We'll probably have many-a-post like this between now and our 17th premiership in 2031 and then we'll get the very same people saying "I told you you were whinging about nothing!".

While that's true, you've got to factor in we're not privy to a lot of info inside the club.

The coach and the MC know when a player has responded to criticism or a rocket during the week, ala Duigan. Or when one player has demonstrated a superior working knowledge in taking on a key player, ala White. Or who's fit and who's not, who had niggles, how they're managing it.

We're dealing with incomplete information, and we're making calls. The Duigan call was right: Ratten gave him a bake. We just didn't hear what Nick had to say for himself. White was dropped for poor defensive play, and the MC opted to give his experience playing on Hurley a go to re-ignite his form, over sticking with the attacking advantages of Watson.

I'd hope the footy club has more insight, but I'll continue to make calls from week to week, as will many. We're interested in it, and as a group we're not that far off when we break things down and think critically.

And for the record, I'd reckon it was about 50/50 Yarran/Rich at draft time, and most wanted Fev gone after the Brownlow efforts. Not many people had much clue on the coaching situation, but thought Voss was a worthwhile candidate to interview. Calls in hindsight are irrelevant; people are just riding the wave at that point.

Fellow carltonians,

We have played in 2 finals series, have potentially a one of the best midfield, have if not the best the 2nd or 3rd best player in the comp.

Then how did we lose against a side that came 4th last, has a rookie coach and 2 players down! I have seen the same mistakes made over the past 2-3 years. I am sick of it!!!!! we have not improved since last year or the year before. What i saw today was disgusting ie. gibbs was ball watching and just plain soft. Why did ratten move warnock back in the ruck after he kicked a goal!!!!

We do not have any players out there that play for the jumper. Essendon* from what i saw does play for the jumper.

Ratten has to go. this year is a write off. i know its round 4 but the signs are not good. i hope i am proven wrong.

I hate the scum as much as anyone but the reality is that at the end of 2009 they were 8th and we were 7th - both were emerging teams and we were seen to be at about the same stage of development. The comparisons were that we had one of the best emerging midfields and they had the best emerging (potential) KPPs.

Last year they had a year to forget - the wheels fell off and they performed well under expectations.

Some clubs have hiccups like that and then get over it - look at Geelong and Port in 2006, Fell out of finals then both made the big one n 2007. (not suggesting that Bombers will play off for a flag flag)

Also we only won 4 more games than Essendon* last year and their year was considered a disaster so maybe the gap was not as big as we think.

I am undecided on the coaching issue. As Malthouse said in an interview, the strength of your team is the determining factor and list management is not just the coach but many in the club. He said that he found it stupid how the coach was solely measured on win/loss.

I always enjoy going back to the start of the 2007 season. Bomber was a dead man walking. There had been a grating review at Geelong in the off season after a disappointing 2006 and a few people were not happy. Even before the season there was speculation that he was not up to it and when Geelong started the season badly, the newspapers were full with stories about when he would be sacked. Geelong won the flag and Bomber was suddenly a yogi of coaching.

Remember Michael Voss? Everybody on TC wanted to hire him as coach! He has been a disaster. Who says that a Roos would be successful at Carlton? He only has coached one team - who knows if he would fit in. Sydney has shown that they are very good at certain aspects of football management - lots of that outside the coaches responsibility.

Anyway...... success of a football team depends on many factors and some luck - this B&W view of the world on TC is sometimes disturbing. If we had won by one point as we should have - the climate would have been different in here.

Is it Ratts' fault that we have a problem with the lack of quality talls? Kreuzer done a knee, Josh Kennedy was the price to get Judd, Fev we had to get rid off. What if we had the team we have today but Josh and a well behaved Fev in the forward line??

Easy to say, don't bomb it into the 50 = but what do you do when there are no leading forwards? We are using ruckmen as FF's = who else has to do that in the comp? Should we not have given up Josh and had no Judd?

So many questions - so many issues and factors. None of which have anything directly to do with the coach.

Peace.

I was speaking to a couple pies fans about this and they don't think Jordan Russell would get a game with the Pies.

It must be incredibly frustrating to have that in front of you as a player.