Eels Blogs

We all know how great the Paulo / Matto combo off the bench had been first 3 weeks . Our physicality had been good and those 2 came on against tired blokes and we went up gears. So why change it ?

BA said it was to keep players hungry and on their toes .. in week 4?  He has also gone out of his way to mention how those 2 wanted to start but were doing what was best for the team. What sort of message does it send to the side when we come up against the Tigers and he decides it's time to shake it up and let those blokes have a start? Both were dreadful . 

Paulo is no longer best starting . 30 years old and last season was by far and away his worst since being in the top grade. From a distance it looks as though he trys to pump out bigger minutes at the expense of impact and physicality. The bench role was perfect for him . Come on , go flat out for 20 and have the half time break . His first 3 weeks of the season were his best in ages . Messing up his rotation I have no doubt was to take some of the ball playing pressure off the halves and as a result we got limp dick Paulo running around hugging dudes and making next to no impact while he fart asses around ball playing . His best position in 2024 is bench prop . BA got that one completely wrong today. 

Hopgood has been strong for us in the middle bringing a toughness and line speed which was evident wasn't there from the start. Mattos best football since 2022 has been as a bench middle , throwing him in was again bewildering. 

There were many reasons why we lost and end of the day we just weren't good enough , but stuffing around with a formula that had been working really well when you're happy with the physicality and role of players on a week where we needed a bit of stability was a complete coaching stuff up.  Good old players coach Brad chucking the 2 vets a starting jersey when the tigers pop up on the schedule was soft coaching . Soft coaching led to a soft performance he should be ashamed.