We will never move forward with anasta!

[novice chook]

Every team needs a scapegoat. Anasta is our current one, just like Brett Finch before him.

Whatever he does won't be good enough for some. It never will be.

But Braith is a class act and will rise above it, he's used to it.

God forbid we criticise any of our backline and recognise that most of the Panthers points were scored from kicks, which our back 3 totally failed to handle.

But some will blame Anasta for that as well, the bloke just can't win.


NC

[redwhiteandbluester]

at the beginning of the season, i thought -

1. Minichiello
6. Carney
7. Pearce
8. Myles
9. Aubusson, J.
13. Anasta

14. Jones

now i'm not sure Myles can handle prop as he has dropped a lot of weight... otherwise, i still think the above is the best line up in the core positions

Myles couldn't do any worse than the marshmallows playing up front at the moment. And he could certainly get a run in the back row (although Guerra and Aubs are doing a fair job there at the moment).

Carney needs to go to 6, good kicking sides will punish him if he stays at fullback, and Anasta is battling but still worth his spot at lock.

It might help Anasta make a bit more of a contribution if he was playing 13, might encourage him to run more - he only had 4 carries today. it also might mean Carney and Pearce can take over the kicking game and we wont have to put up with Anasta's poor kicking anymore.

[Guest]

Every team needs a scapegoat. Anasta is our current one, just like Brett Finch before him.

Whatever he does won't be good enough for some. It never will be.

But Braith is a class act and will rise above it, he's used to it.

God forbid we criticise any of our backline and recognise that most of the Panthers points were scored from kicks, which our back 3 totally failed to handle.

But some will blame Anasta for that as well, the bloke just can't win.


NC

Look I dont think as a leader he is showing the way especialy to the yonger players. He needs to take a leaf out of Luke Lewis game and show precence on the field, he is after all our highest paid player.

[Guest]

Every team needs a scapegoat. Anasta is our current one, just like Brett Finch before him.

Whatever he does won't be good enough for some. It never will be.

But Braith is a class act and will rise above it, he's used to it.

God forbid we criticise any of our backline and recognise that most of the Panthers points were scored from kicks, which our back 3 totally failed to handle.

But some will blame Anasta for that as well, the bloke just can't win.


NC

True, all of it. He cops too much, too often, always has and probably always will.

BUT, it can't be ignored that we have a significant portion of our salary cap, our captain and our so called "marquee" (although I have no idea where this completely meaningless term got pulled from) player not doing all that much. We have a gaping hole in the forwards, and need a strike centre. Football is now a business.

He needs time to get used to it sure. But he won't be given all that much, knowing Politis and co., and when you combine that with Smith's clean-out reputation, you have to wonder...

Personally, I'd love to see him succeed. Probably, behind Fitzy, one of my favourite Roosters post-Freddy. Then again, I'd prefer to see the club succeed. And if that means letting Braith go, so be it.

[novice chook]

Look I dont think as a leader he is showing the way especialy to the yonger players. He needs to take a leaf out of Luke Lewis game and show precence on the field, he is after all our highest paid player.

There are some 'younger players' out there earning not too much less than Anasta does. And the problem is that the young blokes nowdays don't want to be told what to do, or even shown what to do for that matter.

Fact is, Anasta can only lead effectively if the blokes alongside him are prepared to be lead.

Fitzy had the same problem when he was captain, so it's nothing new.


NC

[Billy Gunn]

Guys, we lost across the park today. We did not lose because of 1-2 players.

Did you hear the ferocious tackles they laid on us? Luke Lewis et. al. shook our backline each time we had the ball. I changed my opinion of this Penrith team after watching them today. They will make the top 6 based on this performance. Big, strong and fast.

We were beaten in every position from 1-17. I'm sure each of our players tried their best but now is the time for Smith to make some tough decisions and move some players on and move others into their correct positions. Smith has the wisdom and experience to do this. He should, by now understand our players' strengths and areas of improvement.

