Rumours from HQ that Andy Robinson has 'left the building'

Good. Nice guy but...

Hear Martin Johnson is being lined up. Why?

Bring in Gatland.

Jamie

Gatland is an excellent coach. I am a Wasps fan and he did a fantastic job for us.
Would the stuffed shirts go foreign though? I don't think so.

Mark

Seems he is heading out (but still not confirmed)
here

diccus

quote:

I am a Wasps fan and he did a fantastic job for us.

Makes two of us then!

Been nice having had a bit of a Chelsea thing going with mind boggling success at what was a nice, almost there but inconsistent, team. For a few years at least. Had to give others a go last season though right..?

In fact, I've had a few good years over the turn of the Century, Nineties/Noughties period what with Chelsea, Wasps and Surrey (although Surrey have recently been trying to be the Eighties Chelsea, with relegation and all...).

Kind of miss expecting to just miss out on the honours with all 3 though. You get used to it over time and were rarely disappointed. Bit like the "Why are we so crap at sport" thread I suppose. Expectations have changed with a bit of success.

I've not heard Radio Five express such an aggressive message to date - a greater invitation to leave the position could not be offered.

Something is clearly not working in the England camp and it must now be incumbant upon the authorities to take action - I suspect the last chance saloon is now closed.

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
Jamie

Gatland is an excellent coach. I am a Wasps fan and he did a fantastic job for us.
Would the stuffed shirts go foreign though? I don't think so.

Mark

Wasps fan eh, I remember watching Daniel Cipriani at an England under 16's training camp quite a few years back, he really did shine through. Even then at a young age he was a player with much flare - Great passer and kicker (both feet) if I remember correctly, but what an arrogant little bastard.

I remember thinking that I would not be suprised at all if he were to play for England seniors one day, looks like I might not be wrong. One thing though, he needs to be a bit more brave on the tackling aspect.

Right Wing

Yes he is an excellent player who may play for England one day and you are right about his tackling.

We also have another youngster who may get a call up from the (new) England coach soon..... a certain Mr Dallaglio!

The old Wasps ground is literally a stones throw from where I live and I used to go and watch on a Saturday. Then they merged with my football team, QPR and Loftus Rd was like a second home.

Now the 'London' Wasps live in High Wycombe and I haven't been since they moved.

Mark

Maybe by then Andy faz might be in the england line up.

Would be interesting to see anyway . .

quote:

Originally posted by Right Wing:
Maybe by then Andy faz might be in the england line up.

Would be interesting to see anyway . .

Well I would love to see that! But I think a) we have left it too late in his career and b) the union boys cannot figure out his best position.

But I agree. He was a fantastic player in league and played for my league team, Wigan (my grandmother would spin in her grave being a Cottingham lass and all my family on that side being either Hull or HKR back in the day).

But his sort of skill levels are what we need.

Regards

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
The old Wasps ground is literally a stones throw from where I live and I used to go and watch on a Saturday. Then they merged with my football team, QPR and Loftus Rd was like a second home.

Now the 'London' Wasps live in High Wycombe and I haven't been since they moved.

I am sorry to hear this, Mark, I'm afraid I didn't even realise they'd moved from Sudbury. (But then, I'm still under the impression that JPR is the Welsh Fullback!) And to be honest I only knew they were in Sudbury in the first place, cos a lad from my old school ended up playing for them, Mark Bailey.

Family loyalty means that I have to sort of follow Leicester (why don't they have letters instead of numbers anymore?), though our local BBC coverage gives us Northampton.

But I am disappointed for you (and anybody else, for that matter) when their local club is no longer local!

I would like to hope that a certain former Leicester, World-Cup winning England and Lions Captain is up to the task. What we need, I believe, is someone with very recent cred at the highest level, who can communicate that to the squad with the necessary passion and commitment, and put some glue on their fingers...

James

quote:

Now the 'London' Wasps live in High Wycombe and I haven't been since they moved.

Always been a team of Gypsies around the London area before the Sudbury home I believe? I grew up in Richmond across the road from London Welsh (clearly not an option...) and remember a game after Roger Uttley had joined, who impressed me (along with the WASPS name and stripy socks!!) which led to my support (going to school in Twickenham made it kinda defacto you had a rugby team). I used to go to Loftus Road in the Nineties too and saw the crowds grow significantly during the time. Not seen them apart from a couple of games at Twickers since I moved to Peterborough but TV coverage is quite good and the support at their current ground is clearly great.

Anyone fancy a trip?

