Tim Henman is to enter talks with John Lloyd about a DC return for next year. Will it be wise for him to do this:

A. it could well be his last successful year on the tour, and should concentrate on ranking/seeding

B. Andy Murray has been quoted as saying he DOESNT want Tim in the team, as its important for the young guns to get valuable DC experience

I think he has given enough to DC over the years and should make the slams his priority for the coming season

Hi Liam,

Regarding that Andy Murray quote. I remember him saying that. Do you remember if he had the same thoughts on Greg Rusedski playing in the Davis Cup? Or has Greg retired from Davis Cup play...? I am out of the loop on that one really.

I hope Tim plays in the Davis Cup. It would certainly be something to see him, Greg and Andy play. I don't think it would disrupt his year that much as I don't see him pushing for that many results, apart from perhaps one last memorable run at Wimbledon :pray: but I don't see him winning anything apart from maybe the odd tournament with a depleted field if he is lucky.

Gav

Well on another thread (on a quote from the BBC i think) started bt Trisco, Tim is hinting that he intends to play as full a schedule as possible. Greg is still on the team for the next tie (im assuming Lloyd will pick him) but that will probably be his last, which is why Murray kept his gob shut i expect :P

It does seem a bit of a backward step, but at the same time none of our younger players have really stepped up to the plate, have they?

What about bringing Tim back in for the singles and blooding a new doubles pairing, say Jamie Murray and Auckland? Of course, that rather depends on Greg’s intentions/fitness too…

I dont believe they will need Tim this season tbh, its not like we are playing Spain or Russia in the near future. I believe we will win the next tie or two without him

I've voted no, and I tell you why. It would be a short-term measure, and would deprive a place to younger players who require Davis Cup experience early on in order to perform well long-term. We have v few players with experience of top-level tennis, and if Henman comes back for a year, someone like Goodall or Jamie Murray will be denied a place, when they need it most, both for their individual career and long-term Davis Cup prospects.

I don't know how happy Henman would be in performing in a best-of-5 sets singles match for Davis Cup. In doubles, I believe he would perform well, but what we need in doubles is an effective long-term partnership - Jamie Murray, and AN other.


I also think bringing Henman back papers over the cracks of long-term tennis prospects for UK. A Henman-less Davis Cup makes us face facts.

Thats an intresting point Dav, why did murray protest about a good veteran player like henman joining the team, but doesnt bat an eyelid about the OAP Canadian staying on the team :rolleyes:

Why thank you dl, but I haven't even posted yet roflmao

Anyway, I think he should, how does a few weekends a year adversely affect your singles career? :shrug: GB have no chance without him, him and Murray could go places though :)

Oh i meant Gav :doh:

Sorry Gav :D

But surely you should include the nation's best players on your team? Henman isn't planning on retiring for a few years yet, and he remains the British #2, pretty undisputed too...

But if he's holding Bogdanovic back, then I guess it's for the best he stays away roflmao

I agree, there isnt that much talent anyway away from Tim and andy. Even there is glimpses of talent elsewhere, it wont be substantial to ride davis cUp dreams on. Greg's been a spent force since about 1994( roflmao ), bogdanovic is severly lacking in any davis cup credbility and they are basically no others, probably due to the woeful LTA coaching systems and methods.

Bring tim back, they might not lose to israel on such a regular basis then roflmao

Does anyone think that Tim thinking about a DC return, is like an admission that his best chance of glory now is to win a few ties for his country :o He sounded too optimistic in the BBC article for that to seem true, but i cant fathom why he has had a change of heart :unsure:

I can't fathom out comebacks in general with athletes,but in the case of Tim,I would say it's the atmosphere of playing in front of a DC crowd for him.He is passionate about playing for his country.He's like a footballer in that way,and I always thought it brought out his best tennis.

I think finally Tim has learned to relax,as at his peak I always sensed some pent up tension,getting tight being his downfall in important matches.I think he wants to enjoy his last years on the tour,and he could provide a great role in the team just now.

I mean let's face it,the DC team will still be weak for some years when Rusedski&Henman go anyway,and I don't believe it's going to alter our future prospects much if we blood the youngsters now or in a year.

Getting into the World Group is going to be a problem for the next decade.There's plenty of time for experience building.

hmmm... some good points here - I was swayed by MrI's argument that maybe it would be better to let the younger ones (I was going to say guns, but they just dont cut the grade really!) cut their teeth on less important ties - we're not really a challenge at the moment are we? ...

but then I was swayed by Brakkus saying that it would be good for Tim to come back and that there was plenty of years yet for experience building - in that, again, we arent going to be playing any really big ties for some years to come.

Ultimately for me then, as a Henman fan, it comes down to selfish reasons and, for that alone, I would say that I would prefer Tim to concentrate on purely his own career and leave the Davis Cup be. He has put plenty of time, effort and heart into the Davis cup and I know he's enjoyed it, but I dont see him having much time left on the tour tbh - injury and age seem to be catching him up - and those years he has left that he puts into it - I want them to be top notch ones. Not ones where hes landed up carrying the team once more and him and Andy are spent playing their hearts out in five setter Davis Cups.

I just had a read up on his website about his win over MP the other day (quick pause for :party: :yahoo: :clap: ) and he said he was feeling good, the body wasnt given him gip etc, but he starts with that convo everytime hes having a break! I want him to really give his body and tennis a chance - and maybe, just maybe, sneak in a really good title for the year :) Just the one would do - say Wimbledon? ;)

I agree Pebs, and there is always the possibility that if Murray has already publicly stated he dont want Tim in the team, that there will be less of a team spirit and it might even harm our chances rather than enhance them. To me the answer is clear-Tim should stay retired from Cup duty :)