News Colin Carter and Geelong's "ugly" fans

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Given you're now engaging in good faith let's return the favour.
You don't worry about the root cause or wonder why things happen?

it doesn't concern you that the best option they thought for the role was Blicavs. He's only played there once Duncan got injured.
Duncan copped a knock v Carlton and late in the game Blicavs was there, I know as I was following Budda230's advice and watching our stoppage setups. Same again when Duncan got re-injured.

Why focus on the performance of Blicavs in the role? Surely the more pertinent question is how did that option come to be, and we know off Carter that it was a collaborative decision.
I find it alarming that the best option was deemed our fullback who has made the last two AA squads. Just how bad is our player development?

Sure, I get that. It's infuriating if they don't rate anyone else as capable of doing that job.

But the thing is, moving Blicavs there has multiple negative effects. Firstly it takes him away from the backline. Secondly Blicavs' best football by far has been in defence and he just isn't up to playing on the wing (and to be fair, after playing two straight years in defence he shouldn't be expected to). And finally it obviously weakens the wing position because he just doesn't get enough of the ball there. So his performance does have to be included in the conversation to my mind.

But absolutely, why no one else was tried there is mindboggling. Even Parsons (cue the heart attacks) - he averages about as many touches as Blicavs does in that role, but at least he can kick a goal or two. I get all the arguments against him. But I think moving Blicavs away from the backline should have been non-negotiable.
 
Yes, frankly and to be blunt they have a right to give that attitude.

If you’re disenchanted with the path they’ve got this club on, if you want to ask valid questions then you know what you need to do. Go to the AGM with an intention of winning a spot on the board.

We all have 1 voting right, we all have a right to nominate ourselves for the board, and we all have a right to push for the current board to be ousted. When no one nominates and they re-elect the board unopposed it’s confirmation that we place our trust in them. That means we don’t get the right to ask valid questions and expect an answer.

Don’t like them, then do something about it.
It's not who casts the votes, it's the ones that count them that concerns me.
Just like the government cannot be trusted.
 

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Back before Facebook fans used to dump a truck load of horse crap in front of clubs if they didn't like the coach.
Social media is making society lazy and unimaginative in a lot of ways.

yeah drop a few bags of manure for Scott's next press conference to save him from talking.


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Sure, I get that. It's infuriating if they don't rate anyone else as capable of doing that job.

But the thing is, moving Blicavs there has multiple negative effects. Firstly it takes him away from the backline. Secondly Blicavs' best football by far has been in defence and he just isn't up to playing on the wing (and to be fair, after playing two straight years in defence he shouldn't be expected to). And finally it obviously weakens the wing position because he just doesn't get enough of the ball there. So his performance does have to be included in the conversation to my mind.

But absolutely, why no one else was tried there is mindboggling. Even Parsons (cue the heart attacks) - he averages about as many touches as Blicavs does in that role, but at least he can kick a goal or two. I get all the arguments against him. But I think moving Blicavs away from the backline should have been non-negotiable.
It is largely why I am so scornful and often frustratingly belligerent towards those who believe our handbrake is Chris Scott. I believe while flawed and capable of absolutely shocking decisions he is merely a secondary reason for the inherent failure to reach the summit. We could change nothing but the senior coach and get in say a Clarkson or Beveridge and all I could see changing is the game plan and maybe attitudes, I believe we'd still be a good shout to fall short.

I firmly believe, and have done for a number of years that player development, and by extension our assistant coaches and VFL program are far bigger hindrances to this club. Scott is far too close to these individuals to make objective calls. The problem exists above him. None of Balme, Hocking or Lloyd have seen fit to question the football department, as is the purview of their role as boss of the footy department. None of Cook, Carter, Gartland or any other board member have seen fit to do likewise. So year by year the same people are left to mould our draftees into AFL capable footballers.

About 3 years ago I watched a Carlton reserves match, back when they hadn't taken control of the club and still shared VFL duties with a standalone club, the Northern Bullants out of Preston. They at one point had a mandate that no more than 11 Carlton listed players could play. A list of 46 players and if all were fit only 33 would play football. A truly bizarre setup that had to have hindered development of AFL listed Blues players.
Well we have for many many years had our own VFL side, that we can shape and mould any way we like, and yet we seldom are developing players correctly. It is criminal that we can mismanage our own VFL program so badly given they have 100% control over it.

