of Coaches - Farbrace; Nobbs; Terry Walsh ... David Moyes - how much value do they add ?

The T20 WC is over as people look forward to IPL….even as Sri Lanka expertly shepherded by Kumar Sangakkara in his last T20 international, carried off the World T20 trophy with staggering ease – there was one Englishman celebrating – the official Team had been sent packing hitting the bottom with that defeat at the hands of Netherland…    for the Cricket  crazy Nation, the last few overs was tragic – a calamity brought about by batsman – forced upon by some great death bowling…… the coach, Duncan Fletcher, did not smile at the quirkiness of this display.  There have been reports of his days being numbered – but even after so many defeats abroad, he could still clung to his job .. !!

Moving away from Cricket,  last year Michael Nobbs' was removed from being head coach of the Indian hockey team- and the clamour for a 'desi' coach grew as former players advocated the need of an Indian coach who would understand the 'Indian mindset'.   Dutch player Roelant Oltmans, the high-performance director of the Indian team,  prescribed  English-learning classes for Indian players, right from the grassroots level.  Now we have Terry Walsh at the helm, the West Australian says he wants to see India back among the top six nations of the world. A top-eight finish at the World Cup would be a realistic way of assessing India’s hockey status but is  Walsh’s optimism of a better finish is infectious ? In Walsh’s opinion, India would do well to “imbibe” some of the Australian way. “Australia has taken some of the best things from the Indian game and utilised it most effectively in the modern era. It is quick and furious and forever playing with pressure.  He advocates that for India to take advantage of the interchange rule, they should  make use of the physiology. You look at the second league (‘A’ division) of the Indian national hockey championship where you see probably four or five interchanges in the game. “There are 70 if you are watching Australia or Germany playing. Seventy in a match!” he exclaimed emphasising the astonishing difference. The game, Walsh insists, is much faster with stress on power.

 “My favourite memory of hockey is India playing Pakistan, five vs. five. It doesn’t exist in today’s hockey.” Now here, he is advocating coaching system to become more professional….. Coaching is not just about technical issues. It is also about concepts of play. If the player is making mistakes, it is not his fault; it is the coach’s fault. “The player is trying his best. You have to analyse what best you can do in the traditional way.”  ~ sounds great, but we have seen many ‘over paid non-performers’ especially foreigners (in Cricket and in other Sports too)

Here is something more on a different playing ground …. David Moyes traumatic reign in charge of Manchester United  took a chilling turn for the worse after an aeroplane flew over Old Trafford carrying a banner that the manager should be sacked.  Disgruntled suppporters paid in excess of £800 for a plane to fly over Old Trafford in the opening moments of clash with Aston Villa carrying the message ‘Wrong One — Moyes Out’ in red lettering. A second plane hovered over the stadium moments after, with bookmakers Paddy Power grabbing their slice of the publicity with a banner offering odds for the return of Sir Alex Ferguson to the managerial hot seat.

It was 3-0 loss at home to neighbours Manchester City that provoked a furious reaction among a minority of United supporters, with some near manager David Moyes having to be restrained by stewards and others directing their anger at Ferguson, apparently for his role in appointing his successor. The decision to fly a plane over Old Trafford bearing the slogan 'Wrong One: Moyes Out'  was one borne out of acute frustration - frustration at the poor results, lack of fight on the pitch and the unavoidable signs that David Moyes isn't up to the highest standards required to manage Manchester United Football Club. A significant proportion of Manchester United fans have had enough and unequivocally wanted David Moyes sacked.

David William Moyes is a Scottish football manager and former player. He has been the manager of Manchester United since July 2013. Moyes made over 540 league appearances as a centre-half in a playing career that began with Celtic, where he won a championship medal. Following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement as Manchester United manager after 26 years in the position, Moyes was appointed his successor. He began his post as Manchester United manager in July  2013, on a six-year contract.

The one remaining English man of the T20 finals was not a player – but a coach -  Sri Lanka’s head coach Paul Farbrace, who was second-in-charge during the attack on the team bus in Lahore and was re-hired from Yorkshire on the recommendations of senior players last year; he had reasons to celebrate ate Sri Lanka pipped India to become the Champions

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

9th April 2014.