One man can make all the difference

[reg_lower91]

Not sure if this thread has been done before because i havn't been on here in a while but...

As a carlton supporter i am sick and tired of hearing the consistent slur "judd wont change you guys... judd won't take your team to finals" blah blah blah... the fact is though, not many people realise just what a big difference he makes. With Judd coming in to our midfield it means that, say, the best two taggers on the opposing side will tag Stevens and Judd. This frees up the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker possibly, Scotto, Hadley, etc. - The list can go on. You can't have your whole midfield tagging the opposing side and our middle will be hard to stop.

Now the next argument i hear from other supporters is the "your defenense is shit" slur. But one thing they have to remember is that with such talent in the midfield our backline is not going to be under such heavy attack. The constant cracks in our weak midfield last season caused the ball to come down at least 2, 3 times a minute per game. I'd like to see even Scarlett or Fletcher deal with that kind of bombardment. Another fact to take in to consideration is that Carlton was the fourth highest 'points for' team in the competition last season. When a team is always going full-on attack down forward, who's there to stop the rebound down back?? Once again, i would love to see how scarlett of Fletcher would deal with kind of presure!

Lastly, we have a forward line capable to kick 50+ goals... each. Fevola could very well kick over 100 goals this season and with the support of Fish, Waite and possibly Betts, Setanta, Cloke, Kreuzer, etc. we may very be the 1st team for 'points for' this year.

Some football followers need to realise that in the recruitment of Judd to the side not only means the addition of more experience to the midfield but the addition of a mentor to our young and still developing list. The new coaching panel, headed by Ratten gives our club a refreshed feel and now adds more of a defensive component to our game. A new-look board means that the off-field dramas are now over and we can solely focus on our on-field battles.

2008, i believe, will be the turn around year. Whether we finish bottom eight or not, i think that the bottom four now is out of the question. We can reach as high as the top 6 and i strongly believe that finals could and should be on our agenda. Either way, 2008 will be the year the sleeping giant awakes!

 

[Beloved]

Not sure if this thread has been done before because i havn't been on here in a while but...

As a carlton supporter i am sick and tired of hearing the consistent slur "judd wont change you guys... judd won't take your team to finals" blah blah blah... the fact is though, not many people realise just what a big difference he makes. With Judd coming in to our midfield it means that, say, the best two taggers on the opposing side will tag Stevens and Judd. This frees up the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker possibly, Scotto, Hadley, etc. - The list can go on. You can't have your whole midfield tagging the opposing side and our middle will be hard to stop.

Now the next argument i hear from other supporters is the "your defenense is shit" slur. But one thing they have to remember is that with such talent in the midfield our backline is not going to be under such heavy attack. The constant cracks in our weak midfield last season caused the ball to come down at least 2, 3 times a minute per game. I'd like to see even Scarlett or Fletcher deal with that kind of bombardment. Another fact to take in to consideration is that Carlton was the fourth highest 'points for' team in the competition last season. When a team is always going full-on attack down forward, who's there to stop the rebound down back?? Once again, i would love to see how scarlett of Fletcher would deal with kind of presure!

Lastly, we have a forward line capable to kick 50+ goals... each. Fevola could very well kick over 100 goals this season and with the support of Fish, Waite and possibly Betts, Setanta, Cloke, Kreuzer, etc. we may very be the 1st team for 'points for' this year.

Some football followers need to realise that in the recruitment of Judd to the side not only means the addition of more experience to the midfield but the addition of a mentor to our young and still developing list. The new coaching panel, headed by Ratten gives our club a refreshed feel and now adds more of a defensive component to our game. A new-look board means that the off-field dramas are now over and we can solely focus on our on-field battles.

2008, i believe, will be the turn around year. Whether we finish bottom eight or not, i think that the bottom four now is out of the question. We can reach as high as the top 6 and i strongly believe that finals could and should be on our agenda. Either way, 2008 will be the year the sleeping giant awakes!

Quality post.

