I just want to start off by saying that I have never played any sport at an elite level but played plenty of sport in my youth, particular Rugby League. What I see happening at the Eels reminds me of when I would have form slumps playing sport and this also applies to other areas of life.
I can remember times during my sporting life when I was in a form slump, more than a game or two, things just weren't going to plan and it was noticeable to me, my coach and team mates. Generally the first thing I do is make a decision to put in more of an effort at training and in the games to sort out the issues and most of the time that is all that was needed. It was simply I had slacked off and wasn't putting in the proper effort. There were a couple of occasions this didn't work though and here is what I think is happening to the Eels. I can remember a time or two this happened to our entire team, not just me. Unfortunately, sometimes it has nothing to do with you, or the team, not putting in the proper effort and has everything to do with a lose of confidence, usually due to a lose or two, or three, and you go back to training and begin to try so hard to fix something you end up trying too hard and just make things worse.
I have watched all the games this season and generally the boys are trying (Granted there have been moments were individuals have slacked off) but things just aren't happening for the team. Calls haven't gone our way and the rub of the green hasn't helped us either at times. I am not saying that is the reason we are loosing though. I am sure everyone saw the looks on the boys faces from the dressing room this week and that isn't the look of a team who doesn't care. It is blatantly obvious they do care and it is now mentally starting to effect them. Now, going back to when I had similar form slumps and on a couple of occasions our entire team had form slumps that we simply couldn't train our way out off. Every time this occurred, there was one way and one way only that I or we could get ourselves out of this slump. I, or we, had to go back to why we all played the game in the begining, "FOR FUN".
I sincerely think that the boys are in such a form slump and are trying so hard that they have forgotten why they played the game in the first place, "FOR FUN", and it is effecting how they play the game. They have put so much pressure on themselves, a lot of that is due to the media and us fans, that playing the game is now so stressful that they just aren't able to play the way they should and that is "ENJOYING THE GAME".
Every time this has occurred to me whether it be playing sport, at work, or even in relationships. If things weren't going well in any of the above and I just couldn't seem to fix what was going wrong, if I remembered that for any of them to work, I had to enjoy what I was doing or I could try as hard as I wanted but it wouldn't make a difference if I didn't really want to be there. Every time I got back into the head space of enjoying those things, every thing would turn around immediately.
The Eels season is likely over, it hurts to say that. So if it's over, why not let all the pressure of trying to make the finals go and just go out and "HAVE SOME FUN". What do they have to loose by just getting together with some mates and having a good old hit out, throw the ball around, put on a couple of big hits and if you win, great, and if you don't who cares. That is the reason why we all played any sport, for fun.
If it becomes so much of a chore and so stressful that you can't enjoy it, it's time to give it up. Just like a bad job or a bad relationship.
My suggestion to the boys; "JUST GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN".
If the season is gone, there is going to be a mass culling of players at the end of the season and the coach is going to be fired. May as well go out with a bang I say. Just watch what happens if they adopt that mentality. I know it worked for me and the teams I played in every time this sort of thing happened. That is what happened to the Eels in 09, they were written off, head were going to roll and everyone was going to be fired and they had nothing left to loose. The Eels made the finals that year and as far as I am concerned, won the final that year. No one, not even our Unicorns gave us a chance that year. When the chips were down and the Eels had nothing to loose, they pushed up in defence and tackled anything and everything that move and pushed up in attack and there was always someone sniffing around for an offload. Our second phase play and never letting the ball die was the best I have ever seen in my 30+ years of watching the game.
That is the answer to the Eels woes, just go out and have some fun. It's funny how when you are having fun everything just seems to fall into place. Go Eels.
Replies
The biggest fun the Eels could have Matthew is to get rid of the coach and half the playing roster. That would really put a smile on the faces of Eels supporters who’ve had enough mediocrity.
Monto, you might be right but we may as well let them finish the season and if they make the decision to go out and have some fun. They might just surprise themselves and the fans.
As I said before. May as well go out with a bang :)
Eels simply don't give 110% for 80 minutes. We lose in all the 1%ers. Our mistake rate on the simple plays put us under pressure, i have watched every game some twice, and still can't figure our attack plan, and every commentator agrees. Johns and Gus are critical of our game plan,in fact johns comment was we are rudderless and clueless.
