24th July

Lloyd says that if he was captain he would bring a new generation of players into the team.

"Let's make no mistake about it, the defeat to Israel marks a new low for Britain in the Davis Cup," he said.

"We have to rebuild and put in some untried younger players alongside Andy Murray.

"The experience could harden them into good Davis Cup performers. It could take two or three years and a few defeats for it to happen, but it would be worth it.

"Jamie Baker and Josh Goodall look like the kind of kids who would be willing to run through a brick wall for the team and should be given a chance. Perhaps we could use Jamie Murray in a doubles role as well."

 

9th Aug

"If we can win this match against Ukraine, which is a huge match for us, next year I will play younger players if I think they have the mental strength to graft out wins.

 

23rd Oct

Great Britain coach Peter Lundgren and captain John Lloyd are hoping to persuade Tim Henman to return to Davis Cup action.

The pair are travelling to Basle where Henman is due to begin his challenge in the Swiss Indoors event on Tuesday.

"I want Great Britain to get back in the World Group and if Tim is back, the chances are higher," said Lundgren.

"Tim has never said never so there is obviously a chance and that is why we have come here to speak to him."

Lloyd tried to tempt Henman to return for last month's Euro-African Zone tie in Ukraine but Lundgren believes it is worth another shot.

"If he says yes it would be great, and if he says no at least we have tried," he added.

1st Apr 2007

John Lloyd and Jermey bates to play Davis Cup for GB vs the dutch, after greg retires, tim says no and andy picked up a last minite injury and deciding, despite reaching the worlds top 50, boggo isn't mentally strong enough for it and that all the other youngters were in fact no good.

 

-- Edited by Count Zero at 17:43, 2006-10-23

Sounds more than plausible, the way things have been going!

Anyway, what about Richard Bloomfield, now GB no. 5 (so next in line after Boggo and the big 3), plays really well on indoor hard and is one of the few Brits who seems to thrive under the pressure of having lots of points to defend, which suggests good mental strength.

Or be it just that the boy Lloydy don't be loikin' those Norfolk lads?  (since he seems to ignore the existence of Aucks as well)

Actually, no, given DC's ability to destroy GB players' rankings, I wouldn't wish that on him ...

-- Edited by steven at 18:33, 2006-10-23

looks like Tim is on the brink of DC tennis again...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6077958.stm

 

Go Andy! Hopefully John Lloyd listens to him!

What is the chances that Lloyd and Lungdren will wait until December and then fly over to the US in order to talk DC with Andy, Brad and Boggo?

It seems to me that Lloyd is having a great time in the job - but he came in with the promise of playing younger players and is actually just trying to take the easy way out. He hires his pal to be a coach, and instead of waiting a week until Tim is back in England he decides the absolutely must fly to Basle to watch him play in the middle of a tournament.

Andy has called it spot on, and I know he's going to get a lot of stick for saying it, but good for him. It's about time someone showed a bit of faith in the other players. If Andy's willing to play in a young team and letting it mature, then surely he's the one with most to lose? Who knows, maybe some of these young guys might absolutely thrive in the environment of the DC. Maybe the learning experience will toughen them up. Maybe we could actually be good in a couple of years instead of being back at square one once Tim chucks it.

Tie to be played at the NEC birmingham...kids go free with an adult !