Loves, Labours, Los - A Retrospective
Carlos Spencer
By Mark Hazell
February 17 2009
Carlos Spencer has left the building! The man described as "Mercurial" has left the Club. Love him, hate him, nobody was ambivalent. Saints were the privileged side to sign him when he came to the North. Many jeered and said he was just here for his pension. His professionalism and dignity, both on the field and off, belied the mockers. Mark Hazell looks back over his sojourn with the Saints.
One kick. Just one flick of the right boot was all it took to guarantee legend status in Northampton, but Carlos Spencer was so much more than a player who could deal with wayward passes from props. Carlos Spencer was the man who came to entertain and win trophies.
It is sad, therefore, that Los is now gone; the medals won not being from Europe or the made-for-tv climax of the season; the unique entertainment sacrificed for consistency. Perhaps one day his release may come back to bite us, but where there is sadness, we should not be sad. We should be privileged that the player who has probably been the most debated of the southern hemisphere giants so far this century chose to ply his trade on Piggy's Patch.
Why so debated? Well, every team needs the flashes of audacity that Los possessed; the game breaking genius to find the one hole that may win a game, a championship. It is also fair to say that in his genius lay his weakness, in that it took far too long for anyone to read him (other than in flashes) and made Saints an easier side to play against than we should have been. Was he to blame for these failings? No. Were the team to blame for not capitalising on him? Equally, no. There were many things that were wrong with the team that went down, but lack of ability was not one of them.
When rumour broke in April 2005 that Carlos Spencer had been seen in the Saints shop buying shirts for his kids, reaction went from the disbelieving to the incredulous - but then you can't mistake a tattooed Kiwi in shorts and thongs in Northampton in April! It was made clear that with ink dry on the contract, he was here regardless of the outcome of the final game of the season, a period of such disarray that a win was still needed to guarantee top flight status. The win never came; the end result did. After a year of hell, the signing of the mercurial (cliché) yet frustrating (cliché) All Black fly half surely signalled that better times were coming.
Er, no. A first day 32-0 defeat at Pooh Corner, where he had previously had admirers, was not a good start; neither was the defeat on his home debut a fortnight later against Newcastle, where despite an outrageous tapped penalty in the first minute leading to a disallowed try, it was the opposing 10 Dave Walder that took the man of the match award. It was an inauspicious start - his team mates struggled to get to grips with his style of play, and as is usual with Saints, the only consistency was of the in variety. A brilliant length of the field effort at Bristol produced a first Saints try in the Challenge Cup, but it was sandwiched between interception scores being conceded against Irish and Wasps (I remember being particularly irate after the second of those!). The low point in that first half season? Probably the yellow card that could easily (and probably should) have been red for stamping in the defeat at Leeds. Never mind, I think that Santa brought a kick up the backside for the whole team.
It's been commented that the second half of that first season was when we saw the peak of Carlos. Virtuoso performances, amongst others, that saw Bristol hammered at home and a rare win at Kingston Park would be highlights ordinarily, but when compared to 18th February 2006 , they have very much paled into insignificance. Sky and Saracens came to the Gardens; one went away wildly enthusing, the other disappeared off into another crisis. It's a rare event for anyone to score four tries in a Premiership game, as Sean Lamont did that day; even rarer when he isn't the main event.
50 minutes in, 34-10 up, Saints have an attacking ruck just short of halfway, and Chris Budgen throws out a pass behind his fly half. Carlos takes the ball over his head facing the wrong way, and flicks what would be at any time an outrageous overhead chip in. With everyone in a white shirt seeming to watch and try to work out what just happened, he chased, caught the ball on the bounce to evade one tackle, and managed to ship the ball out to Sharky before a second tackle came in. Now if there's any criticism of this move, it's that Sharky should have held the ball a couple of seconds longer, but a quick pass out to Ben Cohen saw a charge for the corner that was only halted by a flailing arm bundling the ball into touch. The ground stood in ovation; the try that never was. (And two weeks later it got deleted off my Sky box by accident, never to return. I literally cried.)
After the start to the season, it looked like another battle to stay up - by the time three tries came in the last ten minutes at Bristol on the last day of April to turn 0-16 into 19-16, sixth spot and a Heineken Cup place were secure. We could all dream again of what was to come.
Sometimes though, you don't get what you wish for.
