So there we o folks, we have the team to make the 8, we have the players to make the 8. We have NO EXCUSES not to make the 8 now.......we can do it, we can do it all night long.... 
Off with you pessimist's........or fence sitters!
this is where people have it wrong. we have never been a monty to make the 8 and wont be again next yr either.
for me the most disappointing thing this yr has been development of players going on hold in a way. this yr was always about development first. winning games second imo.
rome was not built in a day it was always going to take more than 3 drafts to rebuild the list and thats what we have done apart from a handful. and it was always going to take more than 3 yrs to get enough games and experience into so many young players. it was always going to take more than 3 drafts to find enough quality as well. our depth was always going to be a problem you dont build good depth almost from scratch in 3 drafts i suppose its called being realistic.
besides who knows while i dont think it likely finals are still a real possibility this yr because of the draw and the current health of the list.
just my opinion and i think most peoples. this yr we didnt really have to win a lot of games to actually improve. make no mistake we have improved even if we only end up with 10 wins.
while i think finals this yr would be great for our kids and probably more for our supporters, not making them could be a blessing in disguise.
dont make them and the work that needs to be done is emphasised rather than possibly glossed over if we do get there.
lets be realistic even 2013 may not be a finals yr because we have to do the work and get enough games and experience and development into our 22 yo and unders.
we desperately need to build depth i would argue our bottom 6 in the 22 drop away far too much from what is required. yet alone have 6 outside the 22 who can come in and we lose little.
imo we all forget including me that talls are a work in progress and take time. in the scheme of things astbury griffiths elton browne grimes even vickery and post to a lesser degree are still babies.
its an oft said thing, and i know people dont want to hear it but time and patience are our friends today not our enemies. go thru the right processes and we in the main are, in time with a little patience we will get there. it was never likely it would be this yr it will be a real bonus if we do.
