On Tue, 14 Sep 1999 10:23:07 +0100, Steve Bloomer
Quote:
>>>Was a bit concerned with Stuart Barnes slating of***erill in todays
>>>Telegraph!! He basically said that he was slow and tired!!
>>I'm never concerned about anything Barnes says, Andrew. He sells copy
>>and likes stirring with a big stick. Also he favours Greening, and
>>isn't entirely objective with things concerning Leicester and their
>>players.
> Well I'm not a Barnes fan..but***erell has lost a lot of form.The man
>has clocked up a lot of games in the last couple of seasons and just at
>the wrong time his throwing arm has deserted him.I think thats put him
>off his game ..cos he looks serious round the park instead of the
>showboating wind-up merchant.
I think he got married recently, which could explain the body language
:-).
Quote:
> I'm not convinced of Greenings scrummaging or mauling skills..but he's
>throwing well (for the moment) so I'd be tempted to go with him.
It's hard to say what the form of any of the front row is at the
moment. I agree***erill isn't throwing in as well as he usually
does, but it is only one job of a *** as you say. Still, it is all
in the hands of Woodward now. I expect both will get on the park. Or
maybe McCarthy of course? :-). Actually, I think McCarthy is an
excellent player for Woodward's presumed gameplan - more mobile than
***erill and a better work rate in the tight than Greening.
Quote:
>>I'm not sure that anyone understands what Woodward is doing with the
>>tight five. If they do, please let us into the secret.
> Now John you calmed me when I last posted that Englands preparations
>were in disarray..and now you say this !
> I guess this is Woodwards philosphy of having a squad of great
>instinctive footballers that can be mixed and matched at will.Most of it
>looks like arseing about to me..time will tell.
Dick Best was quoted in an article in The Times today, applauding
Woodward. Best is very keen on mind games too of course:
"Clive knows what he's doing and he has played an extremely clever
psychological game," Best said. "He's got all the players in the palm
of his hand because any one of them could be in the team, and they
rely on him for that opportunity. He's built a hugely competitive
squad in which the players are all working as hard as possible as they
vie for position. Clive has been extremely clever - he has played a
long-term game."
<Sniff>
As you say, time will tell.
Make what you will of the side to play on Saturday:
M Perry (Bath); D Luger (Saracens), W Greenwood (Leicester), P de
Glanville (Bath), A Healey (Leicester); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M
Dawson (Northampton); J Leonard (Harlequins), R***erill (Leicester),
P Vickery (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), D Grewcock
(Saracens), R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester), L Dallaglio
(Wasps).
Replacements: D Rees (Bristol), M Catt (Bath), P Grayson
(Northampton), M Corry (Leicester), V Ubogu (Bath), D Garforth
(Leicester), P Greening (Sale).
All the best
John Williams.