I see McCann as a totally different character these days.He was a dejected figure as we slid our way out of the Championship.It wasn't all his fault and he grabbed his chance with both hands last season...He seems to come across as a far more comfortable figure in recent interviews and maybe that comes with not having to face a barrage of ridiculous,awkward and insulting interrogation.
McCann tells us he hopes to have a long managerial career, if he has one he needs a thicker skin when dealing with the press. Unlike some today he should just play a straight bat to questions that may irk him, it's not difficult to waffle for a few minutes (door left ajar). Methinks it's a good job for McCann that John Fenwick is not still around.
When you think of the players he got lumbered with is it any wonder we went down? Mazuch, Lichaj, Powell, Toral, Irvine, De Wijs. Some of these quite talented, but many utter charlatans who would not battle. Irvine's jet lag after playing for Oz used to last about 3 weeks, how Mazuch ever passed a medical is a mystery, likewise Toral. McCann must have known these players would probably capitulate in the battle to stay up. Fair play to the Allams for not sacking him & it paid dividends for all concerned . Being from Sandy Row, he will always come over a bit gruff and standoffish, and some of the questioning he got the season before last was very hostile. Can't blame the club if they want to avoid a repeat scenario. RH is only one of many media that fans can use to catch up on what;s happening at City. But yes, it would be far better if they could all kiss and make up Tony Currie & Alan Birchenall style.
Burnsy is a doom and gloom merchant who is generally out for a headline rather than actually conducting an interview so not too bothered.
The club is a pathetic shell of a club when things get bumpy now a days. That’s what the Allams are about. I mean for one people who still paid memberships had to pay to watch games streamed last year is absolutely crazy. Sums them up for me.
Burnsie has given McCann and the Allams a relatively easy ride over the years. Unfortunately the club under the Allams believes it is beyond questionning (shades of China or N Korea).
There is a stark difference to the way RH handle coverage of both RL clubs and the commentaries to the way they did handle City. Every game of RL is described as an epic, a classic, a nail biter etc etc, unlike City when at times Burnys sounded bored to death. He did go for McCann's throat after games during the relegation season. Sometimes rightly so but it did make uncomfortable listening. Personally I didn't like the commentaries, not that I heard that many because I like to be at the games myself but I can see there are many people who did depend on them for their City fix. I'm not saying RH should become a mouthpiece for the club either and sometimes awkward questions need to be asked but it was becoming a bit like them v us and it shouldn't be like that because it isn't for the RL clubs. The club do need local radio on their side and it remains a weeping sore until it is resolved. A bit of humble pie eating on both sides might help.
Did other clubs give free access to people who had paid for season tickets? May be wrong, but I don't think so. Don't think ifollow would have allowed it.
People got all the homes free, their membership value back in points to spend at the club shop/in the ground/Walton Street car park pass/hospitality etc.... I think they where for once extremely fair with those who chose the keep the membership.
Though RH quite obviously try to make out that local rugby is a bigger deal than it is, they have no issue with interviewing them in the same way Burnsy did with McCann, recent interviews with the FC manager have basically repeatedly asked him why he thought they'd been utterly ****e recently.
Whether you like Burnsy or not, a football club should not be deciding what BBC reporter conducts interviews on behalf of local radio, just as they should not determine the chairman of the Supporters Trust, or the OSC.
Why don't they 'quite obviously try to make out' City are a bigger deal then they are. Just for a change ?. There is a difference in the interviewing technique and you know there is.
