Dr. Gonzo

Exactly. There's room for both. Look at Sydney, Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood - rigid structures and non-negotiables with players allowed to play with flair within the team fundamentals.

So why drop him then? More to the story than "he was ill".

Listen, bottom line all of us here support the club and want it to succeed. I don't think we should be sacking Neeld, especially not this early I the season, and think we need to give him time to develop his team but by the same token I can completely understand those who say we have gone backwards under him and that he needs to go. It's not cut and dry and I can see pros and cons for both sides of the argument. I did think Schwab had to go and am borderline on McLardy as well though am thinking he's just no up to it. What I don't get though is those who attack other supporters for being frustrated, angry and cynical that things will turn especially considering we've heard all this before and there is no evidence in the last 25 games to say we're on the right track. Minimal evidence of game plan, minimal evidence of competitiveness or the players willing to play for the coach. No ones suggesting we should be top 4 or even top 8 this year but I don't think it's too much to say we should t be losing by ~100 points every week. As for the strategy, I asked you about that as you said you had discussed it with people at the club who had explained it to you and you had faith in it - that being the case I asked you to articulate it. How can you have faith in something if you can't explain it you may as well go join those religious nuts every weekend instead of the footy nuts at the G.

As depressing as it is, this did make me laugh.

No, you didn't articulate the strategy at all, you articulated a broad aim which is the same for all football clubs at all levels. If that is the level of our club's strategy no wonder we're stuffed. I'm not surprised though, you've offered nothing more than sycophantic support for the club and sniping anyone who dares offer any criticism so it doesn't surprise me that you've got no clue. The membership definitely did not grow last year, it fell from 36,937 in 2011 to 35,345 in 2012 and is on track to fall further this year. If you can't get soemthing as basic as those raw figures correct no wonder you're incapable of offering anything of substance on more difficult issues. You are a volunteer who works the phones, you've got no greater insight into this than anyone else on the board despite your claims. "The guy" you speak of may have an impeccable record which is in the Public Domain - so have others who have come before. I'm not [censored] on it, just being cynical that appointing one board member is going to turn the ship around. In case you haven't noticed it takes hard work to be successful in footy not just a messiah to come and save the club. Wow, we were competitive for a half - in case you haven't noticed a game is made up of four quarters. I'm glad you're happy we can be competitive for half a game out of 3 games but some of us have higher expectations. The finances have been reported on - the club expects to lose money this year and would have its arse hanging out if not for donations and handouts. So in summary you've got NFI so don't waste your time dribbling utter rubbish because the vast majority of supporters on here see through your apologies for failure. You think you're supporting the club but you're not, you're supporting failure which is harmful in the extreme.

Pfft, lightweight. How erudite of you, that's the aim of every football club in the comp - the STRATEGY to get there is a different matter, something you've failed to articulate yet are happy to put blind faith in. That's fine if that's the route you want to take but you can hardly be critical of others if they are just a tad cynical after 50 years of the club spouting the same platitudes and continually delivering dross.

If you don't know why the club is a shambles you might as well just give it away now. Hint - it has something to do with losing by 100 points every week. * Membership growing? Hmm don't think so, it's shrinking this year and did last year as well. * May keep the finances going? This isn't even a coherent point but our finances are worse this year than last so whatever point you're making is irrelevant. * A new Board member should help - well you'd hope so but there's no evidence this will be the case. * It wasn't pretty on Saturday - ding ding ding, well done, you've hit the nail on the head. This is what the supporters care about above all - most couldn't give a stuff if we're millions in the hole they'll turn up as long as the team is playing well. They don't have to win every week but they do have to be competitive. Kent, Barry, Clisby? They've shown nothing to date so can't say they have taken another step forward. It is early days and may work out but you can't claim it as a win as yet. Heard the same things about numerous players over the last decade. Matt Jones is looking OK, Terlich has his moments but nothing special yet. I'm not saying we should sack Neeld, I'm not saying we shouldn't - I can see arguments both ways, I think we need to give him a chance to have a decent crack at it - by the same token the early signs don't look promising and it will be difficult to justify keeping him on if the team continues tor ack up these demoralising defeats. Regardless of what anyone may think if we keep getting belted supporters will turn away in droves. I fail to see why being competitive is seen as exclusive to rebuilding the team into a finals/premiership contender, Sydney can do it, North can do it, Geelong has done it - it's football not rocket science, you don't have to be completely hopeless to have to have a chance to build towards being great.

What is the long term strategy? If you believe in it you should be able to articulate it.

Actually we've done it once over the past 6 seasons - we sacked Bailey after the worst loss in the modern era. He had 4 seasons and the team was still a shambles.

Yep the scoreboards not right and the club is a shambles - so how would YOU fix it?

Watts is no longer a "young KPF" - with Clark, Dawes and Hogan where will Watts fit in? If he can't get a game ahead of Sellar or Pedersen that should be setting off the bells ringing.

He does play for us, you know.

Clark came before the club fell off the cliff (yes I know it was after 186 but there was still hope a new coach could turn things around) and Dawes was basically kicked out of Collingwood. You never know what a wad of cash will do but I'll give you strong odds Thomas will not be playing for Melbourne next year.

Colin Sylvia board.

Which top shelf mids are going to want to come to us? Some players (Viney, Wines) can have an impact straight away it's about picking kids ready to go rather than players who may look great but will need a couple of years to develop. I'm glad we got Toumpas but next draft we need to focus on players who can go from round 1. They don't have to dominate straight away but they do need to be able to compete.

Yeah and when Swan was out on the [censored] they suspended him.

They both came up through the Under 19's.

IF the rumour is true Sylvia must be dropped and probably Frawley as well though at least he seems to have been trying to do the responsible thing.

Taken from BF; One was definately Sylvia and the other frawley. I think frawley was trying to tell Sylvia he's had enough as Sylvia was very drunk. Sylvia didn't like what he heard and a push and shove happened. Probably not a huge story although does show the different characters of the 2.

I agree - thing is, pretty sure we tried that last time and none would come which is why we ended up with Neeld. If we sacked Neeld anytime soon I'd want to be certain we'd get one of Eade, Ratten or Roos (though don't think there's a chance Roos would come). Possibly Choco Williams but I think the games passed him as a head coach.

KPP's

I tend to agree - I completely understand those who say Neeld needs to be given time but the fact is we may not have the time to give. As much as it pains me we can't afford to put a 5 year plan in place to build towards a premiership we need to focus on just winning a few games and being competitive in every game we play. Then we can focus on finals, top 4 and flags.

That's true but today Garland showed he has no idea when playing one on one. Too many times he gave away stupid free kicks because he doesn't know how to make position or use his body and isn't strong enough to hold his ground.

It goes back further than that. Guys like Yze, White, Johnstone, Robertson were exactly the same under Daniher.

Who promised that and when did they say it? I think you're talking rubbish mate.