DeeSpencer

I just feel there might be a gap between now with Harris and Johnson and when those young guys actually get over their injuries and can perform. Siddle is our only reliable performer and he can't carry an attack. We should always have a decent pace attack. It won't ever be bad. But it should be our strength and will probably only be good enough to win games at home. Lyon does a good job at home as well, he just can't step it up on spin friendly pitches when he needs to, particularly on day 5 pitches. Hughes has many problems but scores runs! Warner has problems. Steve Smith has problems. We don't have any perfect batsmen. I understand the theory behind fixing some of his technical problems before he gets another shot. But I don't think you can wait much longer.

Good older batsmen: Rogers (37), Clark (33) Good young batsmen: Steve Smith (25), Warner (27) All rounder: Watson (33), Marsh? Faulkner? Keeper: Haddin (37) Older bowlers: Johnson (32), Harris (35) Decent bowlers/prospects: Siddle (29), Pattinson, Cummings etc Spinners; Lyon (26), O'Keefe The problems with the current aussie team are: 1. Spin bowling - Lyon's played a lot now and seemed to plateau. But at the same time he's young enough. Can't give up on him but he looks only serviceable at best 2. Fast bowling decline - Harris and Johnson played career peak seasons last year, but it's unlikely they can do it again. Siddle is a good 3rd support. The young guys need to step up 3. Haddin and Rogers - 2 cornerstones of our team at the start and the end of the batting line up but they are also likely to decline soon 4. What to do at 3 and 6? We don't have an answer to either. I think our best line up is Hughes and Watson. But they just haven't given Hughes a good shot of it and Watson can't stay healthy. I'm staggered to know why M Marsh got the shot at 6 ahead of Faulkner If we don't add another good young batsmen and get one of the bowlers to stay fit then we will be in trouble.

Thankyou Detroit's new FG kicker. I'll take the 2 points, it's about all the fun I've got left in the NFL. And thanks everyone who tipped the Colts. In other news the Bears defense carried the team for a while this season but now due to injuries and shocking lack of depth on the roster have crumbled to a mess at the hands of Brady. And we pulled one from the bonehead Detroit play book by a guy doing his ACL celebrating a sack (whilst down the best part of 30 points). GB v NO is heating up. If Brees plays well this will be 40 all. NO can't stop Rodgers. Julius Peppers on offense at goal line TE dropping a pass. Oh Mike McCarthy you so crazy.

Detroit (feel a bit sneaky tipping the London game) Miami Houston (JJ Watt v a 3rd string QB on debut - feel crazy tipping a team with Pickspatrick at QB, wanted to tip GB, but maybe some vintage Drew Brees can turn it around at home?)

Would have to be for the recruiters to pick. That said some overlooked father sons have turned out to be very good players. Langford and Kennedy were both available at some stage and now look the goods. Sometimes slow developers who desperate want to make it are more valuable than skilled players who don't. Personally I'd expect him to end up with a rookie spot at Sydney or Freo before coming to Melbourne.

I'd say so. I'm not sure how on the radar he would've been anyway. Not when we'd have to trade something good to get him. Certainly now we have the first live PSD pick we'd be chasing anyone of quality we can find out of contract to tank their negotiations and come to us. But not before. I did really like the idea of Lyons, particularly last year. But looking deeper I'm not convinced he'd offer us anything more than what injury free Riley and Michie should offer in 2015. He's not tall, not fast, not particularly skilled nor is he that Nath Jones or Jack Viney level of inside ball winning animal. Riley might win a clearance or stick a tackle better than him, and Viv might take a mark or kick a goal better than him.

Oh yeah no interest in Denver smashing the Jets, it was Seattle (who are also like the Hawks in more ways than one) who I wanted to see because whilst I'm sick of them as well I thought Dallas might serve up a big game against them. And they did. Anyway Washington Arizona hasn't been too bad but its felt inevitable for a while. Cousins throws too many picks. Bears win, offense found some rhythm and defense despite missing out 4 best LB's and holding the falcons offense so that makes me happy. And I got a point. GB and San Diego both made it hard work but the point is scored!

Who picks the 7mate games. NE at Buffalo, good call, should be somewhat close if Buffalo can bring their defense and all that was wrong with the Pats offense isn't fixed in a week, plus it's a divisional contest. But Washington at Arizona is the worst of the 3 games I think. Chicago at Atlanta would be interesting to see who keeps their season alive and Dallas v Seattle is clearly the pick of the 3 later games.

