The Book of Albert

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felt sorry for the bloke making his debut for manly when manly playing like the u12's... Storms winger had a cracker debut but I guess anyone would playing with actual play makers lol
 
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Reactions: Kez
Would not have mattered if it was a young Izzy Falou or Inglis on debut in that Manly side....would have looked about as dangerous as young Hoppa.
No opportunity against a super strong Storm side again aided by some roll on calls, but in fairness you earn them when fighting to play the ball...not stare at the ref like a limp fish.
Hoppa will improve each game - the debut was ok in difficuly circumstances.
As an example if he was playing for Storm yesterday probabbly scores 2 tries and everyone raves his debut was great....frustrating to watch as only an early patch and the AFB try did Manly look dangerous....offered very little against a steely Storm defence....the early kick from Jake was also unlucky and thought Garrick could have taken it on the full...spilt milk now I guess....
 
The boy was on a hiding to nothing really, playing out of position and his first game against men. He tried hard but I do wish that our coach would play players in their correct positions because we got exposed defensively time and time again yesterday!
 
He went all right for a first up appearance and against a top notch outfit but ,just like Suli and other outside backs for many weeks now , is getting very limited chances in attack to benefit the side and show some ability . Doesn "t lack pace and defence looks up to scratch . Maybe swap with Funa at full back at some stages. if they are selected in similar positions next week .Must be some sort of a chance to be re signed if again Elliot moves on and he can absorb his cap money as well as his present deal , that is if he wishes to stay and he must have formed some rapport with the existing squad over a few years now to encourage him to stay..
 
I’m here.Just drove 300k to watch it actually.

Anyone who judges a kid on one game is an absolute fool.Against a fast red hot combination who has been smashing teams for months.I expected us to get flogged.
Same rubbish about Funa. Anyone who couldn’t see a future in that kid today despite some errors is similarly not watching.Kids make errors. That how they learn. Funa will play centre full time for us next year.

Souths 56 Manly 16 when Hoppa didn’t play last week against a weaker side.The side you suggested were easy beats and we would replace in the eight.

And now HEs a failure lol . 56 last week and we made a huge error playing him despite conceding 26 LESS points in what was still a very average performance.

It’s about the future. Youve been in here telling us for weeks we’ll win six straight with Garrick and co and Dessy providing a masterclass in coaching and make the eight with our easy draw.Hows that working out ?

That my friend is a far more ludicrous suggestion than giving a young bloke a crack in first grade.Hell get a lot better with experience , he’ll keep making errors as all kids do and this will be a very different conversation in twelve months.Lets revisit it then when anyone with a single idea about football would start to make an assessment . One f... ing game. Geez.

PS my first game live this year. I’m a DCE fan and have been for a long time but we have some serious issues with him. His head is not in the game despite his great skills. Albert is the least of our concerns.
Hes a FB that is playing centre... just like Funa effort with addons carr... centre playing FB and totally out of position...
Dumb selections out of position... may as well play jake at HB and put DCE into hooker...
Agree on all above Suze except the DCE bit. I think it’s clear he’s just over playing his hand due to lack of options around him. No doubt he’s frustrated which is understandable. He was first there to speak with Funa and Hoppa after those first two try’s which were right in front of where we were sitting. I think a lot of the boys are frustrated atm and Des too. Oh well on to Sat night v Tigers and I hope for sone more changes.
 
Hoppa looked unfit. His first run and tackle looked ok. He certainly isnt mentally reluctant
He did ok, no complaints considering, but he certainly didnt live up to the normal silvertail hype. But lets be honest silvertails history in star prediction is awful at best.
Change only works if there is a better solution

The last 12 months regarding cust would make a classic example of **** talking fickle fans. Coaches should not be fickle
 
Said this in another thread, seeing him live he looked shorter And wider than I was perhaps led to believe. He’ll get better although Olam did give him a bath yesterday. Olam is a power runner though. Hopefully no scars but it’s never good when a player scores a hatrick on you in your first game. With the state of our backs he’ll be there for the rest of the year I think. Was very clear the pace of the game was too much for him also but that’s nobody’s fault just reality of no lower grade footy so guys making debuts will just need to adjust. Will be the same for a lot of young guys now.
 
Tough ask first game for years so it's no shame....but he was totally out of his depth first up in every way. Too big an ask to throw someone in at the deep end and expect much. Fair enough. Let's see if there's any improvement over the next few weeks, there's plenty of spots to fill in that shambolic backline.
 
Funa looks built for a first grade centre, his front on hits were impressive. No where near the pace for a fullback. Albert looked slow and slow to react.
 
