Zorbs this morning

[winnyason]

Api's defence in the middle was so good. Croker needs to help Jake. Hopefully, Aloiai and Davey will add some defensive grit as well.

Jake needs help up the middle no doubt, Davey seems like a good defender

 

[40 nil]

 

[Wombat64]

Not a big Zorba fan but IMO he is correct.

Without a decent spine on the field we are ****ed. With the players we have as back ups at our disposal we can not overcome that disadvantage. We are bottom 4 no risk.

The pain will start this weekend our weaknesses will be quickly exposed and we won't be able to use the "it was only a trial excuse", the next excuse will be "we always start the season slowly". The pain will become worse in the weeks ahead and with the draw we have by round 8 our season will be over. This is going to be another long season for us. Our salary cap is a mess and whilst I appreciate the Penn family for what they have invested until we change owners and have someone who is mega rich and wants to put the money required for us to be competitive into the club we are also rans.

Unfortunately, we'll be screaming sack Des by the end of the year. It will be interesting to see if he survives?

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Not a big Zorba fan but IMO he is correct.

Without a decent spine on the field we are ****ed. With the players we have as back ups at our disposal we can not overcome that disadvantage. We are bottom 4 no risk.

The pain will start this weekend our weaknesses will be quickly exposed and we won't be able to use the "it was only a trial excuse", the next excuse will be "we always start the season slowly". The pain will become worse in the weeks ahead and with the draw we have by round 8 our season will be over. This is going to be another long season for us. Our salary cap is a mess and whilst I appreciate the Penn family for what they have invested until we change owners and have someone who is mega rich and wants to put the money required for us to be competitive into the club we are also rans.

Unfortunately, we'll be screaming sack Des by the end of the year. It will be interesting to see if he survives?

Well that’s one way to look at it !!

 

[Wombat64]

Well that’s one way to look at it !!

I'm always trying to stay positive, Mark!

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I'm always trying to stay positive, Mark!

Yes I can see that.

You may well be right.

I expect to lose on Saturday and it’ll be a bloodbath on here afterwards.

But I think we need a few games to bed in almost a new team so I won’t be wrist slitting after 80 minutes of footy.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Unfortunately, both Peter Peters and Buzz Rothfield make very valid points. Make-shift hooker and utility players. Tom Trbojevic being Tom Trbojevic and spending more time off the field than on.

Other considerations:

• No Tom Trbojevic (out medium term)
• No Manase Fainu (out long term)
• 0 specialist Hookers
• 0 specialist fullbacks replacing Tom
• Jason Saab has had 7 first grade games
• Haumole Olakau'atu has had 7 first grade games
• Josh Schuster has had 1 first grade game
• Keiran Foran is possibly the most injury prone player in the league
• Lost our best prop (one of the leagues best) replaced him with middle tier
• Reuben Garrick hasn't been able to replicate year one in any areas
• No sound goal kicker
• Lost Joel Thompson - replaced him with Andrew Davey
• Last 10 games record (rates with the worst of any team, ever)
• Trial form was disgraceful
• Team look unready (unfit) and have not adapted to the "new game"

etc, etc, etc.

That being said, we CAN be competitive, but this requires HARD work, siege mentality, us against them, teamwork, effort, intensity & absolute pace and speed at everything we do (ESPECIALLY the ruck and play the ball speed).

I do think Des Hasler is out of his element though, and needs to adapt, and shift his mindset, because his last few years of coaching:

13th (Manly)
6th (Manly)
11th (Canterbury)

32 wins, 39 losses (win % 45)

Has the game moved past him? This year will be telling.

Always with the negative waves:

 

[Kevinward777]

View attachment 17173

Brilliant!

 

[Ryan]

Always with the negative waves:

Just expressing an opinion, that's all. I'm sorry it's not the same as yours or what you think it should be.

I could pretend if you want ? Would that make you feel better ?

 

[wombatgc]

Just expressing an opinion, that's all. I'm sorry it's not the same as yours or what you think it should be.

I could pretend if you want ? Would that make you feel better ?

