With so many posts going backwards and forwards, I need to get a few things clear in my head.

So please indulge my ramblings.

If Carlton wins, it’s only because of:

Juddy plays as he likes
Fev leads to wherever he likes
No 1 draft picks who do what they want

If Carlton loses, it’s because:

Ratts has no idea
There was no process
Recruitment sucks
President sucks
Assistants suck
No game plan
No kick out strategy

So essentially when we win, we are glossing over the fact that we are in fact, shite.

Winning is only feeding the beast that is Sticks and his ego.

Being in the 8 is an aberration and we should know that our rightful place is in the bottom 4.

Banging on and on about something that can no longer be changed is constructive and this is how it should be for us because we really are crap and don't deserve to enjoy a smidgin of success as long as the boys club continues to thrive.

Dick Pratt was only a brilliant businessman, EXCEPT in his dealings with Sticks, who is a lot shrewder.

Swann is a mere puppet to the whims of the real CEOs in Bear, Brown and Diesel.

I feel better knowing all of this, because I was getting a bit confused with how it all worked, but with the help of some other posters who are firmly entrenched in the upper echelons of the club and hanging around bars at 5am in the morning and gleaning all the goss, I am firmly back on track.

_________________
“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Nice one.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

QFT

_________________
"I had to eat"

_________________
i don't wanna spend my life explaining myself. Either you get it, or you don't- Frank Zappa

You forgot to mention JR......when we lose it's his fault as well.

_________________
There is no footy god

DUC do you think we have improved from the same time last year? Now you go to most games and you analyse...in all honesty have we? And if you truly believe we have in what areas? Just for one moment leave aside wins and losses...because we will either finish on about the same wins as last year (worst case) or a win more, maybe two (best case scenario).

_________________
"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

Habib, in all honesty, I think we have improved from last year.

I also think we are impatient to see improvement immediately.

I think we have improved in the following areas:-

Ruck - when aren't being monstered anymore and are winning our fair share of hit outs.
Defence - defending better and not having bags kicked against us. A backline that is learning to play together.
Forward - a greater spread of goal-kickers. Still Fev reliant, but we aren't losing games, if Fev doesn't kick a bag.
Midfield - a greater spread to rotate thru there apart from the usual suspects.
Getting games into players that probably wouldn't have played so many if not for the injuries to players such as Waite and Tex.

When we are switched on as a TEAM, we are a very good side and no matter how many times, l get told that we are crap and our coach is crap and our game plan and recruitment is also crap etc etc etc, I believe in all honesty that we are a better team than last year and that we are improving.

_________________
“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Yeah and the improvement in players like Bower, Joseph, Hampson, Austin, Betts, JR and Jacobs has nothing to do with Ratts and the coaching staff......it's all a fluke.
Just like recruiting Robinson with pick #40 and Garlett in the rookie draft........all a fluke. Same as when we got Jamo in the rookie draft.....what a fluke that was.

_________________
There is no footy god

One thing I've wondered all this is that considering we apparently have no midfield presence without Judd, have no forward line without Fev and have absolutely no gameplan.......

How are we the team to have recorded the highest score against the Saints when Fev barely contributed and Judd was barely able to get on the field for most of the second half? This is the Saints who are keeping teams to an average record low score this year of around 60 points, the Saints who are undefeated and have been commended for their coach, game plan and intensity....

Just wondering thats all

Some here will tell you the Saints were having a bad day and we were lucky to get so close to them

DUC I agree with everything you said in the original thread and your follow up.

I too believe we have improved but lack consistancy.

I agree entirely. Some people in this forum allow their emotions to affect their judgement!

While many others in this forum allow their emotions to affect their judgement

_________________
If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

..perfect example.. ..initially in that game we were asleep and the saints got the jump on us.. ..but when we played as well as we know we can, we were great and took it right up to the saints.. ..the question is, why was our best game such a rarity this season..?.. ..in regards to why don't we play more games like that, we've proven we're capable of it..

_________________
..if you can't be good, be good at it..

We ain't shite, but last Friday really showed the difference between top 4 and the rest.

And the one big problem in all the games we've lost badly this year is poor goal-kicking.

4-16? 16-4 and we might have done the Pies.

If we have to have Stevens back can we at least play him in a forward pocket?
He can kick straight and he's no asset in defence.

_________________
Perfect Season? Beat Collingwood 3 times. Once home, once away, once in the Grand Final.

Some valid points there...

Ultimately, the views expressed in this forum are a mixture of:

* Frustrated venting when we lose
* Big-talking when we win
* Pessimists who will never agree that we're any good till we win 5 straight flags
* Optimists who think we're the best regardless of results
* Jokers who like to have a bit of fun
* Deep thinkers who think about the game deeply
* Office workers who are looking for a bit of respite from the daily grind (I put myself in this category)
* Carlton supporters who feel comfortable in freely expressing their opinions to other Carlton supporters without fear of criticism.

It would be a very boring forum (and world) if we all knew with 100% accuracy why things happen the way they do. Nobody does...

If you are searching for truth, perhaps a supporters forum is not the most appropriate place to find it.

That's just my opinion... I may be wrong, I may be right...

_________________
Heartbeat is optional

Great post DUC.......your only ommission was when "Fev cracks the sads"...........

_________________
No ones listening till you make a mistake.

You may be crazy
But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

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

_________________
Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love