Mega Thread The Mark Neeld Mega-Thread

[Brenton Davy]

They shouldn't need to be motivated to give two shits about a game they love and get paid to play.

This x infinity.

The players need to take responsibility and stop blaming everyone and everything else

 

[Stiubhart]

Hope. The faintest glimmer is worth clinging to. Be it Viney or Toumpas, knowing that Grimes & Clark will come back (eventually), that Jonesy might lead you out of it, that Trengrove might improve without the burden of captaincy, that teams take a while to gel...

Agree , the kid is not a David Dench , youngest captain of his club at the time ,
someone like Dench had the added benefit of quality players around him , where as Melbourne don't , IMO , from an outsiders POV , Nathan Jones should have been made captain and the kid trengrove left to worry
about his own development without the added burden of captain of a struggling team. As far as Neeld is concerned , if the club is already down $1.5 Mil this year , sacking him on top of that wouldn't be feasible IMO , he would have to walk himself.

 

[Damon_3388]

If Neeld goes, would love to see him just rip the numerous gutless Melbourne players a new one. Really name and shame blokes. Probably wouldn't get another coaching gig after doing so (even as an assistant), but geez it'd be worthwhile.

 

[Superstar swan]

Surely by midweek

 

[Confuscius]

Couldn't disagree more for those calling for Neeld's head.

This debacle goes way beyond the coach, the current structure of the club is where the major cracks are appearing. Current senior players aren't doing enough to show strong leadership on and off the field which makes an impact on the younger group, Neeld can only do so much to give these guys a fair dinkum kick in the arse!

He will probably go because sacking the coach apparently fixes everything these days.....

I thought the same as you, but now I'm not sure. After seeing what's happened at Port you have to wonder what's going on down there, Neeld's had two preseasons and the players still don't care and are playing like what we saw today. Hinkley's got Port playing for the jumper and each other again in a shorter time span, Melbourne run around like they don't give a shit. There's a lot more wrong at Melbourne than the coach, but I'm starting to think Neeld may be one of the problems. The least the players could do is act like they want to play, like the Doggies are doing, but Neeld hasn't even got them doing that

 

[maelcoluim]

My guess is he'll be sacked or resign just before the mid-season break.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Norm Smith would be belly laughing looking down on Melbourne now.

Karma is really doing a number on the Dees.

Unfortunately it is absolute torment for their supporters. Kudos to those who have sat through years and years of this tripe

 

[Smiling Buddha]

I know that on the Melbourne board there are a few saying they should only sack Neeld if they can get Roos.

Let me remind you of what happened less than three years ago...

Melbourne score biggest win of year, thrashing Sydney

Melbourne Demons notched their biggest win under Dean Bailey and handed Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos his biggest defeat with a stunning 73-point thumping at the MCG.

The Demons blitzed a strangely flat Swans outfit from the start, producing an eight-goal first quarter to set up the 22.10 (142) to 10.9 (69) victory.

Veteran Brad Green booted five goals, including three in the first term, but the spoils were shared around, with Melbourne having 13 goal-kickers.

Colin Sylvia impressed in the midfield, Cameron Bruce blanketed Swans star Ryan O'Keefe and was damaging himself, while Mark Jamar continued his fine season in the ruck and also booted two majors.

Forget Roos. Get Bailey.

 

[100action]

dont know the hate for "attempted tackles" in this thread.

Tackles as a stat is extremely misleading, you can slap your hands on your opponent and have no real effect or you can ping him and it results in a goal yet both are recorded as a tackle. Having effective tackles and attempted tackles is pretty useful for identifying the true nature of this aspect of the game.

 

[markm106]

Won't be sacked this week. Won't be coaching there next year. Interesting next month could see 4 consecutive 100+ point losses if we play like we did today. So could easily be gone within the month.

 

[Adz]

You've got a tough situation.
Players aren't playing for him and Neeld knows he won't be there next year, making him a lame duck coach. Tough times indeed.

 

[BLPC08]

I can't think of another coach that has had such a horrific impact on a football club. Sure, Melbourne weren't great under Bailey, but they were competitive in most games and gave the fans some hope for the future. Neeld has sucked the life out of the club. He'll be gone by round 11 IMO.

 

[theflea]

The club should hold the line till the end of the year. I just dont see the point in having another assistant take the job when they really wont get the job anyway. You would have 3 coaches in 6 months again. Also it seems that with the help of jackson fixing up the off field stuff, the board need to throw everything at roos to coach the club. Getting another 'next in line' assistant wont be the answer either. A senior statesmen(eade,williams etc) maybe the only coach who would take on the job and you might have to offer a 5 year deal to get them over the line.

 

[Major Colvin]

I've read through most of the thread but I realise that only Melbourne supporters, who watch Melbourne games and who follow the club, week in week out, are in the best position to judge on this.

It pains me to admit that I have never seen a AFL coach so clearly out of their depth. I vaguely recall Buckenara being sacked in his second season at Sydney when they were terrible in the early 90's. Peter Rhode was another that didn't last long. Damien Drum had a bad run. But I can't recall any of those sides being playing the the shameful dispirited malaise that is being dished by Melbourne under Neeld.

