Go muzz!!

You need the points.

Wow - I don't remember the last time I saw a player take a WC and come in as top seed ...

Yes, Murray fans, your guy needs the points! Sod is breathing down his neck.

Good luck to your guy! I will be cheering him on!

mara: Roddick had a WC in Atlanta and was seeeded as the No. 1 player. I've seen it done quite a few times in the past.

NNY - thanx

aye, it will be great to see murray back on the hard courts. he has loads to defend in the coming masters tournaments, so this is a good warm-up

yea go muzza go !

I read that Djokovic is pulling out of Davis Cup also? Is this true?

Wow, I see muzz has sacked miles maclaggan. Quite right I reckon, but who's he going to replace him with? Apparently he's going to use corretja until after the uso, but he's a clay courter so i don't know how that will help him over the summer. Let's hope muzz gets a real winner with a bit of inspiration and authority about him like larry steffanki ...

maybe he can get the queen as a coach then

i don't see him bowing to anyone else :)

I am hearing that Maclaggan wanted to leave, however, I am not sure where I read it. I don't follow Murray as closely as some of his great fans here, so I am not up to speed on any coaching issues. I did hear rumors after he lost in the semis to Rafa, that he might get a new coach.

I would be interested in hearing the thoughts of Murray fans on this issue. Do you think it will help Murray get over that hurdle and win his first slam?

Miles and Alex are leaving him. Like rats jumping from a sinking ship.

Well, Uncle Toni seems to be the only successful coach at the moment because Rafa is the one player that is doing well. Uncle Toni should start a Tennis School for the top 5, so long as Rafa gets extra special tuition.

I always thought that hiring Corretja was a bit of a gimmick, simply because he beat Rafa when Rafa was a teenager doesn't make him an expert on clay court tennis; and when Rafa was asked what he thought about Murray's chances on clay, he said: Murray is a good player, if you are a good player, you are a good player.

NNY -

I think a top class coach could be what muzz needs psychologically to take him up that last level. My problem with murray's entourage - a great bunch though they all seem to be - is that they are all very positive, 'yes' people about the way murray wants to go. But if murray wants to go where he hasn't been before - i.e. win a slam - he needs someone a bit bigger than himself. He doesn't have the raw world-beating ability of a rafa who can make it with an honest-to-goodness uncle, he needs a bit more help. My hope is that murray has matured to the place where he can respond positively to a senior figure, a wilier and less over-bearing authority figure than brad gilbert (who muzz couldn't handle), but an authority figure nonetheless. Larry steffanki would have been great, but I'm hearing rumblings of Darren Cahill who guided Hewitt to the top. Cahill sounds good too.

hey, where's the TT editorial team on this one - I'd have expected a cover ...

Murray twittered yesterday that he had seen his old coach and was "really pleased" that he was around again, it could be that he is hoping for the previous alliance to work once more?

I think it's quite sad that Miles is leaving. He has transformed Murray's game, no one can deny that, but has just come up short. It's not that he has been a bad coach. Obviously Miles didn't get on with Alex, if Alex is being retained as a consultant coach, and Miles has been sent packing.

NNY: thanx for your good wishes and to all the guys 'n gals too. I agree with Alex. It'd got a bit too cosy with Miles and he has no experience of taking a player to a Grand Slam final, that's what Andy now needs in a coach. Also, I'm really happy Andy seems to be prepared to make that final leap. Not too sure about the timing though, just b4 the hard court season gets under way, dunno? Just hope Kim and Judy are right by his side for a bit!
alex: Cahill would br gr8 and after all Andy plays a bit like Leyton.

