At first I despised the fact that Brian Smith was coming to Newcastle. I however maintained that he got the Eels to many Final Series. We had a **** season last year, but fair enough seeming that it was not yet Brian's player roster. He did a player cleanout and signed some promising players. 2008 was a year in which I held much interest as Brian now needed results. I am very pleased with what he has done and the results are starting to show.
However there are three main problems with him. Firstly he plays too many mind games with the players and this is not good. I hate how he names the team on Tuesday and by the game day it has changed dramatically. Fair enough if it is due to injury but most of the time he is playing mind games.
Secondly I hate how he does not let players sucjh as Mullen and Durea to play their natural game. He only gives Gidley a free roaming pass to do as he likes, but keeps Mullen and Durea on a leash making sure they are playing to the game plan even if it isn't working. And please tell me what he is doing with Luke Walsh. Quality player and he is just going to let him go, not even putting him in first grade when the opportunity arises.
Finally, Smith is a not a good coach that brings the players together but separates them. I am a mad Knights fan, only 17 and go to many games with my uncle who knows the training staff and thus I get to go in the rooms after a game. Back in the Hagan days, I would go in, my uncle would get a beer, all the players would have a beer and would be sitting around together after a win or lose. It was a great atmosphere and mood. Now when I go in, there is no beer, all the players go warm down, and when they come back Smith has generally left already. FFS the coach should be the last one out of the rooms win or lose. HE need to get the team to come together, not have them in their own small groups.
It will be interesting to see if Smith is still at the club in 2010, but I do think he has done a good job so far.