Woodward

[OldNick]

Im amblivilent about him but seeing him at Beijing with our Olympians and how well we did.I wonder if if he had had full backing for his ideas would we haved moved forward quicker.

This is not about supposed salary because the 750k banded about has been laughed off but with this set up perhaps he may have helped.

[aintforever]

na doubt it

[Fan The Flames]

How much input did he have in the cycling, rowing and swimming. As far as I can see these sports had changed their structures before he was on the scene.

It is interesting to hear the Woodwardesque cycling performance director talk and compare this to the outdated athletes, they sound a world apart.

However I would have liked the Woodward experiment to have continued a little bit longer.

[sadoldgit]

A hugely wasted opportunity for us I think.

 

And as for all of the posters on here who, in their great wisdom, questioned how someone from rubgy could ever make a difference at a football club, just go take a look at our medals haul this Olympics.

 

Still, we couldn't upset 'Arry could we? So Woodward was kept away from the 1st team (despite the fact that we neded all the help we could get).

 

And as for Mr Redknapp, I was amused to read that his missus could manage ManU or Chelsea because of the money they have to spend. He reckons he is a real manager. Funny that 'Arry, I though you only achieved some real success when you had a blank cheque book to play with. Or did all those players sign for Portsmouth in order to be managed by the great Harry Redknapp rather than a massive salary?

 

Woodward's CV continues to grow at the highest level but we didn't need him did we Mr Wilde?

 

Still, at least we got our club back (without any "toffs" on the Board).

[St Paul]

The results that have been acheived by Cycling, Rowing and swimming are as a result of millions of pounds of lottery money pouring into their coffers. The cycling set up is light yeras ahead of any other nation, due to this funding. John Major, who set up the lottery and had as one of it's aims, excellence in minority sorts deserves more credit than Woodward. These things take a decade to turn into results,not the couple of years Woodward's been there. You have to look to 2012 to see whether Woodward makes any difference.

 

I still remember the **** up he made of the last Lions tour, Alister Campbell and all.......

[N/West Saint]

I think he would have done ok.

[sadoldgit]

The results that have been acheived by Cycling, Rowing and swimming are as a result of millions of pounds of lottery money pouring into their coffers. The cycling set up is light yeras ahead of any other nation, due to this funding. John Major, who set up the lottery and had as one of it's aims, excellence in minority sorts deserves more credit than Woodward. These things take a decade to turn into results,not the couple of years Woodward's been there. You have to look to 2012 to see whether Woodward makes any difference.

 

I still remember the **** up he made of the last Lions tour, Alister Campbell and all.......

 

Typical Brit, we really do not like people to succeed do we? And when they do we knock them down.

 

You can either nit pick of enjoy the fact that we have finally something to be happy about in sport. I know which I would rather do.

[alpine_saint]

Im amblivilent about him but seeing him at Beijing with our Olympians and how well we did.I wonder if if he had had full backing for his ideas would we haved moved forward quicker.

This is not about supposed salary because the 750k banded about has been laughed off but with this set up perhaps he may have helped.

 

Let's get a few things straight...

 

The athletes have actually done f**king awful in this Olympics. Also the divers, the hockey teams, and the equestrians were below par.

 

Most our world class performances came in cycling, and that is down a lot to the bloke (I dont recall the name) who took British cycling by the short-and-curlies and transformed it almost single-handedly. I note he is already being head-hunted, according to the BBC.

 

Btw, his name is NOT Woodward.

 

I personally reckon the likes of Seb Coe has done more to pull British sport up by its bootlaces in the extended run up to 2012.

 

EDIT : The previous one who was responsible for the transformation was Peter Keen, the one being head-hunted is the current Performance Director who carried on his good work, Dave Brailsford.

Edited 24 August, 2008 by alpine_saint

[St Paul]

Typical Brit, we really do not like people to succeed do we? And when they do we knock them down.

 

You can either nit pick of enjoy the fact that we have finally something to be happy about in sport. I know which I would rather do.

 

 

Who do I "really not like to succeed"?

 

what a stupid statement to make. All I want is credit where it's due, Woodward can not and proberly will not, take any credit for the improved performances in Cycling, Swimming and Rowing as these bodies have been working towards these goals for years.

 

He was diectly responsable for the Lions fiasco, or can I not mention that, as it was a failure?

[1965onwards]

Woodward has minimal input into these Olympics,his remit is 2012.

[St Landrew]

Let's get a few things straight...

