Have I missed something?

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,443]

I dont see how its rubbish

I am sure the vast majoity of posters will agree that Cj has been woeful and we cant afford to carrry him for another week

BIG RED SIGNING IN:

CJ starred in the preseason when played on a wing and left on a wing. He has been played there for about 15 minutes in the first 2 rounds and thrown between forward and back for the remaining 5 minute stints ND has left him on the ground to settle. If he was worse than Bate last week I was watching a different game yet no mention of Bate getting dropped.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

BIG RED SIGNING IN:

CJ starred in the preseason when played on a wing and left on a wing. He has been played there for about 15 minutes in the first 2 rounds and thrown between forward and back for the remaining 5 minute stints ND has left him on the ground to settle. If he was worse than Bate last week I was watching a different game yet no mention of Bate getting dropped.

Disagree. CJ was positively invisible last week. Bate doubled his touches, and while he made a few mistakes, at least he found the ball, led strongly and kicked a ripper goal.

IMO CJ is a way off getting to his best form, and he may have to wait until the senior players start pulling their weight before he can slot into the side and start offering something. With players like TJ and Davey not doing nearly enough there's too much work on the shoulders of the guys who've played less than 20 games.

In other words, it's not his fault, but it very well could be the right decision...

The players they bring in, however...

[phoenix 32]

The debate on CJ is a fair one. He did star during the preseason and he has been disappointing in his 2 games. He's had no influence.

But to suggest he has not had ground time is just plain WRONG. He was on for 88 minutes last week for about 7 possessions. I don't know how long he was on against the Saints but with McLean and Whelan off the ground early it would have been a fair part of the game.

Bate was on the ground for a similar time to CJ last week and had about 19 possessions.

At least one is getting the ball.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

For the record I'm not against the idea of CJ being played this week, but what I'd love to see him do is hunt the footy. He seems to do that at Sandy, and with his boot all he needs to do is get a hold of the thing to have an impact. I can only hypothesise, and maybe some people will see a kernel of truth here, that he's been given so many instructions and specific jobs that his brain is getting in the way of just playing natural footy, as he does at Sandy when given less responsibility. In other words, perhaps if someone can just get him to think about the basics, he may start doing enough to be in the 22 permanently.

I hate the idea that while the team is clearly not fuctioning well, he can't step up the way JMac/Bartram type players do. I hate the thought that he may be another frontrunner, but I can't seem to escape the thought at the moment. I hope he proves that theory wrong...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Are you certain this will be the case?

The rub here is we don't have the list and haven't come anywhere near resembling anything like an premiership outfit for as long as I can remember. Never have.

Would be most 'un Melbourne like' to step out of the familiar surrounds and charter new waters.

A modicum of credit if we win? Highly Unlikely.

He has had valid and relatively unreconstrained 5 years to build a list after inheriting the dregs of 1997, dealt with in baord fights and salary cap penalties. He has to deliver improvement on the past 3 years where we have made the finals but disappeared in the first two weeks. He has started badly and the flow of injuries to key players does not help.

I would credit this Board under Gardiner as being responsible and sensible enough to have outlined their expectations for 2007. To achieve less than we did last year will see him go. Yes this Board is most "unMelbourne" aren't they.

If we do win ND is in no win position on this forum because the great unwashed will say he should have played these depth players sooner.

[Seekers SEECAMP 0]

I would credit this Board under Gardiner as being responsible and sensible enough to have outlined their expectations for 2007. To achieve less than we did last year will see him go. Yes this Board is most "unMelbourne" aren't they.

This will be the lithmus test. A high stakes decision is forecast at seasons end and will shed a far sharper focus on exactly whether this bunch has got what it takes.

For now, I will hold my judgement, just as Gardner has.

[Jarka 767]

Its amazing we are 0 and 2 and some supporters are calling for tactics that wave the white flag and say the seasons over. What a cop out.

