CR and my Old Car

Was really excited for CR & FC at the beginning of the season. It stayed until before the 5th week against Havelock SC. But yet again for the umpteenth time CR just proved to me that it is really hard to be a fan of them.

Let me explain my title first. I used to have 1997 make Toyota Caldina. Very spacious and comfortable, family friendly vehicle. Yes, the damn diesel automobile took me every where.  Here comes the BUT. But every month or so I would be doing some repair. I would fix the issue and would be happy. Always the joy was short lived. The very next month I would be at the garage trying to fix some thing else.

Having being a CR fan almost for 20 years now, they remind me of my poor old car. If they have good forwards, then they would be lacking backs. Or rather a fly half, who could distribute the ball and set his back line in motion. Of the all  years Fazil "the legend" Marija haunted  CR and tore apart defenses,  I believe young Tarinda Ratwatte is the only one that could think of who played that role well.

Yes, we had Nigel Ratwatte for brief period, loyal servant Ashan De Costa and kicking and drop goal specialist Dev Anand donned the red jersey. But to me Nigel is the only one I liked at least a bit. No offence to others.

Now we are suddenly looking embarrassing with forwards which guys like Pavithra Fernando, Shamly Nawaz and current trainer Lewke wondering what happened to that legacy.

So coming back to the season, CR got some very good players in transfer window. Dulanjana Wijesinha, Shehan Dias and Kevin "Kutti" Dixon and not to forget young sensations, JD and GC. With close quarter victories over CH and Navy increased the hopes before good game against Police. Had high hopes on Kandy game, still felt really proud after the game. Yes, there is no hiding the fact that forwards were out played. But felt really proud how they still fought, where they led 14 - 7 at one time and again were close 26 - 22.

Now back to the Havies game. CR started with positional change that I am unable to understand. Tarinda Ratwatte was shifted to outside center to accommodate Chanaka Chandimal. This is a move that proved to be not working in the last season as well. If I was involved in CR coaching department, I would not never change the back line combination that works for me. It was evident in the game when Chandimal threw that wild pass to no one. 

CR has a back line which are good with the ball in hand. To work with them , you need a fly half who distribute the ball. Not a one who kicks. This ill fated move must not have contributed too much to the defeat, but some thing CR think tank should look in to.

CR did not look like the team that wanted a win on the board. I did not see the calmness or composure they showed in first four weeks even with defeat against Kandy. Kavindu dropped the ball at a crucial stage in the second half, which he should have finished the move by scoring. They never get the moves going or the continuity. 

It was a torture as a CR fan witness that game. Havies dominated the forwards play, but if CR were smart and tactical, they could have finish this game as winners. But Havies got the deserving win. Just weathered all the pre season storm and just marching forward. Actually forwards do the marching while Sanath Martis would be smiling.

It does hurt when your team is loosing like this. Against Kandy I was gutted. I wanted them to come back hard next week. May be all we can do is just pray. After spending all the money, it is some what ridiculous to see this semi professional players can not get a line out functioning properly. Those are basic things that you would expect at this level. Yet, we are finding them lacking at big time.

If any one in CR camp reading this, I would ask them to take a moment and think back. 

I'll stop this with one of the quotes Shanaka Amarasinha made some time back.

"Money can not buy HEART"