Davis Cup - Euro Africa Zone I Play-offs - GBR v Poland 18-20 September 2009

Ratty · County player

RE: Davis Cup - Euro Africa Zone I Play-offs - GBR v Poland 18-20 September 2009

wolf · Tennis legend

Smidster wrote:

More importantly is what happens next. I'm guessing the people we could face next March are:
Lithuania, Bulgaria, Monaco, Ireland, Slovenia, Macedonia and either Finland or Cyprus

The worrying thing is I can see a couple of those giving us a real challenge

Without Andy I would say we would lose to all of the above except for Maedonia and Lithuania.

With Andy we should beat them all as Andy would win his two matches and we should win the doubles.

goldfish · Futures qualifying

Pleased to see Andy's level pick up today and to see him more motivated than on previous days when he seemed pretty flat. Very disappointed with Dan. He just didn't appear to have the desire to do well until the 3rd set. Having been built up by Andy and the coaches, I was expecting much more. I think it would have been better for him to have played his first tie abroad without the pressure of the home crowd. On the other hand, if the home crowd doesn't motivate him, is there still hope?

I agree with those above who think that Andy should sit out the ties for a bit but that makes it complicated if GB manage to lift themselves out of their new group. It's worth remembering, though, that Colin is working himself up the rankings and with his ability at doubles, he would be an excellent member of the team. He also seems very motivated. Also, Jamie Baker is getting back to some form and with his work ethic, there's hope that he, too, will make an excellent team member. He would certainly fight for a win.

Overall disappointed but can't see much point in struggling in a group that we don't really seem to belong in. Well done to Andy for stepping up and supporting his country in difficult circumstances.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

My viewing of this match today was spoiled by Greg and Andrew Castle's comments - their constant, and I do mean constant criticism of Dan Evans ruined enjoyment in this last match.
OK! it was a poor show but to be told so every 30 seconds or so was very disappointing, we could watch and make that decision ourselves.
I usually have great respect for Greg's comments but today he was out of order. He was also inaccurate as mentioned elsewhere also he was inconsistent, for example earlier "it was good to have this young player in the team" but then later "Poland were fortunate in having a more experienced player even if much lower ranking" - Make up your mind Greg!

spud · Challenger qualifying

A tie against Ireland would be nice.

S&V · Club Coach

Does Rusedski hve some agenda with Lloyd? Im in the states so I dont get to see it on tv or follow all the nuances but thats how it seems from the outside.

mjd · Challenger qualifying

A not unexpected read in the Times Online today but the bit that I was unaware of -
"......That the Poles are largely coached by a Briton (Nick Brown), whose presence at the tie was deemed to be too embarrassing, only serves to exacerbate the vacuum that exists at the top of the game. This is a sport that is frightened of its own, ever-lengthening shadow..........."

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Surely Lloyd has to go!

what exactly has he done for the team? the only players under him win a live set under him other than Tim/Andy/Greg is Boggo and Eaton. Both of whom have been dropped (Boggo, probably in part thanks to a witch hunt him certain sections of the media)

Who to replace him with? i don't know, but someone who has a rapport with the team would be nice. he doesn't have to be a 'name'

lets hope Wardy, who will surely be the no1 for our next match and who is the only one untarnished by DC, can cope with the pressure.

in regards to boggo, there is a lot of people seem of the opinion that should not get another chance, well his DC record in live matches is played 6 lost 6, but i think maybe the 6 should be examined:

Name - H/A - Surface - Date - WR

Hewitt - Away - Clay - Feb 03 - 1
Okun - Away - Hard - Mar 05 - 148
Okun - Home - Grass - Jul 06 - 234
Calleri - Away - Clay - Feb 08 - 41
Melzer - Home - Grass - Sep 08 - 41
Peya - Home - Grass - Sep 08 164

So 3 of those matches were against top 50 players, 2 on clay away. Can those be held against him? So he really he has lost 3. Twice to the same player. And in 2 of those matches he was carrying an injury. Its obviously not a great record, but I really dont think its as bad as some people make out. Alex won as many games vs Hewitt on his debut away on clay in Sydney as Evans did vs Przysiezny

greatunclebulgaria · Lower Club Player

"During Andy's match, Andrew Castle grab a few words with Dan Evans. Dan said that neither Andy or John Lloyd had spoken to him about his match. Andy I can understand but JL? Surely they should have chatted the night before or over breakfast?"

