not pre match particularly, but post match, yes...though they do tend to say the same things over and over!
Yes Mitch, I am interested in the post match interviews as sometimes managers say things that are clearly wrong, and it can show up just what sort of pressure they are under. Sometimes they must hope that the owners are listening, and will pick up the fact that they have been too tight with the purse strings. Don't forget either that there are people scattered all over the place who rarely get to see the games, and any thoughts and comments are welcome.
There was a time (as you well know) when we (the public/footie fans in general) were not really that bothered by pre/post match manager interviews. We live in such a media driven environment these days that the actual matchday experience, even the result seem less important than they used to be. At the end of the day why does it really matter what one man says about a game or a club in an interview?? Would you be upset if Zola declined to do an interview before or after a match?? I wouldn't.
He was well liked by us Hammers, and a majority wanted to see him given at least the first half of the following season, however he was very tactically naive at times and seemed out of his depth. And when you're 1 or 2 nil down you want to see your manager geeing his players up from the side-line, where-as GZ would just tend to sit in his dug-out seemingly doing nothing, it's this that I think lost him his job. Really glad to see him doing well, as are most hammers I suspect, as we have a lot of respect for the guy
My WBA supporting colleague was praising the style of football we're now playing and due to it, the results we're getting. As for caring about post/pre match interviews, I alawys liked reading GTs comments in the Evening Echo/Wobby but wasn't bothered with any other written media and if there was an interview with him after our highlights on tv, I'd watch that.
Don't forget he coached the Italy under 21s so it's likely he learnt from that as well as from the Hammers experience. He will cock up on occasion and we have to recognise that but mostly I think he'll get it about right. With a fair wind he will take us into the Prem next Season.
I think we are talking here about the character of the manager, not about the insightfulness (or otherwise) of his pre/post match interviews. One would hope that these would be sensible and not banal, but the main point is: "does the character of the manger reflect the ethos and values of the club? is the manager respected by the players and fans? is he a good ambassador for the club in the community and media"? Zola scores well on all these points-- I would not want to swap him for a more arrogant , more ignorant, more mercenary more boorish more clownish personality, of which many can be found in football management. It is about more than "post-match interviews" .