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
I would like to hope that a certain former Leicester, World-Cup winning England and Lions Captain is up to the task. What we need, I believe, is someone with very recent cred at the highest level, who can communicate that to the squad with the necessary passion and commitment, and put some glue on their fingers...
James

James

I think that it is a little early for Johnno. I hope he has the good sense to turn it down as we could see the tarnishing of a real legend if they go that route. There is no substitute for learning from the ground up and I do not believe that you can go straight into international management/coaching with no previous experience. This would be madness in my opinion. Of course, I could be wrong and the sheer force of his personality and determination to succeed could drive the team on to great things. But I don't think so.

Regards

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
I think that it is a little early for Johnno. I hope he has the good sense to turn it down as we could see the tarnishing of a real legend if they go that route. There is no substitute for learning from the ground up and I do not believe that you can go straight into international management/coaching with no previous experience. This would be madness in my opinion. Of course, I could be wrong and the sheer force of his personality and determination to succeed could drive the team on to great things. But I don't think so.

Regards

Mark

In reality (sanity check) I totally agree with you. I think my 'hope' is more an expression of frustration at needing someone with "the sheer force of his [Johnno's] personality and determination to succeed [and] drive the team on to great things"

I do like Jamie Wednesday's idea of going to a game!

James

Sounds like fun. There's an interesting game on April 28th.

Mark

quote:

There's an interesting game on April 28th

Hope it's more 'interesting' than yesterdays...

There's always the Boxing Day game at home to Gloucester...Nice bit of festive top of the table stuff.

Couldn't do 26th December, I'm afraid, because of seasonal family commitments. But I'm with Mark that 28th April looks tempting. (He can wear his Wasps shirt, and me my Leicester!)

James

Same for me all over Christmas. I was thinking of you when I suggested that particular game, James.

Mark

Right, the inevitable's now happened (and please note : RFU sensibly took the advice of this Forum - how the influence of Naimites gets everywhere...!).

Now we can all have a big argument about who's going to be next with head on chopping block.

Mark and I have already decided that it's not the right moment for Johnno, so none of us need discuss that option any more So, who next then chaps?

James

PS
Seriously, if anyone's up for it, I'm happy to clear the decks for 28.04.07 -

Leicester (hoorah) vs Wasps (hissss)

Just needs ticket purchase sorted out.

(And depending on transport arrangements nearer the time, I would be willing to collect passengers at Peterborough for the onward travel to Leicester RUFC).

Not sure about being an Away supporter but clearly Peterborough is not inconvenient...I suppose I can offer you a coffee...

I have a commercial buddy who used to be able to get Tigers tickets, I'll see what I can do.

EDIT -- SORRY TO EVERYONE ELSE FOR SLIGHT DIGRESSION

quote:

Originally posted by JamieWednesday:
Not sure about being an Away supporter but clearly Peterborough is not inconvenient...I suppose I can offer you a coffee...

I have a commercial buddy who used to be able to get Tigers tickets, I'll see what I can do.

One person's Away is another's Home

Realising you were in P'b, and also that a train to/from P'b, rather than Leicester itself, might be more frequent and convenient for Mark, thought this might be an opportunity for a car full, cos I'd pass by that way anyway!

Great that you might have a contact for tickets. As a matter of interest, I did also go on the Tigers' website today, and the only tickets it seemed willing to offer for a casual enquiry are Terrace at £19.

(I'm sure members probably get access to a wider range of tickets, plus of course the season ticket holders will take up an amount of the allocation.)

I'm pleased it seems this day out might be coming together!

James

I think he's finally gone (orig topic).

Thank goodness.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
EDIT -- SORRY TO EVERYONE ELSE FOR SLIGHT DIGRESSION

quote:

Originally posted by JamieWednesday:
Not sure about being an Away supporter but clearly Peterborough is not inconvenient...I suppose I can offer you a coffee...

I have a commercial buddy who used to be able to get Tigers tickets, I'll see what I can do.

One person's Away is another's Home

Realising you were in P'b, and also that a train to/from P'b, rather than Leicester itself, might be more frequent and convenient for Mark, thought this might be an opportunity for a car full, cos I'd pass by that way anyway!

Great that you might have a contact for tickets. As a matter of interest, I did also go on the Tigers' website today, and the only tickets it seemed willing to offer for a casual enquiry are Terrace at £19.

(I'm sure members probably get access to a wider range of tickets, plus of course the season ticket holders will take up an amount of the allocation.)

I'm pleased it seems this day out might be coming together!

James

I would definitely be up for that chaps.

Mark

James/Mark

Could you email me at jamesxjclapham@msn.com please.

email sent, Jamie.

Mark