Macca

Fairly sure there was one poster who was yelling it from the rooftops but when he posts things like , there is a real entertainment factor tinged with plenty of humour ! I've long felt that some people post with a negative slant but are secretly wanting or hoping for something much better . The reverse can apply as well HT , I'm often overly optimistic but deep down I'm expecting the worst ! For instance , I'm tipping us to win 1 of our next 4 .

Even if there were a couple of posters predicting a 0 - 11 start , it's not a big enough percentage to take seriously . Less than .1% of the more than 2,500 Demonland members . At least in that 'The first half draw' thread nobody predicted an 0 - 11 start . But as 'deejammin' alluded to , that 0 - 11 hasn't happened yet and may not anyway . I've a feeling we'll win 1 game in the next 4 but that wasn't the crux of my argument anyway (if people have read the whole thread) The rest of what you've said is most probably true but how many were saying this before the start of the season ? Not many or certainly not enough posters . I understand what you're trying to say though and don't worry , I fully expected to cop a bit of criticism for daring to question Neeld's game plan . Time will tell of course

LA go 1 up . Playing away from home is like a walk in the park for these blokes . Amazing run they're having . Devils at Rangers today in game 1 - 10am fox3

Clippers get through as well . Their bench stepped up in game 7 . So we've got a Clippers/Spurs match-up . Miami win game 1 vs the Pacers . Tomorrows games are Sixers @ Boston and the Lakers @ Oklahoma .

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 .

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 ?