Lake still on the shelf

[bornadog]

If Brian wants out would you stop him?

That's a different story, but of course that depends on whether things can be patched up or not.

If he wants out and there is no way he will play for us, then trade away.

[w3design]

If Lake's difficulties are 100% physical and completely the result of rotten luck and compounding injury then I would completely support keeping him.

If however they reflect unprofessionalism and a poor attitude, in a very tring period for our club, then I am not so sure we shouldn't be open to trading him.

And the implication of unprofessionalism isn't one being dreamed up by supporters, it has been quite pointedly put out there by Eade. Hard for us to know if it is unfair or not, but in the examples given re Grant, Libber etc, fans never had any reason to doubt that they were working their guts out to get back.

We read about how long it's taken for Hargrave to get back, for example, and no one feels anything but sympathy for the guy. Unfortunately with Brian the idea has been allowed to fester that there is a mindset issue AS WELL AS the undoubted physical one. Either the club is being unfair with its veiled hints about Brian being 'unable to play through pain' or Brian is indeed letting us and his team mates down.

[Mofra]

Of course you would prefer support but do you honestly think it would be any different if he was at another club? It would be exactly the same, if not worse. I'd rather him concentrate on proving dickheads like me wrong than trawling internet forums and worrying about what a few people have to say about him.

Doesn't say much for his character if that is in fact true Mofra.

Of course it makes a difference - the grass is always greener on the other side, and many people change jobs when unsatisfied with an employer when no guarantee exists that things will be better elsewhere. Human nature.

I'd expect if my confidants were hell bent on encouraging me to move on, that would exert some influence my decision.

[BulldogBelle]

If Lake says behind closed doors he doesnt want to be at the club, what would people think of a Lake for Dangerfield (plus a 1st round draft pick) trade

Saying this given the comments surrounding his lack of work ethic, his inability to play injured, getting away with things that other players wouldnt...

[the banker]

We have no clue what is going on which is fueling speculation.

Brians frame of mind is more secret than Abbottabad. Someone will leak something one day until then, we have no idea where he is at.

Brian could change all this with an interview....

[chef]

If Lake says behind closed doors he doesnt want to be at the club, what would people think of a Lake for Dangerfield (plus a 1st round draft pick) trade

Saying this given the comments surrounding his lack of work ethic, his inability to play injured, getting away with things that other players wouldnt...

He's not worth that much. Maybe a swap for a Dangerfield or a Vince, but we would probably have to add a pick somewhere(plus I don't know if he would want to go back to SA).

TBH the only clubs which would be interested IMO would be Saints, Hawks or Blues. Clubs in their premiership windows and in need of a FB.

I hope we do hang onto him and play him at FF next season.

[G-Mo77]

Of course it makes a difference - the grass is always greener on the other side, and many people change jobs when unsatisfied with an employer when no guarantee exists that things will be better elsewhere. Human nature.

I'd expect if my confidants were hell bent on encouraging me to move on, that would exert some influence my decision.

Let's see how greener they are at Carlton then, who would be a suitor. I'm sure if he starts to struggle there the fans will be ultra supportive.

If Lake has issues with internet fans and that is helping him make his decision to leave then goodbye, I'd prefer a player with much thicker skin.

That's just the way I see it mate. Don't take it as me shooting the messenger, I appreciate the info.

[Maddog37]

So you would rather a lesser player than Lake as long as he is thick skinned? Your comments are smelly.

[LostDoggy]

If Lake's difficulties are 100% physical and completely the result of rotten luck and compounding injury then I would completely support keeping him.

If however they reflect unprofessionalism and a poor attitude, in a very tring period for our club, then I am not so sure we shouldn't be open to trading him.

And the implication of unprofessionalism isn't one being dreamed up by supporters, it has been quite pointedly put out there by Eade. Hard for us to know if it is unfair or not, but in the examples given re Grant, Libber etc, fans never had any reason to doubt that they were working their guts out to get back.

We read about how long it's taken for Hargrave to get back, for example, and no one feels anything but sympathy for the guy. Unfortunately with Brian the idea has been allowed to fester that there is a mindset issue AS WELL AS the undoubted physical one. Either the club is being unfair with its veiled hints about Brian being 'unable to play through pain' or Brian is indeed letting us and his team mates down.

Agree with you Remember54 - this is a very balanced view. I would hope that this is not about unprofessionalism, but rather just a very difficult number of injuries to try and recover from. It's so difficult when you keep being fed different information via the media to know what is exactly going on. Brian has been incredibly silent throughout all this - surely if it is a very physical issue, it would be much better PR for him to come out and be interviewed so we can at least try and understand just what he is going through. The silence doesn't do him any favours at all, IMO.

[LostDoggy]

yes I would turn it down, AA fullbacks don't grow on trees.

Agree with this.
It's one thing to trade him for something decent. But He is one of the best full backs of the last few years. How do you cover that? Even if someone threw up a awesome midfielder then that doesn't help the dogs one bit. Teams have shown you need solid key position players across the field to have success. Look at the Coll/Gee teams of recient times.
I guess a decision has to be made where "is he well and truely past it?" if so get who ever you can while he still had a little value. But if he can go around for a few more and wants to stay then you have to hang on to that.

[LostDoggy]

I want Lake to stay.
But if he doesn't want to stay he will never be right, one way or the other.
It's just so hard when you hear all these different snippets of info.
I wish he and the club would just be straight, but I guess if they are trying to work through relationship issues that may do more harm than good.
The problem is we don't really know what the problem is.