What I find difficult to believe is the speed to which the team has gelled, esp in attack.
Other years we've had 1 maybe 2 playmakers and now we have 4, but instead of getting in each others way, they just compliment each other. The lines run in attack and the passing is nothing like the last two years.
Arthur and his team take a bow, you have pulled this all together in 12 rounds.
The scary thing is, you can see there is still a lot of improvement and they are getting better most weeks.
The defense has improved as well, even if its not by the same amount. But the boys are playing for each other and moving up in defence.
I honestly thought this year would be an improvement, but thought it would take 1/2 the season for the players to get used to each others style and then we'd start winning a few games.
We're even seeing the players who were our best over the past few year pale compared to players standards this year.
Now to work on away games.
To the boys, well done, your making an old Parra fan smile again.
To Brad and his coaching team, God bless you.
Oh, and to Sharpie, you're like the Gower of the back of house, turn up, get smashed, but still doing a great job. Well done.
I sit proudly upon my Unicorn, with a silly grin on my dial.
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Great blog mate - you encapsulated my thoughts exactly!! - So great to look forward to the footy each week now.
A portrait of me.
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Precisely. Simply put, this is a well coached side.
The 2014 Eels are not a poor carbon copy of another side, they are a team that plays to it's own playing roster's strengths. They get into position quickly in attack and run some really terrific lines, with purpose. The way they have dismantled an organised defensive line week in and week out is a testament to BA and his staff as much as it is to the players.
This is a very good football side.
The only glaring weakness is the lack of an old head in a decision making role. When the game is on the line we still make some very dumb, inexperienced decisions. Maybe DeGois will bring that to the side and enable us to really put our foot on the throat of the opposition when it's required to close out a match. If he could do that, who knows how far this team could go this year?
Well said Unicorn Rider. Could not have said it any better.
Had picked us to finish 9th or 10th this year & if we got lucky, scrap into 8th position. Now I am happily re-evaluating my prediction.
Joey complimented the side on how in synch they looked in attack and how well coached we looked. You couldn't say that about Parra since the Brian Smith days. Even in 09 i suppose you could of praised Ando but it was hot potato high risk footy.