KK, since the Adelaide game Ratts' TC detractors have praised the style of play we've seen.

I'm not sure what you mean by "you're kidding"

I agree with you Ryan. What we saw against Essendon* was all over the place like a mad woman's poo. The game plan was a mess. Since then we've straightened up considerably.

Even the Richmond game was played very, very wide. It's just that they're so crap the Kalgoorlie U14s could beat them interstate.

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And begrudging praise from many others on SEN, AW and footy websites, always with an attached addendum along the lines of "He'd better keep it up" or "but the jury is still out" or "lets not get to excited yet". etc etc. Always the cheap shot at the end by those with the anti Ratts barrow to push.

Why can't/shouldn't someone on the CFC web site come out and have a subtle dip at the media beat up that has gone on.

Good for the goose, good for the Gander. If you hightlight the 'Wacks' you can highlight the 'Praise'.

Regards Cazzesman

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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.”

We should be ashamed to have this thread title in the first place.

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No ones listening till you make a mistake.

These guys - all of them - are professional people. They should be able to be scutinized professionally and take it. As long as the comments don't get personal, I don't care who says what.

Ratten and the MC along with the players put in a pitiful performance against sndon. They copped a bit and have responded. It's a bit like dropping a player for a poor performance and him coming back to kick 5 goals a week later.

The criticism was valid and they turned it around.

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Nah that never happens.

Two words........Jousting sticks



Regards Cazzesman

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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.”

Yes C'sman, but some take professional cricism personally .

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I haven't noticed any real change in style. The execution and work rate is much improved over the last couple but the style appears largely the same.

I guess you have to sort the wheat from the chaff, shit from the clay and the informed from the uninformed SEN callers.

Sorry to disappoint you Duke but posters on TC and callers to SEN aren't what I would call professional criticism. How can it be? The criticisers don't have all the facts. They have two hours of football, many having viewed it from the comfort of their lounge or the front bar at the Railway Hotel, listening to FWits like Danny Frawley.

As you are probably hinting at it's like the criticism that comes 30 minutes after the National Draft. Everyone's an instant expert because 'Kevin told me'. Yarran over Rich OMG OMG.

Professional Criticism. Do me a favour. More like Monday Morning Quarterback Criticism.

Regards Cazzesman

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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.”

I think on most fronts we can see improvement over last year.

Most of us were justifiably concerned about our kick out strategy, and also defending kickouts coming into this year.

From my perspective we have improved markedly in these areas this year to date. Wonder if there's anyone out there with stats to support or refute this?

Ratten needs to be praised for these improvements.

We all have high expectations, but this year I feel we are like the Geelong team of 2003 or St Kilda of about the same era where they started slowly and finished well.

We all seem to agree our depth is improving, and we are seeing draftees making immediate impact, and playing their role.

This all suggests a game plan which people like Synbad (and many others) feared we hadn't defined.

I am content with this development of the team and can see a style emerging. Watching the last 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter vs. Geelong on the weekend I was amazed at the manner in which we controlled the play with 2 minutes of keepings off. Against a team like Geelong that was amazing, and the passing was crisp and precise.

We are still a very young team, and we will drop games we all as supporters think we should win. Watching us against Essendon* and against Geelong I can barely reconcile that was the same team. We were woeful against Essendon*, yet still in the game with 5 minutes left. That's another chapter we have to add to our traiing book-finding a way to win when you don't deserve to.

The important thing is that we appear to be getting better. Bring on the Pies!

Well obviously we need to keep up the wins to make the finals and eventually win a flag.
Well obviously the jury is still out as we haven't won any finals yet.
And obviously we shouldn't get over-excited yet as we haven't reached a level of consistency yet.
They're not cheap shots.

Why would the author name themselves 'From the Outer' anyway? Was it you?

Is 'the wheat from the chaff etc' really the positive critiques from the negative critiques?

Are those TCers and SENers who offer praise from their lounge chairs and bar stools uninformed drongos as well?

It is all about the degree of knee jerk reaction from both camps.

The Negative knee jerk reaction was the over zealous - 'Sack Him'

The Positive knee jerk reaction is more along the lines of - "I can see improvement and light at the end of the tunnel and I am going to give him time."

We have played 20 quarters and the good outway the bad so far. That's the Positive view. The Negitive is view is 'stuff the other 4 games, the Bombers beat us so Sack him'.

Abit of common sense never goes astray.

Regards Cazzesman

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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.”

No. But what if it was? Is that an issue for concern? It's just an opinion piece like you read every day in every newspaper.

Regards Cazzesman

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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.”

The degree of knee jerk reaction goes both ways. I wish people could treat all threads like the positives/negatives threads and just show some balance. I haven't seen one critical post from you directed at Ratts. Does he do anything wrong, IYO?

I think most of the criticism following that horrid Essendon* loss was due was due to a continued series of losses to that ordinary side and general inconsistency of performances up till then, not based on that single game alone.

In most everyday jobs, if you're performing inconsistently and making the same mistakes in certain areas, you're in trouble.

IMO, the last 2 weeks have shown Ratts is willing to adapt and make strong decisions to set high standards. But the jury still remains out for the time being.

I just thought it a bit strange that someone from the 'inside' would name themselves 'from the outer' as if to portray themselves as Tom the tradie in the outer.

And if true that Ratts agreed to such terms then I take my hat off to him for having the balls to do so...it shows self belief and if this can be transferred to the playing group on a consistent basis....the results will speak for themselves...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

Without doubt this is the key



Perhaps that is because I have an understanding of how hard his job is and the factors that he must contend with each week. Also I believe the lack of effort and application by the players in the Bombers game had more to do with the result than anything Ratts did or didn't do. No matter what game plan he wanted to implement it was going to be worthless with the lackluster performance from the 22 picked. Even the worst player on our list can chase an opponent, spoil a mark and lay a tackle if they have the desire to do so.

I wrote as much after the result.

As for the Lions game it was the poor conversion and the poor skills that lost us that game. Not Ratts fault. On the weekend the shots on goal were solid and the skills generally excellent. Has Ratts miraculously turned around the goal kicking and skill level in the past 2 or 3 weeks. I doubt it. Perhaps it is just greater application by the players. Winning in the AFL is 95% is between the ears week to week, game to game.

Regards Cazzesman

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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.”

FFS JUST CHANGE THE BLOODY THREAD TITLE

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Again Cazz I think you make some valid points but then what would the difference be between one coach and another if for the most part its the players who are responsible for getting the job done...please try to be diplomatic this time and do not take my question to heart or think i'm being sarcastic....what i am trying to understand is this...if what you are saying is true then it is quite possible Hawthorn nicked a flag with a very average coach...and that so can any side if they have a decent group of players...which in effect means coaches are earning big dollars for what exactly???

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre