The Official "Can Murray Win Wimbledon?" Thread

[Gromit]

What do people think of the Robinson's adverts where they portray a multicultural britain willing on a brit to win Wimbledon?

Featuring some sheikhs in turbans, a black face or two and some white middle class folk celebrating.

I find myself wondering what exactly was their thinking / motive was behind it.

 

[fen_boy]

I find myself wondering what exactly was their thinking / motive was behind it.

Sell squash?

 

[slaar]

What do people think of the Robinson's adverts where they portray a multicultural britain willing on a brit to win Wimbledon?

Featuring some sheikhs in turbans, a black face or two and some white middle class folk celebrating.

I find myself wondering what exactly was their thinking / motive was behind it.

I have to say, that's a cracking advert.

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[Jazzz]

I've met a lady who worked with him in Scotland, she was scathing of the LTA (with good reason, they really are piss-poor) and fully supported him moving to Spain when he was younger. She thought that Murray's family paid for him to go, I was under the impression the LTA subsidised it to some extent.

They've certainly spent a fair bit on him, and I think that much resentment is due to the LTA and others seeing him as an ingrate. He is cocky and his mother is quite vocal on his behalf, which causes additional tension. He rarely acknowledges the LTA or supports their activities - as fgar as I gather, because he doesn't think they helped him that much - even though they have invested a lot in him. He's slowly unwinding his engagement with them as well, hiring his own coaches etc. I can't really fault it, he's taking responsibility for his own career, but I think he could be a litlte bit more supportive of those who helped him early on.

I can see both why he did what he did, and she (his mother) does what she does, but also why the LTA (and, by extension, many of those involved in tennis in the UK) might be a touch aggrieved.

Hold on, I don't get this... you say Murray's problem is that he doesn't have time for the LTA, but you describe them yourself as 'piss-poor'? He had to go to Spain to get proper coaching because we don't have it here?

I don't know much about Murray but it seems to me like if the LTA is as you say Murray is doing just the right thing by it.

 

[mattie]

Hold on, I don't get this... you say Murray's problem is that he doesn't have time for the LTA, but you describe them yourself as 'piss-poor'? He had to go to Spain to get proper coaching because we don't have it here?

I don't know much about Murray but it seems to me like if the LTA is as you say Murray is doing just the right thing by it.

It's quite simple, the LTA try to bring through high-quality players and they don't always do a very good job of it (in fact, rarelly do they do a good job of it) - in my limited experience because they've never managed to balance supporting open access tennis and developing grand slam winners, and because they're still an old boy's club at heart - too much money and support for those who don't really need it, not enough for those who do. And this has ben the case for years.

They still funded him though, and he opted to take the funding. That he went beyond this and forged his own career is to his credit, which is why I can see both sides of the story. There were those in the LTA who really helped his career (technically and financially), and he also was astute and motivated enough to see that wasn't going to be enough in its own right.

His mother is pretty forthright, which I think gets people's backs up at the LTA. Egos clashing, basically.

 

[DexterTCN]

Which just makes it better.

 

[mattie]

Which just makes it better.

Which bit?

If it's him taking his career into his own hands I'm right with you, it shows a dedication that cuts against the attitude of many UK tennis players.

Bogdanovic is a skilful player, but seems to just do whatever the LTA tell him (except to win, of course) knowing he'll always be OK and will still get funding. I remember hearing about Jim Courier out training in the pissing rain whilst Jeremy Bates sat around drinking tea - presumably because his coach hadn't made him get his arse in gear. I'd suggest Murray is closer to Courier than Bates in attitude, which given his undoubted ability is very good to see.

As an aside, I remember the LTA cutting Bogdanovic's funding because he refused to play a tournament. I'm not sure if I support trhe LTA in that case for giving him a kick up his lazy arse or him for telling them he isn't their pawn. I hedge towards the LTA, because unlike Murray I can't believe Bogdanovic would go against the LTA out of anything other than laziness.

 

[Gingerman]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8085394.stm
Fucking shame

 

[Pickman's model]

this thread should have had a public poll

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8085394.stm
Fucking shame

 

[Gingerman]

indeed,I like Nadal,comes across as a nice likable unassuming guy.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Me too - as I said, I usually hate it when a couple of people really dominate a sport, but I find Federer and Nadal both really really likeable

 

[Gingerman]

Murray's ob a strong-minded determined bloke,not many Brit tennis players would have dispensed with one of the best coaches in the game
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/te...Andy-Murray-eyes-life-after-Brad-Gilbert.html

 

[Meltingpot]

indeed,I like Nadal,comes across as a nice likable unassuming guy.

