Disrepute?
Picture the scene. Two managers stand nose to nose on the touchline having a disagreement about a decision the ref has given. Things get personal, the voices raised, the TV cameras zoom in to capture the facial expressions – eventually the referee comes across and sends them both to the stands.
Over the coming weeks they are charged for bringing the game into disrepute as the pictures of their argument is played on sports channels and certain internet video sites!
They will probably get fined, maybe even banned from the dugout for a number of matches. Why? Well it’s obvious, they have bought the game into disrepute.
So why is it, that two certain Directors of a London side, are allowed to accuse our new owners of things and get away with it? They are also publicising players deals of a club they have nothing to do with any more, surely that in itself is against some rule or law?
Some of the things that have been said by them have been completely out of order, and the FA should investigate them. Yes I believe a disrepute charge should be considered.
I am getting fed up of David Gold and David Sullivan whining and moaning about how our new board treated them. Well you sold the club to them! Both of you had voiced your desire to leave, OK David Gold retracted that statement and offered his help to the new board. However the new board clearly decided a complete break from the old board would be the best, and you couldn’t blame them for that.
I have a number of times said that I have appreciated what the previous board did at the club, but you are even beginning to lose those fans who could see the positive contributions you bought to the club.
Why don’t you just leave the Blues alone and concentrate on your new club? I feel sorry for the West Ham fans, because at the moment DS and DG seem to be talking more about our club than theirs.
I would like to add that I think our new board have handled themselves very well in all of this, and have tried to keep their heads down. Mr Pannu’s announcement of possible legal action against Mr Gold I believe is the action of a man who is exasperated with a situation that he thought would just settle down. In one way I hope it doesn’t come to it – because the all that will happen is the Lawyers will gain a fortune and the arguments will get worse.
SO, will either DG and DS be quiet about us and get on with their new job, or will the FA investigate a disrepute charge? No I don’t think they will either – either of those.
Does the “Respect Campaign” apply to the money men in the board rooms too? Apparently not.
I expect there will be more blogs on the subject.
Blues News Digest
Here is a round up of some of the stories affecting the Blues today.
There is an article on the Birmingham Mail’s site about us not needing superstars to be big in China.
The mail online has a story of Peter Pannu criticising Spurs over the on/off Pavlyuchenko transfer.
Colin Tattum discussed the transfer window.
James McFadden suggests that Barry Ferguson should be recalled to the Scotland side. Mercury.
On Give me Football, Eck says that Kevin Phillips will play a part in the 2nd half of the season.
A day, (Or Two), in the life of a Blues reporter
I’ve spoken to Andy Walker of the Birmingham Mail, Sunday Mercury and Birmingham Post a few times, and I asked him what it was like to be a sports journo following the Blues. Well being good at what he does, he sent me this!
Nice one Andy, I hope you all enjoy it.
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ABOUT ME
Having cut my teeth with just over three years as sports editor on the Solihull News and Times, I moved to the Birmingham Post and Mail group in April 2007.
Initially I worked solely on the Sunday Mercury where I covered all sports and all clubs on the Midlands patch until a restructure of editorial set-up in November 2008. That saw all sports reporters become responsible for all three newspapers – the Mail, Post and Mercury – and me become number two Blues reporter behind chief sports writer Colin Tattum.
As well as helping with the various print requirements, me and Colin now have a weekly video show on called ‘Blues View’ as well as popular liveblogs from Blues games home and way.
From a personal point of view, one of my favourite moments covering Blues has to be last season’s final day victory at Reading to secure promotion back to the Premier League. It was the perfect ending to what had been a long, laborious season during which Blues had faced their fair share of critics. That sunny afternoon in Berkshire made those miserable midweek trips to the likes of Plymouth and Barnsley feel like a distant memory and I was pleased for Alex McLeish, who is a top bloke to deal with.
WIGAN ATHLETIC AWAY – Saturday December 5.
9am – It’s time to hit the road to Wigan and my first visit to this ground since Latics chairman Dave Whelan decided to name the stadium after himself. Although the game doesn’t kick-off until 3pm, I always like to set off early for away games. That way I can compensate for any unexpected traffic problems and get settled in at the ground to do a bit of pre-match homework before the crowds arrive.
