Sandow - the remainder of the season - Eels Blogs

I'll go on record and say I like Sandow as a bloke. He's always said g'day to me at training (he doesn't know me as such) and he has gone out of his way to speak to kids involved with Eels programs. In my opinion, he is a kid from the bush who has never really adjusted to city life or the life of a rugby league professional.It is now apparent that Chris will move on next year. Reflecting on his four years at the club, you'd have to say that we did not get the value from his contract. I'm sure that he would agree that his first two years at the club were "lost years", primarily of his own doing. Last year was a very good season, with this year being a real mixed bag.His past value is not the focus of this blog.I'd like to examine his current and future value.In all likelihood, Sandow has at least 8 games left in Eels colours this season. What does he offer?Firstly, we need to address the defensive deficiencies. This bloke is going to miss tackles. He is a little bloke with a flaw in his technique going up against huge blokes all over the field. We have to expect this. It's unlikely to change.Secondly, we know that he will create opportunities. For all of his flaws, Sandow is a part of our left side attack. We witnessed the difference when the ball went to the other side on Monday night. We need him to be involved in our attack because the alternative (with Norman at fullback), is nowhere near as effective.I take this perspective with Chris Sandow. Whether it be salary cap constraints or simply ability, he is our best and indeed only option for the remainder of the year. Foran's arrival next year changes that landscape.At his best, Sandow can be a Dally M contender, capable of winning us games. At his worst, a major defensive liability. He will not be at Parra next year, so I will get my support behind him for the remainder of this year and look to see his best.Regardless of what has happened in the past, Sandow has the opportunity to leave a memory of what he achieves for us in the remainder of this season. We all know that he enjoys footy. Maybe, with the likelihood of him moving to England, he will bump up that number of games left in the blue and gold and achieve the goal of playing finals footy before his time in the NRL is over.I hope he can do it.

Great Post Sixties.

As per the previous posts, for all the frustration that Sandow has given the fans over the last 4 years, now that it is getting towards the end of his time at Parra, the fans do wish him the best and in a funny way we will miss him, the good and the bad. That is Chrissy, it has taken us 4 years to accept that.

In regards to what he can offer for the rest of the year, since that infamous interview and being dropped to Wenty he has come back a lot better and structured player. Yes his defence is still a major drawback, but his attack has been more structured and looks to create opportunities out wide instead of the random acts that mostly bombed out. His kicking game has improved and his goal kicking has been on song. Bad luck we didnt get this version of Sandow a couple of weeks before that interview we would have won a couple of those close losses.

In his current form I believe he can drive the side towards a finals berth. his confidence is up and the whole team is following. Monday nights game was definitely not his or the teams best but they won and that is what we want to continue. I know the run can continue.

Good luck Chrissy. I know you can do it.

Go the Eels

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Premier2018 July 8, 2015 at 10:04am

That's it. Sandow still has the opportunity to get the Eels into the finals.

He's being playing some good footy recently. Has set up a lot of our tries and his goal kicking has been improving.

There are still the obvious brain snaps but I really hope Chris can go out on a high with the Eels.

For me he still has the potential to be great.

I don't think that will be as an Eel but whenever I see him play I'll be cheering for him.

You can't but help love the way he plays the game.
RIDER July 8, 2015 at 10:13am

He's got my support for the remainder of the year. Hopefully he and the team can scrap into the 8.
FAT GUY July 8, 2015 at 10:21am

Great Post, hopefully some of his knockers will get of his back until the end of the season and get behind him not in front and push the boys forward to the top 8..I will miss him though...
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 July 8, 2015 at 10:24am

After being offered a reduced contract, being dropped to Wenty and most probably siged with an English club, I assumed Sandow would drop his head and be disinterested for the remaining games.

But credit to himself, he played a brilliant game in reggies and has playing as well as he ever has in the last 6 weeks.

Respect to Chris, he really is a good man. Well done.
Sticks and Stones July 8, 2015 at 11:09am

Well said. I dont like him in the team to much rocks and diamonds and looking forward to more stability next year. But having said that I will still be cheering him and hoping for the best for him and the team. Player like him are capable of a purple patch of form that I hope will springboard us into the finals.
robert maxwell July 8, 2015 at 11:16am

i think a team in the nrl will snap up sandow cheaper, who, maybe the titans , i doubt that he will like a cold wet super league, no matter the money on offer, facts are we need sandow this year to help semi and our left side, if and it a big if parra beats the dogs we are a real chance to make a run at the 8..

infact parra should be there now but for injuries and the cap, semi missed 8 games with hes knee, nr paulo was out for 9 games both are vital to our team right now..
- Revo3010 > robert maxwell July 8, 2015 at 11:43am
  
  Great Post Sixties.
  
  As per the previous posts, for all the frustration that Sandow has given the fans over the last 4 years, now that it is getting towards the end of his time at Parra, the fans do wish him the best and in a funny way we will miss him, the good and the bad. That is Chrissy, it has taken us 4 years to accept that.
  
  In regards to what he can offer for the rest of the year, since that infamous interview and being dropped to Wenty he has come back a lot better and structured player. Yes his defence is still a major drawback, but his attack has been more structured and looks to create opportunities out wide instead of the random acts that mostly bombed out. His kicking game has improved and his goal kicking has been on song. Bad luck we didnt get this version of Sandow a couple of weeks before that interview we would have won a couple of those close losses.
  
  In his current form I believe he can drive the side towards a finals berth. his confidence is up and the whole team is following. Monday nights game was definitely not his or the teams best but they won and that is what we want to continue. I know the run can continue.
  
  Good luck Chrissy. I know you can do it.
  
  Go the Eels
This reply was deleted.
- EelLectric July 8, 2015 at 1:10pm
  
  The idea of Sandow being on the bench to be introduced at the back end of each half is one that I entertained too.... However, if the interchange is going to be stripped back to 8 next year, then all of sudden you need to use 3 out of 8 just to accommodate Sandow... 1 when he comes on with 10 to go in the first half, 2 when he goes back to the bench to start the 2nd half and then a 3rd when he comes on late in the game... I'm not sure if that's viable??? It leaves you with 5 interchanges across 80 minutes for the rest of your pack....
Prof. Daz July 8, 2015 at 11:37am

Sandow has yet to actually sign anywhere, right? I wonder what effect on Sandow's play his efforts to sign elsewhere will have? I think we can all agree that while he looks to get signed, he has incentives to play well. The trickier issue is what happens if he signs elsewhere sometime in the final 8 weeks? Sandow has shown that he can mentally check out of games. Now couple that tendency with a possible "I've moved on" and the further possibility of some animosity toward a club that cut him? It all adds up to typical Sandow, in fact! A 50/50 proposition of great or awful?
- sixtiesboy > Prof. Daz July 8, 2015 at 12:15pm
  
  I'm of the hope that his genuine love of playing footy would override any chance of the moving on factor to creep in. When you watch him play and train you can see his love of the game. The other blokes really do enjoy his presence but that of course doesn't bring about a win. It's that missing element of commitment to all of the necessary one percent plays and knowing when to keep it simple that contributes to the rocks part of his rocks or diamonds style. With so little time left in the season, I'm also hoping that seeing an end point will help him to focus.

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