What's exciting and what's a concern for season ahead ?

[Technical Coach]

There needs to be a big improvement in power, line speed, intimidation factor through the middle that can be sustained for longer than 5-10min spells to break down the opposition.

Too many changes in the back-line and halves from last year will mean our attacking structures will once again be disappointing early on in the season----unless Manly's power game is punching holes through the middle creating numbers and space out wide for any half decent half or 5/8 to take advantage of.

Green has to do more than what he has shown at Melb, being stuck on the left edge, straightening up the attack and pushing the stock standard 5/8 passes will not be enough at Manly until we start penetrating through the middle.

Matai and Lyon are big losses, with both i could see Manly slipping into the 8 even if the forwards only improved by 10% this year, just off the back of continuity and improved composed structures.

Manly have to take advantage of the early season draw along with teams not being as tight defensively during the warm early dry months where the speed factor can take it's toll. Players are fresh without injury at the start of the season and at times this added sharpness can take full advantage of early season poor defensive lines.

 

[Bearfax]

The loss of Matai, Stewart and Lyon is not going to be significant in comparison to the '16 results. Stewart played in only 40% of the games in '16 and was virtually a passenger in most, Matai played in less than a third of the matches, and Lyon played in about 2/3 of the matches but was a shadow of his former self. If we were looking at these three three years ago or earlier, the loss at that time would have been dramatic. But in 2016 all struggled to make any impact. 2017 without them is not going to lessen our chances compared to last year.

 

[Technical Coach]

The loss of Matai, Stewart and Lyon is not going to be significant in comparison to the '16 results. Stewart played in only 40% of the games in '16 and was virtually a passenger in most, Matai played in less than a third of the matches, and Lyon played in about 2/3 of the matches but was a shadow of his former self. If we were looking at these three three years ago or earlier, the loss at that time would have been dramatic. But in 2016 all struggled to make any impact. 2017 without them is not going to lessen our chances compared to last year.

Matai and Lyon's performances were more a result of the general lack of space and opportunities provided by poor forwards and basic structures.

The games Manly competed well in the forwards Lyon performed and Matai's numbers when not overly hampered with injury were still very good.

Last season when the forwards started to play with a little more aggression, speed and penetration(in that winning patch) and mixing it with the opposition Lyon performed really well.

The loss of Stewart is no big deal, but the leadership, class, go forward, skill factor and aggression between Lyon and Matai is a big loss even at their ages.

 

[double hoops]

Bozos right. Let's get excited. There will plenty of times during the season ahead when we can bitch and moan. A ball hasn't been kicked off yet, so who knows how they've trained, gelled, going to go. But now's the time for optimism. Watching this young squad grows exciting. Top 8 has to be the goal and that is achievable.

 

[Bearfax]

Matai and Lyon's performances were more a result of the general lack of space and opportunities provided by poor forwards and basic structures.

The games Manly competed well in the forwards Lyon performed and Matai's numbers when not overly hampered with injury were still very good.

Last season when the forwards started to play with a little more aggression, speed and penetration(in that winning patch) and mixing it with the opposition Lyon performed really well.

The loss of Stewart is no big deal, but the leadership, class, go forward, skill factor and aggression between Lyon and Matai is a big loss even at their ages.

I agree that the loss of those three is a big impact on the team. But I disagree about their impact last year, compared with what's likely in '17. Matai only played 8 games out of 24, and most of those when Manly was adjusting to a new set of players and new coach early in the season. Lyon was noticeably slower last season and was only effective closer to the action when he was finally placed at 5/8. Both were playing with injuries. Lyon improved because of his 5/8 role not because of better performance from the forwards. DCE also improved with him there. But he knew he was on his last legs and that's why he retired.

Neither had much impact on Manly's 2016 season. With Green at 5/8 and Walker back at centre possibly with Kelly, the back line should function better than with a lame Lyon and absent Matai, no disrespect intended of either. They were champion centres, but the operative word is 'were'. They werent in 2016

 

[Wombat Legacy]

Matai and Lyon's performances were more a result of the general lack of space and opportunities provided by poor forwards and basic structures.

