To my mind there are two schools of thought. You either recruit the best you can get and then modify a game plan to best suit the players you have available and the players you have recruited. The second option is to have a plan and recruit according to that plan.
The second option, is my preferred option but its hard, sometimes you have to look a gift horse in the mouth and say no, you dont fit the master plan.
Does Freo have a master plan?? Whether you`re Jezza or Yeti, the answer will be different but there is certainly doubt. Lets put it this way, The Toast have quietly got Brander and Allen getting older, stronger and fitter in the seconds ready for a seamless transition when Kennedy gets too old.
There are a lot of things that Freo should be doint but the first thing I would try and work out is whether we are going to be a two ruck team (Lycett/Vardy) or a single Grundy or Gawn team. My view is Lyon should have been using the last three years to introduce a two ruck structure, to ease a second ruck into the team and to assist Sandi.
If you believe in that, then that helps you decide who to recruit.
I would play Sandi and Lobb as his back up out of the forward line for a year, with Hodor as injury replacement out of Peel. Upon retirement of 211, Hodor comes in as prime ruckman. This takes the pressure off Darcy and keeps Tabs as a stay at home CHF.
My point is we seem to just be taking players who say they want to come here instead of having a plan and going and getting those players. Lets hope there is indeed a master plan.
Im hoping Peter Bell is the strategist we need.
Pies Langdon or Rozee for instance would be great fits for our future champs Pearce and Hamling and Ryan.