Tom Atkins... Our AFL pressure forward. VFL Captain and inside mid last season.
Parsons and Simpson play VFL as an inside mid yet that's not their natural position. So does Fogarty who is probably a mid more than anything. Plays AFL as a small forward, one that doesn't have an innate knack of knowing where the goals are, and can barely kick over a jam jar and usually not accurately.
They can't make their minds up on the best AFL ruckman yet none of Smith, Abbott or Fort can build weeks of solid VFL form as they all have spent chunks of time and games played as deep forwards and get moved around. It affects Kreuger who having kicked a bag of 6 this year later on finds himself at FB.

How can you possibly build form that way? Is it any wonder our small forwards of Rohan, Dahlhaus, Parfitt and Atkins don't kick many goals. None of them are specialist forwards. Miers has done better than all of them because he was recruited as a small forward and spent a year in the VFL playing as one. Cunico spends his time on the wing and plays AFL there, he just spent the whole year out with an ankle this year. I'd keep him, he actually is one they play in position. Is it any wonder the masses dislike Parsons as a footballer? He's a wing/HBF and they play him in the midfield in the VFL and forward pocket in the AFL and naturally he looks s**t doing it.

Not just this year though. House and Gardner looked good as developing key talls. House comes to the club as a 3rd tall forward type. Turn him into a defender. Gardner improves as a fullback. They move him to FF.

It should be no shock that with average ruck stocks, an ageing Hawkins, Taylor in his twilight and a 35yo Ablett leading the way as a small forward that we have no truly promising young players in any of those positions at VFL level.

Meanwhile at Hawthorn they leave Mitch Lewis at FF for a couple of years at VFL level and low and behold he shows signs he can make it.
The Tigers want to turn Caddy into a wingman. Dropped and sent back to the VFL to learn the role.

We truly need a cleanout of the football department and I'd honestly start with Simon Lloyd. He's the main in there to oversee the group.

He has a VFL program that cannot and does not settle players in positions to help them learn a set role.
He has a match committee that can collaboratively come to the conclusion Stanley a late out v Grundy is wise, and moving your FB to a wing is the right call.
He has a midfield coach that year by year gets by on star power and not structures that stop the opposition, something I'd have thought paramount given the lack of a dominant ruck.

Now I'll qualify it by saying I have no issue with Aaron Black last year moving to defence (for decent results) and Jamaine Jones this year being switched around. Clubs do that to players in their last year of a contract when they believe they won't make it in that role, and give them one last chance to prove worthy, it's their way of making sure they're not making a delist error at seasons end. It actually prolonged Liam Jones and Levi Casboult's careers too.

Lastly, Now I can't figure out if our first round busts under this regime is because Wells has picked poor players we can't develop OR he's picked good players and our woeful development set up has not been able to progress them. I fear Parfitt is the latter, they are wasting him badly as a small forward. He is a midfielder, play him there and let it be sink or swim.

We need to focus on drafting ruckmen, specialist small forwards and key position players at either end. I don't think Wells does well in any of these areas other than key backmen. He has a decent track record there.
In all honesty if the Crows are looking to refresh without certain older players I'd take Keath. 27yo, surplus when Doedee returns and better than any developing player in the VFL we have. Cheap and decent stop gap replacement for Taylor.
 
By criticising supporters?

He's feeding the trolls.

If anything sent to him was as bad as he portrays it report it to the police.
Nothing he said was police worthy. He was responding to some of the personal diatribe directed at CS. Criticise his coaching but keep it objective.

Heard a professed Cat Neanderthal on the radio during the week who was an embarrassment.
 
So Colin Carter said this on 3AW yesterday:

"I'm amazed at how ugly a very small rump of the supporters are ... I've had letters over the last couple of weeks which are actually quite foul and these aren't (on) social media, these are people who in some cases who sign their names to letters ... I don't accept (the criticism) because the people who know him and are close to him have a completely different view (to fans)"

Okay, so I am sure he is right. Like all Presidents, he receives ugly letters. What confuses me is

(a) He's using this as a response to Friday night
(b) He seemingly thinks it is a further insult / shock that people are using their real names
(c) He repeatedly during the interview on 3AW claimed that he didn't accept any of the criticism and emphasised that the coaching staff were not subject to any overview in terms of strategy (as opposed to whether they are coordinated and communicating, which he took responsibility for) ... "100 to zip view about whether they're right "
(d) Even from a strategic point of view, is calling out your own fans the best idea?

