In a recent post I reflected on not having the answer or solution to the ongoing problems that plague our team.
Included in that post was a belief that the fundamental problem was the inferior cattle and whilst we are winning it looks very calm on the surface. My guess those little duck legs are thrashing incessantly under the water.
BA's proven strength was resurrecting tired players i.e creating silk purses out of pig's ears as my grandmother would say..... I am, I think suggesting that may be the problem, we are so used to wearing "hand me downs" we just don't buy enough "new" things!
One of the responses from that post was "we are doing nothing", so no solutions can be forthcoming. That poster is a smart guy who offers good comments, I'm not criticising his post.
But, are "we are not doing nothing", here lies the problem, what ever they are doing and its not nothing is not working or not good enough. What people whether its "you", unicorns or negative nellies need to understand is that we are not doing nothing, we just can't find the solution and maybe its not in the coaching. It's maybe something endemic, ingrained into the management structure after the disasters of the 2016 salary cap debacle.
An obvious one comes out of a recent post on the Barrett blog i.e. if Barrett is a coach of coaches, writes books on the subject and mesmerises people with his lectures on coaching......is coaching really the problem?.
WE may have had Arthur for 11 years, but we have had enough "outside coaches" come in and none of them improved the problem, whether it Johns, Enis, Mary and assorted assistants.
So lets get down to the solution, its obvious that if we do change the coach, something else has to change with it.......or we stay on the same merry go round!
Replies
The big picture really shows that the problem is roster management. There seems to be little realisation that the outside backs have been an issue for 4 years, covered by a strong forward rotation. The word recruitment rears its head, Flegg for instance has been playing 2 backrowers in the centres, and Cuphas RMC players in centre and wings, this is poor for a club of our size.
So in reply to your post, in 2022 when we had a full top 30 and some depth we made the GF it has fallen since then and the structure seems to indicate the final decisions are not always correct and perhaps a cumbersome committee hasn't helped. Isthe recruitment team good enough would be the question I would ask ahead of more critircism of the coach battling with short roster and a strong 17/18 players which falls too quickly once injuries etc impact.
When talking about any NRL clubs, almost all commentators on the game refer to club "culture" whenver an issue arises. Bellamy
and Bennet are touted as coaches who are able to cultivate the "right" culture and it would seem that Ivan Cleary and Andrew Webster are up there as well. Bellamy in particular has a reputation of being able to bring virtually anyone into the team instantly and usually they perform well. Brad Arthur has tried to do the same with his players but it seems he is much more forgiving of player errors than Bellamy for example.Moses being out has certainly affected the Eels game plans this year but the team's inconsisitency last year and this year seems to hint at their being a culture problem at the club. The coach needs to be the driver of the culture. Jack Gibson used to say that winning a premiership starts at the front office, but who got the office staff on board in the firast place?
Thanks for two very intelligent replies Deadset and Adrian.
Both your views invite discussion which is the purpose of me writing blogs, the idea being to draw out thoughts and views. The problem solving will never have a finite answer in a "whole" sense, but it may seed ideas that don't just refer to the coach or his assistants as "dills".
I love Adrian's question about the Gibson legendary comment on it starts at the front office.....but who put on the office staff in the first place? interestingly those legendary coaches were all "autocrats" but had some very defined people associated with them, Ron Massey in Gibson's case and Frank Ponnissi in Bellamey's....not aware who follows or leads Wayne with a shovel. I think the culture they create is self imposed as I imagine no beaucratic official would take them on. On that subject I think Arthur's has a good cultural relationship with his players. I am not sure it extends any where past that.
Deadset goes to the core of the problem in that recruitment is something that has lacked quality and finessment. O'Neill will wear the blame but I am going to assume that he never really has had the authority based on a security of employment process that was a life line to him. Daniel Anderson who had a similar role back in the day had a horrible reputation with the junior heirachy, mainly because he saw himself as a coach and not a coordinator or processer of structure.
Brad Arthur would not appeal as a head of football for the same reason i.e. you can't move him sideways!
So that leaves us with a board who thinks they can only operate in a structure, i.e. only paying so much for a centre or a winger , so much for the spine and like wise for other positions.
No real management structure everlocks its self in and if it means borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, you just make the judgement.
