European Championship - Team ENGLAND

[PeterFarr]

Yeah one or two people here might... because I was part of the Yorkshire chess scene for 12 years. And being a worldwide selling 'chess author'. My views are similar to a lot of people in Yorkshire anyway. We do things our own way more than most counties.

What on earth does this mean?

[JustinHadi]

Medals is an arbitrary definition of success.

[Mark Howitt]

Pretty low chance of the open team getting a medal- but if everyone is on top form there's an outside chance of a bronze, maybe 10%.

[Mark Howitt]

I'd be happy with a top 5 finish- if we do that I think the team's well worth the money. Wonder how much they're paying McShane

[JustinHadi]

Agreed.

Edit : The top 5 finish bit.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Agreed.

Edit : The top 5 finish bit.

But there is no evidence whatever they will do that. Evidence. Based on the past performances every year this century including other occasions when we had roughly the best team available, and based on the strength and track records of our opponents.

We are talking about the ECF - which should care about all its teams - blowing almost all its money on one team. That is the issue here. No one is saying the women should get equal money. Just a coach - the bare minimum to suggest that we care about their likely performance. I see mention that the stronger team should get more funding - it always does, and up to a point that makes sense - but now practically all of it?!

[JustinHadi]

I was talking about implementing a target based system. As mentioned earlier do the top top players really need a coach? Coach time sharing could then be applied across teams. I would say paying travel and accommodation would suggest the ECF cares.

[PeterFarr]

I was talking about implementing a target based system. As mentioned earlier do the top top players really need a coach? Coach time sharing could then be applied across teams. I would say paying travel and accommodation would suggest the ECF cares.

Or we could try to treat both teams with respect, in a professional way. Just a thought.

[Leonard Barden]

Most teams are not announced yet, but I made a rough count of the average of the top five Fide-rated players and arrived at:

2760 Russia
2720 Ukraine
2700 Armenia

Based both on ratings and on previous results, this trio are the teams to beat for medals

2650-2690 France, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Netherlands, Israel, England, Poland, Germany

so the estimate above of a 10% England chance for the bronze medals is probably a tad optimistic though not out of the question.

[JustinHadi]

I was talking about implementing a target based system. As mentioned earlier do the top top players really need a coach? Coach time sharing could then be applied across teams. I would say paying travel and accommodation would suggest the ECF cares.

Or we could try to treat both teams with respect, in a professional way. Just a thought.

I'm sure your donation will be gratefully received.

[PeterFarr]

I was talking about implementing a target based system. As mentioned earlier do the top top players really need a coach? Coach time sharing could then be applied across teams. I would say paying travel and accommodation would suggest the ECF cares.

Or we could try to treat both teams with respect, in a professional way. Just a thought.

I'm sure your donation will be gratefully received.

I daresay it was.

[JustinHadi]

Time to make another one methinks.

[PeterFarr]

Time to make another one methinks.

You win!!

[Mark Howitt]

TBH yeah the top 5 comment was more accurate. Russia, Ukraine and Armenia have very chances of the medals.

[Mark Howitt]

I personally think the players would be better off with money than a coach. Peter Wells might help a bit, but the players are used to preparing on their own. It's useful to have a coach of course, but they should only be fairly paid. As Gormally has recently noted, Jones only earnt about 17,000 last year and obviously in some years he'd have got less than that.