Saw this. I think it's just another cop out media piece of fluff from our club. "Oh that's why he has been struggling to get a game........".
Never been so uninterested in an off season before not sure if its because I'm pessimistic about our chances or sick of talk and just wanting to see more walk.
In order to preserve our sanity, I suggest we accept that this time of year is always full of positive spin as the club is looking to maintain and grow sponsorship and membership numbers, lord knows we can't rely on our 2014 performance to do this for us. A positive environment is critical for success and for those of us who are already on board should encourage this while we wait for the season to start when we can ultimately measure any improvement we've made. Personally I look forward to the days when I have no interest in the off season at all because I'm confident that we are back on track on field and the club has everything under control off-field......which is probably how Hawthorn supporters fel at this time of year.
He's a 19 year old kid FFS. Playing for extremely high stakes in front of the country he lives in. Can you guys remember when you were 19? Not many at that age are cluey enough to understand perception. If he was a 24 year old displaying the same behaviour on court, then I'd agree but right now he's just a kid and possibly a very immature one.
We'll Japan knocked out by the UAE after extra time and penalties. Biggest shock of the tournament and scheduling really has to be looked at with a 2 day break for Japan for this game vs 3 days for UAE.
It's funny to remember what people were thinking last year about this time. Tomic had come off a series of PR disasters and had pulled out of his match with Nadal, saying he had a hip injury. Australians were happy to jump off his bandwagon as Kyrgios made a grand entrance. He had a big game, was keen to play and entertain. We had a new and more lovable top male player.
But this year, it looks as though they've switched places. Kyrgios is acting like a knob and is labouring under injury. Tomic has calmly dispatched his first opponent and is not making any PR blunders.
Maybe Kokkinakis can be our likeable star, but perhaps success will give us more chance to see him act up under pressure.
Agree regarding Kyrgios, like all our promising tennis players he appears to be getting ahead of himself. Tomic appears to have learned the hard way so lets hoe the others don't go down the same road.
Let's get it out the way early and keep the rants confined to 1 thread this year
Straights sets to the Sheik IMO over the past few years...Stosur is one of the most disappointing players on the Tennis tour given her talent and physical capabilities. She has proven that Sport is largely played above her broad shoulders and that mental disintegration is alive and well in the heat of the battle...
Stosur and Shane Watson are in the same boat IMO, hvae the natural ability but not the mental strength to capitalize. I'm sure if we researched their family trees we'd find they're related.
Funnily enough I'm not "bitter" at him leaving. He'll always be a Carlton player to me....but I'm just a bit sad about 'what might have been' if he'd had an injury free run and been a bit less "careless' at times.
I think you've summarized the sentiment of the vast majority of Carlton supporters right there.
I'd have Waite in our team any day of the week, as would our coach if his reaction to him leaving is anything to go by. Anyone who says different is kidding themselves.
It will be Japan vs Aus for the cup....Oman were very ordinary and their defense looked like my neighbors back fence...it had plenty of holes. Good to see Robbie Kruse deliver a good game and take some heat of Tim Cahill...
Hopefully commentators can finally let go of their obsession with where our goals come from, 2 games 8 goals and only 1 from Cahill.
I understand your thinking and can't argue with you. I do however think we will fail to win a flag in 2015. Probably get close in 2016 and 2017 might just be the year it happens. Lets hope I am too pessimistic in trying to be a realist.
We don't have enough top class players to win a flag, it's really that simple. You can go a long way getting the maximum out of your B Graders but unless you've got a core of four or five genuine A Graders you're pissing into the wind, and we don't have them.
Probably right, so here is my list of possible A-graders in the next 2-3 years;
Gibbs, Murphy, Thomas, Yarran,
That's 4 only and no Key Position players with Henderson the only likely candidate if he can become more consistent and Matthew Kruezer if he stays fit.
You look at the next generation and Menzel is the most likely, and perhaps Cripps who has shown a bit. While I love Buckley I'm not sure he will become an A-grader. After that it's a lottery.
We were 2-1 up at the half and our 2nd goal was a great header, but I thought overall the Aussies 1st half was still pretty poor overall.
I missed most of the 2nd half, but did see the last goal.
IMO Australia really need a quality out and out striker.
Agree regarding our first half, in particular the firts 25 minutes or so, as we were slow to start and conceded a sloppy goal due to a lack of cohesion, probably due to a lack of match practice. Kuwait were happy to sit back and defend in their back third once they scored making it harder tp get going. Once we scored our first goal we clicked into gear and of course Kuwait then were drawn out of their purely defensive focus. We could have easily had 1 or 2 more goals in the second half as Nathan Burns was denied by a freakish save and the woodwork as was Troisi. Burns made an immediate impact when he replaced Cahill and will bo one to watch this tournament as he looked right at home at this level.
Troisi's late goal will also give him a lot of confidence and was reward for great effort. We had far more goal scoring options tonight than at any time during our lead up matches and were threatening even when Cahill was subbed off, if you get the chance to see the second half you'll see we had many options up forawrd, including Robby Kruse who created havoc as well.
It would be interesting to see what he averages in "live" games where the decision matters. I bet a big portion of the high scores that boost his average happen in the dead rubbers.
Perennial tease, at 30+ y.o.he should be dominating matches but is still only showing glimpses. Time to cut him from the test team and give others a chance.
Jaksch if he signs with us(50/50 IMO) would play CHB IMO....Henderson would play CHF and Jones FF...... Jones doesnt know how to play anywhere else and i reckon Casboult will continue his roles as 2nd ruckman and resting forward pocket. It will also depend on matchups, ground conditions and opposition...
You need the option of three tall backs these days and with Jamison, Rowe and Jaksch we could finally have the setup to combat the multiple tall forwards that the good teams have...
Do you know enough about Giles to advise whether he can be part of ther mix next year?
