I'm really lacking any faith or confidence we can beat Richmond, i mean they are seriously shit, but if we play defensively like we have been we leave the door open for them to get on a role and steal a win, yes steal a win.

I agree, I think where we are at now reminds me somewhat of where we were in 1998, where at the start of the year we had no real structure up forward (a young Hamill and Whitnall and an erratic Pearce and an out of sorts Kouta), in the post Sticks era (though he did nothing in 1997), and we have a similarly formidible (though this model is less seasoned and has more scope for improvement) defence and midfield.

So what we might see is some rather awful football early on in the season, as whatever we are attempting thus far it isn't working. Basically, any side could beat us at the moment as we have no momentum or confidence to speak of, and until we get that we will be in real trouble (in 1998 we were 1-8 before finishing off the year strongly). We have too much talent for it not to come together at some stage of the year (as long as we don't cop injuries, unfortunately they have a habit of happening when your not going well on field, so far so good though).

Trouble is without momentum, you tend to be reactive, and when that happens in AFL football, your in massive trouble, and if we are doing lockdown trying to control the game stuff without putting any real scoreboard pressure on, the Tigers, with nothing to lose, going for broke might rattle on a few, then with our lack of any confidence or system, not really know what to do to respond.

Im far from convinced Ratts is the man for the job, but I think anyone in charge of Carlton at the moment would have issues getting a post-Fev forward line to function immediately, alas, we should be hoping to see some system, and as yet, we haven't, just a sort of half assed more defensive, stop-start game plan.

everyone's getting ratty ... the footy season must be very close

_________________
NG
S M C , S F L

You got that right. Losing to Richmond is not an OPTION.

Speaking of preseason tension, the HUN has finally taken down the pre xmas Booze Cruise article it had set by default as the first article in the archives under the CarltonFC heading.

About time. That was last years news.
I hope their vendetta is over.
I am not going to renew my subsciption till I know they have truly changed the wickedness of their ways.

Lets move forward with the 2010 news...it's going to be another good year from ther Baby Blues.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue