Proof required by Round 4

[bazeagle]

Enough of all the speculation.....
Proof is needed by Round 4:
- That Barrett can coach and give the players a game plan they agree on and play to and we win and win well as is the Manly tradition
- That Bozo is actually a recruitment genius
- That the Board can function in the best interests of the club, players and fans
- That our new ex-Headmaster CEO can actually do the job
- That we have enough power/skill/experience in the forwards to compete
- That our new raw backline combos can gel/lift to replace mega retiring legends - we know who they are

I say by Round 4 - that's when the above needs to be very very clear - either it's happy days and we are winning and playing with confidence or it must be then time to make drastic and immediate sweeping changes before the rot sets in fully

 

[tookey]

What is the alternative? Scott Fulton coaching round 5?

 

[Loobs]

I'd say the only certainty is that they will do what they want, whenever they want and we are just along for the ride.

 

[sheridanstand78]

With our draw stacked with early home games it is crucial we start well. I suspect it will be a trying season for the club. Again, so many changes. players leaving off the cuff. No continuity and our questionable depth it will be a be a huge task.

I think we are going to find out if Barrett can cut it as a coach. I hope things go well and regardless of our thoughts the owners are not going to change their way of running the club. It is just so sad that they choose to isolate some people rather than unite everyone.

 

[TimmyQ]

Enough of all the speculation.....
Proof is needed by Round 4:
- That Barrett can coach and give the players a game plan they agree on and play to and we win and win well as is the Manly tradition
- That Bozo is actually a recruitment genius
- That the Board can function in the best interests of the club, players and fans
- That our new ex-Headmaster CEO can actually do the job
- That we have enough power/skill/experience in the forwards to compete
- That our new raw backline combos can gel/lift to replace mega retiring legends - we know who they are

I say by Round 4 - that's when the above needs to be very very clear - either it's happy days and we are winning and playing with confidence or it must be then time to make drastic and immediate sweeping changes before the rot sets in fully

Yup agreed..the thing that irked me was all year I could never work out what type of team we were meant to be and what style of game we were supposedly playing. We just looked like a completely rudderless ship of individuals trying hard but with zero cohesion. Yes u can blame injuries etc but the gun teams have structures/systems in place and when a few men go down the machine still runs smoothly. Everyone knows their role and it works..eg Storm Last year there was either A. NO buy in from the players or B. The players had no idea how the coach wanted them to play. Either scenario isn't good and hints at communication breakdown between coach and players. That's a major thing I would like to see improvement in in 2017.

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

What is the alternative? Scott Fulton coaching round 5?

No - Ivan Cleary!

 

[WESTIE]

With so many new faces and a heap of home games early the pressure is definitely on....there willbbe the excuse of players needing to gel....closest comp in years...long season no need to panic....players aretrying theit hardest...coachhappy with their efforts blah blah...IMO.Some of these signings and inability to land a big one suggests 2017 will be a repeat of 2016 but with less injuries...9th to 12th finish...blake green to improve the team but not enough to get us to the semis..still cant believe there is nothing official re stewart and matai...feels like management have hit the pause button as far as a full on assault on the premiesrship is concerned...oh...and if a fulton takes over as coach after Barrett ill take break from supporting actively for a while...

 

[pjayz]

Yes but thos

Yup agreed..the thing that irked me was all year I could never work out what type of team we were meant to be and what style of game we were supposedly playing. We just looked like a completely rudderless ship of individuals trying hard but with zero cohesion. Yes u can blame injuries etc but the gun teams have structures/systems in place and when a few men go down the machine still runs smoothly. Everyone knows their role and it works..eg Storm Last year there was either A. NO buy in from the players or B. The players had no idea how the coach wanted them to play. Either scenario isn't good and hints at communication breakdown between coach and players. That's a major thing I would like to see improvement in in 2017.

Yes; however, those structures have been in place for years in Melbourne. That doesn't come together in one season after a massive turnover of players, coaches, support staff, injuries and the worst draw.

As you say, we should have a better understanding this year now that Barrett has a year under his belt and 75% of the team are known to each other.

 

[lillchip]

Excellent post. Agree on all points.

Two years out of the finals is two too many for Manly.

 

[conanu]

My prediction is that the excuse this year will be: "Fans need to be patient, the gelling of new players and combinations takes time. You cant replace Matai, Stewart and Lyon and get results immediately" They will use this ad nauseam, even though these players missed most of last season and we could have been blooding blokes last year.

 

[Woodsie]

My prediction is that the excuse this year will be: "Fans need to be patient, the gelling of new players and combinations takes time. You cant replace Matai, Stewart and Lyon and get results immediately" They will use this ad nauseam, even though these players missed most of last season and we could have been blooding blokes last year.

Blood who?

 

[conanu]

Dylan Walker at centre for one.

 

[conanu]

Blood who?

Lyon could have played 5/8 from round 1 and we could have played Walker and whoever else we had available at centre. But we mucked around for the whole season with this area and got zero out of it. 5/8 was always going to be replaced at years end so we would have lost nothing playing Lyon there, now instead of at least having Dylan Walker comfortable at centre we will have 2 blokes finding their way for 3/4 of 2017.

 

[bazeagle]

My prediction is that the excuse this year will be: "Fans need to be patient, the gelling of new players and combinations takes time. You cant replace Matai, Stewart and Lyon and get results immediately" They will use this ad nauseam, even though these players missed most of last season and we could have been blooding blokes last year.

The propaganda cliche responses won't wash. Manly fans want, deserve and will demand wins and success on the pitch. We aren't stupid and it was clear the players weren't trained properly and the game plan if any, was pretty random. If it's about bringing in Ivan Cleary then do it and do it swiftly.

 

[Woodsie]

Lyon could have played 5/8 from round 1 and we could have played Walker and whoever else we had available at centre. But we mucked around for the whole season with this area and got zero out of it.

thanks scoop.

 

[conanu]

**** off idiot you are no better.

 

[Fluffy]

If we let the opposition score 1 points in the trials or round 1 we should sack everyone including the fans and have round 2 played without a single fan.

ok I am a big old softy, let 1 fan come in and run an auction on it - think of the money we could pull in? Jacko might cough up $1M

 

[conanu]

Here we go. The "Encouragement Award" brigade have frowned upon us for our questioning of the clubs logic. If you lot want to give out trophies for coming last then that is your prerogative, please just stop telling the rest of us how we should be thinking.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Here we go. The "Encouragement Award" brigade have frowned upon us for our questioning of the clubs logic. If you lot want to give out trophies for coming last then that is your prerogative, please just stop telling the rest of us how we should be thinking.

You should be thinking with clarity, logic, and a modicum of understanding of the game of rugby league. And I really don't understand why you are not.

 

[Narrabeen Laker]

3 and 1 after 4 is what I'm predicting