Good Guy/Bad Guy

[Oaksey Moonraker]

I do wonder how Paolo will be perceived in the future when more time has passed and some of raw emotion has gone. How will he compare with our 'greatest managers'.

He certainly revitalised the club and generated interest, enthusiam and passion. He had the opportunity to acheive something only Lou Macari managed i.e. a double promotion but has walked out on that.

Lets not forget that Macari took us from nowhere in Div 4 to the Div 2 (Championship play offs in new money) in 5 years without spending huge amounts of cash and built a team that Ardiles and Hoddle benefiited from. In the modern game it would be difficult to replicate and hold onto players such as Calderwood, Digby, Bodin et al.

Paolo won a title but did so with a lot of financial backing, as did a certain Steve McMahon and he took us to top of the next league in October 1997. McMahon's stock with the fans was high after 1995/96 but it did start to go wrong after selling fans favourites and stating he needed to replace players after bad performances.

Hoddle led us to a promotion to the Premier League 20 years ago this season. He effectively made his mind up not to stay and that Swindon lacked ambition when they sold Kerslake for financial reasons on deadline day. However, he held out to the end of the season and took us to the highest we have ever been. Hoddle took a lot of stick, Judas chants when Chelsea came in December 1993, but when compared with Paolo's departure it look dignified and Hoddle was England Manager in 3 years.

I wonder if Paolo had decided to stay what he could have achieved? Would he done a Macari, would it have fallen apart in anger and fractured relationships like McMahon or would be have taken a big job when it came like Hoddle?

[GoSWINDON]

I do wonder how Paolo will be perceived in the future when more time has passed and some of raw emotion has gone. How will he compare with our 'greatest managers'.

He certainly revitalised the club and generated interest, enthusiam and passion. He had the opportunity to acheive something only Lou Macari managed i.e. a double promotion but has walked out on that.

Lets not forget that Macari took us from nowhere in Div 4 to the Div 2 (Championship play offs in new money) in 5 years without spending huge amounts of cash and built a team that Ardiles and Hoddle benefiited from. In the modern game it would be difficult to replicate and hold onto players such as Calderwood, Digby, Bodin et al.

Paolo won a title but did so with a lot of financial backing, as did a certain Steve McMahon and he took us to top of the next league in October 1997. McMahon's stock with the fans was high after 1995/96 but it did start to go wrong after selling fans favourites and stating he needed to replace players after bad performances.

Hoddle led us to a promotion to the Premier League 20 years ago this season. He effectively made his mind up not to stay and that Swindon lacked ambition when they sold Kerslake for financial reasons on deadline day. However, he held out to the end of the season and took us to the highest we have ever been. Hoddle took a lot of stick, Judas chants when Chelsea came in December 1993, but when compared with Paolo's departure it look dignified and Hoddle was England Manager in 3 years.

I wonder if Paolo had decided to stay what he could have achieved? Would he done a Macari, would it have fallen apart in anger and fractured relationships like McMahon or would be have taken a big job when it came like Hoddle?

we will never know ( apart from he would of left when a bigger job came along like Hoddle )

[jonah]

Black disappointed me the way he "could" have put us into meltdown with administration and selling all of our assets.

Paolo was god in my eyes (yes biased and blinkered view). It just still feels a massive void. The last 18 months have just been fantastic and "Swindon experience" just tells me that now we go down hill. Of course I hope not. I guess that the last 18 months have just been one of the all time highs.

Having met PDC a few times (feel very lucky) and talking STFC he is just one amazing character.

One story to share was his view on Stevenage (When they were near the top of the league and we still had to play them). He shared a discussion on them, questioning their players habits, they were trying to organise a players party. He seemed to know a lot about them. He was scathing. They will fall, wait and see, Oliver (Risser) hates it there, I want to play them now, today...........Few weeks later 4-0 and they start to fall.
Coincidence but a few chats I have had just have a bad habit of actually happening.

He wanted STFC to follow Brighton and Southampton.......He was impressed by their Clubs building blocks and ideas for sustainability. He wanted this for Swindon.

He openly admited he made made mistakes and has learnt from them.......
I have never met anyone who can talk like him and get so excited and passionate about football.
It must be a very quiet place now he has left the building.

Onwards and Upwards though, but still missing the era. Of course in time it will pass.

I like this.

Have to admit that I feel deflated about it all now. When PDC was here I looked forward to both the match and the shenanigans going on around PDC. The man was (is) a diva! Couldn't wait to hear what he'd been up to and have a chuckle at his mad behaviour.

I don't care that other clubs hate us seemingly because of PDC - fuck 'em - I am only interested in all things Town.
I'm sure I'll get over it but I just feel that the spark has left the club - everything is a bit more mundane and 'ordinary' already.

The reason I particularly enjoyed supporting Town under PDC was because it was all a bit surreal - Champions, Wembley final, beating higher division opposition and coming to expect to beat all-comers - and PDC himself the mad genius. I for one will miss his influence and I have him down as one of my favourite managers alongside Macari, Ardiles and Hoddle......

[jonny72]

Black disappointed me the way he "could" have put us into meltdown with administration and selling all of our assets.

Paolo was god in my eyes (yes biased and blinkered view). It just still feels a massive void. The last 18 months have just been fantastic and "Swindon experience" just tells me that now we go down hill. Of course I hope not. I guess that the last 18 months have just been one of the all time highs.

