Well, this is interesting, at least to us. No sooner had we been informed of Paul Mathews departure from GRF, we have been told of two more players taking the same route, Will Brown and Alan Letele, with perhaps one or two others joining them. Now, to be fair, this has not been confirmed, but if it is true, one starts to wonder, what is going on at GRF? We know that they have recruited Ian Caple from Spartacus as a coach he was the inspiration behind Spartacus beating GRF twice last season, or so he told everyone, the question is, will he have any players left to benefit from his vast knowledge and experience? We believe that if this trend continues GRF will be struggling big time this season as they were last year but without some of their best players to rescue them this time. Of course, they have Neil Johnson coaching as well as Ian and we think that the two of them will complement each other, but will it work?
If this is true something big is about to happen in west. A few years ago players where going in the other direction, but with the two wins in last year things seams to be different. Is there any news on the Argentinean from ERK going to Spartacus?
ReplyDeleteIan is an excellent coach. If has not been for him then spartacus never whould have won against Gothenburg.
ReplyDeleteIan is also the west RDO which proves that he knows a lot.
Ian's idea of good coaching is to bring players in from abroad and offer them free rent. Kind of a weird strategy for an RDO
ReplyDeleteGöteborg are very lucky to have so many talented coaches. How do they find them? Coaches who can produce results just like that are extremely valuable. Where has Ian Caple come from? What is his playing record? Who has he coached before?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if he would be willing to move to Stockholm?
Quality professional Rugby coaches are hard to find in Sweden. Has Ian been asked to coach any of the National sides. Presumably the academy and age group teams will soon need a new head coach. Arguably the best should be coaching the senior men or even leading the assault on the WRWC
ReplyDeleteSo, does that mean that some of Ians players are rent boys?
ReplyDeleteIan is a really good kicking coach!!!
ReplyDeleteAny players out there who can verify Ian's coaching skills. If you have been coached by Ian please tell us about it.
ReplyDeleteRent boys? That's a bit bellow the belt.
ReplyDeleteEven if Ian ships players in from overseas and pays their rent he still has to coach them. Several talented individuals are not enough to beat a well drilled Gothenburg side with Neil as coach. He must have got them playing together and he must have devised a wicked game plan.
Give him credit for that.
Ah, so Ian is a kicking coach. Figures, that's where the big bucks are.
ReplyDeleteso when will any of the teams from the south beat any teams from the north? spartacus beating gothenburg last year hardly prepared them for elite sries. there´s a lot of talk,but will we see any action?
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be some confusion here. Jonas Ahl was head coach at Spartacus last year. Ian was the assistant coach and the backs coach.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of bitter spartacus guys in here.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Spartacus bring in 2 spanish guys just for the Göteborg games? The fly half and a second row I think. Rumor has it they had their flights paid for, lived with Ahl rent free etc.
Yet here they are bitching about their former coach for bringing a couple of players from abroad.
Yeah the guy might not be the best coach in the world, but he had to have had some impact at Spartacus given where they finished last year. They didn't do that playing the mauling game they normally play.
Kind of sad really.
Lets see who he does with Göteborg then judge him.
Ian sailed in on his boat last year and became the savour of Spartacus. I am not sure that his playing career has anything to do with his coaching skills, after all it was not a problem for Niel, so why should it be for Ian?
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of the movements between Gothenburg and Spartacus will have an effect on the league. Pingvin, Gothenburg and Spartacus are fighting for 4th spot. None of the southern teams will take any points of the northern teams. The writers of this blog seem to have a facination with Gothenburg and Spartacus.
ReplyDeleteI've never yet met a bitter Spartacus player. Why would we be bitter?
ReplyDeleteIan arrived from tropical paradise on his beautiful boat paid for by Burger King. He won over everyone at the club with his fragrant charm and made himself at home, literally. He gave his best on the training field and the results speak for themself. He has now moved on with the blessing of everyone here and we all wish him a long happy attachment to his new club.
No one is bitter or even sad at Ian's advancement. We welcome it. He and Neil can now work together and each will learn from the other. Maybe he could coach the ladies for a while. They seem to be good at judging a coaches value.
Spartacus spelarna är väldigt nöjda med Ian's insatser och hängivenhet. Tråkigt att se att det är så många som pratar ner honom. Ian fick inte ut det han ville av spartacus och beslöt sig därför att prova sin lycka någon annanstans precis som man gör med alla sina relationer eller te x jobb, trivs man inte så drar man någon annanstans. Lika så med Paul och med dom eventuellt andra killarna i Grf eller Ricky i Enköping som lämnar Hammarby. Så se istället på det positiva Ian får som han och dem som lämnar sina klubbar för att istället finna lycka på andra sidan. Men tråkigt är det alltid när uppskattat folk försvinner. Johannes Kempe Spartacus RUFC
ReplyDeleteIs it just me our is this blog designed to throw shit towards Neil? You wrote at the start that you started this blog (the name sounds a bit childish) because Neil's blog was mostly about himself and his ego.
