Coaching Staff Past Coach: Matthew Knights - Finally gets his second shot - 5/5

[Itsmyshow]

I said to a friend a couple of weeks ago, I am happy to support Knights as long as he can provide a direction for the fans and the club. Similar to that of Damien Hardwick has at Richmond, he plain and simply said, we suck, we are going to improve over time, so give us a chance, you will at times see that improvement during certain games, but then again, you will see some performances that are down.. Knights has given no indication of what the "path" is that we are headed down, he keeps mentioning the "path", but what exactly is it?? There are major flaws within the current game plan, these need to be addressed, I know that coaches can be stubborn and say, this is the way I want it, if they play this way they will achieve success, but the glaring and obvious with the current style is that it cannot be maintained, even the best have to shut down at times, Essendon is incapable of this.. Completely incapable. Either the "path" be altered now or the leadership and path need to change completely... I am happy to stick with Knights, as long as he can admit to the flaws and put real effort in to adjust it (not just ask players to put a fist in the air, sure, it looks good and looks like they are trying to shut down, but it isn't real).
In my uneducated opinion there are things that Knights, the players and the coaching staff need to do for the remainder of the season.

• Knights - Show some faith in some of these guys, if we are going to select players going forward, pick them and stick with them, going in and out of the side is not going to improve confidence or the ability to adjust to the game at the highest level.
• Coaching staff - Set a list of guidelines that are unquestionable and must be followed in order to be selected and discipline needs to be the first, as a club, we cannot afford to continually give away cheap free kicks and 50m penalties. In the modern game it punishes you way too much.
• Players - Provide a reason to be picked, if you are not in the current selected side, knock on the door loud enough so that you cannot be ignored, from form right through to discipline and the want to work hard, we just need guys that are willing to do that now.

There is obviously something going on at Windy Hill, stand up and be counted, I have never ever been embarrassed to say I am a member, a supporter and a follower of the Essendon FC, until this past weekend, the performance was embarrassing and something has to give, yes, we are victims of our own success, Essendon supporters demand it because it is what we know.. I can handle growth, I can handle rebuilding, but I struggle to cope with a period of insipid performance because of "rebuilding", it is not an excuse....

 

[Kong]

When Hird was again asked about his coaching future on FOX on Saturday night, his response was:

''As I have always said, Matthew Knights does have a contract. He has got another two years to go and he will be here, at Essendon, for those two years."

Maybe the club will stand Knights down and keep him on as a development coach?

Absolutely nothing in it, most likely, but oh well.

 

[Redb#]

When Hird was again asked about his coaching future on FOX on Saturday night, his response was:

''As I have always said, Matthew Knights does have a contract. He has got another two years to go and he will be here, at Essendon, for those two years."

Maybe the club will stand Knights down and keep him on as a development coach?

Absolutely nothing in it, most likely, but oh well.

yeah don't think there is much to read into there. Hird has been pretty steadfast, but then again so was Julia Gilliard

It seems to me the club would have to be on its knees on and off the field before Hird would step in.

 

[rines]

I haven't posted for the last 2 months after us visionary "knights dislikers" were told to get off the boards and hate ourselves for being fickle.

Our club is suffering for the small minded visions of people like the OP. Matthew Knights has NEVER successfully coached a club. Knights has NEVER been at a successful club even. Our selection policy has been a joke all year, and the Houli situation is just laughable. Game plan is bad and there is still, 3 years on, no evidence of a plan B. Knights is unable to execute even the most basic of moves and matchups in the box on gameday.

For all that nothing has changed. The stuff I posted way back in round 5 is still as true today as it was then. The very definition of insane to do the same thing twice and expect a different result.

Too many dreamers think this guy is in the class of Thompson et al and this is just a slump. Get your head out of the sand. He is a dud, a muppet, completely useless and has dragged our struggling club further into the mire. When I am forced to say that retaining sheedy would have been better, I know things are bad. We lost Harvey, lost Bailey, lost Hardwick, lost a shot at Thompson.. all cause this idiot could do powerpoint.

