"Community Club"

[vulture]

Because to do so then would have meant that it would have looked like it was the Blooms taking all the decisions (an impression that DK didn't want to give).

Doing the deed now (and in the way that it happened) is DK proving that he is in charge.

100% Correct Lord B

 

[London Irish]

The chants were a symptom of a more widespread problem. Anyone who saw the reaction of the players at the end of the game on saturday and their body language and reactions at Brizzle was looking at two different teams in terms of morale and unity.

You don't think losing and winning a game makes a difference? Would you have seriously wanted the players to come over jumping around and smiling to the away end after defeat at Bristol?

 

[The Large One]

You don't think losing and winning a game makes a difference? Would you have seriously wanted the players to come over jumping around and smiling to the away end after defeat at Bristol?

You know that's not what he's saying.

 

[Les Biehn]

LI what would you think if Wilkins was given the job? You don't appear keen on it and already you appear to be unsure having questioned whether he can get the team to play decent football.

 

[London Irish]

You know that's not what he's saying.

He seemed to be talking about players' reactions at the end of the game. I was at Rotherham and I saw some pretty delighted players there too at the end of the match. If that now has to be erased from our history and memories, fair enough.

 

[Dandyman]

He seemed to be talking about players' reactions at the end of the game. I was at Rotherham and I saw some pretty delighted players there too at the end of the match. If that now has to be erased from our history and memories, fair enough.

I have been at all the away games. As TLO has indicated, what I am talking about is the degree to which the players looked like an united team ready to take on anyone. IMO that is a change from before.

 

[London Irish]

I have been at all the away games. As TLO has indicated, what I am talking about is the degree to which the players looked like an united team ready to take on anyone. IMO that is a change from before.

Perhaps, but you do wonder how much that is that down to McGhee (and Dick Knight) doing the very dirty and thankless job of getting rid of the uncontrollable egotists.

 

[Dandyman]

Perhaps, but you do wonder how much that is that down to McGhee (and Dick Knight) doing the very dirty and thankless job of getting rid of the uncontrollable egotists.

I think it was to MM's credit that he got rid of Leon Knight and I do not have the personal antagonism to MM that some did. That said it was obvious to me that he had lost control of events and IMO the team as well.

Although I can have sympathy on a human level for McGhee (just I can for someone who is dismissed at my work) the cathartic effect of his dismissal seems obvious as does the extent to which the younger players seem to want to repay Deano for his development and support of them.

 

[London Irish]

the cathartic effect of his dismissal seems obvious as does the extent to which the younger players seem to want to repay Deano for his development and support of them.

The young players brought up through the club have generally been a delight to manage for years, and credit to that must go to the youth set-up led by Hinshelwood and Wilkins.

Thought it was telling that Dick Knight took no chances in seeing if the "cathartic effect" could turn round CKR though

 

[Brovion]

I think you're being way too harsh and daftly oversensitive on a comment which I took to be a very admirable way of reminding people that a chairman who came out of the Dark Days still feels a strong need to be accountable to the normal fans ranks from which he came.

I'd suggest that most chairmen are happy to ignore the fans. But because of the unique circumstances of DK taking over, he can't and won't do that. Good.

Hmm. I can see why you think that and obviously it's great that DK 'listens to the fans'.

But I still don't like the fact he's hiding the 'real' reason(s) for sacking McGhee (add 'paranoid' to 'daftly oversensitive'). If he'd said "I couldn't stand the way he couldn't get on with players, played people out of position, had baffling tactics, couldn't convince anyone to come here and destroyed the team spirit built up by Adams et al." then I'd be more sympathetic. As it is it sounds pretty much like "I sacked him because Attila told me to and some people booed him" which of course is a crap reason.

"Not in my name" as they say. If you wanted McGhee out then you're probably quite chuffed that 'fan power' has won the day.

 

[The Large One]

Hmm. I can see why you think that and obviously it's great that DK 'listens to the fans'.

But I still don't like the fact he's hiding the 'real' reason(s) for sacking McGhee (add 'paranoid' to 'daftly oversensitive'). If he'd said "I couldn't stand the way he couldn't get on with players, played people out of position, had baffling tactics, couldn't convince anyone to come here and destroyed the team spirit built up by Adams et al." then I'd be more sympathetic. As it is it sounds pretty much like "I sacked him because Attila told me to and some people booed him" which of course is a crap reason.