that actually really disgusts me as I remember thinking Andy played this guy yesterday Lloyd sat through it between them they have to have given Dan a game plan he's weak here he's strong there I thought this was a team comp emphasis on team

Nadal told Verdasco how to beat Andy and that was when Nadal was busy trying to win the aussi open so how can well Andy was too busy to hold Dan's hand a little at Davis cup be any sort of excuse

why do we need a team captain? pick the team? nope Andy does that which would be ok if we actually won

we need someone really strong, not afraid to say no to the world no 3/2/1

I just wish he had replaced Dan yesterday as I felt all along the pressure of the tie riding on his match was just to big a burden for Dan to carry not saying Colin would have neseserally won but we wouldn't have distroyed him with the burdon of expectation in the way we may have done with Dan

really hope this dosn't distroy his conferdence was actually quite annoyed Lloyd didn't go with the established partnership of Flemski for the doubles

A they play together all the time thats always better than a scratch pairing and they are in form

B Andy's wrist

seagull · Hall of fame

I agree Lloyd should go but if he had not picked Murray for the doubles he would have got slaughtered. Lloyd spends too much time swanning around at Grand Slams watching Murray when he should be at Futures trying to spot some talent (instead of letting Andy tell him who should play).

Count Zero · Tennis legend

But remember Andy didn't play in the dubs vs Austria (didn't he have a suspected injury then too, although declared himself fit to play) and JL got a hammering from the press of sacrificing the chance to win the dubs.

in fact when was the last time Andy competed for GB and not suffering some kind of injury? he certianly has a habit of begin in the wars around DC time.

So JL has 1 year on his contract? he himself shows no signs that any of this is remotely his fault of course and no sign he may fall on his own sword. But this is surely the best time to get rid of him. As everyone says we are in group 2 it's time to build a new team, a winning team. surely that should start with a winning captain, not one who has lost 4 ties in a row, 3 of the at home.

The Hoose · Satellite level

Count Zero wrote:

in regards to boggo, there is a lot of people seem of the opinion that should not get another chance, well his DC record in live matches is played 6 lost 6, but i think maybe the 6 should be examined:

I think you also have to take into account the Wimbledon losses. Putting those together with his played 6, lost 6 in Davis Cup live rubbers, it's the closest thing to proof you could ask for that he's not your man in a pressure situation. Not that other players are necessarily any better, but at least there's still uncertainty surrounding some of them!

-- Edited by The Hoose on Monday 21st of September 2009 10:37:12 AM

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Yes of course the Wimby loses are there too, but lets face it, none of the other brits have done much there either, or even at ATP lvl.

how do you think Boggo would have done yesterday? even with the pressure of a 5th rubber. i think he'd have done better than Dan. he didn't actually do that bad vs Peya.

The Hoose · Satellite level

I think Boggo would have done better than Dan too. The point with Boggo is we all know what level he plays at in such matches and it's not good enough for where we think we should be. So I think it's right to cycle through the young hopefuls, who we know less about, to see if one of those just might have what it takes. When we've run out of young hopefuls, which we're not too far off with the current crop, by all means let's admit we're a mediocre side and bring back Boggo to compete in division three.

indiana · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:

During Andy's match, Andrew Castle grab a few words with Dan Evans. Dan said that neither Andy or John Lloyd had spoken to him about his match. Andy I can understand but JL? Surely they should have chatted the night before or over breakfast?

I wasn't really particularly watching Andy's match so missed that, but presuming that's all true then I agree it's very bad. It's actually pretty incredible.

Here is Dan Evans a young guy in his first Davis Cup and he's evidently just left to play on his instincts, surely JL should be giving him pointers, probaly a 3 way consultation / discussion involving Andy.

OK, I already thought it was time to move on from Lloyd given other factors like his suspected lack of motivational powers, how Andy's views onteam selection are allowed to become public knowledge etc.

But with that shocking ( and I do mean shocking even for LLoyd ) info, I just ask :

WTF is the point of John LLoyd ??