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Date: 25 Oct 96 12:28:18 +0000
From: Jonathan Schofield <jonathan.schofield@designmotive.co.uk>
Subject: Into the fray...
To: BritDisc <britdisc@csv.warwick.ac.uk>
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OK, Here's attempt number 4 to send this to BritDisc.
Bear in mind that this mail is two days old.

Further to the exchanges on qualification matters.

Glad to see that David from Lurkers has noticed us grinning=20
whilst playing. But then in the past we've been criticised=20
for just that. Seems you just can't be right when you're=20
thrashing the opposition!

Rob Kingsley implies that the less experienced/able teams'=20
only opportunity to get better is from the experience of=20
playing against the top teams. I'm flattered that people=20
like to see us play, but... Three observations here aimed=20
at those questioning the top teams' perspective.

1. At risk of being patronising (I'm sure it will be seen=20
that way anyway)... Yes, you can learn from this experience,=20
but you can't assimilate what the top teams are doing to=20
you whilst you are being blown away. It is much more likely=20
that you'll understand what is going on while watching=20
(not playing), and only then if accompanied by the insight=20
of someone who understands what is happening. You may think=20
that this applies less to the mid ranking teams, and more=20
to the lower ranking teams - but my experience of how=20
little is understood by even some players on the top teams=20
suggests otherwise.=20

2. The point that y'all seem to be missing from Nolan's=20
excellent incendiary is that the top teams want to get=20
better too, but can't because we are condemned to spend=20
three quarters of our weekends playing teams that we know=20
we are going to thrash. You seem quite happy to be selfish=20
enough to require us to do this, but won't allow a little=20
selfishness on our part. Remember that the boys on Shotgun=20
have had to put up with this situation for between four=20
to nine years! (What a luxury, you think, but it really=20
isn't much fun).

3. The polarisation of opinions on this issue is in part=20
because we're discussing it in isolation. Surely part of=20
the whole problem is that no coaching infrastructure of=20
any kind exists for players beyond those who want to be=20
a part of the GB squads. Solve this problem, as well as=20
the structure of competition in this country, and we might=20
actually start producing players who are mentally tough=20
enough to compete at higher levels.

Jonathan
Shotgun