THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN (From Swindon Advertiser)

Simple really, talk about the positives and keep the upsets and negatives in the changing room, behind closed doors.

It seems PDC does like to take accolades, but not accept that every team he selects will have to take the criticism in defeat.

Only recently, he said it was the players fault and not his, all his selections are down to him.

I'm a die hard Town fan since 1961 and enjoyed all the good times, also had some woeful times as well, but I'm still at the CG week in week out.

Perhaps I am talking a load of romanticised bull***t.

If you leave out "romantcised" you certainly get what you are talking.

As a "customer" of Swindon Town, I have the right to be told why the "product" I'm buying has faults. Perhaps Paolo Di Canio is too candid for some, but I for one am happy to be informed as to why the team has failed to perform. All too often, off the field antics which affect the performance of the team on match day are swept under the carpet by managers and their boards. Would we still be scratching our heads as to why Paul Caddis, the club captain and possibly a contender for player of the season last year, was sent off to the Midlands on loan when clearly his services are more valuable to his parent club?

Malkym wrote:
Perhaps I am talking a load of romanticised bull***t. If you leave out "romantcised" you certainly get what you are talking.

Brilliant!

Much more openness required.
So, Sam, what colour grundies will you be wearing for the match today?

nosyrudeman wrote:
Simple really, talk about the positives and keep the upsets and negatives in the changing room, behind closed doors. It seems PDC does like to take accolades, but not accept that every team he selects will have to take the criticism in defeat. Only recently, he said it was the players fault and not his, all his selections are down to him. I'm a die hard Town fan since 1961 and enjoyed all the good times, also had some woeful times as well, but I'm still at the CG week in week out.

PDC has on a number of occassions shouldered the blame and when the players have won well almost always given the credit to them. I thought the recent arcticle that explained the defeat and his willingness to blame players was very revealing.
*
The one thing that gets me down is this constant search for blame, how many of us work in a blame culture? We're not going to win every game, we're going to have off days, what's essential as a manager in any walk of life is how you learn from it and how you manage a range of leadership styles to motivate. On the whole I think PDC does this well.

He doesn't just divide supporters opinion but he divides a Supporter's opinion!
---
Like most I'd like to see an element of toning down in the post match - trouble is it is 'HIM' and what you see is what you get...in addition his English is far from perfect so he uses certain words where we wouldn't as to us they have a different weight and/or meaning in the context he uses them in....we even misconstrue other's meanings on here and we've had a lifetime of speaking English....or various dialects thereof!
:-)
---
I would like to see it calmed just a tad in all honesty as I think the leeway he's been getting from the Fourth officials is about to run out - 2-3yds on to the pitch in the last 2 games is pushing his luck just a bit too much possibly.

It's Xmas Eve in the STFC workhouse. Midnight strikes as players go about preparing for the big day, the match on Wednesday against Leyton Orient. Bostock is back at Spurs because he wants to attend church on Xmas day. Si Ferry has dressed up like a walnut whip, by tanning intensively and dying his hair white. Aden Flint is still out on the lash, already winner of the 2 yards of ale contest and going for a hat trick. He is still suspended after his fifth sending of of the season. PDC has erected a camp bed at Liddigton in anticipation of the extra training session planned for 4-30 am - just punishment for losing a goal to Tranmere in their 6-1 thrashing of Tranmere on Friday night. Town are top of the league, but its just not enough. the lead is only 3 points as the season is half way over. As the clock strikes midnight, PDC in his sleep is woken by a succession of 3 ghostly images. The first ghost is called Fabio -a stern and grey figure who reminds Paulo of his strict footballing up bringing. The second is called Harry, who reminds Paolo of the value of good human relations. Then just as the clock strikes 4, the ghostly presence of the knight of the black reality visits. Paolo is all of a sudden jolted into a surge of humility and fondness for footballers past and present. He rushes to the phone to call back Caddis. He gives all players a day off. Bostock is forgiven. Flint carries on in Old Town unnoticed. Simon Ferry tweets the players, a miracle has happened. Fodders shrugs his shoulders and dreams of the Palace of teenage cheer leaders. All is well in the workhouse. STFC are gonna win the league and PDC is a legend.

Spot-on, Sam. Yes he's a breath of fresh air, and yes he's almost certain to take us into the championship, but why should that allow him to continually run down both his players and now his employers?

