Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

[Bornadog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

His 'form issues' have gone for about 3 quarters. I'm actually in shock that he's been dropped. He offers us brilliant and creative hands in close and excellent decision-making both by hand and foot, not to mention elite clearance winning ability. He was smashed last week and may not have worked hard enough to shake the tag but the fact is that he's a 19yo who has played less than 20 games and is already getting solid defensive attention from the opposition. I remember a young ben Cousins getting a football lesson in workrate from Libba Snr in 1997 at the WACA - Cousins has alluded to this match many times in the past as a light bulb moment for him to work harder - Libba Jnr probably learnt just as valuable a lesson last week but will be kicking the dew off the grass at Willaimstown instead of applying the lessons learnt in the senior team.

You would think the coaching staff have another reason but they are not telling us, very puzzling.

[GVGjr]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

His 'form issues' have gone for about 3 quarters. I'm actually in shock that he's been dropped. He offers us brilliant and creative hands in close and excellent decision-making both by hand and foot, not to mention elite clearance winning ability. He was smashed last week and may not have worked hard enough to shake the tag but the fact is that he's a 19yo who has played less than 20 games and is already getting solid defensive attention from the opposition.

Spot on, I can't see the logic in the selectors dropping him.

[Eastdog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Well if thats the case and he isn't carrying an injury then thats disappointing. As you guys have said he would be a great addition to the team. Has he been named as an emergency?

[Hotdog60]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Could Libba be suffering from a case of legitimate general soreness, he's in and under and must be taking a bit off a pounding.

If he has been playing sore it could be the reason for a bit form drop off.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

A lot of people have questioned our player management before, particularly young players. Perhaps we are trying to do the right thing by Libba and Smith physically.

[Eastdog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Could Libba be suffering from a case of legitimate general soreness, he's in and under and must be taking a bit off a pounding.

If he has been playing sore it could be the reason for a bit form drop off.

If it is legitimate general soreness then that is fine that they drop him but not if he has not got any problems. That though is another possible reason.

[jeemak]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Can't really comment on the Adelaide game, but Libba was paid some pretty close attention last week and although he struggled dropping him is bloody stupid.

He is one of the few mids in our team who attacks when he has the ball and is a player who needs to develop at the highest level.

I posted earlier that Liberatore needed to have a good game this week to stay in for round five. His form has been very ordinary over the last two rounds, and to me it seemed he wasn't ready for some close checking that was always going to come his way after round one (and on the back of solid form last year and throughout preseason).

Developing him at the highest level is a good idea, only if he's physically up to it. If he's going to be played closely by the opposition then he'll get smashed trying to learn that at the highest level. There's not many developing midfielders that can do that in their second year, and it's not a slight on him to have to learn it at Wlliamstown. He's tired, let him refresh himself and learn.

[jeemak]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Sherman has some pace but my knock on him is that his decision-making stinks - it always has. Not much use running and carrying when you turn it over with a poor decision. Still, nor much use having 350k running around Pt Gellibrand.

Absolutely staggered by the decision to drop Libba. Just a shocking decision IMO - we need every bit of his skill and decision making in our midfield.

Sherman's decison making isn't a lot worse than a lot of players in our side. We're a team full of slow people that have limited decision making ability, skills and running capacity. At least he tries to be creative on the back of genuine pace, and a knack for kicking a goal.

Liberatore has been terrible over the last two weeks. He's only had 19 disposals, 6 tackles and 3 inside 50's over that time. That's either a sign of a midfielder that is terribly out of form, or very tired.

I agree that we need his decision making ability and skill, though only if he's not completely rooted or out of form. He's either one or the other right now, and on the back of that the decison to drop him is fair enough.

[Mantis]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

I posted earlier that Liberatore needed to have a good game this week to stay in for round five. His form has been very ordinary over the last two rounds, and to me it seemed he wasn't ready for some close checking that was always going to come his way after round one (and on the back of solid form last year and throughout preseason).

Developing him at the highest level is a good idea, only if he's physically up to it. If he's going to be played closely by the opposition then he'll get smashed trying to learn that at the highest level. There's not many developing midfielders that can do that in their second year, and it's not a slight on him to have to learn it at Wlliamstown. He's tired, let him refresh himself and learn.

So why not let him play against the team with possibly the 2nd worst midfield going around in an effort to run him into some form?

I find it very hard to believe that a player who works as hard as Libba would be fatigued after just 3 games.

[Eastdog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Sherman's decison making isn't a lot worse than a lot of players in our side. We're a team full of slow people that have limited decision making ability, skills and running capacity. At least he tries to be creative on the back of genuine pace, and a knack for kicking a goal.

Liberatore has been terrible over the last two weeks. He's only had 19 disposals, 6 tackles and 3 inside 50's over that time. That's either a sign of a midfielder that is terribly out of form, or very tired.

I agree that we need his decision making ability and skill, though only if he's not completely rooted or out of form. He's either one or the other right now, and on the back of that the decison to drop him is fair enough.

He may well be not 100% fit and thus he was dropped because last year in his debut season he was very good. How do you think Sherman will go as he hasn't had the best pre-season.

[LongWait]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

We have absolutely no idea whether Libba is being rested; is playing at Willi as part of a pre-determined player rotation policy; or if there are some issues about team rules.

Reading some of the contributions on here you'd think that Bambi has been shot by a deranged lunatic.

The negativity towards the new coach on here gives me the shits.

[jeemak]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

So why not let him play against the team with possibly the 2nd worst midfield going around in an effort to run him into some form?

I find it very hard to believe that a player who works as hard as Libba would be fatigued after just 3 games.

Your second point might be self explanatory.

[Mantis]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Your second point might be self explanatory.

Perhaps I should have added that he works extremely hard on his fitness and is always up the front in the running drills.

[Eastdog]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

We have absolutely no idea whether Libba is being rested; is playing at Willi as part of a pre-determined player rotation policy; or if there are some issues about team rules.

Reading some of the contributions on here you'd think that Bambi has been shot by a deranged lunatic.

The negativity towards the new coach on here gives me the shits.

Macca needs to be given a chance like any other new coach.

[jeemak]

Re: Match Committee - Round 4 vs Melbourne

Perhaps I should have added that he works extremely hard on his fitness and is always up the front in the running drills.

With that being the case (and I have only heard second hand reports that it is) I wouldn't be surprised if he's in need of a break.

A huge preseason and seven competitive games playing on the ball will take it out of a second year player.