Sack him now and salvage our great club. At least a caretaker coach will start playing guys in position and giving certain players their MUCH DESERVED chance.

I don't know how anyone can still support this clown, we are only away from 15th spot on % and that could well change come end of season with a tough run home. Absolute disgrace.

 

[rines]

It seems to me the club would have to be on its knees on and off the field before Hird would step in.

losing to 16th place, at home, in front of only 26,000 of us.. if not now, then when?

Why wait until we sink further and lose even more confidence. Get Hird in, play guys in the right positions, give Houli and Muscles a longer chance and lets get something out of the last 6 weeks.

 

[stander]

Unfortunately, not much has changed since I posted this at the start of the thread on 8 July.

A lot has happened though since you applauded the player development and structures, just when the Dons turned 5-5. Its amazing how things can turn, and how easily suporters can throw away their convictions when confronted by challenging times.

 

[WeAreEssendon]

losing to 16th place, at home, in front of only 26,000 of us.. if not now, then when?

Why wait until we sink further and lose even more confidence. Get Hird in, play guys in the right positions, give Houli and Muscles a longer chance and lets get something out of the last 6 weeks.

The bottom line is you need to sack now so you have enough time to make the call on who'll coach next year.

You need to put in plans for trade week and who you'll keep or not. You can't let Knights see out the season and then start making changes.

He must go now, a caretaker appointed and we must put in plans for next year. We must tell the world we are looking for coaches so please apply. We are looking for recruits so please apply.

All players must be told your future is not safe and you need to impress the new coach in waiting.

 

[ManWithNoName]

... and Jay Neagle

What in the name of god has Neagle done wrong in the last two weeks?

 

[Redb#]

losing to 16th place, at home, in front of only 26,000 of us.. if not now, then when?

Why wait until we sink further and lose even more confidence. Get Hird in, play guys in the right positions, give Houli and Muscles a longer chance and lets get something out of the last 6 weeks.

I said on and off the field.

I think we should forget Hird he has made it pretty clear.

 

[Kong]

Played for Essendon, apparently.

 

[Rowd072]

Are you guys aware of his performance as an SANFL Coach?

He was shit, the Club went backwards, and the players hated him...

Shirley Bassey anyone?

This is spot on......The Port Magpies were very competetive when he arrived and a rabble when he left. Was very surprised when the Bombers took him on.

 

[EVERLAST]

I guess he was the most qualified that could take an average team and make them worse.

 

[OB1]

I still support him. I fail to see what everyone thinks a new coach will do. Nobody can do anything when so many players so clearly do not give a stuff.

Isn't it the coach who is responsible for ensuring his players do give a stuff?

 

[BomberTime]

Heard a through someone in the inner sanctum there was a board meeting on Sunday morning after the game and Blake Caracella's name was mentioned as a possible candidate for the vacant coaching job next year.

Peoples thoughts on Carcella coaching? Has been assistant coach at Collingwood and Geelong with varied success.

Also heard that Henry Slattery has re-signed with the club....happy days!

 

[Burzum]

Heard a through someone in the inner sanctum there was a board meeting on Sunday morning after the game and Blake Caracella's name was mentioned as a possible candidate for the vacant coaching job next year.

Peoples thoughts on Carcella coaching? Has been assistant coach at Collingwood and Geelong with varied success.

Also heard that Henry Slattery has re-signed with the club....happy days!

No thanks. Has no swag.

 

[Kong]

No thanks. Has no swag.

No what now?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

 

[Burzum]

No what now?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swag

 

[Kong]

I was thinking

 

[Kong]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=swag

lol what.

You can't just take the word "swagger", take off three letters and claim it as slang. It's almost exactly the same meaning.

Not you personally, but whoever "coined" the term.

 

[Burzum]

lol what.

You can't just take the word "swagger", take off three letters and claim it as slang. It's almost exactly the same meaning.

Not you personally, but whoever "coined" the term.

Haha, I know. However it has somehow worked its way into people's vocabulary.

I probably should have just said 'swagger'.

tbh.

 

[Kong]

It's cool because you said it.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

no homo?

 

[Kong]

 

[Burzum]