 
Like I said in another thread, the fact they made the prelim means nothing will change at the club. Scott & the coaching group won't be reviewed and they'll just paper over the cracks and pat each other on the back for their utter mediocrity. This is the Geelong of old coming back. Carter is no Frank Costa, and Brian Cook has grown stale in his position. They're all just too comfortable and happy with each other. That spells doom for any flag chances for the next 2 years.
Spoton
 
I dont think anyone should be sending stuff to the clubs without engaging a degree of manners..frustration or not . The reaction , as you say , seems counter intuitive but it seems there are those at the clubs that have lost the pr war in how they play and what they are trying to achieve ..and they dont like it.

I feel when Costa and Thompson set out on their path of pain and development .. there was a clear embrace and take the fans along with us ..now more and more its seems the club sees the recalcitrant fans as impediments to doing their job. Like an episode of Yes Minister where they didnt want to open the hospital to patients cause the hospital was running so well without them... the fans really are a nuisance ..why cant they just be cows ..and lets us milk them with no more than a moo.. Why cant they just pay their money and come along and be happy with what we have done for them..don't they know how lucky they are to have us and the effort we have put in and the results we have achieved..

So instead of embracing , as your tactic would seem to try to smarty do .. they bunker down , they put the walls up , the entrench and fortify ..they hope for the result the want so they can say ...SEE we told you so ..but when the result has been disappointing so many years in a row.. their seems little credit in the bank for a lot of the paying members.

I wonder where it ends ,,no where good id have thought. Again..no one anyone should send letter as described but as you say.. there are things far worse than getting the letters.. one worse is ... people not caring , no passion .. while there is passion ..its only a matter of channelling it. Convince and explain why .. dont stand up on the high alter of knowledge superiority and shout down at the ignorant hungry masses that they should just eat cake.



Interesting thoughts. I’d contend that you’re assuming that this response about fans makes ALL fans/supporters feel excluded and therefore will have some impact on membership.

I disagree. I am galvanised by his response. I am sure that others are too.

Costa and Thompson aimed to set up a professionally run organisation that was insulated from the ever changing whims of those who are external to the organisation. In some cases this is the media, in others it is the supporters.

At that time, the ‘supporters’ were baying for Thompson’s blood.

They trusted their own processes and kept him on. Despite the fan backlash.

They conducted a review that determined an incomplete buy-in by players and distractions for the coach. They fixed these things. The review happened after the side significantly underperformed.

In 2018 they conducted a review of the program after what they believed was an underwhelming season. Pretty much every team would do this - except the premier.

Based on our finish, I would say that we did better than last year. Significantly better.

I’m more than happy to continue buying a membership and continuing to support the club.

If other people want to take a different road and no longer support the club because they feel excluded or that the paid professionals consider themselves superior to those who just have uninformed opinions then I’m cool with those fans leaving. In fact I’d be happy to pay more as a member to cover that ‘loss’.
 
You're not a moderator. You don't get to tell people what to write - although I'm sure you secretly crave that power.

Almost as worthless as Scott's tactical acumen in September.
All of us have a responsibility to moderate each other’s behaviour to being as civil as possible.

At the risk of being considered as someone wanting to be an official moderator - my suggestion is that you could maybe take these thoughts to personal messages to the poster in question, while we try and keep the main topic going?

The rest of what you’ve said earlier is really interesting and I value that you have a strong opinion on this! 👍
 
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Here's the thing, Col, mate.

Am I glad we made a prelim? Absolutely - it defied pre-season expectations *and* we put up a fight. That's great for the club and great for supporters going forward.

But here's why people are upset.

We went to all the effort of making finals in a strong position - busted our guts getting there.

But we didn't give ourselves the best chance of winning owing to stupid non-selections or ridiculous positioning of players.

It's that simple. All of the effort wasted because playing your best full back at full back is "too straight forward". Playing a recognised ruck against a ruck is "too straight forward".

