Mega Thread Senior Coach Discussion - Neeld v the alternatives

[Tulip]

In fairness to Lyon, he never wanted to be. He was forced to.

I would love him in some capacity at the club. Even as an assistant coach. Or on the board. He bleeds red and blue. At the end of the day his overall happiness comes first though, and he's apparently finally in a good place now after some tough times.

It's safe to say Jim put far too much stock in Garry's opinion. We'd be better off without Lyon having had his input IMO.

 

[RedLegs#5]

It should also be stated that money wouldn't be the only factor which could entice Clarkson. Peter Jackson said that to him, the appeal of coming to Melbourne was that it was one of the toughest challenges in Australian sport right now.

Should Clarkson be able to pull Melbourne from where we are now, to (dare I say it) a premiership, it'd go down as one of, if not the most heroic and incredible coaching accomplishments in AFL history.

 

[RedLegs#5]

It's safe to say Jim put far too much stock in Garry's opinion. We'd be better off without Lyon having had his input IMO.

Gary has an objective, intelligent and insightful eye for the game (at many levels). He said he didn't have the experience to help pick a coach, but at that stage he had no choice (he was forced into it as discussed). Should he choose to come to the club in some capacity, he would do so only with the realistic belief he could make a positive change. And should he think he can at some stage, I'd trust his instincts and back him in 100%. He knows his limitations and strengths and is objective enough to know where and when he could help (should he ever want to). Jim had every right to have faith in Gary. Unfortunately that particular task was not up Gary's street. Even Jim probably knew that deep down, but at that stage, probably didn't have the energy to call upon anyone outside his immediate circle of friends. It was a ridiculously hard situation both Jim and Gary found themselves in.

 

[youngbear]

Neeld is not the only problem. Josh Mahoney, among many, needs a bullet to the head (figuratively, I'm not making death threats).

 

[RedLegs#5]

Neeld is not the only problem. Josh Mahoney, among many, needs a bullet to the head (figuratively, I'm not making death threats).

It's not one person. I think the problem may be that overall we've just got too much inexperience at a coaching and development level, in order to rectify an equally inexperienced playing group and now problematic culture (thanks to the past 6 years of on and off field crap). No one can blame one person for any of this. The club needs some experienced help and guidance. Jackson was the first step.

 

[melbournemartin]

Main board thread suggesting Neeld is being sacked. Thoughts?

 

[RedLegs#5]

Main board thread suggesting Neeld is being sacked. Thoughts?

If true, not surprised. I gave it until the bye, but after today thought it was inevitably coming. There's only so much pressure that can build up in modern football before a coach is gone. He just couldn't show any consistent sign (even minor sign) of any sort of improvement with our squad. I highlight the word consistent.

I do think he has the right attitude, and could have been a great coach with a more experienced and mentally undamaged list/culture.

He just doesn't seem to have the experience or influence to pull this club out of such a deep mess. Maybe the right guy, but the wrong club at the wrong time.

Our list isn't that bad, and with the right experienced heads we can be well on our way to rectifying 6 years of hell.

I dare say the arrival of Jackson was the AFL's indirect notice of termination to Neeld.

 

[MightyHawks]

I feel sorry for Neeld - he certainly hasn't had the easiest time of it

Looking at your assistant coaches, I don't think they're the better group going around. It probably doesn't matter who is coaching if he doesn't have the right support around him

A little Clarkson story for you...

When Clarko was given the job at Hawthorn he said that he wanted an extra assistant coach. The club couldn't fund it so Clarko took a paycut to cover the salary of the extra assistant coach

If I was you and Neeld is being shown the door then I'd hire Gary Ayres for the rest of the year

There will be good options out there for next year - you just need to choose wisely

If Neeld isn't coaching Melbourne next year then I'm sure one of the other clubs will snap him up as an assistant. He was rated highly at Collingwood

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Main board thread suggesting Neeld is being sacked. Thoughts?

That thread's a pretty obvious troll mate. That OP has form as far as this goes. I wouldn't take it particularly seriously. Whatever the dynamics actually are as far as Neeld's position at the club is concerned, it's safe to say that guy wouldn't have a clue either way.

 

[CM Sean]

One day our horror story will become our legend, and what an epic it shall be. #believeinthedees

 

[melbournemartin]

That thread's a pretty obvious troll mate. That OP has form as far as this goes. I wouldn't take it particularly seriously. Whatever the dynamics actually are as far as Neeld's position at the club is concerned, it's safe to say that guy wouldn't have a clue either way.

