That was a superb read. I too noticed a different resolve to the side towards the end of the season, but didn't know the cause at the time. Well done to Joey for getting 'Blackie' in and well done Redknapp for giving him a go.
A largely meaningless article. Its clear what this is all about. The "experts" among the R's faithful are finding it extremely difficult to swallow the cold hard truth that they got it totally wrong about this team and Management. And now they're trying everything and anything to square it in their heads, making up all sorts of rubbish. This is the latest attempt to snatch the plaudits away from Redknapp by loading them onto some Quack who sounds like he likes the sound of his own voice a bit too much. Every Club has these types of people on their staff but I've yet to hear a set of fans who's Club has just won something, rather than praising the Manager and players, seek out one of these Gurus and hold him up as some kind of footballing miracle man. Next season when the team lose a few on the bounce, you can be damn sure they won't drag Mr Black out and berate him non-stop. No, it'll be auld Droopy that gets it right in the neck because the book always stops with the Manager, doesn't it? Not when it comes to success it would seem...
That's poor Stan. Very poor from a person of your quality. Reduced to picking out spelling errors is not your style. Still, if the only response to a point of view is a bit of pedantry, then a strong case was obviously made.
I don't think it's taking away the plaudits from Harry or anyone else. The success of the team will always be down to Harry and so will any loss or relegation unless like last season he comes in half way through a campaign. There was a distinct difference in the teams self belief in the last few games though, especially during the play-offs. You could sense and see it on the pitch from the stands. Whether that's down to Black or not I don't know. But sometimes it doesn't hurt to give the team a chance of a new impetus towards the end of a long and tough campaign. An outsider with a proven track record and a fresh pair of eyes might only add 0.5 of a per cent. But sometimes in sport that maybe all you need to gain an edge.
I mentioned him the day after the play offs, as I gave rednapp credit for bringing him in, didn't realise it was joey, but obviously with rednapp's approval. I'm surprised most clubs don't have an in house sports psychologist, it seems the biggest problem among footballers, their heads, but it seems to have done the trick to our lot.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary... You never miss an opportunity to try to have a row. It might be total hokum but it worked, Liverpool used him and he helped transform their mindset from also-rans to title-contenders. Whatever he did with us the last few weeks of the season certainly saw an improvement in attitude and that, ultimately, was the difference...
Great read. He really did look to have made a difference. Credit to Joey and Arry for bringing him in. Hope he will stay and help us make the continual improvements he talks of we will need to succeed in the PL.