2006/07 was an unmitigated disaster for saints - the eventual relegation being on the cards from New Year's Day when a one point loss to Worcester precipitated the fall. One more successful kick that day would have ultimately meant survival; Carlos missed two, both fairly straightforward. An EDF indiscretion - an alleged spear tackle at Newport - coast a one match ban, with the match being the first Heineken Cup pool clash in Biarritz, and in hindsight his presence may have meant the 22-10 loss would have been avoided. Having come to the club to play Heineken Cup rugby, you can't help feeling that he would have given anything to be playing rather than strolling round the town, a big game victim. Little did we know.
The highlight of the season (the only one) came on April Fool's Day in San Sebastian. Having acquired a runner's up spot from an "easy pool", it was Biarritz again in the quarter finals, and a very different game to the pool clashes; you always got the feeling that if it stayed tight, then the magician could conjure something. The fact that it was a blocking run (as Robbie Kydd went away to score) and a conversion (which I watched through my fingers) are not insignificant to the story, as with time the tricks became less and our fly half became "normal". Despite a 13-0 lead in the semi-final, the dream final against the Tigs didn't come about, and rather than Europe, it was Esher to look forwards to.
The National One experience was always going to be a conundrum for the "star" players - stay or go? Thankfully most stayed, which meant that Carlos would be the biggest draw in the division in a team that won 35 out of 35, but he was to spend much of the season away from the 10 shirt and instead played at outside centre, as a youngster called Myler started to come through. Stephen Myler could not have had a better tutor, but you have to ask the question now as to whether the club would have been better served (as I felt at the time) playing Myler at 10 for the whole season and releasing Carlos? It's a tricky one, but there isn't necessarily a correct answer to it. As it was, the records fell one by one; most league wins, most tries, most points, most match points. We got the entertainment we wanted, but it's a moot point as to whether all of us got the enjoyment. Only one team troubled Saints, and particularly Carlos; Newbury's rush defence, borrowed directly from Wasps, a team that we always struggled against, almost produced a shock result at FG and took the only four try bonus off saints in April.
Perhaps the supporter session before the cup final summed it up. It was a final, but these weren't the medals that Carlos had came here for. How ironic then, that as Saints get to a proper EDF semi-final, and stand on the brink of the same stage in the Challenge Cup, that he won't be here for either of them. Starting this season at fly half brought home wins and away defeats, but after the Leicester league game at the start of October, rest, injury and lack of selection meant that he didn't return until the Bath home game on 22nd November, with Myler having cemented a place in the starting line up in the meantime. The following Saturday saw a last start at Kingsholm - ironically where his next start may come - and from there onwards it was the bench all the way until the trip to Montpellier, where he, I, and and numerous others wondered what he had to do to get on for more than the 12 minutes that he eventually got. The Monday night game at Henley for the Wanderers was the last time in a Saints shirt, and that was that.
On the morning of 30th January, news broke that Carlos had left the club by mutual agreement. We probably - sadly - will never find out exactly what happened, but it appears that ever since October that on the pitch at leas, he was a luxury item that the club didn't want to put on the island. Perhaps lessons had been learned from the relegation season that points on offer had to be taken, and having a non kicking fly half wasn't part of the plan. Someone suggested last week that he paid the price for Bruce not being a 70% kicker - it's a good point, but I also think that Carlos wasn't trusted any more to keep games tight when they needed to be.
One thing's for sure, Carlos will never be forgotten here, whether it be his performance against Saracens, his dedication to the club for the season in hell, or that one of the great entertainers chose to play his game at our club. My favourite moment is almost lost now, a backheeled grubber kick in a pre-season game against Leeds that cam back of the post and totally befuddled the Tykes' defence, but we've all got our own mental pictures to take with us. It's a sad parting, albeit an inevitable one, even if the timing is on the dodgy side.
He'll be back on 4th April, in the wrong coloured shirt, in a team at the other end of the table. We wish him all the best at Gloucester, apart from on that Saturday and any other Saturdays he chooses to visit with his boots.
Carlos Spencer, Northampton Saints 2005 to 2009. Thank you.
Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 00:20
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:02:26:17:38:59 by Phil..
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Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: SumoSaint (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 02:09
A very passionate and fitting tribute to the man often referred to as "The King". Well done, Mark.
Let's get one thing clear from the outset, though. Los is no longer with us for one reason and one reason only - because AR is only interested in balancing the books and offloading Los was a simple business expedient.
The official line released by the club and lapped up by the media and the message boards intimated that Los became disillusioned with his lack of game time and jumped ship. This version of events is completely wrong and I know for a fact that Los and his wife, Jo, are both extremely frustrated that they are unable to say in public what really happened.
