Ratten will be here next year: Gibbs
Midfielder Bryce Gibbs says Brett Ratten will still be coaching the Blues in 2013
FROM early-season premiership favourites to a mid-year rabble, the pressure's on everyone at Carlton, but Bryce Gibbs believes coach Brett Ratten will still be at the helm in 2013.
Six losses in seven games have sent the Blues plummeting to 10th on the ladder and speculation climbing over Ratten's future, particularly with talk of Collingwood premiership coach Mick Malthouse being linked to the club.
But Gibbs, whose fill-in role in defence has typified Carlton's injury-hit year, says the players are not fussed by the rumours.
"Obviously there's a bit of talk and speculation ... internally we don't talk about it too much," Gibbs told reporters on Monday.
"It's nothing we really need to worry about.
"It's not just the coach's fault, it's the players' fault as well and we're all in this together. We're all taking responsibility for how we're going.
"We're all holding each other accountable for our losses.
"I've no doubt he'll be here next year. It's not Brett's coaching that's made us have losses in the last couple of weeks, it's probably a combination of things.
"Brett's been fantastic."
Gibbs admits Friday's match against ladder leaders Collingwood will be a "tough night" but the Blues will take some confidence out of their 10-goal hammering of the Magpies in round three.
Since then, though, Collingwood has won 10 straight and Carlton has won three.
With Jarrad Waite and Marc Murphy close to returning from injury and defenders Nick Duigan and Jordan Russell also coming good, Gibbs believes the Blues can turn their form around and he can return from defence to the midfield.
Given the target at the start of the year by Ratten to become an elite midfielder, Gibbs admits he's disappointed with his personal season and frustrated he's not been able to spend much time in the engine-room.
"I set myself for a big year in the midfield but with a few injuries I found myself down back for the first half of the year," he said.
"Hopefully I can get back to the midfield in the second half of the year and hopefully play some good games."
