Academy vs Birmingham Medics - Wednesday 7th @ 7.30pm

[moseleyyd]

Following the disappointing cancellation of our game vs. RAF Hawks two weeks ago due to a waterlogged pitch, weather permitting the Academy team will be playing Birmingham Medical School 1st XV tomorrow.

The game is at Billesley Common, 7.30pm kick off.

As always, all support welcome.

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

[philhall]

Well folks, looking at the Camera Shake highlights Moseley were pathetic beyond words and didn't even deserve to be on the same pitch as the Medics, never mind provide the opposition.

As a team the tackling was deplorable, absolutely deplorable throughout the recording. And as regards to any degree of urgency, in attack or defence, particularly defence, there wasn't any at all. I have no idea who the individual Moseley players were but in the first half the Moseley number 22 missed two tackles which lead to tries, as did other players in the second half. But what I found absolutely unforgivable about number 22 was not just the fact that he missed two tackles but the fact that he just JOGGED in pursuit of the ball carrier. Absolutely unforgivable.

And missed tackles were not confined to just one player. The entire team spent the bulk of the recorded time missing tackles and just JOGGING around the pitch.

I am bitterly, bitterly disappointed at the total lack of commitment illustrated by the Moseley Development XV in this recording, who, to a man, should feel totally ashamed of themselves.

[Phil]

You’ve posted some rubbish in the past Phil but this tops the lot, it was a very young ACADEMY side against the medics 1st XV.

I’m sure it was valuable experience from which they will learn and improve.

Perhaps you’d like to pop down next time and give them some pearls of wisdom?

On second thoughts, don’t bother.

[moseleyyd]

Phil#2 many thanks for coming to the defence of our young players but as the person with overall responsibility for this group I also feel the need to respond on their behalf on this occasion. Something I would not ordinarily do but this has annoyed me considerably.
They do not deserve the kind of vitriol espoused by Phil Hall especially as this is based on a very limited clip of the game. What the short clip on this board does not show but the full video does, is that for long periods our young team more than held their own against a bigger, stronger and better organised opposition.
Just so everyone knows, we are aware that our players, 17-19 years of age most of them, have some technical deficiencies but our coaching team and, indeed, the players themselves, are very honest about these and work very hard in putting them right. Games such as that last night help a lot with the process of improvement and as a measure of progress.
Frankly, I am extremely offended at Phil Hall’s assertion that these lads lacked commitment; the reverse is true. They battled hard throughout the game but simply came up short against better opposition. No disgrace in that and the players deserve an apology for the unwarranted outburst from someone who thinks he has the right to say what he likes, with impunity.

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

I believe Phil Hall should apologise to the players he has vilified, and to the club for his unacceptable behaviour.

I am quite upset that my video of the development game has been referenced in his disgraceful comments. Posting of the video was in no way intended for this purpose. Further posting of match highlights is under review....

[Phil]

Please don't let one village idiot put you off Martin, I'm sure everyone else will agree that your time and coverage as a VOLUNTEER is very much enjoyed and appreciated.

[CJB1]

Feb 9, 2018 9:27:26 GMT Phil said:

Please don't let one village idiot put you off Martin, I'm sure everyone else will agree that your time and coverage as a VOLUNTEER is very much enjoyed and appreciated.

Seconded.

[michaelr]

As always, vitriolic nonsense.

What a way to motivate our young players.

[Communications Team]

Such an unpleasant, uninformed and unwarranted criticism of young players learning their craft is indeed unacceptable.

The Youth Development team put a lot of hard work into giving young players the chance to progress. Instead of criticism perhaps Mr Hall you should find ways to help them develop.

As this is not the first instance of such behaviour, if it occurs again we will have to take steps to ensure players are not subjected to such remarks

[secretarymsa]

Well said comm's team, about time unacceptable behavior like this (again) was dealt with.
I was at the game and thought that we had a very young team out playing against a much older more experienced side.
Perhaps if people wish to make a comment then they should at least have the decency of attending the game first!

[kingsheathlad]

I would imagine some of their players would be in early twenties so certainly an age difference of significance at this level with our lads behind 17 to 19.
Come on Mode.....

[londonexile]

Feb 9, 2018 8:51:33 GMT martinwatson aka Camera Shake said:

I believe Phil Hall should apologise to the players he has vilified, and to the club for his unacceptable behaviour.

I am quite upset that my video of the development game has been referenced in his disgraceful comments. Posting of the video was in no way intended for this purpose. Further posting of match highlights is under review....

Please keep posting your fantastic videos Martin, they are hugely appreciated!

[philhall]

It has come to my notice, both verbally and visually, that my comments of Feb 8th in response to martinwatson aka Camera Shake's short video highlights of the Development XV v Birmingham Medics 1st XV were not well received.

There was certainly no intent to be disrespectful, far from it but if it was felt that my honest reflections of the short video on this occasion fell well short of expectations, which seems to be the case here then I apologise unreservedly.

The words "rubbish", Phil Moderator; "vitriolic espouse", moseleyyd; "players vilified, disgraceful comments", martinwatson aka Camera Shake; "village idiot", Phil Moderator; "seconded" CJB1; "vitriolic nonsense", michaeir; "unpleasent, uninformed and unwarranted criticism", Communications Team; "unacceptable behaviour", secretarymsa, are brutal, pointed, barbed and unceremoniously direct and I feel rightly chastised.

I always hold Moseley player performances close to my heart, as ALL of you well know. I ALWAYS want and expect them to give of their best, ALL of the time, as ALL of you well know and I REJOICE when they perform well, as ALL of you well know. But as you ALL know I do try to give a balanced view on match reports and not paint a rosy picture if the rose is not in bloom.

With the view of secretarymsa in mind "...Perhaps if people wish to make a comment then they should at least have the decency of attending the game first...", I would point out that I had every intention to attend the game but I felt unwell.

And in response to moseleyyd regarding the age of our development players ( 17 - 19) with this fixture. I have watched many Moseley Development XV against the Birmingham Medics 1st XV over many years, not all of them, granted, but all at Moseley and have yet to see Moseley LOSE one of those matches. Those games were always hard games, good to watch and with some with spectacular results - often against all the odds - and where some spirited and determined individual player performances stood out.

I totally agree it would nave been better to have watched the match before making perhaps a more balanced observation but I didn't and I did make my comments based entirely on a short clip,which, with hindsight was unfortunate. Perhaps, perhaps if only ....?

I am a proud Yorkshire man, as you all well know, but as well as possessing stubborn, Yorkshire pride I also posses honesty along with Christian humility means which that I am NEVER, EVER too proud, or stubborn to apologise for a wrongdoing, as my unwelcome comments here clearly illustrated.

Therefore, not wishing to make light of my ill conceived comments by saying that Yorkshire people are well known for putting the cart before the horse, I apologise, unreservedly.

Come on Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose.

[jonnoisgod]

As someone who spent a good few years with my son at Moseley, where he played his junior rugby and eventually Colts rugby I can't speak highly enough of SB and his team ,they do a fantastic job not only on the rugby field but also off it whilst dealing with lads at a very difficult age who are usually undecided about,their future,exams , university etc .

Being brutally honest,years ago Moseley would have had the pick of the best youth rugby talent available but with several top clubs on the doorstep with Academies,EPDGs, quality lads have alot more choice.

My son now plays professional rugby league but Moseley are still very close to both our hearts and we made friends with lots of good people,,,,,, rugby is life moulding which is more important than missing a tackle .