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Messages - PaulP

8012
The Sports Desk / Re: 2014 Australian Open
Quote from: Thryleon on
Quote from: PaulP on
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.
8013
The Sports Desk / Re: 2014 Australian Open
Quote from: flyboy77 on
Not worth a response that tripe PaulP.

Anyway, Stan taking it to Rafa (thus far).....

Oh really ?

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.
8014
The Sports Desk / Re: 2014 Australian Open
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.
8016
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Blues Vs Swans - post match expert analysis
Quote from: Baggers2013 on
All our weaknesses sure were on display in one game for all to see.

We cannot sustain... anything!

We cannot initiate sustained and ruthless attack without having our backs to the wall ...and we can't sustain that for more than 2 quarters.

We only shine against poor opposition, mediocre opposition having a bad day, or good opposition that lapses in concentration.

We cannot 'hunt' a top side. And if we're seriously hunted, we default to timidity and relying on Juddy and a couple of others to lift everyone else.

Last night an undermanned Fluffy Ducks met an undermanned Blues... and culture (ingrained heart & spirit + courage, discipline & leadership) won.

People will have their own views about teams like Sydney getting salary cap allowances etc. and using this as a reason for their current success. But last night's win had nothing to do with more money. I don't know if the "Bloods Culture" is real or urban myth. But they have something that glues them and lifts them, that's for sure. They won't beat Freo, but they are underdone.
8017
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Blues Vs Swans - post match expert analysis
Quote from: IvanAwfulbigone on
McVeigh with 20 possessions in a quarter!?!?  In a final?!?!

Not sure whether to laugh or cry about that.  How did that happen?

It is beyond me how teams like the Swans can have a spare man (or two) down back yet, when they surge forward, all you can see is red and white.  Actually, I do know how it happens - it's called running.

When does pre-season start?

No laughing matter at all. If there was one player that needed tagging last night, it was him. Frewheeling most of the game was insane.
8019
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Blues Vs Swans - post match expert analysis
Quote from: LP on
Quote from: MosquitoFleet on
He mentioned 5 to 10 picks to get new players

He will not go the quick fix for MM

In reality the Judd deal crippled the club, but I would do it again in a heart beat.

Judd cost us a small fortune, but what he brought to the club can't be measured simply in on field performances. I don't recant for a minute. Whatever deficiencies we have in KPF forwards etc. , Judd brought more to this club than a dozen Josh Kennedys ever could.
8020
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Blues Vs Swans - post match expert analysis
No LRT, no Shaw, no Goodes, no McGlynn, hardly any Tippett, rotations massively in our favour, Simmo's 200th, and then this ?

Sorry, none of us know what goes on behind the scenes, but something is massively wrong somewhere. And it's not to do with class, and it's not to do with skill. Rarely have I seen a team so mentally and emotionally dejected from the first bounce of a final.

When Ratts was coach, and the team would put in a performance like this, I would come on here and read post after post after post about how it's the coaches job to get the players up for a game, in the correct mindset blah blah blah. Last night was as incorrect a mindset as you could imagine. So how about it, Mick ?

Actually, at one point I thought they were throwing the game.

Simmo, I salute you and I apologize for the woeful effort. You, of all people, deserve better.
8023
Robert Heatley Stand / Blues Vs Swans - post match expert analysis
Yes I know there's a minute to go - stuff it.

I think the euphoria of our win last week gave some people around here funny ideas. We were NEVER a chance against the Swans. We were gifted a place in the finals after a very average year. and we played an average and inexperienced team first up. Tonight was the yardstick, and we got an accurate measure of where we're at. I was hoping for another "honourable loss".

In a way, I'm glad this happened, because it gives me greater hope that the blowtorch will be applied to EVERYBODY, players and coaches, because they all stunk it up tonight. Players were crap, and so was Mick's coaching.

Don't let the junk time goals fool you. With their early injuries, Swans were never going to run out the game. They busted their balls to get a winning lead and hoped to play keepings off in the last.

And I hope Jamo's ok.
8024
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: Kade Simpson 200 games
Since it's Simmo's 200th, the boys could show him the ultimate respect by playing the way he plays for 4 quarters.

Now that would be something.
8025
The Sports Desk / Rafa Nadal - 13 slams - no love here ?
Realise there's plenty of Fed fans around here, but I've always preferred Rafa myself.

Another great tournament by the champ, and a great final too. Sensational tennis by both players.

And the Djoka was, as we've come to expect, very respectful and sportsmanlike in his defeat.

Well done lads.