David Gwilliam
Well-Known Member
This has been a summer of fanciful speculation. People have seen the change of manager as coming from the Thai sex tapes. There is absolutely no evidence for this. My speculation is better - there is very little evidence.
Some months ago Terry Robinson was replaced as Director of Football by Jon Rudkin. Looking back people concentrated on why Mr Robinson was sacked rather than why Mr Rudkin was appointed. It was claimed that Mr Robinson's signings were poor despite the performances of Cambiasso, Ulloa and to a lesser extent Simpson.
Like every one else I missed the key point. There were no other candidates interviewed. It was as though Mr Robinson was sacked in order that Mr Rudkin be appointed. It had all the ruthlessness of Michael Corleone in the Godfather movies. The phrase used about Mr Rudkin was that he had "an excellent understanding of the club’s footballing philosophy and values."
Nigel could have kept quiet but made a point of saying that the loss of Terry Robinson was "disappointing on a personal and business level." Terry Robinson was always described as "bluff" and I would guess that like Nigel believed in the traditional way of running a club." When Nigel was sacked it was said that relations had broken down and that there "were differences in perspective". This suggests that unlike Mr Rudkin he did not have "an excellent understanding of the clubs footballing philosophy and values."
My guess is that the club will now be run on a more collegial basis. Mr Shakespeare and Mr Walsh seem to be staying on. Kante seems to have originally been a Steve Walsh target.
People have argued about whether Mr Rudkin has done a good job in developing young talent. This seems to me to be irrelevant to the job of Director of Football. He will have seen at close quarters the success of O'Neill, the abject failure of Peter Taylor, the worse failure of Paulo Sousa, the sheer nastiness of Martin Allen the eccentricity of Ian Holloway and the successes of Nigel Pearson. He has been at the club through administration, relegation and promotion. He will know how a football club works.
Of course the new "footballing philosophy and values" need to be turned into football results. . Meanwhile Mr Ranieri and Mr Rudkin deserve the chance to prove themselves.
Some months ago Terry Robinson was replaced as Director of Football by Jon Rudkin. Looking back people concentrated on why Mr Robinson was sacked rather than why Mr Rudkin was appointed. It was claimed that Mr Robinson's signings were poor despite the performances of Cambiasso, Ulloa and to a lesser extent Simpson.
Like every one else I missed the key point. There were no other candidates interviewed. It was as though Mr Robinson was sacked in order that Mr Rudkin be appointed. It had all the ruthlessness of Michael Corleone in the Godfather movies. The phrase used about Mr Rudkin was that he had "an excellent understanding of the club’s footballing philosophy and values."
Nigel could have kept quiet but made a point of saying that the loss of Terry Robinson was "disappointing on a personal and business level." Terry Robinson was always described as "bluff" and I would guess that like Nigel believed in the traditional way of running a club." When Nigel was sacked it was said that relations had broken down and that there "were differences in perspective". This suggests that unlike Mr Rudkin he did not have "an excellent understanding of the clubs footballing philosophy and values."
My guess is that the club will now be run on a more collegial basis. Mr Shakespeare and Mr Walsh seem to be staying on. Kante seems to have originally been a Steve Walsh target.
People have argued about whether Mr Rudkin has done a good job in developing young talent. This seems to me to be irrelevant to the job of Director of Football. He will have seen at close quarters the success of O'Neill, the abject failure of Peter Taylor, the worse failure of Paulo Sousa, the sheer nastiness of Martin Allen the eccentricity of Ian Holloway and the successes of Nigel Pearson. He has been at the club through administration, relegation and promotion. He will know how a football club works.
Of course the new "footballing philosophy and values" need to be turned into football results. . Meanwhile Mr Ranieri and Mr Rudkin deserve the chance to prove themselves.