The games Manly competed well in the forwards Lyon performed and Matai's numbers when not overly hampered with injury were still very good.

Last season when the forwards started to play with a little more aggression, speed and penetration(in that winning patch) and mixing it with the opposition Lyon performed really well.

The loss of Stewart is no big deal, but the leadership, class, go forward, skill factor and aggression between Lyon and Matai is a big loss even at their ages.

One comment, as much as I love Jamie Lyon (and I really do) he was a shadow of his former self last year. I suspect he had enough and was mentally "detached". Jamie is probably the best footballer along with Fulton to represent this club. Pure footballers!

 

[Wombat64]

I'm excited about our fans/supporter/members supporting the club, the coach, the coaching staff, the head of football, the administration and most importantly the players.

My concern is what I'm excited about.

I am excited that I am concerned about your excitement

 

[robbiea]

One comment, as much as I love Jamie Lyon (and I really do) he was a shadow of his former self last year. I suspect he had enough and was mentally "detached". Jamie is probably the best footballer along with Fulton to represent this club. Pure footballers!

Yep ,the difference with Killer was that he was a deadset "Natural"...

 

[EagleFlys]

Exciting -

TT and JT developing
BJ looking fit and huge
Hastings at hooker
Kelly (is Bozo right)
DCE not busted and with a decent foil partner

Concerning

Plodder and the Nose still there,
Centre is a big worry (the nose not the nose)
Uate and Jorge leading the NRL in dropped catches

Bring on 2017 regardless.

 

[wombatgc]

Pretty much nailed what I'm thinking as well.

I'm happy that the cricket is over ( although I do watch the Big Bash every night so it's no wonder), and looking forward to the " real" footy starting in about 6 weeks.

But very concerned at the fact I think we will have ( by our standards) another disappointing year, 10th to 12th at best I feel.

Speaking of cricket, Ricky Pontings summation of the Aussie's hopes in India seem on the money for this season. We'll struggle, but it'd be nice if we're competitive even if we lose.

 

[HoldenV8]

My NBL team the Adelaide 36ers have shown what a seemingly young, mostly inexperienced group of players can do. Predicted to finish last by most experts, last week Adelaide were confirmed as regular season champions with still 3 rounds to play before the finals. Sure we lost to Illawarra tonight, but we played poorly and still only lost by 3 to a team with a lot more to play for.

Nothing to say that Manly can't do the same in 2017.

 

[Ryan]

I'm excited that (at full strength) we have almost improved every single position on the team:-

PLAYING GROUP
01. Fit Turbo > Injured Turbo
02. Jorge Taufua = Jorge Taufua
03. Brian Kelly > Brayden Wiliame
04. Dylan Walker > Matthew Wright
05. Akuila Uate > A raft of various injured players
06. Blake Green > best "CENTRES" in the game in Lyon or Walker
07. Fit DCE > Injured DCE
08. Darcy Lussick = Darcy Lussick
09. Jackson Hastings > Raft of different players in Api/Parc/Brown
10. Fitter & more settled AFB > AFB
11. Marty Taupau = Marty Taupau
12. Curtis Sironen < Jamie Buhrer (sorry, that's my opinion)
13. Jake Trbojevic (Rep exp) > Jake Trbojevic

14. Lewis Brown (playing pref. pos) > Lewis Brown in centres
15. Fit Nate Myles > Nate Myles
16. Fit Brenton Lawrence > No Brenton Lawrence
17. Lloyd Perrett > Green / Winterstein / Starling etc etc etc.

New Depth (Api, Lane, Cullen, Parker, Wright Trio) > depth from last year as a lot of those players featured in first grade.

