This will be an interesting Year regardless of result for the Pratt Era Blues.

2007 has sprung already some big changes which i think will set the Blues up from 2008 and onwards ie New CEO / Football Manager / President ect

Crystal ball the Season of 2007 - 2008

Estimation is we will win 6-8 Games this year
Pagan will be possibly end his coaching Link with the Blues End of 2007 ideally to bring in a new coach with new ideas who also can make decisions not influenced from the Pagan era

From what i have seen with Pratt he will look to find a viable candidate for 2008 if Pagan does not meet his expectations.

New coach will be able to keep retain or change the current coaching panel
Can Make decisions on captaincy not influenced by previous administration.
Definately the issues relating to the Senior ccoach and Bullants coaching will be fixed up.
Tough input on decisions of certain players without again influence from previous admin

Prediction Blues will chase or target a higher profile out of contract Player for 2008 Ie Del Santo for example and with the need of some Key senior player / players to now help the Kids develope as our list needs begin to change.
(the Loss of Stevo for the midfield will be addressed at end of year with the pressure that has been placed on Murphy and co)

Would be good to get other peoples thoughts of where we expect the year to go and what changes may be made

_________________
CFC TAC Squad everyone over 25 must be traded sounds like Loguns Run

Interesting ... very interesting.....

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Pagan/Mitchell standoff won't be a problem at the end of the year. If Pagan stays, Mitchell will be out. If Pagan is replaced, the odds are that the incoming coach would bring in a new Bullants coach.

I'm sure that Pratt would be dangling a line hoping to attract interest from the best available coaches (which almost certainly means trying to lure the cream of the current coaches in the AFL). Whether he follows through depends on how well Pagan performs for the remainder of the year.

If we have results in line with or ahead of current expectations, then I doubt if he'd bring in an untried coach - it wouldn't be worth the costs and the risk of going backwards both onfield and financially. If things turn sour this year, then Ratts may even be the interim coach by the end of the year.

Wolfe, interesting read, but if you're going to do predictions you should read some of blueman's work - he's got the mystery and ethereal vibe about him that sets him above your common palm reader.

I turned the brightness of my screen down when reading your post but I just couldn't get in the mood.

The incoming coach you mention wouldn't necessarily bring in a new Ants coach as well - Mitchell has worked the Ants into a decent VFL side, regardless if Pagan was to go I'd be surprised if he went... unless it was of his own accord.

And you can bet on one thing, you know that Pratt will be handing a tough mark on Pagan's performance this year. I'm sure on-field will be heavily sorted out post-season, both with the coach and during trade week.

And it wouldn't be a long stretch for Pagan to get the flick mid-season *though I find it highly, highly unlikely* - seeing that Carlton don't have as much trouble with paying out his salary anymore...

I doubt if a new coach would want him around. Mitchell is well connected within the club. He's a close friend of Sticks and Gleeson, and maybe his network extends futher than that. If I were an incoming coach, he'd be first on my list to clear out.

Any current AFL coach would reckon his card is marked as Pagan has openly pointed the finger at him for disloyalty. Any assistant coach taking over the senior position would be concerned that he might be undermined. The only one who might keep him on is Ratten, who may well feel he can work with him.

And we'll have to see how Mitchell goes without the older Carlton-listed players to call on before a claim could be made that he is irreplaceable.

I agree with the 2008 recruitment of an older player (23 or 24yr).

A midfielder like Del Santo is probably the way to go.

Pagan will have to be gone if we only win 6 or 8.

King Richard wouldnt like loosing very much...especially if we get beaten by 60+ a few times.

Players like Wiggins...Saddington...Teague...will be gone and the curse of the Pagan will be finished!

We have the technology.....

_________________
They coud'nt.....could they?

Ratten to be coach.....Dal Santo to play with Stkilda....Reiwoldt to want out of Stkilda and to head Nth. Longmire to coach Kangas with Grant Thomas as Footy manager.......
Ben Cousins on the market.......Pratt with an interest.....

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

2008

Ratten coach with Voss understudy

Murphy captain

High profile recruit (Del Santo or of equal value)

5 more players delisted (Teague, Saddington, etc)

Meth lab found in WCE changing rooms.

Wallace admits 2011 was ahead of schedule...2015 instead

Daniher predicts premiership...14th

Grant Thomas=umpire coach

Sheedy=centrelink

Buckley admits relationship with Malthouse...Mick Malthouse.

Pagan coaches Kangaroos...Kangaroos win spoon.

Jeff Farmer spontaneously combusts at Perth Nightclub.

Barry Hall defeats Mundine TKO.

Sam Newman birth certificate lost.

_________________
They coud'nt.....could they?

Hopefully Icke & Swann will wrest control of the football department from Sticks.

_________________
There's so much I could say...