Fair enough. I don't take enough notice of poster names to know their history (normally).

 

[Sir Hugh Percy]

If true, not surprised. I gave it until the bye, but after today thought it was inevitably coming. There's only so much pressure that can build up in modern football before a coach is gone. He just couldn't show any consistent sign (even minor sign) of any sort of improvement with our squad. I highlight the word consistent.

I do think he has the right attitude, and could have been a great coach with a more experienced and mentally undamaged list/culture.

He just doesn't seem to have the experience or influence to pull this club out of such a deep mess. Maybe the right guy, but the wrong club at the wrong time.

Our list isn't that bad, and with the right experienced heads we can be well on our way to rectifying 6 years of hell.

I dare say the arrival of Jackson was the AFL's indirect notice of termination to Neeld.

This. It's obviously not all Neeld's fault, and I really feel sorry for him, but if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

 

[Spirit of 39]

I just got a Tweet from the footy club. The bloke to the right of Neeld was Pete, the footy IT manager. He recalls vision, etc.

 

[RedLegs#5]

I just got a Tweet from the footy club. The bloke to the right of Neeld was Pete, the footy IT manager. He recalls vision, etc.

Pete

 

[The Dr]

I feel sorry for Neeld - he certainly hasn't had the easiest time of it

Looking at your assistant coaches, I don't think they're the better group going around. It probably doesn't matter who is coaching if he doesn't have the right support around him

A little Clarkson story for you...

When Clarko was given the job at Hawthorn he said that he wanted an extra assistant coach. The club couldn't fund it so Clarko took a paycut to cover the salary of the extra assistant coach

If I was you and Neeld is being shown the door then I'd hire Gary Ayres for the rest of the year

There will be good options out there for next year - you just need to choose wisely

If Neeld isn't coaching Melbourne next year then I'm sure one of the other clubs will snap him up as an assistant. He was rated highly at Collingwood

I'm not against this idea if Neeld went. Bring Ayres in for the rest of the year and promise him an assistants gig for next year after hopefully signing a big-name senior coach.

Ayres has a lot of negative baggage it seems, but you can't deny how well he's done with Port Melbourne

 

[Black Dynamite]

I'm neither here nor there on Ayres but think he would be an improvement on Neeld.
He seems to have worked hard on his perceived weaknesses and was willing to go back a level to do this.
He does seem a pretty loyal guy and may be difficult to convince him to leave Port Melbourne in the lurch mid season. Would be worth a chance with the prize of a full time gig if he works miracles and makes us really competitive, which is all I'm asking at the moment.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

It's an absolute indictment on Neeld that some of you want a failed coach to take over from him - VFL footballers are part time players with no pressure, unsuccessful AFL coaches can make good VFL coaches (just look at Knights at Geelong)

 

[cynical]

Like the Ayres idea.

Would try and get Choco as coach, Clarkson isn't going to go from Premiership quality team to a rabble club.

You really need someone who is going to develop the kids not a match day coach.

I'd go for something like this

- hardened experienced coach good with kids - choco
- hardened experienced coach as assistant - ayres
- well known club legend neitz/viney/schwarz types as assistant
- recent multiple premiership player someone from brisbane or geelong premiership eras(lingy)

 

[CWaffles]

Ling would be a great assistant coach although he has media commitments and wouldnt do it, but as has been said a few time in the past Simon Black would be someone that we should lool at as a midfield assistant if he doesnt go around again.

 

[Captain Jack]

What history does Ayres have? I assume he has coached AFL before has he?

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

What history does Ayres have? I assume he has coached AFL before has he?

Summary - Achieved nothing in five seasons at Geelong ... achieved nothing in four seasons at Adelaide.

 

[Dory_77]

What history does Ayres have? I assume he has coached AFL before has he?

Coached Geelong and Adelaide in the late 90's early 2000's and didn't do that well.

 

[Go the Biff]

What history does Ayres have? I assume he has coached AFL before has he?

WTF ? Are you taking the piss ? Gary Ayres. Used to play for Hawthorn. Went alright.

Google is your friend

 

[Sir Hugh Percy]

Summary - Achieved nothing in five seasons at Geelong ... achieved nothing in four seasons at Adelaide.

Yeah, picked up Malcolm Blight's crumbs at both clubs. Did get the Cats to the GF in 1995 in his first year there, but I s'pose you could put that down to the list that Blight had left him. Can't remember much about his time at Adelaide, but I'd say he left both clubs with a posistive win/loss record.

 

[fushy]

Good thing is that atleast Ayres knows the song if we do happen to win(big if)