The loss we needed

[Greystache]

Re: The loss we needed

Half of them put the receiver under immense pressure though, so even though they hit the target, they are stupid handballs over the head or to players running past with an opponent under their collar. Alternatively, he stops, props, goes left, right, then distributes the ball as the opposition have closed off his options.

I just don't see how Cross is damaging to anyone but us.

Agree. Wallis is his heir apparent, we can't play them both in the same team, it's worth making the swap.

[G-Mo77]

Re: The loss we needed

How do you suggest fixing what you see as being a problem at the heart of the club's culture?( if there is one )

No idea.

Maybe its to do with the lack of success at the club?

[comrade]

Re: The loss we needed

Agree. Wallis is his heir apparent, we can't play them both in the same team, it's worth making the swap.

I think Cross is being sold a little short here.

I find myself getting frustrated during a game when Crossy gets on the end of a chain of possessions and then proceeds to stop and prop but he just works so much harder than most of his teammates to provide an option. It's an indictment on his teammates that he's constantly exposed in open play.

He's never going to change and every team needs hard working grunts to start the possession chain and feed it to the prime movers but Cross (and Boyd) is forced to be both the grunt and the polish due to a lack of (willing?) personnel.

Plus, we've got him for the rest of this season and the next on what I assume must be pretty good coin. For a small enterprise, it would be a shocking waste of money to have it languishing in the reserves.

[Greystache]

Re: The loss we needed

I think Cross is being sold a little short here.

I find myself getting frustrated during a game when Crossy gets on the end of a chain of possessions and then proceeds to stop and prop but he just works so much harder than most of his teammates to provide an option. It's an indictment on his teammates that he's constantly exposed in open play.

He's never going to change and every team needs hard working grunts to start the possession chain and feed it to the prime movers but Cross (and Boyd) is forced to be both the grunt and the polish due to a lack of (willing?) personnel.

Plus, we've got him for the rest of this season and the next on what I assume must be pretty good coin. For a small enterprise, it would be a shocking waste of money to have it languishing in the reserves.

I don't disagree with any of that, but eventually we have to look to the future.

The likelihood is we'll be cellar dwellers for the next 2 years, after that Cross will be gone. I think it's time to bite the bullet and start building for the future, play Wallis instead, we won't lose so much in the changeover, we're going to be losing anyway, plus we may develop a player who could play the role for another 10 years, and possibly do it better.

I said at the time 2 years for Cross was stupid, no other club was going to snatch him off us, and when his time comes it's always going to come quickly.

As a side note I think Boyd should be tagging and tagging only, but I can't see it happening.

[G-Mo77]

Re: The loss we needed

As a side note I think Boyd should be tagging and tagging only, but I can't see it happening.

That's something Cross did a few times last year and I recall did a pretty good job at it. Could we use him in that type of role on a more permanent basis?

[Eastdog]

Re: The loss we needed

I said on another thread that we should play that famous Ted Whitten Speech to the players to give them something. What I saw last night was pathetic and is not what the Bulldogs are about.

[Greystache]

Re: The loss we needed

That's something Cross did a few times last year and I recall did a pretty good job at it. Could we use him in that type of role on a more permanent basis?

Possibly, anything has got to be better than him getting the ball on the outside, and he doesn't win clearances. It would also provide more opportunity for kids to try to become our key ball winners.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The loss we needed

I said on another thread that we should play that famous Ted Whitten Speech to the players to give them something. What I saw last night was pathetic and is not what the Bulldogs are about.

That's cheesy gimmicky old school thinking .
I forecast some pain this year and next.
Must Must Must recruit polished types, No more in and under TYPES!!
No more smokey's, bolters, rugby athletes .

[Eastdog]

Re: The loss we needed

Possibly, anything has got to be better than him getting the ball on the outside, and he doesn't win clearances. It would also provide more opportunity for kids to try to become our key ball winners.

Boyd got 40 possessions last night but what was his efficiency in his ball use?

[Eastdog]

Re: The loss we needed

That's cheesy gimmicky old school thinking .
I forecast some pain this year and next.
Must Must Must recruit polished types, No more in and under TYPES!!
No more smokey's, bolters, rugby athletes .

Maybe that is a bit "old school" and probably won't make a difference. What do you think should be our aims then for the rest of the season.

[Greystache]

Re: The loss we needed

Boyd got 40 possessions last night but what was his efficiency in his ball use?

Try this

http://google.com.au

[Mantis]

Re: The loss we needed

As a side note I think Boyd should be tagging and tagging only, but I can't see it happening.

Our Gary Ablett tagging.. Not a *!*!*!*!ing chance.

[1eyedog]

Re: The loss we needed

Really? Their kids did ok last night. Armitage, Geary, McEvoy all had an impact last night. Ours (Dahlhaus aside) were passengers. What we are lacking is to see our boys take the game by the scruff of the neck. What we need are the young guys to realise that their time is now and they should step up and take that opportunity.

Any teams kids would have looked good against us last night. They came into the game when their guns took control and they grew in confidence because of it. Armitage is not a kid.

[Greystache]

Re: The loss we needed

Our Gary Ablett tagging.. Not a *!*!*!*!ing chance.

Indeed.

It's very sad we've reached this point, his disposal numbers go up every season and his impact on games goes down.

[Eastdog]

Re: The loss we needed

Any teams kids would have looked good against us last night. They came into the game when their guns took control and they grew in confidence because of it. Armitage is not a kid.

Im sure Macca gave them a grill after the match and hopefully we train well this week and come out a different side next week. Probably being optimistic but that what we all hope for.