Garry Cook [merged]

[ronk]

THAT PIECE OF SHITE IN THE MuEN DISGUSTS ME.
Though I do think it contains some relevent questions, I really don't believe that they give a fuck about the answers. They have dug up every bity of negativity they can find to attack Cook and target our club.
My inner feelings tell me that whatever Cook may or may not have done..it is time to corcle the wagons and get behind him in defence of our club.

I do not think it is any coincidence that our local paper is battering City and putting our club's good name under siege when there is a much bigger story they could and should be investigating...but are totally ignoring.....The state of affairs at the swamp.
I think they are targetting us in order to ease the pressure on the rags.

DISGUSTING...AND NOT THE 1ST TIME THIS PAPER HAS ATTACKED US TO SHIELD THE RAGS.

Agree about that piece. Do they honestly expect them to answer questions involving targets and strategy? Or to say whether they plan to change managers again??? As for question 8 well. Why did we sign Robinho for a record fee - BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE COST YOU STUPID MUNCHENMUPPETS!!

That was my instinct. Really poor stuff to come out with from a so called newspaper.

Anyone here who tried that would be laughed at. It's not even 12 actual questions with so many double questions. They're phrased in a way that doesn't invite an answer, it's just a bitter rant stuck in cloud cuckoo land.

Are you going to sell to Robinho to Barcelona next week, FFS. How can anyone maintain credibility while attacking Cook for mishandling the media and asking such a stupid question at the same time. If he actually said yes (disintegrating his negotiating position) then there'd actually be something real to be pissed of with him about.

[Spurge]

The reason why the press, and others high up in footballing circles, hate Gary Cook is exactly the reason why we as fans should appreciate what Cook has done for the club.

He breaks the mould in that he would rather socialise with the fans of the club than have luncheons with the press, and this worries people not least Chief Execs of other football clubs who still see the fans as customers rather than friends.

I could harp on about all the times that I have met Gary and to a point socialised with him, although I wouldn,t go so far to call him a mate, I would definately call him a friend. Got closer to Gary in one season than I ever did to Alistair Mackintosh in all the time he was there. And with the arrival of the new owners came the breaking down of other barriers. I kind of label Gary as an exciteable school kid, he is as excited by what is happening at our club as we are, and although he may well be a Birmingham City fan his loyalties are without doubt fully behind the club. Some of the stuff he came out with regarding the Tevez poster was pure class.

You've only got to look at his walkabouts with fans during last seasons Uefa cup run, and buying of drinks etc, the handling of the fans during the South Africa Tour, and the 5 Star BBQ that was laid on for the fans in Abu Dhabi. How many other clubs Chief Execs would go to such lengths, and how much did you see written in thed press about it, practically bugger all. It was the same during the Banana craze following the fancy dress day at Stoke, there was bugger all in the press about that. You see the press don't like good things happening with the fans in football. Because they believe they have carte blanche to all things good, and they see themselves as vastly superior to football fans, especially working class football fans.

Personally think that he handled the Kaka and Eto deals reasonably well from what I have gleemed since, it was his way of saying we aren't going to be fucked around and believe me people were trying to fuck us about. OK he's made a couple of gaffs, again it was just his little joke that wasn't quite as appropriate as he thought, but we've all made hundreds of those in our life time. Haven't we?

I would just urge people not to make too hasty a judgement on Gary in light of recent events. I try not to judge people without having met them but I appreciate that in the current climate of open media this is difficult. He really is fully behind the best interests of the club.

Keep the faith Blues.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all.

Kippax.

.

Would it be fair to say that your view of Cook is slightly clouded because he is your pal?

It's great that he gives those fortunate enough to be able to travel the world free shirts, BBQs, etc but my problem with him is the way he conducts himself in front of the world's press.

Maybe he is very good at other aspects of his job, as you have pointed out he is good with the fans who travel abroad and I am sure this is appreciated by everybody, but I think he needs to hand over the dealing with press to somebody less aggresive in their manner. He is damaging the public's view of our club with his little outbursts.

Tut!Tut! KK.

You are surely better than that, using the word Pal, kind of makes you as bad as the press. I deliberately steered away from using the word mate, and then you come in and call us pals. Tsk! Tsk! But in answer to your question then I suppose my judgement of him is biased, because I have met him and spoken to him on several occasions and to be fair I have to say I like him.

