I have been an eels supporter for 40 years and have never waived to date. This will always be my team, and I will be back, but for now I need a break. My brain is fried.
The reason why I am taking /needing the sabbatical is; not because we lost again last night, not because we failed to make the finals for another year or to do with all the club politics and drama, far from it, and I fully appreciate and understand the club as a whole has been decimated by injury, and second tier salary cap restrictions has determined which players can be selected each week, however, neither of these 2015 dilemmas are a factor on the retention of players off contract for 2016. Brad Arthur and management are in full control of those decisions.
The re-signing of Joseph Paulo, Luke Kelly, Ryan Morgan and Vai Toutai leaves me bewildered to say the least. I am tired of hearing from some "but they are cheap back ups" We all saw again last night what influence "cheap" has on a team. All of the above mentioned players have consistently failed when selected in the top grade (over 4 years) and put absolutely no pressure on players above them when they are playing reserve grade. In fact, they do not even stand out in the lower grade.
The Penrith Panthers are the blue print for signing second tier players, a team also struck down with injury again in 2015. They don't sign/resign players "because they are cheap" they sign young players who are potential permanent 1st grade players, and if they fail to live up to expectations they are cut. They are also "cheap signings" but offer so much more than our retention policy criteria and vision for the future when injury strikes. We will have injuries again next year at some stage and will have the same basket case of players to select from.
With the personnel we selected last night through injury (Joseph Paulo, Kelly, Morgan, Toutai) The Panthers in the same predicament would select second tier players, Isaac John, Will Smith, Robert Jennings and Waqa Blake. IMO we easily win last nights game with those players in our side. I simply don't get it, and frustrated to no end. Watching these players last night with the knowledge they have been rewarded with new contracts for next year was the final straw.
See you in 2016, and lets hope no one gets injured.
Replies
Was thinking the same thing
Cya champ, and totally understand your frustrations. The amazing thing for me is that people on here are just happy to accept mediocrity. There is absolutely no excuse to be re-siging the likes of Kelly,Morgan or Va, i'm also sick of hearing about cheap depth. I don't care about how cheap it is when it's absolute shit like the 3 plodders i mentioned. i'd much rather we banked on a young bloke who may just turn into a first grader unlike the same old same old who continually show they aren't up too it.
Totally understand mate, look forward to seeing your name in the replies next season
Enjoy an early off season bert. I'm almost at that stage myself.
Bert,
Your frustration is felt by all off us loyal long suffering fans and no one can blame you for your decision. You have been loyal beyond question and I am sure a majority of the posters on this forum are in the same position.
I feel this year has tested the most resolute fans and the frustrations are now starting to show. Last nights team was embarrassing to be called a NRL side, the quality of the match was not much better .
I have questioned the the quality of our Recruitment and Retention and Coaches (head and assistants) and last night made it glaringly obvious that these people are not up to Top 8 standard. Just look at where all the Parra teams are sitting on the ladder. You highlighted Penriths recruitment strategy, well throw in Brisbane, Melb, Roosters, Souths, they do not put up with cheap and mediocre, but Parra seams to have it built in our culture. Does it come as any surprise at where the club is as a whole. Pay peanuts you get monkeys. Your also right ,I can't see Foran being able to turn this around because he needs a good pack of forwards and a top class half for him to run off. I don't think we will have them next year, BA has to me shown that he can't make decisions under pressure and the team has followed his lead.
When you do return next year, It will be groundhog day, start the year with optomism, drama's through the year and finish towards the bottom of the ladder. This is what has been the routine for the last 6 years.
Smart choice Bert hopefully 2016 is much better but im not so sure.
Bert you cant go anywhere mate, youll be missed and you cant abandon ship when the chips are down.
Those re-signings are an embarrassment to the club and the coach, im a supporter of BA but these re-signings and BA sticking with Tim as captain really have me asking if the bloke knows what hes doing.
If he has signed these guys because they show a good attitude at training and they try hard he has made a huge mistake, they need to be able to take the club forward on the park along with having good attitudes, i hope BA hasnt fallen into the trap of awarding these guys for anything other than on field performances, these blokes could not have been re-signed for on field performances because they have been very poor, somethings amiss.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next