Team for Monday announced

[DailyTerrorgraphHater]

The two captain caper is starting to get wierd. Couldn't they just stick it against Lyon for all the on-field action. Does Manly have to have special clauses added to the team sheet so the whistle-blower geniuses can comprehend it? Both Lyon and King will be at the after game press conference and King will do most of the talking, but THE captain is Killer.

leadership groups are teh suq

 

[inside pass]

I'm a realist by nature (some might say pessimist) but I think that we are in with an excellent chance of beating the Tigers. In fact I'm very confident. Lets run through the teams as named:

Stewart v. Moltzen - Stewart
Robertson v. Tuqiri - Robertson at this stage. He is a seasoned NRL player, Tuqiri is starting afresh
T Williams v. Ayshford - reluctantly Ayshford. But if Williams is fully fit and has some speed back, that might change (remember he was dogged by a dodgy hamstring last year)
Matai v. Lawrence - Lawrence (but one good hit from Matai....)
D Williams v. Ryan - Williams
Lyon v. Marshall - I would rather have Lyon than Marshall. He is a more complete player
Lui v. Foran - Foran. He is an international. What's Lui done?
Stewart v. Heighington - Stewart
Ellis v. Bailey - Ellis
Watmough v. Fulton - please
Perry v. Galloway - Galloway, although if Perry gets his 2008 form back, he is better
Balin v. Farah - Farah
King v. Gibbs - King

Bench
Kite v. Cayless - Kite
Seu Seu v. Moors - tie, only because I can't place Moors
Rose v. Flanagan - Rose
Rodney v. Fitzhenry - I'll give it to Fitzhenry so I don't appear too biased.

So there you go. I am of the opinion that we are marginally better across the paddock, in raw numbers 10 v. 6 with one tie. Of course, those ratings are  subjective, and others may disagree. Also, that is not necessarily how they will face up on the park, rather its just a straight comparison as per the paper. Combinations will also play a part. But geez, to suggest we're no hope, I think that's stretching it.

And while I don't think Hasler is necessarily the Messiah, he does have a fair idea about how to run a footy side. I'll back his judgement over some of you.

Feel free to let rip if you need to.  




i think thats a pretty good player v player
your right, think ill back dessies judgement too

 

[Bradza]

For Mata and Ryan the glass isn't half empty, it's a 10 year freaking drought.

It'll be interesting to compare to the discussion on Tuesday after we've seen the reality as opposed to some of the worst case scenarios mentioned here.

For some of the newer posters on this forum don't go and cut your throats just yet. This site alternates between pessimism and realism which in the long run is probably healthier than the rose coloured glasses approach.

 

[Fro]

It's Wednesday, the games Monday, how many times did Dessie do a late shuffle

 

[Crusher_Cleal]

I'm worried about our kickng game. Lyon will have a big target on his chest. We always struggle when our kicking game is being pressured.

 

[Cameron]

Whilst it is not the team I would chosen I am not going to write them off without seeing them play.  At the moment I am just happy the season is starting this weekend. 

great post garts
people on here a very quick to bag the selections made from a bloke who re built our club from the ****house up

 

[Jatz Crackers]

williams off bench as impact runner or lying on noosa beach.

Please dont send him up here. We have enough prehistoric creatures up this way as it is.

 

[Pepi]

I cant understand the Bailey hate. Sure he isn't a great player but he makes a lot of tackles, and can pop a ball away in traffic. Watch Stewart hover around waiting for an offload.

Scored a few tries running over the top of opposition close to the line last year as well.

 

[lsz]

Just a thought re the half back situation

Early season footy is all about limiting your mistakes i.e. The teams that play mistake free footy get on a roll

Could this be the reason Des has gone for the conservative approach?

Or am I just being a glass half full kind of guy

 

[Bradza]

I think Bailey went just ok last year but he has a lot of improvement in him. Early indicatons re that he is going to be fighting it out for the Silvertails 2010 most bashed award with Tony W. ;D

 

[Ryan]

I think Bailey went just ok last year but he has a lot of improvement in him. Early indicatons re that he is going to be fighting it out for the Silvertails 2010 most bashed award with Tony W. ;D

Sup Bradza. Please note I have stated clearly that I'm more than happy with EVERY other player (even Williams). I don't think that is a drought?

You yourself suggested Bailey did "just ok" last year.