I beleive Judd will best benefit the team on the field by what he says off the field, rather than his actions on-field. If Judd can show some sort of leadership without the tag of 'Captain', it will,
A) Teach some of our younger kids needed skills, composure, how to keep their cool, all the little phychological things.
B) Teach our fella's some skills, or at least better their individual flaws.
C) And this is the big one, act as the captain who never was. If we have a team where we have the captain of the team working on players in such that they give them leadership and help them with any sort of problems they have with certain staff, other players ect, and a man working behind the scenes and on the training park with the fella's, someone who the players can go to for some sort of skill advice in the way that only player-to-player can do, then it betters the club in more ways than one, AND shares the work load.

 

[The Cranium]

His playing capabilities have been well documented during his career with the coke heads in WA. That aside; he carries an aura around him, which will have a flow on effect with his peers (leads by example etc etc), coaches, media, sponsors (Kaching) and of course us, the supporter.
As has been said before on BG, he is one of those once in a decade boon recruits.

 

[as0l0]

As a carlton supporter i am sick and tired of hearing the consistent slur "judd wont change you guys... judd won't take your team to finals" blah blah blah...

but what are they basing it on? the last best player in the world to switch teams at his peak?

 

[true_blue_69]

he has already made changes off the field without even trying.
From what I have read in papers (Herald Sun) apparently Juddy & a few boys went down to Lygon street after Training one day, Judd walked into a cafe & ordered a healthy meal (salad or something) & apparently the rest of the boys truned around & said we will have what he is having.... hehehe
also Juddy is known to do a lap of Princes Park (the whole area not just our footy oval) after Training has finished & some of the boys will also do this as well.

Dunno, but things the boys have not done in the past & they are doing now...just a few minor changes in diet & fitness etc can make a difference

 

[judd5]

Not sure if this thread has been done before because i havn't been on here in a while but...

As a carlton supporter i am sick and tired of hearing the consistent slur "judd wont change you guys... judd won't take your team to finals" blah blah blah... the fact is though, not many people realise just what a big difference he makes. With Judd coming in to our midfield it means that, say, the best two taggers on the opposing side will tag Stevens and Judd. This frees up the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker possibly, Scotto, Hadley, etc. - The list can go on. You can't have your whole midfield tagging the opposing side and our middle will be hard to stop.

Now the next argument i hear from other supporters is the "your defenense is shit" slur. But one thing they have to remember is that with such talent in the midfield our backline is not going to be under such heavy attack. The constant cracks in our weak midfield last season caused the ball to come down at least 2, 3 times a minute per game. I'd like to see even Scarlett or Fletcher deal with that kind of bombardment. Another fact to take in to consideration is that Carlton was the fourth highest 'points for' team in the competition last season. When a team is always going full-on attack down forward, who's there to stop the rebound down back?? Once again, i would love to see how scarlett of Fletcher would deal with kind of presure!

Lastly, we have a forward line capable to kick 50+ goals... each. Fevola could very well kick over 100 goals this season and with the support of Fish, Waite and possibly Betts, Setanta, Cloke, Kreuzer, etc. we may very be the 1st team for 'points for' this year.

Some football followers need to realise that in the recruitment of Judd to the side not only means the addition of more experience to the midfield but the addition of a mentor to our young and still developing list. The new coaching panel, headed by Ratten gives our club a refreshed feel and now adds more of a defensive component to our game. A new-look board means that the off-field dramas are now over and we can solely focus on our on-field battles.

2008, i believe, will be the turn around year. Whether we finish bottom eight or not, i think that the bottom four now is out of the question. We can reach as high as the top 6 and i strongly believe that finals could and should be on our agenda. Either way, 2008 will be the year the sleeping giant awakes!

Quality post, because this thread has been well thought out.
I don't think Judd is going to have as big of an impact as everyone will think. Yes, he is the best player in the league, but football isn't like basketball, where bringing in one or two star players can immediately make your team instantly better. (eg. the celtics) Depth in a football side is more important, and that is what Carlton need to work on.
The addition of Judd will not free up five players at a time. IT just means that the number one tagger on the opposition will go to Judd instead of Stevens or Murph, giving them less attention, but not freeing them up.
I do agree with what you say about our defense. But what i think that you didn't mention was the fact that Pagan's gameplan was based around attacking football and that meant that our players were less accountable, so the ball just came into our forward line way too easily, putting the defense under immense pressure.
No, on paper our defence is not great, but their is definite room for improvement with the likes of Setanta and Jammo who are only going to get much better, and could step up into those key positions that we have been beggin for in defence.
Hopefully, Ratten will play more accountable footy, meaning that we will probably score less, but overall, we will do much better.
I just think that we should all settle down this year and not expect too much from our team. Yes, they have the potential to really go places and make the finals next year, and who knows, they could have a massive season, but they could just as easily get a few injuries and really struggle.
Go the Blues

 

[reg_lower91]

But what i think that you didn't mention was the fact that Pagan's gameplan was based around attacking football and that meant that our players were less accountable, so the ball just came into our forward line way too easily, putting the defense under immense pressure.

