Reply to: And he scores!

[wendigo100]

Sorry - I need a sarcasm smiley.

Fred was an abysmal choice, when the other option of Strauss was much better. Trueman always said that there were jobs that can't be combined - opening batsman, opening bowler, keeper and captain. Any combination of those is a recipe for disaster - having captain, opening bowler, talisman, hero all rolled into one was not the smartest move, but they wanted Flintoff as captain to try and keep Harmy happy. A plan well thought out and executed...

Flintoff's had it now - he won't play until the summer, should lose his central contract, and until he can play as an all-rounder, should not be considered, since typically his batting is not good enough to hold down a place when he can't bowl well.

Sorry, I was a bit thick there ...

Although I think Flintoff would get in as a bowler-only, if he ever gets fit again.

[TheFaQQer]

We'll agree to disagree then.

Sorry - I need a sarcasm smiley.

Fred was an abysmal choice, when the other option of Strauss was much better. Trueman always said that there were jobs that can't be combined - opening batsman, opening bowler, keeper and captain. Any combination of those is a recipe for disaster - having captain, opening bowler, talisman, hero all rolled into one was not the smartest move, but they wanted Flintoff as captain to try and keep Harmy happy. A plan well thought out and executed...

Flintoff's had it now - he won't play until the summer, should lose his central contract, and until he can play as an all-rounder, should not be considered, since typically his batting is not good enough to hold down a place when he can't bowl well.

[wendigo100]

No, Freddy was the right choice at the time, since he was performing so well with bat and ball, and wasn't ever injured.

We'll agree to disagree then.

There was no objective reason at all to appoint Freddie, and plenty why he shouldn't have got the job.

1. Being a good player does not mean being a good captain.

2. Being a key bowler is disadvantageous as a captain.

3. Being "one of the lads" is disadvantageous as a captain.

4. Freddie was "inspiring" without needing to be captain. Like most captains he had a dip in form after being appointed and we lost that inspiration, in both batting and bowling.

5. Freddie has always been injury prone. He missed most of last summer before leading us on the ill-fated Ashes tour.

6. Freddie had no record of being a captain at senior level.

We learned a lot of this in 1980 when Ian Botham was appointed and I hope we've now learned it all over again.

The best candidate when Vaughan got injured seemed to be Strauss, who eventually got the job for the Pakistan series last year when Freddie was injured. We won that series 3-0, and Strauss's form actually improved.

As it happens I think we would have lost the Ashes anyway, as most of the England setup were still celebrating the 2005 win.

[FiveTimes]

. . . and they won it a while back with a man who was really a woman, or was it a woman who was really a man? I forget.

Better leave that one for Baggy to answer....

[wobbegong]

Israel are in Eurovision

. . . and they won it a while back with a man who was really a woman, or was it a woman who was really a man? I forget.

[sasguru]

No need to lash out at me, I was offering my commiserations.

.

Only a bit of banter, old chap ...

[tay]

Has anyone seen the NZ football team? It seems to have got lost.
Ah - they're probably hiding out with the ABs somewhere.

No need to lash out at me, I was offering my commiserations.

The NZ football team was supposed to be playing it epic WC qualification game this week against the titans of football (Fiji) ... but it was postponed asone of thier players was brother in law to some guy in the army.. and due toi the recent coup.. we dont allow Fijian military types into NZ. The epic clash will have to wait.

[sasguru]

Bad luck guys, my heart is bleeding for you

Has anyone seen the NZ football team? It seems to have got lost.
Ah - they're probably hiding out with the ABs somewhere.

[The Lone Gunman]

Bad luck guys, my heart is bleeding for you

Luck had nothing to do with it.

[tay]

Bad luck guys, my heart is bleeding for you

[FiveTimes]

No, Freddy was the right choice at the time, since he was performing so well with bat and ball, and wasn't ever injured. It was reminiscent of Mark Butcher - from England captain to dropped from one match to the next.

With you, though - the FA haven't got the balls to do something for the game, and the Premier League wouldn't let them anyway, and they have all the money.

So - who's next in, though? Sammy Lee's available.

Dennis Wise seems to be doing a good job for Leeds ?

[TheFaQQer]

Yes - McLaurin left, the numpties regained control, organised a year of parties, and made Buggins captain again in the form of Flintoff.

No, Freddy was the right choice at the time, since he was performing so well with bat and ball, and wasn't ever injured. It was reminiscent of Mark Butcher - from England captain to dropped from one match to the next.

With you, though - the FA haven't got the balls to do something for the game, and the Premier League wouldn't let them anyway, and they have all the money.

So - who's next in, though? Sammy Lee's available.

[TheFaQQer]

If the wind is in the right direction and you squint a little, you just might concede to Russia being a smidge European. But Israel????

Israel are in Eurovision

[wendigo100]

For 18 months

Yes - McLaurin left, the numpties regained control, organised a year of parties, and made Buggins captain again in the form of Flintoff.

[TheFaQQer]

holders of the Ashes.

For 18 months