MEMO to TERRY, here's your list, its looking very sad
Terry Wallace takes on the coaching role in 2005 and no doubt presented a blue print of what value he could bring to the club, he would have sighted his coaching skills, his ethos and other fundamental ingredients in his opinion required for successful teams and more than likely an opinion of the list (as he saw it) at that time, the board appointed him and so FFW now to 07' and we find ourselves 157pts down at the conclusion of the yesterday's match with 3 losses last year 100+ points.
2 and a bit years in and its dawned on Terry we have mental issues? mmm.......Richmond is as fragile now as it was when he took over so what has he done to address the issue? The silence is deafening.
Along the way Richmond has failed to play (or develop) a style of game that has any effective forward structure, we have tried to hide deficiencies in players without the foot skills by pursuing speed players and reverting to defensive football, we also have done nothing to equip the team with any physical hardness (in body) and it shows - not one player in the Richmond side in my opinion has any capacity to initimidate the opposition or take a game by the horns (only 1 bloke who resembles a match winner and he's no 12 - I'm sorry but Nathan Brown is a co-pilot next to Richo only). Too many players on our list are light bodied and lack size.
So here is the list with categories;
Twilight = Will hang on to (in some cases only just perhaps) by virtue of age and what they can still deliver.
In the Mix = Has the 20-50 games and has shown enough form/signs to warrant taking forward 2 years (are safe)
Work in progress = 0-20 game types with signs there but we need to see more game time AND FAST!
Not seen or as good as = players that have not played (if only little) but have wraps on them......
Sadly left wanting or spinning wheels = on notice, this year could be your last, shape up and get out!
Scrap heap/Can't play = your time is nigh...should not be here, consult career advisor!!!!
Lists and Names
Twilight - Richo, Johnson, Bowden, N Brown, Simmonds (rate the bunch as 6/10 compared to equivalents at other clubs)
In the Mix - Deledio (in danger of becoming overated but not his fault), Newman, Raines, Foley, Hyde, Tambling (a year behind but development back on track), Tuck, Polak, P Bowden, Coughlan (6/10)
Work in Progress - McGuane, *smile* (looking good), Hughes (Must give every chance too), Polo, Thursfield, Pattison, Howat, King, Oakley-Nicholls, Meyer, Edwards, White (not many games in this group) (5/10)
Not seen or as good as - Reiwoldt, Moore, Conners, Casserly, Angus Graham, Collins, Clingan, Kingsley, Peterson (4/10)
Sadly left wanting or Spinning wheels - Pettifer, Knobel, Krakeour, Hall
Scrap heap/Can't play - *smile* (gone!), Tivendale, Hartigan*, Jackson*, (*have be in and about but have not taken steps up in past 2 years)
Fair to say 50% of the players in "WIP" and "Not seen or as Good as" won't be there by 2009, realistically only 3 or 4 will graduate to "In the mix" by virtue of possible games able to be played by then...some question marks on the size of some of the players being "big enough" (excluding McGuane, *smile*, Pattison & Hughes) there are too many players in the bottom 2 "less desirable" categories.
The riches cupboard is light on to say the least - so real hard decisions need be made now, this includes the right coaching staff, the right leadership group given the future in-roads the club see's as unfolding.
Capt - Matthew Richardson
Dep - Acting Vice captains (ONLY) Deledio and Newman (apology to Cogs and N Brown injured)
*Wallace is not playing Johnson in a captain style of game and IMHO has caused Johnson's image to be tarnished.
Leadership Group - Richo, Johnson, Brown, Simmonds, Polak, Lids, Raines, Foley, Hyde and Newman
*Bowden defensively has been playing wayyy to lose in several matches and IMHO plays a bit sellfishly.
Question marks over David King and Jade Rawlings; Was disgusted in the defeatist attitude of KING on SEN radio a couple weeks ago.
2011 is probably too soon, who will be the 3 or 4 match winners from the current list?
It's looking grim, what we need to see is honest and frank assessments........ and actions accordingly. Richmond is metally weak, we have had too many schitzophrenic losses in the past 2 years which seem to seriously question the development of the list in the time Terry has had.
Cheers,
Concerned Tiger
