Forum Rugby Club - 2009-2010 Season

quote:

Ever the joker! That's why I like you so much

Yeah I know you. You laughed more at the Viking joke. Even though you're not supposed to...

quote:

JamieWednesday
Senior Member
Posted Mon 11 January 2010 20:29

It's just we're better than you. Clearly.

Obviously not, otherwise you would not have taken such a kicking

Over the last little while I've been mulling things over, there have been increasingly 'things ain't what they used to be'-type comments here and in other rugby-related fora, about atmosphere and attitude.

Often this has been 'blamed' on a new type of fan, with a bit more of a roundyball mindset. On reflection, I think it is a bit harsh to lay the 'blame' wholly at the feet of the fans.

I think we must also take into consideration as a significant contributory factor players - or at least high-end stars - and their relationship to the game - and specifically the modern professional game.

When RU first went professional, it was still a bit like the amateur game, but paid. And players got a enough to live on without having to rely on outside jobs. But over the 15 years since going professional, so the wages have gone up significantly (£7m a year wage cap in France). Players - perhaps understandably - go where the money is. This changes radically the players' traditional relationship to the clubs.

Once upon a time, we used to speak of 'good servants of the club' who often came up through the junior system, played for years, and maintained a strong relationship with the club in some capacity after their playing days. The players and the fans were the two interrelated arms of the club.

Nowadays, players are bought in, often for a year or two (partly because that's all a club can afford to pay them for) and then they go off to the next highest bidder. Or it may happen after several years. This is just like professional roundyball.

Fortunately, there are still some, indeed quite a few, long-serving 'good servants of the club' who are committed to a locality, not just a pay packet.

But this new and inevitable ethos that comes with the professional game inevitably erodes the 'traditional' ethos carried over from the many decades of the amateur club game.

Those who pay (or at least contribute significantly to) the wage bill through increasingly expensive tickets, have equally increasing expections about vfm and being able to express disatisfaction in a more forthright way.

I'm mean, take for example Cipriani. The fact that his behaviour and hints allows speculation that he'll be off somewhere else that'll pay him more doesn't exactly nurture his relationship with Wasps' fans and contribute to the building-up of the club sense of identity. And the same applies to all clubs these days.

I thank goodness, though, that we can all still mix in together, have a great afternoon watching good rugby football, with a pint if we wish, and a shake of the hands at the end - even if there are a few partisan panto boos now and again.

quote:

Once upon a time, we used to speak of 'good servants of the club' who often came up through the junior system, played for years, and maintained a strong relationship with the club in some capacity after their playing days. The players and the fans were the two interrelated arms of the club.

Hopefully young Mr Cole will stay with us for a long career then as he is a local lad, although Dusty Hare is moving to Northampton saints after
thirty plus years at Tigers

EPS squad has been announced and has eight Tigers
The Saxons also announced and has three Tigers

Don't fancy our chances much then.

It also has Simon Shaw which is a bonus but Tim Payne ????????????????????????????????????????????
After last Saturday what a F*@king joke

Looking right ahead, a batch of tickets for the GP Final at Twickers on 29th May has just been released at 'January Sale' special price, the most expensive of which is £20 (+admin fee and postage, so £23) in Middle Tier. The only catch is a max of four tickets in one go.

Just got some for son and a couple of friends and Chillkram, JW and me in two batches of three.

Lookin forward to a repeat of 2007, when we went to Welford Rd and watched Wasps get thumped by Tigers and a few weeks later saw the tables turned at HQ.

Six points shy of fourth place, you have got to pull something out of the bag to get in the play off`s

Tigers hammer Viadana to get the bonus point, Clermont beat Ospreys which puts Tigers top of their pool in the Heineken Cup.

Dang. Last second penalty for Racing Metro means Wasps lose out in tonight's game in the Euro Challenge cup 19-17.