"Not in my name" as they say. If you wanted McGhee out then you're probably quite chuffed that 'fan power' has won the day.

Yeah, Dick - why didn't you kick McGhee while he was down? Bloody lightweight.

 

[Turkey]

As far am I'm concerned Knight's let himself down. I've always had a lot of respect for him, and I still do, but I think the reasons behind sacking McGhee are a joke having supported him in the summer.

 

[Sid James]

As far am I'm concerned Knight's let himself down. I've always had a lot of respect for him, and I still do, but I think the reasons behind sacking McGhee are a joke having supported him in the summer.

For me this is absolutely the crux of this matter, doing it now just looks plain silly.

 

[BensGrandad]

Because to do so then would have meant that it would have looked like it was the Blooms taking all the decisions (an impression that DK didn't want to give).

Doing the deed now (and in the way that it happened) is DK proving that he is in charge.

I cannot understand your logic Lord B IMHO doing it now proves the exact opposite to what you suggest and that it was a panic decision to fend off problems from the directors who wanted to sack MM in the summer.

I believe that he thought that the Blooms and Derek Chapman would use the same argument, that MM had lost the supporters, and would have demanded that DK take action.

 

[The Large One]

Why are people so concerned with the petty minutiae of whether Knight supported him or not, or what the timing was or what he said four months previously when the situation was not the same as now or anything. The point is, and it will always be the main point, Knight has taken the decision for what he feels is the benefit of the club as a whole, not for ego or for power or for spite, but for the club as a whole. If something needs doing, the you go and do it. Simple really. And the club needed a kick up the backside/shot in the arm, basically.

It's not as though he's the first chairman to give a manager the dreaded vote of confidence and perform a volte-face later, and he won't be the last.

 

[The Large One]

I cannot understand your logic Lord B IMHO doing it now proves the exact opposite to what you suggest and that it was a panic decision to fend off problems from the directors who wanted to sack MM in the summer.

LB didn't say anything of the sort.

Oh, and your opinions are rarely humble.

 

[BensGrandad]

LB didn't say anything of the sort.

Oh, and your opinions are rarely humble.

Please explain what didnt Lord B say that I have misquoted him on

 

[The Large One]

You said that he said Dick Knight panicked, whereas it's you that has implied panic...

Simple mathematics show that DK does not have sufficient shares to exert total control of the club himself, something he has always advocated, there fore to pass any resolution he has to enlist the assistance of people with more shares to achieve an overall control.

I am suggesting that by the timing of this sacking he has, in my opinion jumped in and made a move before any 2, 3, or 4 of the other directors could side against him and thus force his hand, to do what they wanted originally sack MM....

Individually there are 2 or 3 directors who have sufficent individual wealth to take control if and when the time is right and to keep control and remain as Chairman DK has to pamper to their needs somewhat.

I believe the decision is the right one but taken at the wrong time should have been 2 months ago or in 1 months time.

 

[BensGrandad]

You said that he said Dick Knight panicked, whereas it's you that has implied panic...

Lord B suggested that he made the move to show that he, DK , was still in charge. I have just disagreed with his reasoning and suggested that he has made the move to avoid being told to sack him by the other 3 directors, who it must be said wanted him sacked preseason and who between them hold more power than DK on his own.

Where have I quoted Lord B as saying DK paniced I believe that you have misread my post.

 

[The Large One]

Lord B suggested that he made the move to show that he, DK , was still in charge. I have just disagreed with his reasoning and suggested that he has made the move to avoid being told to sack him by the other 3 directors, who it must be said wanted him sacked preseason and who between them hold more power than DK on his own.

You imply that Chapman and the Blooms ganged up on Dick Knight to force this issue through, and they still will now. Do you know of a boardroom coup in the offing if Dick didn't sack McGhee now? Were they going to try and oust Dick? No, you don't know, and nor do I. However, as Lord Bracknell said, the Blooms and Chapman accepted the terms for McGhee continuance back in the summer. Got it? ACCEPTED.

So... as we have seen, Dick DIDN'T sack McGhee when orginally 'asked' to. He sacked him (assuming that was the case) when he was ready, not when the other directors 'told him to'.

Could you tell us therefore what happened in the boardroom last week which was different to what was agreed in the summer which forced Dick Knight to sack McGhee? What was it that so panicked him?