RR, do you think that we are a realistic chance of winning the premiership this year?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

At the start of the year if a number of things went right for us to reflect improvement we were a chance.

Given what has transpired especially with the injury list and the patchy pre season of some key players, that opportunity has dimmed.

But FCS, unlike some fair weather whingers I am not in anyway tossing in the towel.

We need to make improvements in on field performance.

If it starts with scrap up and possibly a victory against Geelong.

Bring it on.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

This will be the lithmus test. A high stakes decision is forecast at seasons end and will shed a far sharper focus on exactly whether this bunch has got what it takes.

For now, I will hold my judgement, just as Gardner has.

If you have not identified the vast improvements this Board has made then you never will.

By your previous "unMelbourne" post you have well and truly cast where you stand.

[Rogue 585]

Would be most 'un Melbourne like' to step out of the familiar surrounds and charter new waters.

By your previous "unMelbourne" post you have well and truly cast where you stand.

It's a fair comment IMHO. Brereton said as much when he wrote an article for one of the Victorian papers (the Sun?) about all AFL coaches. The gist of it was that unless something went very wrong ND would be safe, as Melbourne accept mediocrity (referred to Melbourne's failure to win a premiership in 43 years).

worse than Trapper and Davey?

Surely they've got runs in the bank?

[drdrake 3,059]

How could he go into survival mode? If he does not get Top 4 he's gone.

Tactically we need to close down the game and make it a scrap on our terms. Nullify the Cats. I believe experience would be valuable in this process.

How did you work out PJ was replacing CJ? Same surname?

Rhino, explain to me how we are going to shut this game down, with what on paper looks like our most unaccountable side. Yze, Ward, Brown, Wheatley, Bate, White and I'm sure I've missed a couple are never accountable, how are they going to change for this game and the only way to make a game a scrap is playing hard accountable one on one football or pushing 18 players behind the ball.

I wasn't refering to bringing in PJ for CJ, I has highlighting that we are playing three ruckman, one will play forward at all times and I has pointing out the concerns I have for each one.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

How could he go into survival mode? If he does not get Top 4 he's gone.

Tactically we need to close down the game and make it a scrap on our terms. Nullify the Cats. I believe experience would be valuable in this process.

How did you work out PJ was replacing CJ? Same surname?

Rhino, explain to me how we are going to shut this game down, with what on paper looks like our most unaccountable side. Yze, Ward, Brown, Wheatley, Bate, White and I'm sure I've missed a couple are never accountable, how are they going to change for this game and the only way to make a game a scrap is playing hard accountable one on one football or pushing 18 players behind the ball.

I wasn't refering to bringing in PJ for CJ, I has highlighting that we are playing three ruckman, one will play forward at all times and I has pointing out the concerns I have for each one.

Too much supposed analysis on the site is done based on "what is on paper".

They have shown that they have the capacity to compete at an AFL level. We dont have many options. And I agree there are risks.

But if this game gets down to a open play shoot out we stuffed. You need experience to close a game down.

MFC needs to do what we can to get a win on the tally now to get this season back on track.

I dont see what Buckley and Pettard would provide to that strategy at this point.

[melbournefc 18]

Good too see CJ dropped, but not good to see PJ in...... they have both been woeful.

[kramer 0]

ive missed something too! how do you play Jamar Fergeson White Holland and P Johnson in the same side. i fear for the worst.

[Guest dee'viator]

Disagree. CJ was positively invisible last week. Bate doubled his touches, and while he made a few mistakes, at least he found the ball, led strongly and kicked a ripper goal.

IMO CJ is a way off getting to his best form, and he may have to wait until the senior players start pulling their weight before he can slot into the side and start offering something. With players like TJ and Davey not doing nearly enough there's too much work on the shoulders of the guys who've played less than 20 games.

In other words, it's not his fault, but it very well could be the right decision...

The players they bring in, however...

Great post 'Dappa'