That doesn't cut it in a team with this much depth. 

 

[DSM5]

Who in the Tigers camp is going to pressure Lyon?  If it happens, Lyon is a complete footballer and will handle it.  I think in years to come we will all look back and put him up there with our best.  We have a better team, better disciplined and more skillfull all over the park.  Ayshford?  who's he?  Look, as I've said before, Orford robbed us of a win against this side last year when they had everything to play for and we were struggling.  Keep the faith and we'll beat this mob of seat-of-the-pants players easily.  We will dominate in the forwards and close them down in the backs.  Choc running wide all night, Stewart chiming in, masterful.

 

[Zep]

Forza can't also put foot to ball?!

 

[Matabele]

im not negative about year,just worried early on.i know the plan is to have hodkinson play eventually  but why wait.

work this out.

parra pick mortimer.turns out to be the next big thing and leads them to GF from last with a reserve grade halfback from manly by his side.

we have no specialist half or 5/8 and the bloke who was rated better than mortimer 18 months years ago plays on the sunshine coast this week.

the decision to not pick him has many consequences:

-forces us to pick williams in centres which is not his best position
-makes lyon the one and only real kicking option
-clubs best kicker doesnt play in an era of field position and new down town rules
-forces one of the worlds best centres to 5/8.he can do it but he is certian to be a sole target like orford

AND most importantly makes hodkinson ripe for the picking as i am pretty sure he is off contract next year.with no limit now on talking to players he may be signed within a couple of months.halves are very hard to find.have a look at some first grade halves this year;some are absolute plodders(canberra,cronulla,penrith for eg).would be sad to lose him without knowing how good he is(or isnt).i think you will see just how sad it is losing a young player  with waera hargreaves going round for easts this year.club couldnt do anything about him leaving but they can in this case.

dont like it at all but if there is one bloke i know who will give it a great crack it is kieran foran.

next season onwards i see

13 foran(he is another dallas johnson plus far better in attack)
7.hodkinson
6.lyon
3.whare
4.matai/hopoate

williams off bench as impact runner or lying on noosa beach.

You may recall just how long we were howling for Brett Stewart to get a run in 2004, and to move Andrew Walker away from fullback and closer to the action to replace Jye Mullane?  We're dealing with Mr Risk averse here, he'll only give Hodgkinson a run if we're competing for the wooden spoon, mid season and we're decimated by injuries.  Meanwhile we're as unbalanced as we were back then.

 

[Cameron]

  We're dealing with Mr Risk averse here, he'll only give Hodgkinson a run if we're competing for the wooden spoon, mid season and we're decimated by injuries.  Meanwhile we're as unbalanced as we were back then.

I think u mean we are dealing
With Mr Record Grand final winning Coach
ill take his opinion over anyone on heres any day thanks

 

[Matabele]

Good for you.  He's not perfect you know.

 

[Guest]

Good for you.  He's not perfect you know.

No but he would be if he read this site and took notice of what is said.  ;D 

 

[TokyoEagle]

The team looks quite reasonable to me.  Sure I'd prefer Hodkinson to Foran at half, but I'm comfortable with what's going to run out.  The centres are a worry, but maybe they've been working hard in the off season and I'm not so down on Bailey as most.  He's reasonable solid defensively and can run forward with the ball.  Why is the pessimism so strong this early in the season?  Williams should be given a go to show what was missing last season at least.  Manly by 12. 

Pessimism is good IMO, we are all usually too confident at the beginning of the season.

 

[DSM5]

Tokyo I don't mind a bit of pessimism, but there seems to be overloads of it here, and so early in the season as well.  It's not like the Tigers are Parra or the Storm.  We can beat those teams mind, but getting over the Tigers I don't see as a huge ask.  Some posters see us standing still while Tigers players run past and score at will.  Our team is competitive, well coached, and this year has an international player at half and 5/8th.  Apart from Marshall and Farah, the Tigers offer little in the way of attack as far as I can see.  I think a win for us is there.           

 

[Bradza]

You yourself suggested Bailey did \"just ok\" last year.
That doesn't cut it in a team with this much depth. 

Hey Ryan,
If "just ok" last year was the criteria for places in the 2010 team then we'd only field about 7 players and Bailey would be one of them.

Keen to see the team run around on Monday night and then praise or blast the players and coach based on current performance.