I am very concerned...

[Thrawn]

That our form will fluctuate exactly like it did last year. Brilliant one week, ordinary the next. Is this going to be the same for this year? Hopefully not... but I do have a gut feeling. Brittian has to motivate the fellas somehow, because we have Sydney, Collingwood and Port (at Football Park) next. In order to succed, we must achieve. Achieve some consistency, then we'll be feared again. I don't know, but I have a deep feeling in my belly that we'll be what we were last year.

I think the Blues are in need of inspiration, and badly. But who can inspire? I am tipping Ratten, Campo and McKay. If Whitnall can show the goods, we'll be more consistent and hopefully string a lot of games together. But I do have this gut feeling.

Thoughts?

[tashibatts]

I think u should be afraid- very afraid:D

Alright alright, IMO- you have left your ruck area very weak (:D:p ) Your defence is also pretty weak- for talls, and unless McKernan and Whitnall both get fit and firing quick- ur forward line will be in havoc- the only part of ur team that isnt in havoc at the moment is ur midfield- and that will suffer because of ur ruck and the circle spins- and u lose games. Improve- or lose.

Go Roos

[Blues2001]

Originally posted by tashibatts
I think u should be afraid- very afraid:D

Alright alright, IMO- you have left your ruck area very weak (:D:p ) Your defence is also pretty weak- for talls, and unless McKernan and Whitnall both get fit and firing quick- ur forward line will be in havoc- the only part of ur team that isnt in havoc at the moment is ur midfield- and that will suffer because of ur ruck and the circle spins- and u lose games. Improve- or lose.

Go Roos

I don't really agree with much of that. Our midfield is what is in havoc at the moment. They haven't won all pre-season or in the first round. Our defence I thought did really well and didn't allow hardly any contested marks to be taken in St Kilda's forward 50. Our forward line will get better when Whitnall, McKernan and Hickmott get some games under their belt.

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Our midfield was the problem once again. We used to think this was our strong point and our forward line need attention. Over the off season we thought our defence would struggle. Our defence was our strong point on Saturday and we definitely did not look light on for talls. Prendergast spent much of the game on the bench such was our requirement for taller players. Our list actually has more 190cm+ players on it than many other teams.

A very cliched response there Tashi. Don't listen to others, watch with your own eyes.

[BluesBabe666]

We're right to be concerned. And after everything that happened last season off the field, i am really peeved to have seen Fevola out on Saturday night, inebriated (if thats how you spell it) and smoking. I know it was after the game but its like he doesnt take the game seriously. He's another Brad Pearce. I think we'll be lucky to make it into the eight. To see our players out on the piss so early in the season is really disheartening. And i am not talking about a few drinks. It affects their training for the remainder of the week, and their game, lets not pretend it doesnt. Idiots. And i saw Jason Johnson out on Sunday night, he had two beers and went home at 11pm!! Why cant our boys have that same discipline!! :mad:

[tashibatts]

Originally posted by The Old Dark Navy's
Our midfield was the problem once again. We used to think this was our strong point and our forward line need attention. Over the off season we thought our defence would struggle. Our defence was our strong point on Saturday and we definitely did not look light on for talls. Prendergast spent much of the game on the bench such was our requirement for taller players. Our list actually has more 190cm+ players on it than many other teams.

A very cliched response there Tashi. Don't listen to others, watch with your own eyes.

:eek:

There is something wrong with the blues.. I dont know what.. but there is- and it needs fixing if their gonna get back to the top 8.

And a lack of proven talls is one of them- another is the ruck area- u need a back up ruckman.. and none of yours stand out at hte moment- and with that lack of ruck depth- comes a lack of food to your midfielders- who are quality midfielders.. but they neeed feeding- and u need a ruckman to feed them- coz Allan might occasionally not be able to feed them. And with hte lack of food (the ball) coming to your midfield- your gonna lack chances of scoring- because hte ball wont be up in your 50 much. And in turn that puts pressure on your defenders- who are all reasonable defenders- but Manton cant cope going on guys 10cm's taller than him for the rest of the year. So you need to find a guy to take that spot..

