Does anyone know what they're talking about?

[melon....]

I don't think anyone really knows everything that goes on. Some may know snippets but no one knows the whole picture, unless you are within the very inner day to day sanctum.

I'm not saying that I know everything either.

But I do know that Brian smith has made some terrible terrible mistakes this year.

Just one example is that he allows his support coaches and trainers to have full autonomy. Now that luckily worked well last year because the staff he had supporting him actually knew what they were doing. But the support coaches and trainers this year have no bloody idea. He's allowed them in the offseason to change not only our defence structure but more importantly our attack and our trainer. Everything changed from last year. Smith has sat back doing nothing whilst letting these lunatic support staff that HE hired slowly destroy what was a good team from last year. When nothing is broke, it doesn't need fixing (or change) you bloody idiot smith. If you want to sit in your office reading books all day and counting your big pay cheque whilst your idiot support staff that you hired stuff up our team, if you don't want to be a hands-on coach anymore, then piss off to Canberra as I've heard some people like the drive down there.

That's just one of the bog problems that's happened. There is more but that alone is enough to warrant his sacking. Anyone who blames management has no f'ing idea. The only way someone should blame management is that they haven't stepped in earlier and sacked the idiot but I guess that will come later onas they need to be shown to have given the idiot a proper chance. In the meantime, we have to put up with more pathetic disinterested performances.

Nobody here really knows teh entire situation. So on that point I agree with Fred.

But the problem has been here longer than Smith has. As Chook says weve been a basket case since 2004 - but worse than that - we were a basket case earlier than that but Gould had Nick's ear and kept things turning into the positive directions. Once Gould left, these elements started eating into the club's flesh again.

You are failing to see that. But credit to you...Smith is a great excuse.

[Guest]

Nothing ever changes with you Pim...you're a thread killer.

About time you fuucked off again mate.

Thats not nice. The Duke is the heart and soul of this forum.

[Guest]

The only behind-the-scenes stuff I know about is the dealings trying to sign Hoppa jr.

Now that it is ancient history and out in the open, I can say we came within a bee's dick of signing the kid.

There was an "incentive" last year, and this kept us in the running until the very end. I laugh at all the media circus and reports during the chasing of his signiture. The papers were way off who were actually in the running. And that there was no link to our club! I was surprised as we are usually linked to every player off contract. Hoppa wanted him to sign with us. The kid chose religon, and went against his old mans wishes. To say that Hoppa is pissed off is an understatement. His 'meal ticket' is gone. William is a good kid, and complete opposite to the old man.


The rumors of disharmony behind the scenes is worrying. All we are doing is guessing, but something is definitely not right. The Anasta situation has me puzzled. Has anyone got a clue why Mescia was punted?

... and well, no offence, but you well and truly ****ed that up.

[Vasco]

I don't think anyone really knows everything that goes on. Some may know snippets but no one knows the whole picture, unless you are within the very inner day to day sanctum.

I'm not saying that I know everything either.

But I do know that Brian smith has made some terrible terrible mistakes this year.

Just one example is that he allows his support coaches and trainers to have full autonomy. Now that luckily worked well last year because the staff he had supporting him actually knew what they were doing. But the support coaches and trainers this year have no bloody idea. He's allowed them in the offseason to change not only our defence structure but more importantly our attack and our trainer. Everything changed from last year. Smith has sat back doing nothing whilst letting these lunatic support staff that HE hired slowly destroy what was a good team from last year. When nothing is broke, it doesn't need fixing (or change) you bloody idiot smith. If you want to sit in your office reading books all day and counting your big pay cheque whilst your idiot support staff that you hired stuff up our team, if you don't want to be a hands-on coach anymore, then piss off to Canberra as I've heard some people like the drive down there.

That's just one of the bog problems that's happened. There is more but that alone is enough to warrant his sacking. Anyone who blames management has no f'ing idea. The only way someone should blame management is that they haven't stepped in earlier and sacked the idiot but I guess that will come later onas they need to be shown to have given the idiot a proper chance. In the meantime, we have to put up with more pathetic disinterested performances.

On Sunday Smith was out on the field with the players during the warm up, wearing tracksuit pants. Looked pretty hands on to me.

Not sure where you get that info from, but my understanding of Smith is that he likes control. If that is the case why would he have others doing all the work for him?

Is your hatred of him blinding your judgement?

[melon....]

As far as Im concerned, Smith is being held back by someone. Hopefully its to expose the rats and expel them. Then hand the reigns back to Smith so he can finish the job.

[trewhella]

I know stuff about Smith, some cracking yarns, but none I can share. FACT. It's why I launched about about the 4 year contract.

Politis, I love for some reason.
I've never met him but I am bemused by the reverence people in the club have for him
"uncle nick".........hmmmm
To me nobody wants to point out the mistakes he has made.
I think the people influencing him have no idea either.
Gould had insight but I see that help as backhanded. I am not sure he likes anybody looking better than him. He has a massive ego.

[trewhella]

After consideration, the reason I love nick is because without him I probably wouldn't have had a club to follow and I am grateful for that

[BUDDY]

On Sunday Smith was out on the field with the players during the warm up, wearing tracksuit pants. Looked pretty hands on to me.

Not sure where you get that info from, but my understanding of Smith is that he likes control. If that is the case why would he have others doing all the work for him?

Is your hatred of him blinding your judgement?

I think his hatred for him gives him the illusion that he knows what is going on behind the scenes.

But atleast he doesn't come on here and say that he practially runs a hospital ward and that the rest of us know SFA.

[BUDDY]

As far as Im concerned, Smith is being held back by someone. Hopefully its to expose the rats and expel them. Then hand the reigns back to Smith so he can finish the job.

