Macca
Life Member
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Joined
Everything posted by Macca
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Here's a bit of Thommo for ya TD! It's a pity he hurt his shoulder a couple of times as he could have gone down as one of the all time greats. As it was he certainly left a lasting impression. We were a good side prior to the 74/75 season but with Thomson added to the mix, we became a great one. Btw, Dave Warner is now 110 not out. You'd reckon with that knock he might get a recall. -
Yeah, some excellent teams there TD. I'd only make a few changes with the bowling (Thommo and Garth to swap with Merv and Billy) but you've done well with the rest of the line-ups. Monty Noble and 'The Big ship' Warwick Armstrong would find their way into my XI's as well. Charlie Macartney was another player with strong claims. You'll be giving HT some more ideas about 'Best XI's ! (which passes the time nicely in the Holiday period whilst we're all watching the 'Big Bash' )
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If you look at our team, we don't seem to have a lot of natural leaders. We are coming off a hugely successful era filled with strong characters and self starters. The last few years and probably the next couple of years are very similar to that '83 to '88 era. Even though I'm generally against picking older blokes, I think we could do a lot worse than to bring George Bailey into the side. If we were to revisit a past player, Marcus North might also be a good fit for what we need right now. Both Bailey and North are highly regarded for their leadership which is what we so badly need. Clarke would have a couple of 'Go to' men along with Haddin. It's time we got a couple of new young batsmen into the side as well. We've got to bite the bullet at some stage. Of the current 8 batsmen in England, only Clarke and possibly Khawaja have long term futures. The others have huge question marks over them. Many of them have had enough chances (Rogers excluded) and it's time to move them on. Our current batsmen's ability to play spin is diabolical. We're tentative, there's a lack of footwork and we're missing too many straight balls. Katich is about to turn 38 and along with Punter and Hussey, he's had his time. Wouldn't surprise me if they called on him though. North is still only 33 and bowls reasonable off spin. Bailey is 30.
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Tactically, Clarke is excellent. As a batsman, he's world class. As for leadership, it's so hard to know. He cannot be blamed for our current state. If you're representing your country, you've got to be naturally motivated and if you let the backroom stuff distract you, you probably shouldn't be there. Character comes from within. Our lack of performance with the bat is part technical and part temperament. The rest of it is up to the player himself and there are no excuses.
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Yeah well I grabbed that mirror, peered over my shoulder and all I could see was the towel rack! Seriously, all that back room stuff doesn't really interest me. We've no idea what's really going on anyway. Everything we hear about is 2nd and 3rd hand news so what are we supposed to believe or not believe? There's a lot of rumour and innuendo and I don't give it a lot of credence. The easiest way to judge things is to simply comment on what we see out on the ground. We're not much chop and that can't be disputed. All the selectors can do is to give others a chance and see what they come up with. It's my belief that we need to rebuild with youth (21 - 26 year olds) but I wouldn't be against a short term rescue plan with a couple of wise heads so that we can at least be competitive. But talk of bringing back retired greats comes with it's own issues. They've had their time. It won't be getting any easier any time soon. After England visit our shores we embark on a tour of South Africa to face Steyn, Morkel and Philander. I wonder if the selectors will go outside the squad to strengthen the current team? Obviously the Australian A team who are playing in South Africa could offer up some candidates. But in reference to the captain and coach, every player is responsible for his own actions. Batting, bowling or fielding for the team still remains an individual act in this sport. There's very little a coach or captain can do once you're in the moment. Oh and TD, I like that team! You had to leave out a few champs ... Punter, S Waugh, Grimmett, Benaud amongst them. Thommo 'live' was astonishingly fast. He was a freak with an almost perfect high release. Scary quick and at his best, was almost unplayable.
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If Watson goes then 4 or 5 should go before him. Faulkner can't bat in the top 6 and Watson will probably stay because of his bowling. I agree that Watson should go but right now, he is better value (all round) than Rogers, Hughes, Khawaja, Smith, Cowan and Warner (none of whom bowl ... Smith bowls occasionally but is a real part timer) With Patto out we will need Watson's bowling even more so. Watson should drop down to no.6 for now as he's not an opener and we could replace him with Henriques or Mitch Marsh (but probably not whilst we're in England) How the other batsmen escape the same scrutiny is astonishing. It's a team game and it's never one persons fault when a team is playing as diabolically bad as our team. I'm not excusing Watson as he should be dropped but so should all the batsmen (bar Clarke) We've got far bigger fish to fry. Rogers adds nothing and is too old, Cowan the same, Hughes is back to his non productive ways, Warner should have been sent home, Smith isn't up to it and Khawaja can't go on with it. If Watson goes, so should the lot of them. Sacking Watson on his own won't solve anything and we'll be down to 4 bowlers (without a strike bowler - Patto) Faulkner is a no.7 or no.8. He is not a test standard batsman.
