This blog is to all the haters out there —- we all know the three or four that you are, and honestly that’s all there are but they hold such prominence and frequency —-first to jump in the lynch mob and last or never to acknowledge the wins. I’m not a unicorn by any stretch but the unicorns copped all the vitriol from you lot last year - team wise and personally. I really don’t care what agenda you hold or who f***n know at the club or sit in boxes with.
The facts are that we are 3/4 this year and put in a good performance against the roosters. Yes they have been a few depleted sides but as any good coach will tell you it takes skill and luck.
Hiw about for a change we have as many congratulatory blogs as critical blogs as we are doing well
i guarantee you the bag ba brigade would have posted twice as many of we were 1 and 3
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We’re doing well! Last year was a wasted year full of BA mistakes he’s seemed to learn from in some ways . There’s still a long way to go and i’m hoping we get better from week to week. There isn’t much difference between teams say 4- 14 in this comp but we’ve made a strong start and need to learn from past mistakes .
Hopefelly we get on top of our recruitment . BA shopped Moses and M Jennings in the offseason and they have been 2 of our best . Would’ve been a disaster to let them go .
Girth Wind & Fire : Good point about Arthur shopping Moses and Jennings in the offseason. He has had more than his share of luck. As to why the improvement, if it is an improvement, in some players and the team as a whole I think the review held late last year has played its part. Perhaps they are responding to the message given. The improvement in Evans is noticeable. Last year he was dreadful. This year he is holding his spot in the seventeen. Last night the Fox team mentioned him favorably at the half time.
I must say that the three wins achieved have been won wearing the striped jersey heavenly bagged by many here. Early days yet though.
It was nice, if rare, to see the photo of the team after winning the John Manner cup. They were all there all with smiles and some with their babes in arms--all the kids with their Eels strip on. One little bloke at the front was not interested in the photographer, he had his hand in the John Manner cup looking for god knows what! No official was in the photo which was appropriate---the players won the cup not officials.
Mitchell Moses was interviewed as he came off the field. He said it was the first time that they had played 80 minutes. I think Mitchell was referring to last year as well as the game last night. I thought that Cronulla was coming to get the Eels but as MM said they played the eighty minutes for the win.
The Eels face an acid test down in the Nations Capital next week Historically they have rarely won down there. The Raiders are in top form at the moment. There is a good example of how much coaches are overblown. The Raiders were going poorly at the start of this year. They then lost there half injured. Ricky had no option but to bring in his 2nd grade half--Sam Williams who has been everywhere including England and is now looking to be in the veteran class. Since his inclusion, the Raiders have not lost a game! Why could not the coach see that from the beginning? He would know everything about those two halves. He would be in their pockets 6 days of the week yet he was selecting the wrong guy!? So much for the amateurs who go and watch the training then spruke on about it as if they knew what they were talking about. If the coach can`t do it how can they?
I hope that the Eels win against the Raiders so that they go into the next game, opening the new stadium, with a winning record.
Good point Robert.
Moses: "the first time [we] played 80 minutes."
Shows that our mental toughness, confidence and courage, along with fitness, has really improved this year.
Mate, I could not be prouder. Jack Gibson would be applauding us for our efforts.
Hi BB,
I feel proud of our courage. And spirit. Of the team. BA. And the coaching team. May we build on it. Culturally.
BA should be applauded for what has happened so far in 2019. I like BA, and always have, but I doubted BA's ability to grow as much as he has after 2018. And I was wrong so far. Happily wrong. And that warms my heart.
But some fans won't ever change their dislike or views of him. Or give him credit because it takes away the reward.
I will try to avoid being negative about negativity.
But it's part of human nature. Negativity and positivity co-exist. Conflict and disagreement is inevitable. Often, negativity is more effective in getting a reaction, dominating, creating gangs and stirring the fires in everyone's bellies.
Just one thing worries me; far more:
If this site sterlises negativity, rightish views, say of some of the long-time posters, it will back fire. And there are symptoms that is happening. I hope I'm wrong.
Great post HOE.
"And I was wrong. Happily wrong. And that warms my heart."
That is a quote for the masses. The beauty of it all is that despite the hell that was 2018 the punters have all backed up to charge out of the trenches in hope again. No guarantees of victory and a very real chance of yet another slaughter but we all still turned up for more.
Every Parra supporter has a right to bask in the warmth of victory. Plenty of us thought BA was done but that doesn't mean we weren't all praying for success. I couldn't be happier for the bloke, the supporters, or the club.
Cheers mate :)
Hey Krams, Thanks for the reply buddy and kind words. We see eye to eye on many things.
You're right: "Plenty thought BA was done", maybe 95%.
Plenty thought, including myself, we didn't have the players to get into the finals. I couldn't be prouder of the spirit shown by the players.
Let's hope we stay wrong haha.
If we get into the finals it would be a rare feat that the majority of teams in 100 years have failed to do.
Let's hope we continue to build on this. Stay well mate.
Coryn Hughes, Thanks mate.
Agree. We are looking much fitter this year and playing with more energy.
We seem to have toughened up more, between the ears too. We haven't cracked as much as what we used to.
Only the Roosters managed to crack us - but we came back from that. We got back up and on the bike.
Jack Gibson would be proud.
As fans we couldn't ask for more.
Mate, you good leadership: You showed good vision and an independant mind to keep focused on the mountain "in the horizon" and not get distracted by the noise and negativity.
Stay well buddy.
My view is the win was even more impressive because defensively Cronulla were off side a lot of the game.
Salmon is a tough player. Held some passes when under a lot of pressure and made effective tackles.
Well, it's human nature to vent when things aren't going your way and to get on with life, without bragging, when things don't..
This blog is no way near as active when we win. Gets a little boring to be honest.
Still, I'd prefer a win any day.
Great start! BA can coach! Where are all the haters!!
we will be competitive under BA and his team of coaches got the boys firing!they are fit strong discipline and consistent with their footy!
Good defense last night stayed in the game the 80 minutes.
I know we say it every year but what I’m seeing now this first 4 games, they look like they had hardest pre-season from hell!! To be able to stay in games consistent defend the way they did! And stay disciplined...... best thing that has happened no Norman, Hayne!!!!!
Go eels!!!
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