I never have, and never will understand people's insistence in supporting competitors on a nationality basis in individual tournaments.
I would rather Tiger won The Open over Lee Westwood and I'd rather Roger Federer won Wimbledon over Andy Murray.
But then I'd support Westwood and Murray in the Ryder and Davis cups.
I have no problem either with Murray saying he'd want England to lose a football match (although he never actually meant it) Why should a Scotsman support England?
However I don't like Murray, basically because he comes across as a sour faced weasel.
good win today, shame that he is a contemporary of arguably the best two players who have ever trod the planet .. earth that is.
and the number 3 is very good too
I might be in a minority of one on CL but good luck Andy
Minority of two, one of the few world class sportsmen that Britain has produced in the last ten years, not sure why so many dislike him though they clearly do
He's played well this week, but I'd imagine his ankle is still pretty fragile. Either way, even at his best he has absaloutley no chance at Wimbledon. It's not just Fed and Nadal he has to worry about, now Djokovic is starting to make the step up to that level as well. Either way he's a fantastic athlete and I don't understand all this "narky Scottish git" stuff, he always comes across as a decent bloke in interviews and bits and pieces he does for the TV. Perhaps he's focused on his career and people would prefer it if he was a "proper lad" and lived the lifestyle you'd prefer him to.
He is definitely British at the moment - for no other reason that treating him so winds up the scots. He will be Scottish again when/if he fails. He is a bit more careful about what he says now as he knows English support is more money in his pocket.
yeah i cant see where people get this bad vibe of him from. i dont think ive ever seen him do or say anything 'narky'. the england football comment was a joke and if it pissed you off you have a serious problem.
I'm not sure what annoys me more , the miserable sour faced sweatie himself or the Jock loving BBC , who wet themselves with excitment at anything connected with Scotland.
yeah i cant see where people get this bad vibe of him from. i dont think ive ever seen him do or say anything 'narky'. the england football comment was a joke and if it pissed you off you have a serious problem.
Agreed. Sadly, Murray falls into that "third category" of British sportsman who is not a gallant loser (Bruno, Henman) or a pisshead "one of the boys" (Gazza, Botham, Flintoff).
Instead, Murray is a dedicated serious professional who, a bit like Nick Faldo, won't kiss arse and tell people what they want to hear just to make himself popular.
Just a shame for Murray that he will be at his peak when Federer/Nadal are still going quite strongly and Djokovic is coming into his prime as well.
He's a sour faced weasel but he's our sour faced weasel (until he loses at Wimbledon)
But Wimbledon is NOT an event of nations Len, it's for individuals. His nationality, British or Scottish is irrellevent.
Yes it is for individuals (and doubles pairs both single and mixed sex )but supporters, particularly at Wimbledon, traditionally support players from their own country or, if foreign, longstanding well established and loved players like Borg, Navratolova etc.
He's a sour faced weasel but he's our sour faced weasel (until he loses at Wimbledon)
But Wimbledon is NOT an event of nations Len, it's for individuals. His nationality, British or Scottish is irrellevent.
Yes it is for individuals (and doubles pairs both single and mixed sex )but supporters, particularly at Wimbledon, traditionally support players from their own country or, if foreign, longstanding well established and loved players like Borg, Navratolova etc.
I'm not from Scotland. He's not from England. Why supoort him? He's a good player, no doubt about that, but I'm no more inclined to support him than I am to support Motherwell.
It doesn't matter who is playing for England at cricket, football or anything. It doesn't matter if they come from England, Ireland, S Africa or indeed Mars. It is the England team representing England regardless of who is in the team.
It doesn't matter who is playing for England at cricket, football or anything. It doesn't matter if they come from England, Ireland, S Africa or indeed Mars. It is the England team representing England regardless of who is in the team.
not for me, I want my representatives to have more in common with me than to be merely human and possess an English/British passport, else why bother with international sport?. If anyone can play for any 'nation' then the highest bidder will always win through. World Cup Final 2018: Qatar 3 (Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney) ... Russia 2 (Xavi, Sanchez).. if you follow my drift
Faldo - miserable dedicated successful professional
Murray - miserable dedicated unsuccessful professional
Perhaps that is a bit unfair. Murray is the best male tennis player we have produced since Fred Perry. I don't really care if he is a surly Scot. When he plays at the top of his game, he is fantastic.
What pisses me off is the mentality that pervades most of our nearly great sportmen (and the main difference between them and Faldo), which is timidity.
I heard Murray saying that in his preparation for this years Wimbledon he will do what he always does. Well that reminds me of the old adage - do what you always do and you will get what you always get. I think its time for him to realise that improving to the level of a champion means doing things differently!
Do you know who Nick Faldo sites as his decision to distance himself from his fellow professionals during his heyday? It was another hugely sucessful British sportsman of that era. He told Faldo you don't beat the other guys by being their mate. A move that led to him still to this day to be disliked by his peers (James,Torrance, Mony etc)? But also a move that led him to sporting greatness.
I heard Murray saying that in his preparation for this years Wimbledon he will do what he always does. Well that reminds me of the old adage - do what you always do and you will get what you always get. I think its time for him to realise that improving to the level of a champion means doing things differently!
Murray is a fantastic player but he is in an era of 4 other great players including 2 who are arguably the greatest of all time. I agree with the above in that, if he wants to win several slams, he must change something which means he will get worse before he gets better. Faldo was one of the top players in the world then changed his swing to become the best
Terrific tennis player. Hope he wins a grand slam some time and I think he'll pick up this year's Wimbledon if his injury is ok
Strange how someone can be disliked because he's a bit of a surly character, while a player like McEnroe can be liked because he's an arrogant, foul mouthed pri*k
Murray always reminds me of those crowded Scottish Pubs full of blokes wearing the colours of England's opponents. I'll wait for the next Englishman thanks.
