Changes vs Collingwood!

[blueheart]

Still gutted from Sat night but a win against the Pies and all forgiven
In: Houlihan, Robinson, Fisher
Out: Russell, Wiggins, Cloke
While Hampson & Austin were quiet on Sat I think they need consecutive games to build some confidence!
I know Russell & Cloke probably won't get the axe but deserve to IMO.
Wiggins needs a spell in the twos so I would bring in Robbo for that hard nut role

 

[barnesy_78]

Still gutted from Sat night but a win against the Pies and all forgiven
In: Houlihan, Robinson, Fisher
Out: Russell, Wiggins, Cloke
While Hampson & Austin were quiet on Sat I think they need consecutive games to build some confidence!
I know Russell & Cloke probably won't get the axe but deserve to IMO.
Wiggins needs a spell in the twos so I would bring in Robbo for that hard nut role

NO, NO, NO - we aren’t going to go forward if we keep playing this pansy, he was dropped because he lacked intensity. He has never had it so I really doubt he found it the 2's in 1 week. Our endeavour on the ball against Fremantle was the arguably the worst in the clubs history – so why would we bring in Houlihan????
We all know he has skills and creates a goal or 2 but the major problem with Houlihan is his defencesive work - it creates 4-5 goals for the opposition easily! Cleary he is a liability to the side.

There is R8-Changes thread somewhere else so normally wouldn’t respond to a repeated thread however when it's about Houlihan I just have to jump in a reply ASAP!!

Houlihan is a PANSY – please don’t forget this!!!

 

[thylacine60]

He's the pansy our piss-head FF prefers receiving the ball from over 5, 3 and 24. What a team we have!!

 

[pumped]

Houlihan may have consistency problems but this season he has been as good as most. Looks like he was dropped for off field discipline rather than form anyway. Had he played last week we most likely would have won. So few Carlton players showed composure and the disposal was terrible. Ryan on song is as good as anyone in the side in these areas.

Also for those wanting Fisher and Hartlett in I feel this would be a step backwards. Neither dominated in the Bullants game and Hartlett looked very ordinary in my opinion. Just doesn't seem switched on mentaly. Goes missing and then puts an effort in and then goes missing again. We already have plenty of senior players with this characteristic.

 

[BluesMan]

bring robbo back in. Should give us a spark to get over the old foes! Houlihan should come in, I hope!

Cloke and russell are on thin ice. Given ratts will probably give austin and hammer another gig, I cant see any others that would go out.

 

[Bluebear]

Houlihan may have consistency problems but this season he has been as good as most. Looks like he was dropped for off field discipline rather than form anyway

No.....he was dropped for form.

Did you see him against the Hawks? Very poor. Worse than poor. He did more for the Hawks than he did for us.

He wasn't alone, but he was singled out.

By all reports he barely laid a tackle at the Ants. Given the comments of Ratts after the Lions game after Hoops had 5 tackles, along the lines of "that's the sort of game Ryan needs to play to help this team".

He won't come back in.

Out:
Stevens - has been average by his standards since his delayed start to the year. Not sure if he is pouting about not being the number 1 or 2 midfielder, and therefore not being "looked for" as much, but his use by hand, and even by foot has been average and a message should be sent.

Cloke - after last week vs the Hawks he'd hit a low point, he needed a big one. He was better, but still well below par. TBH, I'm not sure how good Fisher was in the Ants, but I'd do the swap.

In:
Robinson - Will give 100% arounbd the packs, and provide some extra run both ways. Just what the Pies won't like.
Fisher - if he is in any sort of form, his record should be enough to see him get a game over Cloke IMO.


Fev - depends on what is going on behind the scenes. If he did have tightness, then I can understand him playing "within himself", and the outward attitude is hardley surprising.
If the injury wasn't an issue then Fev should be on his last notice. Lift your game, drop the pouts or you'll be wearing red and white.

 

[Pamam]

ok.....i am a bit iffy on Cloke at the moment

i do agree his form is done....and probably needs to be dropped

but at the same time, watching him closely at the Gold Coast while he was playing, he wasnt used by his teammates.

numerous times during the game, he would lead on the wing right in front of where i was standing and then would double back and lead again and would not be used at all.

we would then try to take the ball through the corridor, only to over possess it...when clearly Clokes lead should have been acknowledged!

 

[blackprince]

Didnt get a chance to see any of the game on Sat night, very dissapointed i the result. Could anyone tell me how Chris Yarran went in his 1st game? Saw him play in Ants game a few weeks ago, lacked a bit of intensity, looks like he is still trying to find his feet even at VFL level . Surely Ratts has to keep playing him. Thoughts?

 

[AVCO]

One change . ..anyone for Hadley ..perhaps Robinson

 

[barnesy_78]

No.....he was dropped for form.

Did you see him against the Hawks? Very poor. Worse than poor. He did more for the Hawks than he did for us.

He wasn't alone, but he was singled out.

By all reports he barely laid a tackle at the Ants. Given the comments of Ratts after the Lions game after Hoops had 5 tackles, along the lines of "that's the sort of game Ryan needs to play to help this team".

He won't come back in.

HURRAY - finally someone knows something about football - great observation Bluebear - this has been Houlihans’ problem for years - Does more for the opposition than us!

 

[cfc4life]

In: Houlihan(why did we drop him), O'hAlipin, Grigg/Browne, Robbo.

Out: RUSSELL! Cloke, Hadley, Stevens

 

[fnm_just a man]

It's an interesting position we are in now regarding the make-up of our team. Should we just play the player's that we think are going to be there when we are fighting for top spot, but possibly at the expense of actually winning games now. The old 'one step back, two steps forward' concept.

You would have to think that it's unlikely Cloke will be playing when we are up around the top rungs of the ladder given the likely improvement of the player's around him....probably Stevo as well...and maybe Wiggler - though personally, I think he can still offer enough to be in a Premiership team. My opinion re Fish is that I don't think he will be there when we are a serious contender and therefore the decision again comes up whether we want games won now, or whether we want to be as prepared as possible for when we are serious contender's. It's tough because there is also the element of "do we need to try and getting a winning mentality back at the club soon?".

Then there is the "culture" issue and the team selections. In this respect Stevo and Fev will be skating on thin ice.

Other than that, I think the make-up of the team is good. Still a lot of raw player's that are a season or two away from even approaching their best. Will be nice to get Grigg back for his development and then Robbo and Warnock as well.

At the same time as we could be selecting our team now with one eye on season's 2010/2011 and beyond there is the issue of not wanting to place too much of a workload on the young lads.

It's a difficult balancing act for the MC and just comes down to which route they think is best for the club.

 

[Blue since 72]

Swap Cloke with Austin. What the hell, he couldn't do any worse and if the midfielders do their job and kick goals and Fev is fit and kicks goals and Eddie and Yazza get some we should be fine in the goal getting dept.

Bring in Robbo for Wiggo.

Bring in Grigga (is he fit) for Stevo.

 

[dickyblue]

Swap Cloke with Austin. What the hell, he couldn't do any worse and if the midfielders do their job and kick goals and Fev is fit and kicks goals and Eddie and Yazza get some we should be fine in the goal getting dept.

Bring in Robbo for Wiggo.

Bring in Grigga (is he fit) for Stevo.

i reckon piss of cloke and bring in another tall coz i reckon keep austin in the backline and move thornton out of the backline coz he aint a real flash defender and he might be handy on a wing.

 

[thylacine60]

Both Pies and Saints are playing cute, smartarse footy halfway into the first quarter. Bullshit really.

 

[HBF]

We already have a Collingwood discussion thread. We'll leave all discussion in there thanks.