C
Captain_Fishpaste
Guest
Is that the same Keane that's struggled for 2 seasons at Ipswich? I wonder what the difference is.
It's an absolute riot that you don't consider the stadium, the audience/revenue it facilitates, the training facilities, the profile, the supporting infrastructure (medical facilities, classrooms, corporate, etc), the financial position, the ownership, the pulling power, etc, etc, part of "a football club" that has to be built and sustained.
What else is there? Players? Nope - they're both transient, and the end result of all of the above anyway, so ultimately RSM gets credit there too.
You argued with me for weeks that Keane left SAFC honourably and with the best intentions, and then had to admit you were wrong. You're wrong here too. Luckily RSM understood how to build for long term success (the tortoise, to the NUFC/LUFC hare), and had the bottle to cope with the inevitable accompanying shit and shouting numpties who didn't/don't/never will.
the stadium - I have given him nothing but credit for it here.
the audience/revenue it facilitates - By the time he left the crowds were only a few thousand more than they were at Roker, literally half full (24377 v Plymouth the first weekend game after he sold). If anything, his decision to increase the capacity prematurely to a level we cannot fill has been a financially very poor one.
the training facilities - Aye, credit to him for that.
the profile - He left us a total laughing stock. 15 points etc.
the supporting infrastructure - All part of the stadium/facilities I have already credited him with.
the financial position - Around £40m of bank debt when he left. Go Bob!
the ownership - Again, credit already given.
the pulling power - Again, the by the time he left we were so utterly incapable of "pulling" a manager or any decent repute that Quinn had to take the job himself. When Peter Reid left, the likes of O'Leary who had a very good reputation back then wouldn't come anywhere near. Robbie Keane wouldn't even talk to us, Don Hutchison couldn't wait to get away and Phillips wanted away far earlier than he managed it too. Not really worth bragging about.
I really don't see the problem here. Any reasonable and objective appraisal of his Chairmanship would arrive at the conclusion that he excelled in some areas, and was found severely wanting in others. It is no real criticism. He left a legacy and looked after the future of the club when he sold. Doesn't mean we have to rewrite history and give him credit that he doesn't deserve. He did his bit. Fair play to him. Murray built faulty foundations, and Quinny had to repair them before he could build on them.
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