Hello everyone,
Im new on here and so would like my first blogg about a new era for our beloved Eels. Before I do, everything I write on here is my own opinion and not based on any knowledge from any 'sources' or anything like that. Also, Im not one to criticse or insult others, even if I disagree with them. If you disagree with me thats great, put up your argument and lets have a robust discussion. My job requires that I deal with highly complex matters each day and Ive seen both the best and worst in people. All I ask is for genuine comment and not to be rude or insulting. We all have our stuff to deal with and I do not want any comments to be a trigger. That being said, here is my first post...
I for one am looking forward to the promise of a new era. We have lost Norman and in the next 12 months will lose a number of others. This is reminiscent of a changing of the guard in modern sporting culture espoused by sporting franchises the world over. The difference has been that many teams have moved players on long before they started to decline. Parramatta have been poorly administered in the past and there was always going to be a time lag before the tide began to turn. We have suffered due to poor leadership, culture and recruitment. There was always going to be a period of under-performance but now with a strong leadership team (ie the back office) as well as improving infrastructure, it will turn the tide in our favour. Many an organisation and sporting team has risen from the ashes to become dominant. This has begun at Parramatta. All that is required is the character and courage to persist and to NEVER surrender in the heat of battle. I believe that the players and coaching staff have learnt from the horror of this season. and that to become number 1 requires character, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Go Parra!
Replies
Welcome to the site Eddie. We've had a record number of new visitors join since the redesign, so welcome to everyone who is new!
I would love to be that optimistic. The best place I can get too right now, is that we have the POTENTIAL for a new era.
I don't like to be down on people before they've been given a chance to prove themselves, but equally as an Eels supporter I've been beaten down into not getting overly optimistic as well.
There are sides of the club I'm really optimistic about. Others not so much. The areas where not so much, would prevent me in from believing a new era is just around the corner and I think its more likely that we've got a fair bit of pain to go yet, but fingers crossed and hopefully it turns out that the good outweighs the bad.
You're also a Tottenham supporter so you've become very accustomed to abject disappointment after your team offers a brief glimmer of hope.
Thanks for the welcome!
Believe me I know what you mean and hear you. That being said though, the thing Ive noticed is that when you start to focus on whats right then that becomes the catalyst for everything else. When people start believing in whats possible and what is right with something, all the negative becomes something to be conquered rather than bein overwhelmed by it. Its as if perception has changed which becomes the catalyst for improvement across all areas, irrespective of whats going on. You get what you focus on and if we start to focus on whats right and how we want things to be then it drives human behaviour to accomplish the outcome. Keep your eyes on the prize!
Eddie what has the new front office done thats impressed you? im interested to know.
Can you give me a few points, please dont add the disgraceful playing strip.
Welcome Eddie, sounds like youve got some serious unicorn tendancies, stables to the left.
Our front office has done very little to show its 'strong leadership', i havnt been impressed by Bernies hot air blowing. If the new stadium wasnt coming which is none of his doing, he'd have a very bare cupboard.
A lot of reactionary leadership and little pro active leadership.
Eddie name me one of more areas where parra lead the comp in, places we set the bar and others look up and follow?
Apart from our dedicated members there is nothing, we are the definition of poor to mediocer, we are a reactive club, not an innovating club.
To be the best we have to start leading the way in as many depts we can, reality is we are bottom feeders and no positive fluff or positive thinking will fix that.
Im afraid to say we need to take a different direction than Brad, he's bred a culture of zero accountability and he is a very poor identifier of leaders, way too loyal.
Brads created an environment of a lack of hunger and complacency, a lack of turn over of players and upgrading has cost him his career,without Pete Gentle hes had no idea.
Having Timmy run out as capt so long, the worst capt in our club history how shows how delusional brad is.
Its going to be a very long year.
We lack leadership at a coaching and playing level too.
Our spines very poor and our packs too one dimentional, i recon we are in for a bottom 4 year.
Wow Snake. Ok, here I go, first of all I am very right wing, however I believe in human decency. I run a tight ship and demand excellence in the work I do, from myself firstly and then others.