He was not ready for his debut...period!
And you coming back at me will be the least of my concern.
Your on a fan site dishing out an opinion, that’s all.
Less palatable ha ha, have a cup of cocoa and put yourself to bed legend


When I write something it is an opinion. I have a right to that opinion. You have a right to your opinion. I don't have to agree with your view but I respect that it is a conclusion you have come to. Fine. I will take note of what you say and in fact I'm quite happy to have others who have an alternative point of view. That's how you learn. I don't have to agree with it, but I respect it because you come from a different perspective. I take note of that because that is the purpose of debate to see other points of view. Some I may accept, some I don't, but that doesnt mean I reject you or the value in what you say. That's natural. But am I right? There are no rights and wrongs, only perspectives. There are no ultimate truths. One man's fish is another mans poisson (which if you know French means fish).

Where I object to your manner of expressing your opinion, your perspective, is its done in a judgemental manner, suggesting you know better than me. When you have to attack the author of a comment you are trying to place yourself in a superior position. That's quite inappropriate in debating and quite frankly it doesn't demean me, it demeans you. I'm sure the majority on this site would agree.

Have your opinion and I will debate it. That's fine. If I give an opinion and you don't agree, stick to the subject and place your arguments. The moment you demean the author, you're crossing the line. That's something you leave behind in the school yard, something seeking to bully through your opinion.
 
The boy was on a hiding to nothing really, playing out of position and his first game against men. He tried hard but I do wish that our coach would play players in their correct positions because we got exposed defensively time and time again yesterday!

Saying he is playing out of position is a complete cop out.

Playing fullback is one of the premier positions to play. All the good fullbacks can play centre easily - Turbo and Whighton are 2 examples.
There is no way possible Hoppa could have played fullback yesterday. Jorge was faster than him.

If he is to play for Manly, he better get used to playing centre or wing as he is not in the same postcode of Tommy.

Given more matchs and match condition, hopefully the kid gets fit and can show us all his speed and tenacity.
 
Saying he is playing out of position is a complete cop out.

Playing fullback is one of the premier positions to play. All the good fullbacks can play centre easily - Turbo and Whighton are 2 examples.
There is no way possible Hoppa could have played fullback yesterday. Jorge was faster than him.

If he is to play for Manly, he better get used to playing centre or wing as he is not in the same postcode of Tommy.

Given more matchs and match condition, hopefully the kid gets fit and can show us all his speed and tenacity.
2 ACLs beg to differ ;)
 
I'm just happy Des waited till now to play him despite the infinite wisdom of Silvertails. It was clear the reason Des hasn't played him or the other youngsters so far this year and has nothing to do with speed or skill, it has everything to do with no lower grade footy to get match fit.
It may a boring reason and may not be what everyone wants to hear but it's a bloody good reason.
 
I'm just happy Des waited till now to play him despite the infinite wisdom of Silvertails. It was clear the reason Des hasn't played him or the other youngsters so far this year and has nothing to do with speed or skill, it has everything to do with no lower grade footy to get match fit.
It may a boring reason and may not be what everyone wants to hear but it's a bloody good reason.
OK. Fair enough point.
So how do you explain the stellar performance of the Storm's debutant winger?
 
He went all right for a first up appearance and against a top notch outfit but ,just like Suli and other outside backs for many weeks now , is getting very limited chances in attack to benefit the side and show some ability . Doesn "t lack pace and defence looks up to scratch . Maybe swap with Funa at full back at some stages. if they are selected in similar positions next week .Must be some sort of a chance to be re signed if again Elliot moves on and he can absorb his cap money as well as his present deal , that is if he wishes to stay and he must have formed some rapport with the existing squad over a few years now to encourage him to stay..
I agree that Hopoate went quite well in view of the very difficult circumstances he faced. He will benefit immensely from that experience and his fitness levels will also be boosted. Hope he stays in the side from now on.
 
Saying he is playing out of position is a complete cop out.

Playing fullback is one of the premier positions to play. All the good fullbacks can play centre easily - Turbo and Whighton are 2 examples.
There is no way possible Hoppa could have played fullback yesterday. Jorge was faster than him.

If he is to play for Manly, he better get used to playing centre or wing as he is not in the same postcode of Tommy.

Given more matchs and match condition, hopefully the kid gets fit and can show us all his speed and tenacity.
The boy is a specialist full back, Funa is a better centre, so the question is why were these 2 players not playing in their natural positions??
 
The boy is a specialist full back, Funa is a better centre, so the question is why were these 2 players not playing in their natural positions??
I think it's been outlined elsewhere. As I understand it, the concerns were around Hoppa's lack of match fitness. It made sense on that level to play him at centre. I hope we swap Funa and himself around at some stage in the next game or two. Perhaps he may need at least one more, possibly two games before we can shift him to FB with more confidence in his ability to meet the fitness demands of the position?
 

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