The club deliberately tried to make things as difficult as possible for him, to try to get him to jump (it's cheaper for the club if he initiates the divorce), but, if anything, he proved TOO loyal, despite all the shenanigans, and eventually the club had to concede that he wasn't going to go of his own accord and were forced to pay him off. NB the club paid HIM a settlement for the remainder of his contract, he didn't pay the club, as has been suggested in a number of threads.
Team morale took one hell of a battering just before he left, when the players found out what was happening and were absolutely livid. It is widely felt that the non performance at Quins was the direct result of the players' minds not being on the game because of this. Whether this ill-feeling has subsided or not, I don't know, but if it transpires that the team spirit that everyone has worked for for the past year has been permanently damaged, then the club management have only themselves to blame. One can only hope that the expediency of balancing the books doesn't result in the return of the bad old days of squad unrest and the break-up of the promising young squad that has been so painstakingly assembled.
This is a very sad state of affairs, that clearly shows the conflict of interests between the management of a plc, whose main (sole?) aim is to make a profit and the coaches and players who strive for success on the field.
P.S. Jo, don't believe everything (ANYthing?) you read on the Offy boards.
Let's get one thing clear from the outset, though. Los is no longer with us for one reason and one reason only - because AR is only interested in balancing the books and offloading Los was a simple business expedient.
The official line released by the club and lapped up by the media and the message boards intimated that Los became disillusioned with his lack of game time and jumped ship. This version of events is completely wrong and I know for a fact that Los and his wife, Jo, are both extremely frustrated that they are unable to say in public what really happened.
The club deliberately tried to make things as difficult as possible for him, to try to get him to jump (it's cheaper for the club if he initiates the divorce), but, if anything, he proved TOO loyal, despite all the shenanigans, and eventually the club had to concede that he wasn't going to go of his own accord and were forced to pay him off. NB the club paid HIM a settlement for the remainder of his contract, he didn't pay the club, as has been suggested in a number of threads.
Team morale took one hell of a battering just before he left, when the players found out what was happening and were absolutely livid. It is widely felt that the non performance at Quins was the direct result of the players' minds not being on the game because of this. Whether this ill-feeling has subsided or not, I don't know, but if it transpires that the team spirit that everyone has worked for for the past year has been permanently damaged, then the club management have only themselves to blame. One can only hope that the expediency of balancing the books doesn't result in the return of the bad old days of squad unrest and the break-up of the promising young squad that has been so painstakingly assembled.
This is a very sad state of affairs, that clearly shows the conflict of interests between the management of a plc, whose main (sole?) aim is to make a profit and the coaches and players who strive for success on the field.
P.S. Jo, don't believe everything (ANYthing?) you read on the Offy boards.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: St Owen (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 08:37
Even if any of that is true, I can still see the logic of Los' leaving. A great man, but an unjustifiable luxury for us given the opportunities for him at 10 this season.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Hintonsaint (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 09:53
A good piece Mark H, and well said Sumo.
I thought that KB had said that Coaches would be left to get on with their business!
I didn't think my view of AR could get any lower,and if the team spirit that has taken time to rebuild has been broken because of his dealings and short sightedness shame on him. Frankly my commenting on this is a waste of time, AR rightly or wrongly doesn't give a stuff what I or We think.
Los was the most "professional" Rugby player that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, along with his wife they were huge ambassadors for the club and that's something money can't buy. Thank You Los & Jo.
I thought that KB had said that Coaches would be left to get on with their business!
I didn't think my view of AR could get any lower,and if the team spirit that has taken time to rebuild has been broken because of his dealings and short sightedness shame on him. Frankly my commenting on this is a waste of time, AR rightly or wrongly doesn't give a stuff what I or We think.
Los was the most "professional" Rugby player that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, along with his wife they were huge ambassadors for the club and that's something money can't buy. Thank You Los & Jo.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: StBleach (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 10:35
Quote:Let's get one thing clear from the outset, though. Los is no longer with us for one reason and one reason only - because AR is only interested in balancing the books and offloading Los was a simple business expedient.
I sincerely hope that was the reason and not some ' behind the scenes goings on ' that we were not aware of. We lost Ben cohen because of some rumoured goings on - hope this wasnt a Deja Vu.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 11:37
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: MoANjAm (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 12:33
Excellent read - well done sir. I too remember that back heel against Leeds and to this day I simply can't work out how the heck he did it!
However I do have one complaint though - throughout his tenure at The Gardens not once did he even attempt to treat us to a rendition of Black Magic Woman or Samba Pa Ti.
