Nick Stevens has really dissappointed me over the last 2 months. What I admired most about him last year was his ability to run a game out better than his tagger. Even if someone was on top of him for two or three quarters, you could be sure that he'd see out the game better than his opponent and finish well. We haven't seen that this year. He seems too interested in pushing and shoving. His leadership this year (or lack if it) has been poor. How he got in the best yesterday is beyond me.

If Kouta isn't injured, then he obviously isn't interested. Didn't get out of second gear yesterday. If he's injured tell us, so people like the moron sitting behind me yesterday don't sit there bagging him all day.

Ian Prendergast should never, ever, under any circumstances, play AFL again. Anyone who consistently drops uncontested marks is not required.

Jarrad Waite needs to stop believing his own publicity and work a bit harder. His last month has been awful.

Telstra Dome is awful with the roof open. I had 'premium' level 2 seats and squinted into the sun all day.

Simpson and Carazzo look the goods. Russell's two kicks looked like gems (note to teammates: the ball is supposed to spin). Free Walker from his defensive role and let him run and create.

I reckon Stevens is spent. Maybe a few soft tissue injuries and trying to stop Campo feeding off him. He's a class act dragged down to a new low.

Prenda's had the chance. If we want someone who can't kick etc give Setanta a go - he can only imporve with game time. Prenda can't. - yeah yeah - long term injury blah blah blah.

_________________
This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

I'm convinced that Stevens is still not well. I've thought this for a while, but when we went to the kid's clinic on Wednesday I found proof. While nearly all the other players were in shirt sleeves, Stevo was rugged up with a jumper and a coat. He looked really pale, and sounded shocking. Funnily enough though, he was one of the best with the kids... seems like a really nice guy.

_________________
If meat is murder then yoghurt must be burglary
GO YOU BIG RED FIRE ENGINE
Move aside Kouta, Lance etc - you're holding us back... from entering the under 18s

Agree with Kouta and Stevens. Kouta seriously needs to think about playing on next year. If he is going to put efforts in like that each week, the Kouta we once knew will be tainted as a poor leader.

Prender although he dropped that mark played well i thought. Really tried hard, I actually gave him votes.

JR did me proud. He looks all class when he has the ball, smooth operator.

_________________
Mjonc signing off at 8888

That mark Ackland took at the Coventry end about 15-20m out Kouta just didn't go with him, never even looked like he wanted to spoil.

Sad way to see him go. We got a taste of this with Sticks being injured and srtuggling a lot in his last year.

Thankfully SOS, Bradley and McKay were all able to retire at the top.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

[quote=
Ian Prendergast should never, ever, under any circumstances, play AFL again. Anyone who consistently drops uncontested marks is not required.
.[/quote]

Did we watch the same game?

Prenda may have dropped one mark but at least tried his guts out after half time which is more than can be said for most of his team mates

No more execuses for Prenda. Ok the key word is TRY. He is 24-25 years old now, how many times is he going to try.

He is tall and solid, we have always wanted him to play a certain role and he cannot do it.

Mind you he is not the only one. Thats just it, for years we have had triers and potentials. I am sick of it. We need consistants. I would rather replace prenda with an 18-19 year old TRIER anytime.

Kouta, Campo, Lappin, Prenda in the back line playing ringa ringa rosy. Bad sight. They should know better, and that is what is frustrating. They do not back themselves and pass it off like a hot potatoe because they dont want to stuff up themselves.

I am not asking for wins anymore this season, I am just watching the youngies develop, but seing players that dont give a shit ie kouta is getting really tiring.

Stevo isn't fully over that flu thingy - lost a lot of weight and has lost his strength/stamina a key to his game.

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

I would lay off Prenda. He throws his body around and there are few Carlton players who can do that with authority. Missed tackles is the biggest problem facing Carlton - even more so than the dodgy umpiring.

why did teague get a free kick paid against him in last quarter?>

do they just pull them out of a hat?


Sorry about criticising Simpson a few weeks back. He may turn the corner with his possession count??? who knows.


I think we need to try new tactics. Why not Kouta onto half forward flank. waite centre half back etc. .... carlton only kicked 8 or 9 ? goals in 72 vs richmond in finals leading to the granny. In the grand final, new tactics and about 8 different playing positions - Carlton kick 30 goals...

try some new things.

glad to see carazzo in the middle a bit more.

A couple of things I noticed...We dont work hard enough...Stkilda ran to create better than we did and also worked harder in defense causing several turn overs.
When we bring the ball out of the backline we over do the handball...supporters next to me were almost turning purple yelling at players to kick the ball rather than over finesse with it...players like Scotland get the easy pass on the backline then start going wide , we end up under pressure and then kick to a two on one situation and lose the ball...several times we chose to kick to two on one situations under no pressure.

Another thing I saw blokes like Hayes and Baker pushing into some of our players but their teammates didnt even bother to come to their aid....there is no bond between some of our players..
Prenda is actually one player who will come and assist some of his smaller mates when they are copping some treatment but some of the others cant be bothered...

Tackling..get a tackling coach who can teach the players how to tackle...the pansy like attempts from some of our players isnt good enough....cant believe Wiggins cant get a game ..at least he works hard.....players like Houlihan, Campo and Kouta didnt work hard enough..imagine being Walker and Russell in that team?

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

Wow, really???? I think there is an opening at Ch 9 as a special comments man...

He is just saying what he thinks mikkey. Nothing wrong with that.

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

Did you not see the ?

Just on Walker - I reckon playing him on the great players of the opposition teams has been the best coaching move Pagan has made all year. Several people on this side had suggested it and I reckon the great man must have spies watching this board.

At the start of the year he was very erratic and haphazard with his approach, but now you can just see when he gets the ball he takes it on with a real determination and focus and you get the sense that he has figured out what it takes to become an elite midfielder and he wants that for himself. He's still got a long way to go, but I think he is now heading on the right direction.

He'll rip games apart in the years to come.

Yep. Walker's development this year has been great to watch. He's almost there, I can see it!

_________________
Click here to follow TalkingCarlton on twitter
TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

My thoughts from Sunday? How do you tie a noose? Where did i put the hose and gaffa tape and where are my car keys?


Draft picks, in theory Goddard, Wells and maybe Tennace would not be making a massive differnce to our club on Sunday. Our players have lost the plot, I have learned to live with losing, getting belted every week is beyond despair.

_________________
Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

Disagree entirely - you add 3 skilled midfielders to that group and the rest would lift. We would have beaten the Pies and probablyu Freo away and we wouldn't have decended the spiral staircase to nothingness. Confidence is an amazing thing and when you don't have it, you play like geese. And that's what's happening.

Call me optimistic but 3 good midfielders and our forwards/ defenders could play with a bit more pizzazz.

I reckon you add Campo to the Ants and Kouta to the bench and the mindset might change.

_________________
This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Optimistic!

_________________
Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

No realistic! - Have a look at the Tigers.....