That a better explanation for you?

In short- you need to find a ruckman who can play on guys that Allan doesnt feel comfortable playing.. because in turn the ruck will affect the rest of the field.


Kouta will help alot when he returns..

There is one other thing you lack(or lacked in the game against the Saints)..........
MOMENTUM

Go Roos

[wacca]

Prendergast was injured that is why he was on the bench and when Carltons ball getting prime movers are tagged out of the game (ie Ratten and Camporeale) the blues are in real strife - the team has too many finishers (eg lappin, fevola, bradley, Houlihan) and not enough prime movers - the form of McKernan is also a huge worry and the lack of height in defence will again be a problem this week and may give Pluggre a chanche to get his confidence back - i hope not but I fear so!

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Originally posted by tashibatts


That a better explanation for you? Much better though the defence was still not a problem on Saturday. None of our defenders was beaten by their forward opponents despite the midfield being flogged. I think we will have a few occasions this year where we are critical of the defence so I will take the opportunity to give them credit when they deserve it. You are right about the ruck being a huge problem though despite the midfielders not being switched on to their usual standards.

[tashibatts]

ODN, glad I was right about something- coz I am not right very often..

Yes- credit should be given where credit is due- your defence played well on Saturday- but their will be other tasks that they may struggle to overcome..

Your ruck should be your biggest concern at the moment.. Allan didnt play very well at all on Saturday- and it's not good for the rest of your team. Who as I said will in turn struggle- if Allan struggles.. I think the Blues should start testing out new guys for the ruck area (bulkier guys..) because Knobel is a pretty big/bulky young kid- and Allan struggled... and Allan doesnt struggle often.. I dont know who though.. that's why Porter was really good for you.. because he was a different type of ruckman to Allan... the type of ruckman you probably could have used on Saturday.. not sure- but probably IMO. And dont bother using McKernan- that will just give him the blues- and send him to the dogs.. if you use McKernan up forward- and up forward only (unless u give him a stint down back) I think he'll probably be able to return to some of his best form............

Go Roos

[BluesBabe666]

Originally posted by Rohan_
You guys have to worry about Fevolva, he is a very average and overrated player. Sorry to bring this up but his character is the major reason why he is a spastic on the field.

I hate to be disloyal but you are right... just lately i have watched him on field and his body language, his face shows that he is just not interested. I wish we had of gotten rid of him last year... now we're stuck with him for another year, but i think this will be his last one. He's a liability.

[tashibatts]

Or it will fluctuate from bad one week to terrible the next...

Go Roos

[NeoBlaze]

fevola is a hack said it from the start and still say it now, just like i said mckernan was a hack a year after his brownlow year...i say chuck him in the backline and keep him there because he can't cut it in the forward line, and you should delist fevola cause he's a hack, mckay was brilliant as usual but that was it, sporn was good for you guys too...but you rely to heavily on allen and he was unsupported (a lot like white at melbourne), prendergast was alrite should be alrite for you in the future

houlihan is really good, lappin is going to be so **** for you guys, pressure to back up after such a good year last year will see him just play like crap, whittnal is just fat, and manton is a one man backline....so yeh....you guys are pretty screwed...

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by NeoBlaze
mckernan was a hack

Thanks. Hopefully he won't be a hack this year and get into some serious form. He has shown glimpses, but is very underdone. Wait until Round 6-8 before making that judgement on McKernan.

Originally posted by NeoBlaze
lappin is going to be so **** for you guys

Don't agree with you there... I expect Lappin to hit some serious form when we start winning a few on the trot.