Disgraceful!!
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
However I do have one complaint though - throughout his tenure at The Gardens not once did he even attempt to treat us to a rendition of Black Magic Woman or Samba Pa Ti.
Disgraceful!!
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Stockers (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 13:05
Well written Mark.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Howlin (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 15:08
Well done Mark, this had to be done. Hopefully he will paly for Glos and hopefully we will give him a standing ovation.
Saint til I die
Saint til I die
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Saint.Kenneth (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 15:13
It would be fine reward for all of Los's efforts if he secured the Premiership title with his new club. The medal won't be won in the shirt of the club where it should have been, but at least he will finally leave these shores with the medal that his talents deserved.... a lot like Matt Dawson in fact.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Ugly (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 16:43
For the record I am still fuming at Sewer Barnes for his comments. Los was one of the stalwarts in putting time in with the youngsters, a great asset to the club and, from what I gather, a great mentor and natural teacher. Expect him to go to Glos firing on all cylinders after a knock back like that.
He's no fool - any long contract is designed to make sure you get pushed not jump - but while this sort of macho nonsense is typical of the football world - there is no need for it here. A compromise agreement could and should have been reached. Only The Empty Suit knows the truth or otherwise of that one.
Glos are a lousy club for any 10. I personally think they are heavily over coached and Ryan's bullying style is the cause of their bridesmaid status each year - what a shame Los and Jo have to see the back of England as a spineless Suit and Dean Ryan.
Could it be a coincidence that we now get reminded at every game not to put our flags over the ads? Personally I'd be very happy for flags to put over my ads as an advertiser - if its likely to be a problem - change the design of the board - the flags are tiny. Whatever - I was going to get my firm to stump up for one of the pitchside boards. No more - and not while The Empty Suit remains. I know UK needs a quieter life - but can we please have a CEO who at least empathises a little with the game and its ethos? Badly handled by second rate management - and please no "we're profitable and best in the league..." nonsense. We are profitable despite The Empty Suit - not because of him.
Many, many thanks to Los and Jo. You will both be sadly missed at FG.
[Ps - never worked at FG - nothing personal - I just hate to see shoddy management. I weed it out for other PLCs - and I'd happily do the same for UK.]
He's no fool - any long contract is designed to make sure you get pushed not jump - but while this sort of macho nonsense is typical of the football world - there is no need for it here. A compromise agreement could and should have been reached. Only The Empty Suit knows the truth or otherwise of that one.
Glos are a lousy club for any 10. I personally think they are heavily over coached and Ryan's bullying style is the cause of their bridesmaid status each year - what a shame Los and Jo have to see the back of England as a spineless Suit and Dean Ryan.
Could it be a coincidence that we now get reminded at every game not to put our flags over the ads? Personally I'd be very happy for flags to put over my ads as an advertiser - if its likely to be a problem - change the design of the board - the flags are tiny. Whatever - I was going to get my firm to stump up for one of the pitchside boards. No more - and not while The Empty Suit remains. I know UK needs a quieter life - but can we please have a CEO who at least empathises a little with the game and its ethos? Badly handled by second rate management - and please no "we're profitable and best in the league..." nonsense. We are profitable despite The Empty Suit - not because of him.
Many, many thanks to Los and Jo. You will both be sadly missed at FG.
[Ps - never worked at FG - nothing personal - I just hate to see shoddy management. I weed it out for other PLCs - and I'd happily do the same for UK.]
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Saint Dom in Hanoi (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 21:26
The loss of Los - a truly fitting tribute Mark. His gifts and our shortcomings will remain unresolved in my mind.
I don't think Carlos has weaknesses in the everyday sense, any more than Gregor Townsend - it's a question of who can understand him can play with him...
The wonderful Gregor - passing to his "invisible friend" off his left hand...
I don't think Carlos has weaknesses in the everyday sense, any more than Gregor Townsend - it's a question of who can understand him can play with him...
The wonderful Gregor - passing to his "invisible friend" off his left hand...
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: RedSaint (IP Logged)
Date: 17/02/2009 22:46
Excellent piece, thank you Mark. Personally, I'm gutted Los leaves without me ever getting to see him play live. Every time I saw him on TV though, even my Canadian friends would find a moment each match to be interested in rugby, solely because of his influence.
I had hoped he would be at Saints for years to come in some capacity, there can't be a better player for young prospects to learn from, but if he's gone anywhere I'm glad it's Glaws and not either of the other -cesters. Los, I hope you get the winner's medal you deserve there. Thanks and good luck, we've been privileged to have you.