@ nadline,

Maybe Uncle Toni should coach Murray!..............lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alex and deuce,

Thanks for your responses. I don't presume to know Andy well enough to say what he should or should not do, however, it would appear that he needs a different person to manage to get him over that hurdle of winning his first grand slam. I don't know that "yes" people are all that helpful. I know that Uncle Toni would never be considered a "yes" person. I think he and Rafa have had their disagreements. Rafa said that he will tell him something and then Rafa may use it or not. They are close and the trust is always there. However, Uncle Toni came in for some strong criticism when Rafa was injured last year and he couldn't win a title for eleven months. I think much of it was unfair and not justified. It's interesting to see how so many pseudo-experts are not singing his praises. There's nothing like winning to make a coach look like a genius. What I love about Uncle Toni is that he is so willing to work with Rafa to keep evolving and changing his game, making necessary adjustments and improvements to keep him competitive and maximize his chances for winning.

I sincerely hope that Murray gets a coach who can work with him and help him realize his considerable potential. As I have said, I am now quite impressed with Murray. I saw something in him that really resonated with me when he fought so hard in that semifinal match at Wimbledon. Darren Cahill sounds like he might be a good choice.

Murray has his support system with his Mom and girlfriend and that's always important. Here's hoping for a great hardcourt season for him and Rafa. I also would really like to see him keep that #4 ranking!

Sorry, there was a typo in my last post. I meant to say that it's interesting to see how so many pseudo-experts are NOW singing Uncle Toni's praises!

NNY: thanx, your thoughtful words are always appreciated. Now..if only Toni could be persuaded to part company from Rafa, I know of a wee coaching vacancy...

It does strike me Andy travels with an unusually large entourage. And some of the problems could be put under the heading of 'too many cooks spoil the Scottish broth'.

Although she is less present now, I imagine Mama Murray is still a major force when it comes to major decisions and it cannot have been easy for Andy if he was receiviing conflicting advice from within his own camp.

A few years ago, Andy explained that he prefers to travel with a large entourage because he finds travelling with just a coach and trainer (i.e. small team) too intense for his liking. He feels more relaxed in a bigger group and people felt he made the right decision because he then started to do well. He just can't seem to overcome that last hurdle. I think it was really bad luck that he lost especially in straight sets to Fed in Melbourne. He seems to just lack that last little bit of 'umph'. He's good mates with Rafa, he should go beg for some tips on how to cross that last mental hurdle.

Also I agree with NNY. Last year so many fans said Rafa should ditch Toni and find a more professional coach. All of a sudden, the tune has changed. Watch this space!!

Unfortunately I really want Rafa to win the upcoming US Open but I really do hope for Andy's sake that he takes one of the hard court slams next year.

Hi Deuce!! *waves* :)

Uncle Toni won't part with Rafa, unless Rafa doesn't want Toni as coach anymore. Uncle Toni loves his nephew, and I thought he once said that he would not want to coach any other player.

How can we expect any tips from Rafa (to Murray) on how to win a slam? Rafa certainly won't want Murray to beat him en route to winning a slam! Unless Rafa retires early, he may then put in some good words for Murray to persuade Uncle Toni to become Murray's coach. Uncle Toni and Murray, that will certainly be very interesting. Maybe for Murray, Uncle Toni is the key to winning a slam :-)

Andy needs a coach who is in charge, so far I think his coaches have had to dance to his tune, and unlike Rafa and his uncle there is that barrier in their relationship, plus Rafa hasn't hired him, and Rafa is where he is today because of his uncle, so Rafa has no problems listening to what his coach has to say; of course Rafa will have his own input, but he trusts in his uncle ability to improve his game, because it's been proven.

I was one of the fans who thought that maybe Rafa had out-grown U. Toni, but I was wrong. Rafa's serve was the one thing that I thought he needed a new input for, but Uncle Toni has come up with the goods.

Andy's Mum is the only person in U. Toni's position in his career, but they have both decided that she should remain his Mum, and not his coach, which is understandable, being his Mum, it's hard to switch relationships. Andy needs someone like Larry Sefanki, who doesn't need the job so will not be afraid to take charge. Ultimately, it all depends on Andy himself, if he employs all his tools in every match, instead playing defensive against lower ranked players, and only deploying his talents against the top players, it would be a start.