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Yep, hangin' out for the season to start. Think cable covers a number of the practice games (not sure about OneHD) Anyway ... this ESPN Doco has been screening on ESPN in the last few days but I noticed it's been posted up on Youtube. Interesting to look back at how Elway was a huge prospect in baseball and how the draft was 'tested'. Also made mention of a League that I'd never heard of ... The USFL (United States Football League) Both Elway and Marino came out of the same draft and this is their story ... 'Elway to Marino' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HqrM7KzByQ
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Ha! Is it being broadcast on the net or on Eurosport? Was trying to find an image of Froome with the actual Tour de France trophy but had no luck.
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An audio podcast from the final day ... Chris Froome is crowned champion For a comprehensive summary ... Froome: champion of the 100th Tour! Congratulations to Chris Froome .. a worthy winner and just far too good for his rivals. It's been another fantastic tour. Marcel Kittel, Peter Sagan and Nairo Quintana also excelled during the great race. Fabulous viewing.
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The last day ... Versailles / Paris Champs-Élysées. The stage begins at about 1.45am and finishes at about 5.30am (our time) Stage 21 ... live coverage from the official site Jean Francois Pescheux's view ... Froome waits for his crown on a night for the sprinters Preview video and map of the course
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Quintana wins stage 20! He claims 2nd overall along with the 'King of the Mountain' and the 'Best young rider'. Top performance. Rodriguez came 2nd in the stage to claim 3rd overall whilst Froome marked both riders to finish 3rd in the stage. Here's an audio podcast (10 mins) of last nights stage ... Froome all but secures the title For a comprehensive summary ... Quintana's coup... the arrival of a climbing king!
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Well the Tour is as good as over you'd reckon. Podium places are up for grabs and Quintana is almost sure to attack to gain outright 2nd spot. That would then make for an interesting stage tonight. All Froome has to do is track them in a reasonable fashion and he'll be the 'Tour de France' winner. They might still make him work for it. Stage 20 ... live coverage from the official site Jean Francois Pescheux's view ... One last throw of the dice Preview video and map of the course
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You could mount an argument that Clarke will be the only batsmen in this current squad who will return to England in 2015 (yes, we're back in England in 2 years time, not 4) ... Cricket - future tours At some stage the selectors will have to bite the bullet and pick young batsmen with good techniques and temperament (big runs would be handy as well but the first 3 bits of criteria are very important) In the last 5 years we've been picking old blokes with good technique and temperament (North, Cowan, Rogers) or young blokes without good technique or temperament. (Hughes, Warner and Smith have technique issues whilst Khawaja and Shaun Marsh have temperament issues) The selectors need to identify the young batsmen with good technique and temperament and give them a good go at it. Doolan, Maddinson, Burns, Silk and Mitch Marsh could easily be given some opportunities. Obviously not all at once but over a period of 18 months to 2 years. There are no doubt others in the mix. The current batting line-up is taking us nowhere. Rogers is a good player but he's too old. Watson is not a test opener and might survive if his bowling holds up. Hughes, Warner, Khawaja and Smith (see above) and Cowan is too old. The only older player who stands out is Bailey (he adds badly needed leadership) One of our biggest issues is our batsmen's ability to play spin. Swann didn't bowl all that well last night but he picked up 5 wickets. He'll probably do much the same in the 2nd innings. As an aside, here are our batsmen from the '85 campaign. Wood Hilditch Wessels Border Welham Boon Ritchie Matthews and Phillips were used in the top 6 or 7 as well. We've been here before and it took Border, Simpson and a totally revamped batting line-up before we returned to power again.
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Even though there was some heavy rain in the Alps, it was a fairly uneventful stage in a lot of ways (in terms of the GC classification) A little disappointing but the school of thought was that yesterday's stage (stage 18) took a lot out of the cyclists. Here's an audio podcast (6 minutes) of the stage with references to the stage being "Too much for everybody and so they don't play" ... Froome maintains advantage For a comprehensive summary ... Costa: up, down... and onward to victory (again)!
