Lack of Skilled Players is killing us!

[lamb22]

If you disregarded other factors (such as size, ball winning ability, grunt, defensive ability etc) a side picked solely on ability to use the ball might look something like this

Hyde Thursfield Hilton
Polo Bowden Newman
Tambling Deledio Meyer
Pettifer Shulz Krak
Campbell Brown Foley

Staff Tuck Cogs

Shades of the doggies team, dont you think?

Further to the above this is what our 'best 18' clanger king team might look like. Familiar isn't it? Add Fleming, Marsh, houlihan and Fletcher (and Spud) and you could almost replay 2004

Hartigan Gaspar Chaffey
Jackson Hall Kellaway
Raines Tivendale Roach
Archibald Simmonds Moore
Graham Richo Pattison
Knobel Johnston Rodan

 

[AngryAnt]

Deledio is a constant source of joy for me as he is consistant in showing up his team mates for their lack of footskills and poise, which amazes me as you dont see soccer players at the elite level who cant kick, tackle or dribble now do you.

Gary Neville.

 

[Bennnny]

I bang on about the following factors constantly.
1) Are we the only club to continually recruit duds?
2) Are we the only club to recruit players who can't kick, mark or handball?

Presumably all players in the system have ability to play the game.
Then the problem is a mental and physical one. A lack of physical conditioning will cause mental effort to drop off.
The mental side of football is a confidence issue. Confidence that players will be in the right position to take your kick or handball. Confidence that your team mates will shepherd for you, let you know that you are being pressured etc.
The club and supporters need to provide a supportive atmosphere that will allow players to grow up mentally and physically. confident players will be assertive. Unfortunately the club has had too many people who bring players and the club down. Wallace seems to be uniting the players and has them playing good football most of the time.
Against Freo and the Dogs we played football for a period that showed we could have won the game. We put them off their game in a disciplined manner. Unfortunately we didn't have the physical strength to continue to play out the game.
Another pre season should see us build up the base to improve. Confidence is the key ingedient that the players need. They certainly showed early in the year that they could deliver the football properly.
So confidence is the main issue that will shape our future.

 

[johnson2richo2003]

1) Are we the only club to continually recruit duds?
2) Are we the only club to recruit players who can't kick, mark or handball?

Nope.Its fair to say that the pies infact have probally overtaken us in both departments :hihi :hihi

 

[tha8ball]

I think Terry has already started the process of recruiting players with good skills - Deledio and Tambling are naturally gifted with their skills while one man - Danny Meyer - is absolute silk! At junior level he was brilliant! wonderful user of the pill and will become a more valuable player than wat ppl think - common belief this kid shouldve gone top 10!! Time will tell!
As for trading Cogs - i see the merit in it, however, this guy hasnt done a proper pre season for 2 seasons that has to do something to his kicking and speed on the field. If u look at the early games this yr he was a lot quicker and used the ball a lot better than now - OP is a terrible injury as it can flare up and down any week and as the season progresses Cogs's groin would be gettin alot tighter much faster. Give him a proper preseason and then make ur judgements!

 

[Pomsta]

The question is is he capable of having a full pre-season? At full fitness he is in our top 5 players easily. However I doubt with his "pubic instability" that he will ever get to 100%. :'( :'(

 

[crackertiger]

Spot on 8 ball!

I think Wallace and Miller will trade for skilled players also.

What will be will be!