Blaming Anasta is fruitless. True, he made some errors today, but he was not Robinson Crusoe.

Penrith was the 1st team to test Carney under the bomb. He also failed the test. Is anyone blaming him? This would also be fruitless IMHO.

Instead of blaming individuals, let's ask Smith to make some rightful decisions and help the team achieve its potential. If this means moving Anasta to the forwards and Carney to 5/8 and Minii to FB; then so be it; but please don't blame the players.

Be patient for a few more weeks. After that; then Smith needs to deliver the team as the correct package with players in their rightful positions.

i didn't blame him but if i was the coach I would have moved mini to the back before half time.

As for Anasta he was the same as pearce today - very predictable and his kicking game sucked big time

[Guest]

There are some 'younger players' out there earning not too much less than Anasta does. And the problem is that the young blokes nowdays don't want to be told what to do, or even shown what to do for that matter.

Fact is, Anasta can only lead effectively if the blokes alongside him are prepared to be lead.

Fitzy had the same problem when he was captain, so it's nothing new.


NC

NC i value your opinion on matters relating to footy..

Your posts are always pretty much spot on..

So i am interested..

Do you think Anasta as captain is the way forward for the side?

And has he given us value for money (asuming he is on $350-400K,which would be pretty close to the ballpark i would imagine)?

[The Axe]

i didn't blame him but if i was the coach I would have moved mini to the back before half time.

As for Anasta he was the same as pearce today - very predictable and his kicking game sucked big time

BG,
I like reading your thoughts in particular because you know your stuff and give much thought to the game.
I feel:
1. we were beaten by a better team today.
2. We played poorly
3. We have players out of position and IMHO some of the positions Smith has players in has not worked out for the long term and when would NOW be a good time to correct this
4. I was not singling out you as many posts across many threads were singling out players for criticism/blame.
5. IHMO it's time for Smith to use his experience and rectify the problems before they become big problems

[elo]

I'm actually quite concerned about Braith's leadership on the field, not much talk going on out there......does he sense he is on the outer or something? Maybe time to hand it off to Pearce and build for the future if Brian plans on cutting him loose.

[Billy Gunn]

BG,
I like reading your thoughts in particular because you know your stuff and give much thought to the game.
I feel:
1. we were beaten by a better team today.
2. We played poorly
3. We have players out of position and IMHO some of the positions Smith has players in has not worked out for the long term and when would NOW be a good time to correct this
4. I was not singling out you as many posts across many threads were singling out players for criticism/blame.
5. IHMO it's time for Smith to use his experience and rectify the problems before they become big problems

I agree, I don't see the point in singling out any players in a performance like we showed today. It does worry me that we had a game plan for the Rabbits game one but since then we haven't really shown anything more and it;s predictable.

I guess it will be interesting to see if there are positional changes as you suggest as I think the squad if settled bar those to come back from injury.

[Guest]

Poor Braith.

We need a captain that can inspire a team even when they're down. I don't know if Braith can do that.

[Chris]

Poor Braith.

We need a captain that can inspire a team even when they're down. I don't know if Braith can do that.

....Myles?

He's inspired me every game by the way hes playing and the way he's chasing players down.

[redwhiteandbluester]

....Myles?

He's inspired me every game by the way hes playing and the way he's chasing players down.

On current form I agree, he's busting his gut every week. Never goes missing like Braith badly does at times.

[Kingbilly]

The guy who is probably the best defender in the team, the GUY , infact the only GUY not to miss a tackle against the Bulldogs. Yes lets piss him off.

I agree he probably should not be kicking but Christ RL is not all about attack.

[Guest]

I wonder what you guys mean when you say you want Anasta to show leadership - Is it to take a hit-up ? Try and throw a miracle ball ? Man up in defence ?

During games like this there is not much he can do in terms of attack, his only way of 'inspiring' the team is through defence, and that he has covered.

He is a 5/8 playing behind an out-enthused pack and a backline filled with errors. The only thing he could of REALLY done better was to display a better kicking game, then again, all our kicks were shite today.