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MESSAGES->author
Clarkey3k
20 May, 2017 12:28
Quote:
Littlelen
He is a top quality 10, reads the game well, good vision who can also attack the line and spin out flat bullet passes when needed but most importantly can kick !
I can't wait to see him in a Bath shirt. Thanks George but I'm more than happy Freddie is coming!

+1



Adopted players: 23/24 O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw

Family . Community . Nation - [sdp.org.uk]

My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's

Bathovalballer
Bathovalballer
22 May, 2017 02:15
Freddie showed his class, trying to the end to beat Wasps (including tackling until concussed!) for a club who doesn't want him. Would George have done that for Bath? I doubt it!

Made a try with a wonder pass and kicked quite beautifully. I cannot wait for Freddie to put on the BB & W and run out on the Rec, where he belongs.

I have a feeling we shall remember Freddie much longer than we remember GF.

Welcome home Freddie, and goodbye George.

gaz59
gaz59
24 May, 2017 07:19
A very odd article in the Telegraph

Eddie blaming Bath expecting George to play in a way that doesn't suit his style!

George saying that he is looking forward to joining a club that really wants to win trophies

Might all be jouno spin but neither statements are what I would call professional and I may be taking it all wrong but it could imply an attitude that quite frankly we really don't need in our club

BathMatt53
BathMatt53
24 May, 2017 07:26
Pretty sure Bath didn't ask him to miss touchline kicks and place kicks to the posts for starters. All just excuses, Eddie backing his captain.

MESSAGES->author
shipwrecked
24 May, 2017 07:31
Quote:
gaz59
A very odd article in the Telegraph
Eddie blaming Bath expecting George to play in a way that doesn't suit his style!

George saying that he is looking forward to joining a club that really wants to win trophies

Might all be jouno spin but neither statements are what I would call professional and I may be taking it all wrong but it could imply an attitude that quite frankly we really don't need in our club

Not sure I fully understand. What style would suite George? Does anyone know Leicester's style with 3 coaching changes in a season?

Very surprised Eddie would be openly critical of a club that gives him such creative backs, Ford, Watson, JJ, Rokko.

George Ford saying we don't want to win trophies? Is there a problem at the club or was the Mike Ford issue much bigger than we realised?

I don't think that does GF any credit at all IF TRUE.

opti
Optimist
24 May, 2017 07:45
I clicked on the Telegraph piece expecting to have a jolly good splutter of my morning tea, but there's not much in the George quote about Bath to get upset about.

"I’m really looking forward to rejoining Leicester to hopefully be part of a team that can really challenge and win trophies again. You want to be part of a successful team.”

Is it a dig at Bath? I think it's more a case of trying to be positive about Leicester's prospects. As for Eddie - we all know that he talks utter garbage. He's picking on Bath because he knows that will chime, as an excuse, with George, who for some reason always has to be a bit mollycoddled when the rest of the world is failing to describe him as 'better than Dan Carter at that age'. Plus, TB and TM are Kiwis, so Eddie can't help himself.

My one genuine fear, from a Bath PoV though, is that GF and Eddie could be unsettling Joseph and Watson.

MESSAGES->author
shipwrecked
24 May, 2017 08:00
Quote:
Optimist
I clicked on the Telegraph piece expecting to have a jolly good splutter of my morning tea, but there's not much in the George quote about Bath to get upset about.
.......My one genuine fear, from a Bath PoV though, is that GF and Eddie could be unsettling Joseph and Watson.

Agree with that completely, the fact that they are on different continents this summer with different peer groups and different coaches should put it into some sort perspective I hope.

I can't imagine TB an TW being anything but positive.

DanWiley
Dan Wiley
24 May, 2017 08:06
I agree.

Don't take anything Eddie days at face value and George just said the things that players joining a new club always say.

I suppose if you look at George's game over the last 4 years it has changed, and become less effective of late. we do seem (to me) to want to kick the ball a lot in times when there's little to gain from it. It's hard to know whether that's the game plan, George implementing the game plan poorly or just George changing his style of play. I guess the good thing, from an observers point of view, it that we might actually find out over the next couple of years, or even months.

Substitute
Substitute
24 May, 2017 08:55
I think people are forgetting just how horrible his form was during his father's final season.

It's hardly tailed off under TB and TM, because that would imply a real low standard.

incastrowetrust
Ayerzawannabe
24 May, 2017 09:11
listen to every player who is talking about a team they are moving to.
"I'm looking forward to going to blah blah, to be part of a successful team and to hopefully push for Trophies" even if they are joining the team that finished second bottom.

Its the standard.


I don't agree with Eddie commenting on a prem club game plan, but Eddie does what Eddie wants.

opti
Optimist
24 May, 2017 09:22
I'm finding it a bit hard to separate out my Bath-hat/England-hat view on GF - but I think it's fair to say that his England career is in some jeopardy - Slade, Lozowski and possibly Mallinder are all coming in to the mix for the single available place in England's 10/12 axis.

The Baa-Baas match ought to just be an enjoyable end of season romp, but he can't afford a bad day with the boot. The fact that it's not actually a pressure situation, ironically, puts a bit more pressure on him to slot his kicks. He'll enjoy attacking, for sure - but what chance of gelling with an entirely untried centre combination. And attacking his channel is such a no-brainer, no-practice-required tactic for the Baa-Baas that he may find that element of his game exposed too.

