there was a post a few weeks in another thread, can't remember who it was (sorry) who said they had attended training and witnessed a senior play take a mark in the back line, see some one free side ways but elect to kick it forward to a one on one and manage to kick to the advantage of the team mate resulting in them marking it. Rolly then blows the whistle and chastises both the kicker and the marker and makes them do laps as punishment for not going side ways to the man in the clear.
If this is even remotely true it goes a long way to explaining the current indecisiveness of the players (particularly those natural footballs nous) as the team rules seem to state going backwards and side ways rather than advancing the ball. the commentators like to refer to this as "taking the game on" its something all the good teams do. back your team mates further up the ground to win the ball in a one on one, especially if you kick to their advantage.
Numerous times in recent weeks I have seen players take the ball, look to give it off quickly then check themselves and do the "team" thing of going sideways and backwards, often leaving our selves in a worse position when we end up going down the line to congestion.
I firmly believe the reason some players like Barlow are on the outer and others who seem to show no real value add to the team are getting picked is due to the selection panel (Roly) wanting to reward those who follow orders more than those who play naturally.
they used to talk about the total "buy in" players had to show to be picked in a Ross Lyon team, which is all well and good if the game plan works and makes sense, if however it doesn't work (as seems to be the current case) your team is in for a very long time in the wilderness if you penalise those looking to actually make something happen.