No need to take it literally. I'm sure people mean it as a joke when they say Rafa should give Andy some tips. Rafa would not be stupid to do that while they're both on he tour and more significantly only a few ranking positions apart. Agassi did this for another player but I bet Rafa wouldn't. Lighten up. People seem so serious around here! Where is the Tapas gang who injected all the silliness and laughter?

I agree with you nadline, on almost all of your points.

I just want to ask one question, and this question is not just directed to nadline. I understand that Fed also started off as a very talented player but unable to win anything big, until such time that he had sorted things out. I do not know whether Murray is as talented as Fed, but could it be that Murray is also at a similar stage where Fed was in his earlier days. They have the goods, but unable to deliver. May be Murray could look at how Fed solved his problems then and how he went on to start winning slams?

It seems that both Murray's and Nole's careers are at a standstill now and both have tried out engaging the services of temporary coaches in addition to their existing ones. It is certainly difficult to find a coach who can really help in improving a player's game and help bring it to a new level. I think Rafa and Roddick are two fortunate fellas, maybe Delpo (with coach Davin) and Sod (with Norman) too.

Heh ... the reason Andy Murray hasn't won a slam has little to do with his coaches and much more to do with who holds (or did hold) the number 1 and 2 positions. Andy has been at the top for a while now ... a little slump after AO ... but he is fine.
Maybe, for him, it is just time for a change. Hard courts coming up ... Andy should do well!

hehe remi, we are here keep ourselves quite while reading ping pong talks about coaches...

You know what, Andy have enough motivations from his family and coaches to win big ones. What he really needs is to eat a lot of fresh chili before big matches to make him physically active and even to set his soul on fire while playing.

Speaking of Uncle Toni, is Andy willing to play lefty?

remi: ;)
naughty, naughty Raindrops..Andy already has ambidextrous backhands, nearly there already...

best of luck to andy....hopefully his new coach will ask him to be a bit more aggresive on the FH side....he still has some departments to improve on......especially if he needs to win more on clay and grass

nadline: are you forgetting Rafa also has Francisco Roig (the Spanish Davis Cup team coach) in his camp. Roig travels with him from time to time when Uncle Toni takes a break - usually for the US West Coast tournies.

remi,

I agree with you that we need to lighten up a bit. It's all in good fun, while we wait for our guys to get back in action at Toronto and Cincy and then the USO. I see no problem just having a friendly discussion about Andy's coaching needs. Goodness knows he needs something! It's like he's so close, but not quite there. I think the loss to Fed really hit him hard. I think he believed that this was his time to win a slam, so it was a huge disappointment. I watched that match and Andy let Fed dictate play. He didn't stay with his aggressive game plan and Fed completely outmaneuvered him. Andy didn't get his act together until the third set and by that time he was down two sets. Too little, too late.

The suggestion of a Larry Stefanki sounds great. The problem is, where does Andy find someone like him? He has done so much for Roddick. His game has improved overall and his mental focus is so much better.

I think Andy needs someone who "gets" him, but won't be intimidated into being a yes man. He needs a person who can tell him honestly what needs to be done and help him make it a reality. Easier said than done!

Hey Rainy! LOL on you rcomment. Not sure chili will do the trick, could back fire ;)

Yes NNY, a little lightheartedness is what we could use sometimes. I just felt people sometimes take things too seriously at times which just spoils the fun of some discussions. I mean who seriously thinks Rafa is gonna offer genuine secrets to Andy on how to beat him! Oh well... Can't wait for USO. Bring it on. A Nadal-AndyM or Nadal Nole final would be fab!

And I think Stefanki or Cahill would be great options. Stefanki is a great tactician and Cahil just seems to know a lot and know the 'hows'. I agree wit you about the 3rd set of AO. Fed was too comfortable and confident in the driver's seat and wasn't gonna let Andy back into the match enough to introduce any doubts. Maybe Andy should have taken a long toilet break ;-)

Well well remi, who is being serious? We all know its a joke, especially asking Uncle Toni to be Murray's coach. Relax will you? Why take my remark so seriously? You really make me respond now and become serious! Gosh!