If he continues his current form I hope he wins MVP. We've seen what Peyton does. Russ Wilson is having a solid year and plays well in big moments but he hasn't been exceptional. Rivers has but he's a gifted experienced pocket passer doing his thing. It's nothing knew. And of course we've seen players like Watt before but it's time for him to win the MVP, especially considering how bad Houston are when he's not involved.

Anyone not tipping: Denver San Diego (always classy) Can't settle on a third tip. Can't go against my Browns (AFC team, getting on the bandwagon early) after they came through for me last week, can't tip NE, Baltimore or SF and I don't want to ruin Thursday night football! Green Bay (if I jinx them it's still a win!)

Not sure if daylight savings is good or bad. Overall I'm saying bad. Games dragging too long in the afternoon. Seattle, Cinn and.......Cleveland! Just felt like tipping Cleveland.

Surely the Danchise? Ok lets all make jokes about how fat the women are in GB to make us feel better.

Not going well. The bears played Rodgers right back to form! Still you'd hope the Vikes could stay in it defensively a little longer. Lets wait and see I guess.

Nice. Did you see KC line up a 350lb lineman at fullback at run him at Vince Wilfork, that was a clash of some big bodies! On all available form with one team having a short week and another team the bye it should pretty much be a non contest. I'd back the Pats defense to bounce back, they've had 2 good performances and 2 bad ones. But Cinn should be able to do a lot of things that KC did offensively in terms of running the ball, screens etc that really hurt NE. Revis is a great corner but if a team is cutting you apart with short passes and runs it doesn't matter much. Bit cruel for Brady to have a horrible offensive performance, with stuff all O line and no weapons firing and then come up against what I rate as the best defense in the league. If they are even half as bad as they were the other day Brady will be running for his life or throwing the ball straight to them or in to the crowd. If it went the way of the KC game you'd be tempted to give Brady a mystery injury at half time and put the young guy in just to save Brady from getting smashed. Every team with an abysmal O line should carry a Tebow like player for when nothing is working and your QB's getting smashed. Put it a mobile college quarterback who can take some hits and run some read option and other trick plays and try to get some yards that way.

3 teams had or have QB controversies and the other team has Tom Brady and still can't score! Yet you get the feeling all 4 teams can play defense, If any of them get consistent at all they can win games. Kyle Orton will be interesting to watch. Bills have most things besides a QB. Miami have a lot of things going for them but at the same time they are Miami! I think AFC South probably just pip them for worst division simply because of how bad Jacksonville and Tenn are. Indy and Houston will fight out the division but I don't think Indy are even that good and Houston can't feasibly be any good at all with the Amish Rifle at QB! Even if their defense is good. Both the West divisions (NFC and AFC) probably have 3 teams better than any team from the AFC South or AFC East. Oakland would probably be horrendous in any division poor team. But I really feel for St Louis. They'd be a contender in several other divisions. Yet they are stuck with 3 fantastic teams and they aren't even in the West of the country anymore!

By the way how good did Kelce the TE for the Chiefs look. That's my kind of TE. Making blocks, catches, running from short passes and making hard yards as tacklers miss. Looks like the next great TE in the league. Of course he'll need to stay fit. I've often thought if I played US football I'd be a TE. I'm 6'3 and solid, but have no interest being morbidly obese lineman and have no speed so I'm out of the rest of the positions! But I'm not overly keen on getting drilled by a hard hitting safety as I run over the middle. Dominant pass rushing DE my other dream! In reality I think I'd be the punter! Has anyone played or thought of playing? Who's going to nominate themselves for demonland QB?

Cutler is Cutler. The only way he'll win big games is with a good team around him. Particularly a defense that can survive his mistakes. He's the middle of the road QB who probably can't win it all but at least can win games. This year and 2 more then hopefully I'm free of him. If we pick up someone good that would be nice. He's still Chicago's best few QBs of all time, which is scary. As I said, not making excuses. Our defense and lack of depth has scared me all year. Just saying the injuries caught up. Better teams don't let them catch up. Maybe I'm being too generous but I'm feeling like a mature Stafford and a proper head coach will do Detroit wonders. KC Royals just made the baseball playoffs. Stranger things have happened!

If you take away the QB do the Cowboys have the best talent on offense in the league? O line are scary good. WR's - Dez and some other talent. Great TE. RB who looks set to lead the league (even if that is O line related). They look seriously good enough that if they don't put up 30 every week then you'd worry about Romo. Not convinced of their defense yet but it's better than horrible. It's hard to like the cowboys but with the way they were written off (by me and others) it's kind of a good story. Dennis Allen at Oakland is seemingly outdoing Mark Neeld. Poor bloke nearly got sacked in a foreign country!

