Arvo X – how are you?
Given that I get the impression that you’re talking about me here in this thread, I reckon it’s only fair I respond to your points in kind.
First up though – here’s the post that I left at this “other site”.
We assess the players' efforts, so its only fair we do the same for the coach after what happened on Friday.
I thought Wallace's performance was clearly sub-par. Certainly the talent on the park was in Melbourne’s favour, but Wallace seemed to refuse to play to a gameplan that involved tight tags and strong, forceful manning up.
Listening to him on AW after the game, he commented that he wasn’t sure whether to have Aaron Davey picked up when he was 100m free at times, hoping that our man (Tivendale) would hurt the Demons with the ball coming the other way.
Geez, blind freddy could’ve told Wallace that Davey’s efforts off half back were intergral to Melbourne’s continued rebounds, and that Tivendale standing at half-back waiting for the ball to come down was simply going to watch it sail over his head into the arms of a leading forward because of the ease and lack of pressure the rebounds were producing (and the pinpoint passes under no pressure that allowed).
Ultimately, Nathan Foley I think manned Davey up the tightest all night – but by then it was too late.
I thought Wallace also seemed incapable of finding a way to curb Travis Johnstone, commenting that Johnstone would lurk near the centre, then run outside the centre square the other side to get free – with his opponent (Hyde) unable to stay with him.
How come Terry didn’t just get the runner out to Hyde and say – Chris, stand beside Johnstone and just follow him wherever he goes? That ain’t rocket science.
Finally, his backline matchups were, for the most part, ordinary. Certainly, Adem Yze is going to be a tough matchup, but he was always going to be too big for Chris Newman, and too nimble and swift on the ground for Darren Gaspar.
What about trying Joel Bowden – surely he would’ve been a better matchup? Yes Bowden was on Miller, but maybe Schulz or Mark Graham could’ve switched over on him.
Actually, surely Schulz should’ve got a go in the backline at some point – Ben Holland was always going to be too big for Gaspar early. Then Daniher chucks a further good idea into the forward line by bunging Cam Bruce in there. I don’t really think we ever really got a good match up on him either.
Certaintly, as I said, Melbourne had the better cattle on the night. But geez, I certainly don’t think our guys were matched up or used as well as what they should’ve and could’ve been.
In response to the points you raised X:
1/ terry after the game was not himself, he just saw his "sons" career possibly go b4 him!!!!
He was upset certainly after the game, but that’s the way he answered a direct question on this issue.
2/ it wasnt terrys fault out disposal and inside 50's were poor and our general skill level. up until now and compared to last year we are 10 fold better!!!
I agree X on both points. As you see in my post, I don’t talk about disposals in relation to Wallace’s efforts as a coach. I’ve actually saved that for another thread at this “other site”.
3/we have lost 3 games playing attacking footy, stiff pooh, better than how we lost last yr!
Agreed X, but there is a worrying pattern developing here in our losses. Wallace, as I said in my post above, didn’t have all the cattle he wanted on Friday night, but certainly he also needs consider closing down a game at times rather than opening it up and attacking all the time.
4/ we lost on frid, against a team that everything they did was gold, but if simmonds , tuck and richos shots at goal went through who kn ows what may have happened
Agreed X, but this doesn’t relate to Terry’s coaching performance.
5/ we came off two 6 day breaks and it showed.
Two six day breaks don’t relate to Wallace admitting he couldn’t get a player near Davey or Johnstone for most of the night. As I said, ultimately Wallace did decide to pick up Davey close – and in the end Foley did it. Whether there were two six day breaks or not doesn’t stop the coach getting the runner out to a player and saying “Stand beside him mate”.
6/ the last thing we need is negative posts about our coach to satisfuy all the tiger morons who continually crave eating their own!!!
Previously I’ve said that Wallace had done a great job thus far. But why not question and critique a coach’s performance as much as a players? Is Wallace, as a coach, above question or reproach?
7/ its amasing how up until friday nite tw was god, after 11 loss now he cioached badly
Wrong X – have never said Terry Wallace was God (or even the Messiah). No coach is. He is a vast improvement over the last few coaches we’ve had, but if Friday night proves anything, it proves he is not God
8/ nobody but tw abnd his men knows what they are doing and what they are planning and even though we have lost 3 games im proud of what he has acheived thus far!
I am proud of the Tigers so far too X, hugely proud. But that doesn’t mean I can’t question performances from players and coaches, or wonder (as I did on Friday) why Wallace couldn’t get the match-ups he was after.
9/ up until brown went dwn we still had a chance, the team went into shock and we got blown away , but up til then we were only 4/5 goals down!!
We were close at that stage X, but we weren’t ever going to get over Melbourne who were playing like absolute winners. The team did go into meltdown after Brown went off and conceded 6 gls to 1 in 11 minutes.
Normally that would, in a straight football sense, be unforgiveable. But, given what happened to Brown, it is understandable.
One final thing X – if you have a problem with something written on this “other site”, come over to this “other site” and state it.
I know you don’t post there any more, and I’m not going to get into the politics and decisions that saw this occur (as they certainly had nothing to do with me) but I would’ve thought that at least a PM from you to me on this “other site” outlining your point of view would’ve been at the very least good manners.
You call it as you see it X – that’s your right. I have the same rights X – to call it as I see it. Just because I see it differently from you doesn’t mean my opinion is less valid or worth expressing.
Chris
PS - I wouldn't think of myself as a "moronic supporter" X.
