The Perfect Storm?

[dubai_phil]

Time for us to play Detective

 

We have threads commenting on NC's statement and the Echo, but what we have not done is to try and work out how this all came about.

 

Removing opinions, can we trace the hitsory of the comments that got us to this debacle?

 

What was the story behind the non-story?

 

Is it possible to see how statements and events COULD have been mis-interpreted or Over Analysed?

 

Are there any lessons that NC should learn, and better still, are there any factual errors with which to beat up the Echo and others?

 

IIRC Adam Blackmore was to blame for starting the mess by quoting a source close to ML.

 

Now this is strange as all season ML has be conspicuous by 1) his absence from the media and 2) the lack of quotes from sources.

 

We can speculate who it could have been and why, but then much of the rest of the storm breaks.

 

NC is on media record as being UNHAPPY on 13th March. In an interview lasting 46 minutes on Solent he explains that, answers OUR questions and at no time says AP is a God OR that AP is awful. It is a simple and clear we are not happy being a long way from the playoffs type interview mirroring the views of all of us AND those AP expresses in his interviews.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565161.stm

 

So where is this NC not backing AP non-story? Do we over interpret the fact that he did not get "A Vote of Confidence" (lol at what that always means in the media)

 

Does the build up to the storm start earlier than that?

 

Did we (and the media) analyse Adam's poor interview with AP the wrong way? Could it be that behind the scenes Adam has a history of trying to leak non-stories? Is he a closet Skate?

 

Better historians and Googlers than me may be able to dig up some actual quotes and interviews and comments that could discover if there is a trend.

 

This was a media storm we have opinions (which should stay on the other threads) but can you guys find any more FACTS or links as to how this blew up?

[docker-p]

What i can't understand is NCs reaction. The medias' stock in trade is rumour and gossip from the smallest weekly rag to the newsrooms of Radio 4.

Why a guy like NC who has complete control of a big football club and doing a good job with a very wealthy backer should even bother responding to comment and speculation is beyond me.

I think he needs some media training himself. If he thinks this is bad just wait until we're back in the premiership.

[Badger]

The first hint was the conflicting comments made by AP and NC over (what was perceived as their) priorities around the time of the JPT 2nd leg semi-final.

[dubai_phil]

The first hint was the conflicting comments made by AP and NC over (what was perceived as their) priorities around the time of the JPT 2nd leg semi-final.

 

Date?

 

I thought that there was something alluded to earlier than that hence the questions in the Solent Interview

[John B]

Time for us to play Detective

 

We have threads commenting on NC's statement and the Echo, but what we have not done is to try and work out how this all came about.

 

Removing opinions, can we trace the hitsory of the comments that got us to this debacle?

 

What was the story behind the non-story?

 

Is it possible to see how statements and events COULD have been mis-interpreted or Over Analysed?

 

Are there any lessons that NC should learn, and better still, are there any factual errors with which to beat up the Echo and others?

 

IIRC Adam Blackmore was to blame for starting the mess by quoting a source close to ML.

 

Now this is strange as all season ML has be conspicuous by 1) his absence from the media and 2) the lack of quotes from sources.

 

We can speculate who it could have been and why, but then much of the rest of the storm breaks.

 

NC is on media record as being UNHAPPY on 13th March. In an interview lasting 46 minutes on Solent he explains that, answers OUR questions and at no time says AP is a God OR that AP is awful. It is a simple and clear we are not happy being a long way from the playoffs type interview mirroring the views of all of us AND those AP expresses in his interviews.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565161.stm

 

So where is this NC not backing AP non-story? Do we over interpret the fact that he did not get "A Vote of Confidence" (lol at what that always means in the media)

 

Does the build up to the storm start earlier than that?

 

Did we (and the media) analyse Adam's poor interview with AP the wrong way? Could it be that behind the scenes Adam has a history of trying to leak non-stories? Is he a closet Skate?

 

Better historians and Googlers than me may be able to dig up some actual quotes and interviews and comments that could discover if there is a trend.

 

This was a media storm we have opinions (which should stay on the other threads) but can you guys find any more FACTS or links as to how this blew up?

