Round and round the Mulberry Bush

[Cannibal]

The Carlton win was a big win and it almost instantly changed the atmosphere on this BB. We've lost two games by one kick and yet have been putting in the endeavour. It will be rewarded. However, it's not going to stop some people ftom taking a pessimistic view of anything that happens. That's their way, their attitude. I'm a positive person, realistic, but positive. I have no truck with the doom 'n gloom merchants. Whilst not being happy with the lack of premierships, I don't look for everything to be turned around in five seconds flat or even five years. I'm a patient man, too. I don't care if it takes another year or two before we're in a position to win another one. When that time comes, I'll be there.

What happened to this club in 1999 and before is all water under the bridge to me. I disagree with those who argue that the lack of premierships means we haven't learned anything from the past. I am in no doubt whatsoever that Eddie McGuire, the Board, Mick Malthouse, the players, Greg Swann and everyone else who works for the club in whatever capacity wants to succeed, to win another premiership. Mick was correct when he told the players before the 2002 Grand Final to give it everything they had because it is just so difficult to even make a GF and to have a chance to win one and because they might never play in another one. That's pure realism. However, we did make another one the following year and botched it, despite us clearly being the best side in the league in the second half of the year. So what? That's all water under the bridge now, too. I have no doubt everyone connected with the club felt it just as badly as we supporters did, probably even more so, since they were closer to it than we were. Mick made some list management decisions as a result of it and they were clearly made in order to try to regroup and get another shot a flag but with a better chance of winning it.

Anyone who reads my posts knows damn well there's a great many things about Mick and the way he goes about his job that I don't like. But I don't think for even a nano-second that he's not trying to win a flag. Even late last season, when we were struggling, but retained a minute mathematical chance of making the finals, I kept hoping that things would work out for us to get us there. It wasn't to be and I wasn't happy then either. But I refuse to succumb to thinking it's a disaster if we don't make the finals. A real disaster is the Indonesian tsunami or the earthquake in Turkey a few years back or even the West Gate Bridge collapsing. Even though these might be natural disasters, or man-made, authorities everywhere try to learn from them and to do better the next time. I cannot imagine that the Collingwood football club and anyone connected with it thinks any differently.

Following Collingwood can certainly be a burden sometimes, but it takes an opposition supporter of rather poor self-esteem to think there's something good in Collingwood being beaten or losing Grand Finals, and I take great pleasure in thinking that they must be morons to take any satisfaction from it. I'm pretty sure anyone connected with the club feels that burden, too. It is worse, Cam, when the negativity comes from our own, but, again, I'm not going to let it get me down, no matter what they say. I think the serial pessimists are wrong but, as far as I'm concerned, that's their problem, Cam, so I urge you to not let it get you down either.

To finish, it might do everyone the world of good to remember these words:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Rudyard Kipling


Let's act like adults, eh?

[Morrigu]

That Cannibal is one of the most articulate and relevant posts I have ever read

[Clokey]

I would rather be over postive than over negative.

[Clokey]

Same here.

[burnsy17]

We buy our memberships because deep down we love the club. We all love the club.

This is a place to vent. Geez, when you love something so much, you're bound to hurt, and hurt bad, when it lets you down.

I'd say 90% of these threads are steam being let off.

I'm the first to admit, i cane Williams, shaw and co. to the shithouse, but im also the first to jump up and down in the stands hugging my cousin like 2 little excited kiddies when rhyce snaps 'that' goal through against Carlscum or Burns banana's a goal through on the run against the afforementioned scum.

Truth is, deep down, we love every single bloke on our list. We just wont all admit it as at times (and for some players, most times) we are embarrassed by them.

The reason we love them? They cruise around in black and white verticle stripes... and that my friends, is plenty of reason if you ask me.

So Cam, you're right. Alot of hating goes on in the forum, but in all honesty, arent you glad its here? We need to vent, because after the venting, the love is back.

As much as i tear strips off each and every player, i know i love them... and i dare say same goes for most posters...

[Johnson#26]

[perthmagpie]

Here here Cam. I'm sick of the negative crap too. The criticism is mostly unfair and unconstructive. Alot of it stinks. I'll keep sticking up for the players when they are unfairly maligned. We could double the optimists on here and halve the pessimists and it'd be a much better place. Granted, its still fun at times.

[35forever]

Excellent work Cannibal! I must admit I never thought to hear Kipling quoted on a Collingwood website, but hey, keep it up!

