bondiblue wrote:
I'm neither here nor there when it comes to Pagan. I do feel a lot of people waste alot of positive energy when discussing Pagan, and whilst that energy is exhausted with the focus on calls for his head there's still no alternatives, that make sense, to change the current situation.
What I saw last night was alot of mistakes which is to be expected from the kids, but a lot of great signs and another foward step from Walker, Simpson and Murphy, who looked as though they nearly had what it takes to be match winners. That will happen one day. I saw a lot of potential in Russell for the first time. Will generate a lot of drive from HB. Most importantly I saw Houla give all our guys a lesson on silky skills needed for success at this level.
Supporters are looking for excuses. Cheap shots and lacking pragmatism. So Pagan is the blame for everything?
Pagan didn't kick the ball over Waite's head.
Pagan didn't kick 2.4
Pagan didn't drop 7 marks
Pagan didn't have 2 wild shots from 55-60 meters out of goal when there was better options.
Then there's the exaggerated argument that suggests that Pagan won games with the Kangas because he had Wayne Carey at CHF. Carey missed the start of his two last seasons with North and missed a few more games during those seasons as his body was deteriorating from the rigours of a contact game, and the Kangas did win most games without Carey at CHF.
Pagan was able to move his players emotionally from the day he started coaching, and the kids at Carlton respect him. They're really the only ones that count in the Pagan issue for me.
Sure there was a wall of stubborness when he took over as coach at Carlton, from old hasbeens at Carlton, who took Carlton to its first wooden spoon, and this was and still is perceived as a player management issue with Pagan. I'm glad he got rid of those players, because they used all their credits ASAIK. It's a tough job and tough decisions needed to be made. He made them.
Pagan took the job with Carlton, assuming he was coming to one of the 4 powerhouse teams, and we wanted him. I felt so sorry for him after assuming his position only to be confronted with the illusion of a powerhouse; exposed as a struggling club. A $1M penalty, effectively bankrupting the club, Draft penalties for the next 2 years effectively closing the door on high drafts necassary for rebuilding, an overthrow of a President resulting in a Richmondesque brawl that continues today. Pagan did not bring this upon the team, and it's the football club that has to take ownership of these issues.
The board recently made a decision to go along the youth and development path. That was a directive I hadn't heard before, and surely the only logical path forward given the quantity and quality of youth we have drafted, and playing well.
It's the same supporters that last week were excited by the legion of youth we have drafted in the last 2 years, that were prepared to accept growth pains with our kids, because we accept that it's the only way forward, and that they will come good in 2007 or 2008.
Now these kids are on the paddock and making mistakes, lose a game and Pagan becomes the scapegoat. Pagan tells us week in week out the reasons for the losses and I agree with him. What is he supposed to say? Nothing? I'd rather hear the truth. We could have won but we lost the 4 ponts. We made a lot of skill eras, and bad choices. Fair enough you have to say, as they are only kids. Fair dinkum there's a bigger picture unfolding, it's more than promising but patience is required during the rebuilding, and don't forget that. We all know it.
If our coach is sacked mid season this year or next, how is that going to drive memberships? How does that change the list? How does that fast track our kids? If memebership increase relies on success, well that will come, and we have to plan with that in mind. Fact of life, a new coach will not all of the sudden generate wins every game.
FFS have a look at the situation
22 pt win (WCE)
5 pt win (WB)
22 pt win (Melb) Rnd 1
15 pt loss (Freo) Rnd 2
7 pt loss (Swans) Rnd 3
32 pt loss (Haw) Rnd 4
9 pt loss (Rich) Rnd 5
Not bad for a bunch of kids, and they could have stolen all those games they lost too, if this and if that...these are the kids who will develop and get better, and will win games, and will get us to finals. Back them.
As for who is responsible for skills, well they have a lot to answer.
I'm looking for stability, and not cheap shots and head hunting. That's all bullshit and futile. I don't care too much for all the Houla Lance and Fev haters, because hate is in their nature, (refer to Mrs Houlihan thread and compare this one) and they're the ones who also hate Pagan, but offer no suggestions on how we can improve, other than the standard blame game and sack him and him and him, rather than we need to improve here and here.
Get real, we are on the march up. If you haven't got the stomach to accept our journey, take a break as you're not prepeared for the no pain no gain situation we are in.
I'm backing this team today and beyond, because I can see the light.
Post of the week Bondiblue.
I doubt whether Pagan will be the one to take us to our next premiership, however we still have the worst list in the competition and were clear favourites to win the spoon at the start of the year. We have been playing with passion and commitment which is all you can ask for as a supporter.
If we don't show any improvement by this time next year it may be appropriate to find another coach, however at the moment it is all too easy to blame Pagan for all our problems.
Lets not become like the Richmond and St Kilda of old.
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