Ratten spoke exactly the same way he did when he was appointed. The difference now is you don't believe him.

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"I'll tell you what I didn't do;
I never injected anyone."
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About the first time Luke Darcy has ever said anything I have agreed with regarding Carlton... I must be losing it

I still think he should have been a lot stronger in his response to the 'soft' question. I have had time to settle and reflect on it all, and i think my frustration and general annoyance with the whole situation put the red mist up as soon as I saw the man, tonight.

I will give him a bit of a pat in that for once he didn't say 'I think', 'perhaps', 'maybe' etc. Problem is I still don't believe him. I just hope the players somehow start to buy into what Brett has to say

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Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

I enjoyed the questions and found the answers reasonably persuasive. Just not sure that they help the players very much. (On the assumption that they're getting a similar message in house.) He basically acknowledged that we're stuffed, if we get off to a bad start, and if we continue to play without confidence. All true enough. However I suspect what the players need is a coach who can project real confidence in the direction he's taking them in, and that the solutions to their current form malaise are easily accessible and fully under their control.

Due to Essendon*'s problems, we've been spared further criticism. But there's been enough, and I'm not sure why Ratts isn't looking to exploit the criticism that is coming our way. When your club is called 'soft', you find a way to use it as ammunition in the games that come. Rather than excusing it by an appeal to inexperience. Post match the last couple of weeks, and again tonight, there have been chances to take the 'whack' and then gird the loins and return the whack out on the ground. But that doesn't appear to be happening. We don't want the coach defending himself (however accurate what he says is). We want the coach using whatever ammunition he can to motivate his players.

The egg came first, this has been acknowledged by the relevent scientists already.

Evolution created changes to the embryo, and subsequently the species.

Birds evolved from egg laying reptiles.

Ross Lyon has an unwavering confidence in what he is doing, an understated state of self assuredness and calm that the media struggle to change through provocation.

His unflappable nature allows him to answer questions without feeling under attack.

His record of success helps him no doubt.

C

The egg came first, this has been acknowledged by the relevent scientists already.

Evolution created changes to the embryo, and subsequently the species.

Birds evolved from egg laying reptiles.[/quote]

Chicken came before the egg... http://i.engadget.com/2010/07/15/breaking-chicken-came-before-the-egg/

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when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

Feelgood Hit of the Winter - GHRP-2, GHRP-6, CJC-1295, AOD-9604, Humanofort and Hexarelin

having read the last 3 or 4 pages the one thing that comes to mind was the depth of the interview process in the first place to appoint Ratten

as someone said, a senior coach has to have a strong vision for the future. One of many key attributes

Ratten clearly doesnt if he believes the reason we lost 'the arm wrestle" was we have an average of 31 less games experience
That is such a weak answer and is justifying the player's lack of effort to some degree.

My concern when Ratten was appointed was a lack of experience,the lack of depth in the process to appoint a senior coach and the fact that he is sticks mate.

The fact that this club is so far behind the times on what it takes to be a success and the broom needs to be used before its too late.

I gave ratten a chance worried that he is a Carlton boy and a member of the 95 club . That maybe the club just didnt have the right vision for the future.

Clearly I was right

He must go along with Kernahan before every club passss us.

He was quite adamant that we were going to play finals this year.

No one bagging that answer I noticed or even mentioning his response to Gerard's question.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Ratts said our aim is to make finals and Gerards question was why arent you in crisis then.

I mentioned his response to that earlier DUC.

I guess it got lost in people not caring what he said and forming their opinion before the interview took place.

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"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

I love the Rattman - but he hasn't got the authortive presence of a manager that demands the most/best out of his group. He is a genuine top bloke and an AFL assistnt coach is what he is suited at.. he is not the man to take us to the lext level. Making excuses is getting sickening you can go through this season alone and point out a myriad of matches where a team that has played less games has beaten teams that has played more games.

The amount of first round picks in the starting team for the Blues tht have been in the system for three years plus is testement that ratten -unfotunately- is not the man.

So, what to do? I don't care what his form has been like, but I'd bring Wiggins in to rattle a few cages, particularly around the stoppages.

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

I don't think Healy and Hird were convinced Ratts has it all under control.
Just their grilling and body language gave me that impression.
Ratts was under fire, and he handled it well, but he didn't set the world on fire.

I think he covered the arses of the players well and they should respond to that if they watch the interview.
The players have a lot to answer for.

The fact we have performed well against the best this year tells me that we lost our mojo of late.

FIIK. I felt awkward for Ratts in the situation he was in. I was half expecting a bake after the huge loss on the weekend.
Then on the other channel Darcy got stuck into Ratts too.

Healy, Hird and Darcy know a bit about players and Darcy mad comments on how difficult it was to play under a coach he didn't believe in but didn't mention names. Is there something cryptic in that?

6 out of 10. Ratts tenure is precarious.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

HIT. NAIL. HEAD.

This response to the "soft" proposition really disappointed me and showed how backward his communications skills are. The perfect "cop out" for the younger players and, regrettably, one or two of the older ones too. FFS Ratts, go take a look at the younger Tiger and Roos players lately and draw your own conclusions.

I saw the interview and thought Ratten was just okay, i was surprised at how hard they went at him, something they dont usually do.
He appeared a bit uneasy and the one thing that really stood out was how thin he is, wonder if this is taking a toll on his health?
I also watched Footy Classified last night and Grant Thomas was talking about game plans, he said even when teams are struggling he can see what they are trying to do. He said watching Carlton he hasnt got any idea what our game plan is, he is not alone there.

Cazz

Do you honestly believe that Ratten rambling off a stat about our players giving away 30 odd games to the Swans players was a sufficient answer to a question about Carlton being soft?

It was absolute b*llshit. Weak answer.

Ratten has them all baffled Perhaps that includes the players.

Look, there seems to be a common threme from the media regarding Ratten, as well as from supporters, and it's not good for Ratts.
Synbad will be looking at this unfold and know he was on the right track.
No one seems to know what the hell is going on other than the fact we have lost 4 of our last 5 and appear to be going backwards.
I'm starting to think that Ratts is the one who is soft after defending our players softness with their age.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

i thought his performance on the couch was equivalent to our performances on the field. a bit meh... (& leaving with the impression that 'meh' is good enough). as distinct from collingwood - responding to being top of the ladder, malthouse says they're not on top of 'their' ladder ie. still have to improve.
what I would like to see is EYE OF THE TIGER. both in our coach and on the field.

i get the impression that the boys are trying to think too much. kind of reminds me of the pre-roos swans. then roos came in & took off the shackles. THEN he refocussed on process, set plays etc....

also, i couldn't help but notice the number of times our key ball players would distribute the ball and then stand still, with that annoying pose of grabbing the bottom of their shorts with their hands just to make sure the opposition (& the crowd) see how exhausted/unfit they are. as distinct from the swans and bulldogs who 'give and go' thus offering either sheppard or option up the field....

EYE OF THE TIGER!

Ratts made some valid points.

Work hard and we can turn this around.

2% hard Mike gets.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

He has to work hard on our tactics on entering the forward 50.

Last week it was bomb the ball in to Lake, this week it was trying to pinpoint passes yet we still turned it over. More inside 50s once again than the opposition. Players winning the ball on the wing and then stopping because they have no one to kick to then getting caught by their opponents and turning it over. Half the reason our efficiency is so low is because we don't have the options to make a kick effective - we go for the low percentage option and it gets turned over. The only one on ones we seem to get inside 50 are wide on the boundary, and yet our defence appears to bad because the opposition get one on ones right in front of goal. Teams are easily able to manipulate our defenders to put them under enormous pressure.

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