My problem with the "realists" is just that; they consider that they are being realistic when they insist that the season is over because we've lost three from four. Sure it's bad, but nowhere near as bad as last years 3 from 4 (despite that being an oxymoron, I think most people know what I mean). We have played some excellent football, and lost to two sides who are already being touted as the seasons 'big improvers' by a kick or less. In both cases we were bloody unlucky, particluarly on Friday night when two 'umpire goals' and the loss of the guy who was easily best on ground in the first quarter changed the game, yet we still damn near won it. We had a shot, we missed. Last time Taz had that shot we won. (Which does NOT imply that it was Chris's fault, we wouldn't have been in position to win with that kick without the fantastic game he played).

If we beat Essendon we are right back in it. Recent history shows that the whole team lifts if we win Anzac. With that lift, I would bet on us to beat StKilda. If we do that we're in exactly the same position as 2003. Of course that doesn't mean we'll make the top four, or even play finals, but if we look at the WAY we've been playing, rather than just the results, we have every reason to be optimistic.

That doesn't make optimism mandatory, but it certainly makes insulting those who believe we are still a chance look kinda petty. Okay, maybe we wont win another game without Big Anthony, but it's possible! There certainly is nothing to suggest that those who see nothing but losses ahead are the realists. Surely there would be general agreement that we have performed better than last year at this point? Last year we missed playing finals by a couple of games.

I think Cam's point may be something along the lines I've been thinking about, ie: with all the discussion of Friday night, why have I not read a word about Taz's mark of the year? It was an absolute pi$$er!!! And what about his chase down & tackle? That was among the best things I've seen this year. Sure we must have different views about the myriad aspects of the game, but moments like that must lift the spirits of anyone with a black & white bone in their body.

I dont think there are that many sycophants here who think every single thing we do is right; each of us has our greivances, for me it's kicking & the lack of specialist coaches & extra kicking practice. Disagree by all means, but the few who can see NOTHING positive at all are just a spiritual drain on the rest of us. Is it impossible for those one or two to offer something positive once in a while, or, if they can see no positives, at least offer some practical suggestions for improvement besides dropping & sacking people?

Lighten up, and everybody, please find an alternative to personal abuse of each other & of Collingwood players. Rip into Matthew Lloyd by all means, he's a cheating mongrel who should be banned from the game, but leave our boys alone. No, you don't have to say that they're all perfect, they are far from it (except Bucks), but keep the criticism decent. To come here seeking consolation after a loss which destroyed my whole weekend only to find vile, abusive attacks on the guys is bloody heartbreaking.

[Lazza]

I'm also a realist. The problem I have always had with optimists is that they tend to minimise or deny problems and set up unrealistic expectations around the club. To me all this does is to set them up for failure. There are few here seemingly untouched by the real world as a child asleep. The pessimists see the difficulty at every opportunity. The optimist thinks this is the best of all worlds. The pessimist fears it is true.

Reality isn't the way you wish things to be, nor the way they appear to be, but the way they actually are. Everyone has the right to believe and accept what he or she wants, but reality doesn't discriminate. Reality is not different for different people. Not once has reality excused anyone for good intentions ignorance or stubbornness. Reality shows no mercy, accepts no excuses, and issues no pardons. Reality does not "turn the other cheek." This does not mean that reality is cruel, it just means that reality is.

The one common feature here is that we all love the Collingwood Football Club. We all want the very best and we all want it NOW! Unfortunately, however good and pure our intentions are, we have to accept that the club is struggling with form and injuries at the moment and after 4 rounds, we have won only one game.
However frustrating it is, if you can't solve it, it's not a problem--it's reality.

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

This thread is so funny!!!

[The Phantom]

Cam speaks a lot of truth. The "my dad's better than your dad" discussions of players, potential inclusions & who should coach us make for reading as mediocre as some say our team is.

The problem is bigger than this board. It's a reflection of what happens in the stands at the game. In round one I had a Magpie supporter bleating like a Richmond fan behind me. Her ability to dig deep for criticisms was amazing (I pity her husband).

OK, so it's time to do something positive about it & have an intelligent discussion on this board. I'm going to start a post about what we supporters think the game plan is & try to understand how our coach is trying to get us to play.

Fingers crossed.

[35forever]

[Cannibal]

[Lazza]

35forever, I have no problems agreeing that we have been damn unlucky, anyone who says otherwise is way off the mark but to say that we have played some very good football at times is to admit that at other times, our football has been bloody awful (like the second half of the first game against the Bulldogs). They are also part of the reality that we are 1-3 at the moment.

[dalyc]

Frustration can do funny things to people Cam. Me, I've backed the Pies to win the flag at 85-1 this week.

Who knows what can happen ! This is a weird season !