The Turning Point For The Season?

At this moment, the club that we are all passionate about is facing an enormous challenge. With boardroom challenges dominating the headlines during the previous fortnight, the focus shifted away from the football team. That was until the sub-standard performance of the team on Mothers' Day.Since the final whistle was blown on Sunday night, questionable player conduct and selection decisions have become the focus of media attention.Without doubt, players with a history of poor decisions seem to have that happy knack of finding ways to jeopardise their own careers. The NRL has more than their fair share of players who have a history of multiple incidents. Now, two of my favourite players (Sandow and Edwards) have seemingly added to their journal of mistakes.As fans, we have zero say in what disciplinary action a club will take. Has Sandow's car incident been the catalyst for his demotion or was it form related? Early indications on 1eyed eel regarding Edwards and Pritchard are of polarised fan opinions. There have been calls for sackings and calls for retention.For mine, discipline cannot be avoided. To just slap on the wrist is to condone players who are "cheating" in house tests from the club that provides them with a livelihood. Where is the respect for the club from those players?However, to release players, especially someone like Edwards, would be to "gift" them to another club and to potentially weaken the roster. We didn't see Manly release Jorge Taufua, a player with history, after his altercation with Loko. Successful clubs find a way of keeping players (until such time as the players leave them with no choice).These decisions cannot be rushed.Nonetheless, these three players have added to the heat that has been placed on the playing roster for the round 10 clash with the Warriors.This round has become season defining. Brad Arthur has signalled the importance of the match by dropping two of the mainstays of his team (Paulo and Sandow). Questions have been raised about the selection of Kelly. Those questions about selections will only get louder if the players produce another lacklustre effort.It all boils down to this week - the potential turning point of our season. Can the players fire up? Will they turn up for themselves, the club, their coach, the fans? Will they set in motion the blueprint for the rest of the season?As fans, we'd like to believe that they will.

I'm totally over it at present.

We had a bit of a clean out a couple of years ago but i think we need one again, get a broom and sweep it right through and blood some rookies.

I'm sorry but we have changed coaches 3 times and nothing has changed it's time to look at the squad and get some winners. There are too many still left from the SK/RS years and they all need to be moved on and replaced with Experienced winners (like Watmough, Foran and Scott) and blend with some local juniors, rookies yet to taste first grade.

We don't have the luxury of blooding them in a good team that wins more than it loses, but it will sort out who can cut it and who can't very quickly.

I fear for the next couple of years if we don't do something ASAP.

It's fine to have Foran and Scott coming next year but with what we have around them it won't improve much.

"What I take away from that game is that the Eels spent the entire off-season learning how to completely forget how to play a first grade standard of football, and the evidence is the Eels' diabolically bad second half.
E = Error by Eels, RI = Ruck…"

Replies

Mitchy May 14, 2015 at 9:30am

60's here I am at work, and I feel compelled to read this from you mate, and ocne again you written this so eloquently and to the point. I think Edwards has made a terrible call and Pritchard? well what do you say about that? Sleeping tablet? yeah right. I think they should serve their time and then BA will make the right call.

I find the NRL hypocritical though 60's as Cronulla got off lightly to say the least over the ASADA issue, and Edwards deserves his penalty don't get me wrong and Pritchard to; but what does this say about the NRL and the Cronulla sharks fiasco, they admit guilt and the NRL gives them backdated suspension...that is where the NRL loses me.

BA will suffice IMO and Kelly may not be flash, but he is playing for a contract too I imagine. I don't know if we will win, but if the team does not put in a very good effort, I will be disappointed again. We have to improve. Sandow and the car issue surely played on his mind last Sunday, but he has to go IMO. Pritchard should be wiped too.
macybrown May 14, 2015 at 9:37am

Two of my favorites also. Just sad really.

If anyone has seen the hard work that the coach and staff have put in it's you Sixties and now these moments of madness.

To me, it would not make sense that we would let Kenny go for repeated misconduct and ( if in fact reports are correct) that we are chasing Carney. Think that would be a bit hypocritical.
- sixtiesboy > macybrown May 14, 2015 at 10:33am
  
  I can't speak highly enough about the efforts at training. It only takes a couple of players not carrying it into the match for things to go wrong. It's up to everyone in the team this week to follow the game plan. A couple of blokes are paying the price for not doing so.
- Bup > macybrown May 14, 2015 at 9:04pm
  
  Do they spend longer than 5 minutes a week practising their kick chase 60's. Do they practice their general play kicking in opposed sessions. Is it just as bad at training or do we save our worst just for game day?
PM www.sportfirstnambucca.com.au May 14, 2015 at 9:41am

I'm totally over it at present.

We had a bit of a clean out a couple of years ago but i think we need one again, get a broom and sweep it right through and blood some rookies.

I'm sorry but we have changed coaches 3 times and nothing has changed it's time to look at the squad and get some winners. There are too many still left from the SK/RS years and they all need to be moved on and replaced with Experienced winners (like Watmough, Foran and Scott) and blend with some local juniors, rookies yet to taste first grade.

We don't have the luxury of blooding them in a good team that wins more than it loses, but it will sort out who can cut it and who can't very quickly.

I fear for the next couple of years if we don't do something ASAP.

It's fine to have Foran and Scott coming next year but with what we have around them it won't improve much.
- sixtiesboy > PM www.sportfirstnambucca.com.au May 14, 2015 at 10:17am
  
  if players are coming, it means players must be moved on. We only have to do the Maths.
CP May 14, 2015 at 9:51am

I agree, players need to respect the club. Pretty sure Edwards is on peanuts.
CP May 14, 2015 at 9:53am

Wish Edwards would pull his head in. Such a strong ball runner and has a great pass. I was looking forward to see him play.
Viking Trump May 14, 2015 at 9:55am

I don't feel the current squad has the heart and grit to want to win against all odds. I hoped that Watmough might bring some of this mentality with him but he has been overcomed by our losing mentality.
- Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" > Viking Trump May 14, 2015 at 12:23pm
  
  That statement has summed it perfectly Jelly.

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