Ugo Monye

bamboozle

am i missing something, i've seen all the Lions games and yes he's scored a few tries, but i'd rate him up there with Andy Powell in the headless chicken category, he seems to run away from cover and gave away a few silly penaltys on saturday.

I'd definately rather seeing Luke Fitz's rugby brain on the wing.

mikedragon32

Very weak in defence on Saturday, his try was all about Tommy Bowe's superb lines and pass, but still Sky were bigging him up for some reason (because he's English, perhaps?).

I'd have Fitz over him any day.

Didn't really rate Kearney either, tbh. I was pretty disappointed in him as he had a lot to prove to stand any chance of a test start...

tribulus

I think Byrne had 15 nailed down tbh even if Kearney had an excellent game.

What's the rationale behind starting Monye? Obviously he's a lot bigger and more powerful than Fitz but surely that alone isn't enough of a reason to give him a starting berth?

tommy57

thats sky all over the "the unofficial promoter for players they like" they were also howling about hook on saturday. monye is not bad but fitzgerald has,nt had much of a chance on the wing to be honest. they go on the same about martin williams. you end up not liking certain players because sky put you off. they are also giving o connell bit of stick regards captain, and have nominated o driscoll their unofficial captain.

Davei141

In the HEC semi final leicester vs cardiff stuart barnes mentioned tom croft about 50 times (think of the chabal hype a few years back). He had an ok game. In the final croft got 2 or 3 mentions despite playing similarly average in both (it was hipkiss's turn to get mentioned 50 times). I don't think its english bias i think they just like to latch onto 1 or 2 players and pretty much give them all the credit at the teams expense, it creates a hype if you can create a superstar so to speak. They do it all the time in the guinness premiership. Leinster vs quins the commentators were on auto pilot having picked their man "turner-hall my word!" x50.

thomond2006

I have a feeling Geech will play Fitz at 11 on Tuesday and if he performs he may start in the 1st test.

Monye is a lot like Powell, he's no rugby player.

puntosporting

I think this thread is actualy a bit hypocritical in fairness!
Your kinda doing a sky on Monye !
For starters there are a number of pundits on sky you have in the studio 3 ex internationals from Wales,England and Ireland so between them there must be some balance in their opinions?
Granted Barnes can be a bit off the cuff with his own opinions and that can get on your wick but thats just how he sees it i reckon!

DonkeyPokerTour

tribulus wrote: »

What's the rationale behind starting Monye? Obviously he's a lot bigger and more powerful than Fitz but surely that alone isn't enough of a reason to give him a starting berth?

This Monye is much bigger than Fitz is turning into a Myth just like "Tommy Bowe is too slow". He is bigger than Fitz but not much, According to the Lions website Fitz is 1.85m (6feet 1) and 92kg (14 stone 6) where as Monye is 1.88m (6feet 2) and 95kg (14 stone 13). You can hardly say he's a lot bigger.

Regards
Ian

TarfHead

Fitzgerald is a footballer. Monye is a sprinter. JP Pietersen could dance around him in a phone box.

28064212

I'd be a much bigger fan of Fitzgerald than Monye, but I'd rather see Monye start the tests than Williams, who on current form shouldn't be anywhere near the test sides

Stev_o

I love how people are just making up excuses now to give Monye a bad light and to suddenly promote a Fitz into the test spot.

chupacabra

Monye is a finisher first and foremost, thats his role for Quins, that was his role for the Saxons when they dominated the churchill cup last year. He is 100% classic winger, rarley comes off the wing, poaches tries and has bags of pace. Fitz on the other hand is more intelligent, this comes with playing alot of rugby at center, just look at Bowe now after a season of playing Outside center for the spreys. It will depend on Geechs game plan for saturday who he picks, it wont depend on who is the better player. And regardless, JP Pieterson will have both of them on a plate.

Stev_o

chupacabra wrote: »

Monye is a finisher first and foremost, thats his role for Quins, that was his role for the Saxons when they dominated the churchill cup last year. He is 100% classic winger, rarley comes off the wing, poaches tries and has bags of pace. Fitz on the other hand is more intelligent, this comes with playing alot of rugby at center, just look at Bowe now after a season of playing Outside center for the spreys. It will depend on Geechs game plan for saturday who he picks, it wont depend on who is the better player. And regardless, JP Pieterson will have both of them on a plate.

The way my mind see's it is Bowe is a creator and Monye the finisher with Byrne a mix between the two. Fitz is a lesser Bowe in terms of creator which is his strong part to his game he wouldn't be renowned for his finishing ability more his creating ability. Fitz will probably get the bench for his cover ability and depending on things go would be the first person to get promoted if anything happens for the 2nd or 3rd test.

Doesn't matter JP could end up playing FB. Gotta love PdV might be the saving grace of this tour.

chupacabra

Stev_o wrote: »

Doesn't matter JP could end up playing FB. Gotta love PdV might be the saving grace of this tour.

True but according to Stuart Barnes Frans Steyn has been occupying the full back position in training, so it looks like he will make the first test there. Which is also good for us as he will kick the ball away in the guise of drop goals from inside his own half 90% of the time.

zAbbo

The decision of Monye v Fitzgerald is important now due to the absolute lack of form of Shane Williams.

Personally I think Monye is a good player, fast & direct and would have a role to pay - but he either starts or isn't in the 22.

