Lloyd Well Past Best

[Sanj]

Lloyds goals have mainly come from fast leading.

He has lost a yard (Not basing it on tonights game) and we don't have enough quality deliverers of the ball.

We don't win any where near enough of the ball to give him enough opportunities and by the time we do he will be older and a touch slower again.

He isn't the type of player that can change his game and go and stand in the square and take contested marks.

None of this means that he can't contribute, but he won't be kicking 70+ any more.

Agree with you there Merv.

Robert Walls claimed his friend who is an Essendon supporter believed that Lloyd has lost a yard of pace and his kicking for goal is never the same. He got attacked for his comments. (Maybe it's just his view and not his friend). However the comments are spot on. Llyod is well past his best.

He's a champion and it's sad it's come to this. No doubt he will be battling through and will have times he will kick 5 or 6. But don't be surprised if he gets held to "no goals" again.

We really need to plan for the future. We just have to start getting game times into Neagle and Daniher and also some how get Gumbleton on to the park. Because when Lloyd goes, we don't want to go backwards again. And Lucas is also in a similar boat. That's what worries me. Then you have Fletcher and Michael.

I hear some people say it was not Lloyd's fault and our passes were bad. I agree that at times our passing in to the forward line was terrible. But occasions when we did drill it in to Matty's chest on the lead, he was just slow to get there and take a regulation mark.

Example: Start of 3rd quarter Pears drilled one at his chest and then 10 mins to go in the 3rd Houli drilled one at his throat both occasions he should have taken those. There was no excuse. And when he starts missing goals from 25m dead set in front, you know he is in trouble.

 

[Dr Moose]

Agree with you there Merv.

Robert Walls claimed his friend who is an Essendon supporter believed that Lloyd has lost a yard of pace and his kicking for goal is never the same. He got attacked for his comments. (Maybe it's just his view and not his friend). However the comments are spot on. Llyod is well past his best.

Always be very careful to incorporate comments from Robert Walls in here. As long as you've got a lead shield and a 50km exclusion zone he shouldn't contaminate too many proper supporter's sentiments but his tongue is registered with the UN as a biological weapon.

 

[ant555]

Why don't we wait a few more weeks before starting thread like this?

I'm hoping he plays more of a chf/hf role. I think he'll give us better value as he's very good on the move when he gets his fitness back.

His decision making is pretty much as slow as McPhee's when he is up the ground.....

 

[ant555]

ok 3 things.

1. If Lloyd wasn't fit why was he playing? Knighter said at the start of the year anyone who isn't 100% fit will not be playing.

2. This shows that Knighter has absolutely no faith whats-so-ever in Courtney Johns.

3. The delivery into Lloyd last night was F______ terrible. High balls that was Hudgthon's bread and butter.

The club is on record as saying Johns is being groomed as a defneder now. He has had his chnace as a forward and he couldnt cut it.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

His decision making is pretty much as slow as McPhee's when he is up the ground.....

I disagree. I think he's decision making with the ball is very good.

I think it's a combination of other players not running hard enough or leading to the right spot.

When we had a good side 99-01 Lloyd got a bit of ball outside 50 and found team mates regularly.

 

[The Donners]

I disagree. I think he's decision making with the ball is very good.

I think it's a combination of other players not running hard enough or leading to the right spot.

When we had a good side 99-01 Lloyd got a bit of ball outside 50 and found team mates regularly.

99-01 is a long time ago in terms of a football career. Lloyd doesn't have the speed he once did, move him up the ground and his opponent would clean up. I'd much prefer Lloyd using his body one-out in the square. IMO gone are the days of Lloyd leading to deliveries similar to those from Misiti et al from 99-01. Lloyd should not be the no. 1 target in the forward line but such is our status with injuries that can't change at the moment.

 

[Dr diagnosis]

hey guys i would agree that lloyd is past his best but you should cut him some slack because i have it on good authority that he wasn't supposed to play against the saints because his calf injury is alot worse then what he thinks it is. hopefully he is fit by next week so we can hand the pies another loss.

