Ian Legrand's Ultimate Team
It's always said that it's impossible to compare athletes from different eras, but of course we all do it. I've widened the original brief and set myself the task of assembling a team to play in the Champions League. I've tried to consider athletes across the period that I've been involved from the mid seventies up until now. I've probably missed some worthy candidates for which I apologize in advance. I've decided to go for a two power hitter system. That is with a passer/swing hitter and the libero as the primary service receivers with the second power hitter as the third passer.
Starting with the starting setter, I think there will be few arguments in my choice of Richard Dobell. I would argue that Richard has been English volleyball's most influential athlete of all time. Clive Woodward talks about three traits, skill, thinking and warrior mentality. Richard is definitely an athlete who displays all three of these traits.
The choice of second setter proved to be a more difficult selection process. Barry Swann was the main setter when I began playing. Although a natural setter Barry's lack of inches ruled him out. My own coach was George Peto but I only really saw him at the end of his career so I've passed on George. I've also passed on Steve Nuth (Speedwell) another good setter but I am looking for a more all round game. John Lowney (Capital City) had an all round game but I think the three guys on my short list have more feel and control for the setting position. Joel Banks and Tom Stevens both played professionally in Belgium. Both are students of the game who both "suffered" from playing at the same time as Richard. Either would fit into this team, however, my vote goes to Ben Pipes. At 6'9' Ben can take a team's offence into some interesting directions.
The next three names were relatively straight forward. I've decided on four middles. The first is Alex Bialokoz. If Laurance Taylor was 'The Linebacker' then Alex is the 'Middle blocker'. His understanding with Richard has been developed over years at both club and national team. Currently a starter and captain of the National team it is more likely that sports politics rather than diminishing ability will prevent him from setting a new England caps record. The next middle is Marcus Russell. A successful professional in Belgium, Switzerland and France, Marcus is a smooth and powerful athlete whose all round ability and coordination could have allowed him to play as a passer swing hitter, but I want the big man holding down the middle. The third middle is Alex Porter. I think Alex's best form is still to come as a series of long term injuries have dogged his progress. Given a clean bill of health I think we could see Alex move to a new level.
Unfortunately I did not see Mark Banasiewicz play, but by all reports he would have been an obvious choice in either the middle or power slots. However, as I did not see Mark play I've not included him. From previous eras I considered Lee Southern from Granwood Rockets but I think Lee lacked the athletic abilities of the current crop of middles. Lesch Zarzychi also from Rockets is a possiblilty, although a little short by current terms he had good all round abilities. Joe Zablocki of Estonians and Capital City again had good all round skills but is probably a little short in current terms. I also considered Mark Brown an athlete who always brings maximum effort to training. Mark has a useful serve and for a big man plays effective defense. Boris Halatchev from Docklands is another with Woodward's warrior trait. He's a good blocker with an effective serve and defense (also an expert bathroom fitter!).
No discussion of middles would be complete without including Stuart "Meat" Watson. An explosive athlete (in more ways than one) who could also play in the opposite or power slots. Also Stuart Fullerton from Aquila had the height and good underhand skills. A difficult one, but on the ability to cover two positions I am going for Stuart Watson as the fourth middle.
The next position is the primary passer/swing hitter. My criteria here is that their passing must be on a par with the libero, that they can hold their own on the net and be able to pass and then hit a pipe set out of the back row.
My first thought was Stuart Dunn (no not the referee!) from the Malory, England and GB teams of the early 90s. Stuart was one of the players I've most enjoyed working with. His passing and defense were European class, however off the floor he was a mere mortal! I also considered Ucal Ashman, English volleyball's most capped player. I think Ucal's game suited the second tempo/play set hitter role and his passing was not a primary part of this game. From the same era I considered Alan Williams, the glue in the successful Speedwell side of the late 70s and early 80s and Nick Keely the England captain from Capital City from the same era. Both were safe, steady players who made the players around them better.
Of the modern era Andy Sinclair is a player I've enjoyed working with. Sinkers is another who has all three of Woodward's traits. A better passer of jump serves than float but this would not be an issue considering our potential opponents. Morph Bowes is a phenomenal athlete who many sports would like to have. An explosive hitter with an often unplayable jump serve. Tim Hollis is an athlete who probably did not fulfill his indoor potential. At 6'6" a sound passer with a range of attacking shots. Jurek Jankowski was a quirky athlete who did not fit many recognized technical models but was extremely effective. Jurek also played successfully for England as a libero. Steve "Badger" Fee is a top class passer with a range of shots and a true battler. I also considered Rob Wiggett of the Spark team from the 70s and early 80s, one of the players I liked to watch. At 5'9" Rob could jump out of the gym and as a left hander would give variety to the attack. However Rob's lack of inches would be drawback.
