hardtack

I would like to see us have the coaching situation settled before trade week; I wouldn't think it's ideal to go looking for talent while the club appears to be rudderless.

Billy... I was in China, but not as part of the "tour" per ce. I took my own trip (via the MotoGP in Malaysia) to Shanghai and attended both the training and the game, but not as part of the touring group and didn't get to attend any of the group functions, so I can't really comment on the behaviour of the playing group. Scully had already departed when I saw them... but my general observation was that they seemed to be taking the training and game seriously and didn't appear too hangdog or hung over.

+1 - absolutely spot on!!

Unfortunately we don't know who the next coach will be yet... and that is probably the most important part of the equation!

maybe GWS will claim compo under the new ante-syphoning rules?

Yes, there was the comedy series D-Generation... let's hope that this isn't prophetic with regards to season 2012 (or maybe that's why they reversed the order to Generation D).

Dysfunctional?

+1 I would like to see us use them during trade week if there is anything worthwhile of offer... we need to inject experience, skills and strength at this point in time.

I would be putting Jimmy plus the first 10 in the Bluey as recognition of their achievement.

No Jones? He is a very good chance to take out the Bluey and has been our most consistent performer this year. I omit Garland simply because Grimes (if he hits the ground running) will take up that spot in the top 10; so in no particular order: 1. Frawley 2. Jones 3. Jamar 4. Sylvia 5. Jurrah 6. Grimes 7. Watts 8. Moloney 9. Trengove 10. Blease

As much as I dislike the man, it is a bit rich to say that Schwab being just one of a number of club reps should not be held responsible, and then in the same breath say that Grubby (who was also one of that number) may well have manipulated events. Or am I reading your comment wrongly?

Why should anyone feel like a "[censored]" for showing belief in a demons player? As it turns out he made a dash for the cash, but all of us who supported him up until yesterday, have no reason to feel bad at all. I for one would rather see a culture of supporting our players as opposed to running them down at every given opportunity as we see so often on this and other forums.

Sometimes this site leaves me completely non-plussed... one minute people are jumping all over Scully for running off and signing with GWS and showing no loyalty etc etc, and then as soon as Morton gives a display of loyalty and hopes to repay the faith the club has shown him, people start bagging him.

Interesting tweet from Gawn a few minutes ago: "Quote ' @MichaelNewton29 im not dissapointed in sculls going cause ill be there with him next year'" No idea who actually tweeted it, because it appears to be directed at Newton.

For all of the wrong reasons

I thought I saw a tweet that mentioned something about illness, but in this case it may have been drink related and involving an exceptionally tall player calling for his friend Ralph while standing over a prone (possibly sleeping?) Tom Scully. No idea if there is any truth to it, but it makes a good story none-the-less.

Ahhh, 20/20 hindsight... don't you just love it.

I agree with that actually... if they are removed from the MFC site's Twitter feed, perhaps they will be more free to post openly as opposed to towing the club line. But I still expect that they would temper their comments as unlike us who have no contact with Scully and can be dispassionate in our judgements, they know him on a personal level and in many cases as a friend.

Fair enough.

And read what I said RF... if they tweet what they are really thinking, the chances are very high that the press will get hold of it and it will come back to bite them big time. Recall what occurred following tweets about the Trengove decision. As I said, they will no doubt pass on their impressions to him on the field where it matters. Hopefully the compensation plus money saved plus no longer required players (Warnock, Bate(?), Maric et al) will be enough to get us something good in the way of an experienced match ready player or two.

I think that's a tad harsh RF... Jones is one player who gives his all on the field and never shirks a contest. I'm sure that while he takes a measured approach in his Twitter comment (which makes sense considering what the press would do if they started making vindictive tweets), Jones will be happy to run over the top of Scully without so much as blinking an eye, on the field where it matters.

Hehe.. I saw that and tweeted back at him with: "Yep, a few $mil to re-live Skilled Stadium on a weekly basis... not bad work if you can get it" At least Jones and the other players will have some more insight into Scully's motivation/dissatisfaction, and I'm sure there is nothing to be gained from them bad mouthing him via the social media... would probably do more damage than good if the media got hold of it (as they surely would).

The last part re Trengove, I agree with. The first part, I suggest you go back through the (multiple) Scully threads and read what I have contributed. Like yourself, I no doubt tended to some repetition, but essentially my contributions were based on the "innocent until proven guilty" premise; and I think you might find that I was not the one banned for insinuating that Scully was a liar but not being forthright enough to come out and say it in so many words. However, you will find that my "snide and purile ramblings" (a description I am more than happy to accept) have only appeared in retaliation to RR's equally purile and self-centred boastings and derision of those who were prepared to take Scully at his word.

RR, in honour of your uncanny ability to see and correctly predict future events in the face of the massive odds that were stacked against you (50-50), and to reflect the good grace and humility with which you have carried yourself while denegrating fellow supporters feeling the pain of TS's departure, I hereby pronounce you, and hitherto to be known as, "Nostradumbass". Now arise (and go forth and multiply)!

to quote your good self... "diddums" (if you can't play by the rules, don't play)