Contract Talks – is the World About to End?
Sep 2nd, 2010 | By KevB8ll | Category: Blues News, Kev's Ramblings, Lead ArticleA story was picked up by one of the forum members yesterday that appeared on the Telegraph site, which indicates that there may be issues relating to Alex McLeish’s contract talks. Other news outlets have taken it further indicating that there has been a falling out.
Also I have read, with some embarrassment to be honest, some ridiculous comments made by Blues fans on twitter and forums about the subject who clearly haven’t stopped to think about things.
It all centres around that Peter Pannu has apparently said that Alex has asked for more money than the board are prepared to pay he isn’t “The Special One” so can’t demand what he wants.
Let’s look at this logically.
First of all, our board are Chinese, they have a different way of operating in business. We can’t compare the way we do things with the way they do things. Secondly, Alex STILL has a way to go on his existing contract so why would they want to hurry things? Thirdly, they have begun to show their commitment to the club, as I blogged yesterday, so why would they force a manager who is clearly getting results, away from the club. It doesn’t make sense.
So what am I saying? Did Mr Pannu not say these things? No – I think he probably did say them. I think you have to apply some filtering to the comments though. Firstly, it was a London based paper – who to be fair, clearly have no love for us as a club – who broke this “story.” Secondly, how many times have you READ a written joke that wasn’t funny because of the lack of accent and facial expression. I do wonder if the Mourinho comment was actually a tongue in cheek comment, because even the most die-hard bluenose has to admit that The Eckster has some way to go to be compared in parity to “The Special One” no matter how fantastic he has been here.
Unless I can be shown otherwise, none of the local press aren’t making a big deal of this – (‘scuse the pun!) and THAT is more of a rule of thumb that I will go by.
What of Alex? He is reported to be annoyed by Mr Pannu’s comments. Well wouldn’t you be if your boss said these things? However, I genuinely doubt that this will cause Alex to walk away. The board have been fully supportive of him with players, and although we didn’t secure all of them, he said on SSN the other evening that he appreciated the fact that they had supported him in the transfer market.
I deliver management training, and conflict at work is a regular subject that we have to cover. I’m sure that if there is any minor issues regarding this – it will be sorted out and everyone will continue to focus on making the Blues an established Premier League side.
What of Alex’s contract, well in my humble opinion – I believe it will be sorted soon. (The Chinese soon that is!)
Kev
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We’ve always been an unlikeable club for the media. This probably stems from the media centre at St. Andrew’s. It’s not quite up to the modern day media standard. I’m sure this is nothing to be too concerned about.
I really wouldnt be bothered if he left, he cant pick a team for sh*t. His substitutions baffle me, hes formations/change in formations drive me crazy. A lot of luck last year got us in a good postion. I cant fault many of his signings mind(although he clearly never wathced Zigic play, and michel?) but the board have to have a lot of praise for that. He was never the boards choice of manager, they may want to bring there own in. Dont get me wrong hes done well, ill support him all the way while hes blues manager but it wouldnt be the end of the world if he left – there are plenty of other managers that could do the same if not better job.
Thank you for your comments guys. I think that is a fair point NDH, although I think it is more to do with the London papers want the London clubs making the news and not us. As a result, any chance to knock us they will.
Whopper, although I agree that sometimes Alex’s subs can be a bit odd, he is streets ahead of Bruce. At least he is prepared to make a change before the 80th minute.
Give the new players time to bed in, they will. I honestly think that he is the best manager we’ve had in years and we are DEFINITELY improving.
Kev im with you 100% that he is miles better than bruce!!! we are on the up but i dont think it would be the end of the world if he went.
I’m not sure mate. I genuinely can’t think of anyone who is not managing who I’d have in place of him.
dont think Trevor has got a job at the minute!!!!
Where’s my big stick?
I’ve read the comments , and Kev made a very relevant point to start with by saying , The Chinese do things differently.In that respect Blues are actually Premiership guineapigs ! No club has had a set-up quite like ours before ( In the age of the Sky money – ridiculous wages etc )
Who’s to say that even the ‘ Special one ‘ could handle our situation ? ( for all his talent and nous ! )
Big Eck certainly seems to hit that happy medium with the day to day trials and tribulations , and you don’t often hear him getting ( over ) exicited about decisions like some ( Brucey’s cornered the market in that one now ! )
Yes , some of his purchases look iffy ( I”m desperately trying not to panic about the Zigic acqusition and the potentially wasted millions thereof ! …and Michel looks to be playing in a bygone age from what I’ve seen ! ) but ALL managers drop transfer clangers , it’s an undeniable fact.