Murray always reminds me of those crowded Scottish Pubs full of blokes wearing the colours of England's opponents. I'll wait for the next Englishman thanks.
cos it is healthier/easier to be pleased if he wins rather than spit vitriol about him for half hearted reasons.
life's much better if you don't spend energy 'hating' things/people all the time
Well 'hate' is a very emotive word Suzi, and I do wish I could share your 'Corinthian values' which I am sure are honestly held.
However in sport I play to win, and not participate! and be a noble looser!.
I have never understood the philosophy of turning up not to win!.
I have no idea wether Andy Murray is sincere in his 'nationalism', or he has been advised to do so in a pr spin way, which is what I think you are alluding to.
That is his choice!, in the same way that footballers kiss the badge and then phone there agents to get there 'arse' out of the club as soon as possible !
'Cynical'...... yes that is me!, and probably wrong in my beliefs!
I watched his IV after he won queens and he said thanks to everyone who queued up from the crack of dawn to watch the game. no idea about the pr spin.
If you were the top of your sport, and you represented England for football and Britain for tennis, would you just want to win dependent or would you actually take any notice of whether you consider yourself english or british and would you just play to be the best? I can't believe Murray wouldn't want to win if he's representing britain as opposed to scotland?
I'll support whichever england, uk or britain in any sport, and then if in a competition where britain/uk are divided, I'll also want the others to do well.
I think its different in club football as you can pick and choose a club and not your country. football players these days will go wherever suits them at the time. no loyalty.
You have to be old, but I remember a fellow called Bobby Wilson who was a great battler and gave us some terrific runs towards the semi finals. Unfortunately he was just below the level of the top guys. I live in hope.
I find it refreshing that Murray knows his own mind and doesn't feed the media with what they want. Yes he has attitude but backed up by world-class talent and why not wind up anyone deluded enough to think England has a serious football team.
i want him to do well but is it wrong that i want to slap his mum across the face ?
Want him to win. Has admitted before he's sort of charlton due to his fitness coach matt little. Was at the valley when we beat Stoke 1 0. Evening game, pardew era, Sam scored the winner.
Comments
I dont know anyone who only like him when he wins and call him Scottish when he loses.
Most that I know just dont like him full stop.
Yep, cue all the hype...
No British tennis player has won Wimbledon since 1936 yada, yada, yada...
I never have, and never will understand people's insistence in supporting competitors on a nationality basis in individual tournaments.
I would rather Tiger won The Open over Lee Westwood and I'd rather Roger Federer won Wimbledon over Andy Murray.
But then I'd support Westwood and Murray in the Ryder and Davis cups.
I have no problem either with Murray saying he'd want England to lose a football match (although he never actually meant it) Why should a Scotsman support England?
However I don't like Murray, basically because he comes across as a sour faced weasel.
This
But Wimbledon is NOT an event of nations Len, it's for individuals. His nationality, British or Scottish is irrellevent.
I'm not sure what annoys me more , the miserable sour faced sweatie himself or the Jock loving BBC , who wet themselves with excitment at anything connected with Scotland.
I think its a dead heat
Agreed. Sadly, Murray falls into that "third category" of British sportsman who is not a gallant loser (Bruno, Henman) or a pisshead "one of the boys" (Gazza, Botham, Flintoff).
Instead, Murray is a dedicated serious professional who, a bit like Nick Faldo, won't kiss arse and tell people what they want to hear just to make himself popular.
Just a shame for Murray that he will be at his peak when Federer/Nadal are still going quite strongly and Djokovic is coming into his prime as well.
Yes it is for individuals (and doubles pairs both single and mixed sex )but supporters, particularly at Wimbledon, traditionally support players from their own country or, if foreign, longstanding well established and loved players like Borg, Navratolova etc.
They'd be happy to see England represented by a tribe of Cannibals, so long as n'ery a one were ta be borun in Scowtlan
not for me, I want my representatives to have more in common with me than to be merely human and possess an English/British passport, else why bother with international sport?. If anyone can play for any 'nation' then the highest bidder will always win through. World Cup Final 2018: Qatar 3 (Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney) ... Russia 2 (Xavi, Sanchez).. if you follow my drift
I like Rafael Nadal as well though - my cat is named after him.
Please enlighten us.....
Both deadly serious and dedicated and don't play the media "game" at all.
Faldo-The greatest British golfer of all time. 6 time Major winner. World number 1 for a significant time.
Murray - Errrrrrrr...........
As I said - Hilarious.
Ok?
I was referring to their personalities and public image not their achievements.
OK?
Terrific tennis player. Hope he wins a grand slam some time and I think he'll pick up this year's Wimbledon if his injury is ok
Strange how someone can be disliked because he's a bit of a surly character, while a player like McEnroe can be liked because he's an arrogant, foul mouthed pri*k
I don't think this has ever happened....
....and you may be waiting sometime.
I don't think this has ever happened....
You have to be old, but I remember a fellow called Bobby Wilson who was a great battler and gave us some terrific runs towards the semi finals. Unfortunately he was just below the level of the top guys. I live in hope.
Anyone who says they support anyone who is playing against England does not get my backing ?
Seriously would anyone on this board say that ?
It may have been a "joke" but there was feeling there as well.
Come on Nadal, a proper decent player.
1 set all but 2-0 up in the third ....
i want him to do well but is it wrong that i want to slap his mum across the face ?