I watched two things today on IQ that reminded me John Lang is the best coach we ever had and a coach we should never have pushed out the door.
1. Foxsports Classic match from 1995. Sharks v Manly at Brookvale. A cracker sharks side and we win 17-10. But it's the nature of the way we play that was so impressive. It was just all out attack from anywhere on the field, Paul Green and Mitch Healy dominating in the halves, Adam Ritson showing why we could've been anything in the game. The match was so damn entertaining because of the attacking nature. The game has changed so much in 19 years, it's far too structured now, players are now robots beyond a few freak talents, 1995 showed how much more entertaining the game can be. For me it was just another reminder that the Sharks have not played attacking football since John Lang left. The likes of Chris Anderson and Ricky Stuart were meant to bring a tough winning culture, but all they did was kill off our attacking culture and Flanno is the last man who can change that.
2. SBS Insight on male suicide. Was from a few weeks ago but I only watched today. Preston Campbell revealed how he tried to kill himself. Depression and mental illness is a complicated thing that I certainly don't understand, so the last thing I'd do is blame Chris Anderson's decision to move Preston to hooker. However Preston credits one man for saving his life, John Lang.
Given I think the Sharks only missed the finals perhaps twice in Langs 9 years or so as coach, getting rid of him may go down as one of the worst decisions ever made by our club, a decision we are still to get over.
1. Foxsports Classic match from 1995. Sharks v Manly at Brookvale. A cracker sharks side and we win 17-10. But it's the nature of the way we play that was so impressive. It was just all out attack from anywhere on the field, Paul Green and Mitch Healy dominating in the halves, Adam Ritson showing why we could've been anything in the game. The match was so damn entertaining because of the attacking nature. The game has changed so much in 19 years, it's far too structured now, players are now robots beyond a few freak talents, 1995 showed how much more entertaining the game can be. For me it was just another reminder that the Sharks have not played attacking football since John Lang left. The likes of Chris Anderson and Ricky Stuart were meant to bring a tough winning culture, but all they did was kill off our attacking culture and Flanno is the last man who can change that.
2. SBS Insight on male suicide. Was from a few weeks ago but I only watched today. Preston Campbell revealed how he tried to kill himself. Depression and mental illness is a complicated thing that I certainly don't understand, so the last thing I'd do is blame Chris Anderson's decision to move Preston to hooker. However Preston credits one man for saving his life, John Lang.
Given I think the Sharks only missed the finals perhaps twice in Langs 9 years or so as coach, getting rid of him may go down as one of the worst decisions ever made by our club, a decision we are still to get over.
