The Reverend

You don't think Nathan Jones is a must keep?

If there are any doubts about the future, look at how our co-captains present themselves. Two more reasons to be optimistic. http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/tabid/8667/contentid/482151/default.aspx#playvideo#playvideo

Positive thoughts breed positive actions. Let's keep spreading the good word to all who'll listen. The time will come when we can hold our heads high and glory in the feats of our club. The day is coming.

Lucifer's Hero Rookie Demon Members 26 posts Posted Today, 11:26 AM McLardy has reported on mfc website that Opel have signed on for another year...more good news for the club See, one more reason to be optimistic. Thanks LH.

I'm with you JR. I think 2016 is more realistic but I'll take 2015 if it comes around.

As long as it's not a close last quarter I should be right for a few more days.

Another reason to be cheerful - Blease has re-signed for 2 years. See it's all good. Things are coming together.

I steadfastly refuse to shuffle off before seeing another flag. I'll be quite happy to keel over 30 seconds after the siren but not before. I've promised my family that I'm going to get a MFC tattoo when the Dees win a flag. At this rate I'll have wife and kids with me stretching out the skin to provide a smooth working surface. Go Dees.

It's like running marathons. I know I shouldn't. I know it's probably doing me some sort of long term harm. I know it's going to hurt. I know It's going to be a grind. But I also know if I don't do while I can it I'll regret it. I might just have a good one lurking somewhere in my ageing legs. I can't give up hope just yet. I'll be signed up again next year and into the future.

Thanks PSD. I knew there were more of us out there. Bring on 2013.

Call it what you like. I'm tired of the gloom and doom. I've been waiting since 64 and have never been as excited as I am right now. I think there are good things ahead and I don't want to keep going over how crap we've been this year. I believe it's been for a purpose. That's my belief and I'm as entitled to it as you are to yours. All I'm saying is that there is a thread where we optimists can discuss the possibilities. There are plenty where the realists/pessimists/existentialists, and any other 'ists' can moan and complain. Leave the rest of us alone and stop raining on our barbecue in the sunshine.

The point is that there is any number of other threads where you can wallow in misery. Leave this one for those of us who want to think there is light at the end of the tunnel and that it's not another train coming to demolish us. Happy for you to see things from your point of view but ask you to respect others' right to be optimistic.

Can't you read? It says "Optimists Only"

Hey C&B move on over to the Optimists Only thread. Don't waste your energy on these pessimists.

C'mon folks. Surely we haven't run out of optimism already. Let's keep this thread going. If this is the best we can do we'll fall into the clutches of the negative naysayers. Let's talk it up.

Come on B59 this is about optimism. You never know what can happen. Sometimes good things happen to deserving people. And boy, aren't we deserving?

Not bad - and only four new inclusions. Admittedly, a couple of big ones, but this would indicate some depth remaining in the list. Ah - optimism.

Keep it coming folks. This is the most enjoyment I've had from Demonland in months. How long will it be though before Tonatopia finds out someone's saying something positive and feels the need to [censored] our balloon? No pricks on this thread please.

If you're as tired as I am of the negativity and pessimism of some on this forum join me in focusing on the positives from this year. New coach with a single-minded approach to changing the culture and ensuring that those who can't or don't want to play at elite level are gone. The continued improvement of Nathan Jones. Good signs from some of our younger brigade: Howe, Grimes, Blease, etc. An aggressive approach to the trade period and a determination to get the right people on the bus. Feel free to add others. Whingers and pessimists can use any of the 50 or so other threads.

One last shot despite the battle being lost? I'm really tired of the constant negativity. Give it up. Give the guy a chance. Get some long distance goggles and try to see the bigger picture.

It might be hard for us to compete with the Visy brown paper bag strategy but I think there are some upsides for him to sign on with us. I don't agree we're no chance of a GF in the next three years. Given some clever trading, good coaching and culture change I'm confident things can be turned around very quickly. Call me a dreamer, but what are we if we have nothing to look forward to?.

Are you starting a movement? I thought this was a discussion. For what it's worth, I'd be giving Rivers another couple of years. He's earned it and still has a bit to give. There are others that could/should go before him.

I never thought I'd be agreeing with you Hardnut but I guess you should never say never.

No we have to many down-hill skiers who, when challenged, don't have the courage, determination, will, etc to do something about it. This is what we need to fix. Nothing to do with Neeld. He wasn't there last year. We've seen the same tendencies this year against the Swans for example. When the going gets tough, too many of ours stop doing what's required. If you're happy to have a good quarter every now and then and beat a few mediocre teams each year and finish with the also rans then fine, we'll keep sacking coaches until we find one you like. One who will allow the team to play their own game regardless of team rules, game plan etc. I'm not sure I can keep arguing with you. It's like trying to teach my dog to speak Chinese. I'm never gonna win.

Look, I don't know if Neeld is going to be the man to change our fortunes. I have no way of knowing what is going on at the club. I have no idea what the grand plan entails. All I know is that it's just plain silly to be talking about plunging us back into the black hole of nothingness that the act of sacking a new coach would bring. At present I'm happy enough to put some faith in Neeld based on the rhetoric which is now starting to be supported by action. The fact that we are not negotiating new contracts with eleven players untill we've had a look at what else is available is a clear sign that significant change is taking place. I'm ambivalent about Green's retirement and I hope it won't come back to bite us in the same way Junior's did, but at least it showshe has an understanding of where the club is heading. His comments about players 'buying in' were significant. Neeld is makiing it clear that only those who are prepared to buy in will survive. No more list-cloggers. Neeld has a three year contract. Let him see it out and then we can make a call on his success. Three years is not long in terms of achieving culture change in an organisation. It's usually a five year process so let's at least give him a chance to make an impact. I'd rather suffer the pain of losing now than to be going through the false hope of 8.5 wins against ordinary teams that we had last year. 'No pain - no gain' might be a cliche but there is some truth to it in this case. It's not about messiah's - it's about supporting the club as it goes about the process of redressing fifty years of failure. I want a long term solution and that can only come through a change in culture.