It's not fair on Black for him to be singled out for criticism over this, which a lot of people are doing. Firstly, he was forced in to pulling the plug financially due to Paolo repeatedly spending the budget and then demanding more money to spend. Secondly, the threat of administration was used to force Fitton in to writing off his loan so the club could be sold debt free.

Paolo wouldn't have been at the club in the first place, let alone achieve what he did if Black wasn't bankrolling it.

[GoSWINDON]

It's not fair on Black for him to be singled out for criticism over this, which a lot of people are doing. Firstly, he was forced in to pulling the plug financially due to Paolo repeatedly spending the budget and then demanding more money to spend. Secondly, the threat of administration was used to force Fitton in to writing off his loan so the club could be sold debt free.

Paolo wouldn't have been at the club in the first place, let alone achieve what he did if Black wasn't bankrolling it.

I would hope the majority of us are very appreciative of what Black did for STFC , but he should of had the bollocks to stand up to Paolo if he wasnt happy with what was being spent , he would of had a much better argument if PDC  had threw a hissy fit and walked because he stopped him spending rather than him threatening us with bankruptcy.

[jonny72]

he would of had a much better argument if PDC  had threw a hissy fit and walked because he stopped him spending

Except Black asserting more control (replacing Wray) and refusing to fund any more spending was the main reason he threw a hissy fit and walked.

rather than him threatening us with bankruptcy.

He didn't. He put more money in during January and authorised the Ritchie sale to avoid any financial problems. Nothing to suggest the administration threat was anything more than a message to Fitton about what would happen if he didn't back down.

[cheltred69]

Paolo's positive attributes are many, particularly the discipline, passion, graft and attention to detail.  No doubt he has achieved all that could be expected and more, and for the fan base it has been a great ride.
But he has been working with more resources than can be sustained so when Black wasn't prepared to bankroll the push any longer, the only options were to work with what is available or quit. In choosing to quit he has left himself open to questions of whether he can deliver when not being allowed to have everything he asks for.
His undermining the youth set-up, I put down to him wanting control of that aspect of the club; as he was kept away from them he can't have caused any lasting damage there.
It seems that Black was over-trusting of JW and wasn't as close to the overspending as he should have been; it's understandable that he decided he wanted out rather than to get involved in arguments about controlling budgets.

[GoSWINDON]

Except Black asserting more control (replacing Wray) and refusing to fund any more spending was the main reason he threw a hissy fit and walked.

He didn't. He put more money in during January and authorised the Ritchie sale to avoid any financial problems. Nothing to suggest the administration threat was anything more than a message to Fitton about what would happen if he didn't back down.

Im not going to argue about  Andrew Black because he helped us when we needed it most , but im sure there are things that could of been done differently on both sides to have avoided all of this mess .

[Mister Lorenzo]

I like this.

Have to admit that I feel deflated about it all now. When PDC was here I looked forward to both the match and the shenanigans going on around PDC. The man was (is) a diva! Couldn't wait to hear what he'd been up to and have a chuckle at his mad behaviour.

I don't care that other clubs hate us seemingly because of PDC - fuck 'em - I am only interested in all things Town.
I'm sure I'll get over it but I just feel that the spark has left the club - everything is a bit more mundane and 'ordinary' already.

The reason I particularly enjoyed supporting Town under PDC was because it was all a bit surreal - Champions, Wembley final, beating higher division opposition and coming to expect to beat all-comers - and PDC himself the mad genius. I for one will miss his influence and I have him down as one of my favourite managers alongside Macari, Ardiles and Hoddle......

That is exactly how I feel, but put a lot more eloquently than I could.
Whoever comes in as manager is going to feel like a backwards step to me, and I can't see anyone continuing with the passion or feel good factor that Di Canio brought to the club.

Yes, it may have felt like a circus at times, but it was our circus, and can you honestly think of anyone else who would run 50 yards to celebrate with the players like he did at Northampton last year, or coming on to the pitch at Oxford to take the piss out of them, that made a defeat feel like a win??
No, nor can I, and I honestly believe that we will struggle to replace him...

[pauld]

can you honestly think of anyone else who would run 50 yards to celebrate with the players like he did at Northampton last year

Well, there's David Pleat for a start. Maybe we should see if he'd be prepared to set aside his media commitments for a while?

[TheDukeOfBanbury]

I have to say Black could have and should have said no. Worrying that quote from Black  "I only met him a handful of times."
I guess he trusted messr's Wray and to a much lesser degree Watkins.
One other point (I know sounds obvious but this was fact) it became apparent that both above were in a complete trance over PDC and were sucked in by everything he did. I won't go into detail but I saw this first hand.

Again having spent time with PDC I have to say he is very insecure a little nervous and this is hidden by that positive and "hyper" personality. He is a guy that wants to be loved but very irrational and will do things off the cuff. His playing career simply follows these characteristics.

I believe what has been posted on this thread he called the new owners bluff and it backfired.
I was hoping he would come back but agree again I don't think it will happen. (I would love it to).

Another interesting observation I picked up on a few concerns and rumblings that not all was good as far back as late October. It appears then it started to slide and was PDC against the World. You just get the impression that he liked controversy and confrontation.

A statement will definitely follow when the dust has settled from PDC. He won't go quietly for sure and will make a statement (his version) of the events. Bound to want to leave the Supporters no doubt of his reasons why he went and he will want to thank those "amazing" Supporters.

[RedRag]

Well, there's David Pleat for a start. Maybe we should see if he'd be prepared to set aside his media commitments for a while?

I know you're not PDCs greatest fan but stooping to comparing him to David Pleat, now that is low