 

I think it all started with NC statement that he was not happy with progress followed by Pardew stating he should be given 18 months

 

I will try and find the links but I think you have given one

 

Here is another

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Under-pressure-Alan-Pardew-urges-Southampton-board-to-judge-him-after-18-months-article323655.html

 

By the way probably the Echo know about what has been going but they usually say that they understand a particular point

Edited 14 May, 2010 by John B

[Badger]

Date?

 

I thought that there was something alluded to earlier than that hence the questions in the Solent Interview

 

c 8th/9th Feb from recollection.

[John B]

c 8th/9th Feb from recollection.

 

After the Pompey game

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Under-pressure-Alan-Pardew-urges-Southampton-board-to-judge-him-after-18-months-article323655.html

 

So there are quotes there from Pardew

Edited 14 May, 2010 by John B

[Badger]

After the Pompey game

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Under-pressure-Alan-Pardew-urges-Southampton-board-to-judge-him-after-18-months-article323655.html

 

So there are quotes there from Pardew

 

That was the Saturday after MK Dons home leg.

 

If you remember there was a bit of a media furore over AP's programme notes saying that he had prioritised the cups due to the -10 in the league.This was a couple of days after NC had said we should be doing better in the league and that remained our focus,

[hamster]

Not as old as other links but the Echo quoted Nicola one March 13th saying that we were not doing as well as other teams who he felt we should be compared to:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/5060343.Cortese_denies_Pardew_rift/

 

Also on Feb 8th DE quted both NC and AP

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/4993892.Cortese_puts_Pardew_under_pressure/

 

 

Quote:

Cortese said owner Markus Liebherr had made a significant investment - with nearly £2m thought to have been spent on players in January alone - and the reason for that was so Saints would make the playoffs.

Cortese added that recent league results have "not been satisfactory against that objective".

When asked for his response Pardew was fairly muted.

“They’re his opinion and I can’t change that,” he said.

“If he feels they’re fair then they’re fair.

“We’re just trying to have a really successful season the best way we can,” he added.

When asked whether the timing was appropriate he commented: “I’m not questioning anything.

“It’s his prerogative.

“I’m just the manager of the football team and I’m trying to do the best job I can.

“There’s always pressure on a manager.”

Edited 14 May, 2010 by hamster

[John B]

That was the Saturday after MK Dons home leg.

 

If you remember there was a bit of a media furore over AP's programme notes saying that he had prioritised the cups due to the -10 in the league.This was a couple of days after NC had said we should be doing better in the league and that remained our focus,

 

I think the whole thing got out of hand by the refusal of the club to back Pardew since February .

 

If there were better relations between the club and the media I doubt there would be such a fuss but Solent must have misinterpreted the comments made about ML which should have been clarified.

 

Wonder how AP feels

[paris]

Yawn....

[John B]

Yawn....

 

Well start another thread then so we can discuss something else

[dubai_phil]

Not as old as other links but the Echo quoted Nicola one March 13th saying that we were not doing as well as other teams who he felt we should be compared to:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/5060343.Cortese_denies_Pardew_rift/

 

Also on Feb 8th DE quted both NC and AP

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/4993892.Cortese_puts_Pardew_under_pressure/

 

 

Quote:

Cortese said owner Markus Liebherr had made a significant investment - with nearly £2m thought to have been spent on players in January alone - and the reason for that was so Saints would make the playoffs.

Cortese added that recent league results have "not been satisfactory against that objective".

When asked for his response Pardew was fairly muted.

“They’re his opinion and I can’t change that,” he said.

“If he feels they’re fair then they’re fair.

“We’re just trying to have a really successful season the best way we can,” he added.

When asked whether the timing was appropriate he commented: “I’m not questioning anything.

“It’s his prerogative.

“I’m just the manager of the football team and I’m trying to do the best job I can.

“There’s always pressure on a manager.”

 

OK so we have a date and we have a source and we have a comment.

 

League results haven't been satisfactory.

 

At which point I call in Alps & Glasgow as evidence - were THEY happy with results at that time? IIRC many of us blamed these draws for our subsequent failure to make the playoffs

 

At that time we had

Exeter Away 1-1

Stockport H 2-0

Brentford A 1-1

Millwall A 1-1

 

So the fans weren't happy, AP post match interviews he wasn't happy and NC wasn't happy.

 

So did the "Rumours" start with selective editing of quotes by the Echo? at this time.

 

NC seems to give AP support in the Solent Interview. He doesn't over sell it but do we read too much into what is looking like his style of STFU & getting on with it?