At times it works, but did our top scorer at the time need to be got rid of, after much slagging off, and then our captain received the same treatment. Of course both had faults, but could the real reason be that they stood up to him?

Brian Clough was one of this country's greatest managers, but he only lasted a few weeks when he went to Leeds and decided the best way to regain the club's greatness was to slag everyone off.

Like most Town fans I want Paolo to succeed here, but if the board decide enough is enough then we shouldn't be surprised.

I'm not sure whether it's deliberate openness or whether PDC just sounds off without giving it much thought. The analogies are no doubt planned in advance but I think the rest of it just comes tumbling out.
.
Anyway - question to Sam, Chris, Shaun and all the other local media boys: What about asking PDC the most important question of the moment - Why are we playing such awful football at the County Ground? Tuesday night's game was a diabolical spectacle, for which both teams must share the blame - but being outplayed on our own pitch by the likes of Macclesfield and Colchester?

ciclosporindorset wrote:
It's Xmas Eve in the STFC workhouse. Midnight strikes as players go about preparing for the big day, the match on Wednesday against Leyton Orient. Bostock is back at Spurs because he wants to attend church on Xmas day. Si Ferry has dressed up like a walnut whip, by tanning intensively and dying his hair white. Aden Flint is still out on the lash, already winner of the 2 yards of ale contest and going for a hat trick. He is still suspended after his fifth sending of of the season. PDC has erected a camp bed at Liddigton in anticipation of the extra training session planned for 4-30 am - just punishment for losing a goal to Tranmere in their 6-1 thrashing of Tranmere on Friday night. Town are top of the league, but its just not enough. the lead is only 3 points as the season is half way over. As the clock strikes midnight, PDC in his sleep is woken by a succession of 3 ghostly images. The first ghost is called Fabio -a stern and grey figure who reminds Paulo of his strict footballing up bringing. The second is called Harry, who reminds Paolo of the value of good human relations. Then just as the clock strikes 4, the ghostly presence of the knight of the black reality visits. Paolo is all of a sudden jolted into a surge of humility and fondness for footballers past and present. He rushes to the phone to call back Caddis. He gives all players a day off. Bostock is forgiven. Flint carries on in Old Town unnoticed. Simon Ferry tweets the players, a miracle has happened. Fodders shrugs his shoulders and dreams of the Palace of teenage cheer leaders. All is well in the workhouse. STFC are gonna win the league and PDC is a legend.

ha ha, very good :)

He's wrong not to take responsibility for his own mistakes. Wrong not to stand by his players. Wrong to risk the club's finances. Most of all he's wrong to think he's bigger than the club.

ciclosporindorset wrote:
It's Xmas Eve in the STFC workhouse. Midnight strikes as players go about preparing for the big day, the match on Wednesday against Leyton Orient. Bostock is back at Spurs because he wants to attend church on Xmas day. Si Ferry has dressed up like a walnut whip, by tanning intensively and dying his hair white. Aden Flint is still out on the lash, already winner of the 2 yards of ale contest and going for a hat trick. He is still suspended after his fifth sending of of the season. PDC has erected a camp bed at Liddigton in anticipation of the extra training session planned for 4-30 am - just punishment for losing a goal to Tranmere in their 6-1 thrashing of Tranmere on Friday night. Town are top of the league, but its just not enough. the lead is only 3 points as the season is half way over. As the clock strikes midnight, PDC in his sleep is woken by a succession of 3 ghostly images. The first ghost is called Fabio -a stern and grey figure who reminds Paulo of his strict footballing up bringing. The second is called Harry, who reminds Paolo of the value of good human relations. Then just as the clock strikes 4, the ghostly presence of the knight of the black reality visits. Paolo is all of a sudden jolted into a surge of humility and fondness for footballers past and present. He rushes to the phone to call back Caddis. He gives all players a day off. Bostock is forgiven. Flint carries on in Old Town unnoticed. Simon Ferry tweets the players, a miracle has happened. Fodders shrugs his shoulders and dreams of the Palace of teenage cheer leaders. All is well in the workhouse. STFC are gonna win the league and PDC is a legend.