Originally posted by NeoBlaze
whittnal is just fat

Is just fat? So friggin what? Plugger was fatter than he is currently, and he is regarded as the best Full-Forward ever to play the game. While I don't think Whitnall will be like that, he does have talent. He's young... and now he's just come back from no practice matches, a hamstring injury and OP. What would you expect first game back? Did you watch any Carlton games of 2000? He kicked 60 goals that year... and only at 20. Wayne Carey hasn't done that when he was 20.

Originally posted by NeoBlaze
and manton is a one man backline....

Ever heard of Simon Beaumont, Andrew McKay, Ang Christou and Ian Prendergast? Plus when Kouta comes back, he can be in defence until he hits some sort of form.

Originally posted by NeoBlaze
so yeh....you guys are pretty screwed...

Wishful thinking on your part. Just remember, in 2000, we lost by 75 points against Collingwood... and were 1-3 at the start. What happened that season?

[NeoBlaze]

i think mckernan will only be serviceable as a defender....he's had at least 4 seasons to prove himself in the forwardline and in the ruck and failed miserably what makes you think that'll change in 6 rounds?

from what i've seen of lappin hasn't been inspiring, he's been very quiet for you guys, and i think attracting the best taggers in the league will just continue that trend

never been a big fan of whittnal, i still think he's fat, and he may have kicked 60 goals, but i still think he's fat....and plugger was fat too, but and intimidating fat man....and what did happen in 2000? didn't essendon win that grand final?

and yeh forgot about beauey and old melburnian....he's been a very good player, i wish we had him at north :D, and prendergast like i said was pretty good and mckay is brilliant he played almost a lone hand in your "beleaugered defence"....

and yes i still think you guys are screwed...

[Blues2001]

I'm all for opposition supporters giving their views on our board but when are we going to get some quality analysis out of them?

Thrawn, I wouldn't bother replying to Neoblaze again. Another (yes ANOTHER!) troll.

[Thrawn]

Too true mate... too much trolling and not enough analysis. Well, what'd you expect from these sort of people when our team is down on form and confidence? ;) Although some have something reasonable to say...

[NeoBlaze]

whats wrong with my analysis? you disagree with my thoughts that mckernan is going to be crap up forward and in the ruck and only be serviceable in defence (which mind you he said he may well play, "because the times he's played up in defence he thinks he's done well")? all in all you should find lindsay smith a lot better pick up than mckernan, but thanx for porter :D

you seriously think lappin will backup this year with another stellar year after he's managed to i think pick up a total of around 30 possessions for the last two games?

you really believe fevola will become anything more than the present day hack that he is?

you have only a few shining lights in your team, and you've been relying too much on old braddles and he consistantly seems to be your highest possession getter and he ain't getting any younger...

but this is my analysis of your team:

campo (who i don't like, rely on him too much, very good tho when in form)
plunkett (who is brilliant, under-rated)
kouta (if he ever stays healthy, he seems to be bigger than your team ala. wayne carey)
beaumont (who's brilliant, if only you had clones of him)
manton (seems to hang on to everyone he plays on?)
predergast (going ot be good for you guys
sporn (very good performance last week)
allan (rely on him too much, plays a lone hand)
murphy (who i think is over-rated)
ratten (who's another star who's getting old)
mckay (probably best player week in week out cause he's so reliable)
hickmont (brilliant hard worker)
houlihan (brilliant)
hulme (fantastic)
whitnall (fat, but can kick more goals than our hack saverio rocca)
mansfield (very good for you guys)

everyone else i don't know much of and haven't heard anything about so i cna't make comment, you guys have some quality players which you can build on, but this year i think there should be some serious spring cleaning in your line-up, and you should require some of your youngen's to step up..your in the same possi as us kangaroos building on a team that was successful a few years ago...now you just gotta hope you can beat collingwood....altho i ain't holding my breathe...

[Blues2001]

Originally posted by NeoBlaze
whats wrong with my analysis?

Better now thanks. Your first post was very ordinary though......Lappin will be **** for you guys this year, Whitnall is just fat etc. - not good. I'll give you a second chance now that you've showed that you are serious and not just trolling.