And therein lies the advantage of having someone who is knowledgeable and driven, but is not part of the 'culture'...conventional wisdom can be happily tossed aside as the drivel that it is.
Backing Rodriguez to be our top scorer is interesting. Does it show we're no longer in the market for a forward? Is it an indication of Lambert being phased out? Or could it be nothing more than individual motivation?
I think the evidence shows we are very much in for a forward, but like you said it doesn't harm to motivate.
What? You're demanding to yourself and your staff too? You don't want them to stand still? Bang goes my theorey that you ran a business of those people who dress up and stand still like human statues outside tourist attractions.
Above all else this shows me just how 'savy' Cortese is. Love them or hate them, Sky are the leading/driving outlet for the English premier League and hence English football. Quietly and almost un-noticed, he has cosied up to Sky through Jim White. White being one of the senior/leading presenting voices for Sky. Cortese knows what he is doing. All other media outlets will rehash this interview as they did the other. Gradually, he is changing this voiceless, silent assassin-lke, image that some sections of the media have created. I think Sants will go from the laughable to the progressive example in the eyes of the media overtime. This in itself will help build our global image that is surely part of Cortese's plan too.
Just watched it on Sky. As I suspected nothing different, but pleasant to see us get the coverage. Nicola was more smiley than usual (in a shirt, thank goodness). His broken leg was not mentioned...obviously not a man to enjoy being joshed! Spoiling Jim and his crew with the private jet was a good idea. The result against Schalke was not mentioned, even though they were shown running out on to the pitch...nothing was allowed to be negative. The only thing we can chew and think about was that Jim said we had got two of our three targets!!!
Secured two of three targets suggests something is 'happening' on the third (otherwise he would only refer to the two targets?)
Cortese is really smart in the way he controls press releases. Under his terms and it's rarity gives it value. He was chattier about plans when he first arrived and he got burnt...imagine, he arrived in England as a banker, took over a League 1 club on -10, and said PL in five years...the man was obviously mad!! Shame they didn't get a word from Mauricio...he can speak well enough in a controlled interview...he was just shown training and laughing with the team. Snippets with Lovren, Morgan and Boruc...the latter even looked neat, pressed and pleasant!
"players train harder when I attend training" Yeah, I used to tell my boss something similiar to keep his ego massaged, wasn't true though. Pretty dull interview really, although I expect the editing of it cut out things that we fans might find more interesting. Press always want an "angle".
West Ham's new signing, Rat, also mentioned them getting into Europe this season, so it is a new guy thing.
Club will pay for a private jet for a few well paid journos to fly out to Austria, but don't offer cheap or free coach travel to away games for fans. Hmmmmm.
Quick look through the comments at bottom of the Daily Mail article...about 50% vitriolic about Nicola. Definitely marmite.
Of course the main reason why Jim White showed the private jet at the start of his piece was to hint to other clubs that if they want favourable coverage on Sky, they have to do similar. Journos are like MP's, they are only in their jobs for what they can sponge out of them.
The majority of negative posts seem to be from UpTheSaints who clearly has a major chip on his shoulder.