 

Evidence so far shows the Echo may have started this with selective editing of comments OR equally NC may well have meant it.

 

Any other attributable quotes around?

 

(Oh btw Paris, wasn't after opinions just seeing if we could look into some of the details for a change, sorry I spoiled your morning)

[Rogerfryisalegend]

I remember Merrington saying Adam was a Villa fan on air a while back, so I think you can write of the closet skate part.

[Horley CTFC Saint]

Not as old as other links but the Echo quoted Nicola one March 13th saying that we were not doing as well as other teams who he felt we should be compared to:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/5060343.Cortese_denies_Pardew_rift/

 

Also on Feb 8th DE quted both NC and AP

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/4993892.Cortese_puts_Pardew_under_pressure/

 

 

Quote:

Cortese said owner Markus Liebherr had made a significant investment - with nearly £2m thought to have been spent on players in January alone - and the reason for that was so Saints would make the playoffs.

Cortese added that recent league results have "not been satisfactory against that objective".

When asked for his response Pardew was fairly muted.

“They’re his opinion and I can’t change that,” he said.

“If he feels they’re fair then they’re fair.

“We’re just trying to have a really successful season the best way we can,” he added.

When asked whether the timing was appropriate he commented: “I’m not questioning anything.

“It’s his prerogative.

“I’m just the manager of the football team and I’m trying to do the best job I can.

“There’s always pressure on a manager.”

 

Some good examples above of APs style which I often find to be quite guarded - nothing wrong with that per se however it gives the media an opportunity to read something into it whereas it maybe nothing more than the style of response he is comfortable with in interviews, etc

[hamster]

I feel that as Nicola is new to the footballing world of management he may feel that (as in the real world), publicly backing an employee is not required, which we could argue is how it should be.

 

Evidently we (fans) love speculation of any sort related to our clubs, ergo Nicola works to the 'no news is good news' philosophy and he clearly is not comfortable with publicly stating that nothing is happening.

 

just mho but I think that the echo are just doing a job, albeit not to some people's liking and the echo site is probably receiving some good hit figures currently.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

I think it all started with NC statement that he was not happy with progress followed by Pardew stating he should be given 18 months

 

I will try and find the links but I think you have given one

 

Here is another

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Under-pressure-Alan-Pardew-urges-Southampton-board-to-judge-him-after-18-months-article323655.html

 

By the way probably the Echo know about what has been going but they usually say that they understand a particular point

 

For me, in that interview, AP makes one really salient point

 

“When I came here, he said I would be judged after 18 months - and I expect to be judged after 18 months. Next year we can become a real force like Leeds have become.”

 

Which, I think, is where we pick up the 18 months timeframe. Is AP honest in that comment? I'd certainly think so and NC has not refuted it either.

 

So, with all of the fuss made by fans, ex-players and the local rag maybe NC was seeking to sack AP but had second thoughts because of the backlash, and the imminent sale of STs? He is an astute businessman, no doubt, and may have seen the knee jerk reaction of sacking AP as exactly that.

[John B]

For me, in that interview, AP makes one really salient point

 

“When I came here, he said I would be judged after 18 months - and I expect to be judged after 18 months. Next year we can become a real force like Leeds have become.”

 

Which, I think, is where we pick up the 18 months timeframe. Is AP honest in that comment? I'd certainly think so and NC has not refuted it either.

 

So, with all of the fuss made by fans, ex-players and the local rag maybe NC was seeking to sack AP but had second thoughts because of the backlash, and the imminent sale of STs? He is an astute businessman, no doubt, and may have seen the knee jerk reaction of sacking AP as exactly that.

 

If Pardew was sacked it would have been a PR disaster

[dubai_phil]

So interestingly we are seeing a possible trend here.

 

AP is well trained and experienced in media relations in the UK. His responses are carefully thought out - "Guarded".

 

We also have NC, he never actually says "He is unhappy with AP" only that he is (like us fans) unhappy at a sequence of results - which AP says the same in his post match interviews - same page, same statements.

 

What then happens is a mix of possible selective editing and interpretation and bingo we made up an AP & NC at each other's throats scenario.

 

Selective editing? One thing we are seeing is that NC uses twice as many words as I do in his comments :-)

 

Solent interview was 46 minutes long, his OS statement was slightly longer than War & Peace. The average Echo web site clip is about what 200 words? Again maybe this is where The Storm starts to feed on itself.

