Malcolm Blight to coach the Swans.

[liz]

Talk about massive over-reaction.

There is no way Roos job is in doubt for next year or the year after. He's completed two seasons with the team for a 3rd and 5th place finish. He's won two finals, including the first one out of Sydney since the Swans moved up north.

We are less than half way through this season and the going has certainly got tougher but we are 5-5 without ever really hitting our straps.

Yes, Saturday night was horrid but the Swans (and most teams, to be honest) can always be relied upon to throw in one of those every now and again.

If any club were to react by sacking their coach in Roos' position they would have rocks in their head. All coaches have gone through tougher times but you find out who can really coach by letting them work their way through it.

Look at what was being said about Bomber Thompson two years ago - and now look at him. How about Daniher with his "up and down Dees"? Or Pagan who was a genius 10 weeks ago and now is in charge of the worst team in the comp.

[Nolie]

Originally posted by Legs Akimbo
I think Malcolm Blight would be one option (assuming he is not certifiable), but there are others. When is Malthouse's contract up? What about Lee Matthews? Totally left of field...Kevin Sheedy.

.

I can't believe you people are talking up these old farts.
Sydney needs the abovenamed people like a hole in the head.

Like others have said about this thread - what a complete waste of time.

Roos does not need replacing - and if he was for heaven's sake get some young blood. An Alistair Clarkson, even Wayne Brittain (ex Carlton) or Peter Rohdes (ex Western Bulldogs). The latter were good coaches. They , like Roos, just "don't have the cattle".

By the way one of Blight's Premierships with Adelaide was a fluke. It was more to do with the Macintyre system for the finals rather than his coaching. Adelaide should never have made that final. Under the present more fairer system they wouldn't have made it .

[Legs Akimbo]

Liz, agree to an extent but the difference here is the way the team is playing. Just look at some of the stats being thrown around recently with number of scoring shots, etc etc. I don't believe Roos should be chopped, but many people, myself included, just don't like the way he is making the team play. Quite frankly, it is boring. He needs to reappraise the situation or others will do it for him.

I go to the football to enjoy a spectacle. I like to watch players enjoy themselves and play with flair. I want to watch young players given the opportunity to play footy, not follow a 'game plan' which is resembles keepings off meets Twister.

What's the point?

Brisbane, Grand-finalists last year have blooded ten new players this year. That's hope. We with a self-described 'average' list, yet we keep guys 4 years in the reserves without playing a senior game. Point? look at the list and ask whether it will deliver in the next 4 years and then ask yourself what is the benefit of playing defensive ugly football to minimise the chance of a blow-out against better teams.

This is called death of a thousand cuts and a lot of people who know a lot about footy, are starting to ask what are the better alternatives.

Roos should be paying attention. My favourite recent quote of his was how different things look on the inside than the outside. He said that from the inside looking out, but perhaps he aught to just go and sit in the stands and watch and see what it looks like from the outside in.

I will climb off the soapbox now.

[Tuesday]

Oh, cringe! It really irks me when people call for the head of a coach midseason for the underperformance of a team. It's a cheap option.

Paul Roos is going to stay put. I firmly believe a coach should remain with the team until the team's campaign is over. As they say, a captain goes down with his ship. That said, I am not predicting in any way, shape or form the Swans are sinking [even with Saturday night's efforts], but FFS, give him a chance! There are so many things that need to synch in a game and if one aspect is off, you couch potatoes start screaming for his head. Have you ever tried it yourself??? It's damn hard work, and that's not even at an elite level.

Widescale changes do not happen overnight. Let him continue the season, then, if still dissatisfied, then sit down and discuss an alternative rationally.

Remember: there's more than one person behind a team.

[Legs Akimbo]

Tuesday, wake up, it's Wednesday.

It's not the 'ends' that is pissing people off it's the means. We play the ugliest footy in the competition (go on deny it) and yet we have won just 5 games.

I want to be ENTERTAINED!

[Nolie]

This thread has really given me the "irritates".

For the gurus who have put forward names like Blight, Malthouse, Sheedy, Wallace etc - haven't you missed one of the so-called "super coaches" - that is Dennis Pagan?
Why hasn't his name been bandied about? Paid $700,000 a year to turn around the Blues. What has happened? Naff all. The same would happen to Sydney if you got in any of those old crocs.

This thread - calling for a coach change - is just so pointless as to be laughable.

[liz]

Originally posted by Legs Akimbo
Liz, agree to an extent but the difference here is the way the team is playing. Just look at some of the stats being thrown around recently with number of scoring shots, etc etc.

Saturday was horrible - no doubt about it. But there wasn't much wrong, statistically, with the scoring chances created against the Bombers or Dogs. One week does not a trend make.

Teams evolve as the players learn about each other, other teams learn about them, playing personnel subtely change. Sometimes it just takes one or two players within a squad to lift a level for the whole team to suddenly "click". Many teams go through down periods in their evolution and I'm not arguing that the Swans are in one at the moment (despite still mostly being competitive).

But it probably won't take much of a tweak for things to change around. Maybe that will be a Williams and Davis returning, it might be a Kennelly starting to find some form, it might be the sudden discovery of a tall KPP (eg an LRT suddenly finding his feet) to free up Leo. It may be a Moore or Schmidt being introduced into the middle and effecting clearances more regularly so we get first hands on the ball more often. It might be a Matty Davis or Malceski coming in and dazzling on a flank. Or Willoughby or McVeigh using their pace and skill through the middle, or Schneider regaining confidence in his hamstrings. It might just be a miniscule lift in confidence across the team that leads them to take more chances.

