Originally Posted by
Alibi Monday
I'm the first to acknowledge the dramatic difference the Bloods Code has bought to the club. I think Kirk's speech underlines it's value and strength, however I think it may be tested this year on a couple of levels:
The Leadership Group (aka Hall, Kirk, Barry, J Bolton, C Bolton, Mathews, Goodes)
How is the leadership group decided on?
What happens when a member of the leadership group is out of form?
How honest are they about themselves?
Do they really put the club in front of themselves when it comes to their own livelihood?
Barry, J Bolton and Mathews have been terrifc servants for this club for many years, but they are going to come under increasing pressure to hold their ground throughout 2007 (especially if tonight was anything to go by). Whilst these guys may well be very good mentors and role models, but leadership is also about performance.
Barry is in trouble if he's asked to hold down a KP such as full back. He hasn't dominated an opposition player consistently since 2005. The fact is Barry is on a downhill slide simply because of the rule changes and the natural deterioration of his famed mobility
Mathews just shouldn't be in the team. He was graceful enough to drop himself last year, but do you think he should do it after tonight? He adds nothing proactive to the team other than forcing a stoppage or attempting to shut down a fringe midfielder - which hardly augers well for the club when other on-ballers (Schmidt and Moore) are not being exposed to the elite game. Mathews best was never great, but now it's just a fade out of mediocrity that occurs week-in week-out.
Jude Bolton is in trouble. At his age now, there is no improvement, just consolidation. Unfortunately he's just not at the standard I think he or the club would like him to be. The scary thing is that he's traditionally a quick starter in the year, but he just doesn't look fit, sharp or confident. Like Mathews (albeit a higher standard), he is in real danger of just fading out his career with no more high-class performances. In his last 14 games, he has only managed to get over 20 possesions 4 times - not enough for a starting midefielder who doesn't kick goals.
Sydney have a couple of young natural leaders that should be in this group now or soon (O'Keefe, Kennelly and Malceski come to mind) and it would be ridiculous to keep extending the leadership group to over 50% of the starting lineup. Therefore, how does this change occur without offense? Or once you are in the leadership group are you in until retirement? Will Roos drop you if you are in the LG or do you have to nominate yourself to be dropped?
Will a member of the leadership group (and I'm staring directly at you Ben), step down and let a kid play, which I feel is a unanimous sentiment across all SSFC supporters? Or will Roos have the guts to drop a leader, not under the 'injury' cover, but on form?
Thoughts?
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