11am – Arrive in Wigan in good time. As most stadiums don’t open their doors to the press for a 3pm kick-off until 12pm, I decide to pop in to a local Asda for a coffee and to check the latest sports news on my mobile. I notice that my Lee Bowyer story on his feelings towards Match of the Day 2 presenter Adrian Chiles’ snide comments has attracted a good amount of comments on birminghammail.net, as I expected.
12.30pm – I’m one of the first to arrive at the DW Stadium’s press room, which resembles a primary school classroom presumably they must use it as an education centre during the week. After signing in, I have a bit of a catch up with colleague Colin Tattum, BRMB’s Tom Ross and Blues’ friendly media team before firing up the laptop to check my e-mails and Twitter account.
1.30pm – Few more faces filter into the press room now including a couple of famous ones associated with Villa more than Blues. Big Ron Atkinson is here doing the game for BBC WM while Alan McInally is on Sky Sports duty. Initially I’m baffled as there appears to be no sign of food, until I discover that the attached interview room has a selection of pies with mushy peas on offer. A big perk of being a sports journalist is that you are often treated very well at football stadums, certainly in the Premier League, and that usually includes a decent spread of food – ask any hack and they’ll confirm that Arsenal’s facilities at the Emirates Stadium are by far the best.
2pm – Head up to my seats in the stand, while the press bench is not flush with space, it’s certainly not the most cramped I’ve ever been in (Fratton Park and Old Trafford are two that spring to mind) but can’t complain as long as you’ve got a decent view (something that Vicarage Road’s press bench doesn’t really offer).
2.30pm – Log-on to our liveblog and it appears to be as popular as ever. While I try to paint a picture of the pre-match atmosphere, Colin fends off the usual questions on transfer targets. Blues team announced and, unsurprisingly, it confirms that McLeish has stuck with the line-up that beat Wolves a week earlier.
3pm – The game gets underway and there are plenty of empty seats as we have come to expect from this stadium. While the travelling Blues fans are in good voice, their team don’t start as brightly as their hosts.
3.45pm – Half-time and it looks as though Blues’ unbeaten run will be coming to an end as they trail to a brilliant Charles N’Zogbia goal. With the press room a good five minutes walk away, I decide to sit tight in my seat and crack on with my match report for the Sunday Mercury.
4.50pm – What a second-half and what a comeback from Blues. Two free-kicks from Seb Larsson and a Christian Benitez goal set up a 3-2 victory after Jordi Gomez made it a nervy finale with a set piece strike of his own. After ten minutes tapping away in the stands, I decide to head down to the post-match interview room and continue from there.
5.30pm – Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is first out and I noticed how he utters the word ‘character’ a record amount of times. While he is obviously disappointed, at least it didn’t turn out to be 9-1. A journalist on the front row asks Martinez his opinion on the World Cup draw, not really relevant but the chap is obviously responding to orders from his sportsdesk.
6pm – Alex McLeish is next to emerge. Lavishes praise on his troops, mentions how Benitez is starting to settle more following Ecuador’s World Cup exit and also how he hopes Larsson will go on to contribute the same amount of goals he did when Blues were last in the Premier League. Same journalist asks same World Cup question. A few of us then move in closer for a Monday newspapers only press conference, where I get a bit more on Carson Yeung’s continued commitment to attend games. Colin arrives from mix zone (the place where you go to get player quotes) duty and remarks on how the Blues squad had all emerged from the dressing room together as they’re shooting off on their Christmas do, which later turns out to be in Glasgow.
6.40pm – Sunday Mercury match report and follow up piece all filed. Bump in to McLeish and his wife in reception, exchange pleasantries before heading off.
8.30pm – Arrive home, end of a long but overall enjoyable day.
Andy Walker
WEST HAM HOME – Saturday December 12
1.15pm – Park up close to St Andrew’s before heading to the press room. Big crowd expected today, should be close to a sell out.
1.45pm – Sign into the press room, pour myself a coffee and have a chat with a few of the assembled hacks about Carson Yeung’s restructuring of his board. Lamb shank, chips and gravy is on the menu today, gets the thumbs up from me. Stoke V Wigan is on the box, not really expecting a classic but a stunning goal from Maynor Figueroa makes it worthwhile the Sky cameras being there.
