We need a more inspiring captain...

[Huntercrow]

I started a thread about retaining Goodwin as Captain at the end of 2010 but was howled down because his retirement was a fait acompli.

In other words it was in the too hard basket for the AFC to reverse.
More likely they asked him once and then threw in the towel.

Now NVB has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Had the Crows managed to retain Goodwin for 2011 ask yourself this question.........Would we now be facing our least productive season in 20 years?????

In my humble opinion, "NO" Instead we would be on track for a finals spot because he simply would not allow any team mate to get away with the impotent rubbish served up this season.
Also ask yourself this question......Would the AFC have been better served by Simon Goodwin being our next coach or our current captain???????

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

I started a thread about retaining Goodwin as Captain at the end of 2010 but was howled down because his retirement was a fait acompli.

But that is the thing, this is the year we had to have. However, has a younger captain taken over from Simon Goodwin at the end of 2008 and he then mentored them for 12 to 24 months - his inexperience wouldn't be so ripe now.

Instead of hanging on to him for one more year, we hang onto his captaincy for on year to long.

 

[earlsta]

It's pretty scary thinking that this guy could be in our team for another 6-7 years considering he's our captain. He's just not good enough to be an AFL player, he's gone backwards in the past two years.

We really messed up by giving him the captaincy.
Very worrying times ahead.

 

[Crow_68]

Captaincy only thing saving VB from a stint at the Panthers.

Sheedy was right again.

 

[StillCrowing]

He seemed to be dumped in defence against the Doggies. Couldn't really get into the game. Whenever he gets the ball it seems to be from a hospital handball from a team mate. I really do feel sorry for the guy. He's got the weight of a state on his shoulders.

 

[Stiffy_18]

It's pretty scary thinking that this guy could be in our team for another 6-7 years considering he's our captain. He's just not good enough to be an AFL player, he's gone backwards in the past two years.

We really messed up by giving him the captaincy.
Very worrying times ahead.

Thats just crap!

He is a good AFL player but he is in no way a good captain or an inspirational leader.

He was never going to be a star but he was always going to be a good, solid AFL player and he has reached that level.

He is not a midfielder but more of a good HBF. There definitely is a place for a player like van Berlo on a good AFL team, he just should not be a captain.

This reminds me of the farcical situation we had with Hawthorn a few years ago when they appointed Richard Vanderburg to be a captain instead of Shane Crawford.

 

[King Elvis]

He seemed to be dumped in defence against the Doggies. Couldn't really get into the game. Whenever he gets the ball it seems to be from a hospital handball from a team mate. I really do feel sorry for the guy. He's got the weight of a state on his shoulders.

Don't mean to be a prick, but that'd be a taste of his own medicine.

 

[CROW36]

Vb ?

What does our so called captain bring to the table, he fumbles, hopless under pressure, he certainly doesn't lead by example and he is by far the worst captain in the AFL, at best he is an average B grader .......but according to Craigy he is the perfect alter boy.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Re: Vb ?

Terrible game last night from the skipper.

Couldnt help thinking all game has there ever been a worse player in the history of the game captain an AFL/VFL club?

For anyone who says Cassisi, get stuffed! He is far superioir
And Richie Vandenberg was a better player aswell..

 

[noddy]

Re: Vb ?

What does our so called captain bring to the table, he fumbles, hopless under pressure, he certainly doesn't lead by example and he is by far the worst captain in the AFL, at best he is an average B grader .......but according to Craigy he is the perfect alter boy.

This type of post is what really shits me off about some supporters of our club.

VB was not my choice as captain but for **** sake give the man a bit of respect as the captain of our footy club, he might not be the most gifted player out there but he gives his all & just think for a moment of the year the club is having on the field in his first year as captain before you hang him up for caning.

 

[FR0GGY]

Re: Vb ?

3rd thread needed? But I agree he's been pretty poor.

 

[taylor_walker_13]

Re: Vb ?

VB was terrible last night and has always only been a B grader at best ordinary disposal no leadership skills, joke of a captain and really shows how poor our leadership is at the AFC, if he wasnt captain I doubt on his form he would even be selected.

If the AFC is paying anyone on our list any more that $200K a year they have their heads red

 

[relapse]

Re: Vb ?

Terrible game last night from the skipper.

Couldnt help thinking all game has there ever been a worse player in the history of the game captain an AFL/VFL club?

For anyone who says Cassisi, get stuffed! He is far superioir
And Richie Vandenberg was a better player aswell..

What scarier is when a 10 year old can also see it.

At the WCE game my son asked me why Thompson was not the captain and then proceeded to say that VB should stand for "very bad" rather than Van Berlo.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Re: Vb ?

VB was terrible last night and has always only been a B grader at best ordinary disposal no leadership skills, joke of a captain and really shows how poor our leadership is at the AFC, if he wasnt captain I doubt on his form he would even be selected.

