2018 Rd 11: Post Game Pragmatism: Carlton vs Sydney

[Thryleon]

Bolton is unproven as a tactical coach especially in the heat of the game, while I agree there is the issue of development vs winning I think he struggles to pick up the flow of games and has trouble working our matchups and what other teams are doing. We have had some very odd selections v some teams and he seems thrown when another coach pulls a shock move like a midfielder to full forward. I know he has limited resources to work with but when you see key opposition players  unmanned  and allowed to run around freely you have to wonder what he is doing. I'm waiting for the Brisbane game where there are some obvious players that need manning up tightly, its a game we can win but not if the likes of Zorko and Beams are allowed to run around on their own which is what usually happens....

The Gold Coast game flies in the face of that somewhat.

His tactics can be unusual, but I actually think its a matter of trying something that isn't working, rather than not doing something to counter it, as he does make in game changes which seem to be ineffective because of various factors, which usually have to do with robbing peter to pay paul.

The absence of Docherty and Marchbank i think are weighing heavily on our ability to make bonafide changes to how we play, as is the absence of Matt Kennedy.

The reinvention of Jones as a key defender, and JSOS to the midfield have worked well, and Ive seen Matt Wright pushing into midfield more of late through a lack of other options.

I think his lack of matchup in your instances of Beams and Zorko has more to do with him stating that we want to win rather than not get smashed.

At the moment we are choosing between those two options.

Friday night showed that no Cripps at full flight is no great drama which is a big tick to Bolton.