2.15pm – Head up to the press box to log on to our liveblog. While me and Colin field the usual pre-match questions, a man fires blue Santa hats into the crowd via a small cannon before Saint Nick himself abseils into the stadium. Ground starts to fill up and there’s a big turnout from West Ham (around 3,500), ends up being just short of a sell out. A freelance journalist that I know arrives and tells me that there has been a spot of bother with West Ham fans in Digbeth – shame, surely it’s about time that undesirable element was stamped out of the game for good.
3pm – Games kicks-off and Blues start brightly. Same Blues line-up named for the fourth consecutive game, can’t change a winning team.
3.45pm – Goalless at half-time. While West Ham have started to edge their way back into things, Blues are narrowly the better team. I get started on my Sunday Mercury match report and keep an eye on the liveblog, while Colin kindly brings me a coffee.
4.50pm – After a nervy finale, Blues hold out for yet another victory – it’s now four on the bounce. With Hammers fan and in-form Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer scoring the winner (yet again), it gives me an easy intro for my match report. After ten minutes tapping away in the press box, I head down to the press room to await the arrival of Alex McLeish.
5.30pm – McLeish arrives at his post-match press conference nice and early and once again enthuses at the impact Bowyer has had since arriving at the club. I’m getting slightly bored of writing the ‘Bowyer match-winner’ line but that’s just testament to the tremendous season he’s having – a shock England recall maybe? Gianfranco Zola arrives during McLeish’s press conference and is shepherded into the radio interview room.
5.45pm – McLeish holds his Monday only post-match briefing in the usual tunnel area and it lasts about ten minutes. In which time, Bowyer, Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson and Gregory Vignal all pass suited and booted. Blues vice-chairman Peter Pannu is hanging around and he congratulates Bowyer for his contribution. A miserable looking Zola also wonders by.
6pm – Head out into the players tunnel to see if there’s anybody left to talk to. Several journalists are interviewing Barry Ferguson. After waiting around for a few minutes, I decide to head back into the press room to crack on with my Sunday Mercury requirements.
6.15pm – As this is the last home game before Christmas, Blues sponsors F&C Investments have decided to lay on beer, cider and mince pies for the media as a thank you. So that means that I’m able to finish my match report and follow up on Bowyer while sipping a beer – not bad at all.
7pm – All done and dusted. I head home and discover that it’s been a good day all round for local clubs with Wolves and Villa picking up hugely impressive wins at Tottenham and Manchester United respectively. Let’s hope the Baggies come up next season and give the Premier League a West Midlands look.
Sammy Yu is a Bwunose
This evening, Sammy Yu, (our new Vice Chairman), was the guest of Tom Ross on the BRMB phone in. Peter Pannu was unable to make the show.
Sammy apparently turned up with a gold Blues pendant around his neck and claimed that he is now a Bwunose!
Sammy came over as a very pleasant affable person. He was asked some very direct questions, none of which he dodged. I will attempt to sum up the key questions and answers for those who missed it.
I will write the article as a questions and answers session. Some of the questions I have joined together as they overlap – but I have usd Sammy’s answers. I haven’t used his answer word for word – but summed up his answers.
Q Will you be bringing back the kids for a quid / improve ticket prices?
We have reduced the prices of the Man City game to £25, as we understand that the fans believe the prices are too high. We do hope that the fans realise it will take a little time to get this right – we will do our best to get things right. We have heard what you as fans have said and we will do it. We are looking to do a kids for a quid and maybe even kids for free. They are the clubs future and would want to get them more involved. We are a family, and we want us all to share that. I’d rather give the 6000 kids free tickets and fill the seats.
Q Will there be money available for players in January?
Yes definitely. We will be meeting with Alex with Carson so we can support Alex. Our first target is to remain in the Premier League. We have already discussed players – and we have already identified a number of quality players – I promise they are. We want to work as a family. This is your club, our club.
Q Who are the other people in the background supporting with finance? Or is it a 1 man operation?