Fitzgerald, we know is a very good footballer, ability to kick and solid under the high ball - which could be important depending on the gameplan.

anonymous_joe

As some of you may have noticed I do tend to be a tad biased when it comes to all things Leinster, but all the Monye hate is silly.

They're different players, and play the same position differently. Monye's there to offer speed, power and finishing, rather than the more thoughtful and subtle game Fitz offers.

He's made it this far, Monye's not bad, neither's Fitzgerald, it's all about having different options and what fits into the team best. No point in doing all this Sky-esque campaigning.

At the end of teh day, we want the team that wins, not the team with our favourite players.

tommy57

looks like monye will get the nod saturday seen as fitzgerald is starting tomorrow.monye is performing better on the tour but it also depends on what players your playing with. fitzgerald will need a big performance tomorrow

chupacabra

tommy57 wrote: »

looks like monye will get the nod saturday seen as fitzgerald is starting tomorrow.monye is performing better on the tour but it also depends on what players your playing with. fitzgerald will need a big performance tomorrow

Not sure you can read too much into that. Monye is on the bench so maybe tomorrow is the game that decides it. If fitz has a blinder then the shirt is his.

Shanagarry80

Monye is fine going forward, there isn't much between him and Fitzgerald, but his defence definitely worries me a bit. Was at the game on Saturday and he drifted something shockingly. He could definitely end up being a weak link.

I think he will start though, after seeing tomorrow's team. I don't think any of the starters tomorrow will start on Saturday, although I think bench places are still up for grabs.

geotrig

I think for moyne is a clumsier looking player but equally as good if not better than fitz and especially when it comes to faceing a physical side.... overall it not about looking like your are more composed it's about what you end up doing and moyne is a better finisher overall....you would never have though Rupeni Caucau back in the day could outsprint the whole french team but he obviously could !!!! and don't get me started on the very overrated rob carney and williams who i was a big fan off totally agree he should not be there.

themont85

tommy57 wrote: »

looks like monye will get the nod saturday seen as fitzgerald is starting tomorrow.monye is performing better on the tour but it also depends on what players your playing with. fitzgerald will need a big performance tomorrow

I disagree. With them putting him at 11 rather than 15 for Earls, they are giving him another shot.

taidghbaby

for me monye hasn't attacked in the middle near enough on the tour! someone with his power and pace should be on the OH's shoulder at least 4/5 times in a match!!

maybe thats him being lazy or maybe its purely tactical to keep him out on the wing....i dunno!

Aidric

thomond2006 wrote: »

Monye is a lot like Powell, he's no rugby player.

What a bizarre comment, given he's an excellent finisher.

Stev_o wrote: »

I love how people are just making up excuses now to give Monye a bad light and to suddenly promote a Fitz into the test spot.

Agreed, it's like a conspiracy. Monye hasn't done much wrong so far in this tour and I expect him to get the nod, just, over Fitzgerald for the first test.

Stev_o

Aidric wrote: »

Agreed, it's like a conspiracy. Monye hasn't done much wrong so far in this tour and I expect him to get the nod, just, over Fitzgerald for the first test.

Seriously between this, people thinking that Sky Sports have a influence on who gets selected and a the management trying to get as many English players on starting XV is making me detest so called "fans". Some of the worst tripe iv heard in a while.

NickNolte

Agreed. Monye is a good player and this is just biased baiting. I wouldn't agree that his defence is all that bad either. For those of you with short memories, try and cast your minds back to some of the spectacular try-saving tackles that he made in the HEC and GP this season. Remember BOD at the Stoop?

I do conceded that Monye can be a bit scatty though and I'd prefer to see Fitz start the test... but let's not go to town on the guy.

Junior

Stev_o wrote: »

Seriously between this, people thinking that Sky Sports have a influence on who gets selected and a the management trying to get as many English players on starting XV is making me detest so called "fans". Some of the worst tripe iv heard in a while.

I dunno, the national anthem and jersey tripe back at the WC was the worst I thought ?

il gatto

Stev_o wrote: »

Seriously between this, people thinking that Sky Sports have a influence on who gets selected and a the management trying to get as many English players on starting XV is making me detest so called "fans". Some of the worst tripe iv heard in a while.

Stuart Barnes' constant chirping gets annoying, and yes, Sky would like a bigger English contingent as that's where the money is (like English people won't watch if there's not x amount etc. Bullsh1t, but Sky is a lowest common denominator type of organisation.:)). But Ian McGeechan and co. have enough on their plates trying to coach the Lions without taking Stuart Barnes' fickle man-crushes into account. There's no correlation between tripe in the media at home and what the Lions are at halfway around the world. It's about winning. Full stop.
"Fans" will have opinions and conspiracy theories though. It's only natural when you make an ally of your enemies:D.

As I mentioned somewhere else though, there's been alot of talk anout Monye's size and strenght. No doubt he's big and powerful, but he's only an inch taller than Fitz and 4lbs heavier. He's fast, but his defence is hit and miss and I noticed he rushed up a few times against the Southern Kings, leaving gaping holes down his wing. Southern Kings weren't good enough to exploit them.
Having said that, I have no problem with him starting. He can finish and works hard. Even though Fitz has a better all round game and has had a run of massive games behind him so far this year.