And that's not "whoa, in hindsight that was a dumb selection decision" many could see it as soon as it was announced.


All that effort wasted on bone-headed decisions
 

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I am going to have my say on this topic. Since 2013, we have continued to fall short of a Grand Final when the club has sold the farm (draft picks) since 2014 to place the club in the window to win a premiership from 2016 to 2020. From a list management point of view, the club would have expected 2 to 3 flags with 2016 and 2019 as the key years to win one.

There are no excuses in elite sport. In 10 years time, history will say that the 2012-2020 era was an unfulfilled era where the club fell short of winning 2 to 3 premierships to turn the Geelong Football Club into a great powerhouse club (A destination club for prospective employees).

History will not remember the premiership defeats and the preliminary final losses. As they say, there are no points for finishing 2nd and 3rd place. Welcome to elite sport.

From a coaching point of view, there has to be a cleanout of 2 to 3 assistant coaches who have been there since 2012 to:

1.Bring in new ideas into the club​
2.Challenge Chris Scott and Matthew Scarlett for the betterment of the club​
3. Have the responsibility to teach and train up the 0-100 gamers to play a brand of football that stands up in September. In other words, train up their skill level so they can handle the finals atmosphere (regardless if they are an exceptional to average AFL footballer).​

And, the club has to cop the Football Department Tax (Pay out the annual leave, long service leave and redundancy payments to Matthew Knights, Jason Rahilly and Shane O'Bree) to bring in MARK CHOCO WILLIAMS, Brendan McCartney and Darren Berwick).

Sticking with the same assistant coaches who have been there since 2012 when we continue to fall short is a bad move!!

THE GOV
 
As the Fonz used to say exactamundo.

I'd hate for real and valid criticism be swept up in the vulgar stuff. What annoys me is when there's real heat on someone or an organisation for their actions, they quickly hide behind something like the vulgarity of these emails just to shirk their ownership of the actual issues.

From Carter's interview I'm starting to hear that.

Would this happen under Costa? Probably not. In 06 the club was under a lot of pressure. He called in the big guns and worked through every issue. Looking beyond the IGO framework (individual, group and organisation) is vital in these instances.

At this stage it's more cloak and dagger and the club appears to just want to sweep it under the carpet. Where's the leadership outside of the club? Who wants to take ownership of the obviously poor selection or matchup errors?

Everyone knows that there were terrible decisions made. For 2e to come out in the media (3AW) and say that virtually anyone criticising those decisions 'it's criminal' is beyond laughable, it's irrational.

If this is the thoughts behind the leaders at the club that we are right and everyone else is wrong; God help us.


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Let’s not romanticise 2006’s review. Leading Teams did a good job and allowed some questions to be asked. The review allowed Thompson to keep his job.

But... in 2007, we didn’t exactly start off like a house on fire did we? The review didn’t kickstart performance.

It literally took the playing group to start pointing fingers for them to become the legendary team they are considered to be.
 
Interesting thoughts. I’d contend that you’re assuming that this response about fans makes ALL fans/supporters feel excluded and therefore will have some impact on membership.

I disagree. I am galvanised by his response. I am sure that others are too.

Costa and Thompson aimed to set up a professionally run organisation that was insulated from the ever changing whims of those who are external to the organisation. In some cases this is the media, in others it is the supporters.

At that time, the ‘supporters’ were baying for Thompson’s blood.

They trusted their own processes and kept him on. Despite the fan backlash.

They conducted a review that determined an incomplete buy-in by players and distractions for the coach. They fixed these things. The review happened after the side significantly underperformed.

In 2018 they conducted a review of the program after what they believed was an underwhelming season. Pretty much every team would do this - except the premier.

Based on our finish, I would say that we did better than last year. Significantly better.

I’m more than happy to continue buying a membership and continuing to support the club.

If other people want to take a different road and no longer support the club because they feel excluded or that the paid professionals consider themselves superior to those who just have uninformed opinions then I’m cool with those fans leaving. In fact I’d be happy to pay more as a member to cover that ‘loss’.

A difficulty for them is the Lincoln type situation ..he said .. You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. ...well id say for the club its the same about satisfying fans. There will be plenty who feel they are happy with where the club is and how its played and how its made them feel and how the club has responded to querries.. ec.. You certainly cant please everyone all the time.

