Because Bates said as much, in the summer I believe. Also I do not believe that Blackwell would have got away with saying they had a 3 year plan for promotion (this being Bates' second year remember) twice over the course of a week or so if it wasn't true. First Blackwell wasn't given for lying in these matters (finance and agreements with Bates) and second Bates would have bollocked him after the first time.
Did noone else pick up on these comments by Blackwell. He was basically trying to 'manage expectations' by saying that promotion wasn't expected this season either. It certainly raised my eyebrows as I always assumed this season was the one - maybe they both pragmatically re-assessed the situation when they saw who got relegated and realised they didn't have the big bucks available to seriously compete with those 3? Having said all that Bates didn't want Blackwell harping on about 2 seasons ago. He didn't want the financial/playing situation 2 years ago used as an excuse this season because this season Blackwell had a good squad and a squad he wanted. All sounds pretty logical and reasonable to me. For the record, the comments Blackwell made in the last week of his management were all about the financial situation NOW, and that he was frustrated at not being able to buy who he wanted. That was new and it's THAT what must have pissed Bates off. Up to that point Blackwell was critical of the whole Leeds situation and blamed the previous regime, these comments now criticised Bates for not putting up more cash. Simple. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nigel Holcroft Sent: 05 October 2006 19:24 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [LU] Did Bates say it or not ? You really believe that? How so? Just what did he not want excuses for then? -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Humphries Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 11:54 AM To: 'Nigel Holcroft'; [email protected] Subject: RE: [LU] Did Bates say it or not ? All very true, but still consistent with him not expecting or planning for promotion this season -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nigel Holcroft Sent: 05 October 2006 16:54 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [LU] Did Bates say it or not ? As I remember it...The one thing Bates said, emphatically about promotion and the manager's performance; for this season was that, the time for excuses was past and that he did not want to hear any more talk about having only 2 players and how we nearly went out of business etc... As soon as we started losing again this season, what did Blackwell trot out?... Yup the same old excuses...with a few new ones added... No surprise to find the chairman less than thrilled then, eh? _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-) _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-) _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-) _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist oh alright then :-)