Secondly, the playing strip is not disgraceful but appallingly disgusting. I wouldnt even wipe my rear end with it thats how much I loathe it. So we agree on that.
At times all leadership is reactionary as we live in a dynamic, every-changing world and so we have to be constantly putting out fires. There's no escaping it. However, I do understand your point. However if you look at past managment and their decisions and compare them to the current front office, its chalk and cheese. Little to no leaks, not over-paying players that do not deserve it, getting rid of players that are perpetual pests or disruptive, not being at the whim of certain players to name a few. Also the fact that we had a review tells me that they are serious and arent going to pretend that things will be alright. The band-aid approach is long gone. Yes it took a disastrous year to initiate it, but Im glad it happened so we can begin the process of rebuilding. Bernie is head and shoulders above Sharp and the others. Again, IMO.
My point was that I believe that there is a change in attitude underway at the club that, and you are quite correct, has not translated on the field as yet. However, the change is definitely there. Do I expect us to win the comp next year- no. But I do expect that the team will compete and never surrender. It will take time, there's no sugar coating it, but I for one believe that the tide has turned.
As for the coach, well I cant criticise because Ive never coached an elite football team. What I can say was that he undoubtedly felt embarrassed and ashamed with the results and took a lot of it personally. I see no need to be constantly bagging someone because you dont know whats going on behind the scenes. I would be fairly certain that he realises his faults and he will endeavour to fix them. If he doesnt, that will fall on him entirely. Yes you are judged by your results no doubt, but look at what he has done since he took over. In 2016 we were finals bound until we were punished for the sins of the past, in 2017 we were top 4 and he was being lauded. This year was poor and people want to crucify him. I personally believe that he has earnt the right of our support and wont judge him for 1 bad year. Hopefully he has learnt from this season, only time will tell.
Very well put Eddie what you have said is the same way I feel only I don’t have the know how to put it all what I want to say into words once again well done
Thank you.
Some good points there fast Eddie but its paragraph three i dont agree with, i think youre overestimating the state of the club and the ability of those in charge, you sound like Bernie.
I'll give you the lesser leaks points but not the rest.
Just have a look at the review that Gurr from very good mail privately didnt want.
What a farce.
All of that basic findings should have been identified by him much earlier, ive watched what Gurrs delivered very closely, im not impressed mate, nore do i buy into his spin.
IMO Bernies is outdated and miles behind the pace and he shows it, hes just a typical spin merchant imo, ive seen plenty of them.
He had some big hitters supporting him at the roosters who made him look very good.
We dont have to have been a 1st grade coach to comment on the coaching, decades of study as a fan gives one a very good insight into coaches, also having played under plenty of different coaches does that as well.
Ed im not interested in the bleeding heart 'BA was embarrassed and ashamed and took it personally'' we all know that,and 'i see no reason to be bagging somebody'', not interested in that stuff.
Ive moved well past caring about how guys personally feel in the team and the bleeding heart stories in the team, they are pro sportsmen getting paid big bucks, we must rise above softness and imo we need to start being a lot more ruthless.
No offence but think about leaving all the virtue signalling about whats morally right to do as a fan to a few of the old dopes who are experts on it here. As a club and fans i believe we need to be much more ruthless, forget the playing favourites, the hiring of ex players onto coaching staffs, the sticking with bums like Mannah, we need to get tougher imo bro.
Regardless ive enjoyed your well thought out posts.
If youre just right of central and hate the new jerseys youre ok in my books lol.
Great to have you onboard regardless of if we agree or not, good footy forums are about robust healthy debate.
Thanks for your input and well considered arguments. To counter, as I said I am not in the know and can only go by an outsiders perspective. If you have inside information then you're a step ahead of me. What I will say is that Bernie is still better than the previous rabble we've had.
Re the bleeding heart, those that know me will definitely say that Im not. I try to have a measured approach wherever possible. I agree that they are professional sportsmen and are well-compensated and yes I agree that results are expected from them, I just dont think that continual bagging gets anywhere or does any good.
Im looking forward to contributing whenever I can and time permits. I also agree that these forums are about healthy debate. In the meantime Merry Xmas.
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