 

[The Donners]

hey guys i would agree that lloyd is past his best but you should cut him some slack because i have it on good authority that he wasn't supposed to play against the saints because his calf injury is alot worse then what he thinks it is. hopefully he is fit by next week so we can hand the pies another loss.

As I keep being told, Knights said at the start of the season that he would only play those that were 100% fit............

 

[ant555]

I disagree. I think he's decision making with the ball is very good.

I think it's a combination of other players not running hard enough or leading to the right spot.

When we had a good side 99-01 Lloyd got a bit of ball outside 50 and found team mates regularly.

I think you are looking too far into the past. I watch him during games and at training and he holds the footy too long when he is up the ground. The same problem McPhee has. He does not process the options quick enough. He may not turn it over a lot but he generally misses a couple of good options because his though process is not quick enough.

 

[Shane Hird]

For the first time ever,I am worried about Lloydy's form.

Strange to read so many posts about how he's not "100%" fit.

You don't need to be super fit to put your hands out and grab hold of a flying football.

He just simply isn't taking the grabs like he did in the past. Last thing we want is the Champ becoming a liability to the side. At least we know that he wil be doing everything he can to get his mojo back. But I'm still a bit/very worried...

 

[BomberFletch31]

I am more worried about Fletch to be honest. His inability to play any role but the role of spare man is extremely worrying. We have 3 key talls in the back half and 1 at the front. Logically it should be 2 and 2 but the best candidate to throw forward is also the only player who can consistantly beat his man (Ryder).

Fletch had a brilliant game against the Dogs, but a shocker on Friday against the Saints. He is well past the wrong side of 30, though, and it won't be long until he hangs up the boots. I think that in the meantime, Knights is grooming Michael and Ryder to take over in the backline, so Fletch has been given the role as the token spare man so that Ryder in particular can have some experience playing against quality opposition.

All things going well, if Fletch desides to do one more year next year he should reach 300 games.

Now, as for Lloyd, I'm somewhat worried about his lack of goal scoring opportunities over the past couple of games, and no one can deny that he is past his best, but it would be wrong to write him off. As already mentioned, we need Lucas back to take a bit of pressure off Lloyd. Delivery into the forward line has also been poor. Yes, Lloyd has been somewhat inaccurate too, but I wouldn't say that Lloyd is out of form. He's out there, week in, week out trying his hardest. Sooner or later we will see Lloyd go back to what he does best - kick goals. 10 goals in the 4 games he's played means a 2.5 goal per game average, which is only slightly under his career goals per game average.

 

[yaco55]

I previusly started a thread about who should retiree first Lucas or LLOyd.

I suggested that lloyd would retire at the end of 2009 but after viewing the first 5 games, I believe it should be at the end of 2008.

Lloyd is struggling with the speed of the modern game, and he makes poor decisions when up the ground, as well as being injury prone.

At least Lucas is durable and can play in other positions when he is struggling.

 

[BomberFletch31]

I previusly started a thread about who should retiree first Lucas or LLOyd.

I suggested that lloyd would retire at the end of 2009 but after viewing the first 5 games, I believe it should be at the end of 2008.

Lloyd is struggling with the speed of the modern game, and he makes poor decisions when up the ground, as well as being injury prone.

At least Lucas is durable and can play in other positions when he is struggling.

Lloyd still has a few more years left in him. The trouble is that our midfielders aren't delivering the ball to him well enough, and he has been well held because he is our only potent forward at the moment. Maybe at the end of 2010 both Lloyd and Lucas should consider hanging up the boots, but not now.

 

[yaco55]

Lloyd is struggling with the demands of the modern game !

And he is injury prone !

It is time for succession planning.

And that includes handing over the captaincy to Mark McVeigh.

After all, Matthew Knights was forced to retire when he wanted to continue playing.

 

[BomberFletch31]

Right now, no one on our list is capable of taking over from Matthew Lloyd at full forward, and do a better job than what Lloyd is doing. Maybe in a few years, young Daniher might be able to take that position. But not right now. When we get Lucas back, the two of them would make a very prominent forward duo.