Brillaint, the best post on here for ages... caddis' return would be a great present for us all...

swindon69 wrote:
As a "customer" of Swindon Town, I have the right to be told why the "product" I'm buying has faults. Perhaps Paolo Di Canio is too candid for some, but I for one am happy to be informed as to why the team has failed to perform. All too often, off the field antics which affect the performance of the team on match day are swept under the carpet by managers and their boards. Would we still be scratching our heads as to why Paul Caddis, the club captain and possibly a contender for player of the season last year, was sent off to the Midlands on loan when clearly his services are more valuable to his parent club?

I think you make a very good point here Swindon69 but as always there are other factors that need to be considered. When the Chairman starts to look like he might be as candid in his criticism of Paulo as Paolo is with his players, the thing starts to look a bit indisciplined.

As important to me if what effect this all has on performance and I can see why people's opinions are divided here. My view is that you do not motivate performance via public humiliation.

Oi Den! wrote:
I'm not sure whether it's deliberate openness or whether PDC just sounds off without giving it much thought. The analogies are no doubt planned in advance but I think the rest of it just comes tumbling out.
.
Anyway - question to Sam, Chris, Shaun and all the other local media boys: What about asking PDC the most important question of the moment - Why are we playing such awful football at the County Ground? Tuesday night's game was a diabolical spectacle, for which both teams must share the blame - but being outplayed on our own pitch by the likes of Macclesfield and Colchester?

I was very disappointed with the Town's 2-0 cup defeat at the hands of Macclesfield Town last Saturday, as probably most other Town Fans were, but surely we were not outplayed on the day ?
Quite often in Football the final result never reflects the game itself, and other factors like injuries, poor refereeing and sheer bad luck can sometimes affect the final result.
I know we lost against Macclesfield last week-end and good luck to them in the next round of the F.A.Cup, but never in this world were we outplayed by them.

Nothing wrong with the openess in my view. It's rather refreshing.
.
As for publicly berating individual performances, well, they are paid to provide the paying public with entertainment. When they fall short through lack of effort or commitment they deserve to hear their name in public for the wrong reasons.
.
As for PDC's post match comments, he's not saying anything different to most fans that witness the game anyway...so?
.
What I'd really like to see is an Advertiser Sports Writer that returns to a way of writing that is both informative and interesting to fans of STFC, but leaves the deliberately inflammatory headline making where it belongs....3rd rate national rags.
.
I seem to recall this current bombardement of inflammatory headlines was your way when you were last at the helm. Please drop it and focus on what it is your readers want to see in print.

I sometimes cringe at but always listen to Paolo. Much more informative than the usual cliche driven nonsense. I draw the line at his public ultimatums whether they are aimed at the board or his players individually. They will either get him dismissed or cost the club money. I welcome his honest criticism of the performance. I suspect that the code of conduct in dealing with the press is the Club's effort to curb Paolo's comments outside of direct team matters. Good luck on that one!
Sir Will said that Paolo will be judged by results. For me he will be judged by the style of play the team serves up. For the most part I have loved it but I don't want the move to long ball punts such as against Sheffield. I want the Stevenage style please. Having to listen in today so COYRs!

Old-Stager, Hilperton wrote:

Oi Den! wrote:
I'm not sure whether it's deliberate openness or whether PDC just sounds off without giving it much thought. The analogies are no doubt planned in advance but I think the rest of it just comes tumbling out.
.
Anyway - question to Sam, Chris, Shaun and all the other local media boys: What about asking PDC the most important question of the moment - Why are we playing such awful football at the County Ground? Tuesday night's game was a diabolical spectacle, for which both teams must share the blame - but being outplayed on our own pitch by the likes of Macclesfield and Colchester?

I was very disappointed with the Town's 2-0 cup defeat at the hands of Macclesfield Town last Saturday, as probably most other Town Fans were, but surely we were not outplayed on the day ?
Quite often in Football the final result never reflects the game itself, and other factors like injuries, poor refereeing and sheer bad luck can sometimes affect the final result.
I know we lost against Macclesfield last week-end and good luck to them in the next round of the F.A.Cup, but never in this world were we outplayed by them.

Fair enough OS. We all see games differently. I thought they tried more than we did to play football on the ground, and got their just reward.

Stratton Red wrote:

Malkym wrote:
Perhaps I am talking a load of romanticised bull***t. If you leave out "romantcised" you certainly get what you are talking.

Brilliant!

Far from brilliant! Miserable moany bastardo; is more like.

Good thread Sam,despite what some of the local oiks think.