"...Another fact to take in to consideration is that Carlton was the fourth highest 'points for' team in the competition last season. When a team is always going full-on attack down forward, who's there to stop the rebound down back?? Once again, i would love to see how scarlett of Fletcher would deal with kind of presure!..."

 

[HBF]

Not sure if this thread has been done before because i havn't been on here in a while but...

As a carlton supporter i am sick and tired of hearing the consistent slur "judd wont change you guys... judd won't take your team to finals" blah blah blah... the fact is though, not many people realise just what a big difference he makes. With Judd coming in to our midfield it means that, say, the best two taggers on the opposing side will tag Stevens and Judd. This frees up the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker possibly, Scotto, Hadley, etc. - The list can go on. You can't have your whole midfield tagging the opposing side and our middle will be hard to stop.

We've been saying this for a while, but most oppostion supporters don't get the magnitude this will mean on the ground. As you say, his presence frees up quite a few of our mids, that were being tagged in 2007.

He also brings a professionalism that our list has yet to see. In one example, after the first training sessions after the Christmas break, the boys had a solid 60 or so minute session, and then Judd went out an ran the Princes Park circuit in 10 mins, 30 seconds. Apparently, the majority of the list followed him.

He brings so much more than himself to the club, and I for one cannot wait to see him play round 1 against Richmond.

 

[BlueMania]

He brings so much more than himself to the club

Well said HBF . That man can make a lot of difference .

 

[Fluro Boots]

curious as to what his first lesson to your younger players will be, loyalty or eye gouging?

 

[Bee]

curious as to what his first lesson to your younger players will be, loyalty or eye gouging?

If I were you I'd get out of here now!

 

[Silvagnis]

curious as to what his first lesson to your younger players will be, loyalty or eye gouging?

Is loyalty like stabbing Croad in the back to get the number one pick?

Thank God you made a mistake and didn't pick Judd.

 

[smithos]

whether we had Judd or not, Blues supporters would be talking about 08' with positivity. We have a list that is geared for improvement and supporters anticipate success is not too far away. The thing that craps me about opposition supporters is their failure to understand that guys like Judd don't have to bring premierships to prove their worth. I love footy and I have always loved watching Judd play, it will now bring me 100 times more joy to see him do his stuff for the team I love, that's what watching the footy is about, and yeah, that will make a shit load of difference.

 

[blues4flag]

(Judd + Stevens + less pressure on other mids) + continued development of our youngsters = superior midfield, greater and better supply to forwards, better defensive pressure to ease strain on defenders, kids better across the park = improved 2008 (barring injury)

Simple maths.

 

[Scruff83]

Bah, roll on 2008! im sick of all the hype n shit! Just get Judd out there n see what difference it makes!

 

[Smoky]

When sportmen play against or with the best more times than not their quality raises to that level. The younger less experienced players will want to impress the man known as the best player in the league. In saying that "One man can make all the difference" - I think you are right. Not because Judd is going to win an extra 6 - 8 games of his own boot, but that subconciously the lift that will occur in your mid range players will inspire and lift all the players in your team.

Last year Cameron Cloke lifted after being moved on from Collingwood - getting his fat % down at Carlton was something he was never able to do at the Pies, obviously the shock of being moved on and realising he is not indispensable affected him in an extremelly positive way (also the fact that his brothers AFL career is affectively over must also make him realise that its now or never). I was disappointed to hear of his shoulder injury last year and actually was really looking forward to seeing him play against the Pies. If he has an injury free year and having the best on baller in the mid field I think you guys are really going to see the emergance of players like Cloke this year.

I think Blues are a special to make the finals this year.

