One Eyed Optimism

After being on this site for a couple of years I'm used to this feeling of pre-season optimism.

In truth I'm optimistic before every season because I buy in to the video's of the team training hard, the new recruits, the new coaching staff.

This season has the highest level of optimism I have seen since, I'm not sure when.

Some fans have even mentioned that this could be the start of the best era in club history.

Whilst I share the optimism of these fans I also know that come round 5 if we are 1 from 5, the crowds will drop and the sense of the Parramatta curse is on us again.

The purpose of this blog is to ask the Eels long suffering fans not to get too carried away with the form early in the season.

We have a lot of guys who have never played a game with each other before and it could take some time to gel. We have a lot reliance on big names to perform well.

There will be injuries, there will be failures, there will be disappointments, there will be moments of magic. Above all the support of the fans is the only thing that should remain constant.

I'll be there cheering and I ask all fans to stick by the team regardless of success.

The papers will jump on the Eels if they are not winning. The pressure of the number 7 Eels jersey has broken many players.

My plea is that us fans get out there and support and don't be too quick to write off certain players when they make an error or they are under performing. It will take time to form the team bond.

Don't worry where we are after round 5, worry where we are after round 20.

Go Eels

I agree Osiriden, important not to get too down if we lose our first two. We will be outsiders in both. Both those clubs will be top 4 barring injury so they are not must win games. We need to really beat the bottom 8 teams and also those around 5-8 to do well. I.e if we lose the first 2 that's okay but the next 4 after that we need to really try and win them all. Having said all that, I have a strange feeling we are going to come out and shock everyone early, and be in the top 4 after 6 weeks with a lot of momentum. The league world would be buzzing if we did. We have the players to do so, and genuinely do it, unlike the past 2 seasons where we have been optimistic/hopefuly of getting it together "on our day" but now with the roster it's more an expectation that we will be in every game this year with no blow outs or fade outs due to a lack of quality in key positions. Look out for an early demolition job tomorrow night. Only 9's footy but it showed the hunger and that the pre-season training was spot on, even with a weaker squad we won the event. We looked very solid in each game bar the first, and the defence has surely improved you'd think. 13 days til Round 1!

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Replies

fishbulb February 19, 2016 at 3:03pm

Toughest pre-season ever!
Wile E. Coyote February 19, 2016 at 3:12pm

Great blog
But round 20 of which year can we start worrying? 2016, 2026 or 2086
I started worrying 1996
Bourbon Man February 19, 2016 at 3:27pm

We do have a seriously tough draw! 6th most difficult according to NRL.com.

If we are 3 from 5 in the first five rounds of:

Brisbane at home
Cowboys at home
Bulldogs at ANZ
Tigers at ANZ
Penrith at home

I think we'll be doing well. Broncos and Cowboys will be tough and battle ready considering their participation in the World Club Challenge, Penrith, on paper, are very strong and we're notoriously shite at ANZ.
- Mr 'BringBackFitzy' Analyst > Bourbon Man February 19, 2016 at 4:56pm
  
  We actually could be 5 from 5
Kramerica February 19, 2016 at 3:34pm

I have a feeling we will start well against The Broncs.

I reckon this World Club Challenge is more harm than hindrance, and trials against fellow NRL teams (such as ours against a near full strength Panthers) put you in far better stead for round one, plus they will be spending 50 odd hours on aircraft in multiple time zones.

We start very strongly historically, and if we can beat Brisbane the Cows game will be a sellout by the Monday prior.

If we can keep idiotic mistakes to a minimum i'm confident of a really good performance against Brisbane..
The French Fullback #1 February 19, 2016 at 3:37pm

I agree Osiriden, important not to get too down if we lose our first two. We will be outsiders in both. Both those clubs will be top 4 barring injury so they are not must win games. We need to really beat the bottom 8 teams and also those around 5-8 to do well. I.e if we lose the first 2 that's okay but the next 4 after that we need to really try and win them all. Having said all that, I have a strange feeling we are going to come out and shock everyone early, and be in the top 4 after 6 weeks with a lot of momentum. The league world would be buzzing if we did. We have the players to do so, and genuinely do it, unlike the past 2 seasons where we have been optimistic/hopefuly of getting it together "on our day" but now with the roster it's more an expectation that we will be in every game this year with no blow outs or fade outs due to a lack of quality in key positions. Look out for an early demolition job tomorrow night. Only 9's footy but it showed the hunger and that the pre-season training was spot on, even with a weaker squad we won the event. We looked very solid in each game bar the first, and the defence has surely improved you'd think. 13 days til Round 1!
the boss February 19, 2016 at 3:52pm

All i ask is that if we beat brisbane or even smash them come round 1 please not to get too carried away for the cowboys game we always play like a top 4 side round one then suddenly turn into a bottom 4 side for round 2.
Keep your feet grounded
This reply was deleted.
- the boss February 19, 2016 at 4:02pm
  
  Only if we win tomorrow night!
Bourbon Man February 19, 2016 at 7:09pm

Well that would be great!
Jimbo February 20, 2016 at 11:11am

Fair enough blog ... Let's make sure we all go to every home game and make Pirtek a fortress! Go to Homebush as well ...

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This reply was deleted.

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