Wallsy Bang On This Time

Virgin Blue · **Joined:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:32 pm **Posts:** 3021

http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/an ... 22372.html

I'm not a massive fan of Wallsy's articles, but I reckon he is just about bang on today in The Age.

In particular I liked this bit...

Quote:

"More and more in today’s football you need a quality group of players who can run hard and long in the midfield. The two top teams, St Kilda and Geelong have at least eight A graders who can do this. They are the benchmark.

The Blues only have three, Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs. Some might argue Kade Simpson should be included in that group. Sadly for Carlton, veterans in Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland are having ordinary seasons. Others like Adam Bentick, Richard Hadley and Andrew Carrazzo don’t have the speed or finish to hurt"

Stevens and Scotland have sooo let this side down in 2009.

I also agree with Robert's assessment we don't have a genuine big bodied run-with (though he didn't actually use the words 'big bodied' I think this is what he was implying), and in some ways I think the club have erred not playing Bannister more in this role. He did the job on Brad Johnson, is big bodied, can run all day, is tough and disciplined, I think the club should have given him an extended run-with role a long time ago. Probably too late now. St.Kilda's Jones was not exactly the most natural of players, but he has blossomed in that role bec the club stuck with him for 2 yrs in that role. I actually reckon the Blues under Ratten go a bit too far with their revolving doors.

He is also bang on with this one...

Quote:

None of the regular defenders — Mark Austin, Michael Jamison, Dennis Armfield, Aaron Joseph, Bret Thornton, Paul Bower and Steven Browne — set up attacking moves with sweeping runs followed by precise bullet-like 50-metre passes. And ex-Demon Chris Johnson, who was recruited for his kicking, turns the ball over far too much for my liking.

Though in saying that Bower is attacking by nature.

Plenty of games to be fixed/filled at CFC.

Wild Blue Yonder · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:14 am

Yep he was bang on in naming Gram, Jones and Ray as "gun" midfielders for St Kilda to beef up his argument.

Same story as last month. I'm guessing Wallsy has too many media commitments and is filling a bit of space here with some regurg.

But hey, that's what you get living on media street.

JohnM · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:42 am

The sentiments of his article make sense, but the lists of 'gun' midfielders he created is a bit silly.

If Farren Ray can be considered a 'gun' mid, then Kade Simpson is... well, I guess a SuperMegaGun or something.

But yeah, it's pretty obvious we've still got a fair bit of work to do.

bluegirl72 · **Joined:** Sat May 23, 2009 8:30 pm **Posts:** 23924

I love the way Wallsy sends long distance smoke signals to ratts each week.A sort of mentor coach through journalism approach. :thumbsup:

I hope ratts reads these coaching moves errr articles thoroughly.
I have seen Bower run out from the backline and plant some fantastic passes though,so disagree about that.
God bless you Wallsy. :grin:

AIRCAV · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:23 am

did he mention Fev's grip ????

kingkerna · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:37 am

Luke Ball is listed as a gun, hasn't he had a Nick Stevens like season?

Wojee · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:17 am **Posts:** 35135

kingkerna wrote:

Luke Ball is listed as a gun, hasn't he had a Nick Stevens like season?

Yep, struggling to keep his place in the team IMO.

camel · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:44 am

I hope everyone reads the last paragraph. :thumbsup:

verbs · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 10:45 am

I was thinking the same thing camel.

bondiblue · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:07 am

kingkerna wrote:

Luke Ball is listed as a gun, hasn't he had a Nick Stevens like season?

I don't think that's right.

Ball would walk into our team....ahead of Stevens and Scotland and probably Simpson too.

The point being is that the Saints have a plethora of very good midfielders and their current extractor (normally Ball) runs faster than Ball, not necessarily harder. That does not mean Ball couldn't fill the (very important) in and under role seamslessly if their was an injury.

Ball was not failing prior to his 'demotion', moreso he had to work on a few things just like Dal Santo and Milne had to last year. It's better to work on things in the reserves than during a 4 pt game.

Saints can afford to do that; we can't. We on the other hand, due to injury, disciplinary or form reasons will bring in Bentley, Russell, an out of form Grigg and developing players Armfield, Browne and if he wasn't injured Pfieffer.

Our seniors in Scotland, Stevens and Hadley, and to a lesser extent Bannister and Wiggins have not stepped to the mark in 2009. There lies another problem.

bondiblue · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:13 am

camelboy wrote:

I hope everyone reads the last paragraph. :thumbsup:

It does take time. We are coming.

bluechucky · **Joined:** Sat Feb 26, 2005 6:29 am **Posts:** 13689

if it takes 7-8 years, how many years are we up to now?

Kaptain Kouta · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:41 pm **Posts:** 63509

bluechucky wrote:

if it takes 7-8 years, how many years are we up to now?

2 or 3, realistically.

jimmae · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:38 pm

Quote:

None of the regular defenders — Mark Austin, Michael Jamison, Dennis Armfield, Aaron Joseph, Bret Thornton, Paul Bower and Steven Browne — set up attacking moves with sweeping runs followed by precise bullet-like 50-metre passes. And ex-Demon Chris Johnson, who was recruited for his kicking, turns the ball over far too much for my liking.

VB - I actually find this part to be complete rubbish... how many teams actually have a HB who plays that role?

Only the very best. And I'd settle for a HB that can do bullet-like 40 m passes. I just hate how some footy journos sit back and go: "well that works for them, why aren't the other teams all doing it."

Only daft gits want a copy-cat league without considering other factors.

Having said that, I can see blokes like Browne & Austin pairing up for this type of role in the future.

budzy · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:17 am **Posts:** 8128

Why do we accept that it takes 6-7 years to get to a certain stage of development??

Isn't competition about doings things better and faster than your opponents??

I'm hoping that Carlton are working on new and innovative ways of developing quicker than the Geelongs/StKildas/Hawthorns/etc...

Are we????????????

camel · **Posted:** Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:29 pm

budzy wrote:

Why do we accept that it takes 6-7 years to get to a certain stage of development??

Isn't competition about doings things better and faster than your opponents??

I'm hoping that Carlton are working on new and innovative ways of developing quicker than the Geelongs/StKildas/Hawthorns/etc...

Are we????????????

That's a fair point. And it is good that we are scrutinising the coaching staff closely. Well, actually it doesn't matter what we scrutinise, let's hope Swanny et al are doing likewise, haha. Anyway, the point is, there is no miracle development program that exists. Yeah, sure, maybe we can do it a few years quicker than some of the other clubs. Maybe we can't. But what we do have is a nucleus that should allow the team to develop into a very strong side over the next handful of years.

Another tall forward and rebounding key defender would be nice though. :lol:

blueboys101 · **Joined:** Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:29 pm **Posts:** 327

wallsy is a douche bag, same shit different day write something new buddy, we are developing, we are young , what does he expect us to come out and be top 4 material after not even making the 8, everyone needs to take a chill pill

Blues Clues · **Joined:** Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:01 pm **Posts:** 2099

Hopefully in the next few weeks Wallsy will regret not mentioning Walker amongst our gun mids.

Up and running, we may have a Fab 4 after all.

anfield · **Joined:** Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:47 pm **Posts:** 580

The sting in the tail is the last sentence/paragraph.

99prelim · **Joined:** Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:01 pm **Posts:** 3561

Kaptain Kouta wrote:

bluechucky wrote:

if it takes 7-8 years, how many years are we up to now?

2 or 3, realistically.

cause of course, the other 15 clubs will not improve in the next 3-4 years

Wallsy Bang On This Time

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