Corey Norman needs to be dropped and Mosses to the 6 and fish or Smith to the 7. Will that work don't know but worth a go. Lets be real our season is over we are playin to avoid the spoon, so change things and see who performs where, get french and MJ coming in looking for ball.
Brad Arthur has dug himself a big hole, he knows if we end up with the spoon his tenure at the eels would be under the pump. He may start 2019 as head coach but with no knew signings, and because of our 2018 result will pay overs for new signings. The young guns won't come as there skills will not improve with our coaching staff.
Norman is not the only player costing us games but he is cocting us points, we have spent our time in the opposition 30 with 4 tackles up our sleve and Norman has not fired a shot, Brad also needs to take some of the blame as he sees what we see, and can,t seem to fix it.
At least Sticky was up front and told players perform or ya gone and he made it public so players new where they stood. BA may have done this doubt it.
In summary and this is just my opinion BA is not and never will be a NRL HEADCOACH, and at least 8 of our top 30 need to be shown the door.
Finally if PARRAMATTA board don't act know and replace the coaching staff, chase a head of football,replace Caylis with Toothey, Arthur with Walters build our juniors and seniors we will struggle for yrs.
Brad Arthur and Bernie Gurr have put PARRAMATTA back 5yrs, we are realy going to struggle for a few yrs.
But the good news as much as i love Parra i also love money and have backed the Eels to win the spoon, at the 7,s then the 5,s and last night took the 3.50. Have outlayed 750 all up and stand to pocket 4300. While iam hurtin may aswell make some dollars.
A repeat set is not valuable in 2018. Corey norman has forced the most drop outs in 2018 and where has it gotten us? Playing against 12 men isnt either. Last year it meant you would score 2-3 tries but defences seem to hold on better this year. The titans had 11 on the field yesterday and managed to hold out the knights
Do you notice they still set up predictsble plays they were rrunning in 2017 that would end up with semi scoring. Well hes not out there and the halves are completely lost without him.
What we should be doing is doing what everyone else is doing and that is kicking penalty goals. We arent doing enough of it. We had probably 5 chances to kick another penalty goal and we took none and instead lost the football on each occassion. Its funny how we lost by 10 and have lost 5 games this year by scoring the same tries as our opponent.
All these issues fall back on the coach. He has failed to adapt the team to a new season and we are paying for it
Agree 100%, We throw nothin at the opposition. Start of the season i thought all we were lacking is some big boppers. But after round 11 i know think we are lacking ball playin halfs who can create holes,count numbers sustain pressure and use the ball. Also players who can run a line or into holes,we play one out to often.
We realy are a basket case with no idear or hunger to win, were not confindent to win.
The board need to sit BA down and ask him what he ids doin to adress our many problems and what resources he needs to turn Parra in the right direction, and also give him a time frame,let the suffering fans know they are doin somthing.
Were not improving in fact Friday nights game was a fair way off NRL stanard from both teams even though the Warriors were 4th on the table.
I personally think all 5 of our coaching staff need to go, a new head coah and let him bring in staff he wants,same with recruitment. Junior will not score trys he MAY put us on the attack,but our ball players will let him down. Not confirmed we have even got him.
Other smart coaches drop ther ball players if ther not performing ours aren,t yet have played every game
As stated NOWis the time for our leadership to STANDup and state we don't accept underperforming players or coaches, and we will react to this.
Iam already dreadin 2019, with out MAJOR changes nothin will change.
"Brad Arthur has dug himself a big hole, he knows if we end up with the spoon his tenure at the eels would be under the pump."
Agree wholeheartedly and some. Arthur categorically stated there would be NO spoons under his watch. So if we do get this years biggest loser award he should do the honourable thing and resign immediately.
As to his replacement, I am not 100% sold on your suggestions. Firstly I have no idea who Toothey is and whilst Walters may prove OK he hasn't been a NRL head coach so has no record to base an opinion on.
Blaming the coach is always the first option. Sometimes its true. But we need to have a closer look at the playing staff.
Jack Gibson couldn't improve them.
I hate it, but there must be a rebuilding phase, starting now. BA didnt have many quality players to buy, and had to be happy with second best. The future lies with the youth. They need to be recruited and developed. It will be tough for a few years but the results will come.
NO they won’t Speedy not under this guy.
We need a new coach and a dozen or so players brought in by the new coaching team not one selected and bought by a guy whose run out of ideas and gone stale. Sorry but BA has had his time and he needs to be moved on for this sake of the club and it’s supporters.
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