Is it time for Pagen to go?

Question

enough is enough

the blues are just as bad now as 3 years ago

Answer 1

Well we all know now that he has gone, but I think Dennis Pagan just happened to be the poor soul who took over the club at the end of 2002. I dont think it is entirely Pagans fault that the club is where it is, but the coach is always a contributing factor.

Whoever took over the club at the end of 2002 was always going to end up in this situation. The former president and worlds biggest hypocrite John Elliott (accuses Essendon of cheating them out of a flag when he was rorting the cap hardcore!) left the team in a position that could have seen them end up like Fitzroy.

Take a look at what Pagan walked into - A club that had just won its first ever wooden spoon, finished the season with its most embarrasing loss to Collingwood, had been found to be rorting the salary cap in a major way, fined millions of dollars and stripped of crucial draft picks because of this. That meant the club had no money to work with and were in debt, and they were not able to access the pool of young talent coming through for 2 years. Just think - Carlton should have had the 1st pick in the 2002 draft, and Brendan Goddard could have been in a Blues Jumper.

You also need to look at the players. There are a number of talented players that have been there for a while - Fevola, Whitnall, Houlihan, Stevens, Walker, Carazzo, Simpson, Thornton - yet they seem to be unable to deliver. Houlihan is perhaps the worst offender, as he always seem to shy away from the hard contact work and tries too hard to look pretty instead of being effective. Fevola can be a superstar if he can keep his attitude and ego in check.

Answer 2

Gone as of today anyway mate!

Answer 3

I am guessing this is Austrailian sh*t, well it's all about America!!!

I from the same state and Country as Paris Jealous!!!!!!!!!?

Answer 4

Hi,

I really think it is his time to go. He had his time to shine and it just didnt work out . Today i watched the blues play and it was not impressive. You can tell that they need a new fresh coach that can give them a good start for next years season.

:)

Answer 5

HI MATE,yep its time for Mr Pagan to GO!, today's game made me cringe-i thought we were past the sort of rubbish the blues dished up at the gabba but obviously not,I think we should tank the rest of the season and take the priority pick next year but in saying that they could try and put up a little fight.

Next year id also aim the cross hairs at some of the players as well,the coach can only do so much he can't physically kick the goals for the team-get rid of Lance Whittenall,houlihan,blackwell,bannister,... fev (if he doesn't pull his head out)and start recruiting some athletic 6,3 type midfielders and a decent ruckman.

the blue boys can sometimes make my blood boil,sooner or later we'll turn the corner-i just hope its sooner.

Answer 6

I disagree, Pagan is not the problem, its the lack of personnel down back.. it takes time to develop a young list, and there are signs that Pagan is achieving even though their ladder position would suggest otherwise... when they link up ands use their legs speed, they're one of the more exciting young teams to watch... their "points for" prove that (I think they were 3rd behind Geelong and the Bulldogs before this round) but they have the worst points against of any team i've seen in a long time, and that's why they're losing games... The don't have a Silvagni, or a McKay, or a Christou, or a Sexton or a Bruce Doull... they have 2nd stringers trying to play key positions and that never works, least of all down back.

That's all that's lacking though to be perfectly honest. They have a decent midfield that will only get better with games experience, they have a very potent forward combination, they have old heads and young legs, thier ruckmen in Ackland, Maclaren, (and Kennedy & O'Halipn in a pinch) are better than this year would suggest. What they need is a better defensive strategy and more defensive pressure and they wouldn't be such a badly placed team

So NO its not time for Pagan to go...

They don't need another coach, they need a BACKLINE... all they need is a couple of solid defenders to stop 4-5 goals against per game... do the math, that's 480-580 extra points so far this season... throw them in with the potent forward line and the developing midfield and suddenly thier percentage AND thier win/loss ratio doesn't seem so bad.

P.S. BIG fan of Marc Murphy... he's welcome back up north anytime.

Answer 7

Nah I think teams have got to start blaming the players and the strategies rather than taking the easy way ut and blaming coaches. The coach tells players how to play but its the players who have to play. The successful teams work for each other off the ball and on. West coast and sydney are good examples, they block and sheperd and do all they can for their team mates. Blaming pagen aint gonna improve the blues it just puts pressure on his career. The blues probably need a new aproach not coach.