Eels Blogs

After reading so many blogs of late questioning Brad's abilities as our coach and our lack of consistency from one week to the next, it got me thinking is it all his fault? And why does the team prepare so well each week, yet come game day it all seems to go out the window?

When I signed up to this website I nominated Sandow as my favourite current eels player, but to be honest over the last couple of weeks I've done a complete 180 and hope he is not with us next year. The icing on the cake was against the knights, the vast difference between his best and worst is too great a void to overcome. Making absolutely no effort to tackle Joey Lielua and the missed goal from almost in front when we were 6 up. Then later putting Lielua on his ass and that brilliant grubber which led to the Faraimo try.

Its great that Sandow can play what is front of him which is a trait not all halves have, but in terms of coaching the team around him it must be a nightmare when there doesn't seem to be a method to the madness.

I think that's why our last tackle options are so poor and the play often breaks down. How do the centres/wingers know if he is going to run it, put up a bomb or a grubber kick? There must be a moments hesitation in their minds when they have to wait and see what he is going to do.

Using Melbourne as an example, the way their halves and outside backs execute their last tackle plays leaves us for dead. They all know what each other is doing without it actually being said. Which yes does come back to the way they have been coached but I wonder how they would go if we swapped Sandow for Cronk?

When does attitude and motivation rest with the players? Danny Wicks seems to have it in spades week in week out no question, yet Chris Sandow is up and down like a yo yo. So how is that Brad Arthur's fault? Is he devoting too much time and effort into inspiring Wicks to perform and not enough into Sandow? Doubtful given our success/failure is more dependant on Sandow's performance than Wicks.To me this comes back to the individual player.

I didn't weigh into the debate of who should we keep next year out of Sandow and Norman because to be truthful I wouldn't be too disappointed if both found homes elsewhere.

These are just my thought which I've had for a few weeks now and just wanted to get it off my chest and give a bit of support to Brad Arthur. Apologies for the negativity toward Chris Sandow, I try and support our players and not bag them at every opportunity but this has been bugging me for a while and I just want success for the Eels and I don't think Chris is heading us in the right direction.