 

The athletes have actually done f**king awful in this Olympics. Also the divers, the hockey teams, and the equestrians were below par.

 

Most our world class performances came in cycling, and that is down a lot to the bloke (I dont recall the name) who took British cycling by the short-and-curlies and transformed it almost single-handedly. I note he is already being head-hunted, according to the BBC.

 

Btw, his name is NOT Woodward.

 

I personally reckon the likes of Seb Coe has done more to pull British sport up by its bootlaces in the extended run up to 2012.

 

He used to be Chris Boardman's coach back in 1992. He did transform British Cycling when he realised that if he didn't change things, then Boardman's triumph would be completely isolated. With financial backing he then set about changing the attitude too, by masterminding the World Class Performance Plan. Consequently, Cycling is light years ahead of every other British Olympic sport, although Rowing and Sailing are very well funded too, and have always had a professional attitude. He has now moved from the British Cycling arena to become Performance Adviser to UK Sport. The bloke's name..? Peter Keen.

 

Look him up. Here's something to read about our cyclists and how they became so dominant:

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4569198.ece

[Legod Second Coming]

Oh Lordy, Lordy...

 

Might we actually give a little credit to the cycling director of elite performance and his entire coaching team?

 

And the swimming?

 

Oh and the athletes who have been training for the best part of their ENTIRE adult lives for this event??

 

If you think Woodward had an input I suggest you contact the 18 - of 28 - EXISTING Elite Directors of Performance at the various sports like cycling, rowing, and sailing who have had NO contact with Sir Clive and his experimental Olympic structure which has thus far only been used on a fecking teenage golfer!!

 

He isn't even responsible for the structure and development of our athletes, UK Sport are, while Woodward is Elite Director of the BOA.

 

The Olmpics are only every four years. The athletes are competing ALL the time in their sports at local, national, european and worldwide events, as well as building towards the Olympics.

 

So tell me, how is it possible this man influencd Chris Hoy??

 

Actually, I think there was one sport where Clive had a role. Yes, Judo, I believe...

[Legod Second Coming]

Now, you might say Australian's are a little biased and, frankly, they have every right to be bitter about Woodward, but I do love this piece from the Sydney Herald:

 

WHETHER you think of Sir Clive Woodward as a misunderstood, charismatic genius, or favour the increasingly popular view that the man should spend more time with his marbles, you would still hesitate to ask him to help you change a lightbulb. By Woodward's way of doing things, the entire process would last a few weeks, involve a phalanx of consultants, coaches and motivational gurus, and end with an invoice for six figures. Oh, and no guarantee that the thing would actually work.

 

That, at least, is the most obvious conclusion to be drawn from the latest despatch from la-la land that was Woodward's explanation of his, eh, thinking on the development of Britain's most talented competitors ahead of the 2012 Olympics. In his role as the British Olympic Association's director of elite performance, Woodward wheeled out an array of top coaches, told us each athlete would soak up around GBP150,000 of funding per annum, and introduced Melissa Reid, a 20-year-old golfer who claims to have benefited from the weary old hokum that is Woodward's most familiar register.

 

Reid's prescribed regime apparently involves watching old Clint Eastwood movies. No tittering at the back now, but by recalling one scene from A Fistful of Dollars, she is reminded to concentrate on the details of what she is meant to be doing and focus on the task in hand.

 

Admirable principles. So admirable, in fact, you have to wonder why Woodward has not been following them himself.

 

Sorry to come over like a crashing pedant on this point, but if Woodward is picking up a salary in the region of GBP300,000 for improving Britain's Olympic medal prospects, wouldn't he be better applying his visionary methods towards a participant in an Olympic sport?

 

You suspect the same question should also have been asked by his paymasters at the BOA, but it is devilishly difficult to have faith in the judgment of a body who were so dazzled by the solitary peak on Woodward's cv England's 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph that they chose to overlook his series of failures in the Six Nations championship, his catastrophic stewardship of the Lions in New Zealand in 2005 and the unhappy and predictably brief time he spent muddying the waters of Southampton Football Club.

 

Surely, though, somebody in high office must have spotted the pattern of calamitously inappropriate appointments that have peppered Woodward's past. The decision to take Alastair Campbell to New Zealand as the Lions' communications director was only the most infamous, for Woodward was to demonstrate the same muddled approach when he brought the "football skills" expert Simon Clifford to Southampton as head of sport science.

