Ralph said in an interview that they have recruited a marketing manager from Apple. I was just wondering if the skills required to market iPads etc were really transferable to trying to grow our brand.
Ok- let's have a look at what might have happened here; MP wants the job at Spurs Spurs would really prefers someone else more experienced so stall MP. Saints want MP to sign a new contract, so MP stalls-"let's sort it after the season ends, it will be fine." Players like Cork and Fonte want new contracts, and MP is agreeable but until MP signs a new contract the board stall. Eventually Spurs can't get their first choice so offer MP the job MP tells the board he's going to quit a short while ago, which comes as a disappointment to Saints but no longer a surprise. Board has to rapidly look at getting new manager and cannot offer new contracts until he is hired. Players are very disillusioned. We need a new manager, PDQ and then see the board spring into action to support him-quickly as possible olease. This can be sorted but we need action very shortly.
Exactly right in my eyes. MP strung us along coz of spurs doing same to him. A new high profile manager will sort most of this mess out. Rickie is different as he wanted to leave for a big payday/to join his boyhood team.
The only thing is, as far as I knew Pochettino had no input on player signings or sales, so why would his future affect whoever is in charge of player recruitment/retention (Les Reed?) from getting contracts/new signings sorted. Unless the board is considering going back to an old fashioned model where the manager is in charge of player recruitment, which I doubt.
Isn't the idea that the manager has some say on signings/sales? Rather than no input? Not that I don't think these contracts could have been sorted. It feels like we may need these two at their best next season!
I believe the concept is that the manager didn't choose the signings on his own but had input into a committee who identified and made signings. The manager was then involved in the process of selling the club to the player. Right now we have no manager to sell the club with.
If the problem is that our chairman does nothing football-y, and our executive sporting direction can't be arsed but is useful running the Academy and assorted things, the simplest solution would seem to be to appoint a chairman with a background in the sport to run point...and perhaps quietly remove Les at a later date. That may seem unfair to Ralph if it's not his job, but we need someone capable in that role a lot more than we need a sunny disposition right now.
One thing that doesn't quite add up for me is the reason some of the players are so unhappy is because Cork & Fonte have not yet been given or offered an extension to stay at this unhappy place? I know this is only another theory in the mix, but it sounds to me that some of our senior and long established players are using Big Adam to help them justify their impending big money moves. It's not just the football clubs that have the power of the media to spin a story. What else has Les Reed done to make him this massive arsehole all of a sudden?
Lambert wanted to move to West Ham. Who here thinks that would have been a good move? Not exactly the picture of fiscal or managerial stability or they? We need a new CB. That CB may move Fonte into a bench role. He'll be 31 next season. Sorry, but I'm not about to talk extension with him right now either. If that's the kind of crap the players are mad about, screw 'em. They want an clear communication, the clear communication is "You're under contract and you leave when WE decide." They are football players, what do they need to talk to the board for? That's ridiculous. You want to know if you're going to get to play CL? Put your heads down, play hard, win and find out. Do they really want the board micro-managing? These players don't want the board anywhere near them until it's time for contract talks, and then suddenly they demand full attention. What they want to hear from the board is "Here is a new contract with a big pay increase." Or "Yes, I'll spend a bazillion dollars to improve the squad." Anything else is "lack of communication." Not that they are bad people. I love Fonte. I completely understand why you'd be unhappy at all of this turmoil around the club. If we're nervous, so are they. It's actually their career at stake. But the board won't have the answers they want to hear. The only thing that will make them happy is when they come to training and they have a manager in place who they like and the team is winning. West Ham. WEST HAM! Seriously? How am I supposed to take you seriously if you say you want to go to WEST HAM?!?
Should be in the paper tomorrow. Which should mean it goes online tonight. But obviously, I can't really name the player in question just yet.
