Re Tbird

Firstly, it's easy for me and others who can come on here and be clean and clinical without having to front up to Tbird (the man who has spent his career fighting losing battles in a terrible team) face to face and telling him that he isn't in the first choice 22 anymore.

But, I go through the team roles these days and, IMO, prefer others to Tbird.

Rucks - we have that covered
Mids - we have that covered
Tall defenders - I prefer Jamo Bower White and Austin when he's fit.
Medium/Small defenders - I prefer Walker Russell Armfield Gibbs Lucas.
Tall/medium forwards - I prefer Hendo Waite Setanta.

It's a team first philosophy that wins premierships. Hard decisions just have to be made.

My point re Rattens comments on Kreuzer second efforts and overlaying that onto his comments regarding losing the game due to hard ball gets is that his comments reflect his "midfield centric" view of football. Ks second efforts are great but would be far better used in the forward line. Walls stats analysis of the game demonstrated we lost due to ineffective forward 50 entries and deplorable skill errors, yet that is not what Ratten spoke about. I like the guy. I just think he is an average coach who rarely thinks outside the square. My opinion is my opinion, and you are welcome to yours. I just don't think his game day coaching is good enough to win a premiership. That's the question for supporters now, and Walls posed it regarding the players. I said at the beginning of the season finals for Ratten is a pass. Ratts has suprised me most of the season. We had a lot running against us in the Freo game but I just think, that game was a real chance for a coach directed win. Once he got the skillful ball users around the ball and the forwards started playing deeper we started to win but it was too late.

The style of game that freo were playing was always going to slow up as the game went on. They pushed back hard and spread hard. Unfortunately we let them get some soft goals early in the last and missed our shots early. They were too far ahead for us to catch up once they slowed.

Ratts did well time time Yaz moving up the ground knowing he would have only have a limitted fitness for that type of role. He got the result for that one.

THought he handled the interview well. I got what i expected.

MJ, you seem to value Walls opinion very highly, even wanting him on the board.

He'll always be remembered as a champion player and premiership coach, but I'll take Rattens view on how to play the modern game every day.

Of course most supporters think they know more than coaches whereas I'd also take Rattens view over my own

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"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

Spot on, Walls last two coaching tenures were failures were they not? There's a reason he's in the commentary box and not the coaches box!!

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You want the flame? Give us the marbles!!

I dont know about that HB. From a win/loss perspective they were failures but he took the Bears from a rabble to a finals side and much of the base for their premiership teams came from the list he left them with.

As for Richmond...well, it was Richmond, no worse than their other coaches over the last 30 years.

My point was more that Id rather put my trust in our own coach than to bag Walls

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"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

Walls should be on the board advising and overseeing coaching appointments. He is about the smartest Carlton person going around. Why do other clubs pay Walls as a consultant if he doesn't understand the modern game? Don't forget it was walls who advised Stkilda to appoint Ross Lyon. A drovers dog can see that Ratten, Riley, Lappin, Montgomery are not the A team

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1945 - End of round 3 Carlton was last.

Last round Carlton made the final four for the first time.

Eventual premiers.

That's what I'm talking about!

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

I know Thornton did it hard on the field that night, but for crying out loud, keep a lid on it! Full credit to him for the work he did around the ground. I'm not saying he didn't do a good job for helping out everywhere. But the sulking just has to stop. The team is bigger than the individual, and in the end, we lost the game by nine points. Giving away 50m penalties, and in particular, that 50m penalty may not have cost us the game, but they sure as hell mean a lot in the context of a close match. It's undisciplined behaviour.

He wears his heart on his sleeve, so I can understand that when things don't go his way then he'll get upset. Ultimately though, I think the behaviour should be eradicated from his game NOW, as I do not want it happening in any more games, specifically close ones and even close finals. How often do we see Scarlett carry on like that? Never. How often do we see Lake give away stupid 50m penalties for bitching to the umpire? Hardly ever. It's very unprofessional of him. And while I applaud him for his efforts around the ground, and for his contributions throughout his career in a very average side, he needs to learn. Should be dropped for the next game.

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."