Essendon Coach

[smac]

Perhaps he outlined a plan for the next couple of years that was impressive.

[McAlmanac]

Perhaps he outlined a plan for the next couple of years that was impressive.

More than likely, but I don't think Essendon is a club that will accept too many more years near the bottom.

Still - it's great that they're getting pumped.

[pom pom]

Spot on Hondo71! Not so McAlmanac! There are no cracks in his coaching CV. What do you know and how many games you coached! You ever been to a job interview? Of coarse you say what your future employee wants to hear. What, you think someones going to go in there and tell them "your clubs crap. pick me!" Your just a Knightsy Knocker with no knowledge of him AT ALL!

[Dirko]

Perhaps he outlined a plan for the next couple of years that was impressive.

He probably did, I think what a lot on this thread remember of Knights is his time at Port which was hardly flattering...

Personally couldn't give a crap, I just hope the Bombers do OK, as I think Carlton V Essendon is one of the best rivalries going around...

[McAlmanac]

Spot on Hondo71! Not so McAlmanac! There are no cracks in his coaching CV. What do you know and how many games you coached! You ever been to a job interview? Of coarse you say what your future employee wants to hear. What, you think someones going to go in there and tell them "your clubs crap. pick me!" Your just a Knightsy Knocker with no knowledge of him AT ALL!

Matthew Knights is the only AFL coach who has not been involved in a senior premiership as player or coach/assistant.

[NO-MERCY]

Mark Harvey takes over the reins at Freo, results 1-7
Dean Bailey takes over the reins at Melb, results 1-7
Have any of these sides got a long injury list like essendon & experieced players at that? I don't think so.
Knights has won more than one game.
I don't think Clarkson did alot in his first year at Hawthorn either.
In your eyes Mc, Harvey & Bailey were successful before their first year as coach, has that helped their coaching in 2008?
Are you really an Eagles supporter Mc? I'm doubting it!

[Booney]

He is easy to knock when you watch how Essendon are playing at the moment.

Does he really think this style of game will take them forward? Must be a good salesman for he has sold a smouldering pile to all and sundry at Windy Hill.

[Rik E Boy]

Spot on Hondo71! Not so McAlmanac! There are no cracks in his coaching CV. What do you know and how many games you coached! You ever been to a job interview? Of coarse you say what your future employee wants to hear. What, you think someones going to go in there and tell them "your clubs crap. pick me!" Your just a Knightsy Knocker with no knowledge of him AT ALL!

I'm sorry but that is just carp. 'How many games did you play' 'How many centuries did you make' type of comments that intimate that the other poster has no right to an opinion is the biggest pile of poo you'll ever see on a bboard. Personally I agree that Knights has no cracks in his coaching CV. I regard him highly as the coach who taught the Port Magpies how to lose.

Perhaps you'd like to enlighten us all to what he has actually done in terms of coaching besides get two or three gigs?? I'm talking real achievements too and not whether or not he might be a mate of yours cos that don't mean squat. What can Bomber fans really hang their hat on??

regards,

REB

[wobbly knees]

the boys are playing a better bread of footy than the last few years and still better footy than melb, freo or west coast. people accually want to watch a bombers game.

[Rik E Boy]

the boys are playing a better bread of footy than the last few years and still better footy than melb, freo or west coast. people accually want to watch a bombers game.

....unless they barrack for Essendon.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

. people accually want to watch a bombers game.

Not really, Roos drew 27k against an interstate side, Bombers draw 28k....

[smac]

. people accually want to watch a bombers game.

Not really, Roos drew 27k against an interstate side, Bombers draw 28k....

Let's not temper that with any facts about the average crowds for those 2 interstate sides Dutchy.

[hearts on fire]

To add to Essendon's woes, Adam McPhee and Nathan Lovett-Murray have been suspended for one match.

McPhee was suspended for making high contact to Travis Boak and Lovett-Murray was suspended for striking Daniel Motlop.

[Dirko]

Got this in an email...had a chuckle

Dear Matthew,

RE: Essendon Football Club Membership 305761

I’ve had occasion to write to your predecessor over the years and I must say that I feel as
though I became a close confidant of Sheeds. He came to me when he needed someone to
tell things exactly as they see them. And I didn’t mince my words, Matthew, I gave it to him
straight. You haven’t needed me yet, but after the insipid debacle and abysmal coaching
performance I unfortunately endured yesterday, I thought you might need a few home truths.

Firstly, could you give me some idea of what was going through your mind with your initial
match ups? Johns on Pendlebury? Michael on Lockyer? Windydick on Medhurst? One
could only assume that you had a piece of the Pies at 73+ with TAB Sportsbet.

I must say I appreciate that you’re attempting to introduce a fast attacking style of football.
But I think what you don’t get is that you can’t do that with the muppets still on our list - a) they
have to be quick, b) they have to be able to sustain that quickness for more than 30 minutes
and c) it helps if they don’t call for the saw dust when they get the ball.

Let’s take a look at a few of my favourites:

Jason Laycock – 5 years for 50 possessions. I wouldn’t call that a great return on investment.
He is a big, lumbering, useless dope. He just plain doesn’t care. Sally Robbins has more of a
go than this dud. Remember that Aussie classic David Williamson’s The Club? Laycock is
Geoff Hayward. I’d actually get him drug tested just to ensure he hasn’t seen any golden
winged seagulls. He should never play for Essendon again. Full stop.

Courtney Johns – do I even need to say anything or did the article in today’s Age just sum it
up? Another who should never play for Essendon again. Cut your losses. He should be
embarrassed to earn money for that performance. He should be offering to pay Essendon
back for the money he’s thieved off them over the last four years. Just to add insult to injury
he’s not an attractive man and really doesn’t have a lot going for him.