Now now, never mind my child

I just put sky sports on this morning and watched a replay of the Wasps v Racing Metro and i agree they were very unlucky not to win that game but it came down to stupidity from who other but Cipriani with a high tackle.
Although again Wasps scrummaging is woeful, so every time they have a scrum situation their hearts must sink. I paid attention to Tim Payne`s efforts in this particular game having the advantage of the close up television action and all i can say is he must be either best buddies with Martin Johnson or have something on him to have a place in the EPS squad.
As for Tom Varndell he seems to be having a scorching time with Wasps

A pretty poor showing from the English teams in the Heineken cup with only one qualifying for the quarter finals and, even then only as the 8th of 8 seeds. At the time of writing it looks as though London Irish are on their way out; Tigers got the runaround from Ospreys today as did Bath by Ulster.

So the French and Irish dominate, which is a situation likely to translate into the Six Nations in my opinion.

English teams look second rate at the moment and it seems a long way from the Heineken final of a couple of years ago when two English teams contested the European showpiece.

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
Tigers got the runaround from Ospreys today as did Bath by Ulster.

Yes, by the sounds of it (I don't have Sky), the better side won today, albeit with 16 men on the park at one particularly crucial moment...

Nobody likes to lose, of course, but there is a train of thought that one less competition to think about at the moment will help English teams that are in a bit of a rebuilding phase at the moment.

(On a personal note, Mark - and JamieWeds if you're reading - please could you send me an email, as I've lost your address somehow in the info migration to a new computer... Thanks)

quote:

Originally posted by JWM:
albeit with 16 men on the park at one particularly crucial moment...

Ahehehehemmm!!!

Morning men,
I watched the Tigers game late yesterday having had to go out and sort a central heating system out and to say i`m disappointed would be a understatement, i can`t understand why they did not push the ball over in the dying minutes instead of passing out to mauger who knocked it on [ i bet his bollocks are sore this morning ] and yes there is the issue of sixteen men on the pitch but i also think the ref was good and did not stand any rubbish and was firm but fair. Right guinness prem left now

Actually, I was sorry to see Tigers exit. Much as I would like to enjoy their misery I find I can't, as they were the only English team that could possibly win the thing.

The reality is I only want them to lose when they're playing another English team.

B***er!

Another good win for the Tigers on Friday against Bath with a bonus point for the fourth try and a good showing by the returning injured players to boot
I watched the Wasps game against the Scarlets today and it was a really good game and a shame that the Wasps lost with the Scarlets only scoring from penalties when the Wasps [or specifically Varndell ] scored two try`s [ he has certainly found himself at Wasps ] but at the end of the day its winning that counts and not necessarily how you do it, although morally i think Wasps deserved the win more
James and more so Chillkram you seem to be quiet of late

quote:

Originally posted by deadlifter:
James and more so Chillkram you seem to be quiet of late

?...4 of the last 7 posts on here have been mine!

A great game for England Saxons against Ireland A today at Bath`s ground with a few showing good ability`s notably Dowson,Cato,Srettle and the Tiger Ben Youngs on his debut for the Saxons with Geraghty giving not quite a performance as he could.
A nice win though

Got a bit squeaky at the end though.

Yes it certainly did, but the paddy`s at club level are at the top of their game so it is to be expected
Anyway roll on next weekend

quote:

Originally posted by deadlifter:
James and more so Chillkram you seem to be quiet of late

Sorry, been short-staffed for a couple of weeks so I've had to work for a living, and now just having a few probs with recurring back injury (legs are all to pot at the mo).

England U20`s give Wales U20`s a 41-14 drubbing with five try`s in the second half showing superior class [ in the second half at least ]. With the only downside the English No8 red carded for stamping on a Welsh head, again in the second half.
NB. ANY NAIM OWNING SENIOR ENGLAND RUGBY TEAM MEMBERS READING THIS [I can dream can`t i ] TAKE NOTE WATCH THE REPLAY, THIS IS HOW WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLAY [ EXCEPT FOR THE RED CARD THAT IS ]