I know the performances have not been great over the last few weeks but there are a number of games over the next 13 weeks that we have a chance in - so dont lose faith
Obviously we would have to play better than on Sunday but if we approached the form of the first round or performed better than the game against the Dons we have a chance in all these games

These games seem to be Port in rd 10 kangas rd12 Brisbane rd 13 although less likely than the others given it is in QLD rd 16 Essendon* rd 17 Fremantle round 19 Hawks rd 20 Tigers
Although not proposing that we can beat geelong or wb at least games are at TD

Pass it clockwise Bogart...

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Frank I absolutely admire your optimism, and I should have the patience to wait for results given that I have been absolutely spoiled with success as a Blues supporter since childhood (in the 60s), but I'm finding it very hard to be optimistic. Some of our players show promise, mainly because they have lots of talent (Murphy, Walker for instance) but many have stalled or gone backwards (Sporn, Davies, Livo, Banno etc).

I'm not getting much out of watching the Blues at present. Even when we win, we do it so hard and ugly it's hard to see any system or structure being developed. I think the last time we played a really systematic, smooth well planned and executed quarter of footy was against the Bulldogs in the 2nd last round 2002. We were heading for the spoon but for the first quarter of that game, we at least looked like a footy team in the AFL. Seen very little evidence of that since then. I'll always buy a membership, but it is getting harder and more frustrating watching them play. And they don't seem to be improving. Last week was the same rubbish we served up in 2003. It's getting to me.

More power to you Frank for your upbeat view.

Its hard not to get to you when your a passionate supporter and as suggested the other week was devastated after Richmond match - because they were shocking yet we were worse and I thought before the match that we were going to win and to be 19 points up at quarter time and lose shocking
I wasnt going to go the next week vowed and declared but couldnt/wouldnt do it
I agree we always win ugly and have for a number of years and there havent been many
However I may be delusional -too optimistic but reckon that our list is not that much worse than Richmond Essendon* Hawthorn Kangas Brisbane or Port
Cant say objectively that our list is better but if they are not on their game we have a chance - the rest of the teams are generally too skilled/talented for us to beat but we did beat Melbourne

However Gerry I know now is ugly but I just keep thinking that one day our captain Murphy or walker or hopefully Stephens will be holding that big cup on the last Saturday in September and an old bloke looking like Junior Soprano will have tears in his eyes and that will be the day when our boys are back
GO BLUES

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

Admire your faith Frank but I see at as another season lost and most eyes on the end of season draft..hard to stay focused on the footy when we have gone belly up to the AFL for money and the club has joined the soup line for a free feed...its the perfomances of the young players that interest me and how they are travelling for the future....
If we didnt win another game and picked up the best kids in the draft I would probably see that as a successful season in a waywhich is a shame I know, but its reality....

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I agree Frank. I still believe we can win our 6-7 games which should get us a top 3 pick and Lachlan Hansen, but also an improvement on performance which may persuade lapsed members to renew next year.

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Mjonc signing off at 8888

HOPEFULLY THE GAME against the Roos - after yesterday will struggle to beat anybody - even Bombers in round 16
I was obviously too optimistic - only difference yesterday with practice match at PP about 14 weeks ago was that Port didnt go on with it yesterday

It's plain to see that any team that has an ounce of speed and carry will trouble us big time. We are spotting these teams a 10 goal start before the first bounce. How do we counter this?

Sack Pagan.

Rod, that's where I see as the problem being even before round 1...speed and carry. Whenever our opponents have this ability, and that's most teams we're in trouble. We don't seem to break the lines enough. Lack of skill and strength.

Don't get me wrong on this, but even Murphy doesn't have the speed atm as he's still maturing. Simmo and Walks are the only other two with some speed and carry ability in the team, but they too are not in the same league as others in running teams, with Kangas and Bombers as the exception.

When we look at the Swans, who may not be the fastest team, they at least have learnt along the way to break the tackles, and are confident that when they do, and are caught, they not only take one or two opponents with them, they are confident that there will be some back up. They have a game plan. We don't seem to have the stregth or confidence to break tackles.

How do we counter that? Well before we look at countering it we need to learn to support the blokes with the ball to create space and creating two on one situations. When Simmo gets caught trying to break the lines, surely there's not much talking going on to warn him that he's hot. So talk needs to improve.

My point is that if we can hold onto the ball moving forward, then we will not only have the ball (and they don't), but should give the ball to our players in a better position rather than kicking to the opposition. Turnovers gives the opposition an opportunity to take advatage of our players being out of position to defend.

We need to improve our strength, and notwithstanding the efforts to get our kids' bodies stronger over the preseason, they still need a couple of preseasons to get their bodies to a similar strength of their opponents. We need time to develop strength and speed, but we also need to get our game plan right for this kind of breakthrough.

I know that the pace went off the game in the second half against Port, but something seemed to click in the second half. There were less clangers, we went in harder, we attacked the man, and we used handball more effectively. So somewhere in that deep dark space we've got what it takes, but we need more work, and bigger bodies in the midfield with speed.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

A month ago I thought all of this sack Pagan stuff was a little rich.

BUT

After the pathetic coaching efforts of the past month and the poor PR and management of both the MC and the Board. pagan must go, just to show the supporters and the rest of the AFL that this loosing mentality and inept performance in unacceptable.

No more of the press conferences with cliques like:

"The boys gave everything....I admire them....Kouta is leading from the front....Eventually it will come good....It has been tough, but we are hanging in there"

That sound like a bloody loser to me.

if the playing group are so happy then why cant they do the simple things.

They look confused, Pagan has confused everyone, even himself.

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Revenge is a dish best served cold

&

I AM PROUD SPONSOR OF THE CAROLINE WILSON HATE CLUB

Other teams run and carry the ball through the centre..

Watch how many times we run and carry then stop and go sideways.. because we have no targets and structure.

Anyway.. can we draft some ball carriers?

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We did it twice yesterday - once by scotland and once by Simpson - both resulted in goals

carlton are absolutely shithouse.
and are no better off then they were 3 years ago. with no signs at all that as a team they are any closer to being a finalist, or even remotely competitive.

carlton cannot beat anyone in the leauge, except maybe an injury ravaged Essendon* (who they struggled to beat anyway).
severe injuries to kangaroos or hawthorn may see carlton get up by a goal or two.

but make no mistake carlton really is that bad.

Performance may not be much better, but we've got a much more promising list than we had 3 years ago. We've still got a way to go, but at least we've now got some young talent coming through. In the past our list got weaker each year as the champions slowly drifted into retirement. Now our list is slowly getting stronger each year. I can't see Kouta's retirement setting us back too far next year, not to mention the influx of elite talent from the superdraft at the end of the year.

We are paying for some shithouse ideas floated around in 2003-2004.

There is a long way to go...Pagan or no Pagan

_________________
Revenge is a dish best served cold

&

I AM PROUD SPONSOR OF THE CAROLINE WILSON HATE CLUB

Are we talking MArcus Rose glasses?

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.