Let me say straight of the bat. I consider our list to be the worst in the league (worse than GWS in terms of future potential). So clearly there are issues other than Neeld. But there is always going to be bad teams in the league, but you could at least expect them on occasion to be competitive. The hallmark of us under Neeld tenure has been a shocking lack of competitiveness usually combined with a galling lack of effort.

I really for the guy. His coaching career is ruined. He'll likely go down as one of the worst coaches ever. The powers that be who hired him almost on a whim (looking squarely at you Gary Lyon) have made a catastrophic mistake for which there may be no way out. I really hope he has success in footy eslewhere when he departs. Won't get a senior AFL coaching gig again but hopefully there'll be other opportunities.

But all sentiments aside, these are all the reasons he must go.
- He has completely disenfranchised the playing group. This started with removing senior players Rivers and Moloney from the playing group and replacing them with two kids, who very clearly are not up the task. He comes in to the club with zero tolerance, scorched earth approach. The kind of militant ideology of the Tommy Hafey ilk. Whilst I appreciate what we wanted to achieve with this...It was quite arrogant, disrespectful and very naive.

Without any real knowledge of the playing group calls them soft and lazy " I walked in to a nightmare" - verbatim. I wonder what he'd say if he walked in the club now? In 2011 we were in finals contention for most of it (and there were some very glaring deficiencies of that side too) - but compared to now it feels like a freaking golden era. Obviously thinks all that is required is a strict disciplinarian. He strikes me as completely old-school and unable to communicate, especially with the younger players. Almost all of the younger players have gone backwards under him. Whilst I don't rate our talent, obviously to be drafted into the AFL they must of shown something at some point. Some of the players running around I could barely see playing regular VFL. Watts, Trengove etc - people forget - were developing well a couple of years ago. They're both now completely devoid of confidence, that seems a lot to do with playing under Neeld.

I think everyone recognises his off-season recruiting was diabolical. Whilst I do understand where he was coming from, getting more senior experienced players to club, the execution was woeful. Picked up players who were at the end of their careers and unlikely to get a game anywhere else. Picks up Dawes who I have never rated and has been carried by a great Collingwood team his whole career. These recruits looked a huge mistake to anyone from the outside looking in.

The is no resemblance of a game plan. He seems now to have dropped his hard-nosed attitude and now just looks completely lost. He has no idea how to turn it around. Every press conference is making me cringe as it just reveals more and more how lost he is. Refuses to shoulder any of the blame. He's desperate and his excuses are become more and more so. I, and many others I see here, am honestly worried for his mental health. That is a ridiculous state of affairs because the club is my priority and I should be absolutely hating him for what he's reduced it to. But I just feel sorry for him, feel sorry for the players. This mess pre-dates all of them. But FFS at some point we have to forget the past, move on and someone take some f***ing responsibilty!

I hate that we have to being in a gap-time coach so early in the season. But we cant go on like this. It's destroying the club. I've never seen it in a worse state.

This is just an absolute tragedy. I don't have any answers. And neither does Mark Neeld.

 

[smitchell]

They should go after Mark Harvey, dead serious.

But Chris Scott won't come with him?

 

[bombermick]

He doesn't seem to command the respect of the players and isn't able to motivate them. Look at what Moloney is doing any Brisbane, compared to the shit he was serving up last year. Yes, Moloney deserves flak for the later, but it's a coach's job to inspire.

As for their list, they are smaller and weaker than the Suns and yet their list has far less talent. Going to take 7-8 years to make finals if everything goes right.

 

[JackOutback]

The suggestion that Neeld's tough approach was arrogant and showed he couldn't communicate with young players really grates with me. So he should come in softly, softly and coddle them? A kick in the pants is exactly what some of these players needed. There was a bunch of top 10 draft picks simply not living up to their potential. If a kick up the pants turned them into pea hearts not willing to play for their club, their fans, hell, their own careers, that is a greater indictment on them than it is on Neeld.

 

[lionbear]

Sadly for Neeld I think he was appointed coach of a team that was not designed for his coaching style, he has tried to fix this and has just put the club in a hole that appears hopeless. I don't think you can judge Neeld as a coach here as I think he was a square key getting fitted into a round hole. I think though his time at Melbourne is over, the team tonight had no effort and once you have that you might as well pack up and move on.

Bigger questions need to be asked of the panel that appointed him.

 

[Sprout]

I've read through most of the thread but I realise that only Melbourne supporters, who watch Melbourne games and who follow the club, week in week out, are in the best position to judge on this.

It pains me to admit that I have never seen a AFL coach so clearly out of their depth. I vaguely recall Buckenara being sacked in his second season at Sydney when they were terrible in the early 90's. Peter Rhode was another that didn't last long. Damien Drum had a bad run. But I can't recall any of those sides being playing the the shameful dispirited malaise that is being dished by Melbourne under Neeld.

