Let's hope we kinda go out and sort of maybe partially improve our intensity levels a bit. I perhaps think that if possibly we can address a few things like that then we definitely might find our fortunes maybe sort of turning around a little bit, perhaps.

To improve or have improved? cause I would say Yaz, Garlett, Armfield and a few others have improved a lot this year.

Agreed on Robbo, Warnock and Grigg though. Don't know why Robbo keeps going in and out of the side and Grigg and Warnock have been good in their games so far this year.

Definitely Maybe.

Simpson was the other player that Maclure mentioned. Gone from good to near elite was his description.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Maclure made it clear he has no connection with Carlton 2010. He is a commentator and he'd be influenced too much if he spent time there.

3 players to improve under Ratten's regime: Simpson is now virtually A list; Russell is a great player to watch; Bettsy is a leader and star.

Bothe Maclure and King agreed that Robinson is young and messes up a bit, but he brings that spirit, quality to the mix which makes us more dynamic. Warnock has proven what it takes and the way we have dropped Grigg after one game was not good for the kids' spirit (I don't think Maclure watched the game he was dropped for, because Grigg was terrible that day).

Players should have a dip. You can't execute a coach's game plan if you do not NO 1 have a dip.
Maclure definetely thought Ratten should stay next year but adamant that CFC replace the assistants....then he went on to say he doesn't spend any time at CFC.

Maclure definetely is a Blues man. He also said that we weren't arrogant in his day (as it seemed to Robbo the journo) they were respective of the talent of their opponent, but they always new they could carve out a win. It's about belief and doing the basics first like having a dip and looking after your mates.

Fantastic show imo.

I get the feeling that everyone is expecting Carlton to respond in a big way, because they have been challenged by their coach, media and supporters.

Great article in the Age today comparing Blues 2010 with Cats 2006. Brilliant.

I think we are going to get over the line. First time I've felt it. It sounds like war. I wont be surprised if Gibbs knocks himself out having a ruthless dip this Friday.

GO BLUES

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Thought as much..

Give me a bloody spell! We did it too, and we did it worse than they did! Stupid comment.

Agree with you BB.
great show tonite..I was super impressed with Mark Maclure.
Gosh..I wish he would play a part down at PP.
You get the feeling the boys would really listen to what he has to say.
He just radiates life experience.
Yes...I feel we will win too..perhaps I hope more than feel it..I dunno..
maybe that partial line needs to be a bit deeper..but I do know that our team will be trying hard..and feeling our will for them to succeed.
I'll be going again with my man who is a bombers supporter..but he will be very sympathetic if things go awry again for us.

Also, I noticed on the show they ran a segment on coaches and players overusing the word 'Pleasing'...hah!! we are months ahead of them!

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Best post EVER

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I see you watching me watching you.

A brilliant line in the sand.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Yet we get crucified for our breaches way more than anyone, and our breaches didnt occur during 1995, whereas these filthy @#$%&! scumbags won a premiership in the year they breached the gap, and the public never talks about them being cheats.

Give us a break

Yes even Robbo wheeled out the Carlton are cheats line last week with Maclure. Maclur didn't bite but every Essendon* supporter going on about us being cheats needs to be called on it.

Robbo has to come in if Ratts wants hard at it. I'd also give Wiggo a run. Fisher was no better than Setanta so I'd put him in as well. Houla comes in because he is Houla and is in our best 22 by a mile.

Out: Fisher, Ellard, Carazzo, Garlett.

In: Setanta, Robbo, Wiggo/Armfield, Houlihan.

Of course, Carazzo will never get dropped, regardless of form, because he gets big numbers. His effectiveness ibn thge last month has been atrocious.

Essendon* alwys beat us for pace and run through the middle of the ground. We have to defend the centre square or we are gone. I said it before the last game against them and it happened yet again, although Essendon* was playing the worst footy of anybody in the comp at that early stage. We here on TC can see this stuff. I can not for the life of me see why the coaching staff cant. Ratts, if you're reading this, 'STOP THE BASTARDS RUNNING FREE DOWN THE CORRIDOR FOR ONCE!'

If we lose this, we deserve to drop out of the eight. Melbourne's kids are playing better footy than ours. Let them have a taste of finals footy if they want it badly enough.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Robbo was rested for the Bullant's game last weekend with a view to coming in this week.

Thats one definite IN.