ReplyDeleteHalf of the posts in here is about him, teams he has coached and what he ate for breakfast. He must has stepped on some toes. Seems like a lot of broken hearts out there.
Why don't you continue to write good coverage about the players in the National Sides or something constructive? This is all getting a bit boring.
If a coach went to Gothenburg and some players went to Spartacus they sure had their motives. Try to ask them yourselves.
Hi Anonymous. Thanks for that comment. Just to let you know, we do not write the comments and therefore find it difficult to understand your view. We really have no interest in throwing anything at Neil, if others wish to do so, that's their right. We do try and post things about Swedish Rugby, and we will also publish items that are current, such as this one.We did ask Paul for his views and we chose not to publish them all, so that some people would not get upset!
ReplyDeleteJa mycket rykten går det.
ReplyDeleteDet är lätt att kasta skit på olika personer å det är lätt att hitta orsaker varför man förlora eller varför man vinner.
Svensk rugby kommer alltid vara omgiven rykten. Alla gör val i livet som man tror är rätt och då är det oftast så även just nu. Ian har gått till GRF och det är bara att önska honom lycka till.
Säga vad man vill om Ian men han gjorde mycket gott för Spartacus som klubb förra året. Spartacus tog ett kliv till framåt och om man ser på utvecklingen av både klubben så fortsätter man framfarten.
Vi har en klubb som fortfarande är i en utvecklings fas.Vi är i Spartacus för vi vill och trivs med det.
Vi är här för att stanna. Vi bygger vår klubb på glädje och gemenskap. Vi håller på med detta för vi älskar rugbyn och för att vi gör det ihop. En match är bara 80 minuter, Ett lag är mer än bara en spelare, som tränare är man bara en pjäs i spelet. de är alla dessa saker som gör att man vinner eller förlorar och som får oss att fortsätta.
Vi som håller på som tränare vet att vi kan egentligen inte kan göra så mycket på en match dag, mer än att stå och njuta av det du älskar.
Vi hoppas och tror att det vi gjort på träningarna innan kommer bli verklighet på matchdagen. Men det är helt upp till korrektivet.
Jag tror allt blir lättar om man jobbar på det positiva och gör det av glädje. Varje gång jag går till träningen eller när jag åker på resor så sätter jag samma mål. Det är att ha roligt och tänk positivt.
Hoppas alla andra också håller på med rugby av de principer. Så går folk till andra klubbar ge dem en klapp på axeln och önska dem lycka till och jobba med de som är kvar.
Mvh Jonas Ahl.
This string is not about Neil, it's about Ian. It was sparked off by the comment in the lead article "he was the inspiration behind Spartacus beating GRF twice last season, or so he told everyone,". A strong suggestion that the blogg writer thinks Ian is a bullshitter.
ReplyDeleteWhat is now amusing is that it is difficult to distinguish between those annonymous comments that are heavily ironic and support that view and those that really think Ian was instrumental in fashioning those two wins.
This is about Swedish Rugby. SRF has appointed Ian to a position that is probably beyond his capabilities, thus continuing a long tradition of similar mistakes.
Good idea to ask them. Ian if you are reading this please post a comment telling us why you have moved. Will you learn more from Neil than you did from Jonas? Do you think Neil is a better listener? Will you get more opportunity at Gothenburg? Are you head coach or assistant coach? What did you do to improve Spartacus so much? What is your coaching philosophy? These are the questions for which we crave answers.
ReplyDeleteVad händer på transferfronten utanför Göteborg?
ReplyDeleteNow I don't normally respond to blogs like this, but as I did when Neil's blog remarked on my appointment as RDO I'll make the same statement here.
ReplyDeleteIf someone wants a quote from me, all they need do is ask.
I have to echo Ahl's words in a fashion and state though I'd like to think I broguht a little something new to Spartacus last year, the majority of the credit for there success has to lie with the players. It is they after all that take the field on the weekend and not Ahl or I.
Spartacus is a great club, with a bright future if it keeps going in the right directions. In players like Alex Eliasson, Johannes Kempe, Robert Tabell, Janne Johansson they have some great young players who hopefully will only continue to get better.
My philosophy on rugby is very simple and probably a bit of a cliche. I like to see and play heads up, expansive rugby. There are wingers on the field for a reason and I love to see the ball moving wide and teams attacking with width and pace. As such that's the type of rugby I try to coach.
I'm also keen on the requirement and development of player fitness as a necessity to support such a style of rugby. It was something I tried to bring to Spartacus to limited success, it definitely could have been better.
The team and traditional rugby ethics are also high on my list, playing a good clean and hard game is very important to me. To do that you need to work hard on the training field and carry a positive mentality and attitude onto the field. Do all that and personally I think you'll enjoy saturday afternoons a lot more.
