Caz, you are clutching at straws if your best shot at Synbad, for some accurate criticism is "you only come on here when we lose".
For what it's worth there is a division on this forum between the "realists" and the "blind optimists" ..... it may be a rude shock to you but the realists are calling it as it is and not succumbing to a bubble of media hype and internal club spruiking that is creating the illusion that we are on the cusp of sustained (top 4) success. Remember Caz top 4 was the hype we have been sold.

rubbish !! One realist just told us all that GWS gave us a fright. Fine line between a realist and panic merchant.

Most of the "optimists" admit we are in trouble but prefer to discuss ideas about a path out rather than ......rather than whatever it is the "frightened realists" are trying to do.

What is that exactly MJ?

Best post of the thread bondi

so optimist?

tell us why we are in trouble now?

you never hinted it before!

so what's going on t hat means we are in trouble as you put it?

so why are we in trouble?

I hope everyone that posts this week clicks the banner ad at least once. We'll pay for hosting until 2017

Which may be when we win out next flag. Who knows.

rubbish !! One realist just told us all that GWS gave us a fright. Fine line between a realist and panic merchant.

Most of the "optimists" admit we are in trouble but prefer to discuss ideas about a path out rather than ......rather than whatever it is the "frightened realists" are trying to do.

What is that exactly MJ?

What are the realists?
What are the optimists?

Don't worry about who is who in the zoo, but lets get some definition sorted first.

Is a realist one who believes our premiership window has closed, and believes we are no chance of redeeming our mistakes.

Yeah, I didn't expect a loss against the Saints and lost $$$$. I thought we'd win by 10 goals, just as I did against the Tigers, Pies, Lions and GWS...because I believe we are better than last year and we are very dangerous when we make it happen.

I think it is great to have some teams beat us up in the ...what is again?.....still only the first 7 rounds.

Is Collingwood going to recover from the Carlton 10 goal thrashing when it was the hunted?

I've taken time off work,,sulking a bit...watched a bunch of replays and all the talk back and TV opinions, and it is obvious to me that we were the hunted when we lost, whereas before that we were doing the hunting. We haven't been ready for the role as the hunted. That's where the MC need to improve and I believe they know that and will do something about it. Plenty of time to fix that up and make the 4.

I will not forget what we achieved in the WCE final on their turf in 2011, with Kruezer, Waite, Gibbs missing and a couple of key defenders on one leg. We should have and could have won it. Because we are a good team and not a cellar dweller. W are still in it.

The same can happen this year. It's an even season, and anything can happen.
I'm sure we have learned a fair bit about ourselves, the Saints and the Bumbers and know what to expect next time we play Pies or Tiges, because they will come back kicking punching and scragging...and we have to expect it.

I reckon the losses are a good thing. That we haven't got what it takes is rubbish. We can't change the list...that's next year, but we can improve.

Every team has lost games they were expected to win in the first 7 rounds, some teams won when really they were lucky to win.

I can see some problems, and I kind of agree with Gerard Healy that we can play Hammer changing with Warnock whilst Kreuzer plays at CHF if that's what we need to starighten ourselves up....but they're just a few of the many suggestions made where we can find improvement...even during the game. There's plenty of food for thought.

We have a damn good list. I actually liked what I saw of Gibbs in the midfield. Yes I wanted to see more, but FFS that may come. He looked like he was ready to have a physical contest and did, and made a few goals happen for us. The bashing that's gone on here towards many of our players is just an exaggerated knee jerk. Give 'em a break. I'm not happy with a few of them and look for changes next week. We have to put pressure on for spots. Increase the intensity and start the fookin hunting...in packs.

We are not perfect. They are not perfect. The winner of the flag will need luck with injury (and maybe a little from the umpires) and the bounce on the day...maybe the weather too. It may be us. Many teams have a chance. Its just a chance, but that's because flags are hard to win unless you come good towards the right end of the season ala Hawks, Port, Cats etc

No one knows who will win the flag this year.
No one knows that Carlton will not win the flag.

What we all agree on is that we have to make the 4 to have a good chance, and I think that possibility is still real.
Optimist or realist?

A realist is someone who can see this group is unlikely to win a premiership unless there is a change of coach, a change to the forward structure & some changes to the playing list

An Optimist watches our good and bad games and believes our game plan & some of our players are close to winning a flag.

There's another 15 games (16 weeks) to go before the finals. We need to improve and know what we have to do when we are the hunted...just another little step....can it happen? I think it can. Optimist or realist?

Before this week, most of the posts "we are travelling nicely", "JR is harshly criticised", "Ratten is doing a good job".

The realists some of us for 2 or 3 years have been saying
Ratten out. I'd be ringing Malthouse now. Get a matchday coach who has a plan b
Kernahan Out
Restructure the forward line
Don't play list cloggers (Play the kids)
Trade Gibbs & take the right risks at the trade table

!@#$% Malthouse !