binman

Another interesting thing about ange in terms of intersections with AFL is the coverage of his game style over there in terms of the gap between reality and perception. That's well captured in this quote from the article linked below: 'It is instructive that only coaches who have a clearly defined and recognisable style seem to have that style blamed for every single shortcoming, even if the logic doesn’t always hold up to scrutiny. Postecoglou’s football is, indeed, serving a secondary purpose: it is exposing just how much of modern football discourse is based on tired old tropes, flimsy premises and Colbert-style truthiness. It feels right to say United’s second-half surge was because Postecoglou is stubborn and didn’t tell his players to “get hold of that game”, even though it only happened because of freak individual errors that had nothing to do with anything else. It feels right to criticise Spurs for being “too open” and “chaotic”, even if their stats show they are one of the Premier League’s best defensive teams, and that they’ve not lost a single game this season by more than a one-goal margin.' https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/are-you-not-entertained-postecoglou-is-two-steps-away-from-vindication-with-spurs-20241220-p5kzwp.html

That made me laugh too - particularly his deadpan follow up that Carragher 'apparently' likes him and 'that's nice'. The irony of caraaghers criticism (that ange ball causes them to almost lose a game they were 3 nil up in), one that was strangely not pointed out by ange or any of the journos, is they gave up those goals when they went defensive and had stopped attacking (perhaps because they were out on their feet). The two brain fades from the keeper (forster) came after they passed back from the centre line instead of pressing forward. Imagine ange at an AFL presser - he'd make bevo look like a peacenik.

I think he said 'are you not entertained'. That made me laugh- quoting Russell crowe in the gladiator.

It's really interesting you should highlight this. As a kid in the 70s soccer was a foreign sport, at least for me and my Anglo mates, and I never got into it. I have enjoyed it as a sport since the so called golden era for the socceroos - and have enjoyed watching the Australian mens and women's teams since. But I've never been able to get into epl, serie a etc ' or the A league as i haven't had a team to follow. But I've been following spurs since Ange became manager - not forensically, but watch the highlights and listen to his pressers. I subscribed to bein sports last Friday so I could watch the spurs man up cup game. Super entertaining. And speaking of entertaining, I have listened to a couple of ange's post man u cup game pressers. I was thinking of posting about those pressers, and the ones after the Chelsea loss, rangers draw, southhampton win and Bournemouth loss. In particular I was interested in ange's repeated emphasis after both wins and losses, on how many of his best players were out injured and the impact it has had (and has in general - ie the impact of injury on performance). None of the soldier out, soldier in, no excuses rubbish that AFL coaches fall into. Ange just say it like it is and states the facts - having so many players injured makes it very, very difficult. And not just once - repeatedly (he must have mentioned it 5 times in the presser the day after the man u game - linked below) across multiple interviews. At the same time he has also pumped up the players who have stepped up, particularly the several 18 - 20 year olds he's playing. So refreshing. 'If I lose anyone else I'll go nuts' - ange's last presser here: https://youtu.be/4QFFF6vjEME?si=XSc68DHbiD-Nygx3

Not just that. Two grounds means one can be the exact dimensions of the G and the other configurable to other grounds and/or permanently marked with things that assists others training drills, eg lanes or grids.

#Demonland myths #I wonder at times if I'm watching the same game I agree we were borderline unwatchable at times this year - when we couldn't effectively implement the fast transition game we were trying to implement or defend it. The latter was one of two most important reasons (the other being fitness) we regularly had opponents scoring 100 plus points and/or beating us by big margins up for the first time since 2021. Ironically, we were often at most effective when reverting back to our slow methodical, predictable, clearance focused and down the line game plan.

One and a half questions in and my head hurts. The first question felt like it went for 2 hours - 99% of which was the fella providing important 'context' to frame his question - including referencing mutiple articles. Green gave an answer (of sorts) and asked if that addressed the question, to which Mr 'I have dealt with bs all my life' responded with something like 'well that's your answer, wether I accept it or not....'. Jesus wept. I'll bet green is ruing his commitment to transparency.

When spargs reads a mean comment about him on demonland he be like:

Is literally the most abused, misused word in the English language? Does my head in. The above post is literally a perfect case in point. I mean, literally, there are many reasons that could be factors in why we regularly lose to Collingwood. And ironically, another frequently misused word, us enjoying losing to the pies is almost certainly not one of them. Apologies in advance for giving this absurd notion any oxygen.

Build it and they will come.

The track watchers equivalent of a bowler sending a loosener down first ball of a new spell.