 

"History will show he will be a major acquisition for the club, " said Woodward at the time. History was not long in coming. Clifford lasted two months.

 

It is against that backdrop that the supposedly elite team of coaches unveiled by Woodward last week should be judged. One or two have the sort of respected professional qualifications and backgrounds that imply expertise beyond reproach, but many slip all too comfortably into the category of Clive's Old Mates. Beyond that, the line-up descends quickly into the realms of the weird: it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Tag Lamche is the nation's leading expert on sensory motor skills, but you suspect he caught Woodward's eye because he was (briefly) the drummer in Ian Dury's Blockheads.

 

"The coaches on this programme are not cheap, " admitted Woodward when he introduced his gallery of gurus. "They are the best in the world and I intend to pay them the commercial rate." As Woodward's calculation of the commercial rate amounts to around GBP3 million- GBP4m per athlete over the next five years all of which would count for nothing if the beneficiary happened to twist an ankle at just the wrong moment we should not be sanguine about the expenditure. More than that, though, we should be downright alarmed that Woodward's figure is about double that calculated by UK Sport, the body generally recognised as being responsible for the elite performance of Britain's medal candidates.

 

To make matters worse, senior figures within UK Sport have already expressed serious reservations about Woodward piling into an area in which he has no significant experience and where he is in danger of cutting across their own work.

 

While the BOA and UK Sport have been obliged to make soothing noises about each other recently, it is understood that Woodward's plans have soured relationships between the two bodies.

 

None of which is likely to dissuade the former rugby coach from careering ahead with a plan that looks horribly half-baked and says less about elite development than it does about his own gullibility to the overtures of the charlatans and snake-oil salesmen who populate the sporting landscape these days. Anyone who has read even a few pages of Woodward's toe-curlingly glib semi-autobiography "Winning" will appreciate his fondness for self-aggrandising mumbo jumbo; the pity is the heavy price that British sport might have to pay for that weakness.

 

Copyright c 2007 Newsquest Media Group

[saint1977]

Sounds like Peter Keen would be a great acquistion should we ever get some investment to develop the current model further!

[70's Mike]

In the Sunday Mirror

 

END THE EGO TRIP

 

Clive Woodward cut a pathetic figure in China as Deputy Chef de Mission.

 

He's in a non job on a £300000 a year ego trip.

 

Instead of hatching grand plans to become Britains COACHING supermo, he should accept the challenge of putting our money where his mouth is.

 

Put him in charge of hockey, which blew £10m in Beijing"

 

Obviously the writer is not a fan

[ottery st mary]

I personally agree with the writer as do many of the well run sports.

Not Saints connected(hope not) and never will be again. We did not need him could not afford him and hopefully never to interfere with our set up. Leave him to jolly hockey sticks and whatever. All spin and tripe.

[St_Tel49]

Who do I "really not like to succeed"?

 

what a stupid statement to make. All I want is credit where it's due, Woodward can not and proberly will not, take any credit for the improved performances in Cycling, Swimming and Rowing as these bodies have been working towards these goals for years.

 

He was diectly responsable for the Lions fiasco, or can I not mention that, as it was a failure?

The reference to the Lions tour completely misses the point about Woodward. His influence tends to be medium to long term - not a 4 week jaunt. Oh, and it didn't help that the Allblacks took out the Lion's most dangerous player within 5 minutes of the 1st game a with a piece of outrageous foul play that should had the perpetrators banned for a month but instead went completely unpunished.

[scooby]

This is not about supposed salary because the 750k banded about has been laughed off but with this set up perhaps he may have helped.

 

It was 180k.

[sadoldgit]

Who do I "really not like to succeed"?

 

what a stupid statement to make. All I want is credit where it's due, Woodward can not and proberly will not, take any credit for the improved performances in Cycling, Swimming and Rowing as these bodies have been working towards these goals for years.

 

He was diectly responsable for the Lions fiasco, or can I not mention that, as it was a failure?

 

We have an Olympic team who have done their best for 100 years and Woodward is a part of that set up, therefore a part of the success.

[Legod Second Coming]

We have an Olympic team who have done their best for 100 years and Woodward is a part of that set up, therefore a part of the success.

 

 

Yep, as much as the Captain flying them back this morning...

[aintforever]

The reference to the Lions tour completely misses the point about Woodward. His influence tends to be medium to long term - not a 4 week jaunt. Oh, and it didn't help that the Allblacks took out the Lion's most dangerous player within 5 minutes of the 1st game a with a piece of outrageous foul play that should had the perpetrators banned for a month but instead went completely unpunished.

