1
The online reaction to Leicester losing the services of Jonny May - 'The shambles continues...'
By Online Editors
Jonny May’s Easter Saturday confirmation that he is to move back to Gloucester from Leicester at the end of the 2019/20 season lit up social media. Ever since the coronavirus pandemic suspended the Gallagher Premiership season, recruitment had slowed to a trickle as hard-pressed top-flight clubs were worried about their cash-flow.
However, Gloucester’s successful bid to lure the England winger back to Kingsholm has illustrated how rugby will eventually make its return and that ambitious plans continue to be made despite the current stoppage.
Leicester fans en masse wished May well following his decision to leave Welford Road, but some hit out at the club for allowing one of their more productive players to leave following yet another season of struggle at the wrong end of the table.
One fan tweeted: “Jonny May the only player that has shown up for Leicester every week the last few years. So many star players have gone missing for us, he was the one I'd have hoped we'd do anything to keep. The shambles continues.”
Another tweet stated: "First of all, thanks Jonny May. You and one or two others have at least made some games bearable this season. Secondly, Tigers you should be moving heaven and hell to retain players of this calibre. They should feel like there's no other club in the Premiership they want to go to.”
It was 2017 when May first pitched up at Welford Road, joining the Tigers in a deal that saw Ed Slater head in the opposite direction to Kingsholm.
News that May is now heading back to link up with Gloucester left their fans thrilled, none more so than club CEO Lance Bradley who selected his favourite tweet about the transfer from a fan who wrote: “Really not fair that you get Ed AND Jonny. Any chance we can have that dodgy transfer fee back?”
The belief is that the May who will be back at Kingsholm for the 2020/21 season is a far better player than the one who left.
His signing also leaves Gloucester in the enviable position of having some of the best wingers in the game at their disposal as the likes of Ollie Thorley and Louis-Rees Zammit emerged during May’s spell away from the club.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales have the same problem
3
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
4
Let's be real about these All Blacks
5
Latest Comments
John, McKenzie was 10 years ago and he only lasted 15 months until the disgustingly unfair affair that brought him down. I thought that if he didn't get another gig over Eddie V2 then he was done. I read that he had been approached but declined to put his name in the ring.
There are no potential Wallaby coaches outside of McKellar unless you have some inside info?
Go to commentsThe way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.
Go to comments