UK Squads representing in the World Cup.

[Robbo]

I would love to see the day when once again teams can represent the UK when competing against the top Yanks; I fear the way things are going .... that train has long since gawn ....
Problem is, Brit teams haven't played against the top Yank teams in a league for over five or six years and so there's not much chance of ever competing with them ... well, not unless someone wants to get Sergey Leontiev interested in the plight of Brit ball that is

For some reason I find it exceedingly difficult to get my head around the notion we can't even get in a position where we can consistently play against the top Yanks let alone compete with them ....
Ever since I have been involved in this sport [1987] we have been able to pitch ourselves against the world's top teams but circumstances have conspired against us to basically relegate us 'Div 2' paintball [Millennium].
This is not just a Brit thing though because it effectively does the self-same thing for every other Euro team barring the Russkies.
The irony is, the situation cries out for sanity to return and the powers that be allow open events to make a return to international tournament paintball.

In one fell swoop it answers soooo many problems now facing paintball and it beggars the question, probably the most important question now facing tournament paintball in the US and Europe .. if opening up events effectively divorcing ourselves from locked leagues is the best thing to do, and it undoubtedly is [for teams and players] then why the hell isn't it being done?
Answers on a postcard please .....

 

[essx]

Ah come on robbo, why such a negative post on a thread that is building peoples hopes and confidences up!! As well as giving some well deserves credit for our freinds and teammates in some cases doin well against your beloved yanks right now!!

Maybe its not at their pro level bit other is still worthy of more than defeatist comments don't you think!!

Good luck guys for the finals!!!

 

[Robbo]

Ah come on robbo, why such a negative post on a thread that is building peoples hopes and confidences up!! As well as giving some well deserves credit for our friends and teammates in some cases doin well against your beloved yanks right now!!

Maybe its not at their pro level bit other is still worthy of more than defeatist comments don't you think!!

Good luck guys for the finals!!!

First off, I think you're right here to have a go at me for being somewhat pessimistic .. I can't argue with that and maybe that's because I mighta got outa bed the wrong way but to flippantly suggest I'm a 'yank lover' [over my fellow countryman] is not only wrong but actually borders upon an insult and tells me at least, you haven't read much of what I've written.

And so, you get one point for your first observation but minus 10 for indulging yourself in utter bullsh!t .....

And just one thing here Essx, all the time we accept the status quo as something to 'all get behind' or whatever drum you wanna bash, then it's like putting your head in the sand because it merely serves to allow acceptance to creep into our mentality.

I want people to hate the fact we cannot compete because it is out of that type of thinking we get back to where we were ..... if you wanna dance around a maypole every time a UK team goes over to the US and just 'plays' then that's down to you mate but for others ... notions of dissatisfaction simmer away ....

 

[essx]

Ok i'll take my one point.
However i can bet more than one person on here would often read the comments as pro American ball. I wouldn't say you hate your motherland however!!

Don't want to take the thread too far off topic, but giving encouragement and support to the teams who have done across and competed at whatever level has quite clearly boosted British views and maybe even expectations!?

First it was hk army coming here getting smashed, now we have teams doin well out there too!!

The only issue which remains constant is the cost of getting out there to play more than once a year!!
So yes i think we should be celebrating those teams who go out, especially when they are doing well!

 

[Robbo]

Ok I'll take my one point.
However i can bet more than one person on here would often read the comments as pro American ball. I wouldn't say you hate your motherland however!!

Oh well, thanks very much for that, I mean, I'm soo glad you wouldn't 'say' I hate my motherland ... how magnanimous of you ...

Don't want to take the thread too far off topic, but giving encouragement and support to the teams who have done across and competed at whatever level has quite clearly boosted British views and maybe even expectations!?

I know what motivates people to do better and it's not what you suggest; of course we can support all Brit teams abroad but this is not what I am going on about here as you well know.
We all choose to be involved in a sport that has at its very heart the ethos of competition; as soon as you lose sight of that, then it will lose sight of you ....You talk about 'boosting' Brit views and 'maybe even expectations' .... you talk platitudes that have little to no significance in what I'm focusing on.
I'll tell you what boosts views and maybe even expectations, and that's success abroad .... it's a hard world in which we live but I'm afraid you can go wave your Union Jack as much as you like when we have any form of representation abroad but when it comes to competitive paintball at the top, you will be a laughing stock .... I know exactly what it takes to get there, I know exactly the mindset that needs to be invoked ... you settle for things, I don't.

First it was HK army coming here getting smashed, now we have teams doin well out there too!!

