Carlton sing the Blues, whipping up a storm, or slow old stuff?

[Asgardian]

Gather round boys and girls, it's time to run the microscope over the Blues. I have been doing posts pulling apart team lists, player by player, to have a look and see how good each club could be in 2002, and also to generate some footy discussion in the long off season.
There is some possibility, however slight;) , that you guys may know your own players better than I do, if you believe so, and want to have a go at me, great, but when you do, be specific, don't be a cop out and say "you're full of crap, piss off".
The microscope I use is my own, a Port Adelaide issued device, so you know it is of high quality;) .

I try my best to be fair an unbiased, lets have a look

Matthew Allan :- Needs to be injury free, classy ruckman
Callan Beasy :- Yet to see him play
Simon Beaumont :- Not big enough to be a key defender
Craig Bradley :- Absolute marvel, never runs out of petrol
Blake Campbell :- Yet to see him play
Scott Camporeale :- Great runner, excellent finisher
Ang Christou :- Hack in 2002
Sam Cranage :- Dud
Andrew Eccles :- Very good pick up if he gets fit
Brendan Fevola :- Head case, pity coz he has talent
Simon Fletcher :- Honest spare parts player
Anthony Franchina :- In your face bastard, good at it
Scott Freeborn :- Back up only, in the middle hard nut
David Gallagher :- Dud
Adrian Hickmott :- Nothing is too difficult for this guy to do
Trent Hotton :- Spare part, may find himself in defense
Ryan Houlihan :- Kicks a nice goal, but goes missing
Darren Hulme :- Good little in and under type
Anthony Koutoufides :- Will miss him badly in 2002
Matthew Lappin :- One of the best in the league of his type
Luke Livingston :- Yet to see him play
Michael Mansfield :- Hack in 2002
Glenn Manton :- Tries hard, but fast good marks undo him
Andrew McKay :- He is now the defensive general
Corey McKernan :- Good is very good, bad is ***** terrible
Andrew Merrington :- Dud, unless he re-defines himself
Justin Murphy :- A midfield linkman, is he needed?
Sean O'Keefe :- Yet to see himm play
Adam Pickering :- Spare part forward, needs a big 2002
Jim Plunkett :- Looked good in 2001, has to go on with it
Ian Prendergast :- Shows signs of being a CHB, needs time
Brett Ratten :- Great midfield hard nut
Lindsay Smith :- Back up only at this stage
Trent Sporn :- Very slight, showed promise in SANFL
Lance Whitnall :- Good thinker, weight will always be a problem
Simon Wiggins :- Likely mover, has versatility

The Blues will miss the exploits of SOS and Kouta in 2002, and many important players are the wrong side of 30, (there is only one Craig Bradley).
There has been some obvious attempts to freshen up the list, however some of these measures will take a bit of time.
You also need to pray that Allen stays fit for the whole season, now that Porter has gone North.

Overall my view is that Carlton will have a dip in ladder position in 2002, probably ending up around the 10 to 7 positions.

[Thrawn]

Hey Asgardian, I argee with most of the things you stated, but I do not agree on Mansfield being a "dud". He as been a great player this year down back, he can mark well and his toughness around the ball and his tackling presence is something that Carlton needs to ensure a top four finish. His courage has been outstanding this season... and he deserves another year. Murphy is a specialist at kicking goals on the run from outside 50. 'Nuff said :D

But I do disagree on the ladder position. We may not make the top four, but we will make the finals... our list is not the best, but it is very good with top quality players. As I said in my major post referring to 2002 Carlton... next year will determine our status among the footy clubs. No doubt about that. I agree with most of the things though... if we lose Allan through injury, we will be stuffed! :(

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Yep, injuries will play their part undoubtedly. I too disagree with Mansfield being a hack in 2002. He was a dud in 2000 and looked that way early on in 2001 but showed some of his best form as the season progressed. He loves being at Carlton and I think he could have a good year.

Murphy is a player that can lift us if we start to struggle up forward as we did this year at times.

Finishing position depends on getting the breaks injury wise. We have had two bad seasons for injuries so luck has to go our way. 4th - 8th possibly but I have a lot of faith in this list and would not surprise to be right in the thick of it again. Come finals time, having a fit Kouta back could give us a real boost.

[Blue Blood]

Yeah i'm the same with you guys,first thing i thought you was way off about was Mansfield,he has had a good year.Also Beaumont is 189cms i think,that is tall enough for key positon.He just doesn't seem to be a natural key defender because he runs all day,so people think he is more a half back flanker.

[meg]

I think Beaumont is very underrated. In the first half of the year, he was our best player. He needs to stand up next year though, or his chances may have all flown out the window.
Also, I expect a big year next year from Hulme.

[Loz]

I reckon the Pup can be capable of finishing in our top 3 in our b and f next year. Hulme is due to put in a big one methinks.
And asgardian as much as i respect your opinion (and i do greatly) i think you are very harsh with Mansfield. He is not a hack but a quality player that can still contribute off the bench in a pinch hitting role

[Asgardian]

In follow up, and having done all the comparisons, it's now clearer to me where I see each team in 2002. There is no denying the quality still in the Blues list, however more than most clubs, I see Carlton as vulnerable to a couple of major injuries if they occur. You have already lost a one of a kind player in Kouta for the best part of 2002, if you were to lose Allen to a major injury, I just do not see the back up in your squad.

This lack of quality depth to cover all positions is the Blues achilles heel, the quality and height of your defence is obviously the other point of contention, SOS was superman, but with him gone, the generalship has also partially departed. The pride, and the quality that does remain will still see the Blues as a force, however not quite as much of a force as they were this year.

I'm predicting the Blues will finish season 2002 in 8th position

[blues^rock]

with sis gone our backline is looking weak... wehn he didn;t play earlier in teh year we had Massie as a backup who did quite well against essendon but then those idots at carlton had to get rod of him but what can u do... hopefully some younger ones will show themselves during the year

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Interesting to compare this list to the one I did as a Blues fan. I was probably just as critical in places.

[Worm4]

Originally posted by Asgardian
In follow up, and having done all the comparisons, it's now clearer to me where I see each team in 2002. There is no denying the quality still in the Blues list, however more than most clubs, I see Carlton as vulnerable to a couple of major injuries if they occur. You have already lost a one of a kind player in Kouta for the best part of 2002, if you were to lose Allen to a major injury, I just do not see the back up in your squad.

This lack of quality depth to cover all positions is the Blues achilles heel, the quality and height of your defence is obviously the other point of contention, SOS was superman, but with him gone, the generalship has also partially departed. The pride, and the quality that does remain will still see the Blues as a force, however not quite as much of a force as they were this year.

I'm predicting the Blues will finish season 2002 in 8th position

I am glad a lot of people are under rating CARLTON this year. I remember when Carlton were missing Bradley, Silvagni, Kouta, and Allan against Essendon last year. They under rated our side and the rest is history.

We have proven that we can cover these players. Whether we do it consistently is another thing....

[The Old Dark Navy's]

In our best ever season many believed we would struggle to make the finals (1995). If you read a lot of posts about the Blues falling, it is often followed by something like "I hope". We apparently overrate our side while others underrate it and are constantly amazed at our ability to stay 'up' for so long. We will fall eventually 1989-92 and many will rejoice in it but it happens with all teams.

Worm, consistency isn't a word I would associate with the current Blues side at all. :(