Your second point quite frankly astounds me. At what point did we all suddenly become concerned as to how we are portrayed in the Press, can someone please enlighten me. Quite honestly I don't give a flying fuck how we are portrayed in the press. Ok, granted it's nice to be liked but it's not the end of the world. I want fans to come and follow us because we are Manchester City FC, not because we seem like a pretty decent club and the press really seem to like us, who gives a fuck? Did anyone of us on this board start supporting our bewloved Blues, because they were really well portrayed by the worlds media. For fucks sake get a grip.


.

I wish you were right in that it doesn't matter about the how the press portray us, the reality, sadly, is that this is important - perhaps not to die hard City fans, and lets face it you qualify on more counts than most here Kippax, but to football clubs in general it's as much about (and I hate using this word when talking football) the brand than ever before.

Lets face it 'brand integrity' is vitally important to our new owners, Manchester City FC is much more than just a football club to them, it's about conecting with it's audience on a global scale leading to a whole host of business opportunities and increased wealth. Damage to the brand can have a significant impact in this respect and they can be less than pleased with how things have unfolded over the last few days. Gary Cook has a very difficult job, not just engaging with the real fans but on a much wider level here in terms of protecting the brand on a very public level accross the world on behalf of the owners - i guess his nike experience should be particularly relevant here.

There is a much wider agenda than Manchester City FC for our owners and the people they employ.

Whilst it's good to see that Gary Cook has left a positive impression on Kippax, my view is that I don't like him very much, but i don't like the people in this sort of role very much anyway. He will undoubtedly have to be ruthless, not the sort of person you could trust easily and it would never surprise me if he was patting Hughes on the back and reassuring him whilst at the same time discussing a time frame for his replacment with the chariman and owners - I just don't like that sort of thing. All total supposition on my part of course without any hard evidence to back it up. But you just have to ask yourself - does this happen in football or business in general? Yes, all the time! If this makes me a bit soft, fair enough, I see it as more about morals than anything else so therefore I probably haven't 'got on' career wise as much as I could have.

A cracking film is 'The Club' an Austrailian film about the comings and goings, political back stabbing and in house fighting between board members, the coach and playing staff at Collingwood Football Club . This film is a work of genius and very funny, my favourite film in fact. I think it was made in the 70's and was actually originally (and still is) performed as a play across Austrailia- Perhaps Dazby or one of our other Aussie posters could confirm. This film constantly springs to mind where our football club is concenred and none of the board members have the interest of the club above their own interests, which I think sums things up perfectly.

I'll continue to support City as I have for the last 35 years, but don't like whats happended to the game even if it is about to bring success on the field for City. Having said that I've been a fan for long enough to know ony too well that nothing is guranteed where City is concenred and if the brand is deemed to be damaged beyond repair we will be dropped like a stone and our owners will start again with something else.

As for Mr Cook? He'll have forgotten about the real fans and moved quickly on to the next project - and why not?

[Socrates]

I'd most definitely prefer it if Cook stuck to socialising with the fans and never went anywhere near the media again...

[mcfc1632]

Simply unable to understand ANYBODY suggesting we should do ANYTHING to pamper those twised lying rag biased fuckers in the press - especially MUEN, Henry Winter and the toe-rags in the Sun and Mirror

Well done Mr Cook for stating clearly that Milan were bottlers - when they were lying at our expense - the fact is they bottled it

Wish you were more polished Mr Cook - but do not bend the knee to these scum sycophants

Get a grip CITY fans - circle the wagons and get behind your club - rather that be so fucking gullible as to be led by the nose by the rag media - FFS some on here do their job for them

[Slim]

A cracking film is 'The Club' an Austrailian film about the comings and goings, political back stabbing and in house fighting between board members, the coach and playing staff at Collingwood Football Club . This film is a work of genius and very funny, my favourite film in fact. I think it was made in the 70's and was actually originally (and still is) performed as a play across Austrailia- Perhaps Dazby or one of our other Aussie posters could confirm. This film constantly springs to mind where our football club is concenred and none of the board members have the interest of the club above their own interests, which I think sums things up perfectly.

The Club was a play originally and turned into a movie starring Jack Thompson, legend of Australian cinema and top guy too. The play was revived recently and stars John Wood, if you have seen Blue Heelers, you should know him as the police captain and played a judge in another long running series, can't rememeber the name. Great actor as well and I haven't seen the play yet, but not sure if it made it this far west. Rafferty's Rules, that was the show, good show...shame aussie television has all but died off.(With the exception of shows with stars, idol and model in the title.)

