Pagan interview

[pumped]

Have just read some comments by Denis about our game plan. He said that he is making no apologies for our flooding tactics. That because we didnt get those draft pics 3 years ago we have to flood.

I was disgusted to hear our coach talking like this. I believe that the side is so undisciplined that we could have the best 3 current players in the AFL and still lose more than we would win.

Surely a comment such as above by our coach is a massive rebuke of our playing list. It is like he is saying that our position on the ladder has nothing to do with him. If he is a super coach why can't he get the best out of the list he has.

He is a good footy brain and our list is ok. Both players and coach need to look hard at themselves and re connect to their ability. Enough of the depressed attitude. Carlton have the ability to be top 10 - flooding and playing for honourable losses is a load of !!!!!!!!!

The last point I would like to make is that reputations should stand for nothing. Lance has been given little or no leeway fro his past record why should Denis? He is not performing as a coach and not reaching the players. He too should lift his game.

 

[Funkalicous]

Agreed. Pagan has not once shown that he will take any responsibility for our poor form. I'm starting to think he's not right for the Blues. Our list really isn't that bad. When the confidence is up we look impressive. Last year we were capable of of many upsets and earlier in the year we won the Wizard Cup. It's still the same side and we all know they're much better than this.

 

[av76]

I actually think it is the right tactic for the time being.
First, our players have been told to kick it long, often without thinking. So an open forward line with players running into the 50 metres is the way to go. We could change this, but it would require players to be retrained and that takes time. The other thing is that we might not have the skill to pull off a more open and free flowing type of game.
We are also a very fit side...our major asset...which you need to be if you play the flood. It is playing to one of our few strengths.
Also, given recent defeats, it allows the younger players to fill roles and gain confidence. In past weeks, teams having been turning the young guys inside out...I'm sure some of them feel dizzy and their confidence is shattered. At least a tight game plan provides conditions where they can build confidence and learn how to shut down their opponent. No point telling people to play attacking, free flowing football when you're low on confidence. Neil Craig said a similar thing about his side...basically they have improved their defensive side, are now growing in confidence and now looking to improve their attack. They were tipped to be on the bottom of the ladder and look at them now...there list doesn't look a hell of a lot better than ours.
At least until we get some confidence and the kids mature, I think it might be the way to go.

 

[bibi01]

the whole group needs to take responsibility not just the coach or just the players.

how is pagan responsible for:
lappin kicking out on the full, wiggins kicking to an opposition player?

correct- our list isn't that bad but we have no depth, our top 22 are a top 8 team, outside of that top 22 is where we struggle.
we have kids with talent but they take time to develop.

our game plan is simple and when executed correctly it is effective.
this season we have lost 4 games by 20pts or under and had 1 draw

poor kicking has cost us more than anything this year
and only the players are responsible for this.

IF we had of won 2 of these games we would have had some momentum and confidence would be up and we would be singing a different tune. (1/2 a game out of the top 8)

would we be happy if we went out each week for all out attack, lose 10-12 games by 100+ points, lose members, lose sponsors, lost money, lose players?

i know i wouldn't (i do want the players to have a real dip each week)

 

[pumped]

Pagan is not directly responsible for players kicking out on the full. However he needs to take some of the blame for the players attitude which contributes to poor skill errors. Players like Campo, Lappin etc have high skills yet have not been playing up to their ability for much of this year.

The coaching staff is partly responsible for the mental attitude of it's list. My point is that Pagan is trying to take away any responsibility on himself. He is looking for scapegoats which is not positive for either himself or the team.

In general our players play with fear. There is very little instinct in their game which in my opinion is mental rather than physical.

 

[ECHUCABOY]

The last point I would like to make is that reputations should stand for nothing. Lance has been given little or no leeway fro his past record why should Denis? He is not performing as a coach and not reaching the players. He too should lift his game.

Thats crap. Pagan has been worth his weight in gold. Imagine if we still had Wayne Brittan. For Pagan to get us off the bottom of the ladder last year was a miracle in itself. Their confidence is down at the moment just like other teams. Would you say that Leigh Matthews is not performing as a coach this year?

It is the players responsibility their the ones who take the field Pagan has given them a game plan that suits them, now the players need to step up!

 

[bibi01]

Pagan is not directly responsible for players kicking out on the full. However he needs to take some of the blame for the players attitude which contributes to poor skill errors. Players like Campo, Lappin etc have high skills yet have not been playing up to their ability for much of this year.

The coaching staff is partly responsible for the mental attitude of it's list. My point is that Pagan is trying to take away any responsibility on himself. He is looking for scapegoats which is not positive for either himself or the team.

In general our players play with fear. There is very little instinct in their game which in my opinion is mental rather than physical.

thats right the payers have the skill and the ability, these blokes are meant to be professionals earning 200-400k a season. you don't coach instinct, courage, desperation.

why do they need a coach to get their attitude right?

he can't make players or anyone change their attitude, they have to want to change it themselves.
pagan and the carlton footy club provide all the tools and rescoures for the players and its upto the players to pull their finger out.

these are the same blokes who won 10 games last year and won the wizzard cup and playing some good footy.

i think you will find pagan is telling us the truth and not looking for scapegoats

as for playing with fear, i am not sure this is the case. over the year there has not been wholesale changes, we have not used evey player on the list, players have been given 2-3 chances to make up for bad performances.

 

[pumped]

Thats crap. Pagan has been worth his weight in gold. Imagine if we still had Wayne Brittan. For Pagan to get us off the bottom of the ladder last year was a miracle in itself. Their confidence is down at the moment just like other teams. Would you say that Leigh Matthews is not performing as a coach this year?

It is the players responsibility their the ones who take the field Pagan has given them a game plan that suits them, now the players need to step up!

Is this all a coach is meant to do? Get a good game plan and leave the rest to the players. I believe a coach should be able to motivate his players to get them performing to the best of their ability.

There are not oo many Michael Voss types who are self motivated. We have many mentally weak players who need motivation. This is where Denis is failing. Overall we are a very undisciplined side and were also undisciplied last year.

If Pagan was doing his job efffectively our side would be honest in their input every week. Once again not saying Pagan can't still coach just that he needs to look at himself aswell as the players.

Not sure how Leigh Mathews is going but if he is not performing then he too needs to evaluate himself.