Let me say straight of the bat. I consider our list to be the worst in the league (worse than GWS in terms of future potential). So clearly there are issues other than Neeld. But there is always going to be bad teams in the league, but you could at least expect them on occasion to be competitive. The hallmark of us under Neeld tenure has been a shocking lack of competitiveness usually combined with a galling lack of effort.

I really for the guy. His coaching career is ruined. He'll likely go down as one of the worst coaches ever. The powers that be who hired him almost on a whim (looking squarely at you Gary Lyon) have made a catastrophic mistake for which there may be no way out. I really hope he has success in footy eslewhere when he departs. Won't get a senior AFL coaching gig again but hopefully there'll be other opportunities.

But all sentiments aside, these are all the reasons he must go.
- He has completely disenfranchised the playing group. This started with removing senior players Rivers and Moloney from the playing group and replacing them with two kids, who very clearly are not up the task. He comes in to the club with zero tolerance, scorched earth approach. The kind of militant ideology of the Tommy Hafey ilk. Whilst I appreciate what we wanted to achieve with this...It was quite arrogant, disrespectful and very naive.

Without any real knowledge of the playing group calls them soft and lazy " I walked in to a nightmare" - verbatim. I wonder what he'd say if he walked in the club now? In 2011 we were in finals contention for most of it (and there were some very glaring deficiencies of that side too) - but compared to now it feels like a freaking golden era. Obviously thinks all that is required is a strict disciplinarian. He strikes me as completely old-school and unable to communicate, especially with the younger players. Almost all of the younger players have gone backwards under him. Whilst I don't rate our talent, obviously to be drafted into the AFL they must of shown something at some point. Some of the players running around I could barely see playing regular VFL. Watts, Trengove etc - people forget - were developing well a couple of years ago. They're both now completely devoid of confidence, that seems a lot to do with playing under Neeld.

I think everyone recognises his off-season recruiting was diabolical. Whilst I do understand where he was coming from, getting more senior experienced players to club, the execution was woeful. Picked up players who were at the end of their careers and unlikely to get a game anywhere else. Picks up Dawes who I have never rated and has been carried by a great Collingwood team his whole career. These recruits looked a huge mistake to anyone from the outside looking in.

The is no resemblance of a game plan. He seems now to have dropped his hard-nosed attitude and now just looks completely lost. He has no idea how to turn it around. Every press conference is making me cringe as it just reveals more and more how lost he is. Refuses to shoulder any of the blame. He's desperate and his excuses are become more and more so. I, and many others I see here, am honestly worried for his mental health. That is a ridiculous state of affairs because the club is my priority and I should be absolutely hating him for what he's reduced it to. But I just feel sorry for him, feel sorry for the players. This mess pre-dates all of them. But FFS at some point we have to forget the past, move on and someone take some f***ing responsibilty!

I hate that we have to being in a gap-time coach so early in the season. But we cant go on like this. It's destroying the club. I've never seen it in a worse state.

This is just an absolute tragedy. I don't have any answers. And neither does Mark Neeld.

Excellent post. Not a great deal I would add. Sums it up perfectly.

Our current state is not all Neeld's doing, but his naive approach has done so much more harm than good that we are redefining what it means to be rock bottom. VFL standard is being complimentary.

Should go this week. He won't. But he most certainly should. At this point it is delaying the inevitable.

 

[lionbear]

With this happening so early in the year, like Sydney in 93 is there any chance of Melbourne having a new coach signed sealed and delivered before the last game of the year? Like Bararassi when he took over Sydney actually have 5 to 10 weeks in the box this year to assess the list ready to get the Axe out after the last game.

 

[schnoods]

It would be interesting who would be the caretaker coach. If it were Rawlings it would be a bit of irony. Rawlings - the caretaker specialist.

Or even more ironic, If Craig were to be the interim coach, the team that helped sink his coaching days at adelaide (the penultimate belting before the cats rewrote a few records) is the same team he has to keep afloat before he hands the leaky boat to another aspiring captain.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

They need to get any of the assistants at geelong to coach them if they can't get Roos. Or just throwing this out there but Matthew Knights or Gary Ayres could be some candidates with both of them having success at the VFL level.

But Neeld has to go his position is untenable at the moment.

 

[AFLQLD]

Are the Melbourne Football Club better off than before Mark Neeld was made coach?

Not sure Neeld will hold his job but the question above could be asked just as easily about Buckley at Collingwood and the answer might be the same. Coaching is a strange business at the best of times let alone coaching at Melbourne.

 

[LeverPuller]

They need to get any of the assistants at geelong to coach them if they can't get Roos. Or just throwing this out there but Matthew Knights or Gary Ayres could be some candidates with both of them having success at the VFL level.

But Neeld has to go his position is untenable at the moment.

Why hasn't Alan Richardson ever gotten a crack? We've seen Hinkley turn it on.

 

[rdhopkins2]

If I were Neeld I would seriously look at playing the Casey squad next week.
Those that just think they can walk up and play AFL can start fighting for their spot.
Disgusting from Melbourne.
Give me a guernsey and I'd play with more heart.
Pathetic and insipid passengers that team. No care, no responsibility.
Start playing or go play kick to kick in your local park.

Expecting Neeld to get the arse this week.