I'm not suggesting this will happen overnight. It might not happen this season. But changing coach whenever a team hits a bit of a trough is over-reactionary. All you will get is repeated first year "honeymoon periods" (as Wallace is currently experiencing, probably Roos did in 2003, Eade did in 1996) rather than sustainable development of a squad.

I've already pointed out how Geelong and Melbourne played dire, tentative and losing football two years ago. Suddenly they are two of the more exciting teams in the comp. Last week St Kilda were being lambasted for their style of football against the Crows. This week they are back to being heros, and yet are nowhere close to the exhilerating, unbeatable football they played for 10 weeks last year. This time a year ago West Coast were near the bottom having hardly won a game. Now they are the most fluent and confident team going around.

I've watched a fair amount of the reserves play this year and last and believe we do have some genuine quality coming through. The improvement of some of the second year players this year has been encouraging, while Grundy and Shaw look definite "possibles" from this year's crop, alongside Moore. But I also think that Roos is right to introduce them to the senior team gradually. I'll be disappointed if we haven't see at least three more debutants by the end of the season (and I predict we'll see one this week) but bringing them all in at once would be a disaster. Brisbane may have played 10 first year players but they are losing game after game despite having the likes of Akermanis and Brown in pretty good form, and Lappin and Power too before their injuries.

I know this has been a long rant but I firmly believe that evolution, not revolution is what is called for and my view that Roos is as good a steward as any others available hasn't changed one iota despite the recent performances.

[Rob-bloods]

As a now (Melbourne) based supporter, Saturday night as our first game of the season was heartbreaking.

However, I have attended a few games this season and seen most on the TV, and North Melbourne are STILL the worst side I have watched.

Saturday night was our worst performance yes,but, despite being unable to break the lines and barely being able to string a handball or kick and despite the umpies really giving it to us we were in a position to win the game late in the third. (So much for Saints!)

North vs Carlton particularly, Carlton were appalling but North continually kicked backwards and sideways and although thumping the Blues the Shinbonerswere absolute rubbish.

But all we heard was about their 5 goal streak, and of course an overweight AFL Adminstrator with a Cypriot background would not mention their bpring style of play would he...he played there.

[footyhead]

There is just one point to all this which makes the need for Roos to quickly change his game plan or be replaced by Malcolm Blight:

THE SWANS ARE CURRENTLY PLAYING THE MOST BORING GAMES OF FOOTBALL EVER SHOWN ON TV!!!!!

How do you think Aussie Rules got so popular ???

When it's played correctly it is great to watch.

Paul (the wrecker) Roos has single handedly done more to destroy the spectacle of the game in 2004 and 2005 than anything in the last 40 years.

Rodney's flood was bad, but Roo's team just puts me and a whole bunch of other people to sleep.

Now if they were at the top of the ladder we may be able to forgive him, becuase at least within the sleep that he has induced in us, we might dream of winning the premiership soon.

But all experts agree, as well as most fans- that is not going to happen.

This problem is huge becuase all but the hard core will turn away from complete bordom. Hell I am hard core and I have turned off the tele many times in the last 2 years!

I used to work in TV. Let me tele you if a plot isn't working the production company either makes the writer change it, or eventualy the network will step in and make the necessary changes happen. Football is supposed to entertain, either by providing a spectacle or hope in the form of ability to beat the best and thereby be the best.

The Swans are doing neither of these.

Either the Swans will enforce Roos to give the public what they want (premiersip winning team and/or attractive attacking gameplan), or the powers that be will step in and fix the situation.

There is just too much riding on it for this situation of utter boardom to go on much longer.

[Wil]

Don't worry about boring games or tactics.

For me the problem with Roos is:

- Poor recruitment. He has had 3 years for the squad - too long to be complaining about the players in the team. It is his team now. Willoughby and Schmidt have had to be the worst draft picks ever. We needed KPP's and he gave us another Jude Bolton and Schneider. Why draft Spriggs? Why delist and redraft James?

- Playing people out of position. Hall, Goodes, Kennelly, Barry, Mathews, Schneider, Buchanan, O'Keefe, Bevan, Vogels, etc.

- Disorganised team. People not knowing who to cover and squabbling about who should be in the centre square on bounces. Having to see O'Keefe sprint down to the backline on numerous occasions to cover someone the defence has missed. Also not having the right play at the right time - the forwards not knowing what the midfielders are doing and vice versa.

Simple stuff, Roos needs to get this right.

[liz]

Originally posted by Wil
Don't worry about boring games or tactics.

For me the problem with Roos is:

Willoughby and Schmidt have had to be the worst draft picks ever. We needed KPP's and he gave us another Jude Bolton and Schneider.

[Wil]

When your team has NEEDS. Like FB, CHB, CHF and Ruck you should draft players for those positions. Not take the "best player available" option. No matter how talented Willoughby and Schmidt are they were wasted as they have yet to have any influence on the Swans where a couple of young KPP's would have (or at least should have be having now).

I still can not get my head around the fact we do not have a second full back in the squad.