CanadaSaint

But in fairness, Norm, the thread title wasn't very clear - "Eddie Howe Turned us down?"

Art, notwithstanding the results since he left (we weren't getting results before that) I'm far from convinced that the players "respected Alan Pardew". And I would bet that this "physio come manager" is on an entirely different plane to Pardew - tactically, motivationally, intellectually, conversationally and just about every other way. So how about giving him a chance to prove it?

And, with that article, I suspect that any prospect of a repair of the Echo/Cortese fence has disappeared.

And all these years I thought that was his "bit on the side".

He's "a principled person" - those are his own words. If you expect principles from our manager, don't begrudge him doing the things he feels he needs to do before coming here. You've made it clear that you don't want him but for God's sake don't start questioning his loyalty and commitment before he even arrives.

True - I should have excluded that Burley phase from the comment, but it took us to the playoffs and the brink of a return to the Premiership. Most of the rest of the way (starting with the killer period, post Cardiff, and continuing post-Burley) it was cheap option all the way; that, more than Burley's profligacy, is what started the spiral and kept it going after Burley left. But I agree with you regarding Adkins. I've felt since Monday that he was perfect for us and, having just listened to his press conference, I'm even more convinced.

Now I'm even more convinced that he's right for us.

Taking the cheap option (failing to improve the squad after Cardiff) and ending up losing WGS, which started the downward spiral. (Do you remember when the general view on here was that all we needed was a left-sided midfielder?) We then compounded this by hiring cheapo managers/signing cheapo players that kept the spiral going ever-faster until we plummeted into the third tier. Looking only at unemployed managers - rather than trying to hire the best we can attract - would be another false economy.

It's starting to look more hopeful and you can almost sense where things went a little pear-shaped. Cortese - not unreasonably - wanted a quick commitment and an early morning start. Adkins - not unreasonably - wanted to square things properly with the Club he's been at for 16 years, discuss things with his wife, and make sure that everything is acceptable to his right hand man (and probably friend) who - it's clear - is "part of the package". He seems to have stood his ground with Cortese and yet he's still in the running. This is all dropping Scunny in the mire so I think "a reasonable premium on the contract value" is entirely appropriate. They - not unreasonably - seem to have stood their ground and yet the deal is still on the table. This may turn out to be a very good day in teaching Cortese that he's right to fight for his team but that there are times when he needs to back down.

Oh, God. Let's not return to the land of the false economy. That's what got us in this sh*tpile several years back.

There is a relatively short list of people whose posts I always read - because they're challenging or interesting or controversial or well informed (usually) or generally a voice of reason. You're on the list for one or more of the reasons outlined above, and so is Duncan. I just didn't expect to see you, of all people, advising another poster to "step back and stop being so negative for the sake of it". Without a winky thing.

No, it's "oop in the air".

"Adkins says it can still happen but it has to be on the right terms for the Club (Scunny)."

With pleasure! Traffic is moving well on the Humber Bridge.

I totally respect and admire an honourable position (I'd like to think that I would have done the same as Adkins) but it seems that this quality has become more of a liability in football. What really worries me is this. Our position is almost unique in English football - A) because of the structure within which the individual will have to function, and B) because the very presence of Cortese will make everything more challenging. Adkins, for me, ticked all of the key boxes. I don't know who else would do so to anything like that degree, and some of the people being suggested were laughably unsuited. We don't have a shortlist of 50 or so capable of fitting into this position and succeeding (the number who supposedly expressed interest) but a shortlist of two or three at best. And the danger is that this latest debacle will throw even more red flags up around our club and put their interest in question. I'm not sure where we go from here but I sure hope you're right that "it'll look a whole lot better in a few hours". BTW, where the hell is this legendary Happy Harry poster?

Jesus Murphy. I go to bed and everything's on track for what I think is a very good appointment - a guy who ticks most of my boxes even if he isn't (or possibly because he isn't) a "big name". I wake up and Cortese is engaged in yet another barney with yet another person over yet another issue, and the managerial appointment is spiralling down the sh*tter in a clockwise direction. So we're heading for a six-pointer of a league game with the less-than-convincing Dean Wilkins in charge. Again, the media's having a field day at our expense. And, if that's not enough, I notice that Tony Lynham, has suddenly reappeared and is circling like a shark who smells the blood of a club for sale. The thought process from there is too terrifying to contemplate. Sod it, I'm going back to bed.

You've carried that terrible burden for nigh-on thirty years, haven't you? Well, it could be worse - at least you weren't taken behind the altar for some 'communion'. Time to move on, Gemmel.

Dune, I was fairly sure you'd be in the "kicking and screaming" group.

Unless change is forced on English football by some kind of new financial reality, which is what really happened with the major sports over here. "Never say never", Dune - although I grant you that lots of people over there would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into that kind of era, if it ever happens.

I think SOG is referring to what Alps said he'd do to his wife if MON got the job. You must have missed the post, lucky boy!

No, a transfer committee is not a stupid idea at all. In fact, it's a far better idea than a one man decision-making process. At risk of inflaming the Guided Missiles of this world, I'll lean on what happens over here, specifically with regard to hockey. There are tons of meetings involving the scouts, the coaching staff and senior management before any significant decision is reached. In many cases the decision is a one-man, one vote decision. Some teams have even left big "Draft Day" decisions to the scouts alone.

Thinking on it a bit more, I can remember a rather sneering players' saying back in the days when I was playing - "Show us your medals". The intended implication was very clear - "If you haven't got any, STFU". Wise had medals, Reed has none. I just can't see KK succeeding within that kind of structure, much as I wish he could.

DP, I'm not so sure that KK "accepted the concept, just found that Wise had no idea what he was doing". That may have been an easy way to frame it after the event, but KK's a passionate guy and I can't see him reacting well to things like Reed's overall guiding hand, a transfer committee, and an interfering Cortese. I can foresee a deja vue all over again. Still, I do think he'd bring a lot and - of all the names touted - would probably galvanize the fan base most. The players I'm not so sure about, because most of them weren't even born when he was a superstar.

Apologies, Turkish. Then I'm aiming that same question at you, CB. BTW, Turkish, did you bold the quote after I replied or am I going nuts?