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Kicking The Ball Away.
Discussion started by bathstigg , 18 February, 2012 16:47
Kicking The Ball Away.
bathstigg 18 February, 2012 16:47
When are Bath going to realise that keeping the ball in hand keeps possession. Box kicks and aimless territory kicks to the Glaws back 3 wasted so many opportunities. Apart from dull Rugby we will never beat goods sides with this strategy.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
bathfanstuckinhighwycombe 18 February, 2012 16:57
Somebody had to say it. Pains me to say but Gloucester were the better side even if S Lawson and Burns should have joined Hamilton in the bin.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
m0rris 18 February, 2012 17:17
At times we managed to look worse than Italy (...Burton) in terms of kicking away possession.

I don't really think can be solely attributed as being the kicking. It is a shortage of ideas when we have the ball that means that we end up kicking it... aimless kicks or aimless running? Thats the choice they seem to be facing.

...Any team that willingly and constantly kicks possession away to a backline that includes Sharples and May is going to suffer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/02/2012 17:27 by m0rris.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
BathBeaver 18 February, 2012 17:18
Claassens' ponderous play and poor kicking is costing us dear.

Gloucester were the better side and should have been home and dry by half time if they hadn't butchered several try scoring overlaps.

Bath's kicking out of hand was clueless. We lacked composure in midfield, and as a result aimlessly kicked so much valuable, hard grafted for, possession.

Not sure Claassens trusts Heathcote and that is why he is taking on so much responsibility. Reminds me of when he had Ryan Davis outside him.

We are not going to reach the top six at this rate, so we may as well bring on Cook and Heathcote as a partnership until Beaver is back, and bench Claassens until his form returns.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Hamptonite 18 February, 2012 17:24
Hear, Hear, BB

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Defends 18 February, 2012 17:33
Claassens is a total embarrassment and has been all season. He is just not good enough for Premiership Rugby. The most disturbing factor is McGeechan, who keeps on picking him. Claassens was a disaster today - How many more times will he let the side down, before he gets the order of the boot.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
annie blackthorn 18 February, 2012 17:40
(Sm16)On the way home I was thinking -
How badly in every way do some players have to be consistently before they are dropped (i.e out of form).

I wasn't thinking of Classy btw - who is probably being coached to play that way.
Apart from that I thought it was a good old fashioned rugby match - shame about the result but it could have been a lot bigger margin. BB&W on the whole did play their hearts out, and it is now painfully obvious to me at least that the coaching is not up to scratch, neither from the attacking point of view and the forward play. Staggered to see them making a decision by committee as they sauntered up to a line out. Hooper had fun rattling Burns, didnt' he? And why o why did 'we' wait so long to make substitutions eh, Mr Geech? When did we last see Bath doing what Glaws did to gain their try when they passed from one side of the pitch to the other with speed to get through the gap?

Waynes Barnes has gone down several notches in my regard as well. He didn't appear to be properly in control of the game from about 15 minutes in and Glaws took full advantage when they could.

Wonderful handbags btw, lads, which got the tension out of the way. Best I've seen for many a year! Barnes very rightly gave a yellow to each side to settle the matter.

Exeter away next up.

P.S. Was that enough noise for you, for those who think we don't make enough when needed? Or were you all in the bar and didn't notice?

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Rucking Carl 18 February, 2012 17:54
Maybe I saw a different game but I thought that Gloucester were sh*t too. We were slightly sh*tter and the scoreline was probably a fair reflection, and out line out at the end proved it.

Getting hugely frustrated with the kicking game as we kick aimlessly, there's very little chasing, we don't kick to touch from the 22 and we don't kick to space.

Sometimes kicking is the right tactic and sometimes running is the right tactic, but the players seem preprogrammed to always kick. STOP IT.

Plus point today was Hooper-shoved a few comments about him being weak down some posters throats. He was in the middle of everything feisty today including running through the exiting Glaws team as they ran off the pitch after their warm up. He was hugely up for that game today.

Oh and Annie, could you keep the noise down please?

