Macca

Another point of difference - I don't see what I'm saying as doom and gloom . I offer a solution to fix the way we're playing . It's just an opinion , I never will have any say in things . Things can change fairly quickly in footy as you well know and I'd rather look adversity in the eye . Neeld would lose no face in my eyes if he adopts a more attacking game plan . As you may have gathered , I detest a boundary hugging style of play . So far , that's about all we've seen . As for support , I am supporting but obviously , just like anyone else , I have the right to question anything . That's why we have conversations and forums . It'd be a dull old world if we all agreed with each other .

Yep , I've adjusted my expectations . That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it . So are you saying we should go around saying - "We'll win 3 games this year , party time !" On another thread I have said I'm not interested in better placed draft picks . We've gone down that track before and it doesn't work . Losing is not for me . It's not a good habit to have . It comes with it's own problems . Most should know what those problems are .

Ahh , maybe not , I would have thought that all , or most of those who voted , would have taken what I've highlighted into account .

Closest to the pin by the looks of it , Hardnut . Your prize - bragging rights . Though I'm not sure you'd want that . I tipped 5 wins by the way . Which was the median score I think .

Here's that "The first half year" thread . 86% predicted 4 or more wins . And nobody predicted anything less than 2 wins . It's difficult for me to take seriously those who say that this was how our season could start . http://demonland.com...irst-half-draw/

I'll be the first to put my hand up and say well done if we start playing decent football . In my opinion it will take a change in philosophy though . Hardwick threw his version of the "cluster" out after his first 9 games (all losses). Or that's what I've heard from a few people . I have bought into Neeld and will continue to , but I question the game plan . You're allowed to have an opinion like that . It's like tough love . There were loads of Jack Watts fans just a few weeks ago . That's the reference I was referring to .

You make that one word comment just because somebody doesn't agree with you ? Play the ball , not the man bing . You're better than that .

I'll give you an example so it might make more sense to you Jack Watts - some have unquestionable faith and won't criticise him no matter what - they're looking into the future and it looks rosy . Others have vitually ruled a line through him because of what they see right now . Which camp is correct ?

As I posted earlier , my opinion is about the here and now . That doesn't make my view too simplistic . People view things differently . Some like tangible proof , others have unquestionable faith . I'd like to think I have reasonable expectations . More than 86% of Demonlanders thought we'd win 4 or more games in the first half of the season . Most picked 4 , 5 or 6 wins . Now the reason that I'm emphasising this is because like it or not , we are in the results business . Your post was up to it's usual standard though Ben and I can't disagree with a lot of it . But I'm more about the "now" and I make no apologies for that . I too caught trains to Kardinia park as a kid in the 70's . As I did to most of the suburban grounds . Even though they we didn't win much it was still great times .

Yep , I'm about the here and now - and I'm just reporting the facts as I see them . And as many others see them . You're looking into the future - you may well be right . Who knows ? Essentially we are are talking about 2 different areas of the one subject matter .

I blame Jack Watts for the "Everyone Stand Up And Applaud Mark Neeld" thread !

We're never going to come close to agreeing .

Read the entire thread Ben , you'll see it there . I'm not going to repeat myself . I dragged out that "first half of the season" thread last night . Just over 86% of Demonlanders predicted 4 or more wins in the 1st 11 games . 86% ! You and Jose need to tell all those people to have lower expectations . How many wins did you pick by the way ?

You need to be more demanding , raise your expectations . Don't concern yourself with the disappointment that comes with it . That's life . You're adopting a fail-safe attitude because you don't want to get let down . You might think you're tricking yourself but deep down you will still be as disappointed as the next person .

I doubt anyone on this site would have envisaged a game plan such as the one we're seeing . Nobody predicted this at the start of the season . Nobody . It's all very well to talk in hindsight here . That stuff doesn't cut it with me . I actually only have what I would call normal expectations . You need to lift your expectations . Be a bit more demanding . Neeld isn't going to read this and have a panic attack . What's wrong with myself and may I suggest many more Demon fans , expecting better performances ? To me it's just totally natural .

Why foolish ? I've obviously got higher standards than you've got . You just keep carrying on accepting losses . Did you make these same comments at the start of the season ? If so , in what thread ?

The game plan isn't working . If you believe our gameplan is working so well then why are we on the bottom of the ladder (18th) with a woeful percentage . In case you didn't realise it bing , we're in the results industry here . Wins and losses . Can you kindly explain how are wonderful gameplan is working so efficiently . Leave out any crystal ball or futuristic stuff . Just the cold hard facts thank you .

Lakers get through , I reckon you'll take it up to the Thunder . Nuggets out , but hang on , I'm still here .

Reminded me of the 1979 FA Cup final when Arsenal beat Man Utd 3-2 . That was when the FA Cup final was big . Congratulations to Man City .

Unbelievable finish , 2 goals to Man City in the last 5 minutes . Unbelievable .

Who said anything about perfection ? We are nowhere near a pass mark , forget about perfection . I fail to see how my questioning Neeld's gameplan converts to me expecting to win a flag . I'm not alone in questioning this gameplan . Is there any other team out there playing a similar style of play to ours ? We're 18th on the ladder with a woeful percentage .

I'd put Sylvia in the centre . Our midfield isn't doing a lot anyway . The other 3 need to do more as well . But so do a lot on our list .

Well right now you'd be close to being on the money . But I've seen many players turn it around - especially near the end of a season . We've seen all 4 of the players you've mentioned play some good footy in the past . They could all play a hell of a lot better but I'm not putting a line through any of them yet . Davey and Sylvia are contracted . On good coin ?

Even though I'm a players man we need a part rebuild . 6 years of failure is more than enough . It's time to face facts with a number of players . I reckon a number were lucky to be on our list this year . We were hamstrung by the draft . If we had another pick last year it might have been in the late 60's . Free agency allows more movement within our list and we might be able to trade for players or picks . Plus , of course , our picks in the national draft . I could see us turning over 8-10 players but it probably won't happen for reasons I pointed out in an earlier post .

Well , lets look at last year . We had a poor year in all reality but who did we delist ? Wonna went home , Maric and Miller were picked up by Richmond after we delisted them . Warnock went to the Gold Coast for pick 52 (Tynan) . That's it I think . I don't remember too many on this site pushing for a major rebuild yet we had a poor year .