Cook is a clever guy and given a lot of unfair stick!

[bizzbo]

cobblers, mr toeast. the press would marmalise anyone who said that.

first follow up question:

'Are you seriously saying that going behind Mark's back and sounding out other people to take his job was respectful?'

'so if sheik mansour had agreed with someone else that they'd take your job when this press conference is over, you'd be okay with that'

and from there on, downwards.

headline:

'City's hypocrisy knows no bounds' etc etc

it was bad. it was worse than it had to be, but it could have been much worse.

 

[tommytheblue]

i suggest the club hire someone with PR nous. If there was someone at the club who was able enough they should of coordinated this in a far better manner! Cook may well be a very good marketing man, but it doesn't mean he can do PR.

I don't believe Cook should of done the conference. He should of been out earlier at the club to make his statement, (which would be rehearsed) So he can set the record straight!

Mancini then should be accompanied by PR man and possibly kidd. To field questions about football, rather than feeling the wrath of the hypocrite hacks

It's clear cook is a nightmare when it comes to public affairs, so limit him to restricted statements.

 

[slbsn]

I was pretty unimpressed with Cook's credentials when he took over and he hasn't let me down. I thought it was hilarious that our own website highlighted the criticism in the press today. It should, once again, have been so simple. Like with Kaka, you prepare a perfectly drafted statement and follow that line and say nothing more.

The owners did nothing wrong really. Having invested heavily they wanted a new manager - that is their prerogative. All that was wrong with the management of the newsflow. They should have denied and continued to deny until Sunday afternoon and then announced it. All they had to say was, Hughes has done a good job but we didn't feel the progress was sufficient given the quality of the playing staff and the spend. We wish Hughes well in the future. Instead we have Cook debating the league position of teams that have got 70 points in the past, the meaning of "trajectory" and allowing himself to be drawn and dug deeper into relationship issues with the press. Its just embarrassing and unfortunately does matter because it sets the whole scene around a club. Nothing three wins on the bounce wont fix but the pressure is on.

Lets be clear, we'd all be moaning like hell if they hadn't got a man signed up before giving Hughes the boot. That's life and happens in any high paid role.

How ironic that right now those same owners have a top headhunter engaged to find Cook's replacement behind his back. The lead in time will be lengthy (as most businesses will hold an executive to a period of "gardening leave") but I am certain the search is on. There is simply no way the Arabs would put up with Cooks embarrassing "communication" errors. Like Hughes, the investment on the non-playing side has been significant and I'm sure that they will feel the progress in business and image terms has been unimpressive. He's not "their man" and that will also be key. And expect a new press team too - one that isn't allowed to be on holiday on the day of such a major announcement (according to one of the podcasts one of the two in the press office wasn't even around on Saturday - ludicrous planning).

 

[Xavvi]

Cook is certainly a clever man but intelligence doesn't equal wisdom and as we have seen, he is not a wise man at all.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I was pretty unimpressed with Cook's credentials when he took over and he hasn't let me down. I thought it was hilarious that our own website highlighted the criticism in the press today. It should, once again, have been so simple. Like with Kaka, you prepare a perfectly drafted statement and follow that line and say nothing more.

The owners did nothing wrong really. Having invested heavily they wanted a new manager - that is their prerogative. All that was wrong with the management of the newsflow. They should have denied and continued to deny until Sunday afternoon and then announced it. All they had to say was, Hughes has done a good job but we didn't feel the progress was sufficient given the quality of the playing staff and the spend. We wish Hughes well in the future. Instead we have Cook debating the league position of teams that have got 70 points in the past, the meaning of "trajectory" and allowing himself to be drawn and dug deeper into relationship issues with the press. Its just embarrassing and unfortunately does matter because it sets the whole scene around a club. Nothing three wins on the bounce wont fix but the pressure is on.

Lets be clear, we'd all be moaning like hell if they hadn't got a man signed up before giving Hughes the boot. That's life and happens in any high paid role.

How ironic that right now those same owners have a top headhunter engaged to find Cook's replacement behind his back. The lead in time will be lengthy (as most businesses will hold an executive to a period of "gardening leave") but I am certain the search is on. There is simply no way the Arabs would put up with Cooks embarrassing "communication" errors. Like Hughes, the investment on the non-playing side has been significant and I'm sure that they will feel the progress in business and image terms has been unimpressive. He's not "their man" and that will also be key. And expect a new press team too - one that isn't allowed to be on holiday on the day of such a major announcement (according to one of the podcasts one of the two in the press office wasn't even around on Saturday - ludicrous planning).