[dubai_phil]

If Pardew was sacked it would have been a PR disaster

 

Yes totally agree.

 

But let us look at this as "Businessmen" (ie from NC's background)

 

You run a business. You have targets and results to achieve each year (and each quarter).

 

You plan for each quarter in advance and review performance and make changes to the plan to make it work better.

 

So every manager reviews every employee. It is normal. "Are they achieving their desired output?" "Are they still with the programme"

 

Any manager worth his salt will ask "Will this employee get us where we need to be against our targets?"

 

"Is any remedial action needed, hand on the tiller, training, coaching, self improvement?"

 

What is the RISK if I replace this person and get someone new who is better? - how long to get trained and up to speed? the costs? will they really be any better?

 

At the end of that review a professional businessman (ie not the average Club Chairman) decides to minise risk.

 

Perhaps this is all NC has done with the review. He simply asked himself, then AP what they could do BETTER.

 

And we read it as AP isn't doing it and will get fired

[St Landrew]

I feel that as Nicola is new to the footballing world of management he may feel that (as in the real world), publicly backing an employee is not required, which we could argue is how it should be.

 

Evidently we (fans) love speculation of any sort related to our clubs, ergo Nicola works to the 'no news is good news' philosophy and he clearly is not comfortable with publicly stating that nothing is happening.

 

just mho but I think that the echo are just doing a job, albeit not to some people's liking and the echo site is probably receiving some good hit figures currently.

 

You realise that's far too sensible a post to be noticed and quoted on here, hamster.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

If Pardew was sacked it would have been a PR disaster

 

Indeed, as I (and later Dubai Phil) point out.

 

AP is certainly very circumspect when being interviewed. Listen to him carefully and you'll notice the odd 'umm' as he digests the question before answering. I think that, no matter how funny WGS was at interview (and we loved him for it) we were always more likely to get a tid-bit, a slip, from him than from AP. That does not necessarily mean AP has no heart for the job. Witness his comment at the Wednesday V Palace game about the red socks he wore.

 

NC maybe did waver with his heart and mind about continuing with AP, who really knows? He has now regained any composure which we may feel he had lost and has come out fighting for the club, in general, and AP in particular.

 

As to our local rag, yes they do things to sell papers but they used to sell papers anyway. We were a captive audience here in Southampton, so why were they not circumspect in an effort to not alienate the fans?

[Channon's Sideburns]

My thoughts on the whole thing have been that the source for Adam at Solent was valid - (I can't see him running it if he wasn't at least 99% sure) - and...

 

Perhaps the story was put in by NC to test the fans' reaction to the possibility of Pards leaving??

 

Conspiracy led I grant you, but it would be a good way to test opinion.

[derry]

Everybody seems to have forgotten Alan Pardew's unfortunate interview with the Guardian/Observer I think on the Sunday before, that led to Nicola Cortese responding on Radio Solent.

[dubai_phil]

Everybody seems to have forgotten Alan Pardew's unfortunate interview with the Guardian/Observer I think on the Sunday before, that led to Nicola Cortese responding on Radio Solent.

 

Hence the thread :-)

 

Any idea on dates or a link?

[yorkiesaint]

What i can't understand is NCs reaction. The medias' stock in trade is rumour and gossip from the smallest weekly rag to the newsrooms of Radio 4.

Why a guy like NC who has complete control of a big football club and doing a good job with a very wealthy backer should even bother responding to comment and speculation is beyond me.

I think he needs some media training himself. If he thinks this is bad just wait until we're back in the premiership.

 

I had the same thoughts as docker-p. NC's statement is not the type you expect from someone used to dealing with the media and speculation. He appears to fall into the trap of being drawn into the debate, rather than rising above it. I was very surprised by the content. If he has points to make to the echo or individuals then he should be making them in private. All he has to say to the fans is that he and AP are going to be working hard over the summer to ensure everything is right for next season.

 

'Needs media training' should go on his annual performance appraisal IMO.

[derry]

My thoughts on the whole thing have been that the source for Adam at Solent was valid - (I can't see him running it if he wasn't at least 99% sure) - and...

 

Perhaps the story was put in by NC to test the fans' reaction to the possibility of Pards leaving??