So who would be my starting swing hitter? I've gone for another athlete who I've enjoyed working with and who has been one of the most influential athletes in the NVL over the past six years, Docklands' Albrecht Glitz. At 6'5" Al fulfills my criteria for the position and is the ultimate team player who simply makes players around him better.
I have assumed that Steve, Tim and Morph are heading for the beach to make my selections easier so I am plumping for Jurek Jankowski and Andy Sinclair as my other two passer swing hitters.
Moving onto
the opposite position this is probably the most difficult to compare over
time. Going back over time most teams played with a play set in the right
side position. I think a number of athletes from the 70s and 80s who played
middle would now be playing opposite - guys like Joe Zablocki, who had
a major influence on my volleyball outlook and Lesch Zarzycki from Granwood.
However, saying that I am including Steve Pincott from Speedwell.
A 6'5" left hander who to the best of my knowledge was the first
Englishman to go abroad to play professionally. Steve had a solid all
round game which as a left hander would add variation to the offence.
I did consider Jefferson Williams who at his best was one of the most controlled and effective athletes I've seen. Although Jeff played a lot bigger than his actual height I've gone for size.
I've also gone for Yassir Sliti because if he does not know what he is going to do it leaves the opposition guessing. An outstanding athlete who if he could add discipline to his natural ability could play at the very highest level.
However, my starting opposite would be Docklands' Dejan Miladinovic. At 6'9" Dejan's effectiveness and consistency through the right side makes him a "shoe in" for the starting slot. Dejan has uniquely been on championship teams in Serbia, the US and England.
In the second power position I've gone for Matt Jones. A beast of an athlete who has had a successful 15 year professional career in Belgium, France, Switzerland and Austria. We haven't always seen eye to eye but our philosophies on how the game should be played are very similar. Although Matt is known for his hitting he can pass consistently. I think Matt will go on to have a successful coaching career.
The other power position goes to another force of nature, Danny Weemes. Danny has played for England since he was 16. I think he is finally adding consistency to his game in the framework of the GB team.
The libero gives me the opportunity to get Stuart Dunn into the roster (once again I would like to point out this is Stuart "Boon" Dunn not Stuart "Referee" Dunne!!). Boon's passing, defense and mental attitude would make him a natural for the position. I also thought about Alan Williams and Steve Bromell. Bromell has the required attributes but is far to accident prone for a concentrated campaign!
However, after much debate, well not much debate really, I've gone for Andrzej Saller as my starting libero. Andrzej is a European standard libero who meets all the technical requirements but also provides a link between the coaching staff and six on court.
Two players I would like to consider from a pure personal point of view. Jim Wilhelmy from Spark (mid to late 1970s) was my first volleyball hero and Albert Bryant from Estonians. Jim played 49 times for England and Albert was just short of national team standards but both had a positive impact on my volleyball education (along with Tony Pennock, George Peto and Joe Zablocki). However, I cannot get Jim or Albert onto the roster as they had good all round games but did not have the degree of specialization we require today.
Dobell
Pipes
Bialokoz
Porter
Watson
Sinclair
Glitz
Williams
Miladinovic
Jones
Saller
So we've a roster, now we need a coach. I thought about Bill Black who tried to get English players to think of themselves as athletes and Keith Nicholls, a coach I think should have had the opportunity to coach the England team.
However the talk in the NBA is that it's a "player's league" and that successful teams need a "players' coach". I did consider Enzo Calzaghe (boxer Joe's dad and coach) to control this team in practice but in the end I've gone for Jeff Williams (who will take his knee pads to practice just in case!).
George Peto would be team manager to ensure the team stayed true to the volleyball gods.
Andy Hopper would be in charge of scouting.
Chris Easton would be the physio with Fiona Martindale and Keith Robinson looking after the conditioning.
The first seven:
Setter -
Richard Dobell
Middle - Alex Bialokoz
Middle - Marcus Russell
Passer - Albrecht Glitz
Power 1/Opposite - Dejan Miladinovic
Power 2 - Matt Jones
Libero - Andrzej Saller
Rest of the squad:
Ben Pipes
Alex Porter
Stuart Watson
Jurek Jankowski
Andy Sinclair
Steve Pincott
Yassir Sliti
Danny Weemes