Yes he does. All the same, I think this could be Murray's year.

 

[Gingerman]

Me too - as I said, I usually hate it when a couple of people really dominate a sport, but I find Federer and Nadal both really really likeable

Yep both are proof that you dont need to be an unlikable wanker to succeed.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

It's particularly amazing how humble Federer is. He's won everything there is to be won, but still seems so grounded and, well, nice.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

It's particularly amazing how humble Federer is. He's won everything there is to be won, but still seems so grounded and, well, nice.

Agreed.

 

[Meltingpot]

It's particularly amazing how humble Federer is. He's won everything there is to be won, but still seems so grounded and, well, nice.

Yes he is, he's an all time great player who hasn't let his success go to his head.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Agreed.

Did you see his breakthrough match at Wimbledon?

It must have been about 2002. He was unheard of but played Sampras who was the tournament favourite and beat him. From then on it seemed to clear he would be a great player.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Yes he is, he's an all time great player who hasn't let his success go to his head.

Something else British sports people could learn from. You get people in Britain who've achieved relatively little yet carry on like they're greats without justification.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Did you see his breakthrough match at Wimbledon?

It must have been about 2002. He was unheard of but played Sampras who was the tournament favourite and beat him. From then on it seemed to clear he would be a great player.

Can't remember but i probably would've watched that.

 

[mattie]

It's particularly amazing how humble Federer is. He's won everything there is to be won, but still seems so grounded and, well, nice.

Yep, he had a dip in form last year and you could see him getting a bit tetchy as it was doubtlessly frustrating, but he always caught himself - being gracious is obviously important to him.

He also got a touch catty about Murray (whether he could win the US or Oz Open, I can't recall exactly), but I think that was more with the typical media overhype than anything else.

Superb to watch, just so graceful and relies on touch and skill rather than outright power.

 

[Flashman]

I remember Tim playing and beating him, maybe the year before that?

 

[Gingerman]

Another thing I like about Federer is the fact that he keeps his private life private,dos'nt believe in exposing it to all and sundry,I mean dos anyone know whether he's married or what his girlfriend looks like? I dont.

 

[mattie]

Something else British sports people could learn from. You get people in Britain who've achieved relatively little yet carry on like they're greats without justification.

I'd argue that the ones who carry on like twats are just more obvious than the ones who don't as they're, well, carrying on like twats.

Paul Scholes, the later edition of Jason Robinson, it's such a shame that they don't get the profile they deserve.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I'd argue that the ones who carry on like twats are just more obvious than the ones who don't as they're, well, carrying on like twats.

Paul Scholes, the later edition of Jason Robinson, it's such a shame that they don't get the profile they deserve.

True, true, I was just thinking of so many other footballers. The ultimate one has to be Freddie Sears. Came on for us, scored, and immediately told everyone he was going to be Michael Owen 2 - reportedly everyone hates him for that.

 

[Gingerman]

He also got a touch catty about Murray (whether he could win the US or Oz Open, I can't recall exactly), but I think that was more with the typical media overhype than anything else.

.

Prob got fed up with the British media asking him too many questions about Murray instead of himself.

 

[mattie]

Another thing I like about Federer is the fact that he keeps his private life private,dos'nt believe in exposing it to all and sundry,I mean dos anyone know whether he's married or what his girlfriend looks like? I dont.

Eh? She is always, absolutely always, at all of his Wimbledon games.

A decent player herself a few years back, not quite up with the best, but at least she understands the game and the pressures.

 

[mattie]

Prob got fed up with the British media asking him too many questions about Murray instead of himself.

Exactly that. He's the greatest player of his generation and they're asking him whether a lad who's barely been in the game 5 minutes is going to beat him.

 

[mattie]

True, true, I was just thinking of so many other footballers. The ultimate one has to be Freddie Sears. Came on for us, scored, and immediately told everyone he was going to be Michael Owen 2 - reportedly everyone hates him for that.

I hope this doesn't sound nasty, but Freddie Sears just has one of those faces. I think it's ever so slightly scowling.