JohnM wrote:
...ON-FIELD... well, there's not much you can do mid-season. About the only 'action' they could take is to put Pagan out on his arse and stick Ratts in there for the last 7 games. Which would sneak us maybe an extra win, which would be the worst of all scenario's (still finishing 15th, but no Kreuzer). Blcchhh to that, I say...
I fully understand and accept the point re the #1 Priority Pick, but I also think a very strong case can be made for removing Pagan much sooner, rather than later.
Perhaps it is a short sighted view brought on by the departures of two other coaches in recent weeks, but I can't see how the club, whoever was involved, can make a stand against Fevola's on field actions (and I support that stand) and yet leave Pagan at the helm seemingly unaccountable for his own actions.
At the end of the 2002 season the club was right to move by sacking Brittain, okay there were numerous other forces at play in that decision, but ultimately the decision to sack Brittain was, I believe, the right one. A proud club like Carlton should not accept failure.
Subsequent years have shown the club was in more of a mess than any of us could have ever dreamed. On that basis I think it was right to cut Pagan some slack. But that time has clearly passed.
IMO, we've gone beyond breaking point. The coaching panel needs a dramatic shake up and perhaps in time leaving Pagan to see the season out might prove to be the right decision, but right now, from my lounge in Canberra, I think Pagan needs to go before the end of the season. The players, our core commodity, need some sign that the club is deadly serious about turning around it's on field fortunes and that it will no longer stand for Pagan's poor results.
I think the risk of losing pick #1 is worth taking to save whatever skerrick of respect our players would have for the position of senior coach and those who appoint that position. It's dead easy for us to sit back and pray for losses so that we get pick #1, but do you reckon the players would enjoy that thought?
Pagan must go now!