If the AFC is paying anyone on our list any more that $200K a year they have their heads red

He is not a B grader. He was once a potential B grader.

A' B grader' is a Johncock, Vince, Tippett.

I am not sure he is currently a 'C' grader... That to me is an Otten, Jacobs, Douglas....

 

[mcglede]

As a neutral at last night's game (well, a Port follower who took his Adelaide member wife to the game), I thought van Berlo's game was awful - simply awful. He was continually led to the footy, made little attempt to link when bringing the ball out of defence, disposed poorly and has so little faith from his coach that he never spent a moment in the midfield. Not a single centre bouce - even when Douglas, Dangerfield and Doughty were in their demanding the Bulldogs players take it out ahead of them. Even Schmidt came off the subs spot at half time and was in the middle for the second centre bounce of the second half.

In the last quarter, van Berlo was very animated after one Bulldogs goal, pointing at his defenders and I would imagine their opponents. No captain should do that - was terrible.

Captain's lead and others follow. Petrenko showed no interest last night in being an AFL footballer. Vince is a downhill runner, Sloane, bless his heart tries, but that's his level - a trier, Henderson and Symes need to publically explain how they can kick out on the full and into the man on the mark 15 meters out from the Bulldogs goal and still deserve a pay cheque, Jacobs has no interest in learning how to tap to advantage, Doughty and Douglas are slow and Dangerfield needs to learn how to find the footy in an advantageous position.

Still, at least I only mention ten players. I can no longer watch Port because they have no decent administration, no decent coaches and no decent players. At least the Crows have ability - they just have to show they want the football and then learn how to use it.

 

[Klug]

Thats just crap!

He was never going to be a star but he was always going to be a good, solid AFL player and he has reached that level.
.

I would challenge that he is, or has ever been, a good solid AFL player. What are Van Berlo's strengths? He is the king of the hospital handpass to teammates about to get crunched (along with Symes, Douglas and Doughty), he is not particularly quick, with his height and build, he is caught between being a mid-fielder or defender, and not up to the required standard of either.

Forget the fact that he is our captain for a minute; how many other AFL teams would this guy be an automatic selection in? Maybe Port, Gold Coast, North Melb?

It's frightening to think that the Crows believe he is really the best option as a captain to take us forward for the next few years.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Thought he played okay tonight. Not our worse.

I thought he was useless.

 

[Klug]

Re: Vb ?

He brings a respectable off field demeanour, good presentation skills in press conferences, enthusiasm during gruelling preseason long distance running

On the footy field though....

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Re: Vb ?

Bit harsh. He has been okay this year but too be honest if he turned around and said he wanted to go back to WA would anyone be really that cut up. Mind you, you could pretty much say the same about 60-70% of our list.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Re: Vb ?

3rd thread needed? But I agree he's been pretty poor.

Yes.......

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Re: Vb ?

He brings a respectable off field demeanour, good presentation skills in press conferences, enthusiasm during gruelling preseason long distance running

On the footy field though....

So could I. ( except the running part)

 

[relapse]

Re: Vb ?

He is not a B grader. He was once a potential B grader.

A' B grader' is a Johncock, Vince, Tippett.

I am not sure he is currently a 'C' grader... That to me is an Otten, Jacobs, Douglas....

Nathan Van Berlo is the personification of Craig's coaching philosophy and is Craig's prototype for the ultimate Crow-bot; an honest trier with zero flair, zero physical presence on the field, but posts great times at training.

The scary thing is that he exactly what Neil wants to develop all our young players into.

 

[footy4ever]

2 howlers in 15 seconds from our senior leader tonight. Let Boyd waltz around him in the goal square to set up Shermanator and then couldn't lay a glove on the ball in the goal square to allow a second walk in goal. School boy errors from the bloke who is supposed to be leading, how can we expect our kids to improve? At least he has been removed from the midfield rotations...

In fairness, It was amazing for VB to have even pushed himself to a position to be our only defender between the ball and the goal. The bulldog player was trying to get there but couldn't. It was only good luck for him that the attempted shot on goal was shit and moved away from goal when VB was full tilt heading for the goal line to stop the ball. Way too harsh on VB for this one.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Re: Vb ?

He brings a respectable off field demeanour, good presentation skills in press conferences, enthusiasm during gruelling preseason long distance running

On the footy field though....

Ouch.....

 

[hey shorty]

Re: Vb ?

Pretty disrespectful to say he has no leadership skills at all. My issue is he doesnt let his actions do the talking like other skippers. You can bet Port will lift with Cassisi in the side tomorrow but im not sure VB has the same stuff about him.

He wasnt the right choice as captain but to go at him with a torch and pitchfork is just so wrong, he didnt pick himself.