sstormin123 wrote:
keogh wrote:
Russell's efforts on Sat were good in terms of tackling and keeping MCLeod's effect on the game to less than the previous week where he ripped Freo apart.
There are 2 downsids to Russell's game
At times when he has had to go for the ball he hasnt gone hard enough and thats a fact not an unfair criticism. Once a player is labelled as soft he has that stigma for a long time even if he does change his game in this area.
Carlton have too many soft players. its a fact that Stevens , Houlihan , Gibbs, Russell have this tag. Talk to any knowing supporter and this is confirmed. And guarenteed these players would be told every week by opposition players particularly in the Josh Carr mould.To change that player needs to keep their eyes on the ball and not deviate off the line. A guy like Kreuzer has stacks of courage. His eyes are firmly on the ball and his body goes with it. Russell needs to develop it by peforming a few courageous acts. I saw Didak drop and easy mark on Anzac day . He dropped it because he took his eyes off the ball expecting contact. He is older than Russell. Lets hope Jordan doesnt have the same reputation as Didak has. But Russell has to earn that respect by doing it. 9 tackles on the stats sheet doesnt mean your courageous.
The second problem he has is he panics when he has the ball. To kick into the man on the mark tells me he is thinking too much about actually kicking the ball and putting too much pressure on himself. Hopefully someone will have a productive word in his hear. The right thing said at the right time might be all Russell needs.
The fact is turnovers kill ya these days..In the third quarter last Sat
Gibbs Kreuzer turn over in defence
Grigg Russell miss "certain goals
Add in Chamberlian's goal and there is the Crow's winning margin.
The question has to be asked
When do you cut russell from the list
IMO there is probably 8 to 10 you would delist before Russell so he would be spared the hangman's noose for 08
But if he doesnt improve these 2 areas of his game he will definitely be gone in 09. He would have had enough chances by then.
Since when is Gibbs soft?
An email has been circulating the net taking the piss out of those heat maps you know where the player runs for the whole match.
Gibbs is in it for all the wrong reasons as are the rest of the players.
He has that reputation apparently.
I didnt say Gibbs was soft personally just that he has that reputation because I havent seen it first hand. I personally have with the other 3 at times .
As for JR lets hope he improves in that area. I think he has to some extent.
As for the general view that some of our list are too soft I wrote a post but got only 7 replys from the regulars who disagree with me so I must be wrong then
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