Don't sack Buckley

[Clifton Hill-Billy]

Well played messers Lazza, PnC, Jackcass and Flashman, this thread might actually get to over 50 pages...... I stand corrected, to quote a Robert Palmer tangent that was simply irresistible!

[jackcass]

[SuperSwede]

We all are – I guess – Collingwood supporters and as such we are surely disappointed, frustrated or what have you at our lack of on-field success. And we give voice to our disappointment in many different ways.
But I cannot – from the other side of the world - help but make a few observations regarding the discussions regarding our beloved – or not so beloved – coach.
1. It seems to me that more or less the same kinds of things were being said back in 2004 and 2005 when we almost picked up the wooden spoon. Remember ‘mediocre Mick’ anybody? He never had a plan B, he was constantly outcoached, he always played his favourites in lieu of other players more fancied by people on Nick’s etc. We simply had to get rid of him. And oh by the way he ultimately coached us to a premiership.
2. Of course the media are laying into us, so some argue that criticism is not just limited to a few posters on Nick’s. Well what the hell do you expect? The media’s job is to serve up stuff that people will watch or read. We probably enjoy reading nice stories about success, but we love much more to read about other people’s failures. Isn’t there a thread called ‘laugh at Carlscum’ where we gloat over Carlton’s misfortunes. It is human nature (unfortunately). Particularly when expectations are not met. There was an article in the Age prior to the start of the season labelled ‘Are the Pies building a powerhouse?’ Of course after our last game the media are having a field day.
3. Some are arguing that Buckley took over a champion team or premiership team. My observation is thus: In 2011 just before Buckley took over this champion team had only just scrambled into the GF which they in turn lost by 38 points, having at one stage led by 18 points. And this was to a team which we played three times that season for 3 losses. My own take has to be that come finals 2011 we were a top 4 team but probably no more than that. And this is where we ended up in 2012. We have gone downhill since then for sure, but not from a premiership position. And in a sense I believe that this was inevitable. With the players we have let go from the 2010 team few if any have enjoyed distinguished careers at other clubs. Heater being the noteable exception. Some other players were simply past their best and no other clubs have shown any interest.
4. Nathan Buckley as a player was probably one of the best ever to pull on the black and white. He holds the somewhat rare distinction of being awarded the Norm Smith medal whilst playing in the losing side in a GF. I for one cannot for one minute doubt his passion for or commitment to the club, which was shown on that day, individual accolades meant little whilst the team lost. This does of course not guarantee any success as a coach. However I do believe that those who refer to him as a spud, a clown, an idiot etc. are only demonstrating what low-class individuals they themselves are. Surely Nathan Buckley as an individual deserves a measure of respect.

For my own part the jury is still out on Nathan Buckley as a coach. Whilst I admire him as a person and feel a sense of confidence when listening to him, there are things which leave me wondering. I desperately wish for success under his regime, I fear it may not happen. To all those who wish him gone I can only say that in almost every football code around the world it is the coach who has to carry the can when things don’t go right. Fair or not, this is the way it is, and it will no doubt happen here as well if success continues to elude us.

[AnthonyC]

Well said SuperSwede.

To those that know it all. Pfft what would Pendles know.

http://video.heraldsun.com.au/v/453602/Pendlebury-roasts-cold-Pies

[Lazza]

[jackcass]

[HAL]

That Robert is an interesting guy.

[jackcass]

[Lazza]

[Bob Sugar]

[RudeBoy]

I'm standing by Bucks. We have a lot of young and new players who will only get better throughout this season. Naturally I'm disappointed we have not performed as well as expected. Clearly, the club, and probably the players (I know I did), got a bit ahead of themselves, and we are now experiencing a reality check.

Perhaps our biggest problem is our structure, particularly up forward. For most of the past decade, we have built our forward line around Cloke. It's time to give up on him and look elsewhere. A combination of Cox, Crocker, Moore, Fasolo, Broomhead and hopefully eventually Elliott should be our new template.

We can obviously still turn this season around and make the 8, but in all honesty, that's not so important - after all, we were never going to win the flag this year. However, if we can continue to develop Grundy, De Goey, Moore, Treloar, Broomhead, Cox, Aish, and possibly even Wills, Sier, Crocker and Phillips, then we may yet be in a great position to actually contend for a Premiership in 2017-18.

The "perceptive fellow" will obviously start moaning that we're always developing and never delivering, and there may be some truth to that, but the fact is that building a Premiership team is an inexact science, and predictions of future performance rarely turn out as expected. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to develop a team and sometimes it comes on more quickly. At the end of the day, we have to be realists and admit that right now, we have too many players on our list who have enormous potential, but are yet to fully deliver. I think Bucks is the right man to develop these players and you've only got to listen to players like Treloar talk about how they love playing for him, to know the players are on-side with the coach.

Go Bucks and go Pies!

[Lazza]

[CarringbushCigar]

Sack him now - Burnsy deserves a shot at it

FIGJAM is cooked - completely lost whatever plot he thought he had

[What'sinaname]

[jackcass]