So no ultimately I dont talk for anyone other than myself perhaps bouncing a bit off other comments ..certainly not everyone ..plenty will be happy with the great winning record we have to keep playing finals each year.

Id be carefull about covering losses however.. things can turn sour at any institution especially if they ignore feedback. Carter talking about memebership for people watching them on TV.. how is that going to work when they are the people who feel unsatisfied stop going.
 
I’m the opposite. Most I know like him.
It's strange ay. I haven't met one for a couple of years.
Just like this board, polarizing figure really.
First time I can remember this since going for the club.
Everyone said they hated Ayres but I don't really remember it like that.
Most I remember were shitty that he took off.
 
A difficulty for them is the Lincoln type situation ..he said .. You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. ...well id say for the club its the same about satisfying fans. There will be plenty who feel they are happy with where the club is and how its played and how its made them feel and how the club has responded to querries.. ec.. You certainly cant please everyone all the time.

So no ultimately I dont talk for anyone other than myself perhaps bouncing a bit off other comments ..certainly not everyone ..plenty will be happy with the great winning record we have to keep playing finals each year.

Id be carefull about covering losses however.. things can turn sour at any institution especially if they ignore feedback. Carter talking about memebership for people watching them on TV.. how is that going to work when they are the people who feel unsatisfied stop going.
Carter is doing exactly what he should
What we don’t want is team full of infighting
Do we want to be the crows?

No coach is perfect, and our current list is not great
And the success sometimes hides this

Facts we have had continued success whilst st Kilda fell off a cliff and were in dire straights, we were solid
Supporters hate game plans, but often there are massive reasons for such

We had a once in a generation team in the 2006-2010 era
Bomber almost stuffed it up

And we were happy for him to be with a players ex, eat rolls during games
In terms of arrogance he had it in spades
 
Like I said in another thread, the fact they made the prelim means nothing will change at the club. Scott & the coaching group won't be reviewed and they'll just paper over the cracks and pat each other on the back for their utter mediocrity. This is the Geelong of old coming back. Carter is no Frank Costa, and Brian Cook has grown stale in his position. They're all just too comfortable and happy with each other. That spells doom for any flag chances for the next 2 years.
Yes. Hate to say it but...May have ultimately been better to lose against WC.
Once again we have teased just enough to maintain the status quo.
 
Has anyone started the process of gathering names of people demanding change? I don't know when the election will take place for a position on the board but inaction will see this result again and again just like ground hog day

 
It is largely why I am so scornful and often frustratingly belligerent towards those who believe our handbrake is Chris Scott. I believe while flawed and capable of absolutely shocking decisions he is merely a secondary reason for the inherent failure to reach the summit. We could change nothing but the senior coach and get in say a Clarkson or Beveridge and all I could see changing is the game plan and maybe attitudes, I believe we'd still be a good shout to fall short.

I firmly believe, and have done for a number of years that player development, and by extension our assistant coaches and VFL program are far bigger hindrances to this club. Scott is far too close to these individuals to make objective calls. The problem exists above him. None of Balme, Hocking or Lloyd have seen fit to question the football department, as is the purview of their role as boss of the footy department. None of Cook, Carter, Gartland or any other board member have seen fit to do likewise. So year by year the same people are left to mould our draftees into AFL capable footballers.

About 3 years ago I watched a Carlton reserves match, back when they hadn't taken control of the club and still shared VFL duties with a standalone club, the Northern Bullants out of Preston. They at one point had a mandate that no more than 11 Carlton listed players could play. A list of 46 players and if all were fit only 33 would play football. A truly bizarre setup that had to have hindered development of AFL listed Blues players.
Well we have for many many years had our own VFL side, that we can shape and mould any way we like, and yet we seldom are developing players correctly. It is criminal that we can mismanage our own VFL program so badly given they have 100% control over it.

Tom Atkins... Our AFL pressure forward. VFL Captain and inside mid last season.
Parsons and Simpson play VFL as an inside mid yet that's not their natural position. So does Fogarty who is probably a mid more than anything. Plays AFL as a small forward, one that doesn't have an innate knack of knowing where the goals are, and can barely kick over a jam jar and usually not accurately.
They can't make their minds up on the best AFL ruckman yet none of Smith, Abbott or Fort can build weeks of solid VFL form as they all have spent chunks of time and games played as deep forwards and get moved around. It affects Kreuger who having kicked a bag of 6 this year later on finds himself at FB.