I was going to post when I was on this arvo @Ryan that you seem to be back to your analytical and numerical best. Bullet points, and that breakdown of our last 11 game disaster, but that was the reality. I hope life is treating you better.

 

[globaleagle]

‘Don’t have a hooker’: Manly legend claims Hasler’s men are wooden spoon contenders

‘Don’t have a hooker’: Manly legend claims Hasler’s men are wooden spoon contenders

www.foxsports.com.au

In probably less surprising news...Buzz agrees with Zorba.

 

[40 nil]

Buzz agrees with Zorba.

That's the way we like it

 

[Tragic Eagle]

This article doesn't surprise me. If it were another team with our record over the last 12 starts I expect most on here would accept that as a fair analysis. Our side has become soft pointing to adversity as an excuse for failure. Sure there has been plenty of it with our luck with injuries. But when the going gets tough the tough get going. Last year we went missing in action. If that doesn't change and then the article is fair comment. I'm not interested in what Buzz says he hates Manly with a passion. But Zorba doesn't and I can't see any angle in this at all.

 

[Ryan]

This article doesn't surprise me. If it were another team with our record over the last 12 starts I expect most on here would accept that as a fair analysis. Our side has become soft pointing to adversity as an excuse for failure. Sure there has been plenty of it with our luck with injuries. But when the going gets tough the tough get going. Last year we went missing in action. If that doesn't change and then the article is fair comment. I'm not interested in what Buzz says he hates Manly with a passion. But Zorba doesn't and I can't see any angle in this at all.

Give you a tip? If Barrett got these results here, I'd be worried the Brookvale faithful (and Silvertails enthusiasts) would be hanging the poor bloke from the rafters at Narrabeen Bridge ! Let's "hope" The Bulldogs don't perform better with a much less talented roster than ours.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Give you a tip? If Barrett got these results here, I'd be worried the Brookvale faithful (and Silvertails enthusiasts) would be hanging the poor bloke from the rafters at Narrabeen Bridge ! Let's "hope" The Bulldogs don't perform better with a much less talented roster than ours.

As you’ll remember I never wanted Des to come back but he has and I’ll support him as I do with any coach , including for a while Trent Barrett.

This is a defining year ( IMO) for Des , if we get exactly the same as we did last year the calls for his head will escalate and I’ll probably join the party in doing so.

We need to be different , and we need to not “ pick and stick “.

No player should have a legacy on a position regardless of how he plays.

If I see changes I’ll know that Des has adjusted and is moving forward.

If after 8 weeks , nothings changed and we are 1/8 then the drums will be beating very loudly.

 

[Kevinward777]

Give you a tip? If Barrett got these results here, I'd be worried the Brookvale faithful (and Silvertails enthusiasts) would be hanging the poor bloke from the rafters at Narrabeen Bridge ! Let's "hope" The Bulldogs don't perform better with a much less talented roster than ours.

You make a good point Ryan. However, when comparing Des and Trent, there are several crucial points I believe you have skimmed over or conveniently ignored. I will attempt to post them below.

1-In 2019 we finished sixth and did very well in the finals despite missing Turbo and a host of other regular players. Some people on here like to compare that result with Trent’s 2017 season but they are in fact worlds apart. We lost easily in week one of the finals in 2017, and the side included a fit Tommy. In 2019 we were stitched up by the Referees in week two against Souths.

2-Last year was the worst season in terms of injury I have ever witnessed. Truly, what a soul crushing time it turned out to be on that front.

3-Track record- The empirical evidence shows that Des has been to 5 GF’s as a coach and won two of them. Trent’s best season as head coach in any grade is listed above. His record in the Toyota Cup with the best young players at his disposal is abysmal. He has achieved nothing, nada, zilch.

4- Excuses, whining and quitting in the heat of battle- No explanation required on this point. The difference between Des and Trent is as obvious as the sun is bright.

5-Club affiliation- Des has also won two premierships as a player with our great club. Trent was an Illawarra Goon and a gummies player. For the record, he never won a premiership with either club. He’s not a Manly person and never will be.

