Key players told to shape up or ship out...

[Guest]

Edge,
I suspect Robbo has a new pattern of attack ready to launch at the appropriate time.

My fear is he doesn't and he has nothing left without new personnel.

Time will tell but embarrassing loses to Cronulla, Cowboys and Knights causes me more worry

Axe... I hope you are right about a new pattern of attack...

Gus Gould's words in the paper on Sunday about the Roosters' current woes were interesting.

He called for more discipline and respect (presumably for oppositions and referees) and made the point that "muscle between the ears" is more important than muscle built in the gym.

Most interestingly, he said the Roosters attack is "far too predictable and conservative". Interesting words from the great man.

Many on here and elsewhere don't like Gus and think that he is a destabilizer. Many also quite rightly will point out that Gus's primary responsibility and interest is of course at his current club.

I still take note of what Gus says, for a couple of reasons... He is still very close to the Chairman, and I personally think he wants to see Easts do well if for only that reason... I also think he takes a bit of pride in being the coach that (along with Freddy) saved Easts from the scrapheap back in the 90s.

Thus, I think his comments are in typical Gould-esque fashion, aimed squarely at firing up the players with harsh words.

Most of the Easts players will not be spending their days and nights here on The Chook Pen listening to what us gibberers have to say. But you can be sure most players will pick up the papers to see what is being written about them publicly, and they all respect Gould's opinion.

I happen to agree with Gus's sentiments expressed on the weekend. For the Roosters to stand up and do something with the rest of season 2014 (and maybe it isn't too late...), the players need to do a few things and do them quickly...

Smarten up, toughen up mentally, grow up a bit in dealings with the cheats in pink (we will never curry favour with them but we should not be antagonizing them and giving them free kicks), and respect the opposition.

Also, as Gus says, I too wouldn't mind seeing some variety and creativity in attack. Our attack this year is very disappointing.

[bondi paul]

i agree. i mentioned here previously that we are likely mentally stale.
the monotony of our training and style of game whilst continually having to deal with adversity/frustration from match officials as well as we did in 2013 has resulted in a very inconsistent season.what i have not understood this year is the comment of we need to work harder. if we are continually working hard at training and it does not translate at game time then why not have plan b because plan a is evidently not getting results for the team.

[bondi-boy]

Smarten up, toughen up mentally, grow up a bit in dealings with the cheats in pink (we will never curry favour with them but we should not be antagonizing them and giving them free kicks), and respect the opposition.

Also, as Gus says, I too wouldn't mind seeing some variety and creativity in attack. Our attack this year is very disappointing.

Tried all that, it didn't work. Nothing has worked, nothing has changed, we still get "shafted", refer last week as one example.
"Bashing" the opposition out of matches is all we have left.

The only thing we should do with the men in pink is just ignore them.
Don't talk to them on the field.
Just simply ignore them.
Treat them with the contempt they deserve.


Souths have received 155 penalties this season...us 92/96 or so.
We 'never' see the ball...with us it's always panic stations.
And when our players do get the ball they're so startled they end up dropping it or throwing wayard passes.
Also, when they get it they're so stuffed from tackling they're worn out and can't attack.

[stephenj]

all the more reason to slow down and play to your plan rather than a hot potatoe panic play?

[bondi-boy]

all the more reason to slow down and play to your plan rather than a hot potatoe panic play?

Yes.

This super-fast play the ball and stuff it up/lose the ball nonsense we've started...needs to stop immediately.

All we really have to do is copy Manly's attacking plays/plans...as a starting point.

[Guest]

Yes.

This super-fast play the ball and stuff it up/lose the ball nonsense we've started...needs to stop immediately.

All we really have to do is copy Manly's attacking plays/plans...as a starting point.

Manly have copied Easts 2013 plays and Easts have copied Souths 2000 plays..

[bondi-boy]

Manly have copied Easts 2013 plays and Easts have copied Souths 2000 plays..

In that case we're not even doing Easts 2013 plays properly.