Just a few observations about the game last night and our situation atm but im going to focus on a few positives even though they are hard to find after that performance.
Imo Brad has earned some leeway here.
After the 30-0 roosters disaster i lost a bit of faith in Brad, i doubted him for the first time in his stay here and really started to question if his tactics and choices were up to scratch, on reflection a bit later in the season i feel i should have been a bit more patient and had a bit more faith..
Since then Brads got a great winning streak going and had the boys playing well, weve been building very nicely, you can see we are building for something.
His mid season signing of Moses is looking like a good choice, hes getting excellent results most of his new signings, including known lazy trainer at his previous club Vave and Matagi who also was never a great trainer, these guys are playing their best footy under Brad, so is Guth, so Brad can clearly make a decent signing and get the most out of them.
Dont forget we are basically playing away all this year, theres no real home advantage and hes got the lads winning away all the time now, it was only 3-4 years ago we struggled to win away at all.
If we were going to lose to anybody its better to lose to the knights.
Its not giving anybody else fighting for the 8 points.
It will embarrass the lads and REMIND them they need to get a lot better, it might be a very good little shock before the finals.
Dont forget a game like that is in keeping with our form this year, weve been up and down, struggled to get going early in a few games so we always had another game like that in us, but the difference is weve just come off a nice 5 game steak, weve been playing well, lets not forget that.
We will still make the 8 eels fans, dont stress.
Yes BAs not perfect and hes learning, but for my eye he's shown he deserves a bit of faith, faith is a silly word when it comes to supporting something, its a word full of fluff but im going to show Brad a bit because hes earned it for mine.
I believe we will bounce back from yesterday, of course im not claiming we will win the comp but i think we will give a good showing for the rest of the year, win or lose hopefully something for eels fans to be proud of.
Nows not the time to jump off the train eels fans, its time to hang on tighter than ever.
Brad will get these guys up.
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I think overall BA has done good job. I do question his use of reserves a bit last night but i am sure he has his reasons.
The players took this game too lightly, not BA
Aside from that, we were somehow still in the game at half time and even at 18-10 with 20 minutes left following "that decision" we may have still been able to turn it around.
Apart from motivating the players to lift, we have a couple of fixable problems.
First without Matagi and Vave playing decent minutes, we struggle to go forward. This needs to be addressed. Most of the metres come on the fringe through Brown and Mau. Alvaro is playing well but we often get no go forward up the middle until Vave or Matagi get on.
Second, we have a real problem on the right edge. Auvaa is simply too weak defensively and constantly gets caught out of position. It was happening against Brisbane too and scramble defence was all that saved us from going beyond 12-0 down. We need a better defender in there on the wing.
I personally have no issue with BA and I think he is a great coach. My issue is with the players as they were crap last night. Its one thing being beating by the Storm, Roosters or Sharks as they are elite teams with many rep players. Our senior players need an urgent character adjustment because they think they are better then what that really are. I hate it when Norman and Moses talk us up as it just puts more and more pressure on our forward pack.
Reality check, we lost last night because we were arrogant and conceited. What really upsets me is that at half time we knew the Knights were playing well and having a dig but we still didn't lift and put a top quality effort in.
If I was BA I would be make the players do the hardest fitness week of their lives and completely and utterly smash them at training this week (no ball work, just gruelling fitness running as punishment).
Snake, lets be honest. The way you have talked about Mannah has dented his confidence. He played his heart out last night and you have no commentary on this here. Mannah is the reason we will make the 8, he is truly the most fearless leader with a heart of gold that we have had in a while and you cannot recognise this. It upsets me greatly that you can post a blog like this and not mention Mannah in a positive light once after his recent performances, but you bend over backwards for Brad Arthur because he is charisma and confidence give you an erection. It's time to get serious about your agenda here, did Mannah do something to you personally growing up? Please explain
It's not as much the losing for me it's more how we stuffed up(honestly did think it would be really really close either way). Bullet meet foot, again!
Reckon it'll take two weeks for us to get back on track. The confidence factor would be zero it just doesn't come back overnight.
The only positive we can take from that, is that we will be underdogs from here on in.
We played exactly the way the dogs did and newcastle like we us last week. They stuck to their plan and to be completely honest our halves made it seem that we didn't have one. No better than the dogs. Panicked nervous and impatient hard to believe it's the same halves pairing. Boo to them for showing such poor panicky leadership and getting ahead of themselves like boys instead of professionals'
Boo to the whole team for letting themselves, a great bloke like BA and all the fans down.
I like everyone else believe Brad Arthur has over achieved with this team, but at what point do you blame the Coach? When the team loses enough matches? That seems to be the only qualifier. Is this team not of Brad Arthur's choosing now? The gameplan was not executed well last night or the gameplan was not effective, the only options to choose from. Either way, you can't really tell from your armchair but I'm sure on this occasion the players would tell you that it is their fault. Lose enough games in a row, and you get the senior players trying to oust the coach like in the Tigers. Lets hope you are right. 6 in a row is great, there is nothing to complain about. The Eels are in a good position thanks to everyone involved.
I believe Brad Arthur has tactics reserved for the finals, no point in playing your full hand so early. Better to play a bad game now than week one of the finals.
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