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
dabos 18 February, 2012 18:04
What an utter shambles. The worst coach in the world wouldn't have told you to play like that. I am effing furious, ONE attack in the first half!!! Then kick away possession all second half FFS. Thank goodness it's only a game we are not very good at.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Bod 18 February, 2012 18:17
Game plan perhaps is it? Or cluelss, skill bereft players who can't execute the instructions of the Head Honch? Or lack of gelling, pre-season preparation and poor training facilities and lack of conditioning with perhaps a serious malaise setting in due to excessive skills coaching? I'm sure we'll get the official missive of enlightenment soon.



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Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
WembdonJumper 18 February, 2012 18:27
Can't believe there were players out there today who carry the title of Premiership players. To name a few - Vesty, Banahan,Classens. Gloucester deserved their win and what a pity we couldn't keep Burns. Would have saved us paying out very large salaries to overseas players. He is going to be very good, always trying to be creative and kept pegging us back with some long and accurate kicks. Just what your forwards want.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Bri 18 February, 2012 18:28
That's why Gloucester took him off.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Pubdave 18 February, 2012 18:50
I keep thinking back to Staurt Barnes' comments a few weeks ago about Bath being overcoached. I never saw Claassens play like that under Meehan. If we are going to kick the ball away, why stand at the base of the ruck for 2 mins before doing so? It just makes no sense. Maybe we have ended up with Meehan's players trying to play McGeechan's game, which clearly hasn't worked. Another point is leadership. I know we always have a go at Borthwik on here, but we miss him. When Glos gave away a pen under their posts after Ollie's run, we should have had our captain in Barnes' ear asking why no yellow, or at least making a point. All negatives for me, except for Ollie Woodburn who is becoming a top player.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
johnnyf 18 February, 2012 18:50
We go from week to week limping along with a malaise that seems to say "have pity on me"
These guys are hand-picked professionals employed to do a job which collectively seems to get further and further away from them each time they play.
Confidence is nowhere to be seen.
Surely it is the function of coaching to weld together a squad of individuals and to enhance the skills they have (otherwise why employ them in the first place?), so that the product of the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.
You know where this is going....................!

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Bod 18 February, 2012 19:00
Johnnyf - Pray illuminate the way with the wonderous light of your wisdom for those too dull-eyed that cannot see!



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Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Bri 18 February, 2012 19:02
2 mins and 11 seconds left we kick the ball back to them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/02/2012 19:03 by Brian4455.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
soapinthebath 18 February, 2012 19:13
I've moaned all season about Claassens and his box kicks, both on here and in my seat, probably much to the annoyance of those around me; however today was just the icing on the cake for me. Utter dross.

It is a pathetic strategy to hoof the ball up and concede possession, for what, 10 metres? Great. The ball is so slow that the defence know what is coming and our chasers don't ever seem to be on the same wavelength. We don't even cheat properly at the back of the ruck by adding numbers to lengthen it and move the ball further back from the defenders - hence the Qera charge down.

It is absolutely infuriating to watch, and I hope today is the last straw for this strategy.

Apparently we've turned a corner though this season, yeah b0ll0cks we have...



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welcome back tins...

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
ligger 18 February, 2012 19:41
Agree waste of ball all second half, Claas stood for about 10 mins (well seemed like it, fun though 30 people stood still is to watch) each ruck. Vesty game plan in last 40 also seemed to be kick it directly to any of their back 3, when it fails 3 time - try it again.

That is the worst bit for me, the fans can see it is not working but why do they persist?

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
paul bath 18 February, 2012 20:11
Vesty needs to retire.
Claasens is having the worst season to date.

Heathcote needs the full backing of his scrum half so I would agree with cook being handed the number 9 shirt.

Think of the salary cap we could free up -

Bin Vesty.
Bin Claasens.
Bin the most expensive mistake in the squad - MOODY
Bin Hipkiss

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
WestonDave 18 February, 2012 20:26
soapinthebath - if I'm thinking of the same incident part of the reason Qera got the charge down is that Classens sent a 4 page letter to Glaws outlining his next move by frantically waving Woodburn down the blindside from standing deep. We could all see what was coming from Bath from the other end of the ground so its no surprise Glaws were ready for it! Its just stupidity - if the chip down the blindside isn't on because the winger is ready for a different play, don't do it, and definitely don't do it by making it totally obvious what you are about to do.

