Davis Cup: GB v Holland

yesyesbadboy · Lower Club Player

RE: Davis Cup: GB v Holland

Bladetiger · Pro player

I heard this week that Tim is more likely to play given that Bates has gone and J Lloyd is now there, as he didnt have any time for Bates.

I still wouldnt play andy in the doubles, dontthink he's fit enough for 3 hi octane 5 setters in 3 days and dont think he's a great doubles player, I'd rely on him to win his 2 singles and say to the other guys weonly need 1 from 3 from the rest of you.

If Tim plays we'll walk it, dont know who they'll go with if he doesnt still cant see Lloyd picking Boggo but no-one else has really done enough yet.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i just cant see boggo back in the team at the moment, the rift that has devloped between him and lloyd is quite deep, but unless tim plays and greg is fit, we would really be relying on andy too much.

apart from the current british top 4 no one would have a realsitic chance vs sluiter, and dont forget the dutch number two is no slouch ranked 160ish (robin hasse), they also have a top 50 doubles player.

Bladetiger · Pro player

Expecting Greg to play both singles would be a massive gamble and not sure he'd be favourite v Sluiter tho' he probably would be against Haase.

Maybe a big start to the year by alex would build some bridges or maybe one of Bloomers, Goodall, Marray or Mackin will put their hand up with some big results early on in 2007.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

i was discussing this on the BTZ site following the JL article in brtish tennis (which is now on lat site), my points from b4:

he says he wants to pick the youngsters, but thay have to improve 1st. Jamie D stills seems to be in the mix, i have nothing against jamie, but surely he should be out by now, he also has an awful DC record, he may have tried hard in all his matchs but he still lost.

the names mentioned in the article are baker, mackin, aucks & delgado, no bloomers or goodall , which considering they are ranked higher than mackin, baker and delgado, is an interesting 'oversight'.

if boggo gets on well with lundgeren then that may help, i know alex wants to play dc, but even with JL saying if alex can covince him 110% he will play there is more to it than that, would alex want to play under someone who he feels personaly insulted him?

-- Edited by Count Zero at 13:56, 2006-11-23

Montana Doug · Futures qualifying

Opps....I posted the below on the Henman section without reading this first. I'll repost it here and maybe one of the mods can clear what I posted over there. Sorry and thank you.

Here are my thoughts: I am sure most of you have seen the news, but just wondered what you thought. The link is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6194572.stm

I think it is a great thing that Henman returns inspite of reading that Andy is not keen on the idea. I can understand why Tim pulled back after about ten years of great service. Now, with Andy, Greg and some of our doubles players, Britain has a great chance of getting back into the World Group and doing well. I also think Tim will have a great 2007 if his back/body hold up and could get back into the top 20. I'd love to see it.

I think this is great news. I know that it means less opportunities for some of our younger players, but it is a good thing to set goals and earn something.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

if tim decides to make him self availbale then he has to be picked, its a bit of a no brainer really. the best team has to be put out. i have no problem with that. What i dont like it thme begging tim to come back, esp on the back of his statments like it doesnt matter if we lose a few a we are buildign for the future.

even without tim, greg and boggo, this tie is winnable, andy should win bothhis rubbers and we would have a good chance in the dbubs, either a murray patnership, or murry + aucks combo.

Blooms/jonny would look to be the next option (and capable of winning 1/2 singles), but somehow i think they will be overlooked, and mackin or delgado get the nod due to their experience (at losing??)

VSandhi20 · Futures qualifying

Because the tie is winnable, i dont think henman should play! however if he does he should be restricted to the doubles and allow other players to do their bit to win the tie. If they get to the World Group play off, then it should be down to murray and henman. But also it depends it on henman's form before then. But if boggo, baker, goodall make big jumps in the rankings then i expect them to feature in the World Group play-off instead of henman. Im sorry but henman should not make himself available just because hes got the 'urge', he should allow young players to make a start for the next 10 years.

imoen · Admin: Moderator+Tennis Legend

Count Zero wrote:

if tim decides to make him self availbale then he has to be picked, its a bit of a no brainer really. the best team has to be put out. i have no problem with that. What i dont like it thme begging tim to come back, esp on the back of his statments like it doesnt matter if we lose a few a we are buildign for the future.

My sentiments exactly, if Henman wants to play he shouldn't be stopped as he is still one of our best players. However, he shouldn't be forced or pressured into saying yes. I've been really dissappointed by Lloyd's failure to come through on his promises (except the one about Boggo not playing

) and actually, I think Andy has it right in the beeb article that links to. I guess we'll have to wait and see, any predictitions as to who will be in the team?

Montana Doug · Futures qualifying

VSandhi20 wrote:

Because the tie is winnable, i dont think henman should play! however if he does he should be restricted to the doubles and allow other players to do their bit to win the tie. If they get to the World Group play off, then it should be down to murray and henman. But also it depends it on henman's form before then. But if boggo, baker, goodall make big jumps in the rankings then i expect them to feature in the World Group play-off instead of henman. Im sorry but henman should not make himself available just because hes got the 'urge', he should allow young players to make a start for the next 10 years.

I say you should respect the opposition no matter who they are and put your best team in. Tim Henman on carpet is a no brainer.

I think Henman stopped playing Davis Cup because he had just had a great 2004 and maybe thought 2005 was his last chance at winning a slam. It is a shame that the year turned out to be a nightmare for him, but there seemed little chance of a Davis Cup success with no support. Greg was in trouble for that silly drugs charge and Andy was just a prospect at the time. Now, with Andy and some great results by British men in the doubles, I think Britain could get back into the World Group and win a round or two something which Henman has never done before.

I am pleased he is back even if it does peg some of the up and coming players back. I hope he plays a couple of years or until one of the younger players take his place.

-- Edited by Montana Doug at 00:50, 2006-11-30

johnnylad · Tennis legend

If Tim want sto play he should play. Give Josh, Jonny Jamie B etc longer to reach the levels required anyway.

On his day Tim is still a top 16 player, and we would have a great team!

Bladetiger · Pro player

Tim's announced that he's up for selection. If he and Andy stay fit we'll walk this tie.

There must be a chance of us reacxhing world group again with Tim and Andy, only a short term fix of course and no-one waiting in the wings when tim's gone but it's exciting for now.

Bladetiger · Pro player

Believe that Robin Haase currently at wrexham is likely to be dutch number 2 for Davis cup.

An interesting player, who I think may have a big future in the sport.

-- Edited by Bladetiger at 15:03, 2007-01-25

Sheddie · administrator

Bladetiger wrote:
Believe that Robin Haase currently at wrexham is likely to be dutch number 2 for Davis cup.

An interesting player, who I think may have a big future in the sport.

-- Edited by Bladetiger at 15:03, 2007-01-25

Interesting stuff, though we are still going to absolutely hammer them unless Andy or Tim get injured. Could be something like 4-1 or maybe even 5-0.

Haase's made massive strides in 2006, reached 4 futures finals and then in the latter of the year he made 3 semis and 2 quarters in clay challengers and then won the Nashville challenger. Currently ranked 169, would be surprised if he doesn't make top 75 by the end of the year.

what's his game like? I've never seen him play

Michael · Pro player

What does everyone think the team will be:

I think it has to be:

Andy
Tim
Jamie Murray
One of Greg or Mackin (form counts for so much IMO)

If Josh or Jonny Marrar have a great few weeks building up to it then they can come into consideration but thats my team. Everyone elses?