Did I breeze through last season as a coach and make no mistakes, certainly not. As my own biggest critic I tried to self evaluate my work last season as closely as possible and identified key areas I need to work on. For me it was a very good learning experience and I learnt a great deal from Jonas Ahl throughout my time working with him, and I wish him all the best in what will be a busy year for him.
As for what's going on at Göteborg again all people have to do is ask.
I am one of 2 coaches who'll be working with the mens team this year and as far as I'm concerned its a partnership. We share the same rugby philosophy and mentality.
Something sadly I didn't feel was there with Spartacus, as a forward dominant team, my style of expansive rugby didn't really gel with them to well. They did play some great stuff at times, but sadly injury caused lots of problems towards the end of the season.
I have nor will I ever have anything ill to say in regards to Spartacus RUFC, I enjoyed my year with them. I and they worked hard and enjoyed one of the best years the club has realised on the field in a long time. Am I responsible for that? No. Everyone at Spartacus was responsible, from the players, the coaches and the board who supported us throughout the year.
As for remarks regarding my views on overseas imports, do I feel clubs could benefit from ex-pat players. Certainly, but to an extent, given the current climate of Swedish Rugby importanting an entire team naturally is detrimental to development of home grown talent.
In the case of Spartacus where its youth system is small and in serious need of development, answering emails passed onto me by the clubs president from overseas players became part of my daily life with the club. Some could benefit the club greatly not just on the field in personal performances. But also through trainign and working with the local younger developing players.
I believe that a player learns just as much if not more from those around him, but watching and studying the movement and actions of a quality player, as he does listening to his coach say do this and do that. So bringing in a few players, not many to a club with a small squad would naturally have been benefical for many reasons.
What wil I learn from Neil? well time will tell.
Regards,
Ian.
So there's our answer. Definitely a bullshitter.
ReplyDeletei heard that GRF draw against Vänersborg in their first friendlly game,,,,,,, draw against a team that is going o play in the south division,,, mmmmmm looks like Ian and Neil are making a great jobb, keep like that guys !!!
ReplyDeleteMy God, can't you all just let it go? I'm a Spartacus player, and most of the team are fine with the new situation with Ian.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with a draw to Vänersborg in a friendly match in March. It's what happens in May that matters, as everyone knows.
I see that Gothenburg, Spartacus and Vänersborg apparently will be fielding b-teams as well.
ReplyDeleteIs that correct?
What is going on in our littel rugby pond???
ReplyDeletestarting to get really pisst of all thes anonymous so called rugby players who have nothing better to do than slag other clubs.
Yes its true hopefully we will be abel to play 15 a side if not may be 10 a side.
Anonymouse wrote VRK - GRK played a 15 all draw whats your problem dick head it was a training game if you have some thing to say say it stop hiding.
One thing is for sure rugby isnt a game its every thing.
Tony Pettersson ungdoms tränare GRK
He left because they found out he was sleeping in the club-house.
ReplyDeleteIan är en person som ljuger om allt. Han har varit tränare i oslo. Då försvann både pengar och Ian. Helt plötsligt så fanns han i Spartacus får försvann pengar och andra saker. Ian säger att han vunnit en stämning mot burger king i oslo. Dock finns det inget om detta någonstans. Han ska för alla dessa pengar ha köpt en lyxbåt. Den har ingen sett. Han kunde inte ta den till sverige för fanns inga båtplatser. Intressant tycker jag. Sedan fick jag höra att han ska varit på bali mellan jul och nyår. Intressant för han sågs i göteborg. Spartacus beställde uppvärmnings tröjor och annat för 15 tusen som ian sa han skulle betala. Sist jag hörde så hade Spartacus ännu ej sett dessa pengar. Ian ska aven ha spelat på topp nivå i England. Men han kan varken springa passa eller något annat. Detta ses även som intressant. Hur många gånger ska vi se utlänningar komma till sverige och lyckas ljuga och blås folk? Hur Ian kan var väst DO förstår jag inte. Ian har inget Rugby kunnande och höll på att inte klara level 1 IRB tränar utbildning. Han ska tydligen lämnat Spartacus för att han ej fått blivit huvud tränare. Göteborg tog emot honom med öppna armar då man trodde att han var orsaken till att Spartacus slog göteborg förra året. Spartacus är tydligen bara nöjda att de blivit av med problemet. Hur kan alla vara tysta om alla problem som finns och alla mytomaner.
ReplyDeleteGood point above. They guy has:
ReplyDeleteNo Swedish personal number
No Telephone Number
No Address
Nothing is known about his past (at least nothing that can be proved)
Yet as RDO he is allowed to coach children. If I was a parent, I wouldn't be too happy about it
I must admit, it was amusing to be lectured about commitment and discipline by a guy who couldn't even put a roof over his own head
ReplyDeleteI just hope that the Gothenburg rugby clubhouse has decent air-conditioning. It gets pretty smelly in a club house after Ian has been sleeping there for a while.
I'd also keep an eye on the cash register