I just don't get it....how do people who watch a lot of footy over a number of years continue to defend the indefensible - our game plan (or lack of it)????

I know it was a practise match last night and I wasn't overly interested in watching the individuals or match ups...I was solely focussed on seeing how our structures and ball movement had developed over the countless hours of pre-season training and planning.

1. Had we learnt to defend kick outs ? (ie. push back, properly mark zones, force teams wide and hold them up)

NO !!!! I think the swans had three coast to coast scores in the first half alone !

2. Had we developed a kick out strategy that allowed us to move and control the ball forward ?

NO !!!! Our best result is generally a boundary throw in on the wing !

3. Had we developed a game plan of entering the forward line to create space and maximise our strengths ?

NO !!!! We constantly target our leads and kicks towards the pockets or bomb it long to a contest !

I could go on and on.....But you all get my point...I think !

Now let me ask those who consistently defend our match committee a question....don't you see these same things ?

As I said last year, I loved B Ratten as a player more than anyone ! Unfortunately the sad truth is that it is quickly becoming apparent that he is not going to make it as a an elite AFL coach.

As terrible as this sounds, the 'best' thing for Carlton this year....would be for this myth to be exposed....so that we can move on in 2011 with a new coach and game plan that is capable of maximising our strengths!!!

So I now ask all ratten supporters (Kernahan, Cazzessman, Mrs Caz et al)....enlighten me please what do you see in our match committee that I am missing???

You've got to be kidding me.

I haven't seen a less intense game of footy than what i saw last night. Making judgements based on a first round NAB cup match is the height of stupidity.... unless you're talking about Richmond.

It's a secret.

Regrads Cazzesman

_________________
Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

If we continue to play like that throughout the year, then yes, I'd share your concern.

BUT IT WAS A NAB CUP GAME!

I'm not sure who was more bored with this game. Me or the players.

_________________
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

#DopeThenStash

I've only seen the 1st quarter so far. But it might have something to do with who we've got delivering the ball into the forward 50. Carrazzo, Jacobs and Grigg wouldn't be my first choice at pinpointing a forward through the defensive flood.

Early in the year, and some of our better ball users were missing, but we certainly need to improve our set ups, so better ball users get their hands on it where it counts.

Copped a flogging by Freo pre season 2009. Following weeks we destroyed the tigers and Bears and went on to make the finals with a number of our better players missing for chunks of the season.

QFT.

Zero energy game.

More a practice drill. Some of the plays were the same as the drills they were running in practice on Friday night.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

I agree...it was a zero energy game.

But even more reason to practise and implement the structures and plans that have been worked on all pre-season !

If you think that we will suddenly flick a switch come round 1 ...you're all dreaming !!!!

I am sure everyone agrees with that but there is over a month before we play a serious game. Plent of time to build.
Last night was about letting the boys get out there and get a kick. Have a bit of fun and get a feel for their fitness levels.
Over the years plenty of good sides have copped massive floggings in the NAB.

For God's sake, let's judge Ratts at the end of the season, not the beginning.

I'm rapt we're tuning up for the season in the NAB challenge, out of the eyes of the nation, and I wouldn't be surprised if our coaches were thinking the same. Hopefully we'll be cherry ripe by Round 1 and can be 2-2 in a tough start to the season, then settle into it.

We effectively lost by a goal against a team who needed to win to defend their marketplace at a foreign ground without half our spine and run. No dramas.

Let's talk structures in round 4. Ratts snuck up on everyone as a player, let's give him his due as a coach.

_________________
Dut, de dut, de daaa!

The "it's a practice game" excuse will hold for now.

But when the season starts, if we continue to move the ball with the same lack of purpose and direction that we did last year and last night - Brett Ratten will be on the chopping block.

The same structural deficiencies seemed to be there last night regardless of the actual players in the side - one wonders what the coaching staff were doing all summer.

It was only the NAB cup - but the way we moved the ball was the same old rubbish.

_________________
They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

so let us wait until the season proper shall we.

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Hes has had 2 and a bit years

Footy is very much like basketball in that the team that hasnt the ball will get as many defensive players back.
So its imperative that you move the footy quickly . Its essential to have players that can kick 55m to a moving target in space from defense.
This creates an open forward line.
Have Russell kicking out
chippy chippy sideway kicks and at best you get a kick under pressure into the forward line.

we have relied so much on Fevola and Betts to kick goals out of their arse.
Fevola is gone which will make it harder for Betts.

Which means that
1 Ratten must develop a structure that moves the ball into the forward 50 quickly from defense
2 The players implement it

Whilst the lack of key forwards worry me the lack of system in getting the ball moving and the obvious uncertainty and poor disposal is a bigger concern.

for 8 years, all we've known is fev, so let's give em a few games to work out some forward structures, and what works and doesn't work in getting it down there. the chip-chip thing shits me too, but let's be plain, this wasn't our team. i think irish, jamison and waite are the keys to our spine, and two out of three were absent, so that will make a difference. i think murph, simmo, houla and aw are pretty important to our run and delivery, so that will make a difference. i think betts is a pretty important forward, he'll make a difference. gibbs played like it didn't matter, because let's be honest, it didn't. let's see how they look round 1.

_________________
Dut, de dut, de daaa!

+1

Totally correct.

Murph and Simmo are crucial to fast direct movement into the 50 arc.

Betts crumbs as gooda s anyone in the league, he would have had a field day in fron to f Hendo, who presented every time.

Houla has probably our best skills in the team.

1AW has the dash and hardness we lacked.

Waite will cause match up headaches.

Army has improved and will hit the body.

Santa is the x factor for the 2010 season.

Dont throw the baby out with the bath water!

Go Blues!

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

Bring back Pagan. We won 2 premierships under him. And we also smashed Sydney in 2004.

_________________
TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

Agreed with all of the Opening Post.

Though I am willing to get into the season proper first.

Just the problem with the "its NAB cup" excuse is that these same problems have been rife for more than 2 years, doesn't lead me to believe much will change come round 1 if this has been going on for 2+ years.

Ratts coached 51 of those games..

... and thats all he tried .... give it to Judd.. kick it to Fev....

.. he didnt have anything else then and now 50% of his gameplan has evaporated... hes in for one long season and taking us with it....

Fev could have done a knee... or retired... surely in 50 games Ratts had an idea what he was gunna do then ...???

And look.. its all about ball movement.. not just forward personal... ball movement structures and decision making were deplorable...

And he calls of inta matches and has closed training sessions??... i know why he has closed training sessions...but his group of footballers are not advanced enough for Ratts to call of opportunities cos of some rain...

_________________
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.

We were the number one ranked team last year with scores from the defensive 50.

_________________
Have I run too far to get home?