Originally Posted by
jackal2
I watched previous episodes of Magpie Circle and really enjoyed them - especially the Martin Allen one - but this one seemed to be a vehicle for whatever issue Paul Mace seems to have developed against Ian Burchnall. The jibes about IB not being popular with others in the league and being lucky to have the job come across to me as cheap shots, and Mark Stallard seemed a little embarrassed at times that the presenter was trying to drag him into sharing such a jaundiced view of the manager, which I don't think Stall does.
I've got my own concerns about whether IB can produce enough results with the type of football he wants to play, and by all means judge him on results, but at no point have I found him arrogant or dismissive. I think IB generally gives polite, honest and direct answers to questions. For example, by saying 'we knew what Woking were about', IB was giving his assessment of the way they play, which you can agree or disagree with, but I don't see any reason why Mace should be apologising to his mate Martin Tyler and inferring that those remarks were intentionally derisive. What the podcast does tell me is that the presenter is very keen to mark himself out as somebody important and 'in the know' in the football industry, and perhaps very old school in his views.
As I said earlier in the thread, I couldn't care less if our manager is unpopular or not with certain colleagues. Neil Warnock and Sam Allardyce aren't everybody's cup of tea but so what? Yes, IB hasn't got their record of achievements behind him (yet) but why should that stop him from expressing himself in the way that best suits him? I actually think IB gives calm and courteous interviews and talks mainly about his own team rather than the opponent, unless he's asked directly about them.
I don't know where Mace's antagonism towards IB comes from, but it's very poorly disguised and a bit unnecessary tbh, picking on his personality rather than his methodology.