I dont mind young blokes starting in the backline to "learn the game". Was fine for Mundy, and fine for Pav. Sometimes,a young or old forward/midfielder has to be sent back there to "sort their game out. " eg Crozier, Ibbo, Brown (long ago), Tarrant. Sometimes it improves them, some times it doesnt. Bit like Kersten now....will it work??
What I object to is the style if defensive play they currently have to adhere to.. 'RoLyball' or what seems to me to be a complete fustercluck, is doing nothing for the progression of some of these players, and I daresay is making a few 'more injury prone' than they otherwise would be, simply by the energy they have to expend playing it.
It breaks my heart seeing a young fellow like Cerra - (or, for that matter older fellows like the Hills) - running out of the backline, with no one forward of them to kick to, because they are all behind them.!
For them to have to stop, prop , kick sideways to delay, or simply get caught while they are buggarizing around trying to work out what to do, is teaching them SFA!!!
All their natural instincts and flair are taken away and they resort to a one meter handball, or a backwards kick to someone who is also under pressure, because the opposition have read us like a book and know exactly how things are going to end up.
Label it "RoLy Bashing" if you like, but all this is of his doing.
He has the simple option of leaving 3 'stay at home forwards" down in the goalsquare or thereabouts.
As I've said previously, they be down there manned ( so it's still 15 -on-15 elsewhere on the field, where the contest is, if thats how he wants it to be, or, they'll be unmanned forwards - at the opposition coaches behest.
At least there'll be a couple of leading targets/options forward of the ball, when one of our halfbacks/ wingers are steaming through the centre, using their natural flair & instinct, looking for someone.
Its so simple - if I may say so myself - but its so bloody hard for RoLy to even imagine it,let alone 'throw it to the wind' and try something completely different to what hes always done.
Thats why I am unashamedly 'Anti-Roly' at the moment - like many others amongst us...