From all that has gone on and the demeanor Smithy is showing this year, I would think that this is as close to the mark that anyone is going to get. I hope that it happens very soon. I also think there is something in Smithy not wanting to re-sign Anasta. Anasta was quoted that it will affect the team's campaign this year and he has really brought the whole team down with his onfield lack of performance and disinterest. Not surprised that after they announced a contract is on the table that he hasn't signed it and has played like a pusssy since.

[Guest]

On Sunday Smith was out on the field with the players during the warm up, wearing tracksuit pants. Looked pretty hands on to me.

Not sure where you get that info from, but my understanding of Smith is that he likes control. If that is the case why would he have others doing all the work for him?

Is your hatred of him blinding your judgement?

Think about what you are saying mate. Do you think he will be nowhere to be seen on game day?

I am not talking about gameday. Obviously he is in the thick of the action on gameday. I am talking about during the week, week after week, month after month during the off season.

You dont have to believe me if you dont want, I wouldnt give a rats. But its the truth and anyone with any real slight knowledge of what is going on will know its the truth.

But you keep thinking that the coach has got nothing to do with anything. He gets paid millions but its not his fault how the team is performing

[Guest]

Politis has made his share of mistakes. We all do in life and in work no matter what we do. No one is perfect. He made an error in not re-visiting bennett a second time around, he made an error in appointing anderson, same with freddy. He tried to give stability by giving smith 4 years but that is now another error. He knows his errors and steps in to correct them. He will need to do the same again so that you guys can have something to cheer about again.

But the coach is not to blame. Basically the exact same team as last year but its not the coaches fault this year. He's only the coach.

[supermario]

Politis has made his share of mistakes. We all do in life and in work no matter what we do. No one is perfect. He made an error in not re-visiting bennett a second time around, he made an error in appointing anderson, same with freddy. He tried to give stability by giving smith 4 years but that is now another error. He knows his errors and steps in to correct them. He will need to do the same again so that you guys can have something to cheer about again.

But the coach is not to blame. Basically the exact same team as last year but its not the coaches fault this year. He's only the coach.

I don't know if that made sense to you but there is alot of double standards in that post.

You say that politis has made his fair share of mistakes, from not talking to bennett a second time, then the failure of 2 successive coaches to signing smith for 4 years..............as you have considered them errors, they are some fairly major ****ups in the scheme of things.

Yet you now want smith sacked after 1 and a third seasons, after a successful 2010 where we were grandfinalists.....????

Now i am not saying politis should be sacked, but why can't we afford the same leniency to the coach that we are affording to politis ???

I mean, yeah we have lost alot of games this year, but in the grand scheme of things, that is nothing compared to the "errors" that politis has made over the past 6 - 7 years.

Or is it the fact that the coach is more expendable that we should just do away with them when ever they are "not up to standard" ????

[Guest]

Smith must take some of the blame but there have been external problems all season.

How about the fact that our star player is in court every week.

All that high profile players are negotiating contracts through the media.

We also have a few senior players who are just dead weight.

I agree with what you said before though about Smith taking a back seat to his assistants. He did do that last year but there has been a change in personnel.

[melon....]

Think about what you are saying mate. Do you think he will be nowhere to be seen on game day?

I am not talking about gameday. Obviously he is in the thick of the action on gameday. I am talking about during the week, week after week, month after month during the off season.

You dont have to believe me if you dont want, I wouldnt give a rats. But its the truth and anyone with any real slight knowledge of what is going on will know its the truth.

But you keep thinking that the coach has got nothing to do with anything. He gets paid millions but its not his fault how the team is performing

So who assesses Smith's performance?

Nick?

You acknowledge Nick has made several big mistakes. Are you prepared to allow him to keep making them? I mean if you were paying thousands a year in sponsorship, IF, and you considered the clubs decisions in the past and currently as mistakes, would you continue pouring money into the club?
This is the frightening reality...not the fact that two or 3 big names are bludging and there's no belief amongst the troops, as well as blaming the coach whilst excusing his boss's "mistakes".

The truth. Sack Nick's good mates and protected species Mini and Anasta, sack FPN and Ryles. Make Friend Captain. Allow Smith to coach and watch these kids perform.

[Headless Chook]

I don't think anyone really knows everything that goes on. Some may know snippets but no one knows the whole picture, unless you are within the very inner day to day sanctum.

I'm not saying that I know everything either.

But I do know that Brian smith has made some terrible terrible mistakes this year.

Just one example is that he allows his support coaches and trainers to have full autonomy. Now that luckily worked well last year because the staff he had supporting him actually knew what they were doing. But the support coaches and trainers this year have no bloody idea. He's allowed them in the offseason to change not only our defence structure but more importantly our attack and our trainer. Everything changed from last year. Smith has sat back doing nothing whilst letting these lunatic support staff that HE hired slowly destroy what was a good team from last year. When nothing is broke, it doesn't need fixing (or change) you bloody idiot smith. If you want to sit in your office reading books all day and counting your big pay cheque whilst your idiot support staff that you hired stuff up our team, if you don't want to be a hands-on coach anymore, then piss off to Canberra as I've heard some people like the drive down there.

That's just one of the bog problems that's happened. There is more but that alone is enough to warrant his sacking. Anyone who blames management has no f'ing idea. The only way someone should blame management is that they haven't stepped in earlier and sacked the idiot but I guess that will come later onas they need to be shown to have given the idiot a proper chance. In the meantime, we have to put up with more pathetic disinterested performances.

I ran into BJ Leilua down at Albury for the City v Country game and he said exactly the same thing. He said the players aren't happy with the assistants and the new structures but Smithy won't do anything about it.