokes that have SFA what they are doing around the ball, plant DCE as first receiver and then just stare blankly at him whilst our feet are planted in the sand and just watch him catch and pass without moving his feet, thats a solid idea!

So it really has nothing to do with skill level, its either poor coaching, or a bunch of guys who really don't give a **** or are completely clueless and dumbfounded by the situation.

The Turbos go back to their trusty Jake to Tom inside and Tom gets smashed everytime because everyone knows to watch Tom.

It is just so tragically horrific and predictable to watch, right they are playing the ball, either Lewis Brown is going to aimlessly run from dumby-half directly at the only marker who IS onside, or we are going to pass to DCE who is either going to pass the ball immediately, kick it or maybe take 3 steps.

It's not DCE's fault either he tries and tries often, but he has nothing going on around him, the only time there looks to be spark is when he has Ferris or one of the Turbo's around him.

Parcell adds spark and I would keep him, but honestly I can't pick a decent worthy player from the rest of them, not one.

We look horrible out there in every way shape and form, nothing in attack and less in defense, and sloppy penalties that don't need to be blown. The attitude is horrible and the general game plan either gets torn up within minutes or is non-existent.

Beaver shared a great story in his book, about bozo having a fine system for players that were caught walking in the game, for every time they walked they were fined $5 or something trivial. Hoppa disputed it once and came out of the replay with an extra $20 in fines or something.

This team could benefit from that, the amount of times they walk and show weakness and show how unenthusiastic they are is atrocious, they dont run to the next play, they don't know what the next play is and they look at each other wondering WTF is going on.

Its just horrible, there is nothing that resembles a team out there, week in week out and there is nothing that I can see would make a team from the people running out each week. There is so much work that needs to be done in so many areas but I can't pick anyone who looks like they want to do the work.

For those who think Jake T should be captain, think back to the Canberra game when Turbo's try was pulled up for a forward pass.... his argument was not that it was back and he was kidding and that he owes us one now it was "Do you know how hard it is to throw that backwards?"
Yeah Jake, not up here for thinking buddy are we, you just told him you got us he did throw it forward, good job in pulling that up!

Being humble does not make you a good captain, thats not the point, not even close to the point, it helps in some situations, but this team does not need a quiet in the shadows humble leader, thats what teams of superstars need. We need a lead by example, stick a rocket up them and make superstards leader, and I don't see that in our team right now.

This was a horrible year. I wont say our worst as I remember some pretty lean and disgusting years, but this was one of the most disappointing years that I have watched, we didn't improve as the season went on, and there were few if any games I felt we could win. I give it a 1 out 10, I hope the off season is better and we name some signings that will help us move forward and become a team again, right now I don't know who we can sign to do that, because we need players in so many key positions that there may not be a way out within one off season, juniors are not the answer either. Strap yourselves in, i would say we are another 2 years from being in the finals and a good 5 or more until we get close to the pie again.

To top it off, now I have the European winter to look forward to!

Not much else to say really. I think you've aired every frustration I've had all year quite articulately

 

[Wombat Legacy]

If Jake is the club's best answer for captain...Lord help us. In 5 years maybe.

 

[Dan]

A genuine honest question Dan, what do you think was the game plan last night because all season I have tried to work it out each game & I've come up empty. I need help to identify what it was last night please.

I think it fell apart way too early for there to be a game plan. However if it were me i would have made the pigs run and the dummy half run hard for the first 20 and tear in and tire out the much stronger and larger packs, this is where the problem then starts. Given our fairly weak backline all year, it becomes difficult to start getting them to play around the tiring players.

We should have been tackling our hearts out but they had absolutely no idea how to do that as a team. Just horrible

 

[Dan]

The DCE playing both sides of the ruck was the first thing that needed to be changed. Why mess with someone's game that was so strong and try and make him do it all.

This was the most horrible trainwreck of a thing to watch all season and persisting with it was cruel and inhumane. It was clear it wasn't working and was never going to work with that forward pack.

It should have lasted maximum 3 games then be canned.

There is a very big difference that "Being able to and permitted to playing both sides of the ruck" and "Being told to play both sides as a matter of game plan"

Thurston chimes in where and when he is needed, yes he does it both sides of the ruck, but he also doesn't need to touch the ball every single play and doesn't just run each side in a variable per-tackle fashion.

DCE should have been told "Play your natural game, play mostly on the right, and then drift left when needed or when the opportunity is right, make sure to touch the ball once per set, don't try to touch it every time just to get a touch"

thats a different set of instructions that lets him play naturally and lets him be effective and play a natural game.

 

[manlywarringah]

Even allowing for the injuries, we just looked so disjointed and clueless.

Barrett said he wanted to change the way DCE plays and he certainly did that. He went from being one of the top halves in the game to someone who looked lost and rushed a lot of times.

Maybe getting Green next year may help but I'm not convinced he can run the show either. Sadly, Foran was very good at that and they complimented one another.

I must admit to not feeling much optimism for next year. I hope I'm wrong but I think the finals are a pipe dream. Given we've missed the 8 this year and Souths, roosters, warriors & even the slimey eels will be better next year (possibly), then we've got a hell of a lot of work to do.

I'll be there cheering them on but Barrett will need to get them firing by round 10 next year or he's surely gone.

Hope the dogs get kicked out first up so they may put pressure on Des. I'm so disappointed about how we played this year I'd even take the devil in Des back. I forgive you now!

 

[Jerry1]

We will only ever be a park footy side whilst we have a park footy coach.. He's lost in first grade and Bozo is stuck in the 70's.

Need someone to rip some doors off.. Show some passion and motivate the boys. Give them a sense of pride.

 

[StuBoot]

Beaver shared a great story in his book, about bozo having a fine system for players that were caught walking in the game, for every time they walked they were fined $5 or something trivial. Hoppa disputed it once and came out of the replay with an extra $20 in fines or something.

This team could benefit from that, the amount of times they walk and show weakness and show how unenthusiastic they are is atrocious, they dont run to the next play, they don't know what the next play is and they look at each other wondering WTF is going on.

Yep, one such instance was glaringly obvious in our game v the Storm.
Cronk put up a bomb from around halfway and Wiliame just turned slowly and at best ambled back letting Vunivalu run straight past him and guess what?
Vunivalu was there to score when Jorge decided to let the ball bounce, there was absolutely no urgency or instinct to charge back "just in case" or be in support if Jorge did catch it.

Coaches and players talk about "the one percenters" and they all add up and make a difference, the really good sides do them without us really noticing and that's the difference, we notice when they're not done.

I had a coach who always said "make your first step your quickest" - think & act that you can get there first and even if you don't you've at least tried to put yourself in a position to be there - you'll never make up that last step.