To be fair to Vesty his covering when their prop went charging down towards the big screen certainly saved us a try against, and was very well judged. However as a fullback he simply hasn't got the pace to give him any other option than a hoof upfield, which in turn makes it safe for opponents to kick at him. For all the criticism of Cuthberts mistakes at least he has options.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 18 February, 2012 20:48
Quote:
paul bath

Bin Vesty.
Bin Claasens.
Bin the most expensive mistake in the squad - MOODY
Bin Hipkiss

Yes, Moody and Hipkiss had a mare this afternoon.

Vesty had some poor kick out of hand, but his defence was immense today.



Stuart

Former ed.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/02/2012 21:17 by TCM2007.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
paul bath 18 February, 2012 21:02
Quote:
TCM2007
Quote:
paul bath
Bin Vesty.
Bin Claasens.
Bin the most expensive mistake in the squad - MOODY
Bin Hipkiss[/quote



Yes, Moody and Hipkiss had a mare this afternoon.

Vesty had some poor kick out of hand, but his defence was immense today.

Yes moody and Hipkiss had a nightmare this afternoon because the only value they brought to our game was entertaining corporate box guests.

As for Vesty I think he gave away more through poor kicking than we gained. Another example of journey men picking up their last pay check from our season tickets.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 18 February, 2012 23:08
Vesty's tackling was immense today, it had to be as he was responsible for kicking most of our ball straight back down the Glaws players throats. Our kicking plan today way woefully devised and even more abjectly executed.

Yes I know I'm moaning again but jeez surely even the glee club now realise we have utterly blown the season. A season filled with real hope, fuelled by BC, that had delivered the worst rugby seen at the Rec since 2002.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 18 February, 2012 23:14
I agree the season is "blown".

However I think you're overstating how awful the rugby has been - at least if you're taking a narrow loss in a rain soaked derby as being typical.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 18 February, 2012 23:19
Like the "narrow" losses at home to Saracens, Wasps, Harlequins and Sale as well as Glaws? Yep I'm overstating again.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 18 February, 2012 23:21
Yep.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
ballsout 18 February, 2012 23:24
You can't overstate how awful the rugby has been, it's been pathetic. In fact it'd be a stretch to call it rugby. Try and look beyond your cold, naive, stat-obsessed view of the sport. We can't break down defences, we can't put an intelligent backs move together, our kicking game is disgraceful (Barkley needs to be dropped asap), and our basics are embarrassing.

Forget gameplans, pragmatic or otherwise, Bath currently are a total mess.

Well done we beat an even sh*tter London Irish team, two second string sides and Glasgow (the latter, I thought was our worst performance of the season)

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 18 February, 2012 23:24
So you're happy we lost those or do you need to explain your point more concisely to me?

I'm not the only one who criticised our performances in those games so your general thrust is?

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 18 February, 2012 23:31
That I can recall worse rugby in the last 10 years, nothing more than that.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 18 February, 2012 23:40
So that makes you happy? A tad laissez-faire to think "well it could be worse"? Besides, you conveniently omit the fact that you've seen so much more infinitely better rugby in the same period too.

Some simple questions (if it's the right or perhaps convenient thread for you):

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE WAY BATH ARE PLAYING?
WHAT IS OUR GAMEPLAN?
WHY ARE WE SO POORLY PLACED IN THE AP?

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 18 February, 2012 23:47
What are you on about "happy"? You said this was the worst rugby in 10 years, I said it wasn't. Quit putting words in people's mouths, it's a rather cheap debating trick.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 18 February, 2012 23:49
So is ignoring the rest of the post mon brave

