one more thing from last night.

[Kingbilly]

Man of the match for me was Flanagan.
Sure we played like retards at times, but the Guppies had a good plan to shut down the flamboyance and unusally they were able to execute it for 80mins.

They read every short ball to Mini, they read basically everything the Roosters threw at them. To know what to do is one thing, much tougher to actually do it especially for 80 mins and the Sharks did it. bastards

[Guest]

Man of the match is Brian Smith. You just won't realise it until the finals when we come up to that critical game where the opposition think we are easy meat by copying a fast sideways moving defence adopted by Saints and the Sharks, and then we destroy them with constantly changing angles.

[Guest]

Man of the match is Brian Smith. You just won't realise it until the finals when we come up to that critical game where the opposition think we are easy meat by copying a fast sideways moving defence adopted by Saints and the Sharks, and then we destroy them with constantly changing angles.

Gees, that is taking optimism to a whole new level!!

[Chook Norris]

Man of the match is Brian Smith. You just won't realise it until the finals when we come up to that critical game where the opposition think we are easy meat by copying a fast sideways moving defence adopted by Saints and the Sharks, and then we destroy them with constantly changing angles.

surely Brain did not plan this week's loss..................

[Guest]

Man of the match for me was Flanagan.
Sure we played like retards at times, but the Guppies had a good plan to shut down the flamboyance and unusally they were able to execute it for 80mins.

They read every short ball to Mini, they read basically everything the Roosters threw at them. To know what to do is one thing, much tougher to actually do it especially for 80 mins and the Sharks did it. bastards

Cant agree totally. If we catch in the first half we are up by 18-24 at halftime

[Geohood]

You just never know till the finals roll around.... Im sure Brian wont let us bow out too easily

[Guest]

Man of the match for me was Flanagan.
Sure we played like retards at times, but the Guppies had a good plan to shut down the flamboyance and unusally they were able to execute it for 80mins.

They read every short ball to Mini, they read basically everything the Roosters threw at them. To know what to do is one thing, much tougher to actually do it especially for 80 mins and the Sharks did it. bastards

We went wide before we went forward, like last week, better ball control and more patience we win both games.

In fact a half decent kicking game in both we win also

[elo]

We had 6 line breaks and they missed 5 more tackles than us, I didn't think much of their defence at all when compared to Saints last Sunday.

We were a 30 point better team and somehow lost, same crap happened against the Warriors...oh well.

[Guest]

surely Brain did not plan this week's loss..................

Firstly, in regards to the losses have a read of this article: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225902482727

Now remember back to 2001 when the Eels were on fire but faltered at the last hurdle, and then remember what happened in 2003 when the Panthers were on fire. We belted the Panthers before the semis, and in doing so we showed them they are not invincible, and also showed them our aces which they were then able to trump in the game that mattered.

I am not saying the Smith planned this weeks losses. I am saying I bet Smith is happy we have had a loss so he can get rid of the cocky touch footy mentality within the team.

And further to that, I bet Smith is licking his lips that everyone thinks they have us worked out with a fast sideways moving defence. Freddy made a very interesting comment last night when he said something like "I can't believe the Roosters are still trying to get around this fast sideway moving defence, if the Roosters straighten up the their attack they will win". Quite frankly, if Blind Freddy can see it I am sure Smith can as well.

[TheLoneRooster]

dice, I have to hand it to you mate, the way you can see the positives in losses so soon after those losses. Well done, I really wish I was more like you in that regard. I would like to think this particular loss is a part of Brian's plans but I'm having a hard time with that concept given his reaction to it in the ABC radio interview.

[Kramer]

Flanagan did say in the SMH that he devised a plan to shut down the Roosters predictable attacking, saying they ran some regular plays and that the Sharks didn't buy the dummies from the 6 & 7. he also said that the rest of the teams that are still to play the Roosters will copy his game plan.

So, what Dice is saying is on the money, the Roosters will change the way they play in attack, Brian Smith has said as much. Then the other teams are in the dark as to how to defence against them.

[Chook Norris]

Flanagan.. saying they ran some regular plays and that the Sharks didn't buy the dummies from the 6 & 7. )

That bit was rather iffy.. because Carney still ran rings around their outside backs

[Guest]

dice, I have to hand it to you mate, the way you can see the positives in losses so soon after those losses. Well done, I really wish I was more like you in that regard. I would like to think this particular loss is a part of Brian's plans but I'm having a hard time with that concept given his reaction to it in the ABC radio interview.

Re-read my post. I never suggested Smith planned the loss. I am suggesting Smith wants everyone to think we are weak and will keep some aces up his sleeve for the finals. Trust me, if the game really mattered that much to Smith, JWH and Maubs would have played, and we would not have used those tactics.

Smith also wants the young cocky players in the team to know that confidence alone will not win you a premiership. A lesson he didn't properly impart on his similarly young and overconfident 2001 Eels.

[Kramer]

That bit was rather iffy.. because Carney still ran rings around their outside backs

What I think he is saying is the defence numbered up and prevented Carneys' support players running into gaps he created, I think!

[BUDDY]

I agree with much of what has been said about the guys now getting their minds on the job rather than up in the clouds and that we are now somewhat back under the radar. We will not go into the semis with similar game plans to the last two weeks.

The only concern I have is injuries. We lack depth in the backline and contrary to what some believe we lack the depth in the forwards when one or two of the quality players are missing. There are a few that have fallen off the pace the last couple of weeks, particularly Pearce, FPN and Ryles, but I'm confident they will come good when the whips are cracking. If we have a full contingent and are over the niggly injuries, we will have a fair crack at it.