Murray to name new coach

BBC say that Andy Murray will be making an announcement tomorrow Wednesday April 2nd as to the identity of his new coach.

lags72 wrote:BBC say that Andy Murray will be making an announcement tomorrow Wednesday April 2nd as to the identity of his new coach.

I will believe that when I see it as it is April Fools Day. If this is genuine it wouldn't surprise me if it were to be Roger Rasheed who he was seen on the practice courts with in Miami.

Interestingly, Leon Smith and his hitting partner and pal Danni are 15/8 joint favourites. Then there's Darren Cahill at 4/1, then Bob Brett at 10/1.... Then nobody else under 25/1.

Bookies are rarely wrong with this type of stuff, but I actually think they are wrong this time. I don't believe it will be any of those.

Can't see Danni or Leon. Cahill would interest him but like last time tv commitments will block that. Brett has an excellent reputation but I think Murray will want someone younger... I really don't think it will be any of those.

Rasheed I'd be surprised as he's on the up with Dimitrov. I want him to go for an ex player again, but I have a sneaky feeling it will be Annacone.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

lags72 wrote:BBC say that Andy Murray will be making an announcement tomorrow Wednesday April 2nd as to the identity of his new coach.

I will believe that when I see it as it is April Fools Day. If this is genuine it wouldn't surprise me if it were to be Roger Rasheed who he was seen on the practice courts with in Miami.

He did an April Fool's announcement in 2011, so I think this is the real deal - hence waiting until tomorrow.

Whoever is revealed tomorrow, there seems very little prospect that the name will be as big - or as surprising - as Lendl.

lags72 wrote:Whoever is revealed tomorrow, there seems very little prospect that the name will be as big - or as surprising - as Lendl.

Does it need to be though?

I would go against what Danny_1982 wants - as in another ex-player. I'd prefer it to be a coach who can make technical changes to Murray's game as in get him to beef up his second serve and tweak other elements of his game that needs tweaking. I would guess that a specialist coach would do those things better rather than an ex-player turned coach in my opinion.

No, it doesn't need to be a big name CC ; and (FWIW !) I don't believe that this is what Andy himself now wants.

Lendl joined Murray with a very specific objective : to enable him to fulfil the potential that most of us knew he had within him, ie to become a Grand Slam Champion. In the event, he became a double champion, and it's hard to think of many partnerships that have borne more fruit over such a relatively short span of time. Any doubts that Murray himself may have been harbouring were well & truly removed ; and, for his part, Lendl's own profile/image/status was simultaneously enhanced.

Lendl very ably demonstrated that he was able to 'refine' some of the psychological, tactical and perhaps motivational aspects of Murray's game that had held him back from climbing those last few rungs on the ladder. However, with names as big as Lendl, a certain amount of attention & media coverage inevitably falls on the coach, and I would agree with CC that what Murray is looking for now is a specialist coach who will quietly and methodically focus on technical improvements, rather than those on-court 'issues' which only an ex (top level) player can truly understand.

The Murray/Lendl partnership went like a dream. Both men got so much out of it as in Murray became a slam winner and Lendl demonstrated he could succeed in a coaching role and enhancing his image as he really was seen in a pretty negative light by those who never got to know the real Lendl.

However, Murray needs a full-time coach and Lendl couldn't give him that. As lags puts it more eloquently it is more a specialist coach he needs to iron out parts of his game that are not at the level they need to be. If Andy were to go back down the road of an ex-pro I'd like to see Matts Wilander get the role but fingers crossed that is more of a specialist who gets the job.

Bring back Mark Petchey, he probably now knows more about Andy's game than anybody!

So now I'm hearing that his agent says the trailed announcement is indeed an April Fool's.

If so, strikes me as an odd thing to want to joke about ........

lags72 wrote:So now I'm hearing that his agent says the trailed announcement is indeed an April Fool's.

If so, strikes me as an odd thing to want to joke about ........

Yeah, once (2011) was funny, twice is more post-modern than funny.

lags72 wrote:So now I'm hearing that his agent says the trailed announcement is indeed an April Fool's.

If so, strikes me as an odd thing to want to joke about ........

It wouldn't surprise me if it was. I always suspected because of the date and besides when the split with Lendl was announced Murray said in a number of interviews that he was in no rush to appoint another coach - he'd take his time. So two to three weeks is hardly taking ones time.

I have no problem with being taken in by an April Fool's - but it helps if they are actually funny, and that usually requires a certain amount of thought on the part of the hoaxer .......   

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/10736864/Andy-Murray-April-Fools-joke-falls-flat-after-announcement-that-he-was-to-reveal-his-new-coach.html

A bit unimaginative considering he has done the same joke before. Still it is only a bit of fun.

Oh sure, no harm done and it will soon be forgotten.

