Blues heading towards another dark era

The blues are still missing some fundamentals from their list. A key big forward and some hard experienced body mid fielders. It's not about who we have it's about who we don't have. Both are fundamental for some finals success and daisy with respect is neither. We failed in not having a key forward as plan b in the fev era (probably rattens only mistake) when we all knew he wasn't the answer, and 5 years we are still relying on Waite? I sometimes feel like its ground hog day

Malthouse did an amazing job to get the Collingwood 2002 and 2003 teams into GFs. If he can't get the best out of Kreuzer and Gibbs, nobody can. And overall, you gotta say the Carlton team at his disposal in 2013 and 2014 is pretty short on talent. If he can get this talentless team into the 8 again this year, he'll be doing well. As for 2015, having a handful of up-and-comers this year is insufficient when most other teams have a reliable core and plenty of up-and-comers. Jorji and Mackenzie are justified in feeling a bit pesamistic. Who knows - the Blues could become the new Tigers!

Recruiting, we recruited duds. Gibbs, Kruezer were wasted picks in my book. They should be BOG regularly. You have Kruezer constantly hurt and just too soft in contests, Gibbs just cannot play tags and bludges off the backline for easy kicks. If we miss out on finals, we need to trade out the dead wood and start again.

You are correct on Kruezer, I was wrong. I just looked at the AFL's official website and they had him listed as 'omitted'. Still, just proves that he is incredibly injury prone. Is he worth it? Sam Rowe can play back? Look at the number of stuff ups Thurs night. Hate to say it, I just do not think he has it. Gibbs, is a bludger. I want to see him traded. Carlton allowed Richmond too much space, that is why they had the kicking efficiency they had. That is why they killed us. Another one has slipped away. We need 14 wins to make the finals, we have 20 matches left in the season. We can only afford another 6 losses for the season. If we do not make the finals a lot of head's will roll.

While the Blues are somewhat lacklustre at the moment, the likes of Buckley, Menzel, Bell and Ellard show some form and will be future stars of the game. I think maybe 12th this year and then the climb up the ladder. Injuries aside, I don't think they are a top eight team this year and likely won't be next year. Overall I think they are mediocre at best at this point in time and won't make the eight until 2016. I am a one-eyed blues supporter but I am also a realist.

While Cartlon keep losing - some pressure is relieved from Buckley I guess. Never been a fan though of appointing champion players as coaches at all costs, nor recycling old hack coaches. Malthouse had all the resources in the world for 10 years and won 1 premiership. Not that impressive so it surprises me little that he is not going to be the saviour of the blues. Buckley will be fine, but I don't think he is that good a coach so mediocrity for him I'm betting for his 5 year reign before he too gets the arse by Eddie.

Well, I reckon you should play Juddy as a permanant forward.. crikey.. WCE played him as full forward in an elimination final against Port in 2007 and he kicked 3 goals despite the fact he couldnt even walk.. only reason Port made the GF was Woosh dragged Cox at the 20 min mark of the 3rd quarter and the power kicked 3 guick goals to give them the lead. Not sure about the rest of them, Thomas is a decent player, not sure hes worth what hes being paid. Giibbs, hmm... why not play him of half forward? Kruezer.. most teams would be happy to have him. Waite is a f(*&ng backman masquarading as a forward, get him down back, play Kruezer CHF and Judd as FF. Fark I dont even like the Blues, but its not rocke science is it??

Judd on brownlow form? I highly doubt it. I expect he will show some patches but his best days are in the rearview.

Jorji - Just a couple of points - did you see the articles today discussin the fact that Kreuzer may yet have to have surgery on his foot? Still think is was dropped? And Sam Rowe was picked because he could play back - I don't think Casboult could have done that. Did you see Gibbs laid 6 tackles last night? It wasn't one of his best games but he did do the hard stuff. And Richmond got a quarter head start becuase of many things but the biggest was a 44% kicking efficiency - it puts a lot of pressure on your backs when you continually turn the ball over.

Johno - Buckley was also excellent and Bell was impressive as well and I wonder what more Nick Graham has to do after yet another 30 plus game in the VFL last week.

On the plus side - Yarran was very good last night, but he needs consistency week in week out. Lucas showed a bit when he came on (but fresh legs generally do that) and the kid Cripps (yet to play) has the makings of a very good mid fielder from all reports. Very different type to what they haev already, more in the mould of Barlow or Fyfe

It is just a tad too early to write Carlton off for 2014. It is a little too simplistic just to look at the wins and losses at this point, but if things do not start turning around quickly then we will have a disaster on our hands. Last night Carlton should have polished off Richmond pure and simple. They had ample opportunities to finish of the Tigers but just could not kick the ball straight. That is down to weak mental skills, freezing in the headlights of pressure. The 'generation y' syndrome in other words. No gen y wants to lead. Some handy hints to help Carlton win a few: # Jared Waite to NEVER, EVER kick a set shot for goal again. Have a Bryce Gibbs or Marc Murphy instructed to run alongside him to get the quick handball to then take the shot. Waite has psychological issues in front of goal. Not the ideal attribute for a key forward you would think. But Carlton has put a decade into him, no point turning around now. Geelong used the tactic a few years ago with Hawkins handballing to a better kick in front of goal which worked. # Ditto for Robbie Warnock. # With Carlton's bad kicking for goals, we must get the next batch of recruiters(the current lot will be let go as I understand it) to make a priority on recruiting players with the ability to kick as the game is 'football' not rugby where you do not need to know how to kick the ball. # Sam Rowe is out of his depth as a senior player. He is not young, being late 20s. He should not be on our list I am afraid. Levi Casboult needs to be brought in and persisted with. # Kruezer was not there because he was dropped. This should be his last season to get it together in my book, we are better off just getting a good workhorse than sticking with the injury prone Kruezer unfortunately. He is taking up more deserving players opportunities. By cutting him, we can trade in some other talent and save on the salary cap space. A BIG disapointment old Kruez. # Dylan Buckley's second ever league match. He will be a beauty and better than his daddy Jimmy. Mouth watering prospect, like a young Benny Cousins. Must have been a rare moment of lucidity by the recruiters to pick him up. # Troy Menzel will be a beauty also. Great disposal skills and speed. # Bryce Gibbs did his usual disapearing act. He just does not like the tags and unless he is getting easy, uncontested ball out of the back line struggles to get his own kicks. Not sure it would be a bad thing if he did in fact move back to S.A. after this season. If he has not figured out how to play consistently by now he never will. He is no longer a young up and comer. # Defensively, Carlton needs to get players to stick on their men and cut out all that free space we seem to give up. Richmond had a quarter head start on us, down to poor backmanship. # We have Judd to return soon and he will be fuming at what has been going on in his absense. Expect Judd to be on Brownlow form in 2014. If Carlton beats up Essendon next week, then we have a bunch of winnable matches after that. The Bluebags can get on an almighty roll.