 

Conspiracy led I grant you, but it would be a good way to test opinion.

 

Or to set up the conditions for the meeting with Pardew, that would lead to Pardew feeling insecure and wanting to keep the job, would agree to Cortese's view for next season.

 

I still think a lot of what went on was based on how ML/NC's expectations, regarding the sort of football, they, with a European background, expected to see. There were a lot of games last season, that contained a lot of hoofball which I wouldn't have thought appealed to them. Which would explain the comments about the sort of football they want to see.

[derry]

Hence the thread :-)

 

Any idea on dates or a link?

 

Guardian website 7/2/2010 as far as I recollect.

[John B]

Guardian website 7/2/2010 as far as I recollect.

 

Try this

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/07/southampton-markus-liebherr-takeover

[derry]

Try this

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/07/southampton-markus-liebherr-takeover

 

That's the one. Cortese responded early the next morning with a statement on Solent.

[Ken Tone]

Try this

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/07/southampton-markus-liebherr-takeover

 

It says Liebherr regularly fails to attend games.

 

So he must have been unhappy for much of the season then? ;-)

 

Wonder who the look-alike is that sits in the directors' box?

 

K.

[John B]

That's the one. Cortese responded early the next morning with a statement on Solent.

 

What did he respond to

[ottery st mary]

What did he respond to

 

John would you and derry be kind enough to do a full and comprehensive report on all these matters...

 

In the meantime Inpector Frost wants to know why you two are not investigating real crime...:finga:

[John B]

John would you and derry be kind enough to do a full and comprehensive report on all these matters...

 

In the meantime Inpector Frost wants to know why you two are not investigating real crime...:finga:

 

I am just bored mate after following the election here on the Internet I am still sitting here Mrs B is due home soon so I better do something else.

 

 

However you think I should put a proposal to NC that 55% of the Forum should agree before he sacks a manager

[modern matron]

Time for us to play Detective

 

We have threads commenting on NC's statement and the Echo, but what we have not done is to try and work out how this all came about.

 

Removing opinions, can we trace the hitsory of the comments that got us to this debacle?

 

What was the story behind the non-story?

 

Is it possible to see how statements and events COULD have been mis-interpreted or Over Analysed?

 

Are there any lessons that NC should learn, and better still, are there any factual errors with which to beat up the Echo and others?

 

IIRC Adam Blackmore was to blame for starting the mess by quoting a source close to ML.

 

Now this is strange as all season ML has be conspicuous by 1) his absence from the media and 2) the lack of quotes from sources.

 

We can speculate who it could have been and why, but then much of the rest of the storm breaks.

 

NC is on media record as being UNHAPPY on 13th March. In an interview lasting 46 minutes on Solent he explains that, answers OUR questions and at no time says AP is a God OR that AP is awful. It is a simple and clear we are not happy being a long way from the playoffs type interview mirroring the views of all of us AND those AP expresses in his interviews.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565161.stm

 

So where is this NC not backing AP non-story? Do we over interpret the fact that he did not get "A Vote of Confidence" (lol at what that always means in the media)

 

Does the build up to the storm start earlier than that?

 

Did we (and the media) analyse Adam's poor interview with AP the wrong way? Could it be that behind the scenes Adam has a history of trying to leak non-stories? Is he a closet Skate?

 

Better historians and Googlers than me may be able to dig up some actual quotes and interviews and comments that could discover if there is a trend.

 

This was a media storm we have opinions (which should stay on the other threads) but can you guys find any more FACTS or links as to how this blew up?

 

What a waste of time this thread is. Is the intention just to keep on rehashing things for ever? Whatever anybody thinks only NC and AP know what the position was, is and will be in the future. More speculation is totally pointless.....

[Gorgiesaint]

Yes totally agree.

 

But let us look at this as "Businessmen" (ie from NC's background)

 

You run a business. You have targets and results to achieve each year (and each quarter).

 

You plan for each quarter in advance and review performance and make changes to the plan to make it work better.

 

So every manager reviews every employee. It is normal. "Are they achieving their desired output?" "Are they still with the programme"

 

Any manager worth his salt will ask "Will this employee get us where we need to be against our targets?"

 

"Is any remedial action needed, hand on the tiller, training, coaching, self improvement?"

 

What is the RISK if I replace this person and get someone new who is better? - how long to get trained and up to speed? the costs? will they really be any better?