 

[Dramoth]

When sportmen play against or with the best more times than not their quality raises to that level. The younger less experienced players will want to impress the man known as the best player in the league. In saying that "One man can make all the difference" - I think you are right. Not because Judd is going to win an extra 6 - 8 games of his own boot, but that subconciously the lift that will occur in your mid range players will inspire and lift all the players in your team.

Last year Cameron Cloke lifted after being moved on from Collingwood - getting his fat % down at Carlton was something he was never able to do at the Pies, obviously the shock of being moved on and realising he is not indispensable affected him in an extremelly positive way (also the fact that his brothers AFL career is affectively over must also make him realise that its now or never). I was disappointed to hear of his shoulder injury last year and actually was really looking forward to seeing him play against the Pies. If he has an injury free year and having the best on baller in the mid field I think you guys are really going to see the emergance of players like Cloke this year.

I think Blues are a special to make the finals this year.

I think that some intelligent Collingwood supporters are posting on here atm...

We might not make the finals, but barring injury and suspensions, we might rattle a fair few teams out there.

Thats not to say that if a few things go our way we couldnt make the final 8... but we would possibly go out in the first week of the finals because of that lack of finals experience

 

[audas]

Not sure if this thread has been done before because i havn't been on here in a while but...

As a carlton supporter i am sick and tired of hearing the consistent slur "judd wont change you guys... judd won't take your team to finals" blah blah blah... the fact is though, not many people realise just what a big difference he makes. With Judd coming in to our midfield it means that, say, the best two taggers on the opposing side will tag Stevens and Judd. This frees up the likes of Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker possibly, Scotto, Hadley, etc. - The list can go on. You can't have your whole midfield tagging the opposing side and our middle will be hard to stop.

Now the next argument i hear from other supporters is the "your defenense is shit" slur. But one thing they have to remember is that with such talent in the midfield our backline is not going to be under such heavy attack. The constant cracks in our weak midfield last season caused the ball to come down at least 2, 3 times a minute per game. I'd like to see even Scarlett or Fletcher deal with that kind of bombardment. Another fact to take in to consideration is that Carlton was the fourth highest 'points for' team in the competition last season. When a team is always going full-on attack down forward, who's there to stop the rebound down back?? Once again, i would love to see how scarlett of Fletcher would deal with kind of presure!

Lastly, we have a forward line capable to kick 50+ goals... each. Fevola could very well kick over 100 goals this season and with the support of Fish, Waite and possibly Betts, Setanta, Cloke, Kreuzer, etc. we may very be the 1st team for 'points for' this year.

Some football followers need to realise that in the recruitment of Judd to the side not only means the addition of more experience to the midfield but the addition of a mentor to our young and still developing list. The new coaching panel, headed by Ratten gives our club a refreshed feel and now adds more of a defensive component to our game. A new-look board means that the off-field dramas are now over and we can solely focus on our on-field battles.

2008, i believe, will be the turn around year. Whether we finish bottom eight or not, i think that the bottom four now is out of the question. We can reach as high as the top 6 and i strongly believe that finals could and should be on our agenda. Either way, 2008 will be the year the sleeping giant awakes!

Yep has well and truly been covered, from almost every angle.

The knockon or releasing murphy, simmo, carrazzo is huge, but even bigger will be releasing Stevens (Judd will take numero uno tagger) so Stevens will not JUST be returning but will nto have to carry the team as well.
Gibbs to go forward and into the mid -BANG.
houlihan going forward from the back.- BANG.
Kreuzer up forward - BANG.
Cloke, Hartlett, Edwards.
Hammo, Aisake ruck emerging - BANG.
Waite is permanent down back (but there is a avenue for change dependant on emerging talent).
The midfield was not the main issue last season, rather the tactics of bombing it long to fev. Wrong in bombing it long, wrong always to fev, rebound theory well covered.

New game plan is the best thing for me, watching the blues over recent times has been hair shredding , occasionaly it has been mixed up (whenever pagan went for a piss i think the rest of the coaching box made some changes) , no sooner was pagan back and "scenario ridiculous" was back in palce.

Ratts represents the symbol of change, a new direction, new plans, new hope. If we had Judd and still had Pagan, I would be gutted.

 

[as0l0]

New game plan is the best thing for me

yeah, and Ratten has told us that it's not just the gameplan, but the diet, the weights, the fitness, everything.

So 1 man can make all the difference. But is his name Ratten or Judd?