I have listened to Teague's interview for this week's game.
Teague's either giving nothing away (not sure if that's the right thing to do?)
or
Teague's blatantly lying. (I don't think that's the right thing to do.
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think he lost me a bit today for numerous reasons.
I have to say after a few minutes of listening, I was
. Furious.
I felt like I was being bullshitted to.
I felt like Teague was blatantly lying to the interviewers, to the public and to the fans. It was his stuttering and body language that gave me that impression.
I felt like Teague had lost touch and control of the team.
When he said "I am a bit confused why [the interviewers] asking me all [these questions about Cripps' fitness] when it happened so long ago?". Then he's lost touch or someone should have repeated the same questions as they had, or the Communications Manager who he should be liaising with as the spokesman of the Team, needs to be replaced.
Teague stated that Cripps had a sore back in round 1-2 "not sure about the details", and that's all he knows, and "it is not an issue now".
Does he think Cripps looks like he's playing with his normal flair and aggression? No one else does. It is very obvious to everyone Cripps is playing injured, and if not he's carrying a "niggle" that doesn't let him play his game, or, he's checked out, coz he's not interested in getting the hard ball. So which is it?
So the Head Coach of his Team, who he knows every individual on an intimate level, (because he has to know everything about their welfare and if anything will handicap their performance in the next game), doesn't know if a player has been playing injured, or with a fracture or with injections. I can't buy that. It is The Head Coach's job to know, and if he doesn't make it his business, then he should not be in that very important seat we have gifted to him. He's in the people business. Moving Hearts and Minds can't be done if you don't know the ins and outs of a player is ie what's going on with their body and their mind.
Fancy not knowing if Cripps has been injected before a game to play, or that he has a back fractured (FFS), or an injury. The media do, and report it. Nothing to do with sneaky leakers. Players talk. Trainers talk. Bystanders hear. Bystanders talk.
Show some respect Teaguey. Then he goes on to say "it's not an issue now", oh yeah, so there is/ wass an issue, so what exactly is that " issue" Teaguey? Not round 1 and 2, but the recent change in his demeanour and attack on the ball!
Teague declared in the media that an unfit player (physically or mentally) will decide whether he plays or not. As long as they put their hand up, they play. FMD. That's Russian Roulette if I ever heard it, and talk about being disinterested in the player's welfare. He ended his interview saying he thought player welfare is his number one concern with all the soft cap cuts. Is there an air of ambiguity, or should I say, blatant hypocrisy?
Teague's happy with the way Crippa is dealing with [injury]. It is not Crippas job to be dealing with injury. Leave that to the professionals. Its Russell's job, Its the doctor's job. It's the coach's job. Not Crippa's.
Then Teague concludes with "Crippas in great shape". Sorry, but I have to say, I'm not an idiot, but Teague is an idiot for saying this.
Crippa can't bend over to pick up a ball.
He doesn't tackle.
He is not winning the contested ball.
He looks disinterested in contact.
The we are suppose to believe Teague when he says "[Williams] is not playing hurt...then tells us earlier that every player has niggles, but he "believes in [Williams'] talent"...and aware "he hasn't played like we like", and "adjusting to a position". FFS that's what preseason is all about: gelling the team. WTF have you ben doing for the last 8 months Teague?????
As for the game plan. Lets remember he had all summer with a fulll squad to practise the game plan, over and over again on a beautiful brand new ground in beautiful weather on a daily basis. On game days he has a runner to send out the message to stop some of the set ups, loss of concentration, and changes in tactics, and take off players who are repeat offenders or can't concentrate. He blames it all on the players out on the field, but he's the decision maker, on them and the game plan. He said:
"we need to defend with more intent. We weren't good enough"
"we slowed it down and started chipping it sideways"
"when they are coming at us, we needed to slow it down"
"need to exercise more concentration"
Well, Mr smartarse, that's all good after the fact, but why don't you send your runner down to the players on the field straight after the first goal gets through, and the signs are there, and tell them they are falling into the same old trap of the last 2 seasons. Give them instruction! Why? It happens for 5 goals in a row, and last week 8, and it has to be stopped there and then.
No wonder they media have labelled this weekly occurence as "Teague's Gift", and now I agree with that label.
He's giving it to the opposition on a platter, not educating his team enough during preseason, let alone the week, and he's selecting players who are injured and letting them decide if they want to put their hand up to play or not, and, worst of all, on game day, he's not sending the message to players on the field as a matter of urgency via his runner, and instructing them rather than letting the players just hang themselves in public.
No wonder I was feeling
listening to his ahhhhhhhhhhh repeat that..............aaaahhhhhhh..blame blame blame lie lie ignore ignore...AAAAAHHHHHHHHH. FMD, I thought Bob Hawke was dead.
Sorry but I had to let it all out. I'm sick of the list getting blamed, the development, the players......take ownership you lump.
My conundrum, I want to support Teague, but should I continue to give Teague the benefit of the doubt after all that?