BUT .... given how fraught a process it can be to a) find a good (available) coach and b) get the relationship to 'gel', I only hope it's not the sort of joke that comes back to bite him.

No I don't think it will. People within the sport (and out) appreciate that he has a dry sense of humour. I doubt that will put coaches off coaching him.

Oh no, I didn't mean it would in any way deter coaches from joining him - his standing in the game is undoubtedly good enough to attract virtually anyone. I was just suggesting that if things go badly wrong with the new coach (as we have seen happen with various players), then he might be asking himself whether it was the best subject matter for a joke .......

lags72 wrote:Oh no, I didn't mean it would in any way deter coaches from joining him  - his standing in the game is undoubtedly good enough to attract virtually anyone. I was just suggesting that if things go badly wrong with the new coach (as we have seen happen with various players), then he might be asking himself whether it was the best subject matter for a joke .......

I wouldn't have thought an April Fools joke is going to have any bearing on how things turn out with his next coach. Look at the Ross Hutchins April Fool and then a few months later he got Ivan Lendl as his coach and that went swimmingly well despite a similar type joke a few months earlier.

Now apparently identified, and soon to be announced officially, probably after the French.

Assuming of course he really means it this time ........

....... and assuming that he (she ...??) accepts the role

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/27545567

Indeed Lags, that story is everywhere and it seems he has decided.

John Mac is clear bookies favourite at evens.

I wouldn't mind if it were Johnny Mac but I would be wanting assurances that coaching would come above his TV pundit jobs. Murray wants a full-time coach and he never really even had that with Ivan Lendl. Part of me would still prefer a more technical minded coach rather than a legendary ex-pro.

I prefer the ex champion coach Craig. For years coaches have told Andy to play on the front foot, but he only really did it when Lendl came on board. He said himself he felt he had someone to impress. Maybe even someone who knew better.

I think he needs the same blueprint again. I wouldn't be against a technical coach, but I think an ex champion will always be the type who gets the best from Andy.

Yes Danny I suppose and of course he has Danny Valverde already who inputs a lot of technical stuff.

I think there's a lot to be gained from having Martina as his coach... In my experience, men obey women and I think it would be a great move. Still, my head says Mac's got it.

Mac won't get it, the two egos won't click. Lendl and Murray clicked due to Ivan being quite chilled. Mac is too aggressive.

TopoftheChops wrote:Mac won't get it, the two egos won't click. Lendl and Murray clicked due to Ivan being quite chilled. Mac is too aggressive.

I disagree. Your claim that Mac is too aggressive is purely going on his on-court persona of 30 odd years ago. I think it is quite plain to see in his time as a pundit that Johnny Mac is actually very chilled or laid-back and has a good and dry sense of humour. Obviously, they both get on. Watch the Wimbledon celebrations as well when Murray makes his way up into his box you see Johnny Mac lean out of the ESPN commentary box to warmly shake his hand. Respect.

Mc would be perfect. Type of attacking style Andy needs to look to be playing; gets on well with him and will be a signal Andy isn't just prepared to wind down his career because of the back issues.

So Andy has appointed Amelie Mauresmo as coach. More to follow.

Very interesting choice. I'm not sure what to think really. I was hoping Andy would appoint someone who has walked the path he is attempting to. In other words, going from a 2 time slam winner to a 4, 5 or 6 time slam winner.

I hear she's tactically excellent and got the best out of Bartoli. But then Andy is already a very good tactician. She won a couple of slams and was at the top of the game for ages, but Andy has already done that too.

This is not to dismiss the appointment. It could be tremendous. I just assumed he would continue the theme he started with Lendl, appointing someone who's been where he's trying to go.

I shall watch with interest.

I dismissed the Lendl appointment and look how that worked out I think Mauresmo was a good mover in her day and maybe Andy is thinking of improving on the red stuff.

Who knows at this point

A bold and very interesting decision. Obviously, let's hope it works out. I don't see why it shouldn't.

Is he bored of his gf?   

Jahu wrote:Is he bored of his gf?   

He sure picked a wrong coach then.

summerblues wrote:

Jahu wrote:Is he bored of his gf?   

He sure picked a wrong coach then.

Unless he'd like to line her up with someone new.

Interesting choice.  Not a shocker as she has been mentioned as a potential candidate.  Also, she has had more coaching experience than Lendl, so in that way also less of a gamble.

To me, Lendl and Amelie appointments are actually kind of similar - they are both former top pros that also have very good understanding of the game.

Hard to tell how it will work out but I think he could have done a lot worse - I for one do not think that someone like McEnroe - another name that had been mentioned - would have worked out.

bogbrush wrote:

summerblues wrote:

Jahu wrote:Is he bored of his gf?   

He sure picked a wrong coach then.

Unless he'd like to line her up with someone new.

