Robinson: highly regarded? By who? When? Times change, people change, tactics change, methods change. We have had some fine young cricketers in recent years, fortunately some are still with the club. Young people, (and some not so young) in all types of employment, but especially the sporting world, need to be inspired. Watch any of the Robinson, or Alex Davies, interviews over the last couple of years, have any been inspirational? Would they excite a young cricketer, or as I say, the not so young? Why is Will Rhodes going to play for Durham, why does Sam Hain spend more time at the crease talking to umpires and opposition fielders? Im sure someone will tell me it’s because Will wants to be near his grand parents or that Sam is a naturally friendly chap but we need some sense of urgency, a desire to achieve, sporting hunger. We were beaten before we ever took to the pitch this week v Essex. The second time that we have humiliated ourselves against them in one season.

Robinson: highly regarded? By who? When? Times change, people change, tactics change, methods change. We have had some fine young cricketers in recent years, fortunately some are still with the club. Young people, (and some not so young) in all types of employment, but especially the sporting world, need to be inspired. Watch any of the Robinson, or Alex Davies, interviews over the last couple of years, have any been inspirational? Would they excite a young cricketer, or as I say, the not so young? Why is Will Rhodes going to play for Durham, why does Sam Hain spend more time at the crease talking to umpires and opposition fielders? Im sure someone will tell me it’s because Will wants to be near his grand parents or that Sam is a naturally friendly chap but we need some sense of urgency, a desire to achieve, sporting hunger. We were beaten before we ever took to the pitch this week v Essex. The second time that we have humiliated ourselves against them in one season.

Bald_Reynard wrote:

ajones1328 wrote:

Well this has been pathetic

Season can't end soon enough. Definitely need an upheaval in the management with few changes to the playing squad.

Completely agree with you AJ, Robinson has to go to start with - if Larsen has got the balls to sack the man who was on the panel appointing him (!), if not the Management Committee have to act. Once we get a new Head Coach (Trotty - if he can leave Afghanistan ?!), he needs to look at all support Coaches, with Frost first. Then the playing squad (a major overhaul, depending on contracts), then the Captain, then the recruitment policy (Overseas and home based) ....... ! A long and difficult process, but it has to start now.

Completely agree. The evidence is there for all to see, players are not motivated or committed to, or by, the current leadership and coaching personnel. It’s not gossip, it’s not speculation it’s hard evidence of weekly performances and a seasons capitulation.

He had, very obviously, got a hamstring injury. Are you seriously suggesting that the captain should not check on his condition? If only to satisfy himself of his ongoing availability? And does every topic, or comment , now have to be approved for its subject, content and authenticity?

Rushworth, hamstring! Is Davies on the pitch? Certainly not in evidence when the injury became evident or when Rushworth was speaking to the umpire or when he was leaving the field? Barnard takes a wicket when the captain is left with no option but to ask him to finish the Rushworth over!
My word we are in a mess.

Tayls79 wrote:

I'd honestly give speculating about relationships in the squad a miss. We'll never know the true situation. We don't know whether it is disharmonious, toxic or anything else. In any other working environment it would be and should be here, confidential. All we do here by speculating on it is gossip.

I thought that is what sports forums are for? In addition there seems to be sufficient evidence to suggest that it’s way beyond gossip. It’s not gossip that’s doing for Hain, Yates, etc

Doesn’t make him a captain. Which he isn’t. Doesn’t make him a motivator of his teammates. Which he isn’t. Doesn’t help us a county. Which he doesn’t.

I cannot believe that our coach and captain are in any way having a positive impact on this group of players. As for sticking with Davies to “allow him to grow into it” I can only ask for a shred of evidence that he will ever become a leader and influencer of this county. Are we simply going to accept yet another dire season, with no progress, whilst these people grow into their roles?

Andy wrote:

Andy wrote:

Yes he's done very well, like I said in the Gloucestershire thread I'd like us to stick with him as captain too and give him the opportunity to grow more into the role.

I'm fairly happy with our batting, we've shown fairly significant signs of improvement and most of out batters are young with time on their side and plenty of scope to improve. We've not really had much of a tune out of Hain this season in 4day cricket but we've not been blown away too much either despite that. Our opening partnerships have improved vastly. There'll be bumps along the rode but we should stick with them.

A definite positive that I think needs acknowledgement amongst what is becoming an increasingly negative supporter base.

And now this!

Inside-edge wrote:

There are a lot of justifiably angry supporters around, a look at the Bears twitter feed will tell you everything you need to know about how they are feeling. Very similar to the Lancs supporters after their drubbing by Sussex.

A team full of experience and prodigious talent to bottle it like that is inexcusable. Only needed 2 batters to stay focused to knock off those runs at under 7 an over.

Personally I don’t think the management or recruitment are to blame, there are times when each individual player needs to take a hard look at themselves and be accountable.

If you wonder where it all went wrong? I give you your county captain!
https://youtu.be/LyqK3vCj7qo?si=rVq-KSMJvL7HqbGZ

Why did we need to bat first..??? They only got 130 ish

Why did we need to bat first..??? They only got 130 ish

Why did we need to bat first?????? They only got 130 odd!

Why did we need to bat first?????? They only got 130 odd!

Why did we need to bat first?????? They only got 130 odd!

Devon_Bear wrote:

Davies just said in interview that they misread the pitch and should have batted first - how could they misread the pitch? We're the bloomin' home team! It beggars belief. Also the Gloucester captain said that they trained under lights on Wednesday to get the feel of things, did we think to do anything like that?

If Robinson and Davies have any credibility they shouldn’t need pushing. And how long before we get a bloody bowling coach? Sam Hain was the most reliable of county batsmen……not any more……..can’t pace his innings poor choice of shots, time after time.

Need a captain and a coach. Another poor season. Just look at our line up compared to Gloucestershire! Not sure how many teams from either division could have lost this game. Won the toss, at home, full Edgbaston, what else do you need ?..

BristolBear wrote:

They clearly had a plan to declare overnight, problem is Hain batted for his average, there was no intent, no cohesive plan, everyone played differently.
So we ended up 60-70 runs light, and they declared anyway.
On a flat, slow pitch, with 3 front line bowlers, surely they’re smart enough to know they need to commit to early to the draw if Somerset look in a good position. But they didn’t. They spent so long pretending they could win, they let themselves lose.

Just a season of sleepwalking. No coherent tactics, awful decision making, weak inept coach, poor tactician as a captain, squad built on injury prone bowlers.

There’s 4 players in the championship who all things considered, can be relied on to deliver, Hain, Burgess, Barnard and OHD. That’s a joke.

A great point