In the last decade there have been 3 big years of expectation which turned into much less that what we had hoped.
2002 was supposed to be big after the great success of 2001. We scraped into the finals and bowed out after week 1.
2006 was the year that our mix of old heads and young stars were supposed to shine. Once again we scraped in and bowed out early.
2010 was supposed to be our best chance at a Premiership since 1986. 2009 finished with a bang and we recruited 3 big names to add to our already awesome team. Now we're out and the next 2 games will be about going through the motions until Mad Monday officially ends another season of disappointment.
To be honest, I am glad that it's over.
This year we never really got off the ground. We had some sensational performances mixed with some absolute rubbish. We had a couple of runs where we gained some impressive momentum and followed it up with passionless, inept performances. To make the finals this year really wouldn't have been just. It would say more about the rest of the teams in the competition than it would about how good we were. We showed last year that even a team coming into the finals in 8th place could go all the way but last year we ended the year with a wet sail and well and truly deserved to be one of the last 2 teams standing. Not so this year.
I realise that now is a time where people want to vent. Feel free to tell me that I know nothing and that my lack of faith cost us our spot in the finals. If it makes you feel better, go to town.
Once again we find ourselves thinking about what next year might hold.
I really hope that players like Anthony Mitchell and Justin Horo are signed up quick smart.
I don't really care if we buy the best number 7 still available. I think we have sufficient talent in Mortimer and Robson if the forwards are going forward and our playmakers are given space.
We'll certainly miss Mateo. He is going to be a superstar for the Warriors. Losing him will come back to bite us.
Unfortunately Captain Cayless never got to hold the trophy in October. He had 2 shots and we lost them both. Maybe Captain Hindy will have better luck next year.
Maybe.
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We love ya bro - we feel the pain and share the loss.
I agree we must sign our top troops quick smart to set the scene early in the peace for our next season to get back on track.
Again its an empty spring and long break till next season proper.
Keep the faith
Missing Mateo is a huge understatement and he will have a massive point to prove next year. I fear he will smack the living shit out of us when we play the Warriors. If you look at Eels Reels on the parra eels website last week and saw his post match interview, Feleti states he is a "parra boy through and through" & "I love the Eels". Not the words of a player who is really happy to go to another club. No salary cap issues on this one...
And was there any need for further motivation once we found out we lost a premiership to a bunch of cheaters. Instead of proving a point throughout the season we have played the year like a bunch of busted Rsoles. Brilliant one week, shithouse for the next 3. That game we played against Melbourne this year had Passion written all over it. I honestly thought it was a turning point for our season. It's a shame that it wasn't there all year against every other team.
We couldn't find that passion to play this year, like every game meant it was their season on the line. After all the crap that went down after losing the 09 grand final, finding out that Melbourne rorted us out it, knowing this is Cayless' final year, and knowing that for many of them they won't play together again, then I can't see how the hell the team is going to play for each other next year.
We need more than talent and recruitment. We need the team to find the grit, determination, and the will to play for 80 frigging minutes and grind a team to the ground if we are hopefully going to hold up the cup in 2011. Oh, and we need a playmaker that can put Hayne into some space instead of having him do it all.
I have not lost faith in my beloved Eels, but next year they have to prove it to all of us supporters that they are the real deal. More importantly, they need to prove it to themselves.
I think it was always going to be a tough ask to come back after last years rollercoaster and remain committed. One of the 3 big name signings needed to be a very good sports psychologist....
Something just doesn't seem right with the 'team' aspect of Parra-for whatever reason, united they just don't seem hungry enough.
For next year, well, surely Anthony Mitchell and Justin Horo have to be first priority, 2nd, working out how to stop Mateo :)
Our forwards are great and some of our backs can be good, we definitely have the best player in the game in Hayne but check this out;
6 = Morts / Robson / K Keating
7 = Morts / Robson / K Keating
9 = M Keating / Robson ? Mitchell at the end
How is our 6, 7 and 9 EASILY THE BEST in the comp?????
Our 6, 7 and 9 wouldn't even be the best in the NSW Cup and THAT MY FRIEND IS THE PROBLEM.
Why we continue to persist in spending BIGZ money on the wrong positions is beyond me.
We have to start with our 1,6,7 and 9 = ENGINE then build around that and until we do that WE WILL SADLY NOT WIN A PREMIERSHIP.
The only thing we have is our 1, Mitchell could be our 9 he has impressed in a few first grade games but the KEY 6 and 7 are unsettled and have been all year.
Morts can improve but we NEED a guy like Quade Cooper / Cooper Cronk next to him. Until we do we can't win it. 2009 was a FREAK RUN and a ONE OFF and that showed this year.
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