There is something that I have noticed a lot about the Eels and when they're playing well compared to when they aren't. Souths demonstrated perfectly what a "TEAM" that is playing well does compared to the Eels when they aren't.
The difference is when Souths are attacking, they move up in numbers and almost never have one out. This is what the Eels also do when they're playing well but haven't been doing that lately. I know this has a lot to do with confidence and I have mentioned this numerous times. The Eels should regularly watch the '09' highlights as it perfectly shows what moving in numbers does as it keeps the defence guessing and there is always someone to offload to.
The Eels are way to often running one out plays settling up for the next play rather than playing what's in front of them and pressuring the defence.
Souths absolutely demolished the Dogs with second phase plays/offloads which is what the Eels do best when they're on. I agree with BA when he says you have to first earn the right to offload but you also have to have players pushing up in attack for the possibility of it.
lastly, the Eels need to vary up the constant running sideways back plays. Good defensive teams read that way to easily and either shut it down or run you over the sidelines. That only works on poor defensive teams. When the Eels are running those plays against good defensive structures they need to have players turning inside/pushing up on the inside. That's where the Roosters killed the Eels. Sivo running inside against the play would be devastating if used appropriately but too often he just gets bundled over the sideline because good sliding defence just slide in numbers knowing the Eels will continue going sideways pushing towards the sideline.
When the Eels are on, they push up in numbers both defence and attack, look for offloads and turn the ball inside or at least have decoy runners which keeps the defence guessing. At the moment the Eels are way to predictable with one out and sideways plays. The best teams like Souths, Roosters, Storm and the Sharks are regularly doing that and is why they score so many points.
Once the Eels get Junior, Reg, Lane and Matto all playing and getting us on the front foot, they need to be pushing up in numbers, looking for the offloads and running inside plays.
Predictable is exactly that and can easily be defended by good defensive structures. Unpredictable, second phase plays/offloads and inside lines cannot. This is what will win us games. That and good defence.
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It might change now that Lane is back/ Matto is back, Simonsson is out, Waqa is gone, and Hodgson is interchanged at the right time.
Our cohesion and timing during set plays and attacking raids has been atrocious at times.
Hopefully the change in personel and positions, improves it.
If the Eels can get on the front foot and attack broken retreating defence, that opens up players like Lane, Matto and Carty to go looking for the offloads. Then all the Eels need is Gutho, Moses, Dyl and Penisini pushing up and try's will come in numbers.
The Eels still need some work on their defence but that's more a trust thing for them than a structural issue.
There isn't a better second phase play team than the Eels when they're on.
Agreed abt the pushing up with the ball in hand: numbers in play is vital; and also having your fullback there too would also be helpful.
The Eels are too structured in their attack. Maybe they are told and taught that way that they lose their creativeness in attack and don't play what is in front of them. Just like what Sivo had done 3x already this year, the play broke and he continued to still try to score and kick the ball instead of taking the tackle. So as with Waqa, he kept pushing the passing even if he sees Sivo is near the touch line & defenders ready to put him in touch. Too structured, never did they try to improvise or adjust to what had the defence had done. Short in IQ footy or been told to play the structured game ?
Agreed, there is not much out the box creativity. I think that is why they are allegedly looking for some X-factor but break up the obvious plays they constantly run.
The thing I liked about Souths and what we don't do enough is hammer a weakness. Additionally carr came off and they just kept going down that side.