 

If his style only works long term why didn't he say something before hand and save spending all that money?

 

It's all bull****, he's quick to claim all the glory is results go his way but weasles away with excuses when things go totally wrong. Facts are when he was with us we were rubbish and he cost a fortune - there is no excuses, if you pay a performance director a truck load of cash performances need to improve.

 

We have proper football people running the team now, they appear to have a well organised, motivated team punching above it's weight - and guess what, no self-promoting guru is in sight.

[ottery st mary]

We have an Olympic team who have done their best for 100 years and Woodward is a part of that set up, therefore a part of the success.

 

He was not.. He had a watching brief and apart from one or two minor speeches and words of encouragement to the odd individual was not deemed an influence. His position if he remains(there are serious rumours about him going to a football club)

Most sports already had their own coaching structure even with Woodward types who are to be praised and encouraged not replaced as Woodward would instigate. Most of the sports do not want him near them.

Cycling,Swimming and Rowing are examples how finance and good leadership

have shown rapid strides onto the podium.

Woodward is a clever mans Ramsey. The new Saints Manager is already streets ahead of Woodward because for starters he is a football man and knows football.

Just my opinion on the information given to me.

[NickG]

saw him most days in centre of track during competition not spectating.

 

One of the medallist - can't remember which - gave an immediate thanks to him saying what a difference he made - but still not rugby!

[ottery st mary]

saw him most days in centre of track during competition not spectating.

 

One of the medallist - can't remember which - gave an immediate thanks to him saying what a difference he made - but still not rugby!

 

Yes watching brief.

Swimmer Adlington stated he gave a rousing speech a little like Churchill

which she praised and then went on to praise her coaches, management,parents, schoolteachers, God and the whole group in the swimming structure including Woodward types already in place.

My main point is not really aimed at his credentials or possible help to an individual or a team is that then and now the club could not afford him for something at that price would not have happened over night. In any case the Manager,coaches,Agents and particularly the player himself should be doing all this.

No offence towards this man as we can prove this season we do not need him. Leave it to JP and his staff. Let Woodward coach our Throwers, see if that works without money.

[Guest Hacienda]

Typical Brit, we really do not like people to succeed do we? And when they do we knock them down.

 

You can either nit pick of enjoy the fact that we have finally something to be happy about in sport. I know which I would rather do.

 

So it was one man alone, not millions of lottery money and specialised coaches that won the medals?

 

Woodward really is Superman!

[alpine_saint]

Yep, as much as the Captain flying them back this morning...

 

LOLOLOLOL !!!!

Maybe the squad of little Chinese cleaning ladies that served as the room service in the Olympic Village should be nominated for MBEs and for the team award in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

 

After all, they are associated with Team GB and the success they've achieved.

[alpine_saint]

Typical Brit, we really do not like people to succeed do we? And when they do we knock them down.

 

You can either nit pick of enjoy the fact that we have finally something to be happy about in sport. I know which I would rather do.

 

I am delighted and very proud of Team GB, their efforts, and those that helped them to achieve it.

 

Woodward can fook off elsewhere and be a hanger-on there.

 

I can just imagine the update of his CV this weekend.......

[pedg]

Lordy lordy some people are getting in a right state over this...

 

Show me a single quote from Woodward where he in any way shape or form claims any sort of credit for our results in the Olympics?

 

Lots of people getting on high horses here complaining about something that does not appear to have happened.

[alpine_saint]

Lordy lordy some people are getting in a right state over this...

 

Show me a single quote from Woodward where he in any way shape or form claims any sort of credit for our results in the Olympics?

 

Lots of people getting on high horses here complaining about something that does not appear to have happened.

 

Erm, with all due respect, SOG took it upon himself to come on here and do Woodwards shouting for him.

[pedg]

Erm, with all due respect, SOG took it upon himself to come on here and do Woodwards shouting for him.

 

He said, and I quote:

 

"Woodward's CV continues to grow at the highest level but we didn't need him did we Mr Wilde?"

 

not much of a shout is it really? Not really enough to produce the level of vitriol that followed, IMO.

[DT]

I am delighted and very proud of Team GB, their efforts, and those that helped them to achieve it.

 

Woodward can fook off elsewhere and be a hanger-on there.

 

I can just imagine the update of his CV this weekend.......

