OK, we all know where gonna be missing Thornton and Livo for a while and we all know they're the backbone of our defense, so how do we make this as much of a positive as possible and what other changes would you make to our usual 22?

First things first, i'd bring Norman in and i'd give him a license to run and create. The other major move i'd make is bring Setanta in and tell him to stay next to his opponent for the whole match. Don't go kick chasing, just stop his man from getting a kick.

That's not too much responsibility for Setanta and the way he is, he would do it and do it very well.

I'd put Houla and Lappin on both backflanks and whenever there's an attacking thrust i would want them sprinting forward. By doing this we would have 2 more scoring options and it would be putting there man under pressure aswell, hopefully this would make them worry about Houla and Lappin and forget about doing what there job, attacking.

Archie would float in the backline and get in the way of every lead made. Teague would play his usual role aswell.

I'd have Campo floating around the backline picking up crums and getting it to Stevens who is making his presence felt in the middle of the ground by feeding the ball to the forwards.

Kouta would be the main man in every centre bounce and i'd put him more in the forward line then down back so that we have another forward option.

I'd tell Betts and Davies to be at Fev and Lance's feet at all times and whenever they have the ball bolt forward of them creating an option for Lance and Fev if they didn't want to take shot, or if they were too far out to take a shot.

Carrazzo and all the other creative/ skilfull players on the wing pushing up the ground.


So, a very attacking game plan but defense is our problem at the moment and by attacking all the time it would have the oppositon worried and make them doing the bulk of the defending.

Bring Simmo in so if Campo gets tagged we still have someone with good disposal who can run and carry the ball

Interesting to see the figures for who had our clearences today - Kouta would have had the majority and after that there wasnt many so maybe Brett Johnson could come in to provide that an extra clearence option

IN: Chambers and Norman for sure.
OUT: Livo and Walker.

CHB is relatively easy to fill as both Digby and Norman can play that role I think. Trouble is one of them will have to play FB.

Gee, it'd be great for Carlos to get a run, but is throwing him into the heat of defence the way to go? I guess a debut against a Lloyd-less Essendon* side is probably as good a break as he's likely to get.

_________________
Click here to follow TalkingCarlton on twitter
TalkingCarlton Posting Rules

Will Chambers be over his injury by next week?

Out of Norman and Morrell, Norman would have to play fullback. Morrell doesn't have the pace to match forwards on the lead.

Out - Livingston, Walker, Davies

In - Norman, Chambers, Johnson

Norman would have to be an almost certainty to play on Friday. If Chambers is over his injury I'd expect him to play as well.

Johnson would have been great for us today. The game was a scrap, exactly what Laidley wanted. No open space, no where for us to run and lead (hence the low score on a great day for football). We desperately needed Johnson in the thick of it to feed our runners.

Wht drop Davies? he had four shots at goal. Our problem today was we needed more grunt around the stopages and we needed more run. The loss of Walker meant we had Archie and Eddie on the bench and therefore our midefield couldn't be rested as we would have liked.

Livo and Wlaker out
Norman and Chambers if fit, if not Simpson should come in

Due to the unfortunate fixturing of the VFL match today, we don't know yet who put their hands up for selection. But Johnson has been racking up Diesel like stats over the last couple of weeks. If he backed up this week, you'd have to have him in the team. Remember the first time we played them last year, he starred. It was when he was off the ground in the 3rd quarter that Essendon* opened up a lead. As it is at the MCG and for all we know will be a bit wet, he seems a fair selection

For mine Davies is too light to be a marking option in the forward line and lacks the class to make clear shots at goal on ground level and as today proved he lacks finishing for goal. Might be a bit tough on him but when Longmuir is fit he'll be pagan's first option for the small marking forward, as he is a suprerior mark to Davies one on one.

Superior mark and superior skills. Davies has better toughness and grunt though.

With Walker and Livo out I would expect Norman and Chambers to come in. I also want Johno in there as well but I cant omit another player with any real justification.

_________________
C'mon Blueboys!

I was thinking maybe Sporn could be dropped but then again Hird is playing on Friday night!!!

Hird played a shocker last night after quarter time and you wouldn't expect him to have 2 bad ones in a row.

That must've been one of Sporn's worst games yesterday. Disappointing

_________________
C'mon Blueboys!

I agree Marciblu about Sporn, I didn't see much from him, but figured he may have been on the bench a bit, and/or in a tagging role. I'd keep him in the side for next week.

I'd give Norman a chance, with Chambers to come back if right. With Kouta in the middle, we don't need Johno so much. I wouldn't like to drop Davies, as he was one of our better players, but his disposal let him down.

More game time for Eddy too.

Not sure if I'd drop Davies just yet. Having him in the pocket swapping with Betts seemed to work. Only bad conversion let Juzzy down yesterday.

No need for panic, agree with most posts that have Norman and Chambers coming in for Livo and Walks. Agree with Camel, would love to see Setanta get a run, but if he doesn't then it's not the end of the world.

_________________
Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Agree that we shouldn't panic. If Chambers is fit then he's an auto selection. Norman has to come in...is Hartlett ready yet? I expect to see Sheedy stack the forward line with talls. Norman should be able to play on Lucas, Morrell on Henneman if he plays there...Sporn on hird as usual.

The danger is going to be marking Hille or Laycock.

_________________
"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

In: C Judd
Out: D Clarke

Oh, it's not that sort of game

Interesting Livo is listed in the paper as Ankle Injury and fitness test this week.

_________________
The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Ronald Reagan

Simmo in for Walker.

Livo will play. Chambers had a two week injury.

No other change, not needed. Everyone had an off day minus Kouta and a couple others.

As for dropping Davies, 14 possession from a pocket and 4 shots at goal is not deserving of being dropped

_________________
Mjonc signing off at 8888

I would have stormin in for Walker

Leave everything else as is, assuming Livo is okay, which it does appear that he is.

And if Lucas doesnt play for the bummers on Friday Night - i will be very very dissappointed if we dont win.

_________________
Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod