FORUM CLOSING ON 14th JANUARY

Beefy wrote:

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I also understand why there where so many A team players in the two sides this week as they need the matches as they have 10 games and the B section has 16 so they will inevitably be selected for matches and they are likely to be the ones where the A team are not playing.

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Why do they NEED matches ?

Milhouse wrote:

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I think Jamie's claims are substantiated! The B2 team is supposed to be a development squad, yet Malc Lewis and John Kinsey are playing ? Hardly development players.....

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We've been down this road already. Some facts:

Creation of B2 (C) Team

For those with a short memory the B side used to run by waiting for your turn. If your first match was Wiltshire you had a good chance of a good run ... West Berkshire or Hampshire it could be a short run in the team and 3 months before you get another go ... retention chances low ... development opportunites very limited.

The B2 was created to give everybody the chance to play every game and an honest chance at retention. If you increase the squad size to ensure you have enough men every month to fill the places(so allowing for holiday season ... average drop out rates ... 36 man squad) ... there will be some months when there are too many players and you're back to square one. The second option is to have around 29 men which guarentees everyone a match but will leave you short most months. How to fill those gaps?

The 'development squad' was an idea to create a pool of players that only play when short; to be made up of those young players that fell short at trials and that if they wanted to play county it was on their only hope. Thought on wrongly by some at the time as wildcards, it was made clear to all those concerned they didn't have full squad rights and would be called apon as the county needed them - it was that or see you next year. Sadly, some thought after a good performce they should be given more game over and above full squad members but that is not what they were signed up for. Result - DEVELOPMENT SQUAD SCRAPPED

Last year, an alternative plan was thought up where the gap was to be filled by existing youth players where possible - not always possible as Youth A and B2 fixtures can clash and be at differing venues but definitely workable till another spanner in the works - the 16 fixture year.

Why are A players involved in B/C games? There are simply too many fixtures for B1 and B2 at 16. You can't keep a squad structure easily unless you can feasibly expect players to be at every game.  There is no way anyone can be expected to be available for 16 sundays. It has nothing to do with A's needing retention ... it has to do with A players only having 10 fixtures and being able to reduce the stress to the teams. 14 game limit was introduced so squad members could pick two weeks not to play without jeopardising place or retention ... those extra places would be filled by A players - all in the open.

Malcolm has played B2 because due to International Committments he can't make Nationals and competition for places in A and B1 are strong. I was in B2 because frankly these days it's where I belong!! I've played pool about 3 times in as many months, and having lost my cue am practically useless.

I can see where some of the frustration over lack of youth playing has come from. It's just not happened. Mistakes made but it's all very easy to quote one liners and sound off on here but it really isn't easy to organise and made even harder when people don't go directly to those concerned - it's what the committee is there for.

Most of all ...just sad to see OCPF washing it's dirty laundry in public again. 

Milhouse wrote:

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The B2 team is supposed to be a development squad, yet Malc Lewis and John Kinsey are playing ? Hardly development players.....

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Maybe the terms "developing players" and "players on their way down" should have been used

B3 team for over 40's and current/ex Tandem players next season?

MING wrote:

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Milhouse wrote:

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The B2 team is supposed to be a development squad, yet Malc Lewis and John Kinsey are playing ? Hardly development players.....

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Maybe the terms "developing players" and "players on their way down" should have been used

B3 team for over 40's and current/ex Tandem players next season?

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Cool, so thats me and you then Kev for the B3 team next year, who else ?

Cheap beer to for home games at the Tandem on sundays !!!!!!!!!!!!!11

johnny_cider wrote:

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As for the Development situation, call a meeting and sort it once and for all!

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We have a meeting scheduled for next week, and have had since Monday. All issues WILL be resolved then.

So in the mean time if we can all stop bickering, i'm sure you will all be enlightened as to what the situation with the B2's is going to be, going forwards.

As for anyone not on the committee, i have previously pointed out on this thread that the AGM will be round soon. You can all have your say about any issues you want raising there. If these issues cannot wait, as Ming has pointed out, complain to your managers, or to Shelly the players rep.
 
Let me remind you all (members of OCPF), if you say something on the forum which relates to OCPF or a representative of OCPF, which upsets/slanders/insults or is considered to bring our organisation in to disripute. You may find youself having a diciplinary hearing.

To my knowledge no-one has ever had a disciplinary hearing. Lets keep it that way......


P.s JOHNY CIDER FOR PRIME MINISTER! (vote cider drinker!)

The Pool Shark wrote:

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GOD wrote:

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Let me remind you all (members of OCPF), if you say something on the forum which relates to OCPF or a representative of OCPF, which upsets/slanders/insults or is considered to bring our organisation in to disripute. You may find youself having a diciplinary hearing.

To my knowledge no-one has ever had a disciplinary hearing. Lets keep it that way....

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So, just to clarify, If I called you a useless, ugly toss-pot who only wins when he gets lucky, then I might find myself in a hearing? Bring it on Scotty!!!

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According to the law, SLANDER is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressly stated or implied to be factual.

So i think you're ok......

The Pool Shark wrote:

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So, just to clarify, If I called you a useless, ugly toss-pot who only wins when he gets lucky, then I might find myself in a hearing? Bring it on Scotty!!!

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I didn't realise you thought so highly of me! I'll make sure i keep my arse pointed at the wall next time you're about! hahaha

EDITS: due to beefyesk gramatical errors!
-- Edited by GOD at 10:36, 2008-08-21

-- Edited by GOD at 10:37, 2008-08-21

GOD wrote:

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We have a meeting scheduled for next week, and have had since Monday. All issues WILL be resolved then.

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    Tim and Steve WILL resolve their differences
        Selection process for B2's WILL take place

Bowser wrote:

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You guys take this game far to seriously its a game of pool for christ sake. Ive never played county and im not sure i'll ever want to after listening to you lot

 

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 We don't get problems like this at EPA county.

Johnny ... i just realised where you got your avatar from ... it's the Oxford epa ladies anual team photo ... nice!!


-- Edited by JFK at 02:45, 2008-08-22

This has been a difficult season. Only 7 games into the season and we get to the recent events and actions of a number of people which has been totally unacceptable, while I can not complain at the personal messages and phone calls I have received after the events, not just from committee members, and while Im very thankful for the time people have shown to me during the last week, it is a shame I never received any emails or phone calls from people during these 7 games, that had concerns and problems with things before the events that took place on the forum. The question has to be asked, why was everybody else including former committee members getting phone calls or being contacted on issues, but not the people that needed to be contacted. How can anybody answer or solve problems if they dont know they are out there, the systems are in place for the county to operate, the players handbooks clearly state how to do this. There was also the Selsey caravan situation and its after effects; I was named as the committee member responsible for asking all leagues for bans, this I did not do, no-one did. I have sadly, during the time since, found out where the stories seemed to have started and who was helping the rumours once they was out there, but once the story is out there, then its hard to change things and peoples minds.

I went in to this position, because I wanted to help. I had seen people be part of the squad and not play all season and have to re-qualify and the same happen again the year after, because they never had a chance to retain a squad place, youth players would leave the youth setup and have the same happening and then fall away from the setup. Now every player starts on a level playing field, with the whole squad having a chance to make retention and also playing at nationals, which could never happen before. That is the basis of the B2 side being set up and thats what I wanted to be part of, Youth squad members involvement would be an extra if and when the time was needed, they are already playing 12 youth matches a season as things are, but the youth side of things seems to have been over played, by people that didnt understand what was being said, the youth have never had a right, for them to be selected in front of qualified members, especially in the first half of the season. This was meant to be a way of making sure that 1/3 of the squad was not sat at home every time there was a county game, but on my own I cant keep arguing the points, while others say or think differently.

While I dont believe I have acted wrongly in anything I have done, and during these times others have, I have to consider what is right for the OCPF as a whole. I will not personally attack anybody as I have no personal grudges with anybody and my extra thoughts have been passed on to the OCPF committee, for their meeting, they will now hold.

So on this note I am standing down as the B2 manager. Sadly, I feel this choice has to be made because of the actions of others. The actions over the past months have made sure any further involvement from me as a manager would cause further problems in the future and none of it is because I have acted wrongly in my opinion. I have made judgement errors this season yes, but Im not the only one. Who doesnt make mistakes?

These positions are voluntary and at times people forget the free time and effort those people but in. This last week has been a very difficult time for myself, but I know if these things were happening in the court of law, I would be found not guilty, I dont believe I have broken any rules in the managing of the B2 team. Made errors in judgement, yes of course.

I sadly stand down as B2 manager, because it is the right time and thing to do for the county to continue forward for the rest of season. I wish OCPF all the best and will be making no further comments.

Steve Lakeman

-- Edited by lakeattacks at 15:55, 2008-08-24

I played the baulk of last year's season in Steve's team after a bad run of early matches in the B1's and will say he ran it on an open and honest front. I hope the next person has the same ethical approach as he did. Some games were hard when we were up against strong opposition and that needs a motivating manager to stop people's heads from falling if the team gets off to a bad start.

Thanks for your efforts over the last 2 seasons and a bit.....

Colzy being serious.....

Are you feeling alright mate?