Phil Vickery slams fair weather fans
Discussion
So....
I have time for Phil normally as he really does put heart and soul into his play, but I read this piece with incredulity(??) - he seems to feel it is out of order for fans to be booing a team that has shown a downward sprial over the last two years, both in terms of results but more importantly in terms of basic play.
He says "we're working hard" etc etc, but if so WHEREE ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PITCH? Why are we seeing the same BASIC errors in play, the continuing lack of penetration (a probelm even during the last world cup) and more importantly precision in attacking play, the low quality of handling etc etc?
I understand the need for team solidarity etc, but it sounds a little bit like they should be looking a bit harder at their own issues and effort, rather than be criticising the crowd FFS!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby
I have time for Phil normally as he really does put heart and soul into his play, but I read this piece with incredulity(??) - he seems to feel it is out of order for fans to be booing a team that has shown a downward sprial over the last two years, both in terms of results but more importantly in terms of basic play.
He says "we're working hard" etc etc, but if so WHEREE ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PITCH? Why are we seeing the same BASIC errors in play, the continuing lack of penetration (a probelm even during the last world cup) and more importantly precision in attacking play, the low quality of handling etc etc?
I understand the need for team solidarity etc, but it sounds a little bit like they should be looking a bit harder at their own issues and effort, rather than be criticising the crowd FFS!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby
Who is he trying to kid?..... "No lack of effort" he must have been in a different game to the one at Twickenham.What a miserable display it was on Saturday, no vision,no invention.It's time Mr A Robinson handed in his notice.Unfortunately it's too late for the WC next year so we must get someone who has the cahonies to start afresh and set their sights on 2011.
Sorry, Phil, but you're out of order. I have NEVER seen the England spectators walk out before. The performance was dire at almost every level. Most damning was Andy Robinson's casual acceptance that "we tired in the last half hour" - well three years ago a bunch of OAPs dominated Australia for nearly two hours. That such an issue should even arise, never mind be accepted, shows how far the system has failed.
All the lessons from the Woodward era have been forgotten
- The coaching structure must be revised. Not just the coach, but the entire management - what exactly does Rob Andrew do?
- The RFU, and the Premiership Clubs must commit to the changes necessary to deliver trained, acclimatised, and fit players.
- The players need to shape up or ship out.
We'll see by the end of this week whether England will be ready for the World Cup. One announcement that covers all the above, and there's hope. Anything less (such as just sacking Robinson), and we're doomed.
In the meantime, where can I get a green shirt?
All the lessons from the Woodward era have been forgotten
- The coaching structure must be revised. Not just the coach, but the entire management - what exactly does Rob Andrew do?
- The RFU, and the Premiership Clubs must commit to the changes necessary to deliver trained, acclimatised, and fit players.
- The players need to shape up or ship out.
We'll see by the end of this week whether England will be ready for the World Cup. One announcement that covers all the above, and there's hope. Anything less (such as just sacking Robinson), and we're doomed.
In the meantime, where can I get a green shirt?
As a Welshman I thought I would cross the divide and offer my wise words for the England RFU guys on here....
I wouldn't worry too much about your lack of performance, every team goes through a building period and unfortunately for you guys it is leading up the WC07. Look at Wales, our rebuilding lasted from 1978 - 2003. England has a large enough player base to get over this downward spiral, by the next WC you should be back on track. I don't like all this booing of the players, we on this side of Offa's dyke turned up through thick and thin from losing to Romania to winning the 6 Nations.
On another note...How does a nation the size of NZ produce soooooo many top class players? They could put out 4 international teams and they would hog the world rankings. Then there is the U21s, junior All blacks and mouri!!! Serious strength in depth.
What gives them such a winning mentality? Country founded on tough Scottish frontiersmen and Polynesian warriors probably!
I wouldn't worry too much about your lack of performance, every team goes through a building period and unfortunately for you guys it is leading up the WC07. Look at Wales, our rebuilding lasted from 1978 - 2003. England has a large enough player base to get over this downward spiral, by the next WC you should be back on track. I don't like all this booing of the players, we on this side of Offa's dyke turned up through thick and thin from losing to Romania to winning the 6 Nations.
On another note...How does a nation the size of NZ produce soooooo many top class players? They could put out 4 international teams and they would hog the world rankings. Then there is the U21s, junior All blacks and mouri!!! Serious strength in depth.
What gives them such a winning mentality? Country founded on tough Scottish frontiersmen and Polynesian warriors probably!
disco1 said:
...
On another note...How does a nation the size of NZ produce soooooo many top class players? They could put out 4 international teams and they would hog the world rankings. Then there is the U21s, junior All blacks and mouri!!! Serious strength in depth.
What gives them such a winning mentality? Country founded on tough Scottish frontiersmen and Polynesian warriors probably!
On another note...How does a nation the size of NZ produce soooooo many top class players? They could put out 4 international teams and they would hog the world rankings. Then there is the U21s, junior All blacks and mouri!!! Serious strength in depth.
What gives them such a winning mentality? Country founded on tough Scottish frontiersmen and Polynesian warriors probably!
If compared to Britain:
1. Proper attitude to competitive sports from a young age (whereas in UK socialism and its consequences have virtually eliminated decent sport from the majority of schools especially at a young age).
2. No Common Agricultural Policy makes the kind of food that builds man mountains fairly affordable in NZ (and AUS and SA) and the children grow up on it. Here we have turkey twizzlers.
Our pool of players just simply aren't largely from tough enough stock and problem is compunded by injuries caused by said lack of resilience (our guys are tough but seem to not be tough enough in the face of the all-blacks -look how we won the world cup - thru doggedness, persistence and playing the game to its fullest).
3. Our professional sportsmen get distracted too much by sponsorship and media activities (Jonny Wilkinson trying to teach David doh-Bekkam how to kick a rugby ball).
4. Endless politics and squabbling between the RFU, the Premiership and the clubs. Although it probably goes on down under I bet no top-flight NZ club would dare to be seen to be undermining the national squad in any way - here the Premiership sides wish that Enlgand played two games a year six months apart, preferably with a second string side.
Ok massive generalisations and a fair bit of politics but that's hehat i think.
I can remember an interview with Colin Meads who basically said something along the lines of..
"when we were handed the black jersey we asked oursleves if we are good enough to wear it?"
Basically the fear of letting their nation down made them the best (this along with being hard as nails). Other nations and their players seem to think they earned the right to play.
"when we were handed the black jersey we asked oursleves if we are good enough to wear it?"
Basically the fear of letting their nation down made them the best (this along with being hard as nails). Other nations and their players seem to think they earned the right to play.
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