SurreyBlue wrote:
bondiblue wrote:
SurreyBlue wrote:
verbs wrote:
From listening to that podcast I get the feeling it will take Russell up to a year to make a significant impact. It really sounds like he likes to know the players inside out, which takes time.
Take note BB....here is your next excuse....
I don't understand the constant attack and belittling of our coach?
I bet he doesn't use that as an excuse, and its just an excuse for you to hae a dig at him.
Have some faith surrey.
This club and its supporters have been to hell and back.
Surely you can see positive changes on every level of the footy club over the last 3 years.
Give BB a chance to coach a team capable of delivering. There 23 kids under 23 on our list...that's not an excuse, its reality.
Bondi, wrong or not, Bolton has used the excuse of youth and injuries plenty of times during the year.
Please review his after match conferences, if you need too.
My issue is not either of injuries or youth but the players looked like headless chooks in 2018 and they had no idea what the game plan was or what was required. After 3 years in charge of the group alarm bells are ringing. I’ve lost faith - you bet, but I’m not alone!
The fact the review confirmed the game plan was too complicated confirms what I was watching unfold.
I agree with this.
I am less concerned about the players’ development. I have seen enough in most of the young recruits to see these are the right guys.
What threw me last season was the way our game plan fell apart. As it turned out, we were too hasty to push for a more offensive game plan (I think sucked in by the media...). But then, when we recognised this, we were unable to bring back the strong and cohesive defensive plan that had served us well in previous couple of years.
I do believe the loss of Docherty plus inclusion of Jones was a big factor - Docherty to keep our defensive structure in place; Jones taking a few too many liberties, breaking the structure.
So, next year, I’m looking primarily for a cohesive and effective game plan: the game plan needs to be good and the players need to be equipped to execute it. Failure in either of those reflects poorly on Bolton.
Having said that, I am optimistic that we will improve significantly on both those fronts with the return of Docherty and the injection of some additional talent and personnel capable of executing the plan.
Plus Bolton strikes me as a coach keen to keep learning and improving.
I expect 6-10 wins, driven mostly by:
1) More consistent execution of the game plan across the board
2) McGovern straightening us up a lot and giving McKay a bit more scope to develop
3) More consistent back 6, featuring a core of Weitering, Marchbank, Plowman and Docherty
4) Greater midfield depth and development: Dow a year older, Kennedy injury free, Fisher maintaining his output, SPS lifting his consistency and output*
*Any meaningful contributions from Setterfield or (hopefully) Walsh would be a bonus but not expected.