Controversial choice?

By Stuart Anderton
August 28 2013

In a move which will doubtless stir up the usual debate, Stuart Hooper has been confirmed as club captain.

Gary Gold made the announcement today:

"Stuart is a consummate professional, both on and off the pitch, and is the embodiment of the standards we expect of all the players here at Bath. His work ethic is second to none, he's a very intelligent player and he talks very well. His leadership qualities are unquestioned, and he has the utmost respect of all the players and staff at the Club.

"We are fortunate to have some very strong leaders within the squad, with the likes of Rob Webber, Dave Attwood, Peter Stringer, Francois Louw and Paul James. They, along with Stuart, will form our leadership group for the season, making sure that the high standards we set ourselves on and off the pitch are met."

Stuart added: "I am of course delighted and honoured to be asked by Gary and the coaches to captain Bath for another season. We have a very exciting squad here that I am very proud to lead, and we are all looking forward to getting out on the pitch and getting the season underway."

Many on COML don't beleive that Hoops should start and therefore shoudn't be captain; others have doubted his on pitch leadership when the chips are down. While still more, of course, rate him really highly as player and captain. But it's been a hotly debated issue.

But whatever an element of supporters think, it is Hoops who will be leading us to (hopefully) glory this coming season.

Hoops continues as captain

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 28/08/2013 10:59

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
28/08/2013 10:59

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OBinexile
28/08/2013 11:07

What worries me is that, from the backs, only Stringer is identified as a leader. I thought that Banners was being lined up for that role - so, surprised he's not included in the list. Hooper has clearly got something - thats not obvious from the sidelines - as he's been selected as a leader by multiple coaches and multiple teams.

OBinExile

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Susanne
28/08/2013 11:12

Quote:

What do you think?

Good!

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joehousewife
28/08/2013 11:37

With the new 'Beef' with have in the pack perhaps 'Hoops' can take on a Parling/Borthwick type role, running the lineout with 'Military' efficiency, which is what we desparatly need, then let Attwood, Davey, Leroy and Garvey do the 'Bosh' work, I'm not Hooper's biggest fan but I've afeeling it might work we this seasons blend....
"Come on you Bath!"

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Saggers
28/08/2013 11:44

I think Webber would have been a better choice, but, Hoops is passionate about his club, as shown last season and I wish him all the best this year.

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johnnyf
28/08/2013 11:50

Decision made - we should all now get behind our team.
Looking forward to a great season.

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Bri
28/08/2013 11:59

Good luck Hoops,top man,top captain,top choice.

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Sir Redneck
28/08/2013 12:17

Quote:

Bri
Good luck Hoops,top man,top captain,top choice.

Well said Bri. You cannot question Hoops passion and whether you agree with it or not, that's the way it is!

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pubtime
28/08/2013 12:19

good luck Hoops but please be more vocal on the pitch, Borthwick was conspicuously more vocal in the Sorries game at the Rec last season..

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Riddler
28/08/2013 12:26

Wouldn't be my choice but, as said above, that is the choice of the club so with a season in front of us, hope it proves to be the right one! Needs to be a bigger presence on match days and command his position in the starting xv; if he does that, adding in his line out ability, could work out v well.

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Bri
28/08/2013 12:26

He was vocal last Friday when they scored.

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Riddler
28/08/2013 12:32

Good to hear! The times I have been a ten or so metres from him (ie front row) and the opposition had scored or we had given away a penalty, he was virtually mute. If that had changed then, from my perspective, shows he has grown more into the role which can only help him and the club.

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Kidney Stone
28/08/2013 13:05

The decision has been made, regardless of our personal preferences we should be getting behind the Hoopmeister.

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Dan Wiley
28/08/2013 13:09

Does getting behind him exclude the possibility of sharing that, in your opinion, there were better candidates?

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Kidney Stone
28/08/2013 13:11

I guess we can all share opinions, but the opinion that matters has made the decisions it is Hoops.

That is my opinion, I thought I would share it!

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Dan Wiley
28/08/2013 13:17

So no different to any other topic then?

I'd be amazed if any but the most concerted onion on here swayed the direction of the club. It is not the purpose of this board to do so. What this board is for is to discuss our opinions. So I find the attitude of, as I see it, decision made lets move on, rather at odds with this.

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Never In Doubt
28/08/2013 13:50

I think there is a clear difference now in being a Club Captain and a team Captain during the game.

As Club Captain, his most important qualities will be those that raise the capability of the team to win whilst off the pitch. In this I would include a dedication to the club, not accepting anything but the most dedicated attitude towards training and helping raise the desire to win. In this regard, I think it is a good appointment.