 

edit...British Lions tour...strikethrough...SFC...strikethrough...monumental Olympian achievement, singlehanded...UPPER CASE UNDERLINE...Fluky world cup win...UNDERLINE...

sports science...(this one works with those who think it didn't happen before me, hee hee)...Underline UPPER CASE

 

Yours,

Sir Clive Woodward

ENC (Emperor's New Clothes) Inc

 

PS can we please ban all talk of this charlatan on this site as it is not Saints or sport-related

[alpine_saint]

edit...British Lions tour...strikethrough...SFC...strikethrough...monumental Olympian achievement, singlehanded...UPPER CASE UNDERLINE...Fluky world cup win...UNDERLINE...

sports science...(this one works with those who think it didn't happen before me, hee hee)...Underline UPPER CASE

 

Yours,

Sir Clive Woodward

ENC (Emperor's New Clothes) Inc

 

PS can we please ban all talk of this charlatan on this site as it is not Saints or sport-related

 

Suits me, dude. It's some sort of peeing contest anyway.

[scooby]

PS can we please ban all talk of this charlatan on this site as it is not Saints or sport-related

 

Typical that someone of your ilk would stand there and claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that a man from the upper classes could not succeed in sport.

[alpine_saint]

Typical that someone of your ilk would stand there and claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that a man from the upper classes could not succeed in sport.

 

Must have missed the bit where he referred to class....

 

You are obsessed with it, no-one else. Frankly, its getting boring and annoying.

[Guest Hacienda]

Typical that someone of your ilk would stand there and claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that a man from the upper classes could not succeed in sport.

 

 

Would you care to show where anybody has mentioned class? What's that? You can't? You were making it all up because you're a one dimensional trolling mong

? Well I never.

[DT]

Typical that someone of your ilk would stand there and claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that a man from the upper classes could not succeed in sport.

come again, squire?

[alpine_saint]

come again, squire?

 

Dont call him squire, you're playing straight into his hands about us all being flat-capped proletarian scum.

[DT]

when I say squire, I mean bell-end.

[alpine_saint]

when i say squire, i mean bell-end.

 

lol

[egreog]

Woodward was too clever and intelligent for football........they closed ranks and forced him out............had he been given time and support he could have had a hand in literally revolutionising this club, but it never happened.

 

Its the anti rugby management in football with their heads in the sand as usual..... but i'm sure SCW is more than happy doing what he is now!

[rocknrollman no2]

Typical that someone of your ilk would stand there and claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that a man from the upper classes could not succeed in sport.

 

My interpretation of the so called "Upperclasses " is a load of posh people who encourage inbreeding and tend to look down at other people.Are you the result of inbreeding Scooby?

We wasted so much money on SCW,when we should have been concentrating on the first team.

We are well rid of.

[scooby]

We wasted so much money on SCW,when we should have been concentrating on the first team.

We are well rid of.

 

I guess no matter how successful SCW is at any sport he tries his hand in, he will never be good enough for some people as he did not graft his way through the boot room. Football is such a nasty old boys club.

[Guest Hacienda]

I guess no matter how successful SCW is at any sport he tries his hand in, he will never be good enough for some people as he did not graft his way through the boot room. Football is such a nasty old boys club.

 

Care to comment on this Scabby?

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=27008&postcount=43

 

It appears you've previous of saying that you want SFC to lose games.

[buctootim]

Care to comment on this Scabby?

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=27008&postcount=43

 

It appears you've previous of saying that you want SFC to lose games.

 

Less harmful than only giving your money to rival clubs.

[scooby]

Less harmful than only giving your money to rival clubs.

 

Very much so.

[Guest Hacienda]

Less harmful than only giving your money to rival clubs.

 

Get over it as I don't give a toss on your views regarding my match going priorities.

[Guest Hacienda]

Very much so.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=27008&postcount=43

 

No comment then scabby?

[buctootim]

Get over it as I don't give a toss on your views regarding my match going priorities.

 

Just pointing out how hypocritical you are.

[rocknrollman no2]

Just pointing out how hypocritical you are.

 

Some would say principled,unlike Lowe or his poodle Wilde.

[buctootim]

Some would say principled,unlike Lowe or his poodle Wilde.

No. Being principled about it would mean pledging the money saved from a season ticket to a childrens charity or even to buying shares to vote Lowe out. Actually only giving money to Saints rivals whilst criticising others for mere words stinks.