08-07-2021, 07:39 AM
(08-07-2021, 07:28 AM)shawny link Wrote:Very harsh.
No doubt he has his limitations but his strength is in winning contested ball and he is that good at it that every single team in the comp would love having him in their midfield group playing that exact role which considering where we are says enough to suggest he is far from a problem in our team.
The issue with our club is Cripps weakness is highlighted in every loss by the lack of defensive cover from the remaining midfield group who overall apart from Walsh are plodders at best. Its a simplistic approach to suggest Cripps lack of defensive running is a major reason we get slaughter in the midfield most weeks. The lack of running midfielders depth wise we have is alarming and until we get adequate support in there nothing will change. Kennedy, Dow and Setterfield are not the answer.
Do you think Dusty Martin has ever been a hard 2 way runner? Judd at his best looked lazy defensively at times. The very best mids usually have this as a weaknesses - its just that the better teams have the players in that area that provide the cover to stop their champs being exploited.
We dont have that luxury.
You're not lumping Cripps in with Dusty are you? Not in the same postcode. I love the guy, but be honest, Cripps doesn't impact going fwd.
Watch who the opposition send to him, then watch how effective that player is around the ground. Coaches target him and it costs us every game. Yes it's a 'team' midfield and we are very shallow, but crippa is almost a lead weight on that group of aforementioned C-graders.