Cows re-sign Nwiel Cwaig

[Des]

If the crows hired Neil Craig for regular season, and another coach for finals, then hell, I'd put money on them for the flag.

[bennymacca]

His fitness plans are awesome.
But he just has no idea on match ups and reading a football game.

you do know he played over 300 games and is not just a sports scientist don't you?

my opinion is the exact opposite to yours des.

i think that craig actually gets WAY more than expected out of the cattle he has, and this becomes his downfall.

let me explain.

look at the crows forwards, midfield and backline, and rate them. this should give a good indication of where the crows are as a team.

backline - probably second best in the league behind geelong, so no problems here

midfield - good solid midfield, although goodwin and edwards are older, and so they have no genuine top echelon midfielders any more, although thompson is nearly there. they have some good kids coming through though, so they will greatly improve in 2-3 years. probably middle of the road

forwards - what forward line? the crows simply dont kick enough goals, and rely on midfielders and medium forwards to manufacture their goals. they are probably in the bottom 4 of all clubs' forward line, particularly if you look at their tall forwards.

so if you average these out, the crows should be somewhere around 6-12, middle of the road team.

and if you look at the results of the past few years, the crows have consistently been above this mark, playing in 2 prelim finals, and narrowly losing 2 elimination finals.


the problem is, when you get to finals, the pressure to manufacture goals is so much greater than in the regular season, which means the crows find it hard to score goals. this is not a problem with neil craig's coaching, but of the players they have up there. this season for example, they have had tippett and gill etc bob up and kick 3 or 4 here or there. but in a finals game, they have no player that they can rely on to kick their 3-4 goals a game, which pretty much every other finals side has.

and before you say "neil craig is a bad coach because he hasn't recruited a forward", you tell me where he is gonna get one from in the short term? the certainly don't grow on trees.

so i reckon that neil craig is an excellent coach - you are right des, he is definitely better in preparing players than matchday tactics, but i think he is improving on this.

the crows need to move heaven and earth to get a forward, but the problem is, other clubs don't wanna give up theirs, so its really a case of waiting and developing a forward - which is easier said then done. with tippet having a year under his belt, and hentschel hopefully coming back, as well as a fit porplyzia, the crows will look better up there next year.

\rant

[krunchie]

benny the cunt doesnt it hurt to think that deeply

it does when i try too

nice summary of the crows though

in other words he has made a poor group of players overacheive
therefore giving himself worse draft picks and continuing a visious cycle

[maccatak11]

But he just has no idea on match ups and reading a football game.

This has to be one of the most ridiculous comments ever.

What do you base this comment on, have you sat in the coaches box with Neil Craig?

How do you assess 'match ups and reading a game' and what exact things should he have done better. I want to know specifics.

To belt collingwood in the second quarter, but then fail miserably in the third, without any major tactical change says more about the coach than the players surely.

So, if you are trying to 'get a bite' you have succeeded, but if you aren't then you are one of the reasons i hate some football 'supporters'. Baseless comments without substance or fact.

[Des]

But he just has no idea on match ups and reading a football game.

To belt collingwood in the second quarter, but then fail miserably in the third, without any major tactical change says more about the coach than the players surely.

You pretty much proved my point. Why didn't he do anything in the 3rd qtr? Just because something works in the 2nd qtr, doesnt mean it will work in the 3rd does it?

He is inflexible. He has one game plan. No plan B, C, or D. If something doesnt work, he's stuffed.

Look at your final last year against Hawthorn. Buddy killed you guys, but he left the same guy on him most of the game.

[maccatak11]

My point, is that you have no idea what the game plans are - how do you know that he didn't try to change and his players didn't respond? Can you tell that he is still on plan A and hasn't changed to plan B - if you can let me know.

A mate of mine works down at the crows and sits at the back of the box coding different stats for them, and he says that most peoples perception of Neil Craig is totally misguided and ill-informed - i think you are in this boat des.

Tell me what Neil Craig could have done to coach better on the weekend.

[Shannon]

Tell me what Neil Craig could have done to coach better on the weekend.

Given someone else the Coach's hat?

[Des]

Tell me what Neil Craig could have done to coach better on the weekend.

Given someone else the Coach's hat?

I laughed!!

[Origami]

Mick Malthouse is a better Coach...Collingwood win..

Niel Craig played his Cards in the second Quarter..{thanks to his Assistants ?? }...Half time everyone regroups ... Collingwood kick three ..goals... scores tied 60 pts each 10 minutes left in third quarter.... Collingwood river three goals as the backs crumb the inside 50 plays to the Crows 'tall forwards"...
final quarter Crows get to 8pts , then the Collingwood cattle..{ read Paul Medhurst and the new 4 gamer Irish Guy ??} kick away ...game over bye bye crows...

good game....Crows supporters knew that their team were realistically playing above themselves.. so they stayed away and may as well watch it on the Telly

Oh Brucie the footy critic ....

[Shannon]

Actually I do agree with Brucey, as there were no crows crumming the contests in the second half.

That cost them 4 goals.

That cost them the game.

My team never made it, we have a new coach, new year ahead, I am not a critical supporter, just judgemental!!