The captain on the pitch plays a more tactical role. If Hoops is on the pitch, I think he has tactical awareness but I have never been convinced that he does enough to motivate players during difficult patches.

I am not sure that anybody, with maybe the exception of Flo, has really impressed me in their ability to motivate others on the pitch since we lost Borthers.

In short an excellent club captain but I am not sure that we have any truly outstanding team captains. Happy to be proved wrong by Hoops or whoever else holds the band on the pitch this year.

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Never In Doubt
28/08/2013 14:01

Quote:

DanWiley
So no different to any other topic then?
I'd be amazed if any but the most concerted onion on here swayed the direction of the club. It is not the purpose of this board to do so. What this board is for is to discuss our opinions. So I find the attitude of, as I see it, decision made lets move on, rather at odds with this.

Dan are concerted onions a staple diet of porps?

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Kidney Stone
28/08/2013 14:12

Quote:

DanWiley
So no different to any other topic then?

Well actually I do think that there is a slight difference.

The subject has been done to death so many times, the end result is that nothing has changed and Hoops is captain, endorsed by club and fellow players more times than I can remember. Add to that the overt support of ex-players such as Flatman, and the counter argument is that someone on here wants to continually berate him because he did not openly clobber another player when provoked.

The other difference is that we are at the start of a new season, some positive support for the club may just be of some benefit.

But as you put it yourself your care for the club has reduced so I guess that figures.

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Widcombe boy
28/08/2013 14:36

Club Captain and a good honest player. The lineout is improved with Hoops on the pitch and there's no doubt about it he very passionate about our club. (I still think Webber and Flouw will lead the side a fair bit during the season)

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Quel Carreleur
28/08/2013 14:50

Well done Hoops; and I sincerely hope you can prove me wrong.
I also hope that the coaching staff don't feel constrained by this choice to play him even if he's not one of the best 2 locks fit and available; I don't think we're a strong enough team to carry a captain.
As said above; we have strengthened the pack around him; so this may allow him to concentrate on the tactics and line-out.

It's not the decision I'd have made; but I feel my reasoning has been done to death; and I'm happy to shut up and support; no hard feelings toward the player at all; it's the coaches who are yet to convince me (on far more than just this decision)

A man who cannot change his mind, cannot change anything

RAEBURN SHIELD

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Dan Wiley
28/08/2013 15:01

" Quote:
DanWiley
So no different to any other topic then?


Well actually I do think that there is a slight difference.

The subject has been done to death so many times"

Sorry, the difference is...

Seriously that was with tongue in cheek. However, the fact that he has been re-elected, despite it being done to death, is my point. The discussions we have on here are of little consequence so the fact he's been elected again and it is done deal really shouldn't have a bearing, it is exactly the same as every other topic which we have no influence over.

I agree it has been done to death, but others do want to talk about it, so let them. I think the comments designed to move on from a subject actually often have the opposite effect of entrenching both the view and the need to express it.

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Bri
28/08/2013 15:46

I think looking at him he's bulked up a fair bit( upper body).

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DA Bath
28/08/2013 16:12

Hooper might be lacking a bit of bulk but looking at size of our pack on the offy I don't think we will be lacking in this department. Garvey a magnificent 20st on the dot, so big that Perenise barely made it into the team photo.

Starting pack of
James
Webber
Wilson
Day
Attwood
Garvey
Louw
Houston

Averaging nearly 18 1/2 stone

Also Fa'osiliva not listed as a forward or a back, perhaps they are undecided!

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CoochieCoo
28/08/2013 16:29

When all is said and done the fact that Hoops appears to be the players' choice then that is good enough for me.

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Bri
28/08/2013 16:40

Quote:

CoochieCoo
When all is said and done the fact that Hoops appears to be the players' choice then that is good enough for me.

I agree CC,he's the man.

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Bathovalballer
28/08/2013 17:46

I will only say I endorse Which Tyler's thoughts exactly!

I will support the 'new and revitalised' team and its captain to the hilt as I have done for this my 30th season as a member, but cannot see how anyone can put Hoops on form and on playing ability above Atters, Day, Caldwell or even Spencer (at the end of last term). IMHO his leadership skills when things were going badly were non existent at times and we cannot afford to carry anyone up front, even in our beefed up pack! He may be Club Captain but should not take to the field leading the team, unless he can prove he is worth a starting place.

C'mon Bath we have got to perform this season and need to hit the ground running.

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FourSticks
28/08/2013 19:47

While happy with Hoops as club captain, I would be much less happy if that meant he was first name on the team sheet each week.

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