How many players haven't played up to their ability?

I think there is one tried and true test of a coach - do they get their squad to play up to their ability. I reckon if you go through the Eels squad there are very few players who have consistently played below what they are capable of playing. Clearly Jarryd isnt a having a season like he did in 2009 but I'd argue its pretty in-line with what he produced last year and his move to five-eighth is of course taking time. However, outside of Hayne I'd say most players in the team have had best-ever years or produced as strong and consistent performances as they have been capable of. That either tells you something about the coach or the roster we had this year. I'd suggest both.

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  • Agreed, in particular regards to our forward pack.

    • Agree with one exception - Mortimer has been let down by the coach
  • I would say it comes in patches... If you ask how many players haven't consistently played up to their ability, then I would say none.. but in general, I think almost every player has had a few games they could of played better..
  • I'd say all have played to their ability and agree about Hayne.

    Also Moi Moi has been playing consistantly exceptional football all year, if we had a selection of the Eels legends team I'd say Moi Moi would replace Dean Pay. (just in case Moi Moi had a shocker this week, I haven't seen the game yet! not that it would change my thoughts on him).

    • Is Dean Pay really considered an Eels legend?  Paleeezz!

      I do think that the Foo is certainly in contention for official legend status (I personally believe he is already a legend).  I doubt that there have been any better than the Foo ... and when we speak of consistency, this is our other man.

      Week in, week out, he is out there in the same mindset as Nathan Hindmarsh, who, I imagine, has inspired the Foo's fabulous on-field attitude.

      He really is one player I would hate to lose, and am in fact, becoming mildly depressed just thinking of the game without him.

  • Morts let down by coach? He had 9 games this year to prove his worth?

    IMO, Billy Rogers is the only player let down by the coach this year.
    I gave it to Billy week in week out and yes i have a few regrets but Billy is the only one to be mismanaged in my books.
  • which makes next year look real good... the effort is there but we just can't manage to cross the line without the ability... 

  • Regardless of the roster next year we need to increase our second phase plays, with the acquisitions we have and the potential of the current roster moving into 2012 all we need to do is create more opportunities by popping the ball more and taking the risk.
  • - Justin Horo, hasn't been poor by any means but I don't think he has been consistently playing to his ability

    - Shane Shackleton, harsh perhaps as he is coming off an injury, but for mine when he came to us he was a fringe rep player now however he is a fringe first grader

    - Casey McGuire, you could argue that he's been playing out of position, but his drop off in form from the start of the season has been alarming

    - Tim Mannah, I'll probably cop a bit for this but once again I don't think his form has been as good as 2010. As with Horo he definately hasn't been poor, but for mine he isn't adding the impact like he was when he played off the bench last season. I havn't looked at his stats compared to last year and they may even be better but to the eye I don't think he has been as effective. Also in a positive note, Allgoods good form probably also makes Mannahs look average.

     

    In general though I'd agree that we are pretty much playing to our ability.

    • I'd agree Horo has not been consistent, but he's been like that his entire career. If he'd produced consistently he'd made of first grade two years earlier than he did. I think he's picked himself out of a slump and when he did Parra's results improved significantly. He's the most under-rated player in the team, in my view, in regard to importance.

      Re: Shackleton. I think he's definitely lost some of his explosiveness. I was excited about his prospects as a tackle breaking second rower when he joined the club but you couldn't imagine him playing backrow now. Shacks is no spring chicken - he's just turned 29 and when you have a long-term injury like he did, it's not easy to come back in the same physical condition. I'd say he's playing as well as he is now physically able to do.

      Re: McGuire. I think he's struggled primarily defensively playing wider. I think his defence was probably one of the reasons that Kearney was so keen for Keating to play eighty minutes. I reckon a full-season of NRL has caught up with him physically. But overall, I'd say he has overachieved and what we might have expected from him at the startof the year.

      Re: Mannah. Yeh, can't agree with you - I think Mannah has been consistently strong all year. I do wonder though if perhaps you don't get more value out of him, coming off the bench. The thing I was always amazed at Timmy was how he could just inject himself straight into a game off the interchange as if he'd been in the midst of the battle from the start. I think that helped his game stand out, because his injection was more noticable. I think as a starting prop, your just going to get strong, consistent performances week-in, week-out and playing alongside Fuifui that's perfectly acceptable in my view. 

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