Murray's future in the Davis Cup

fedexpress · Newbie

Murray's future in the Davis Cup

seagull · Hall of fame

I think Murray should concentrate on winning a GS and let the others get on with Davis Cup. If they can't cope with the level we are at now then what is the point in getting any higher. Let them play at a level where they might get some wins under their belt

Count Zero · Tennis legend

in Group 2 Andy should not play. others should be allowed to get the matches and (hopefully) wins under their belt.

perhaps if we had been allowed to drop to this level before (rather than propped up by retiring tim & greg and the emergence of andy) then we would would have some players who have got some experience of winning in the DC.

indiana · Tennis legend

I will be very surprised to see Andy playing in the first Group 2 match.

I think it is a quite unreasonable expectation to expect Andy to take the time out of his schedule to compete at that level . I think it extremely doubtful any other top 10 player would play at that level.

Aside from that, I think it is actually a good idea to give other players more Davis Cup expertience and a chance to actually win at this lower level. We need to give players apart from Andy more Davis Cup experience rather than one such as Dan Evans suddenly being flung into an important match. I think I myself underestimated the effect a first Davis Cup could have on someone.

If we can't produce a team without Andy capable of winning at that level then really that is probably the level that we deserve to be playing at.

Arguably, if we get to a promotion match, and Andy is available, he could come in for that but I certainly do not favour him playing any more than that one possible match.

Shhh · Challenger level

I would like to see Andy not play in the next match, but spend 2 or 3 days with the team prior to the tie to hit with and mentor.

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

I also do not think Andy should play in the matches next year. I also don't think Ross should if he is still in the top 50in doubles. They are used to big matches. It is now time to try out the up and coming younger guys. We all know that there are quite a few 17 to 19 year olds trying to claw their way up. Why not put together a team like that and see what happens. The worst is we lose but we are used to that already. We need to start from scratch and pick our best talented young ones and go from there. The simple fact is apart from Andy and say Ross/Jamie we have to start at zero and build from there. Ignore the slating from the press as well. We do get fairly decent players at futures level and at times challenger level as well. It just seems to be that one big step to the bigger level that has long haunted us. I can't believe that with the right team behind them that we can't get a half decent young team going and when we have moved back up then the bigger guys like Andy can come back in. Untill then Andy should just concentrate on winning a GS as he more than proved himself over the weekend but for what. Even the world no3 can't produce miracles on his own. Time to leave it to one side for a bit.

Shhh · Challenger level

If we had a 3rd tier match this weekend, Flemski in the doubles and two from Ward, Boggo, Josh Evans etc should be able to make up a team that would win through. Obviously you cannot begin to pick players now, Baker is coming back through the rankings and Smethurst has had some excellent results in 10k clay events recently.

The point is, a team should be able to be made up from what we have (or will have early next year) to win at this level and, a TEAM is what we have to put together. Having the world number 3 is a major asset but, I believe it has also worked against us in some respects. Form a team that can win at a lower level and then add Andy to it when we eventually can step up.

The Hoose · Satellite level

I don't agree that Ross should be rested because he's too good. He's hardly a world-beater, he won't find the third tier as straightforward as Andy would and he'd benefit from more DC experience. The question should be who would make the best doubles pair in the absence of Andy. That may be Ken and the Phlegm, but it may equally be Hutchins/J Murray or Hutchins+Fleming. The captain should go with what he considers to be the best pairing.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Count Zero wrote:

in Group 2 Andy should not play. others should be allowed to get the matches and (hopefully) wins under their belt.

perhaps if we had been allowed to drop to this level before (rather than propped up by retiring tim & greg and the emergence of andy) then we would would have some players who have got some experience of winning in the DC.

I agree with everything the others have said, particularly the Count above.

I remember saying precisely these things when we were trying to stay up in Group 1, I said it was a waste of time (and Andy's energy), a one-man team is no good at all and we should try to build a young team who could play at their own level in the lower divisions.

RedCabbage · Club Coach

Bring back Boggo! If he can't break his hoodoo in Euro Group 2 then he might as well take up crochet instead.

I would be quite happy with a team of Boggo and Evans with Hutch and Fleming in the doubles - bringing Fleming in for the third day as punishment if Alex or Dan play a stinker on the first day.

RedCabbage for Davis Cup captain!

philwrig · Hall of fame

By the way Andy has a sprained left wrist with no tendon damage which is good.

Mikeduke · County player

I also dont think that Andy should be playing at this sort of level. You can't win a Davis Cup tie with one player and if we are not good enough to win then we should find the level where we are at.

However, I would like to see some more open reasoning for picking the Davis Cup team. If we are concentrating on youth, or on the highest ranking, or on best per surface, then fine, but let the players know now. I think that it would give players far more drive if they can see how they can appear in the team and can perform appropriately. It would also allow us to debate if the correct policy is being followed, rather than just confusing fans with the picks.

It seems like most of our players have a pride in playing in the Davis cup and want to play in it, we should use that spirit to our advantage.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Having just seen the schedule on the other thread, with the first match being the weekend before Indian Wells I can't see Andy playing that. Nor should he, in my opinion.

dewster99 · Improver

no chance of andy playing a week before IW especially an away tie. This should be easily winnable without him and half the battle is mental for alot of our players so DC wins will really help

SGCPost · Newbie

I watched the last two rubbers of GBs Davis Cup versus Poland in Liverpool (Sunday 20 September 2009) and just want to say well done to Andy Murray for his performance. My well done extends to his performance on court and his performance off court when he supported and encouraged Dan Evans during the last Rubber.

Andys support was in contrast to that of John Lloyds, and the rest off the team, who generally only stood up and clapped when Dan Evans played a remarkable shot.

John Lloyd appears to be a great guy, he certainly comes over as a gentleman, but he should take a lesson from the Polish coach who time and time again was on his feet always giving his player eye contact and applauding - even when he had lost points.

I am only an average club player and I dont pretend to know anything about psychology but please Team GB support your men when theyre on court, especially when they are down.

I have been a big Andy Murray Fan ever since I watched him defeat Gasquet on centre court in the gathering gloom - his support for Dan Evans has made me respect him even more.

Let us hope Andy stays involved in Davies Cup we would miss more than just his playing ability.

-- Edited by SGCPost on Wednesday 7th of October 2009 07:23:35 PM