GENERAL
X More experienced Barrett > Barrett
X Less negative Social Media > Negative Social Media
X Locally Well known & respected Cleary (strong willed) > Kelly
X Brookie Oval focus (action) > Brookie Oval focus (talk)
X Very high end goal kicker (Hastings) = Goal kicker Lyon
X Competition for spots > Pick whoever is available
X Backline to have speed to burn > Power game of Matai/Wiliame/Wright
X MUCH better draw > Deashiit draw (stupid NRL)
X A few surprise packets (Parker/Bainbridge/a few Workers boys)

EXPECTATIONS
+ Manly to surprise the league world
+ 3rd - 7th (and finals)
+ A positive Silvertails site
+ Brookie to become a fortress again

 

[Top End Eagle]

We need some punch up the middle. Lussick will be a loss early on. As @Technical Coach pionted out the start of the year and our draw offers a good chance to lay a platform for combinations to jel while we get some home ground advantage. Hopefully Lawrence and Tapau can provide good metres with Jake and Myles doing the clean up steadying work until Lissick is back and Talau can play on the edge. id like to see sironen fit all year.

I worry about uate and I hope Jorge is injury free and shows why he was in origin contention a couple of years ago.

Looking forward to seeing what Parker and Kelly do.

Dylan walker will be a star in the centres again. Was cruel playing him at 6 last year I think if Lyon had started the year at 6 and walker in the centres we would have won four or five more games.

Looking forward to seeImg what Blacktown unearths. Amone looks good.

Biggest worry is that like last year and the year before we have a lot of players competing for spots but no one really screaming out as the starters. While this can create competition for spots it can also create instability and indecision. Players playing to keep their spot in the team rather than playing for the best interests of the team, ie hogging the ball and trying to do too much, too many flashy things, trying to run up stats like hit ups.

Overall pretty excited about the year ahead. But not expecting big things just yet.

 

[The Wheel]

I'm excited that (at full strength) we have almost improved every single position on the team:-

PLAYING GROUP
01. Fit Turbo > Injured Turbo
02. Jorge Taufua = Jorge Taufua
03. Brian Kelly > Brayden Wiliame
04. Dylan Walker > Matthew Wright
05. Akuila Uate > A raft of various injured players
06. Blake Green > best "CENTRES" in the game in Lyon or Walker
07. Fit DCE > Injured DCE
08. Darcy Lussick = Darcy Lussick
09. Jackson Hastings > Raft of different players in Api/Parc/Brown
10. Fitter & more settled AFB > AFB
11. Marty Taupau = Marty Taupau
12. Curtis Sironen < Jamie Buhrer (sorry, that's my opinion)
13. Jake Trbojevic (Rep exp) > Jake Trbojevic

14. Lewis Brown (playing pref. pos) > Lewis Brown in centres
15. Fit Nate Myles > Nate Myles
16. Fit Brenton Lawrence > No Brenton Lawrence
17. Lloyd Perrett > Green / Winterstein / Starling etc etc etc.

New Depth (Api, Lane, Cullen, Parker, Wright Trio) > depth from last year as a lot of those players featured in first grade.

GENERAL
X More experienced Barrett > Barrett
X Less negative Social Media > Negative Social Media
X Locally Well known & respected Cleary (strong willed) > Kelly
X Brookie Oval focus (action) > Brookie Oval focus (talk)
X Very high end goal kicker (Hastings) = Goal kicker Lyon
X Competition for spots > Pick whoever is available
X Backline to have speed to burn > Power game of Matai/Wiliame/Wright
X MUCH better draw > Deashiit draw (stupid NRL)
X A few surprise packets (Parker/Bainbridge/a few Workers boys)

EXPECTATIONS
+ Manly to surprise the league world
+ 3rd - 7th (and finals)
+ A positive Silvertails site
+ Brookie to become a fortress again

Nice Ryan hope you are right on of these- you are being overly optimistic that Silvertails will be positive in 2017 however

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

Exciting - No one thinks that we have a chance this year. I for one will be ready to laugh in their faces.
Concern - The price of a beer at Brookie.

 

[bringbackbeaver]

improvement in power, line speed, intimidation factor through the middle that can be sustained for longer than 5-10min spells to break down the opposition.

