News Ratten Q&A

[Sin City]

Ratten Q&A

BR: Maybe we'll be a bit more stop-start in our flow. The speed that we've played with, which was a 'helter-skelter' type footy in periods, actually opened us up at times. I think the balance is there, but it's about trying to read the play. When we've got momentum we want to use it effectively and when the opposition's got momentum we've got to be able to decrease the speed of the game as much as possible.

That balancing act is very hard because you can get an over-correction and you can play slow for too long or quick for too long. We tried to monitor our speed last year and we seemed to play a lot quicker for the majority of the time, which sometimes works really well but can open you up on the other side of the equation.

Ratten Q&A

 

[HARKER]

Yes, I read that earlier.

I'll have to take the man on his word, but I for one am a little surprised and to be honest somewhat disappointed we'd be taking that hold and chip game into the season.

Just have to wait and see, I guess.

 

[Sin City]

Yes, I read that earlier.

I'll have to take the man on his word, but I for one am a little surprised and to be honest somewhat disappointed we'd be taking that hold and chip game into the season.

Just have to wait and see, I guess.

I was too, although I also read this one so I don't think it will be quite as bad as in the Adelaide game

I thought we moved the ball a little bit wide and didn't take our opportunities. We'll try and correct that over the next nine days.

 

[Big Bad Sammus]

I don't like Chris Yarran standing on balls.........and then rolling his ankle.

Is that racist?

 

[Salaryman]

I was too, although I also read this one so I don't think it will be quite as bad as in the Adelaide game

I think being a practice game the powers that be might have taken the term a bit more literally than most of the fans.

No doubt it frustrated a lot of fans there on the day, but the main point is practice, in match conditions.

I would expect when the intensity level and the real deal starts we won't slow the game down until we have to, and probably not to that extent.

Although the main point in keeping possession is to actually do that . Would also like to see the skill level increase with the added intensity too.

 

[Blue since 72]

I guess he's trying to get to a point where the boys recognise when to take the game on and when to go hey, we're getting over run here, lets slow it down. Ratts used the word overcorrect and its the perfect word for what he's trying to achieve. Some of the play I've seen over the pre season which appears to look from the outside as if there's no structure makes a bit more sense to me now.

We often winge on here about the midfield in particular not working hard enough in defending and this is the point, the boys are so busy attacking or trying to attack for large chunks of the game that we're being opened up on the rebound or at stoppages and the midfield is getting exposed, but the boys keep attacking; ie they're not recognising when to settle down and defend.

Most games ebb and flow, the best teams pick it. Experience obviously plays a big part if you look at the current top teams and the players number of games played.

However problems arise as it would be instinct as much as learned too, and some players will never learn to read the play well enough to know when to go and when not to.

 

[Malifice]

BR: Maybe we'll be a bit more stop-start in our flow. The speed that we've played with, which was a 'helter-skelter' type footy in periods, actually opened us up at times. I think the balance is there, but it's about trying to read the play. When we've got momentum we want to use it effectively and when the opposition's got momentum we've got to be able to decrease the speed of the game as much as possible.

That balancing act is very hard because you can get an over-correction and you can play slow for too long or quick for too long. We tried to monitor our speed last year and we seemed to play a lot quicker for the majority of the time, which sometimes works really well but can open you up on the other side of the equation.

Very, very unhappy with this answer.

I ****ing hate tempo football. Its what shit clubs use to stop getting smashed.

 

[Salaryman]

Very, very unhappy with this answer.

I ****ing hate tempo football. Its what shit clubs use to stop getting smashed.

The risk is going into your shell too much, isn't it?

I can understand the logic for a short time to stop the other teams momentum and ability to get their hands on the ball when they are all 'up'.

The challenge is to put the breaks on, but then to work out tactically why you are getting beaten and put a plan into place to counter that.

 

[philthie blues]

i think its a good thing that our players are learning ways to shut opposition teams down when they get a run on. lets hope ratten intends to use this tactic ONLY at intermittent times thoughout a game. I hope the players have been drilled to be in an "offensive mode" at times aswell.

the article doesnt instill a lot of confidence in us supporters though. It almost seems reactionary- "we cant score as heavily as we used to so lets slow the game down, play high possession footy and keep it low scoring"

there are going to be a lot of games this year where we are going to be tearing our hair out in frustration

 

[as0l0]

yeah, nah, that's a pretty good read. Wouldn't worry too much about the bit highlighted in the OP. Am I sick of the self answering questions though? Yes!

 

[juddsentant517]

Look,the fact that our midfield is clearly our strongest asset, means that every thing needs to be balanced. If we had a strong defence (ala Western Bulldogs), we could go for that all out attacking style, and i think eventually our team will make transitions, but our defence is still expoced and inexperienced, and needs defensive support of our midfield. And if we had a hawthorn like forwardline, we could probably slow the play down a little bit, and kick high into contests. But again, at this current stage, our forwardline isnt strong enough or smart enough. So for now, hopefully we can balance an attacking and defensive game style, but hopefully as our team develops, we will find out which gamestyle suits us. Time will tell

 

[Salaryman]

Hey philthie, I think Ratts is trying to manage expectations a bit there.



















must have been reading Big Footy

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

Maybe Ratten has decided to take a hit this year. Learn tempo + create a new fwd line. Then strike big time in 2011!

In the meantime I can really see some frustration as we play tempo footy in 2010 and turn it over with poor kicking and decision making.

 

[Blue since 72]

We can call it tempo footy but we need to be realistic here, even the bulldogs can't attack for the whole game every game. Watching the nab cup final the other night, on more than one occasion the bullys were opened up and filleted by the Saints on the rebound, but it didn't become a pasting because they were able to stem the change in flow very quickly.

