The game plan sucks

[j-mac31]

This fast, play-on style is exciting and effective when it works, but when we get into trouble its just one handball after another and its simply inevitable that a turnover will occur, its just a matter of when. And this happens too close to the other teams' goals. We need to slow down more often and take time to move the ball forward if the break away isn't on. And if we get in trouble, kick it long so at least when we turn it over, it's down our end and not theirs.

There is no defensive element to the game plan - the midfielders apply no pressure, the back line players (apart from the talls) are all runners and not defenders, and our best forward defender (Davey) is now spending plenty of time in the middle. One of Davey, Lovett or Jetta (when fit) needs to be up forward at all times to put pressure on the opposition. And with the backline, it's like Knights has seen guys like H. Shaw and McLeod be so good at running out of the backline and has decided to put a whole lot of them in there, without thinking about shut-down players. Doesn't help that McVeigh and Welsh have left the backline and M. Johnson was traded.
It works out that other teams clear our backline and move through the middle far too easily. We struggle to move forward and the opposition has no trouble.

[jimmyc1985]

We were plenty slow enough and took oodles of time with the ball up until half time last night and were comprehensively beaten, and looked shit. When we started moving it quickly in the 3rd was incidentally when we almost managed to play ourselves back in the game.

The game plan doesn't suck. It's a work in progress and will take seasons to get right. If anything, it's the players' execution of the plan that sometimes sucks.

[CameronClayton]

So it's a great game plan when we win, like the Norf game, but a shit game plan when we lose?

It's light years ahead of Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap.

It's nothing ground breaking either. It's the same game plan as Geelong's, it's just that they execute it better than us & have better foot skills & footy smarts (comes from experience).

[tonysoprano]

So it's a great game plan when we win, like the Norf game, but a shit game plan when we lose?

It's light years ahead of Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap.

It's nothing ground breaking either. It's the same game plan as Geelong's, it's just that they execute it better than us & have better foot skills & footy smarts (comes from experience).

It's not the same game plan as Geelong - they don't concede 120+ each game...and they win games - something we don't do anywhere near enough for my liking.

[Rossoneri]

So it's a great game plan when we win, like the Norf game, but a shit game plan when we lose?

It's light years ahead of Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap.

It's nothing ground breaking either. It's the same game plan as Geelong's, it's just that they execute it better than us & have better foot skills & footy smarts (comes from experience).

It's not the same game plan as Geelong - they don't concede 120+ each game...and they win games - something we don't do anywhere near enough for my liking.

Geelong have been using this game plan for 8 years, we have used it for 5 weeks. Think about it.

[swoodley]

Rather than bagging the game plan, try and remember what Knights has said time and again over the past 6-8 weeks and that is basically that we are only seeing the formative part of the overall plan at this stage.

He has acknowledged that the defensive side of things needs a lot of work but has also said that he doesn't want to overload the players with too much, too soon. The offensive side of the plan is still being "bedded down"

Part of the problem (imho) is that too many posters seem to think that we are a good team and can beat just about any other team we play.

That may be so in the next year or two but at present we are an fairly average team that plays an exciting brand of football (for 1-3 quarters a game).

IF everything goes to plan, then we can beat a lot of teams but given the new game plan, injuries to key players and the relative inexperience of a lot of our players, it is important to remember that we will more than likely lose more games than we win this year.

As long as I continue to see the young players getting games and experience, then I can live with another year without finals.

[Rossoneri]

I dont know Swoodley, apparently Knights has only 5 weeks to turn around a team that has been shithouse and lazy for 4 years.

[tonysoprano]

So it's a great game plan when we win, like the Norf game, but a shit game plan when we lose?

It's light years ahead of Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap.

It's nothing ground breaking either. It's the same game plan as Geelong's, it's just that they execute it better than us & have better foot skills & footy smarts (comes from experience).

It's not the same game plan as Geelong - they don't concede 120+ each game...and they win games - something we don't do anywhere near enough for my liking.

Geelong have been using this game plan for 8 years, we have used it for 5 weeks. Think about it.

I don't accept that at all Rosso - I might concede they have used it for 2 years - prior to that they were constantly bagged for an over-possessing style of football much like "Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap".

The other aspect of their plan is to limit their opposition scoring by applying pressure on every opponent everywhere on the ground. We are not close to even thinking about this part of the game - and that bothers me enormously given the defensive record we have had for the past 4 years.

[Rossoneri]

I don't accept that at all Rosso - I might concede they have used it for 2 years - prior to that they were constantly bagged for an over-possessing style of football much like "Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap".

The other aspect of their plan is to limit their opposition scoring by applying pressure on every opponent everywhere on the ground. We are not close to even thinking about this part of the game - and that bothers me enormously given the defensive record we have had for the past 4 years.

You have just validated what I was saying with the last 5 words of your post. Old habits die hard, and Knights has to get these players out of the old habits of not tackling or putting pressure on. It will be easy for players like Houli and co, but more difficult for those players who spent alot of time under sheedy moulding themselves to his gameplan, now having to do it again for a new coach. It wont happen in the space of 4 or five weeks, it will take at least half a season, probably more.