Jobe Watson – also known as the Butcher. I do like the fact that Jobe at least has a go but
his skill and pace are deplorable. Do you think there’s a reason why he gets 30 touches a
game? The opposition coaches don’t bother manning up on him as they want us to use him.
They know that he’ll turn the ball back over to them more than half the time. Trade bait.

Brent “The Running Man” Stanton – he might run all day but he couldn’t run quickly out of
sight on a dark night and he only knows how to run one way. Generally it’s away from the ball
when the opposition have it. Or around the back of a mark or free kick to get a cheap kick
and rack up a few stats. It’s a slight on every Victorian that he’s been included in the state
squad. The worst culprit in our disgusting lack of defensive nous. And probably just nous in
general – he’s got less awareness in traffic than a Moroccan mini cab driver.

Have you got the barbie fired up yet Matthew? Cos there’s plenty more chops we can throw
on it. Ricky “Sleeps With The Light On” Dyson, Jason “Should Have Been Traded Last Year”
Johnson, Damien “Back In The 2’s Where I Belong” Peverill, Angus “Too Small, Too Slow,
Too Shit” Monfries, Henry “The Hack” Slattery. I won’t continue on but let’s just say I hold
grave fears for the crippling lack of ability shown by any number of other players on our list.

Unfortunately despite whatever you say the reality is we are in more of a world of hurt than
my poor receding hairline. The list assembled is not going to be going anywhere in a hurry
and despite 5 years of rebuilding we’re in a worse position now than when we started the
whole process. Thank goodness for small mercies though. The small mercy is that
Melbourne are pretty bad too. It’s unfortunate that we don’t meet them until very late in the
year – I have a feeling that might be our next win. I don’t say “might be our next win” because
we’ll win one before then, more that there’s a better than average chance we won’t even beat
them!

Just in case you’re interested, from my perspective there was at least one positive to come
out of yesterday. I went to the Foo Fighters last night and they were pretty solid so I at least
managed some entertainment for the day. I got none from the MCG.

One last thing before I sign off. You’re obviously aware that Jonathon Brown’s out of contract
at the end of the year. How about we put together a package for him to see if we can prize
him off the Lions? Let’s start with Laycock, Johns, Watson, Stanton, Dyson, Johnson,
Peverill, Monfries, Slattery and even Lloyd at this stage as he couldn’t get a kick out of 2,000
volts. When they’re not interested in that, tell them we could even offer them a lazy $2 mil on
the side as well. That might at least get them to stop laughing. Then ask them who else
they’d like and give them away too as the cherry on top.

At the end of the day, I have no say in what goes on. All I can do is protest in my own way.
I’m not happy, not impressed and not attending another game this year.

Yours in football,


Justin Shannon.

[Booney]

So,thats what they are thinking....

[RustyCage]

Yeah, Essendon are playing a better brand of footy, but many clubs over many years have shown that scoring 120 points a game means jack shit if the opposition scores 150 points a week. And Essendons defence isnt going to get any better any time soon. No improvement left in Fletcher or Michael, they are good players but they are how they are. There seems very little coming through to replace them. How about a decent forward to replace Lloyd and Lucas when they go? Too many duds at Windy Hill - Watson, Johns, pretty much as stated in the email post above. Knights has a lot of work to do, as Sheedy left a weak list with no depth. And when/if he can get a good list together, I dont think he is good enough to get the job done week in week out.

The brand of footy they are playing may be good to watch (if any Essendon supporter is stupid enough to enjoy the opposition scoring 20 goals a game), but it will do nothing for their development as a team. What happens when their forwards have a quiet one? Their defence still conceeds 140 points and its a thumping. Knights has shown he is nothing more than a one trick pony with no ability to adapt to various styles of games. He was the same at Alberton. Cant just have a shot out and hope for the best. Does he have more than one game plan? Can he shut a game down when required? Can he make some moves to close the flood gates once they have opened? So far he hasnt even tried and no Essendon supporter can be happy with that.

[gadj1976]

I think the major problem for the bombers is their spine - Lloyd, Lucas, Fletcher, Michael, McPhee (in no particular order) are pretty much on the decline age/speed/form wise (generally speaking). Gumbleton looked ok when he played last year but has been injured, other than that their key positions are the ones that are going to hurt them for some years IMO.

[wobbly knees]

go the bombers they hit 40 000 members lastnight

[heater31]

thanks for reminding me Knees


Reading about the recent comments by both the Chairman and Knights regarding Johnson and Peveril have the Bombers appointed the wrong man?

it was Knight's catch cry that the list did not need any major changes yet the leader of the board has gone on record that they are on the outer of the playing group. Whereas Hardwick was upfront and honest when saying in his final interview that a total clean out was required.

[NO-MERCY]

How many does he have to get rid of heater31 in your opinion?
Knights went through the list & cleaned out quite a few, have a look at all the youngsters he's playing currently, you can't go stupid & discard all the players.
Knights has made an honest assesment 7 games in on 2 blokes & thats fair enough, atleast he's honest & up front, he probably now feels he should of done it earlier but gave them a chance to prove themselves & they didn't so he'll go with more youngsters.
Its easy to sit back & say Hardwick was going to do this & that, stiff sh!t as far as i'm concerned, you can't say he was a better prospect than Knights because of that, he wasn't (in the boards oppinion) & if he couldn't convince the board, how the hell is he going to convince the players?
Its easy to sit back & judge a bloke when his side is depleted as F@$&, give the bloke his 2-3 years, if theres no improvement in the side & the development of youngsters he'll get the boot & i'd say Matthew would happily step aside & accept that, knowing he's given it 100%.