 

At the end of that review a professional businessman (ie not the average Club Chairman) decides to minise risk.

 

Perhaps this is all NC has done with the review. He simply asked himself, then AP what they could do BETTER.

 

And we read it as AP isn't doing it and will get fired

 

Would agree with this.

 

I'm sure that NC is media trained - however there are significant differences between how the banking media operate & the football media - one is very aware of idle speculation and the ramifications on the industry, the other is 90% speculation and gossip. I'm sure NC would have viewed this year as a learning curve as well.

 

I would also say that its a learning curve for the fans as well - when we get to the PL, if we start jumping on every piece of gossip as we have done this season, then I reckon at least 3 forum members will spontaneously combust!! :biggrin:

[John B]

What a waste of time this thread is. Is the intention just to keep on rehashing things for ever? Whatever anybody thinks only NC and AP know what the position was, is and will be in the future. More speculation is totally pointless.....

 

It maybe pointless but it does pass the time

 

I suppose I could speculate on which players are going or which are staying but that is pretty pointless too

 

Not as pointless as speculating on which new players we are going to sign:(

[ottery st mary]

I am just bored mate after following the election here on the Internet I am still sitting here Mrs B is due home soon so I better do something else.

 

 

However you think I should put a proposal to NC that 55% of the Forum should agree before he sacks a manager

 

I have made the usual request to NC about moi and your goodself as joint managers:finga:

 

BUT blooooody derry keeps trying to muscle in with his total Brazilian/ Clifford

style total Dutch rubbish:smt096

 

Like me, I know you like a bit of umph!........Pards will have to do until Uncle Nic makes up his mind.:biggrin:

 

Mrs B was alright when she left me:-$

 

COYRs

[dubai_phil]

What a waste of time this thread is. Is the intention just to keep on rehashing things for ever? Whatever anybody thinks only NC and AP know what the position was, is and will be in the future. More speculation is totally pointless.....

 

Ah, shame you missd the point.

 

Hence the line about "Playing Detective".

 

I did mention we had other threads for speculation & opinion, I was asking if we could trace the actual interviews and history to see how this became such a mess earlier this week.

 

I did try and keep to digging

[chrisobee]

You realise that's far too sensible a post to be noticed and quoted on here, hamster.

 

Well you noticed it and I noticed that you noticed it. Conclusion is we are both far too sensible to post on here as clearly is hamster

[derry]

What did he respond to

 

The statement came 24 hours after the guardian/observer article was published.

[stmusicdude]

Time for us to play Detective

 

We have threads commenting on NC's statement and the Echo, but what we have not done is to try and work out how this all came about.

 

Removing opinions, can we trace the hitsory of the comments that got us to this debacle?

 

What was the story behind the non-story?

 

Is it possible to see how statements and events COULD have been mis-interpreted or Over Analysed?

 

Are there any lessons that NC should learn, and better still, are there any factual errors with which to beat up the Echo and others?

 

 

 

 

IIRC Adam Blackmore was to blame for starting the mess by quoting a source close to ML.

 

Now this is strange as all season ML has be conspicuous by 1) his absence from the media and 2) the lack of quotes from sources.

 

We can speculate who it could have been and why, but then much of the rest of the storm breaks.

 

NC is on media record as being UNHAPPY on 13th March. In an interview lasting 46 minutes on Solent he explains that, answers OUR questions and at no time says AP is a God OR that AP is awful. It is a simple and clear we are not happy being a long way from the playoffs type interview mirroring the views of all of us AND those AP expresses in his interviews.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565161.stm

 

So where is this NC not backing AP non-story? Do we over interpret the fact that he did not get "A Vote of Confidence" (lol at what that always means in the media)

 

Does the build up to the storm start earlier than that?

 

Did we (and the media) analyse Adam's poor interview with AP the wrong way? Could it be that behind the scenes Adam has a history of trying to leak non-stories? Is he a closet Skate?

 

Better historians and Googlers than me may be able to dig up some actual quotes and interviews and comments that could discover if there is a trend.

 

This was a media storm we have opinions (which should stay on the other threads) but can you guys find any more FACTS or links as to how this blew up?

 

 

I just listened again to interview .. Interesting I think he (NC) comes as close as he ever will to admitting that he over reacts at times