By ChricC
October 10 2011

Tie a Yellow Ribbon...                                           The wearing of yellow ribbons by the female family members of cavalrymen was started in the USA  as a sign of their  steadfastness while their loved ones were away from home serving in the US army it was also the basis of the great John Wayne’s film “She Wore a Yeller Ribbon”.

Later it was used in the US as a sign of welcome home for soldiers returning from modern day wars and was extended by the fixing of the ribbons to trees, buildings, cars and pretty much anything else. 

“Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” was a massive 1973 hit for Tony Orlando and Dawn. 

Whenever I hear that particular record I remember having a housewarming party at my then recently acquired house, a soiree which got somewhat out of hand with most of those present sleeping where they sat once the retreat to brandy, port and especially the lethal “Rusty Nail” (two parts of scotch to one part of Drambuie poured over ice) had occurred. 

I woke to a brilliantly sunny Sunday morning with a head feeling as if Led Zeppelin were having an impromptu gig inside with John Bonham having an especially enthusiastic time. My mouth was seemingly inhabited by locusts so dry was it and somebody seemed to have superglued my eyelids shut.  Through my fogged brain and muttered promises of “never, ever again” I heard the sound of Tony Orlando singing his hit song of the day coming from the radio in the kitchen, where one of the lads was making bacon sandwiches, “to settle the stomach” he insisted, although I remain as unconvinced now as to the efficacy of the remedy as I was then. 

When the denizens of Leicester next make their way up Aylestone Road I hope that they too will see a sea of yellow ribbons (although possibly not from an Ole Oak tree) welcoming back Tigers’ players from their ill starred foray to the World Cup. 

My goodness how the dynamic dozen have been missed by their Tigers’ team mates and suffering supporters. 

On Saturday Tigers suffered another defeat and slumped to eleventh in the Premiership, ironically being saved from the ignominy of occupying the bottom slot by the efforts of their latter day nemesis; Saracens, who dispatched Newcastle the following day. 

Tigers’ defensive system, rather than a lack of commitment from the players, was again laid bare and it now seems that the observation I made in the earliest days of the season; that George Ford was flying out of the defensive line, wasn’t an aberration of the youngster but a tactic, as Staunton, not known for his flamboyant play, was doing the same against Quins but with his pace, or lack of it, the tactic was even more exposed as he looked like granny hitching up her skirts to do the Hokey Cokey. 

Forwards were deployed wide in this “system” and in the first half Quins ran round them twice to score, although later on the Tigers’ defence tightened noticeably until the exhausted forwards, who in normal circumstances would have long since been replaced with the bench players, lost concentration and permitted Quins to bundle over for a third try. 

Now though the missing international players, all twelve of them, are back. 

There will need to be some mental rehabilitation of those subjected to the England regime since June although it is to be hoped that there are no serious injuries to be remedied. 

A major issue for the Tigers’ coaching team will be to release the players to play their natural attacking game now they are free from the stultifying playing by numbers influence of the England coaches. 

I am resisting the temptation to fully appraise England’s performance at the World Cup, both on and off the pitch, as my feelings have already been expressed, so I will keep my own counsel. 

It is hard to find many English rugby supporters who have any time for the LV= Cup or for that matter many clubs who give much for it either – hands up if you care who’s the holder.  OK the smarty from Kingsholm put your hand down; it’s Gloucester. 

At this stage it’s almost impossible to guess which clubs are interested in the competition and which won’t be bothered so hence what teams they’ll field.  It is therefore pointless for me, at this stage, to try and guess what’s going to happen in the opening fixture of this year’s competition. 

In case you have forgotten this is the competition that has the weird arrangement where the participants are split into pools but don’t play their colleagues in the pool – no they play teams from another pool – I have not the faintest idea why.  The whole thing looks to have been dreamt up by  LV to be as incomprehensibly byzantine as possible and so fully reflective of their terms and conditions of insurance. 

Originally the LV= Cup was to have been a sort of “A Team” competition but that, as governments are wont to say,  was  “an aspiration”, and as a consequence some participants field “A Teams” others first XVs and others a hybrid of the two. 

It was also to be played during the periods when clubs had players absent on international duty but when the Autumn internationals were cancelled, due to the advent of the World Cup, the LV= Cup wasn’t moved to reflect the changed circumstances, enough of those clubs who gain from the undue provision to them of EPS cash for players they don’t provide deciding to gain further undue advantage from the absence of those same players during league fixtures.  What a wonderfully self serving sport this – for some anyway. 

I think it inevitable that Tigers, a commercial enterprise, will increase the recruitment of overseas players unless there is a step change in the current arrangements over playing league fixtures during international periods and the dispensing of the cash from the RFU for EPS players. 

This policy change would reduce the Oval Park conveyor belt of English talent and further increase the mediocrity of the national rugby team to the level of the national soccer team. Then perhaps those clubs, who use the antics of the incompetent and anti competitive PRL to their advantage, will be satisfied. 

But back to the usually unloved and unwanted LV=Cup. 

This season Scarlets, with seven key players still in New Zealand as part of the splendid Wales squad where, for my money at least, Rhys Priestland has been absolutely superb and the best fly half in the competition, have little choice but to field a largely second string side, however for once Tigers have a choice. 