[dazby]

A cracking film is 'The Club' an Austrailian film about the comings and goings, political back stabbing and in house fighting between board members, the coach and playing staff at Collingwood Football Club . This film is a work of genius and very funny, my favourite film in fact. I think it was made in the 70's and was actually originally (and still is) performed as a play across Austrailia- Perhaps Dazby or one of our other Aussie posters could confirm. This film constantly springs to mind where our football club is concenred and none of the board members have the interest of the club above their own interests, which I think sums things up perfectly.

The Club was a play originally and turned into a movie starring Jack Thompson, legend of Australian cinema and top guy too. The play was revived recently and stars John Wood, if you have seen Blue Heelers, you should know him as the police captain and played a judge in another long running series, can't rememeber the name. Great actor as well and I haven't seen the play yet, but not sure if it made it this far west. Rafferty's Rules, that was the show, good show...shame aussie television has all but died off.(With the exception of shows with stars, idol and model in the title.)

Strange that this should be mentioned as I actually saw that production. It's a very funny play and well worth checking out if ever you get the chance. Yes it deals with an Australian Rules club but it could be any sport administration really.

[cleveleysblue]

This man clearly does not have a clue. Got rid of Richard Dunne because city shirts with his name abroad would not sell. He wants the big names at city failed with KaKa. I hope he gets sacked sooner than later hes giving us a bad image after the sacking of Sparky. Whats more up his sleeve increase in ticket prices shirts going up to £45.00. Until this baboon has gone iam just going to watch city on the telly because i don't want to part with hard earned cash going to him at the end of the day. Finally when we get sorted him out i will get a season card.
This man is a compulsive liar, who does not care about the fans more his back pocket.
Cook Out Cook Out Cook Out

[King Kev]

This man clearly does not have a clue. Got rid of Richard Dunne because city shirts with his name abroad would not sell. He wants the big names at city failed with KaKa. I hope he gets sacked sooner than later hes giving us a bad image after the sacking of Sparky. Whats more up his sleeve increase in ticket prices shirts going up to £45.00. Until this baboon has gone iam just going to watch city on the telly because i don't want to part with hard earned cash going to him at the end of the day. Finally when we get sorted him out i will get a season card.
This man is a compulsive liar, who does not care about the fans more his back pocket.
Cook Out Cook Out Cook Out

Ha ha, I hope you've got your tin hat on mate!

[john@staustell]

This man clearly does not have a clue. Got rid of Richard Dunne because city shirts with his name abroad would not sell. He wants the big names at city failed with KaKa. I hope he gets sacked sooner than later hes giving us a bad image after the sacking of Sparky. Whats more up his sleeve increase in ticket prices shirts going up to £45.00. Until this baboon has gone iam just going to watch city on the telly because i don't want to part with hard earned cash going to him at the end of the day. Finally when we get sorted him out i will get a season card.
This man is a compulsive liar, who does not care about the fans more his back pocket.
Cook Out Cook Out Cook Out

I fail to see how you can let an office worker affect your support of our players and team, whether he's any good or not. And what's with this 'Spa**y' business?

[City1970]

Cook obviously knows his stuff away from the press. As Kippax said he may of said the wrong thing about Kaka, but it was obvious to everyone on here, it was turning into a long running joke about signing the fella. He clearly didnt want to come here, and AC Milan used us for a bit of publicity I think.

OK he said some things at the mancini unvelling, but I think it was more a case of wires being crossed than Cook actually lying. What would be the point, he would soon be found out if he had lied.

Maybe he needs to keep out of the imelight so much, and get a professional in to do the conferences, until there is a time when he can speak without putting his foot in it.

[edge275]

I thought Khaldoon would've represented us better but I still think Cook did well in the circumstances.

[saulman]

Here's what I reckon happened.

Mancini met up with Khaldoon and Mansour a few weeks ago. He said "Are you fuckin mad or what? Why have you got that idiot still in charge, only getting you 1 point per game? Don't you know that's fuckin rubbish? Look at me, I won 7 trophies in 4 seasons. Give me that squad and you'll get your £200 million worth. You won't see me sitting Robby on the bench, that's just something a pig-headed, blinkered, can't-handle-decent-players dip-shit would do. I'll work for you. Give me the job and you'll finish top 4."

Khaldoon phones up Cook and says "errrr, we've had a change of plan. Deal with it will you."