People need to let go of the "Bring Wiggo in" comments. He has not played a game of football in about 5 weeks

Thanks for the wrap - haven't got pay tv.

I've had no one but two dreams this week in which we beat the Bombers...In the week leading up to the Doggies match I had two dreams that we got pumped by em...

Outs : Ellard, Tries hard but just isnt up to it
Fish, Would rather Carlos to crash and bash a pack and bring some mongrel with him
A.J, Time for an extended spell in the Magoos
Carrots, Nuff said

Ins : Hoops
Carlos
Army
Robbo/ Hadley

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When you're a Jet you're a Jet all the way!

Not that I give a shit because A) i'm taking the missus out on a date and am avoiding the game entirely and B) these selections won't happen anyway but....,.,


Outs:-

AJ (been terrible these past few weeks) 
Ellard (still have some faith in him) 
carrazzo (been far too accountable for weeks now - simply MUST be dropped. 

INS:-

Setanta (but for the love of god, please don't push him up the ground, put him in the ruck or at full back and have at least one if the brothers surrounding him at all times!!!!)

Armfield (if fit)

Robbo (at least I can count on him putting his head over the ball) 



Starting midfield line up:-

I'm getting sick and tired of opositipn coaches talking about how potent our midfield is with Judd, Murphy and Gibbs............. Yet hardly ever do you see them starting in the midfield?????

From the opening bounce- I want these three in the middle! 




Forward line set-up!


One of the main reasons I'm not going tomorrow night is because I'm sick of watching us push to far up the ground and having no forward line at all to kick too when we get a turnover!! It's shits me to high heaven! 

Go back to basics.....

Setanta close to goal with gartlett surrounding him and creating preasure to keep the ball inside 50 (the longer that ball is in our 50mtr arc, the more chance we have of scoring!)

Fish / Robbo leading up on the flanks.

Henderson leading up to CHF

Waite at CHB

Yazza and betts to be roving but also pushing up into the centre for thier spead and attacking preasure.


 
Were playing SHIT football at the moment reminisint of Wallace at the Tigers! Since Hardwick has come in, he has stripped it all back to a basic style of football that is effective AND (more importantly) easy for all to understand!
Right now, the players look confused...... and this results in skill errors!

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

From what I'm hearing this week - 'General Soreness' will claim a couple of regulars. Houlihan, Robinson and Armfield look certainties. Henderson 50/50.

A few questions, and a few thoughts appreciated. Just wanting to know everybody's thoughts on:

-What will happen if we lose this game?
-Where does the club go from a loss this Friday night?
-If we lose this game, will the manner in which it was lost be considered (e.g- the game was fought out, effort was evident etc), or simply label a "loss as a loss"?
-Ratten's comments evoked that if the implication that the team is soft doesn't fire them up, then nothing will. Does this mean that it will be time for Ratten to step aside if his explosive comments do not trigger a positive reaction from the playing group?

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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."

The next two weeks are 'no excuses' games. We play Essendon*, who most would suggest are behind us in development, who have as little experience, as few players with 100 and 200 games and their average games is put up a lot by the fossil Fletch, who is still an okay loose man but is not the player he was. They have their two best young talls injured, they, or many people around the club, hate the coach, and two weeks ago they were a rabble and have turned it around. We have been a rabble since the Port game. Two very unimpressive wins against the bottom two sides and bad losses against everyone else. We have trotted out every excuse under the sun. We are young, tired, had a downer, lost a player early etc etc.

No more excuses.

We should have beaten Essendon* the last 6 times and have lost everytime. Knights, under much more pressure than Ratts, got his side up against much better opposition after being flogged by the Eagles. Why would we excuse a loss by the Blues. If Knights can turn things around, why do we continue to not expect Ratts to do the same?

If we lose the next two it means we will lose the next four and that will be a disgrace no matter how many times people want to claim the Bomber Thomposn example.

Ratts needs to show he can get the side playing well when backs are to the walls, as Knights has shown. If our MC continues to be out thought and out coached by Knights and Campo, surely there will be no excuses. Our insipid loss to the Bombers in round two is the most disappointing loss of the year.

If we beat the Dons, I'd expect us to beat the Tiges. If not we won't beat anyone till we get to play the Eagles and the Lions again.

I haven't had football dreams since I was in my early teens in the 70's, but this week I've seen CFC in my dreams twice, albeit snippets. Must be something serious on my mind or something serious id going on with my beloved club. Very strange.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue