England v Holland squad announcements

[archerfan]

Sonny I understand what you are saying but I still come back to the point that the public will not want to spend their hard earned money on an England loss. The balance is very difficult but I still think a successful team will do more good.

[sonnyjim]

I dont think people will spend their money anyway. It's not as if we have big names in the game to draw in the crowds even if we put out our strongest team.

[Khalid]

Looking at the results of the Taipei open none of our players have got past the first round .. and thats without the Chinese playing.

Archer and Kellog out first round to a Danish pair Eriksen and Schjoldager in 3 sets.

Blair and Munt out in 2 sets.

I cant help thinking these (past) masters like Simon would best serve the country and sport by bringing on our younger hopefuls.

Simon, amongst others have been around a long time and served the sport well - maybe its time for them to focus on the sport in other ways.

[Michael Banks]

Not true as Gail and Donna won their opening game.

[Khalid]

I stand corrected, I only looked at the mens matches.

I see that Ella Trip and Joanne Wright also got past the first round.

[Lewisio]

I see two options - 1- you play our top players, England win and everyone goes on about how great we are and what a great win. Or 2 - we were to put in some younger players, why not give a pair like Foster and Trueman a mens doubles, yeah they're not our top boys, but they've had some good results over the last couple of years, they won the French last year. The experience would be really good for them.

I'm hoping to go to one of the series and yes i'd like to see our top players in action. But its only going to be badminton people who go along anyway, so these people will go regardless of who's playing just so they see some badminton live for not very much money.

Its good to see South in the squad and hopefully he gets a game, but really what is the point in Haughton playing, he should win comfortably in about 30 mins, he gets a pat on the back and we all say wow he's really good and then he still goes out 1st or 2nd round of a major tournament. I'm not knocking Haughton, because he can't help being the best in the country, because the rest can't beat him and he can't help the fact that he's playing against world class opposition and losing. I genuinely believe all our top players are doing the best they can when they're in the tournaments, what you have to question is all the preparation before hand.

I would much rather pay my money and see South or Honey play for an hour and win in three, than Haughton or Ghaffar (although Ghaffar lost to Honey in the recent Elite), win really comfortably in two sets.

If the baofe want to put on a top class show get some tougher opposition, advertise the matches in papers and etc, give free entry to schools, so kids (the future players) can come and experience world class badminton and support our top players. And make it a spectacle rather than a small show of how great our top players are against lesser opposition in front of already committed badminton enthusiasts.

And I think anyone with marketing qualifications or without could pull off this plan, especially a marketing officer in the baofe, if they're just given instruction to do so.

[mrmagoo]

I don't think we should write off the dutch so quickly. I only see one certain victory which is the mens doubles. Eric pang is going to be very difficult to beat as is meulendijks. The ladies doubles and mixed will be close as chris and lotte bruil are world class players.I predict some very close matches. Now is the time to play our best team because when was the last time we won a series in this country? I believe you should only play for england if you are good enough to potentially win at this moment as good as our top juniors are they are no where near good enough to compete at this level

[RobertRowland]

I would love to see the youngsters get a match in this series. Why not give them a go - Raj Ouself, Harry White , Manny Trip they all deserve a go

[clingfilm]

Manny Trip, youngster!!!!!!!! are you sure?

[RobertRowland]

Manny is still only 23 and he has just won the Oxford Open, he must be worth a go.