Only just seen this post, pr, and I like it. It seems to have been a bit lost amongst the bickering.

Who was on holiday? Vicky Kloss?

You're dead right about Cook and the embarrassing way this was handled. I hope you're right about the headhunter too. If I was a Headhunter I wouldn't be making too many calls for this one.

I've been banging on about this since Monday and I'm glad to see your point of view as I know you have experience in this area. The whole thing was a shambles. The Sheikh will have seen that.

Au Revoir Mr Cook.

 

[citymad]

gary cook and clever dont belong in the same sentence

or the word trustworthy.

 

[halfcenturyup]

Dear God you people, don't you think the owners have a very clear idea of who they want managing their investment? They see the results of what this guy does every day, and he does much more than handle the press, much more than most of us can ever imagine. I'm sure they have a clear idea of what they want and if they think, on balance, that he isn't performing they will get rid, it's as simple as that.

I'm not a Garry Cook fan, I'm not anti-Garry Cook. I am completely neutral if he is there or he isn't, because I am sure there are plenty of other people who can do his job, but as long as the owners are happy I am happy.

That said, the owners don't want to look stupid and it's pretty fair to say that the last few days haven't been good for him. But why are we tearing ourselves up about this and giving our press friends fodder for the next ludicrous headline? Give it a few days, let the dust settle and consider the "project" in its wider context before we all jump on any particular bandwagon.

And, while I am on my rant, we should stop calling our owners "the Arabs", especially if we get upset when the press do it. I am guessing we wouldn't be too impressed if the owners started calling the fans infidels (although having read some crazy posts in the last few weeks that may actually be a good description of some)?

 

[mancity1]

Haven't heard much from the owners on this one other than what the club's PR worded statement which Cook read out either because he was told to or felt it was best he spoke for the club on this issue.

Either way Cook handled it poorly and shouldn't have been involved as he quite frankly " bottled it " as he once said.

I said a while ago that Cook went out on a limb saying we would achieve greatness under Hughes calling him the best of the best "young managers" presently in England and combined with the fact he publicly endorsed Hughes not too long ago ( of course not realising that the owners were under way in seeking a replacement for Hughes ) means only one thing.

That is the owners are keeping Cook himself in the dark ( his comment about the fact that he was party to the unequivocal vote to oust Hughes was obviously a vote that he was an after thought in ( otherwise he can rightfully be claimed to be a liar on this issue or at least someone who is quick to change his stance on such an important issue as who is best to manage the club ).

I said in the past and I believe that Hughes demise will also be Cooks demise and time will tell on that score.

I personally believe that the owners have little confidence in Cook on a number of fronts and unless we improve on matchdays he will be " lucky " to see out the season.

Bearing in mind if I am correct in my assumption that Cook left to his own devices would not have sacked Hughes at this juncture the owners have given him a timely reminder of his position in the pecking order.

I don't see Cook as totally a yes man to do some of the " dirty work " the owners who again I stress have been too silent on this dismissal particularly in light of Muberak's most recent interview about Hughes but in this case he had to be inorder to stay in the job a little while longer.

I think that some of the aquisitions we have made this season have been ok and if Cook has played a role in that then credit to him although armed with a write your own ticket cheque book as such and little opposition for the same player in the scheme of things I doubt it has been a herculian task as such.

Cook's departure is not a question of if but when and certainly unless bad health intervenes old whisky nose form the red end will out see him for sure.

I doubt he will want to or be offered a job at another football club but who cares anyway.

 

[Lemmy]

he is a business man, not a football man. that is his fundamental weakness and it is blatantly obvious. cant see him at city much longer tbh, next mistake and hes out.

That actually sums it up rather sucinctly. I think his days are numbered.

Cobblers, if nothing else 'football is a business' - well done Cook.

 

[Lemmy]

he is a business man, not a football man. that is his fundamental weakness and it is blatantly obvious. cant see him at city much longer tbh, next mistake and hes out.

That actually sums it up rather sucinctly. I think his days are numbered.

Cobblers, if nothing else 'football is a business' - well done Cook.