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Originally Posted by Slow Love™
Yes, apart from pointing out the obvious that reams of editorial columns have already been devoted to, there's not an incredible amount of value in this article from Simpson.
In truth, I think he was an excellent coach, and just what we needed (which you don't often get!) in those dark days when we looked like a piece of crap.
One observation I'd make is that, in some ways, there's a fine line between being considered a boots'n'all brave commentator who doesn't pull punches, and being a bit of a coward. If Simpson is going to attack people's commitment of all things, I think it's a bit much to talk about people in such vague terms. Name names, Bob - don't just float this crap out there and smear everybody. To do what he does here is a bit having his cake and eating it too, IMO.
One of the unfortunate realities of international sport is that there will be up times and down times. You try and minimize as much as is possible the down times, but in my opinion it's impossible to eliminate them. You can have as great a system as is possible, and still find that at some stage, another team that doesn't quite have as good a system, or that is doing something you abandoned 20 years ago, or that doesnt' seem that bothered about things, is beating you. The availability of natural talent will always play some part in the process, and it's something that can't be completely controlled. This is no reason not to try and steamline and perfect what you're doing, but you can only do so much.
While I think we can look at Ponting and Buchanan's approach/performance and say "I think this was wrong", or "we should have a better command of the basics of the game, like not having so many no-balls or dropping so many catches" or "boy, that was a mistake we paid for", I think Simpson and some others are maybe overreacting (or at the very least, being premature) as to holding the system accountable for this loss, and for the fact that we don't obviously have ready, world-beating replacements for long-term world champion players who either are, or soon will be, leaving. It's what happens. There's no magical theory that will ensure you success forever, and losing that success doesn't automatically mean your system is desperately sick.
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