Don't want to sound like a sore loser, it's the only tip I got right! But the bears couldn't run the ball to save themselves at the jets and 49ers and then put up over 200 yards against the packers. Neither team had a punt. With plenty of injuries that finally caught up to us our defense were horrible but I'd still be nervous if I were a packers fan about their own defense and lack of running game. Rodgers told everyone to relax because he knew how damn good he is and how that can translate. But in terms of pure talent across all aspects of the team I can't go passed Detroit. Strong defense in all positions. Good QB. Good O line, good running game and finally more than 1 receiving option. Plus they have the lead on the packers. The biggest knock on Detroit is that they are Detroit. Change the uniforms between green bay and Detroit and you are backing the current lions players.

Ok lets get analytical. I want a point. 12 games left. Need to tip 3 of them. Ruling out Ten, Jax and TB. All starting back up QBs. Combined 1 win so far. Playing good teams with Luck, Rivers and Big Ben at QB. 9 games left. Pretty good teams Atlanta, Carolina Good teams GB, Detroit, NE, Phil, NO, Below average teams Miami*, Buf Pretty good teams: Baltimore Good teams: Jets, SF, KC, Chicago Below average teams: Houston, Minn, Dal Bad teams: Oakland Ok so can't take Carolina at Baltimore. 8 teams left. Can't take Buffalo at Houston, if the teams are level I'm not going for a bad one to win on the road. 7 teams left. Miami have a slight edge in overall level and aren't even at a proper away game. But I can't trust them. 6 teams left. From there I'm going for my now trusted theory (yet to actually work) of going with the best QB's. Apologies to Brady, Foles and Stafford who will now likely have 400 yard and 4 TD days. After all that I'm going Atlanta Green Bay New Orleans

Defense, running game, get a good QB and give them a chance. It's the basic philosophy of the NFL. When it goes wrong it can be awful but the Giants don't panic and seem they might actually be right. Still not sold on their defense against good opposition. Same with their running game. But Eli's making people look silly. And I'd guess you'd be a fan of their offensive coordinator and game plan. Man does he share similarities with Andy Reid. Where did they find that tight end from?! All of a sudden Eli is throwing it to people who can get separation and catch instead of mugs.

Coach of Morlo from the recruit. He was on the final episode.

Obviously I have a CBSS, probably linked to MFCSS but I don't think we have a scary offense. No doubt Marshall and Jeffery are a great combination, Bennett is good too and Forte's great as a receiving back. But it all starts from Jay Cutler, which means it can only get so scary. The O line are good in pass protection but can't run block to save themselves. It could be that Cutler finds his rhythm and makes it close to a scary offense but I just don't see it happening. He's been in the league too long to make the jump to elite. The best case scenario is a Flacco and Eli style hot January/Feb where he just makes a tonne of smart big plays. The Green Bay game last year was a good maturing for him, he made all the plays needed to win it, trading touchdowns with the best in the business, just our defense was atrocious. Whether Cutler can back that up against better defenses in playoff like games I'm not sure. Jets, Bills, 49ers, 3 above average defenses so far this year and injuries surrounding him so it's too early to tell. Despite much better wideouts I don't have the bears offense as better than Sea Hawks. People need to stop underrating the Sea Hawks offense. Russel Wilson is near on elite then Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin and the rest are way above average. The year after the lockout everyone was torching up yards and points. Brady and Brees had no defense but were just smashing teams by putting up 400 yards and 30+ easily. So far besides Denver I'm not sure there's a standout team on offense. Every team will be limited by how many possessions they get and how they get them by their defense and special teams. San Diego might be my favourite, Rivers is so fun to watch. If Pittsburgh ever let Big Ben be Ben again that would be fun. His sand lot football was amazing. His current football is often sad to watch. Looking forward to seeing more of Denver as well, especially if the train wreck come week 16/17 happens.

No by saying never he very much included the past 3 seasons, He might've had seen you get reasonable results (divisional champions and in to the playoffs without a defense, they are still good results if you are a Bills, Browns, Jags, several other teams including MFC fans). Where as we both realise a lack of defense (as well as running game and poor O line) has seen you crash out in the playoffs. I was very much agreeing with you. When you won the superbowl, like almost every team that does win it, you had a good defense. I probably should've quoted dappa instead of you.

Yep I'd say no defense since you super bowl run has definitely hurt GB! Especially against San Fran.