McLeish doesn’t panic , no one can accuse him of that , and I for one would like to watch ( with interest ) how he handles the coming months.
We are on the cusp of becoming a ‘ stand alone ‘ successful club , we have innovative board , that look like they are capable of breaking down the accepted paradigms and ‘traditions’ that have stood in the way of unfashionable midland clubs like us for decades ( all of my life for sure ! ) and gradually establishing us as a signifficant Premiership team for years and years to come ! but it won’t ( can’t ) happen over night.
I have to say that Alex McLeish is a better picker of players than a tactician where he baffles the best of us. However, I think he is the best we’ve had in many a year and generally things are going in the right direction. I think people are getting down about Zigic and Michel far too early in the piece and it may take the best part of a season before we start seeing the best of both of them. With regard to Zigic, I think he is a better player on the floor than in the air but people assume that because of his height he will automatically be a demon converter of every high cross that comes in. If we start hoofing it up to him we definitely aren’t going to get the best out of him. His strengths from what I’ve see lie in the fact that he reads the game well and has good feet that can link up play. Faith and courage mes braves!
KRO SOTV
Absolutely Baz.
If Mcleish baffles some of you with his tactics think how other managers and players feel.
Think about it.
I hope that Whopper is on wind up because if he means it he is true Blues fan.
Big Eck is the best manager we have had in my 50+ years as a supporter. This whole thing is storm in teacup..Peter Pannu has been naive in talking to the Telegraph which the rest of the London based press have picked up on. Anything to show Blues in a ngative
i like mcleish just dont think he is anything special therefore wouldnt be a great loss. why is he such a great manager? his tactics? his team selections? lack of attacking football? was it a year ago everybody was chanting 4-4-2?
signings??( i know there has been some good ones) but mcfadden? Murphy? De la Cruz? Bent? Michel? Vignal? Chucho? Espinoza? Zigic? Im delighted with the signings the other day but it took a while to get them – i dont actually believe weve been trying to sign them all summer.
He decided againat signing pallacios – a year later he was signed for stupid money. Released Kelly, released Quedrue, taylor, aluko (looked decent in reserves – had pace anyway) in fact i cant remember him selling a single player for any money?
Mcleish is a fantastic defensive manager, i honestly dont think he has a clue how to attack.
There was a lot of luck last year and we havent played well once yet this year. He wouldnt be a great loss.
I think the cultural difference is probably the biggest thing here with them not really getting the whole contract furore and Peter Pannu has already said he was taken out of context on the Birmingham Mail site and him and Eck had a laugh about the Special One comment.
As for Whopper’s original comment i cannot agree, Eck has done wonders for this club and is the best manager we have had in my memory. He is definitely better than Bruce by a mile IMO and osing him would be a disaster for the club with very few managers out there who could replace him given the clubs size, reputation and budget.
I like McLeish , I just can’t figure out why ….. after years of ‘ run of the mill ‘ managers at St Andrews there’s just something about him that makes me think he could turn out to be the one.
But looking at Whopper’s list of dubious buys I’m afraid I have to agree in all except Mc Fadden.
He trys to play football to the best of his ( considerable ! ) abillity game in game out. Yes , he makes errors of judgement , but trust me the game would be poorer without the likes of him and his natural talent.
Murphy was ‘found out’ up at Wigan a couple of seasons ago , and has never recovered !.. and the Steven Kelly ‘thing’ has always been an enigma , ever present for a whole season , and on his bike the next ?…. Kelly was a major unsung hero , doing his own job ( with aplomb ) and covering for lesser mortals at the same time ! and we got rid of him !!! I’ll never work that one out.
It’s easy to pick up on the negative , every game has the Blues faithfull scrutinising the tactics , selection and substitutions etc , but the truth is ( and yes we did have our fair share of luck last season ) we’re not doing too bad .
Titles , cups and glory all need an element of luck , and when I watch documentaries now showing the bygone days of some of the illustrious teams that we all know and er…watch , I’m amazed at the ‘ strokes of luck/fate involved.
Clough won the first division title with Forest grinding out something like 18 one goal victories with an equal amount of penalties along the way ( don’t quote me ! ) and they wanted to Knight him !
He bought Trevor for £1,000,000 and then had to sell him to fund the disaster of Justin Fashanu. What a shrewd move that was by the old master.