Needless to say the game against Richmond is going to decide whether this site internally combusts or if everyone backflips..
A big win against Richmond and last nights game will be seen as an anomoly. However, a loss against the Tigers will result in this site sacking our whole list, coaches, CEO, President, Footy operations manager, Media manager, boot studder, car park attendant, security guards, cheer squad leader and the catering company at visy park. Cant wait..
Oh and last time I saw Casboult ruck he went pretty well.. Definitely not a terrible call IMO..
That's as good a summary of a typical footy forum as you will get.
Disagree about Casboult, but Meh, who the hell knows anyway ?
It's quite true that we had a lot of players who weren't able to get a good pre-season under their belts The problem is that the opportunity has now passed them by for 2014. You cant make up for that 4-5 month period of tough pre-season conditioning work during the regular season otherwise you leave yourself stuffed for games. With a couple of players you could possibly manage by rotating players through games, but not with around a dozen or more. The lack of a foundation puts them behind the pack when the other variation of training loads comes into play.
22 players had operations during the off season. A lot of players have had interrupted pre seasons so I never expected the team to be anywhere near fit. The way the game panned out shouldn't have been a surprise. We won't be hitting our straps for a while yet.
An important and often overlooked factor. Good get BB.
The three quarters of keeping abreast followed by the 4th quarter fade out would be consistent with this.
The real problem is not recruiting per se, it's the player development after they come to the club.
This thread is filled with criticism of Bell and Robbo, much of it unfortunately justified. Back when Bell and Robbo were recruited, the club clearly had a very soft midfield - recruiting a couple of tough nuts was the right thing to do. If you read this site and the old one over the years, there have been plenty of wraps for Robbo and to a lesser extent Bell over the journey. And plenty on here were very happy when we got them.
You can only choose from what is available. Gun AFL players are not a dime a dozen. You can't just waltz into the marketplace and order a couple of Sammy Mitchells, a couple of Joel Selwoods, a Roughie and fries to go. The club did the right thing at the time.
The fact that they (and others) haven't come on and improved is the really worrying thing for mine.
That's right. And that's why we got Kreuz; we had a real perceived ruck problem at the time. Now either we made poor choices in terms of talent or we have failed in the development, or maybe a bit of both?
cookie, Krooz is a very good example of this phenomenon, and the one that most breaks my heart. I really wanted him to become an elite player of the comp. A very good ruck-man who was great at ground level, and could double as a midfielder / big body around the packs. He started with all guns blazing - we were all hopeful. It seems as though he has got worse season by season. I know about the knee(s). But gee, it's heart breaking to watch. Lion heart, loves the club. Very distressing.
The real problem is not recruiting per se, it's the player development after they come to the club.
This thread is filled with criticism of Bell and Robbo, much of it unfortunately justified. Back when Bell and Robbo were recruited, the club clearly had a very soft midfield - recruiting a couple of tough nuts was the right thing to do. If you read this site and the old one over the years, there have been plenty of wraps for Robbo and to a lesser extent Bell over the journey. And plenty on here were very happy when we got them.
You can only choose from what is available. Gun AFL players are not a dime a dozen. You can't just waltz into the marketplace and order a couple of Sammy Mitchells, a couple of Joel Selwoods, a Roughie and fries to go. The club did the right thing at the time.
The fact that they (and others) haven't come on and improved is the really worrying thing for mine.
We are the worst field kicking side in the AFL bar none, it wouldn't matter who coached us because we just don't have the skill. The endeavour is fine, but we don't have the cattle.
Quite possibly a good deal of truth in that.
bfl, you were quite a prolific poster on the old site. Gone a bit quiet on the new one.
McInnes and Watson cant play in the same backline together...in fact McInnes is a VFL player only...I'd play White or Giles ahead of him. Watson always seems a couple of steps off the pace of the game, not sure where we are headed with him.
Same old Same old...need two Hendersons......every team we play will load up with three talls forward and force us to drag Henderson back.
