Exeter Chiefs
A Matter of Perspective
Geronimo Jim
By Geronimo Jim
December 5 2011
Geronimo Jim gives a few thoughts to where Exeter Chiefs find themselves approaching the half way stage of season 2011/12
A Matter of Perspective.
Looking at the Premiership league table tells a happy tale for supporters of the Chiefs..
At the end of only our 32nd Premiership game we find ourselves in 3rd place in (reportedly) the toughest league in club rugby (in the world).
It seems only a very short time ago that I was happy to point out to people that Exeter were the 14th best side inEngland. What a whole new world we live in now. Whilst it's good to see the old familiar faces from the dark old days of the County Ground it's equally warming to see the newer faces turning up game after game, especially so many younger people. All of our current success has however come at a price and that price is the burden of huge expectations.
In very recent times there has been “unrest” in the Tribe, not good enough to be 20 points down in a game after 20 minutes for example, although I accept that a huge amount of humble pie followed later that day. We hear negative comments about this that the other and everything else. Why can't we have this and that now? Why isn't every seat or terrace perfect? Why can't I do what I want and go where I like?
I think that some of this stems from the fact that, as we establish ourselves in the top flight the perception is that we are “special” and all of our needs must be catered to immediately. Please let's be realistic, our squad of players is in development (each player individually and the squad as a whole and we are probably some YEARS away from what our management envisage is the optimum for what we need to achieve. This is no slight on any player or the squad and I'm sure they are all aware of the massive improvements needed to attain the highest standards. Likewise our facilities are going to take years to complete and even then, with new technologies and engineering will continue to evolve over many years after that (look at those cool new drinks containers for an example). We can bet our bottom dollar that the long term success of teams likeLeicester has been driven by a desire to be better than they were yesterday, last week, last year; for the best of the best this is a process that never stops.
I ache for greater and greater success myself just like all of you but bear this in mind; No-one craves success more than the guys who put on the show every week for us. Every player will happily bleed in the quest for that success. they will break bones (their own and the oppositions) without a second thought. Those who don't get to see them up close very often may not realise that they sometimes enter the field of play still bearing bumps, bruises and even stitches from their last encounter in the “game” of rugby.
Our players may not be “warriors” in the same sense as our soldiers who put life and limb on the line but they still go beyond what the vast majority of us would contemplate doing for a living and, unlike the armed forces, police, fire fighters etc. they do it for your entertainment.
So come on everyone give these guys a break, they are willing to break themselves for you and as a result of that and all of the supporting efforts by many unnamed people behind the scenes, this club, YOUR CLUB, will continue to grow and prosper in the best league in the world for many many seasons to come.
Geronimo Jim.
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05/12/2011 20:42
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on a simple note - last season after 10 games we had 22 points - this season we have 25 so an improvement
also the points kept coming throughout the season....so its perfectly reasonable to believe we could be third come the end of the season - the margins are finer and the positions closer thus far however....
Chiefs have come a long way and still have along way to go. Lets enjoy every moment of the journey.
What we have at Exeter is sound management who have created an infrastructure which is sustainable through off field cash generation. This allows RB to know what budget is available to him so that he can build and prepare a side accordingly and he has done a job which to date far exceeds expectations and whatever happens during the remainder of the season 11th will still be a great place to finish. Of course like everyone I have hopes to finish much higher but its already been said that we are playing in the hardest league in the world so please be patient.
I spoke with Dick Greenwood and Colin Fisher last year and they told me how badly wrong they got things at Waterloo and how they only just managed to survive as a club. They now play for fun and have dropped down three leagues since we played them in the Championship and Manchester have faired even worse.
Continue to let Tony Rowe and Rob Baxter build the club as they are doing and one day Chiefs can and will sit at the same table as Leicester and Saints but in the meantime be patient,continue to support and most of all enjoy it.
However, would'nt it be great to see Munstar and Toulon here?
However, we targeted the RWC period to pick up some hard won if unexpected points, and, due to shrewd signings by Rob and his team, have much more depth in our squad this year.
In the past, teams coming into the premiership have brought in overseas players at huge expense to cement their place. Exeter have resisted this and concentrated on getting the best out of the squad with excellent team spirit, high fitness levels and 100% commitment. Long may it continue!
Congratulations and thanks to all the coaching staff and team for giving us fans a boost in these troubled times. Third in the Premiership and the Braves into the semi-finals of the A league is a magnificent achievement.
Our second season is going well and I'm looking forward to seeing them at Irish between Christmas and New Year.Thank you to the management team for giving so much pleasure.
Whatever the poor half glass full brigade feel, the majority of Chiefs should, MUST! feel proud.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:06:20:29:09 by Geronimo Jim.