Yeah, you're right, he broke his toe playing basketball in his backyard. Harvey probably completed a risk analysis of all non football activity when he was 12 and long ago ruled out backyard basketball.

And he injured his back playing basketball in his back yard (with some mixed info about exactly how). Am I right in thinking tracc has never been in the leadership group? That said, everyone matures at different rates and perhaps tracc has some personal growth opportunities. Tracc is a natural on field leader, both in terms of his voice and actions I wonder if having an infusion of young gun mids might help tracc develop his off field leadership, something that can only be a positive for him and his teammates.

Downgrade on Gosch's, which you can at least get to by PT.

How could Ryan write an article encouraging us to move to that [censored] hole ground and not mention the worst football experience many of us have had - the 1987 preliminary? Mind boggling. As is this line: 'Waverley Park is also close enough to Melbourne’s traditional zones to enable their supporters to watch training and socialise at the club.' I mean, is he serious? 60 years after the VFL built that monument to stupidity there is still no decent public transport out there and it's in a Bermuda triangle for roads. [censored] off Ryan.

Maggie mahoney and Molly Ohaire. Are we selecting players for a football team or a Clannad cover band?

Great call luci. A lot has to go right of course, but I can't recall a team getting a bigger, better haul of top end draft picks - remarkably they have also managed to get the roos' first pick next season which is likely to be minimum top 10. With salary cap space to bring in a couple of senior guns they are def in a good position to fast track a rise up the ladder.

Yeah, you're probably right. Alternative suggestion: Put 10 units on the dees to win the flag at $26. Don't lay off. Make a profit of $250 units when we win the flag.

If i was to compare the pair at the same age and stage id have to say Harvey is more mature than i reckon Tracc might have been in his first year. Tracc stuck me as a big energetic kid, like an Alaksan malamute puppy, whereas Langford is more a Doberman pinscher pup.

Better hope Kolt doesn't come in here than.

Selwyn will have them running Phar Laps.

Short answer. The bookies set the initial price. Their prices top to bottom would pretty much reflect the previous season's ladder. After that point the prices are set by the punters. That's to say who punters put their money on. The bookies change the odds to cover their spread and ensure a profit no matter who wins. At this point there would be bugger all in the pool. So relatively small amounts wagered on particular teams would have an outsize impact on prices. For example a bunch of hawks fans with hok ball fever puting $20 here, $50 there, brings them into second favs. If one of us dropped 2k on the dees, the bookies would reel us in quick smart. How far depends on how much money is in the pool. Winning on the punt is not about picking the winner. It's about getting a price over the 'true odds' (being good at determining the true odds is the other key to winning). Betting on the flag at this point is a fools errand because it's impossible to determine the true odds at this point given the millions of unknowns and variables in between now and September next year (injury being the most important). Which is why there's no money in the pool now - no big punter is putting any coin in now. That said, $26 in my opinion is def 'overs'. And given our pretty soft draw early, backing them now and cashing out, or laying off, after say 7 rounds would be a smart play.

Another thing the last four premiership have had in common, one that intersects with injury, is clearly being the fittest team come Grand Final day.

That's great you have been refusing to bite more often CW. Thanks. And the training threads have been much better for that discipline. Few of us have thick skins, certainly i don't. Most people are sensitive to criticism and our honesty being questioned. I certainly am. So it's not about being less sensitive or 'toughening up'. It's about not responding and fuelling the angst. You post lots of interesting snippets of conversations with mfc peeps. Almost all posters like that content. For whatever reason some don't, and for a small number of posters it seems it's a trigger. It really isn't possible on such a forum to stop people posting stuff that might get under someone else's skin - and that’s leaving aside the conversation about whether that is even desirable (ie policing opinion and/or criticism). Keep up the good work on not biting as often. Water off a duck's back. Ommmmmmm.

GW can I respectfully ask that you simply ignore any such comments. Let them through to the keeper. Please. I'd ask the same questions you as you do above - is it necessary to respond to these accusations? What have you achieved by doing so? Responding simply invites a rebuttal from that poster, other posters and almost always another round of circular posts of the sort that simply clogs up threads, not to mention inevitably become more personal and unpleasant. It's tiresome - and unnecessary. There is no need to defend yourself. People wil believe what they want to believe. Lean into the fact that the vast majority of posters really enjoy your posts, take you at your word and enjoy the banter with players and staff you choose to relay. The haters are always going to hate. Of course you are free to post and respond however you want. But by ignoring the haters you take away their the power which is their ability to upset you. And we will have less threads getting derailed.