padre wrote:
I dont buy any of this dogmatic stuff synbad. You dont know , as much as any of us dont know...
For all you know we could ace this trade period, and with some further MM development of our list we could be top 4 next year. Once you are there you just need a little luck...
On the other hand we arent operating in a vacuum. It seems that nearly every team next year has claims to being able to vie for finals. I dont expect it from the demons but you never know with roos... Now maths tells me that 18 into 8 just doesn't go. There are going to be 10 teams that dont make it probably 8 that will feel that they were unluckily close. We could be easily one of those sides.
If we had luck and some more experience playing together the mm way, we could have easily won another 5 games, with our existing side this season.
Our midfield depth needs bolstering as injuries to carrazo, mclean, judd, murphy betts, exposed our lack of run at crucial times. Adding Daisy and one other top mid ( definitely a possibility) gives us this depth and the trickle down effect to all the other mids means they all become more effective.
Our midfield "recruits" for 2014
1 carazzo he was one of our most important players , this year injuries have seen his influence wane. But he still will be a very important addition.
2 judd . Age and injuries are catching up , but to suggest that he is finished or to use a cool buzz word "cooked" is just plain overstating it. He is still a valuable member of any team.
3 murphy. Injuries and a lack of pre season has reduced his season to average. Those that say he cant handle a tag will be red faced next year.
4 gibbs. Finally a coach who gets it. Gibbs needs to play in the midfield. He will be a valuable addition next year.
5 daisy. Speculation still, but obviously worthy. Adds lots of run , goal kicker , skills.
6 mystery mid. Whether from the draft or FA (selwood, staker?)
Others
1 walker. Could his role down back be taken by a newly accountable yarran? If so walkers fitness experience size could be a great addition.
2 robinson. Been labeled a dumb footballer. Not without basis. But its his awareness and the fact that he attacks the ball so vigourously that has lead to this. Experience builds awareness. With another pre season, and proper redefining his role could help this problem immensely.
3 tuohy, improving in leaps and bounds. His run and carry plus great kicking off half back would be sorely missed, but perhaps a midfield role is beckoning? He would certainly add grunt and strength at the contest. Maybe MM has been waiting for his fitness to get to the next level.
4 duigan?? Gives strength at the contest. Could he be sharpened into an extractor role? Fitness? Obviously has the mental strength to improve. MM likes players in his mold.
5 lucas. Shows great promise in patches. Too light, needs to bulk up and improve fitness. Knows how to find the ball, but has lapses in disposal. Like robinson, this could improve dramatically off season and with more experience.
6 bell. Definitely one of MM favourites. Agility is a worry, a straight line player, but his key weakness is fitness. This can be addressed easily with another preseason. His positives give him massive upside.
7 buckley. MM seems to have shown faith in not delisting him. His size is a worry but mick sees something
8 menzel. Will be a beauty. Desperately needs strength and fitness, but has the skills.
9 graham . Too light , small atm but can find the footy and already has elite fitness. Needs to add kg.
Looking at the group as a whole, i see much more upside than downside for next year. Player development/recovery should offset any declines . But as can be seen even judd and carazzo have improvement over this years output.
I feel that mick inherited a lot of " generalist" midfielders this year, that didnt excell in anything. I expect our midfield will be sharpened into roles by MM-
Extractors
Blockers
Outside Runners
Line breakers
Goal kickers
Break away runners.
Oh yeahhhhhhhh carrazzo ..!!!.. why didnt i think of carrazzo... let me guess.... to get fitter than he has over the last 2 years and to tag???...
and judd eh??.... what do u expect from judd... 1 tackle between him and murphy in a semi final kind of game??
Listen.. i know youll bring up i njuries.. but everyone is injured and carrying something this time of the year...
but over the last 2 years juddy has been living in the shadows of jude bolton for performance and jude is older with more injuries and retired...
juddy doesnt run both ways injury or no injury
murphy cant survive as the number one mid.. he needs a dangerfield type to take the pressure of him (ironic)
he will be smashed and tagged as well as scragged everytime he waks out into the middle.. he will be run back into our defensive 50 .... thats what he will have to work through.
he cant do it...!!!
hes better off at another club and were better off without him depending on what someone is prepared to offer us.
he has painted himself into a corner... he has put on the great big bullseye.. and he wont cope!!
he remids me of a nick dal santo kind of player
very skillful .. but needs other A grade mids around him because he isnt a front liner..