Absolute rubbish !!

All good teams weed out the wimps & softcocks, they don't need them at all. Forget about all this fluff, bluff & gobbledy-gook about the need for silky skills etc, if you can't get the cod or have the burning desire to get the cod, then you are a bone-fide passenger and receiver.

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

He wouldn't get a game at Brisbane, therein lies the difference. We tolerate this inept character trait whilst the teams intent on being at the top end of the ladder give them the flick.

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

All that proves is that stats can paint a completely wrong picture. Look, you don't need stats to try and tell you he gets the occassional touch, but it doesn't change the overall perception that 'The Blouse' is a soft receiver, he's been like that for all of his career.

Any Carlton supporter who has watched just a handful of games would have seen him squib it on more than one occassion. Yet the 'bleeding hearts brigade' want to put him on some sort of pedestal and keep telling all & sundry that 'every team needs a Houla' or 'he has silky skills'.

Warren 'Gonzo' Ralph was one of the best kicks for goal I've ever seen, he was extremely accurate over very long distances. As long as the midfield deleivered it lace-out to him on the lead he looked a superstar. However, if the ball ever hit the ground, he was stuffed. He was woeful below his knees and this was a major contributing factor as to why he never fully made the grade. The same can be said for Houlihan, he has a great skill set but he's weak mentally, a deficiency that will always be exposed in big games when it counts.

If the club wants to keep softcocks on the playing list and the supporters want to keep justifying why they should be at the club, then heaven help us for the future, we'll never ever get off the bottom.

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

Obviously you're speaking from experience...

Hey..........

i remember you...........!


kindest regards tommi







come on........get another post in.........!

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

No, my playing days were shortened due to a lack of genuine ability. However, had I been blessed with skills that Houlihan has and coupled that with my robust attitude towards the ball & my opponent, my name would now be in the AFL Hall of Fame (or a wheelchair).

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

i'm not sure about the history of the message boards etc, but isn't it a bit rich for a guy who reportedly 'took his bat and ball and went home' (sooked some may say), to be slagging off an AFL footballer for not 'taking the hits'?

What the @#$%&! are you on about ??? Who's sooking and who took who's bat & ball where ?? And if that was the criteria for having an opinion on a messageboard, then you wouldn't have anyone posting at all nimrod !!

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

He isnt a midfielder...half forward flank opportunist is his go...kicking goals or kicking to Fev.....he doesnt have the mindset to play midfield...

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

I'm a fan of Houlas but the midfield has never been good for him because he goes AWOL. Forward line for mine where he can be dangerous.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Yet Caracella did.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

After I typed that I knew someone would throw up Caracella as a rebuttal. Strangely enough, Caracella isn't at Brisbane anymore.

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

He was on their list and getting a game when they were the yardstick of the competition.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

So just because Brisbane kept a softie on their list it means that Carlton have to too ??? Just in case you missed it, we aren't the yardstick of the competition and won't be for some time yet.

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

Houla Isn't an instinctual type of player....he can't get it in the clinches and just instinctively pass it off or throw it on the boot. He is a player who with space and time has sublime skills. I don't know whether he will be wanted at CFC or not...but I just don't think he is capable of doing the hard and fast stuff.....He is trying his guts out you know....and so be it if he just isn't capable of doing what we expect of him.

We'll see I spose.....I still reckon he posseses super talent....maybe his brain just isn't fast enough ...I dunno...

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Sheik, you are entitled to your opinion and obviously you hold a firm view that reputed "softc*cks" don't belong at Carlton. In light of this statement,
and for the sake of consistency in your argument I assume Craig Bradley should never have put on a Carlton jumper. A star no doubt but soft as butter.

Funny you should bring up the name Craig Bradley like that. I absolutely hated him for about 2/3 of his career because of his softness. After so many seasons I learnt to accpet his ways mainly because of the miles he would run in a game plus the way he prepared for a game (training etc.).

If Houlihan had the same work ethic as Bradley I'd probably be a lot more sympathetic to his cause. As it stands right now, he is lazy and only goes at it half-paced, he'll never win any plaudits from me because it.

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GROUND ZERO + DRAFTING YOUTH = SUSTAINED SUCCESS

I used to be forgiving of Houlihan but no more.

There are two players I'd rather never see on the ground again unless we are obliterated by injuries... Ryan Houlihan and Ian Prendergast.

Neither add value to the team and infact they probably lower our standards from the already low standards we have at the minute.

One of those wheelchair rugby guys would give more grunt and probably turn it over less than those two above. Have you seen those wheelchair rugby guys? Good grief they give me the heeby jeebies.

Teknodeejay

I consider the analogy to be in poor taste and adding no weight to your point. Been spinning too many turntables Tekno and not seeing enough light.

Fair enough and i apologise if it was taken as a slight to those who play wheelchair rugby, but i was being quite serious. After seeing that doco on the sport and their take no prisoners approach, they could really teach you about making the most of your opportunities.