Now, should Des prove not to be the answer in taking the club forward in the modern age, then a replacement coach will need to be found. But can we please stop comparing him to Trent because there is nothing even remotely similar between the two.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

You make a good point Ryan. However, when comparing Des and Trent, there are several crucial points I believe you have skimmed over or conveniently ignored. I will attempt to post them below.

1-In 2019 we finished sixth and did very well in the finals despite missing Turbo and a host of other regular players. Some people on here like to compare that result with Trent’s 2017 season but they are in fact worlds apart. We lost easily in week one of the finals in 2017, and the side included a fit Tommy. In 2019 we were stitched up by the Referees in week two against Souths.

2-Last year was the worst season in terms of injury I have ever witnessed. Truly, what a soul crushing year it turned out to be on that front.

3-Track record- The empirical evidence shows that Des has been to 5 GF’s as a coach and won two of them. Trent’s best season as head coach in any grade is listed above. His record in the Toyota Cup with the best young players at his disposal is abysmal. He has achieved nothing, nada, zilch.

4- Excuses, whining and quitting in the heat of battle- No explanation required on this point. The difference between Des and Trent is as obvious as the sun is bright.

5-Club affiliation- Des has also won two premierships as a player with our great club. Trent was an Illawarra Goon and a gummies player. For the record, he never won a premiership with either club. He’s not a Manly person and never will be.

Now, should Des prove not to be the answer in taking the club forward in the modern age, then a replacement coach will need to be found. But can we please stop comparing him to Trent because there is nothing even remotely similar between the two.

Cannot be compared , ever !!!

But @Ryan does have some good points.

His concern ( as is mine ) is “ can Des adjust to 2021 football and move himself on from living in 2011 football “????

I think that’s a fair point and one that concerns me too.

 

[Kevinward777]

Cannot be compared , ever !!!

But @Ryan does have some good points.

His concern ( as is mine ) is “ can Des adjust to 2021 football and move himself on from living in 2011 football “????

I think that’s a fair point and one that concerns me too.

Definitely a valid concern. This is a huge year for both Des and the club.

 

[manly al]

You make a good point Ryan. However, when comparing Des and Trent, there are several crucial points I believe you have skimmed over or conveniently ignored. I will attempt to post them below.

1-In 2019 we finished sixth and did very well in the finals despite missing Turbo and a host of other regular players. Some people on here like to compare that result with Trent’s 2017 season but they are in fact worlds apart. We lost easily in week one of the finals in 2017, and the side included a fit Tommy. In 2019 we were stitched up by the Referees in week two against Souths.

2-Last year was the worst season in terms of injury I have ever witnessed. Truly, what a soul crushing year it turned out to be on that front.

3-Track record- The empirical evidence shows that Des has been to 5 GF’s as a coach and won two of them. Trent’s best season as head coach in any grade is listed above. His record in the Toyota Cup with the best young players at his disposal is abysmal. He has achieved nothing, nada, zilch.

4- Excuses, whining and quitting in the heat of battle- No explanation required on this point. The difference between Des and Trent is as obvious as the sun is bright.

5-Club affiliation- Des has also won two premierships as a player with our great club. Trent was an Illawarra Goon and a gummies player. For the record, he never won a premiership with either club. He’s not a Manly person and never will be.

Now, should Des prove not to be the answer in taking the club forward in the modern age, then a replacement coach will need to be found. But can we please stop comparing him to Trent because there is nothing even remotely similar between the two.

Well compiled post but still a bit concerning when the team was struggling last season and crying out for some injection of youth or new talent , that Des was so hesitant and stubborn for so long . Albert Hoppa the exception but certainly hope that the flexibility factor can kick in for Des a bit better this season .

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Definitely a valid concern. This is a huge year for both Des and the club.

Look in all honesty I don’t expect us to be top 4, we just don’t have the cattle without everyone remaining fit and healthy and you know that won’t happen.

But, if the injury gods are a little kinder it would be great seeing us at least fighting for a position in the 8.

If we achieve that it will have been a good year.