Didn't see it coming!

[Dr. Mubutu 784]

Is it at all possible for the Club to just stop using this phrase?

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-08-17/column-dees-must-keep-fighting

[daisycutter 29,429]

we could always go back to "the players are damaged" line

[DeeZee 7,347]

Or...."we need to bounce back this week"

Which is what they said after last weeks loss.

Or...".that third quarter showed what we can do"

Which really means nothing if you play someone like Bulldogs who probably ran out of steam they belted us so hard.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

sad thing is we will bounce back this week and it'll all be "rosey" again, and the following week we will turn up with another pathetic performance.

[Fork 'em 6,974]

I always liked "We didn't come to play."
Thought that would've been trotted out for sure after yesterdays effort.

Edited August 17, 2015 by Fork 'em

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Replace the word 'keep' with 'start'

[Akum 2,660]

Hate to say it, but I'm not surprised one little bit.

Teams are now planning how to beat us Earlier in the season they didn't bother, and we grabbed a few wins.

Last time we succeeded in tying up their running game. This time, they took the trouble to work out how we did it, they expected we'd try the same tactics again (which we obligingly did) and they worked out how to nullify our few strengths. And even more obligingly, we made no changes until half time, got on top, and then went back to where we were.

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,284]

Hate to say it, but I'm not surprised one little bit.

Teams are now planning how to beat us Earlier in the season they didn't bother, and we grabbed a few wins.

Last time we succeeded in tying up their running game. This time, they took the trouble to work out how we did it, they expected we'd try the same tactics again (which we obligingly did) and they worked out how to nullify our few strengths. And even more obligingly, we made no changes until half time, got on top, and then went back to where we were.

It's all a learning curve. Next season we may try and different tactic and beat them. Or we may beat the Saints twice instead of the other way around.

You have to take a macro view not a micro one. At the start of the season most of us said we expected between 6-8 wins. Beat Carlton next week and we are bang on where we expected. Beat GWS and we have doubled last season's win tally.

Unfortunately we will see incremental improvements I think.

I'm going to go early and say I predict 10-12 wins next season with the possibility of finals depending on injuries, fixture etc.

[stuie 7,374]

So where are the articles about the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters? Felt like I was reading an election campaign...

[Wiseblood 24,637]

So where are the articles about the 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters? Felt like I was reading an election campaign...

If you haven't worked out that the coaches approach these media conferences almost as if they are politicians then you're slower than I thought stuie.

What they say to the media is always vastly different to what goes on behind closed doors. Roos achieves nothing by giving brutal honesty to the media and chucking the team under the bus. The performance itself was enough. He answers the questions in as general terms as he can and leaves.

[Emerald 1,744]

'Didn't see it coming' - put it on the new logo.

[stuie 7,374]

If you haven't worked out that the coaches approach these media conferences almost as if they are politicians then you're slower than I thought stuie.

What they say to the media is always vastly different to what goes on behind closed doors. Roos achieves nothing by giving brutal honesty to the media and chucking the team under the bus. The performance itself was enough. He answers the questions in as general terms as he can and leaves.

It wasn't written by Roos. It wasn't a media conference.

What were you saying about being slow again?

[Wiseblood 24,637]

It wasn't written by Roos. It wasn't a media conference.

What were you saying about being slow again?

I was under the impression Roos said the above in his press conference, but maybe I was wrong.

My point stands. Burgo isn't going to bag the club, it's not his job. The club has put up puff pieces for years.

[stuie 7,374]

I was under the impression Roos said the above in his press conference, but maybe I was wrong.

My point stands. Burgo isn't going to bag the club, it's not his job. The club has put up puff pieces for years.

I don't disagree, but geez that was fluffly even for a fluff piece after yesterday's effort.

[Biffen 12,932]

"Our focus is now firmly on next week"

"We see no benefit from reviewing this game"

"we had the flu"

"We were slow out of the blocks today and it cost us dearly"

"We didn't come ready to play"

"The players stopped working for each other"

"There was a lack of belief"

"What we showed today was not reflective of the improvements seen at training"

"The players did not commit fully to the game plan"

They can give me a call if they need more but I'm afraid nobody cares about words anymore.

Edited August 17, 2015 by Biffen

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Unfortunately we will see incremental improvements I think.

I'm all for incremental. It's the excremental stuff I'm worried about.

[PaulRB 6,305]

The club should look to the classics - https://youtu.be/JFvujknrBuE

[P-man 13,366]

Gotta love calling blatant propaganda a "column". Like Burgo isn't a club mouthpiece and this is all just his personal opinion

[chook fowler 19,293]

Not Matts finest work. Phrases like that are reds rags to supporters after a loss like that.

He has got a hard job trying to be a spin doctor for a team such as ours.

Sometime it's better just to say nothing.

[praha 11,218]

My favourites:

"We didn't come to play"

"We didn't see it coming"

"We've been training really well"

"We didn't compete"

Gotta love calling blatant propaganda a "column". Like Burgo isn't a club mouthpiece and this is all just his personal opinion

You say "propaganda" like as if what Burg's writing is in the public interest. He's not writing in the White House lol

Granted, his opinion pieces are worthless. Hardly constructive, mostly just regurgitating quotes from players and coaches. It's all silly.

I think Burg could take a leaf our of how some staffed writers work in the NBA. Genuine, honest writing from a fan's perspective, rather than PR from the club dressed up as opinion.

It's like he's not allowed to be upfront and honest. He tows a line and it's pretty dull, and evidently very frustrating when he keeps amplifying the same quotes.

I mean, seriously, it's the same [censored] every week. Figuratively and literally.