Is it just me or is Scotland running straight ahead at goal in 2010?

Is it just me or is the main criticism of Thornton that he runs around in circles?

Is it just me or did Scotland used to suffer from those afflictions up to last year?

Thornton runs?

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"I had to eat"

Yep. And the best thing is that Scotland has kept his great disposal skills despite completely changing his game style - 96% disposal effeciency yesterday!!

It's obvious that Thornton was dropped purely because of his inability to follow team rules. He goes far too wide all the time and takes so much time to find a team mate that the other team has already had a chance to create a zone which can't be penetrated.

I made the same comment last year after the Aints game when Thornton missed. We look so much more potent and move the ball a lot quicker when he's not in our defence. Yesterday and against Adelaide we looked great coming out of defence and we need to keep this going. The pressure that it puts on the opposition and the pressure it takes off us is immense.

I'm not saying it's all over for Thornton, because he's a great player when on song, but he will need to show some pretty significant changes to his game (i.e. Scotland) to make it back into this side now.

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

The direct style suits Scooter really well, as he's very strong through the core and easily breaks tackles. Seems his days of doing the "whoop whoop bird" are over . loved the run to set up the Great Man

I was talking about this in the stands yesterday and the guy next to me chirped 'Well Stevo's no longer out there so Scotland doesn't have the bad influences any more'.

It looks great when he takes it and runs straight ahead. He's a bit of a tank and can really get through some of those tackles.

I think its also the fact he is more forward of the centre and feel less pressure (so runs straight)

also

When Fev was at FF maybe Scotland 9and others) were too aware that they needed to get the ball over the centre and CHF line to reach him, a daunting task.

Now they aim to hit both the centre and chf lines depending on best option.

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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!

Full pre-season helps massively, been a very big upside for us this year, a much underrated player who slips under the guard of the opposition because their worrying about Judd, Murph, Gibbs, Simpson, Carrots, McLean etc.

I think Thornton is in big trouble, career wise. In saying that, its a great reflection on the team, as it shows we have improved markedly whereas before he would of had to play due to lack of alternatives.

Thornton bashers

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"I had to eat"

Surely Thornton can follow coaching instructions, can't he? I guess we'll have to see if/when he gets another go.

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Ive always liked Thornton, but the reality is he needs to improve to get back into our best 22.

I read somewhere that Thornton was dropped because Ratten said he wasn't being strong enough at the ball.

Interesting though that our backline has gone from having 4 talls last year (Thornton, Bower, Jamison and Waite) to two now. Looks so much better for it. Love the idea of having Jamison at full back playing lock down, and then Bower, Russell, Gibbs, Armfield and Walker all being able to play down back, and giving super run out of defense.

Play Waite as a wingman, let him run and create.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

We only had two for much of last year actually and the signs were there it was a good set-up. Improvement from JR etc helps too.

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░L░I░N░K░I░N░B░I░O ░

Scotto is running straight, straight through anything in his way. Would love to know how many tackles he has broken this season, would have to be the league leader or close to it.

amazing that people think Thornton went sideways by his own choice, it was team instructions at the time people!

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Best thread ever. My sentiments exactly Molsey. It's been my bug bear for many a year. @#$%&! we look good going down the centre...and @#$%&! Scooter's a unit this year. Well @#$%&! done. Brilliant first few rounds Scoot!

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--------------------------------------------------------"The only one that could ever love me..."

He'll be gunning for B&F this year. Hasn't put a foot wrong.

Forget about the B & F Heath's always been a vote getter in the Chas let's all go get on!!!

In the best 10 mids in the comp ATM IMO.

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

Thornton is that he was so good for us during the worst period of our history. He gave his all every week against huge odds and playing as a key defender in that side would of been hell.

The issue is that as a side becomes better and makes its way up the ladder players need to be better and deficiencies in their games are exposed and more under the microscope. The problem for Thornton is that in the modern game he is nowhere near our best key defender.

Good sides now have effectively 5-6 runners coming from defence that can be run and carry and create opportunities for further up the ground.

I went to the Bris/Melb game on the weekend and watched more mobile defenders in Frawley and Warnock take on bigger guys in Fev and Brown and not only beat them but were also very attacking and creative. For the past few weeks Walker and Jamo have been doing the same thing.

Unfortunately for Thornton along with several others, that as we get better they will find it almost impossible to get a spot in our best 22.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

My point isn't that Thornton is finished, far from it. My point is that Scotland has changed his game style from 2009 to 2010 - and yes he's had a full pre-season and looks a treat - and he's just standing out on the field. I think to start the game v. the Cats he was on the wing v. Bartel and I was worried by the match-up. Sure match-ups change through the game but he was a clear leader, was great in congestion and great in space. his hard running forward created three goals to mind. Really good to see. 2009 was Scotland's first year since joining the Blues that he wasnt in the top 10 in the B&F and it could have marked the decline, but no worries at all here. BIG thumps up.

Thornton on a few occasions against Brisbane went in board with 20 metre chips that got cut off and led to turnover goals. Thornton is naturally a slow airy kick and needs to watch this with the increased pace in the game. That said I'd have him in for the spoils and key defensive matchups over Waite and White any day. he did himself no favours with a listless effort in the Bullants, whereas a true leader would have dominated and demanded a recall. As it goes he's going to have to wait for Ratten to be concerned about a key forward (eg Brown) to bring him back, or an injury.

So he was dropped for following team instructions?

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"I had to eat"