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Two from Eric Burdon. The first with 'War' and the second with the 'Animals' ... Macca 13.5
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Incredible isn't it. On it's own, this stage is like a stand alone event. Never mind that they've just completed 18 stages and have another tough day tomorrow. If anything really dramatic is going to happen, it may happen tonight. Porte in a lot of ways remains the key. If Froome is left on his own, he might crack. I understand that it's unlikely and if it was a few other past cyclists having such an unassailable lead, I'd probably be calling it now. Just got a feeling that there is a twist in the tail (that may happen tomorrow night by the way)
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Well, Froome wasn't at his absolute best and at one stage he looked liked he might lose a bit of time. In the end he gained nearly a minute on Contador! Great viewing last night and Quintana could provide more than nuisance value over the next 2 nights. Will be fascinating to see how Porte goes tonight. He was great last night but if we remember back to the 2nd day in the Pyrenees as an example, he may have spent all his petrol tickets again ..... maybe Stage 19 ... live coverage from the official site Jean Francois Pescheux's view ... Is this the stage when a white jersey gets some red dots? Map of the course and video preview Not only is this a really tough stage but it's a long one time wise (according to the time schedules) The stage kicks off at 7pm and will finish at around about 1.00am. By the time the cyclists get to the start of the climb to the 'Col de la Croix Fry', there will be some very tired legs. I'm expecting a few surprises. That includes Froome either tracking every other contender, perhaps faltering or making a break of his own. Quintana and Contador would be expected to make their attacks again. Literally anything could happen.
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I can remember the tour finishing off with 2 very tough stages in the past but never 3. I seem to remember the last 4 days generally consisting of 2 tough stages in the Alps followed by a tricky 'flat' stage and then the final stage into Paris. If I'm right then this is a bit of unknown territory for the cyclists. The Colombian Quintana and of course Contador come into proceedings. Kreuziger and Mollema are within striking distance. If Froome does win the tour he will have really earned it. By the end of the next 3 days we'll either be singing his praises or perhaps questioning him or his team. For what it's worth I reckon he'll hang on but wouldn't be surprised if he gets caught (how's that for your quintessential 2 bob each way!)
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Stage 18 (part 1 of the 'Trilogy of Terror') ... live coverage from the official site Jean Francois Pescheux's view ... The answer? 42! Map of the course and video preview Thought I'd put the profiles of the next 3 stages up to give an idea of what's in store for the riders (and the fans) There are a total of 8 difficult climbs (6 long and 2 of a shorter distance) over the 3 days and each climb could be viewed as a 'mini stage'. There can be no faltering by the cyclists in contention and indeed any number of the GC riders can have a big day and gain lots of time on their rivals. Chris Froome will need to be at his best over the course of the next 3 days and he will need the support of his team (mainly Porte it can be supposed) Look for lots of random attacks ... bring it on ... 'The Trilogy of Terror'
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Stage 17 ... live coverage from the official site Jean Francois Pescheux's view ... 32km can be a lot different to 33... Map of the course, video and preview
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Interesting take on 'Hotspot' by Warren Brennan in this BBC 5live podcast. Brennan helped developed hotspot fot TV. The interview begins at about 4.30 in and continues until about 16.30 into the podcast ... Ashes 1st Test review According to Brennan, the Jonathan Trott 2nd innings dismissal came down to human error rather than hotspot failing. He also talked about hotspot not being foolproof (according to certain conditions and/or circumstances) The lead into the interview is rather interesting with Michael Vaughan giving his opinion on the Haddin and Clarke dismissals. Even 'The Don' gets a mention.
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Couple of interesting articles there Cards and JJ. It's doubtful that any 'teams' would get involved again in a drugs program after all the furore of the Armstrong saga (but you never know for sure) Individual cyclists - different story. Stage 16 ... live coverage from the official site Jean Francois Pescheux's view ... Battle of the GC men set to continue Map of the course, video and preview
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Good point re the time trial there, Cards. That time trial (Wednesday) also involves 2 x cat2 climbs (albeit not very long - distance wise) I don't wish any ill will on Froome, but he's probably going to have to 'collapse' on one of the remaining difficult climbs to lose it. Anything can happen and I suppose I'm just hoping something 'dramatic' happens. As Froome said himself, he's in great form and last night proved it. He just put the foot down and left them in his wake. He may do it again. I reckon he's that sort of sportsperson - no hesitation, just go for it.
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Ha! Perhaps the wording should have been ex stars. I know as soon as I declare Froome over the line something will happen to prove otherwise. There are still the 3 mountain stages to go and I can't help but think that the tour could be ultimately decided in the climb to the top of 'Annecy-Semnoz' (stage 20) That stage is preceded by 2 other tortuous stages of course. Froome will need to be at his best in all those 3 stages ... here's the stage 20 profile ...
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It was certainly an emphatic performance by Froome. It's a shame that thoughts other than 'awesome' or 'what a champ' can jump into your way of thinking. It's only natural that we've become a fair bit cynical and suspicious. He probably would have won the tour last year if the team weren't riding for Wiggins so it's not as if he's come from nowhere. The spectre from the Armstrong era will hang over the sport for a number of years unfortunately. Interesting stance from Chris just a few weeks ago ... Froome’s fury at cheat Lance Anyway, here's a 12 minute audio podcast from last night's stage ... Chris Froome produces a blistering ride For a comprehensive summary of the stage ... Froome: victory in the Sky