The single biggest kicker here is the quality of disposal both without pressure and under pressure (ie don't panic); either by foot or hand.

I think we have to believe we have or will have enough guys who will be able to deliver quality under pressure in particular, and that old adage of getting 60 to 100 games into guys should hopefully see it materialise.

 

[jonoman89]

I'm glad Ratts is making the group focus more on our defensive game, however as he said we've got to be weary of over-correcting like we did with the massive flood against Adelaide at AAMI in 2009.

 

[Aphrodite]

From afl.com.au .........


Blues plan on style overhaul

CARLTON'S entire game plan has undergone a major overhaul as coach Brett Ratten prepares to guide his team into the post-Brendan Fevola era.

"Who's going to kick the goals now that Fev's gone?" is the question that has followed Ratten wherever he went this summer, but it seems the answer isn't as straightforward as simply nominating a player to fill the Coleman medalist's prolific boots.

Instead, Blues' coach has signaled a change in the way his team goes about its footy with more patient ball movement and a harder defensive edge the key modifications.

Blues plan on style overhaul











Proudly bought to you by Aphrolinky Inc.

 

[philthie blues]

ratts mentions armfield, waite and murphy will be having a run on friday. (must be with the bullants). if they all get through, we'll have a full list to pick from for rd 1. (except fisher who for mine is not in the 22 anyway).

the club has managed the players work loads exceptionally well this preseason .

ive got a feeling that after we smash richmond next thursday, the general mood amongst the carlton faithful will elevate and we can finally put that horrid preseason behind us. From 3 qtr time in the elimination final until now has been the most damaging and stressful period our club has endured since we were r*ped by the AFL in 2002

just 7 days to go until its all over

 

[Malifice]

The risk is going into your shell too much, isn't it?

I can understand the logic for a short time to stop the other teams momentum and ability to get their hands on the ball when they are all 'up'.

The challenge is to put the breaks on, but then to work out tactically why you are getting beaten and put a plan into place to counter that.

Understand the above, but we do it too much already IMO.

One of the worst teams at that godawful tactic of holding the ball in the air (with 5 minutes to go no less) to slow down the play.

Its like holding up a neon sign to the opposition saying "man up - we arent going to attack again for the next 5 minutes and we intend on chipping the ball around for some cheap stats"

Gary Lyon summed it up perfectly last year when asked about it.

Theres a time and a place for tempo footy, but we already overdo it.

Am I sick of the self answering questions though? Yes!

 

[Kramer1]

Very, very unhappy with this answer.

I ****ing hate tempo football. Its what shit clubs use to stop getting smashed.

Could read between the lines there a little. I would like to think he is referring to the kick-ins and work out of the defensive half. With Bowers maniacal runs, Army's sketchy kicking, and Russel's...erm...disposal in general there can be a tendency to give the thing back pretty quickly. I am hoping that the pre-season work has been about trying to get the ball into the hands of the guys that can use it well, and threading our way through traffic from there.

We were always a pretty good thing in a shoot out, and were less well equipped for that this year. I can see a bit of sense in this approach...as long as it doesn't stifle our attacking flair too much. We certainly don't need anymore flogs holding the ball above their head, pretty sure we led the league in that stat last year.

Have to add that Ratts is fast becoming the master of rhetorical question...and what the **** are early doors?

 

[PeeKay]

Reading "Ratten" comments it seems 2010 will be more a year of development than 2009

He seems to suggest that 2011 will be the year we take the big step as 2010 we are still developing and building body strengths of the very young and inexperienced team. Add that to the obvious game structure change and you can see there will be weeks when we lose badly and some weeks where we will win the unexpected games.
I agree with him that as supporters we need to be patient and while that's difficult we must respect his knowledge of the players he has around him. Let's not start "bagging" them everytime we lose.

 

[Dramoth]

Re: Reading "Ratten" comments it seems 2010 will be more a year of development than 2009

merge this with the other thread...

 

[Malifice]

Re: Reading "Ratten" comments it seems 2010 will be more a year of development than 2009

He seems to suggest that 2011 will be the year we take the big step as 2010 we are still developing and building body strengths of the very young and inexperienced team.

I (and many others) have been saying this for a while.

We are still 2 years off being a genuine threat for a Flag.

Need to get some experience and game time into the kids.

Its only the drooling ferals amongst us that demand premierships year after year (the sack Ratten crew) that just dont seem to get it.

 

[da_champ]

Re: Reading "Ratten" comments it seems 2010 will be more a year of development than 2009

I certainly agree, but I still think it is imperative we at least win one final this year.

 

[HBF]

Re: Reading "Ratten" comments it seems 2010 will be more a year of development than 2009

I certainly agree, but I still think it is imperative we at least win one final this year.

I'm not so sure it's imperitive that we win a final, given that would be a step further than we went last year, minus a gun forward. 2010 will be as much about finding a new avenue to goal, and it simply won't click in round 1. Should be an exciting year though.

 

[ESKIE]

He is hosing down expectation, but he did say tho'

BR: To play finals again is our focus this year. Where we finish will be something that we work out as we grow as a team. We want to win as many games as we need to make the finals, whether that's 12 or whatever. To put a win-loss number on it is hard to say, but we'd obviously like to be in the top 50 per cent of the competition and win more games than we lose. That's pretty simple and open-ended but that's where we see our team at the moment.

We've seen some dramatic improvements in the body shapes of some of our players in the last six months which I think will hold us in good stead in 2011 and 2012.