our most important player is Jamison and when he went off we looked a different side down back.

I agree with what you are saying Keogh. Jamo is important to us. However the 10 minutes where our backline looked shaky was the only 10 mins of the game where our mids and forwards were off the boil pressure wise so its hard to judge how bad Jamo being out would affect us.

Also if we win a flag with Ratts as coach I do expect you to admit that you were wrong about him.

interseting that you dont acknowledge the fact that Ratten's role has been less this year and deliberately so.
Ratten has his strengths and has improved as a coach.
But to say i was wrong about him if we win the flag.
Which part am I wrong
That he gets too emotional
He is tactically weak

How much of a change Richardson and Brown have had on the coaching of the team is valid when answering your question.

the games against Sydney and WC are crucial.

I see what you are trying to do. You are trying to soften your fall. For years you have been talking Ratts down and now that it looks like he is going to get some success you are getting in early and laying the ground work for your escape.

Three weeks ago you didnt want to know about Richardson being in charge of tactics from the box when you were potting Ratts for not having a bloke on Varcoe at centre bounces.
Now you are all over it !

All coaches have support. Its not like Malthouse sat around and devised the gameplan they have now all by himself. He looked gone until he got some tactical minds in.
The role of coach has become more about management and grouping ideas the move the team forward.

Sure Ratts' role has evolved into something different than years past but we all know that. Have done since the new assistants arrived. The buck still stops with Ratts. If we dont win a final he is more than likely gone. IF we win the grand final he holds up the cup with Judd and your previous thoughts about him not being up to it which you stated plenty of times would be wrong.

I didnt pot Richardson at all.
If we win the flag this year then Ratts can take a lot of credit for the success.
You cant argue that if we win a flag then I was wrong
Pity posters like you cant be so honest when you dont get it right. And nobody is right or wrong yet. Too early to call
But we have been down that path before
The guys who deserves the most credit are our recruiting staff
Robinson pick 40
Betts ,Thornton, Gartlett, Ellard, Jamison, Carrazzo,Tuohy,Jamison, Curnow, Joseph, White all rookies
Duigan mature age
bargain pickups Scotland,Armfield,Laidler,

Yeah at the moment it is.
And its great to see.
having surveyed the site i reckon a few posters are getting a bit ahead of themselves
Still much work to be done
With ratts neither me, you or anyone else knows what is said in Ratts headphones
What we do know is his role has diminished and we have significantly and posters can draw their own conclusions

Just 3 points about the coach.

1. Ratten has gradually improved the Blues from a lowly position on the ladder to where they are now (2 of those years without the current assistants).

2. The players love Ratten (this has been reported in a couple of places) and also highlighted by Murphy's comments.

3. Ratten has made some major structural changes while he has been coach ... on and off the field ....
i.e.
- when he saw the need he sacked his assistants last year,
- made the move of the year ... Yarran to BF,
- put Walker to FF,
- pushed for the last couple of years to get Laidler to Carlton
- etc etc etc.

My prediction this year for what its worth is a Carlton Collingwood grand final .... KEEPING THE LID ON IT ...

Even if we won the premiership ... people would want to get rid of him ... they can't help themselves ... they want to be justified.

They would prefer Malthouse (how revolting) than a true Carlton man who is doing a fine job.

Sakc Ratten!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know that you can only beat the teams that are put up each week. As excited as I am by our progress this year - be warned

Of our 8 victories only 1 has been against a top 8 side (Sydney) - We couldn't beat the other 3 top 8 sides that we have played (Collingwood, Geelong, Essendon*)

7 victories against bottom 9 sides - Richmond, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Brisbane.

We are playing great football and looking more complete as a unit, but the next month of footy will be telling. Sydney, West Coast, Richmond and Bulldogs. 2 top teams, 2 strugglers and then the big one - Carlton vs Collingwood.

I believe that we can win all four of those games and then front up for the biggest Carlton v Collingwood game in 30 years.

We will know a lot more in 2 weeks time