Only a fool would suggest the performance of HK army was indicative of anything more significant.. and as for our teams 'doin well out there' ?
You gotta be kiddin me .... just turning up isn't doing well in my book ... have we all lost sight of what it's like to be truly competitive?
Your post reeks of acceptance and also ignorance of what Brit teams have done prior to this era.

The only issue which remains constant is the cost of getting out there to play more than once a year!!
So yes i think we should be celebrating those teams who go out, especially when they are doing well!

Supporting yes, celebrating?
Well, let's hope you ain't in charge of anything to do with the future of UK paintball in terms of getting back to where we once were ... or are you one of those people who don't like kids competing at school because it traumatises them when they lose at something or other ?....

I can't for the life of me get my head around people who just 'accept' ... I wanna compete again and that means COMPETE AT THE TOP, if you tell me that what Brits teams do in the US is compete... then you really do need to acquaint yourself with its true meaning in terms of competitive sport .... if you don't aim for the top, then all you do is indulge in a hobby because all connections with a sport are consequently jettisoned.
By all means let's support Brits playing abroad but let's not lose sight of the difference between playing abroad and competing abroad; and of course the difference between supporting and celebrating.
You can support hobbyists' performance, you cannot celebrate it.

 

[JF21]

Thanks for that buzz killington.

Everyone has been playing really well in conditions and a format they are not used to,unfortunately relentless one lost thier first game this morning so will be playing off for 3rd and 4th just after midday.

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

Get that third place! That's an order!

 

[RichardMacdonald]

good luck guys!

 

[Marc0]

London Relentless loose play-off match 1-4 against Topgun Union placing them 4th overall .

What a great result, well done lads.

Laters

 

[essx]

Firstly, very well done to the london relentless team on their hard earned 4th spot!!




I know what motivates people to do better and it's not what you suggest; of course we can support all Brit teams abroad but this is not what I am going on about here as you well know.
We all choose to be involved in a sport that has at its very heart the ethos of competition; as soon as you lose sight of that, then it will lose sight of you ....You talk about 'boosting' Brit views and 'maybe even expectations' .... you talk platitudes that have little to no significance in what I'm focusing on.
I'll tell you what boosts views and maybe even expectations, and that's success abroad .... it's a hard world in which we live but I'm afraid you can go wave your Union Jack as much as you like when we have any form of representation abroad but when it comes to competitive paintball at the top, you will be a laughing stock .... I know exactly what it takes to get there, I know exactly the mindset that needs to be invoked ... you settle for things, I don't.


i dont think its a case of settling for things, i am one of the most competitive people i know, and most on here who know me would say the same! However what i am is a realist!
To reguarly go across the pond to play bal is a far flung dream for nearly everyone in english paintball, even european ball!
the sheer cost of flights and accomodation alone before you shoot a ball is far above what many can afford, especially playing domestically all year, or in europe.

The few teams that have done it recently are all massively sponsored, and even those have been cut back on the extravagances!




Only a fool would suggest the performance of HK army was indicative of anything more significant.. and as for our teams 'doin well out there' ?
You gotta be kiddin me .... just turning up isn't doing well in my book ... have we all lost sight of what it's like to be truly competitive?
Your post reeks of acceptance and also ignorance of what Brit teams have done prior to this era.

Prior to this era, ok days of old i can accept a couple of english team did ok out there, but for how long and how well did they really do?! In my honest opinion the level it was played at back 4-5 years ago has been surpassed by even some of the average teams in the uk!

The biggest comparison is the level between usa and the uk talent, however it is very relevant to the size of the talent pool available in the countries!
I think there are some really good players in the uk, that with the resources and coaching that only on or 2 english teams have right now, could easily rival the top european teams!

Supporting yes, celebrating?
Well, let's hope you ain't in charge of anything to do with the future of UK paintball in terms of getting back to where we once were ... or are you one of those people who don't like kids competing at school because it traumatises them when they lose at something or other ?....

I can't for the life of me get my head around people who just 'accept' ... I wanna compete again and that means COMPETE AT THE TOP, if you tell me that what Brits teams do in the US is compete... then you really do need to acquaint yourself with its true meaning in terms of competitive sport .... if you don't aim for the top, then all you do is indulge in a hobby becaus[/FONT]e all connections with a sport are consequently jettisoned.
By all means let's support Brits playing abroad but let's not lose sight of the difference between playing abroad and competing abroad; and of course the difference between supporting and celebrating.
You can support hobbyists' performance, you cannot celebrate it.[/QUOTE]


Nostalgia with old results of uk being on top gets us nowhere really, unless someone like yourself is willing to take a team and create what it is you want to see?

Paintball at competition level has outpriced itself to almost all those except who the industry choose to really promote!