I had hoped he would be at Saints for years to come in some capacity, there can't be a better player for young prospects to learn from, but if he's gone anywhere I'm glad it's Glaws and not either of the other -cesters. Los, I hope you get the winner's medal you deserve there. Thanks and good luck, we've been privileged to have you.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Wee Jim (IP Logged)
Date: 18/02/2009 08:01
Good read and a fitting tribute.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: SAINT_aitch (IP Logged)
Date: 18/02/2009 09:53
A wonderfully written article. Many thanks for putting pen to paper.
It was a sad day when announced he was leaving the club and I too hope he gets a standing ovation on his visit to us in a few weeks. I will be standing for him for sure.
Thank you Los and best wishes to you.
It was a sad day when announced he was leaving the club and I too hope he gets a standing ovation on his visit to us in a few weeks. I will be standing for him for sure.
Thank you Los and best wishes to you.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Undersizedprop (IP Logged)
Date: 18/02/2009 14:36
Great servant for the club, and so sad that he couldn't be involved in some capacity and had to go elsewhere.
If the info about top down meddling is true then it doesn't reflect well on JM's autonomy either.
I predict he will do very well for Gloucester, but I hope he realises how much affection the fans at Saints hold for him, and always will.
If the info about top down meddling is true then it doesn't reflect well on JM's autonomy either.
I predict he will do very well for Gloucester, but I hope he realises how much affection the fans at Saints hold for him, and always will.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: tedge (IP Logged)
Date: 18/02/2009 16:23
An excellent tribute to a great player. I am shocked to read Sumo's version of events, if it's a true one. I cannot, however, believe that even our CEO would take such action without the DOR's concurrence. If JM isn't unhappy about the outcome then I'm prepared to trust his judgement, otherwise if I were in his shoes I'd be on my bike.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: St Francis (IP Logged)
Date: 18/02/2009 16:48
Good piece, thanks Mark.
We were really sad to see Carlos go. I know that no single player is bigger than the club, but individuals must be treated properly. I do hope that Sumo's comments are off the mark.
We were really sad to see Carlos go. I know that no single player is bigger than the club, but individuals must be treated properly. I do hope that Sumo's comments are off the mark.
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: ChrisG (IP Logged)
Date: 19/02/2009 07:41
Good stuff Mark
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: Bob Stainsby (IP Logged)
Date: 19/02/2009 17:49
Thank you Mark well written. I do hope that Sumo Saint is somehow wrong (no disrespect SS) but sadly I doubt it. Los was not only a hugely talented player who delighted me and many others by his audacious style but a VERY loyal guy who so very easily could have got out of the ND1 experience of cold changing rooms and showers (not all) in ND1 but stuck with us. Compare that with Mr marshall who we saw at the week end (still V good BTW) when Leeds went down. Maybe it,s a bit like those government archives kept by dusty civil serpents the truth will be released in about 20 years time! Thank you Carlos and JO for bringing your family and talent to us from such a long way away we won't forget you. Kia Kaha!
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Re: Loves, Labours, Los - a retrospective
Posted by: STH, South Stand (IP Logged)
Date: 19/02/2009 20:40
What great vision Budge POUTNEY had when
he bought The All Black- Carlos SPENCER to
play for 'The Saints'. As Paul ACKFORD
reported when his signing for our club
was announced, "Even the All Blacks could not
keep up at times with Carlos and his box of
tricks, so one wonders how Northampton
Saints will fair!" Like many other seasoned
supporters at least I can say I witnessed
many of his finest performances for the
Club.Carlos having signed for Gloucester
R.F.C will be their colossal gain and our
sad loss.
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
I wish Carlos and his family all
the very best for the future and ROBSON and
MALLINDER a great day out at SPEC-SAVERS!!!!
S.T.H. South Stand.
he bought The All Black- Carlos SPENCER to
play for 'The Saints'. As Paul ACKFORD
reported when his signing for our club
was announced, "Even the All Blacks could not
keep up at times with Carlos and his box of
tricks, so one wonders how Northampton
Saints will fair!" Like many other seasoned
supporters at least I can say I witnessed
many of his finest performances for the
Club.Carlos having signed for Gloucester
R.F.C will be their colossal gain and our
sad loss.
I wish Carlos and his family all
the very best for the future and ROBSON and
MALLINDER a great day out at SPEC-SAVERS!!!!
S.T.H. South Stand.
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