Game plan.....wont work with this team who dont have the skill level to hit targets all the way along the boundary line, Jamisons kick out off bounds under no pressure was a fine example.
Walker has to play forward to make us more potent, dont like him down back, gets frustrated and lost his cool a couple of times....
Geez EB, you are talking about going back to a game plan of three years ago! That got Ratten the bullet!
Two Hendersons, we don't have one! My insider states he has done a calf and could be out for four to five weeks if it turns out bad.
LP...We wont save games with such an iffy backline so we need to kick more goals to win them...Walker can help up us do that along with Menzel.
I think Ratts recognized the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and was prepared to use them as advantageously as possible. We had pace and attacking flair, and so a game plan was devised accordingly. Not sure if Malthouse is doing this or trying to get the players playing a style they probably can't. EB1 is right. we ain't Hawthorn and our field kicking hasn't improved much over the years.
McInnes and Watson cant play in the same backline together...in fact McInnes is a VFL player only...I'd play White or Giles ahead of him. Watson always seems a couple of steps off the pace of the game, not sure where we are headed with him.
Same old Same old...need two Hendersons......every team we play will load up with three talls forward and force us to drag Henderson back.
Game plan.....wont work with this team who dont have the skill level to hit targets all the way along the boundary line, Jamisons kick out off bounds under no pressure was a fine example.
Walker has to play forward to make us more potent, dont like him down back, gets frustrated and lost his cool a couple of times....
Watson still young - deserves to be given a real crack this year.
I know it's only the pre season, but I'll offer my 2 bob's worth :
- a few too many easy goals through the corridor - nightmares of seasons past - giving up that nice 4th quarter lead - ditto
Levi and Sammy Rowe - still not convinced by these guys McInnes 50/50, but he worries me a bit
Bryce, played as per usual - what he does, he does well, but does he do enough ?
Everitt - if he can keep that up, he'll be a shoe in for recruit of the year
Bell and Robbo, a bit rough skill wise, but it's nice having some size and grunt round the clearances
Menzel - what can I say ? It's love, love love. I'm sure some or most of you have experienced that feeling with certain players - players that you like or that are really skilful, you just relax as soon as they touch the ball ? That's my feeling with Troy - as soon as he touches it, I just smile, sit back and relax knowing he'll do something good or make it count.
I've said it often enough, Fed played "average Joes" until the later part of his career when Rafa, Novak and Murray hit their stride. I've never boarded the Fed Express, and I never will. Way too smug and arrogant for my liking. Technically brilliant (and better than Nadal), but he hasn't (until now) done anything beyond his comfort zone to deal with Rafa. Rafa has played the same tactics against him for years, and I think Fed just believed that his superior skill would eventually get the job done. And he has little ticker. Rapidly becoming a "lifestyle" tennis player.
He is still top 10, and still has the measure of pretty much everyone on the tour except Rafa and maybe Novak. He won't win another major, but he is still very competitive and pretty fit. I don't believe he should retire.
Rafa has been my favourite player for years, and he embodies everything I wish our Carlton players had.
+1
Im with you there, and echo your sentiments.
Thanks Thry.
Stan the Man almost became Shirl the Girl - luckily he figured out his opponent couldn't serve, couldn't run and couldn't really bend his back.
Oh and one more thing. A comparison of tonight's performance by Rafa and Tomic's performance a couple of weeks back is all that is required to know that whilst Tomic has talent, and might skirt around the top 50 / top 20, he will NEVER amount to anything resembling greatness. Pea heart.
I said Fed is technically brilliant and a great player.
Can you name any of his regular opponents prior to, say 2008-2009 who could be regarded as great ? Hewitt, Roddick, Safin, Ivanišević............. They all had their 15 minutes (or in some cases 5), but how great are they ? I understand that Fed can't help who is on the other side of the net.
Rafa with a busted back takes a set off Stan. We need this guy at CFC.