How can you possibly build form that way? Is it any wonder our small forwards of Rohan, Dahlhaus, Parfitt and Atkins don't kick many goals. None of them are specialist forwards. Miers has done better than all of them because he was recruited as a small forward and spent a year in the VFL playing as one. Cunico spends his time on the wing and plays AFL there, he just spent the whole year out with an ankle this year. I'd keep him, he actually is one they play in position. Is it any wonder the masses dislike Parsons as a footballer? He's a wing/HBF and they play him in the midfield in the VFL and forward pocket in the AFL and naturally he looks s**t doing it.

Not just this year though. House and Gardner looked good as developing key talls. House comes to the club as a 3rd tall forward type. Turn him into a defender. Gardner improves as a fullback. They move him to FF.

It should be no shock that with average ruck stocks, an ageing Hawkins, Taylor in his twilight and a 35yo Ablett leading the way as a small forward that we have no truly promising young players in any of those positions at VFL level.

Meanwhile at Hawthorn they leave Mitch Lewis at FF for a couple of years at VFL level and low and behold he shows signs he can make it.
The Tigers want to turn Caddy into a wingman. Dropped and sent back to the VFL to learn the role.

We truly need a cleanout of the football department and I'd honestly start with Simon Lloyd. He's the main in there to oversee the group.

He has a VFL program that cannot and does not settle players in positions to help them learn a set role.
He has a match committee that can collaboratively come to the conclusion Stanley a late out v Grundy is wise, and moving your FB to a wing is the right call.
He has a midfield coach that year by year gets by on star power and not structures that stop the opposition, something I'd have thought paramount given the lack of a dominant ruck.

Now I'll qualify it by saying I have no issue with Aaron Black last year moving to defence (for decent results) and Jamaine Jones this year being switched around. Clubs do that to players in their last year of a contract when they believe they won't make it in that role, and give them one last chance to prove worthy, it's their way of making sure they're not making a delist error at seasons end. It actually prolonged Liam Jones and Levi Casboult's careers too.

Lastly, Now I can't figure out if our first round busts under this regime is because Wells has picked poor players we can't develop OR he's picked good players and our woeful development set up has not been able to progress them. I fear Parfitt is the latter, they are wasting him badly as a small forward. He is a midfielder, play him there and let it be sink or swim.

We need to focus on drafting ruckmen, specialist small forwards and key position players at either end. I don't think Wells does well in any of these areas other than key backmen. He has a decent track record there.
In all honesty if the Crows are looking to refresh without certain older players I'd take Keath. 27yo, surplus when Doedee returns and better than any developing player in the VFL we have. Cheap and decent stop gap replacement for Taylor.

Yep, can't disagree with much there. Excellent summary.

Yes if you stop and think about it, why VFL players aren't drilled in the same position as the seniors to make the transition as seamless as possible is a question not asked enough. Continuity is important. Especially when just about all our best senior performers - Dangerfield, Hawkins, Stewart, Selwood, Taylor, Duncan - play one role. Dangerfield does spend time up forward but he's far more valuable in the middle.

Good insight.
 
So Colin Carter said this on 3AW yesterday:

"I'm amazed at how ugly a very small rump of the supporters are ... I've had letters over the last couple of weeks which are actually quite foul and these aren't (on) social media, these are people who in some cases who sign their names to letters ... I don't accept (the criticism) because the people who know him and are close to him have a completely different view (to fans)"

Okay, so I am sure he is right. Like all Presidents, he receives ugly letters. What confuses me is

(a) He's using this as a response to Friday night
(b) He seemingly thinks it is a further insult / shock that people are using their real names
(c) He repeatedly during the interview on 3AW claimed that he didn't accept any of the criticism and emphasised that the coaching staff were not subject to any overview in terms of strategy (as opposed to whether they are coordinated and communicating, which he took responsibility for) ... "100 to zip view about whether they're right "
(d) Even from a strategic point of view, is calling out your own fans the best idea?
Carter also needs to go. He is not an intelligent person.
 

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