I'm excited that (at full strength) we have almost improved every single position on the team:-

PLAYING GROUP
01. Fit Turbo > Injured Turbo
02. Jorge Taufua = Jorge Taufua
03. Brian Kelly > Brayden Wiliame
04. Dylan Walker > Matthew Wright
05. Akuila Uate > A raft of various injured players
06. Blake Green > best "CENTRES" in the game in Lyon or Walker
07. Fit DCE > Injured DCE
08. Darcy Lussick = Darcy Lussick
09. Jackson Hastings > Raft of different players in Api/Parc/Brown
10. Fitter & more settled AFB > AFB
11. Marty Taupau = Marty Taupau
12. Curtis Sironen < Jamie Buhrer (sorry, that's my opinion)
13. Jake Trbojevic (Rep exp) > Jake Trbojevic

14. Lewis Brown (playing pref. pos) > Lewis Brown in centres
15. Fit Nate Myles > Nate Myles
16. Fit Brenton Lawrence > No Brenton Lawrence
17. Lloyd Perrett > Green / Winterstein / Starling etc etc etc.

New Depth (Api, Lane, Cullen, Parker, Wright Trio) > depth from last year as a lot of those players featured in first grade.

GENERAL
X More experienced Barrett > Barrett
X Less negative Social Media > Negative Social Media
X Locally Well known & respected Cleary (strong willed) > Kelly
X Brookie Oval focus (action) > Brookie Oval focus (talk)
X Very high end goal kicker (Hastings) = Goal kicker Lyon
X Competition for spots > Pick whoever is available
X Backline to have speed to burn > Power game of Matai/Wiliame/Wright
X MUCH better draw > Deashiit draw (stupid NRL)
X A few surprise packets (Parker/Bainbridge/a few Workers boys)

EXPECTATIONS
+ Manly to surprise the league world
+ 3rd - 7th (and finals)
+ A positive Silvertails site
+ Brookie to become a fortress again

@Ryan really well said mate and agree with pretty much everything. I agree that I would rather Buhrer there but at least Siro gives us some size out wide. Question.. Who will start at hooker? For mine, this is the biggest concern in 2017. It should be by far our biggest recruitment priority for '18 and beyond. Api is perfect off the bench 15 mins to go to bring that spark we will need. Hastings? Is this another Walker experiment that we might regret? Or can he transition to 9 like many good halves have done (Toovs, Monas, Wallace etc).. Biggest thing, he can kick!! BTW he's a better kicker than Killer IMO..

 

[BOZO]

I'm excited that (at full strength) we have almost improved every single position on the team:-

PLAYING GROUP
01. Fit Turbo > Injured Turbo
02. Jorge Taufua = Jorge Taufua
03. Brian Kelly > Brayden Wiliame
04. Dylan Walker > Matthew Wright
05. Akuila Uate > A raft of various injured players
06. Blake Green > best "CENTRES" in the game in Lyon or Walker
07. Fit DCE > Injured DCE
08. Darcy Lussick = Darcy Lussick
09. Jackson Hastings > Raft of different players in Api/Parc/Brown
10. Fitter & more settled AFB > AFB
11. Marty Taupau = Marty Taupau
12. Curtis Sironen < Jamie Buhrer (sorry, that's my opinion)
13. Jake Trbojevic (Rep exp) > Jake Trbojevic

14. Lewis Brown (playing pref. pos) > Lewis Brown in centres
15. Fit Nate Myles > Nate Myles
16. Fit Brenton Lawrence > No Brenton Lawrence
17. Lloyd Perrett > Green / Winterstein / Starling etc etc etc.

New Depth (Api, Lane, Cullen, Parker, Wright Trio) > depth from last year as a lot of those players featured in first grade.

GENERAL
X More experienced Barrett > Barrett
X Less negative Social Media > Negative Social Media
X Locally Well known & respected Cleary (strong willed) > Kelly
X Brookie Oval focus (action) > Brookie Oval focus (talk)
X Very high end goal kicker (Hastings) = Goal kicker Lyon
X Competition for spots > Pick whoever is available
X Backline to have speed to burn > Power game of Matai/Wiliame/Wright
X MUCH better draw > Deashiit draw (stupid NRL)
X A few surprise packets (Parker/Bainbridge/a few Workers boys)

EXPECTATIONS
+ Manly to surprise the league world
+ 3rd - 7th (and finals)
+ A positive Silvertails site
+ Brookie to become a fortress again

Great post Ryan . I think Lane and Api would offer more to our 17 than the ineffective Brown