Is James Hird the Messiah or is he just a very naughty boy!

[donkey]

The Bombers too quick too good can't wait till anzac day!

[sid3bysid3]

they are on the up but i wouldn't think they were within 6 goals of collingwood still. They have the tenacity of collingwood but lack the strength and forward line the pies possess. Their ball use is still not in collingwoods league.

but i think they will finish between 4-6...

and no, james hird is not the messiah (ask his mrs) - Matthew Knights recruiting and mark thomsons game plan is the reason they are winning.

[charliesheen]

i like what they said on footy classified.

basically the bombers always showed flashes of brilliance and  excitement factor, i they just couldn't deliver it on a consistent basis.  and now they are kindof.. well 3 game slol.

love the pressure and wide spread of goals.  i like their style its good to watch.

i see them making the top 8 with their desirable fixtures.

[yorgis]

love watching them play

agree again with you sid3bysid3, knighters actually had them playing very attacking footy last year,but they consistently leaked plenty of goals. this is where harv's comes in and teaches them the defensive side of the game, a la geelong. [ who could score against them ? ] don't get me wrong , i think hirdy was a magnificent and very well respected player, but as a coach, i'll save my opinion for another 18mths

[swedishhmafia]

the reason why hird is a good coach and will make a great one is because he isn't scared to surround himself with good people and a mentor.
this is the reason why the brisbane list is falling apart and quickly becoming a laughing stock, voss took over, cleaned everyone out and then tried to buy a premiership by recruiting spuds like raines, staker, maguire, x.clarke, bucannan etc.
essendon have a good leadership group now from board level down, thus the reason for their upturn in success.
however, i still believe that they will be a 6-8 team this season. as they have started the season very well, they have played against two very good teams (st kilda and dogs) who have started the season in first gear, if that

[charliesheen]

I think football is moving away from having like a coach in the traditional sense, but rather a team/network of assistant coaches that help with the club.  So its really really important to have good assistant coaches that can help with really specific things.

So its not that coach (james hird) that is driving the success as per se, its really everything working together as a whole and the playing group.  At the end of the day, you still need the playing list to get there, regardless of the coach or whatever.

Its like how in Soccer how they have a more football manager, like Morinho. 

[eski_liddr]

The Bombers too quick too good can't wait till anzac day!

Well that's a loaded question (with a totally different post than your topic??)... Yes his good...a "messiah" is just a term used by the media and the few silly dons supporters. (and the others that will jump on it when essendon loose)
The Dons have the same list as they did last year and where did they finish???... His a coach with a team that's building whereas Collingwood is already established and hitting their prime.THEY WILL BEAT THE DONS, obviously! and if they dont? There's some questions that need to be asked to the collingwood team...
And im glad that the win will occur, not because I'm a jealous supporter that's sick of hearing about the dons. I actually enjoy their brand of football and if you love the AFL you should agree. Always a high scoring affair (look at the first quarter against the saints!)

Anyway the carlton game will be interesting as its their first time at the MCG. Let's see their progress

[TheHanger]

eski_liddr
essendon has turned around completely from last year, the list has changed with inclusions like crameri and heppell and new positions for hurley and hardingham and the emergence of Tom Bellchambers as a good ruckman. But even if the list was exactly the same as last year and new coaching staff, game plan, confidence and team spirit and pride can affect a team greatly. Essendon's position last year can't be used as a background for this new team.

[HillHero13]

so what it was the same list.


the Essendon players listen to Hird, they love him and want to play for him, but they didn't with Knights.

[eski_liddr]

*sigh*
What I'm implying is that they have the same effen list fellas. Their improving from the changes but we still cannot expect them to go nuts when its effen round 3. (especially against last years premiers and the best team going at the moment)

The hype has been built up an I do not believe its fair on Hird (+staff) and the players.

Sure they have a new staff and the players have magically listened. But its the same players and only 6 months later. Come on boys get with it, you cannot expect everything from a building team. It's great to see the changes... i effen said that...but keep it realistic

[bomberboy0618]

So basically what your are saying is that there is no such thing as improvement. It is so flowering obvious that the improvement of spirit, belief and game plan has heralded in a better team. Add to that all the new additions and improvers it is so obvious we have improved.
Also eski, when would you say its time to go nuts? When we beat one of the grand finalists? Oh wait we already did that. The third best team in the league atm? Oh wait we did that too. You are in denial sir. Get over it.

[eski_liddr]

So basically what your are saying is that there is no such thing as improvement. It is so flowering obvious that the improvement of spirit, belief and game plan has heralded in a better team. Add to that all the new additions and improvers it is so obvious we have improved.
Also eski, when would you say its time to go nuts? When we beat one of the grand finalists? Oh wait we already did that. The third best team in the league atm? Oh wait we did that too. You are in denial sir. Get over it.

i really dont think you understand mate (I did say they were improving you dill!) so I'll leave you with this.... the Dons beat St Kilda the last 4 times (under knights and showing poor form throughout the season) and had beaten dogs under knights. (yet lost to all the "bad" teams.... in previous years and consistently on the road) thats not consistency mate 3 games and the same 3 results as usual....(as expected) Their is a new belief but there's also a new pressure and a new season that we haven't seen as yet..

The real test is on the road (which you should know of all people) that Essendon are shocking at... lived in WA for 2 years with the misses dragging me along and didnt win a game... consistency... also how is it that the tigers and sub par sides can beat the dons yet they get up in all the big games? I know this as i do enjoy watching most dons games throughout the years.

Go nuts when you beat collingwood..cause their the team to beat..that is all..

[TheHanger]

Eski "same 3 games same 3 results" you kidding? we have never beaten the saints or bulldogs in such emphatic style in a long time. Just look at the game plan its alot different than it was under knights, we are winning 'better'
and we have never learnt from a game as well as we did from the sydney game
your just in denial mate, the bombers are back!

[HillHero13]

i agree, but i wouldn't say there back.

[TheHanger]

well they're back on track atleast. you know their back, just to like 2004 form...