Tigers have not, hitherto, really participated in the LV= Cup with any serious intent however this season they have away fixtures against a weakened Scarlets and later at Quins, against who Tigers’ dramatically weakened team kept themselves within two points for most of last Saturday’s fixture. Tigers then host Gloucester and Newcastle at Welford Road, neither exactly known for the robustness of their away form. 

My feeling is that the first team squad will need to play their way out of the “England effect” and that as strong a team as possible should be fielded against both Scarlets and Gloucester in particular. 

Following the LV matches there are two pivotal Premiership fixtures away against the resurgent second placed Sale Sharks and at home to London Irish, where failure to secure wins will deepen the gloom engendered by the first six Premiership matches and threaten even European qualification for 2012/13, after these Premiership contests the Heineken Cup starts. 

It is therefore my view that Tigers need to be match ready rather than just training paddock ready for the return of the Premiership and start of the Heineken Cup. 

England demonstrated at the World Cup that months of training, EPS days, rest days and training camps can come to naught on match days. 

The LV matches provide the potential benefits of giving the squad match time to get used to each other after a pointless and ridiculous almost five months apart and the opportunity to secure Tigers’ options to push on to try and actually win the LV= Cup, where just six wins provides a pot and entry into the senior European cup competition.

 For this reason I’d like to see as strong a match day squads as can be mustered down in Llanelli and the following week at Welford Road. 

The returning England players need to be told in no uncertain terms that the undeserved largesse and misguided laissez faire afforded them by England’s management  are to be considered as being left on the Island of the Long White Cloud. 

They are now back at the fount of their fortune; Leicester Tigers, which is of urgent need to start winning.  The supporters, many of whom can only dream of the privileged, cosseted and financially beneficial lives that the international players lead from pursuing their hobby as a career, are desperate for success and it’s the duty of the players and coaches to provide it.

No excuses for poor play, none for bad behaviour, no “bad days at the office”, no “looking at ourselves”, no platitudes for failure, no excuses – full stop. 

It remains to be seen whether Richard Cockerill decides to take a strategic view of the LV= Cup and whether he and his team of coaches are any nearer to resolving the issue of Tigers’ defence which is rice paper thin a fact of which, for me at least, he appears to be in denial and whether the returning players are willing and able to meet the challenge. 

The answers to those questions will, over the next few weeks, define the outcome of this season. 

In the meantime break out the yellow ribbons for the home match against Gloucester.

Scarlets v Tigers preview

Discussion started by TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk , 10/10/2011 23:16

TheLeicesterTigers.co.uk
10/10/2011 23:16

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:18:13:16:00 by Stephen Bath.

Reply Quote Report

Tiggs
11/10/2011 13:01

Well 230 readers decided not to leave any praise, so I will !!

Thanks Chris, a great read as ever, and always appreciated !!

Reply Quote Report

ChrisC
11/10/2011 13:38

Thanks Steve -

It is a bit of an odd one admittedly but it was the best I could manage without any information. It was awkward to write and it took ages to find a theme (I had two others I pursued but they led nowhere)and returning soldiers was the best I could do.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:11:13:49:03 by ChrisC.

Reply Quote Report

Duncan Keene
11/10/2011 14:41

I thought it was great, just read in a rush this morning and didn't have time to praise!

Reply Quote Report

Hoggers
11/10/2011 15:34

Coming from a Sarries fan that was a superb article which not only echoes most right thinking rugby fans as to Leicester's situation but also I think echoes certainly my view of where the English Club game is at the moment and the issues we face moving forward. There is little regard in the scheduling for Clubs or their fans.I thought that you resisted the temptation to include criticism of the England set up but the message 'between the lines' is clear. I like the 'yellow ribbon' analagy and wish you well in the LV but not so in the premiership of course. Thanks for a great read.

Reply Quote Report

Johns
11/10/2011 16:26

Thanks Chris, I wondered how you would over come the problems of who would be available and how seriously the club would take the competition.

Naturally you ignored both and still produced a highly entertaining article. A lesson to the professionals many of whom fail to meet your standards, even when there is some rugby to talk about.

Thank you.

Reply Quote Report

ka ora ka mate
11/10/2011 20:34

A good effort in difficult circumstances

... now is that Tigers' first six games or Chris' article above?

Either way, Chris' sentiments are the same as mine, largely

'Profit Motive' .. the Vaseline of genocides.

'Reality' .. the new cynicism

Reply Quote Report

seventyeight
11/10/2011 21:34

Thanks for the article - agree with the sentiments. (& it's the first time I've read it)

Reply Quote Report

Purebob
11/10/2011 21:50

Always a worthwhile read Chris.

I find 2 ibuprofen washed down with a double sausage and egg mc muffin and a vanilla shake cures spirit-based hangovers., yes it sounds disgusting but trust me on this

Reply Quote Report

Stopsy
12/10/2011 15:09

Thanks yet again Chris. I think I will ask my boss for a rest and time with my family next time I return from overseas, particularly if I have not been successful. I think the answer would be along the lines of take as much time as you want, you'll need it to find another job.

Reply Quote Report

Yorkie
12/10/2011 21:10

Thanks Chris. As always, a great read.

As I've stated elsewhere, I believe it would be folly for Tigers to ignore the LV this season for all the reasons you state above. But it sounds as though Cockers diasagrees with us both.

I await the team announcement for the trip to Wales with baited breath!

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net