I bet if Knights could, he would thin Lloydy down and have him play the way he wants, rather than being very beefed up and unable to move half the time.

[nomolos]

So it's a great game plan when we win, like the Norf game, but a shit game plan when we lose?

That is an excellent observation on this thread, not too mention how retarded it(the thread) was initially.

Especially when you start with the line

"This fast, play-on style is exciting and effective when it works"

[tonysoprano]

I don't accept that at all Rosso - I might concede they have used it for 2 years - prior to that they were constantly bagged for an over-possessing style of football much like "Sheeds 'keeping's-off, chipping backwards & sideways' crap".

The other aspect of their plan is to limit their opposition scoring by applying pressure on every opponent everywhere on the ground. We are not close to even thinking about this part of the game - and that bothers me enormously given the defensive record we have had for the past 4 years.

You have just validated what I was saying with the last 5 words of your post. Old habits die hard, and Knights has to get these players out of the old habits of not tackling or putting pressure on. It will be easy for players like Houli and co, but more difficult for those players who spent alot of time under sheedy moulding themselves to his gameplan, now having to do it again for a new coach. It wont happen in the space of 4 or five weeks, it will take at least half a season, probably more.

I bet if Knights could, he would thin Lloydy down and have him play the way he wants, rather than being very beefed up and unable to move half the time.

I'm not sure how I have validated anything - but lets not turn this into a discussion reminiscent of Essendon4Ever

You seemed to imply that Knights is trying to get us out of the habit of not tackling or not putting pressure on - but I see no evidence of this. To me he has emphasised an attack at all costs gameplan. And for me this is a major deficiency given our record in recent years. Over the last 4 years this is our ranking based on points for and against:

2007 Finished 12th on the ladder - 4th for attack; 12th defense.
2006 15th ladder - 9th attack; 16th defense.
2005 13th ladder - 7th attack; 12th defense.
2004 8th ladder - 4th attack; 12th defense.

Is seems to me to be blatantly obvious that scoring is not our problem. Equally - it should be blatantly obvious that the first thing we need to improve is our defensive record. Yet, we have a game plan that seemingly gives not the slightest thought to this dimesnion of the game. If this means "the game plan sucks" - then I completely agree.

[Rossoneri]

I would have thought the first thing we needed to improve were our skills?

[Windy_Hill]

We were never going to win too much this year anyway. The game plan is an act in three parts and 2008 is Part One - develop mid-field pace and presence and confidence.

Acts 2 and 3 are to come next year - Act 1 - Accountability and Defensive Pressure and Act 3 - Adapting to Challenges - The alternative Game Plan

What we do know is that Act 1 is showing us the core of pacey midfielders we have been screaming for - Reimers, Houli, Jetta, Davey, Winderlich etc are all capabale of playing effectively in the new system

Maturity and a more developed style of play is yet to come so we will get blown away in many games

Patience

[Gossy7]

Great post Windy.

This game plan of ours isnt going to win us a premiership this year, it was never going to. Its designed for the future years when our midfields skills will be up to scratch so we can exectute this plan better. How about when we slammed on 6 goals in the third quarter on Friday night? How did the gameplan look then? Knights has got it right, and as soon as we can get our skills up to scratch we will be fine.

[Rossoneri]

We were never going to win too much this year anyway. The game plan is an act in three parts and 2008 is Part One - develop mid-field pace and presence and confidence.

Acts 2 and 3 are to come next year - Act 1 - Accountability and Defensive Pressure and Act 3 - Adapting to Challenges - The alternative Game Plan

What we do know is that Act 1 is showing us the core of pacey midfielders we have been screaming for - Reimers, Houli, Jetta, Davey, Winderlich etc are all capabale of playing effectively in the new system

Maturity and a more developed style of play is yet to come so we will get blown away in many games

Patience

Agree wth most of it. The players already have alot of confidence in the gameplan and in their own ability to hit targets and keep running, no matter the situation. What we lack is direction half of the time because no one is presenting at CHF.
You are right one Act 3, we wont be able to use another game plan until we master this one.
Accountability and defence pressure, maybe when we are a fitter team with another PS under their belts and a new fitness "advisor".

[robbie67]

We were never going to win too much this year anyway. The game plan is an act in three parts and 2008 is Part One - develop mid-field pace and presence and confidence.

Acts 2 and 3 are to come next year - Act 1 - Accountability and Defensive Pressure and Act 3 - Adapting to Challenges - The alternative Game Plan

What we do know is that Act 1 is showing us the core of pacey midfielders we have been screaming for - Reimers, Houli, Jetta, Davey, Winderlich etc are all capabale of playing effectively in the new system

Maturity and a more developed style of play is yet to come so we will get blown away in many games

Patience

Couldnt agree with you more. Some people need to learn to be patient.

[rockhole]

Try and imagine what the scenario would have been if there had been no change in the coaching department after 5 rounds. Much as I admired Sheeds, we would have been faced with more of the same as for the previous 4 or 5 years. With Knights, we have a new direction and plan and I am prepared to wait a lot longer than 5 weeks before passing judgement.

[robrulz5]

I'm happy with the way we are playing, it is a great way to develop players for the future. It will be frustrating at times but then when it comes off it is pretty damn good to watch.