Apologist? Not really. The name change debacle was an eye opener. It was only ever a business move despite the "Gift" stuff said at the time. That is why you have to understand their motivations from then on. It was a business. Not a football club. Cheque book out? Now this is one of the biggest ironies of their tenure. Nick Barmby was sacked for suggesting their was no money for players. Papa contradicted him and said there was. An owner leading the chant of cheque book out? Their whole tenure seemed to be contadictions. Whatever else they may or may not have been, they were pretty shrewd businessmen. (Well, maybe one of them was)
I preferred the duffen/brown era to the Allams. There was less hope and so just enjoyed the journey of those two chancers blagging it. Back when money could be created out of thin air and no one cared about 'accounts' and 'turnover'. Along with the Allams came fiscal responsibility and all the boring ****. Duffen swore on his daughter's life to me, when pissed at a brocket hall charity golf day, that Christian vieri was signing for city because he'd managed to source a rare handbag in monaco for vieri's agent's mistress... who was also a high end prostitute. You can't not like a business run like this.
The Allams had millions of pounds worth of money from the PL, a net transfer fee profit from Steve Bruce players and managed to turn it all into a League 1 club with a training ground with no major changes and a dirty stadium with a holding company losing money. Aside from memories and a few more good young players coming through (which they should receive credit for), they massively screwed up the running of the club through pettiness. They had a golden chance to build us into a Brighton or Bournemouth and blew it.
The issue was not that there was no money available, it was that there was no money available to Nick to spend on players he actually wanted.
Alex Neil was the right appointment Acun still living in the clouds he still thinks we might reach the play offs. ****ing delusional.
None of us know who would be the right appointment (unless you can see into the future) but I’m more optimistic about Selles than Neil. What I’ve heard and read is all very positive. Neil has a decent track record but not so much recently, so what’s to say it would be good for us. I for one am looking forward to seeing what this guy can do with the right backing, from all quarters!
Assem quoted that Reading had a quality forward forgot his name , who was on a loan till the end of the season at a substantial cost but still way less than a potentially expensive or risky signing so suggested Nick should have looked at that market . I make no judgement on either but I can see Assem being too cautious .
Reading manager Ruben Selles is closing in on taking over at Hull City as the Tigers' managerial search nears its conclusion a little over a week after the exit of Tim Walter. Selles was granted permission by the League One Royals on Wednesday to have discussions with owner Acun Ilicali, and it's expected he will be appointed on Friday and watch Saturday's game from the stands.
Walter was in Anlaby today I nearly literally bumped into him. He’s taller than he looks from North Stand (or was he just always far away because he never came over to the crowd?)