The problem is that we have a restructuring firm (management consultants) who did a great job changing the constitution and establishing process but not rationalising that no real successful businesses work when you have a total board of number crunchers and legal eagles, someone has know how to run and understand the nuisances of a football club. It would seem to me when we look at the successful clubs that their is usually a benovolent dictator involved that provides a direction to the board and the board dutifully follow same.
The current CEO and Chairman need to address this before this just stays on the merry go round and nothing is achieved. If its an ego thing then they can still be directors but need to appoint a leader that will provide a framework for a succesful football club rather than a team of beaurecrats ticking boxes and nodding in agreement with each other and not really understanding the needs of the many. My further guess is we must have a few board members that are capable of thinking outside the box and they need to be let loose.
The business/corporate plan should be a living process and you need to get rid of the obstacles, i.e. recruiment meeting on monthly basis....make them meet every day that's necessary until they get it right!!!
Unfortunately the club needs a big clean out. Not everyone has to go but likely the CEO and BA will have to both leave. They are the most responsible along with a couple of key players who also haven't earned their keep either.
Hate to say it but another rebuild and a new 6yr plan.
Ponissi and Bellamy interview any potential signing before they commit.
They ask questions formulated in such a way that their looking for players that fit certain moulds mentally.
After they ascertain your a fit mentally ,they look at your physical attributes and how you can fit in their team framework with a clear ideas on how much extra juice they can squeeze out of you in their system.
How many Melbourne players do you see with brain fades comparable to other clubs.
Melbourne realised it's the one percent plays that make the difference over a season ,in big games and their recruitment is centred around players that apply effort in those areas .
What do you get from that CONSISTENCY, not a lot of difference between your best and worst footy.
The best football teams are collectively the quickest between the ears . Parra sign alot of players who aren't exactly knocking on the door for a membership of Mensa.
Understatement Bups....thanksfor your input mate....maybe Ponissi is the one that we should be throwing the cheque book at!
He can then pick the coach!
Ponissi would be the best pick up we could do. He has been with Melbourne since 2007, extended in 2020 'til the end of '24, not sure if has extended since then. GM of football is where our change needs to start. Don't like the chances of securing Ponissi, been in bleak city for 17yrs, chances are he is well settled. I personally think we are are good chance of getting Bennett, with Sam Burgess as his assistant, ready to take over when Bennett leaves, keep Barrett and that would be a great coaching combo. If the Ponissi or Bennett situation doesn't arise, the question remains, where do we go next.
Before season kick off, I was thinking we had a forward pack which was top 3 and would keep us in alot of games. Out wide in Attack and Defence was were I thought we would be found out.
But after the Tigers and Raiders games I agree with ya Poppa we have a team with problems that I don't think Brad can fix.
We have always lacked consistentcey and in some games playing for 80 minutes every minute.
Our defence systems either don't work or we don't stick to them. One thing stands out for me this year is we don't dominate in tackles. 3 in a tackle and they still get the ball away.
We don't play with disapline, silly passes, and giving away dumb penalties. I think due to a lack of depth players take the 1% play knowing they won't be punted to Reggies.
I think and stating the obvious Parra lack depth, we have to look at our pathways and how players advance to first grade.
I personally think we should be making players play full season of flegg footy before going to Reggies. We have good juniors going from SG straight to Reggies and not cutting it, and then there confidence drops.
Brad Arthur has been awesome for Parramatta, butt 2024 should be his last. The board should be planning for that now, maybe they are.
So, who replaces BA, It's not going to happen, but in my dream Bellyace is who we need. Wayne B next, my smokie is Josh Hannay just wondering if he would be strong with disapline.
I think Cameron Smith will be the next big thing in the coaching arena in a few years. But right now his comfy and satisfied with commentary. His coaching hunger will come.
Coaching has changed in many ways in comparison to the 80's. Today's best coaches are able to handle individual players and their personalities differently. I could only imagine what would be said if back in the 80's Jack Gibson was giving Ray Price a cuddle because that's what he needed. Back then players just did whatever they were asked, but today when a player becomes upset they get their hand held and cuddles.
As for BA I think he has done a good job. I can't think of many players that haven't played career best football whilst under BA. This obviously means that BA has the ability to get the most out of his players. The problem is the amount of time BA has been in charge. The same voice delivering similar messages that have failed for years must be going through the players minds. In hindsight, BA has probably been at the Eels for about 4 or 5 years to long.
Good solid thoughts Slippery.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next