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
King Curtis 18 February, 2012 23:53
Love is very blind isn't it Stuart.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 18 February, 2012 23:54
Don't usually read past the first line when someone uses that trick.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 19 February, 2012 00:06
Stu, You have mail. It's up to you if you read it but noted that you don't always read stuff you otherwise deign to comment on.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 19 February, 2012 00:23
I read the bit I commented on.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Nookie Bear 19 February, 2012 02:38
Hi Everyone, long time lurker on ERE, and even longer fan/ supporter of Bath rugby football club.For the first time ever I feel the need to post my fustrations after today's totally inept performance.
As as ex player .. at a very junior level granted ( have even played rugby with ex Bod but please don't hold that against me! haha !) I can't believe that any player at any level will cross the " white line" and give anything less than 100%,so will never criticise the comittment to the cause of any player in the blue black and white.But what I can't comprehend are the tactics /gameplan? we are attempting to implement at the present.
I can't pretend I am blessed with a great tactical knowledge of the game, but simple as I am , you can't play rugby without the bloody ball !!! I looked on today in disbelief as players of the quality of Barkley, Classens and Vesty .. yes Sam is a quality player.. kick possesion away time and time again.. Yes conditions were poor,but surely if you get your hands on the ball keep hold of it! Can't play if the other lot have the ball !! Ok ,we all know we don't have a world beating team at the moment .. but potentially it's a dam site better than the tripe we're watching at the moment.. where's the ambition ? the nerve? the BALLS to take the fight to the opposition.. I know it's easy to look to the past .. the glory days .. but teams were scared of Bath in those days .. a day at the Rec was a god awfull experience for the away team .. is it now ? Don't think so !!
Where's the problem ? Not got all the answers .. I'm old fashioned , but to me we still need a couple of big mean nasty ,dirty props to hold up the scrum .. sorry don't see anyone on the books at the moment, that can take us to the heights we all aspire to.. fed up with our scrum eating dirt or retreating backwards at a rate of knots.. Games are won up front.. our front row whoever we put out ,aint good enough ..sorry just my opinion!! Get 2 big kick ass props and a young Danny Grewcock to back up the second row then we're in business!
Or are we ? Probably not . Unless we get a change at the top .. either in personel or mentality. Ok .. it's a new team , players , facilities, owner etc etc etc. Sorry but no more excuses.. unless we change the way we play the game then we are going nowhere.When has kicking the ball to the opposition ever won a game of rugby? WE ARE BATH .. we try to play rugby,SIM wake up... I never ever want to stand in a pub in Bath again.. shake the hand of Gloucester fan (no insult intended) and admit they were better than us... Yes it does hurt that much !



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 19/02/2012 04:48 by NOOKIIE BEAR.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Bri 19 February, 2012 06:37
Bookie Bear,don't agree about the props,think we could do with a big loose head but our match up yesterday with Gloucester was pretty even and they haven't got big, dirty,
Mean,nasty props,they have a eight that work together something we don't.With Hooper and Caldwell in the engine room Cole and Sheriden would struggle.Until we get another big second row like ATtwood and may be two because he's injured a lot this will continue.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Old Bathonian 19 February, 2012 08:39
I hate to say it but I am starting to come round to ex-bods thories....

Vesty must have been under instructions to kick as much as he did, which is stupid when a player has such a weak kick as Vesty does....

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gussieboy 19 February, 2012 09:09
To give Vesty some credit, his tackling was excellent today as was his taking of the high ball, but as with last week his kicking was shocking, pointless and clueless. Also think that us probably Claassens worst game yet, he definitely doesn't trust either his forwards or Heathcott, but them maybe the pointless box kicks are the coaches idea of taking the pressure off them, who knows. What is clear is that it wasn't so long ago we were all raving about the likes of Claassens etc, but they have gone backwards at an alarming rate - time for the coaches to front up or p!ss off IMO.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
CoochieCoo 19 February, 2012 09:28
Vesty's defence was immense, but the kicking and he wasn't the only culprit was diabolical. We were playing headless chicken stuff, instead of the slowly working the ball up the field. Patience seems to have disappeared with the top three inches on the field.

Have to say we are missing Bendy like there is no tomorrow and I am afraid Tom H was caught in the headlights. Get well soon Stephen.