MESSAGES->author
hasta
24 May, 2017 09:52
I think you're overstating the case for Slade and Mallinder there Opti. Slade doesn't even start at Exeter and one (admittedly superb) line kick doesn't suddenly change that. Mallinder has been very up and down and who knows where he's going to play. Lozowski has been excellent, but again I wonder if he's starting in Sarries first XV.

opti
Optimist
24 May, 2017 10:16
'they are coming into the mix' is overstating it?

MESSAGES->author
hasta
24 May, 2017 10:19
Yup.

MESSAGES->author
Which Tyler
24 May, 2017 10:25
TBF Slade isn't coming into the mix - he's been in the mix for a solid 12 months now; and Mallinder won't get anywhere near the mix until he grows a pair and takes responsibility for tackling people on occassion.


What IS overstating things (IMO) is to say that Slade "doesn't even start at Exeter" despite starting 19 matches this season.
Slade and Devoto are surely Exeter's first choice centres (19 and 21 starts); with Sam Hill (13) and Campagnaro (9) rotating in as a rotation policy



A man who cannot change his mind, cannot change anything

RAEBURN SHIELD




Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 24/05/2017 10:32 by Which Tyler.

P G Tips
P G Tips
24 May, 2017 10:34
Eddie's comments also reports in The Times.

Provocative of Eddie - but there is a ring of truth IMHO. Whether it is case of hampering development I can't judge, but the game plan does seem to have sent him into his shell. He was in good form early season when Bath were running more and up to the Bristol Challenge Cup game both form and body language were positive. Since then both have been mixed.

Perhaps he really did disagree with the game plan and that finally influenced his decision to quit?

PG

DanWiley
Dan Wiley
24 May, 2017 10:35
"I think people are forgetting just how horrible his form was during his father's final season. "

I am, it wasn't great, but in a team generally in poor form it was about as bad as everyone else. I'd say the same is true this season, when we've played well , he has, when he's played badly I don't recall him being alone often.

As for the hats: in Bath terms, who cares now? In England terms, its great that we've so many good options for 10. I agree that I don't think anyone is seriously challenging him yet, but the fact that Lozowski is just a step away from doing so is a good thing for England.

MESSAGES->author
shipwrecked
24 May, 2017 10:49
Opti's point without identifying the personnel is valid though. George Ford's hold on the 10 spot is tenuous.

Ford's problem is Farrell who keeps getting better. Brad Barritt is coming up on 31 this year and Sarries will be looking to kick on. There are already signs of refreshing the backs with Liam Williams. I could see Lozowski and Farrell forming a partnership both at club and country level.

If England (and Bath) had a 'lumpy' 12 I think that would be the game plan. Ford used to offer line breaks passes and a solid kicking game. Line breaks have gone and he is wobbly of the tee so he loses the unpredictability factor. I'm not sure his 'broken play' cameos are enough now, especially as he has to concede the gain line with his speed bump tackling.

I think he has a lot to prove at Tigers.

Bathovalballer
Bathovalballer
25 May, 2017 16:09
Well George has not put in the displays a so called lesser fly half in Leicester's eyes, Freddie has for a club who have basically told him he is not seen as sufficiently good to win trophies with him at 10. (That is wrong as well as he was instrumental in winning the LV for Tigers!)

We shall see on that point as I believe Bath with Freddie (and Rhys for that matter) at 10 will be much more 'together' as a team, like another West Country outfit whose results far exceed there perceived quality. We stand more chance of emulating Exeter with F & R at 10 IMV.

I think GF's comments have an element of excuse about them, in that how could he possibly excel with a bunch of losers, both players and coaches. I hope it winds one or two people up at Bath and we will see a number of players trundling down his 10 channel next season to say hello. (Many teams attack weakness in a backline, and sometimes a 10 who cannot match the challenge of big brutes heading his way, is 'hidden' at full back or elsewhere. eg. Exeter often 'hide' Steenson as he is not the biggest tackler.

Also, like all newer players, unless they really kick on and do something different more often each season, Prem players 'work' out the patterns of every player and work out ways to nullify or stifle him. That is what has happened to George in some respect and he cannot or doesn't know how or want to rise above it, apart from jumping ship and blaming everyone else (apart from Dad) for his woeful recent form. And by the way, some very poor personally made decisions as Co-Captain, or is that everyones' else fault as well.

No I feel we have a much more committed, top class if slightly less talented individual who knows his worth to the club and the team in Freddie, and I just hope George finds his Nirvana with the Tigers.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 25/05/2017 18:08 by Bathovalballer.

incastrowetrust
Ayerzawannabe
25 May, 2017 21:17
TBF I don't think the AWC was in the minds of the Tigers board when they where talking about winning trophies.

Bathovalballer
Bathovalballer
28 May, 2017 17:35
Haven't seen the Baa-Baas game but wondered how a certain English fly half played?

Mike the Taxi
Mike the Taxi
28 May, 2017 17:50
...just the 13 points scored(Sm49)

P G Tips
P G Tips
28 May, 2017 17:53
Missed a fairly straightforward penalty relatively early, but nailed 3 more while the game was close. Tactical kicking very good. Got the backline going well, especially late on after a lot of injury disruption.

Put his body on the line in the tackle: not heroic, but mostly pretty effective. Kept seeking opportunities for attack.

8.75/10 IMHO.


PG

MESSAGES->author
OutsideBath
28 May, 2017 17:55
Quote:
Bathovalballer
Haven't seen the Baa-Baas game but wondered how a certain English fly half played?

Couldn't give a toss how he played, he's not a Bath player.

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