Carson will be main man running things and is the owner, with the rest of us running the club. We will run things in a simple way, with our first target to stay in the Premier League. Then step by step we will look to build up the club.
Q How are you going to bring the old atmosphere back?
A very important thing is to make sure everything is right from top to bottom including bringing in quality players. We must also look at the academies like at Arsenal. We will be honest with the fans, we will be straight. We want the fans to talk to us.
Q Where do you see Blues football 3 to 4 years?
We are trying to make the club better and better each year. We hope to be an established Premier League club by then. With quality home or local players. It is a step by step process. We have to plan and it may well take time – but we are ambitious.
Q Will there be deals /ways for making it easier to buy tickets?
We will do our best to improve things – please let us know if there is anything we can improve. We will true to fulfil all of these kind of things.
Q Will you embrace the Blues Ladies side?
Why not, they are part of us – part of the city. These are the sorts of ideas we need to know about from our family.
Q Will you be investing in the stadium?
We hope to eventually to build a new stadium as the existing stadium is restricted by the local residents etc. We hope to get more supporters at cheaper prices. We will try our best to provide a stadium by 2018 for the possible World Cup in the UK. However if we need to we WILL invest in St Andrews.
Q Will the board have any input into players and tactics?
You can relax on this. We are looking to work together and yes we will give our opinion, but we like Alex. Despite my English Chinese and his Scottish – we talk well!
Q How are the board looking to entice the stay away fans?
We already have something in mind and in the next few days we should be able to say something on this. We need them to come back and entice them to be with us. They are part of the family.
Q How wealthy are the backers and Carson Yeung?
You will know more about this on Thursday, but I can tell you there is no worries.
Q How are you going to get us to play more attacking football?
We have to survive first, but we hope we will aiming towards us playing better.
Q Are you going to get the 1 million back from Karren?
(Laughs), we will look at this. But we hope that people now not look backwards to the past, but look forwards with us.
Q What role is Steve McManaman going to play?
He will be involved with International development, as an ambassador. We are looking to grow the Blues as a global brand. This will include possible friendlies there or Chinese teams coming here.
Q How secure will the club be?
We will make sure that the club will stay secure. This so everyone in the city can enjoy it.
Q Will there be lots of Chinese players?
We will be looking to bring talent in, from Hong Kong, China or wherever - however local talent will be more important to us. But we will look to do some exchanges between countries to help them develop. But we won’t be looking exclusively in the far east.
Q Why did you buy the Blues and not Newcastle?
I have been asked this many times. It was destiny. In the 1981 when I was in the UK on the way to a coaching course, I flew into Heathrow and got on a coach to Birmingham New Street. I spent some time in the city. Two and a half years ago came over for the FA semi-final. That Christmas we came to the Blues Forest game and we thought yes why not? We know the city – the fans have a passion. Let’s do it. We haven’t come here for business or for money – we took over to make the club successful.
Q What are you going to do regarding existing season ticket holders that have paid high prices?
We care about everyone. We will be looking at that, but we have to do something to make things fair. We will definitely be doing something. There will be something there for you.
Q How often will you and the others be at the ground?
Carson will be here Thursday to start planning for the future. We will be there for most of them. (A 6,000 mile trip for Carson!)
Q Have you learnt Keep Right On to the End of the Road yet?
No. Tom will have to teach me that!
Sammy was prepared to answer all the questions face on, and I have to say after listening to the phone in – I am quite excited.
Your comments would be appreciated.
Kev
The New Board and a New Poll
First thing to say is sorry for all the re-posts tonight, we are trying to rebuild the content after we got hacked and then our hosts restored the wrong backup. Needless to say they are now our ex-hosts.
Anyway, has anyone seen the pictures today of our new board. It’s nice to see them for real but I must say Peter Pannu looks a bit scary… I heard that a couple of them sat amongst the fans at the Bolton game to get a real feel for the club. I don’t know what they learnt from watching a game from the Main Stand but I would hope that their first conclusion was that we need a new Main Stand! They would also learnt about how bad the catering is although to be fair they could have learnt that from sitting in any stand.
I’ve also added a new poll about how people feel about the new board. Are you excited or worried about the future?
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