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Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
fat lock 19 February, 2012 09:43
In short

Classens must stop kicking
Heathcote needs to learn to kick, pass, and tackle (ie needs to go away play some lower level rugby, and probably stay there)
Woodburn needs to learn to tackle
Banners needs to see a sports psychologist
Perenise needs to learn to scrummage
Vesty needs to learn to kick. Though his tackling / defence was one of the few high points
Hoops and Caldwell have got to pressurise the opposition lineout - though to fair at least we're starting to win the odd one of our own now

SIM needs to read a coaching manual


If you were to select a combined XV before and after the game how many Bath players would have made it? - Back row and Biggs - no wonder we lost.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Gareth Redux 19 February, 2012 09:53
Our kicking game is a total mess, poorly conceived and stupidly executed. When the whole of the Novia stand is shouting "don't kick the f@cking ball" you know something is going badly awry on the pitch. We have some very experienced, very talented players out there, WHY are they not using their brains and changing things that clearly aren't working? We have a team seemingly so paralysed by fear of failure that they inevitably fail, seems to me we have massive leadership issues both on and off the pitch. Sadly only one team played any real rugby out there yesterday.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Bri 19 February, 2012 09:58
Quote:
fat lock
In short
Classens must stop kicking
Heathcote needs to learn to kick, pass, and tackle (ie needs to go away play some lower level rugby, and probably stay there)
Woodburn needs to learn to tackle
Banners needs to see a sports psychologist
Perenise needs to learn to scrummage
Vesty needs to learn to kick. Though his tackling / defence was one of the few high points
Hoops and Caldwell have got to pressurise the opposition lineout - though to fair at least we're starting to win the odd one of our own now

SIM needs to read a coaching manual


If you were to select a combined XV before and after the game how many Bath players would have made it? - Back row and Biggs - no wonder we lost.

Agree with most of this,Banner just needs a kick up the ar-e by dropping him to the bench for a few games..
Tom is nowhere near ready for the big games although a outstanding prospect,the same for Woodburn.
Classens is the best we have got at the moment and before anyone says it Cooke needs to improve.
The game ended with our last chance at the line out,at least Batty has three years to sort his throw out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 19/02/2012 10:03 by Brian4455.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Mr Kipling 19 February, 2012 10:41
Agree with lots that has been said, disagree with some of it, but we missed one major tactical advantage yesterday....Duncan Bell. At least bringing him on would have given us some heart & never give up commitment!!



If they don't like your opinion, so what! It's your opinion, not theirs.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
Frome Lurkers 19 February, 2012 10:50
Quick ball, quick ball and no kicking--or if kicking, kick into space not into opposition hands.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
cheekywatson 19 February, 2012 11:06
Nothing wrong with Banahan, its not exactly his fault he doesn't do anything when he never gets passed the ball.
secondly, for those of you who criticise Cuthbert, wake up, he is a much better option than Vesty who can't run, can't kick and gets turned over. Fine Jack may drop the odd pass, but he doesn't lose 40m by kicking the ball straight into touch.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
TCM2007 19 February, 2012 11:16
I think the kicking "territory trumps possession" game is not just us, it's pretty much every Premiership team, sadly.

It's perfectly OK for an isolated fullback to kick. And I guess in the conditions of the first half you chances of forcing an error from the receiving team are good.

But it rapidly became clear that the Glaws back 3 could catch high balls all day.

Someone needed to call for a change in plan; realistically eithe Louw as captain or Heathcote at 10. Neither did.



Stuart

Former ed.

Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
CoochieCoo 19 February, 2012 11:58
Quote:
Gareth
WHY are they not using their brains and changing things that clearly aren't working? We have a team seemingly so paralysed by fear of failure that they inevitably fail, seems to me we have massive leadership issues both on and off the pitch.

Yep this is bang on. We need a Jonathan Humphries, a DG or dare I say it Lewis Moody.



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Re: Kicking The Ball Away.
m0rris 19 February, 2012 12:10
I remember reading a Brian Ashton article many moons ago where he was talking about relegation and relegation rugby.... and his example was Bath before he took over which he argued was far too restricted in terms of it's rugby and it took a hero, in this case him, to encourage the players to throw the ball around and play winning rugby.

Essentially, by trying your damned hardest not too lose games you end up losing far more than you would trying to win them. (if that makes any sense at all!)

We're playing a stupid brand of failing rugby and trying to claw every result in our favour. Consequently we're not winning anything as there isn't the mindset or plan.... although I am glad that the Emporer has decided he needs some new clothes.

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