I don't agree that it's time for Lloyd to retire, though. It's the team that's struggling at the moment, not just Lloyd. We have a lot of problem areas that need to be resolved - defensive pressure and delivery into the forward line should be on top of our priority list. Lloyd is being hamstrung (pardon the pun) because of the lack of opportunity.

I agree with handing over the captaincy, though. Lloyd should consider giving up the captaincy before his retirement, just like Hird did a few years back, in order to groom a younger player into a leadership role. I also agree that McVeigh should be the next captain.

 

[yaco55]

It is time to stop make excuses !

Unfortunately, every persons time comes to an end.

Essendon has been struggling for the last 4 years and I never previously heard the excuse that Lloyd is struggling because the team is struggling.

 

[GoDons]

I previusly started a thread about who should retiree first Lucas or LLOyd.

I suggested that lloyd would retire at the end of 2009 but after viewing the first 5 games, I believe it should be at the end of 2008.

Lloyd is struggling with the speed of the modern game, and he makes poor decisions when up the ground, as well as being injury prone.

At least Lucas is durable and can play in other positions when he is struggling.

Were you saying that after he kicked 6 in Round 1?

Lloyd will be fine.

In hindsight, he shouldn't have played against the Saints, and coupled with a inconsistent, slow and wayward delivery to him, he was never going to perform. On top of that, Max Hudghton was right on his game.

Talk about a knee jerk reaction...

 

[yaco55]

Matthew Lloyd hasn't been at the top of his game for three years.

I am suggesting that he retire at the end of 2008 so that Essendon can plan for the future.

When do you suggest that he retire ?

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Matthew Lloyd hasn't been at the top of his game for three years.

I am suggesting that he retire at the end of 2008 so that Essendon can plan for the future.

When do you suggest that he retire ?

Huh?

He ripped the hamstring off the bone 3 years ago. He did not play after round 3 when he was tearing it up.

He came back last year and kicked 62 goals. He had the second best average in goals per game. I'd take that any day of the week.

He is not what he used to be but he's still better than most. Let him get some continuity in games and make a call then.

 

[Grey Smith Bar]

Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet, but I think we'll have a pretty solid idea of Lloyd's future by the end of this season.

 

[Roberiquez]

Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet, but I think we'll have a pretty solid idea of Lloyd's future by the end of this season.

Would you give him that long? Really? I mean. Would you let him play 17 more games at < 15 disposals a game?

I don't think you want that. I think its better you slot someone with a potential shining future in his stead and watch them grow (+ gaining valuable match exp). Put llyodie in your 2nds and see if he can produce some form and consistancy.

 

[Merv]

Would you give him that long? Really? I mean. Would you let him play 17 more games at < 15 disposals a game?

I don't think you want that. I think its better you slot someone with a potential shining future in his stead and watch them grow (+ gaining valuable match exp). Put llyodie in your 2nds and see if he can produce some form and consistancy.

You have no idea

 

[Roberiquez]

So MN, if you were coach and lloyd continued his current (lack of) form you would let him play the remainder of the season in seniors, 17 more games?

BTW I'm not having a stab at essendon, i like the style of your game, and rate many of your players. I just question the decision to play lloyd based almost solely on his historic performance.

 

[In the Outer]

Did any of the people bagging Lloyd see the delivery to him on Friday night?

It was terrible!

It was said in another thread and I agree, switch our mids with Geelongs and Lloyd would have had 3 - 4 goals... Simple as that!

The delivery is what let us down not Lloyd!

 

[Fraz]

Richmond get bagged for their supporters eating their own but ours are almost as bad when the chips are down I thought we were better than that.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - he had an interrupted pre-season in which he said he wouldn't be back to full strength until around Round 6, couple that with his recent calf setback and our shocking delivery and what do you expect?

Some of you need to take a deep breath and relax. If there's no improvement in a few weeks then I would be worried.