LOL

Maybe he's decided he's got too much mental strength from Lendl and is looking to get much flakier.

We'll judge how successful it is by how successful Murray is

Meanwhile, I'm not certain that the giggling behind the bike sheds, with mildly sexist comments are what we need on this forum. Let's leave that to the comments section of The Sun

One things for certain anyone questioning Andy's motivation has surely had it positively answered by this appointment

banbrotam wrote:We'll judge how successful it is by how successful Murray is

Meanwhile, I'm not certain that the giggling behind the bike sheds, with mildly sexist comments are what we need on this forum. Let's leave that to the comments section of The Sun

One things for certain anyone questioning Andy's motivation has surely had it positively answered by this appointment

Yes, let's be pompous and above all that, and let's confuse sexism with puns on sexuality.

bog brush wrote:Maybe he's decided he's got too much mental strength from Lendl and is looking to get much flakier.

Maybe it's simpler. Like, he thinks that she will help is game better than any other available coach

Danny_1982 wrote:I was hoping Andy would appoint someone who has walked the path he is attempting to. In other words, going from a 2 time slam winner to a 4, 5 or 6 time slam winner.

For all the talk about Lendl and Murray having been similar in that they struggled to win their first slam, to me Lendl's merits were never really about that.  To me, Lendl was about focus, discipline and solid understanding of the game.  If Lendl's similarities to Andy in their career path were of any benefit, it would have mainly been because they may have made Andy listen to Lendl more.

banbrotam wrote:We'll judge how successful it is by how successful Murray is

Of course.  How else?

Well Mauresmo helped Llodra win Eastbourne in 2010 so the omens could be good for this upcoming grass season.

bogbrush wrote:

banbrotam wrote:We'll judge how successful it is by how successful Murray is

Meanwhile, I'm not certain that the giggling behind the bike sheds, with mildly sexist comments are what we need on this forum. Let's leave that to the comments section of The Sun

One things for certain anyone questioning Andy's motivation has surely had it positively answered by this appointment

Yes, let's be pompous and above all that, and let's confuse sexism with puns on sexuality.

Because puns on sexuality are so much more mature of course   

Look. It's a forum and people are allowed to say what they want - but even Pat Cash wouldn't come out with lazy comments like have been posted here

I generally logged on thinking that there'd be some good insights from people I respect on these boards.

banbrotam wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

banbrotam wrote:We'll judge how successful it is by how successful Murray is

Meanwhile, I'm not certain that the giggling behind the bike sheds, with mildly sexist comments are what we need on this forum. Let's leave that to the comments section of The Sun

One things for certain anyone questioning Andy's motivation has surely had it positively answered by this appointment

Yes, let's be pompous and above all that, and let's confuse sexism with puns on sexuality.

Because puns on sexuality are so much more mature of course   

Look. It's a forum and people are allowed to say what they want - but even Pat Cash wouldn't come out with lazy comments like have been posted here

I generally logged on thinking that there'd be some good insights from people I respect on these boards.

Get over yourself, really.

You don't want insight, you want to hear how this is a smart insightful move by brave Andy.

banbrotam wrote:Look. It's a forum and people are allowed to say what they want

Exactly.

I don't think it makes a blind bit of difference that he's appointed a woman. It's great for equality in sport actually, but he was coached by his mom as a kid so it's nothing new to Andy.

I just personally would have chosen someone who made the transition Andy is trying to make, from a 2 time slam winner to a many time slam winner in the second half of his career. Like Agassi did. Cahill said recently that be believed that Andy is served best by a coach who has walked the path he is trying to, and I agree.

That said, it could be a fantastic choice. She had a great impact on Bartoli and Andy knows better than any of us what he needs. Can't wait to see how it develops.

summerblues wrote:

bogbrush wrote:

summerblues wrote:

Jahu wrote:Is he bored of his gf?   

He sure picked a wrong coach then.

Unless he'd like to line her up with someone new.

LOL

Thought I have nothing agaimst 3somes, maybe Andy loves a little Mature Dome on him   

Danny_1982 wrote:I don't think it makes a blind bit of difference that he's appointed a woman. It's great for equality in sport actually, but he was coached by his mom as a kid so it's nothing new to Andy.

I just personally would have chosen someone who made the transition Andy is trying to make, from a 2 time slam winner to a many time slam winner in the second half of his career. Like Agassi did. Cahill said recently that be believed that Andy is served best by a coach who has walked the path he is trying to, and I agree.

That said, it could be a fantastic choice. She had a great impact on Bartoli and Andy knows better than any of us what he needs. Can't wait to see how it develops.

Very good point (in bold). Maybe Andy hungers for a bit of domination?

summerblues wrote:

banbrotam wrote:Look. It's a forum and people are allowed to say what they want

Exactly.

And we can judge for ourselves the comments and the people who say them