THE MEETING

[Geo V]

I'm convinced we have a higher proportion of morons in our fanbase than any other club in the world. These events are always an absolute joke.

Thank god I dont get to listen to the moan in as I hear that the morons are out in force for the show. We have plenty alright but it would be nice for once if some normal people decided to turn up to things like this and not the prats who havent got a clue about what they are on about.

It seems like that open training session/Q and A at the Walkers all those weeks back actually took place nearer 5 years ago!

[Manwell Pablo]

I am in concord

I thought they retired that for safety reasons.

[teblin]

Unfortunately, because of a confidentiality clause which Mandaric pointed out protected Allen more than it did him, we were never likely to get to the bottom of this little mystery

From one of the mercury articles, i wonder what he did?

[The People's Hero]

I'm convinced we have a higher proportion of morons in our fanbase than any other club in the world. These events are always an absolute joke.

Whilst this is true, it's not getting me any milk.

And if you think I'm walking down the path of the righteous to milk the cow of mal-content again, you've gone another thing coming Fezzles.

Not Keen.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Whilst this is true, it's not getting me any milk.

And if you think I'm walking down the path of the righteous to milk the cow of mal-content again, you've gone another thing coming Fezzles.

Not Keen.

Diskeen???

We need a Thracianalogy.

[Manwell Pablo]

Diskeen???

We need a Thracianalogy.

As keen as a bird with no wings chasing a rabbit through a lesiure centre.

[Toby or not Toby]

Did anyone film any of it on their mobiles, for comedy purposes? From what I can read it seems that the muppet brigade turned up to represent the fans that wanted a bit of a moan. I wonder what MM will come out and say he though of the night?

I saw people with mobiles out, dont know if they recorded any or if they post on here!

Thought it was hilarious when the moron on front row asked if Milan would leave if we were not promoted after 3 years and someone shouted, "shut up" he then goes i was just a bit worried thats all!

[Fat Ron]

Non Footballing reasons = Substance abuse.

[Milky]

where's a poison gas cloud when you need one.

[The People's Hero]

As keen as a bird with no wings chasing a rabbit through a lesiure centre.

He'd have caught it too, if he hadn't been played out of position (reserved for a situation when the bird was in fact playing in it's favoured, natural position).

[Thracian]

From The Mercury Blue Army site:

"If last night taught anything to Milan Mandaric - and the 200 or so Leicester City fans who responded to his invitation for a clear-the-air chat - then it was surely this: a week can be a long, long time in football.

Less than seven days ago, bristling with indignation and stung by City fans chanting for the manager he had just sacked, Mandaric laid down the gauntlet.

You're either with us, he said, or against us. If you want to keep singing for Martin Allen, then come and see me. “I'll try to explain why I sacked him - and if you don't believe me, then, give me your tickets and support him instead,†he said.

The venue was set. Last night, 7pm, Gordon Banks Suite, third floor of the Walkers Stadium.

It just might be like the OK Corral, said Mandaric last week, astutely aware how strong his words had been. “But I'm prepared for that.â€

And for a while, it looked like his Wild-West analogy might have been right. All week, City internet sites buzzed with disgruntled chatter: are you going/I'm going/Me too/I'm going to tell him what I think/I was a fan before he came and I will be when he's gone/How dare he...etc.

And then fate stepped in - in the shape of Matty Fryatt's overlooked left boot; a man who, we learned from Mandaric last night, had been dropped, discarded and forced to train with the kids.

Suddenly, with a 1-0 Carling Cup victory against Martin O'Neill's Villa in the bag, thoughts of the other Martin did not seem quite so important.

City fan and season-ticket holder Andy Whitman, like most of the supporters who were there last night, had not chanted for Allen.

“I'm here because I want to know what happened between Allen and Mandaricâ€, he said before the meeting.

“I didn't sing for Martin Allen at Forest, and I wouldn't sing for Martin Allen. But, like a lot of fans, I think I understand why it happened.â€

And it happened, said Whitman, because we all bought the dream that Milan successfully sold us - here was a passionate, no-nonsense manager who would change our ailing fortunes.

After far too much limp, lifeless, woeful football, here was a mean-eyed Cockney who jumped up and down; who made the players clean the toilets with their toothbrushes; a man who, make no mistake, you would not want to mess with.

Hello, we all thought, this is a bit different to Craig Levein and Robert Kelly. It seemed just what safe, predictable and under-performing Leicester City needed.

And then, no sooner had he arrived, dug up the flower beds at the training ground and fallen in love with Mark de Vries, and he was gone.

No explanation. No press conference. Not much in the way of anything, really - leaving the fans who pay their money week in, week out, with a thousand unanswered questions.

“We just want to know why,†said Whitman.

“Allen ignited a spark with us - and then to many, it seemed, Milan poured a bucket of water over it.â€

Unfortunately, because of a confidentiality clause which Mandaric pointed out protected Allen more than it did him, we were never likely to get to the bottom of this little mystery.

But Mandaric's claims offered some interesting snippets including:

Allen either instigated or approved every one of the 14 players signed - except centre-half Bruno N'Gotty. “I bought him,†admitted Mandaric, “because I believed we needed him.â€

Not only did Allen choose or approve all the players being signed - with the exception of N'Gotty - he also seemed happy to approve Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's acquisition, before a last-minute change of heart.

Forgotten goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen came via Allen's agent, who claimed he was “another Peter Schmeichel.â€

That, essentially, Allen was sacked for non-football reasons and there was a “fundamental†breakdown in their relationship.

“Come on,†said Mandaric, “you can read between the lines here all night long...†He also said that Allen was “a good man and a good manager.â€

And that, rest assured, if whoever is in the City hot-seat does not perform, he will be gone.

Nothing gets in the way of the three-year promotion plan, although, while that is the most important thing, he did say he wanted some stability at the club.

“I have a company I started in 1980 with five people,†said Mandaric. “Three of those people are still there - along with 14,000 others. I don't like sacking people, you know - but I will do it, if they don't perform.â€

But this was a two-way conversation and what the chairman found out in response was equally illuminating.

Season-ticket holder Glenn Stewart was spending his last night of single-man freedom at the meeting. A life-long City fan, he is due to get married at the Walkers Stadium today.

“There were all sorts of things we could have asked him - but this meeting, specifically, was about Allen and the fans response to his sacking,†he said.

“I came along, not because I sang, but because I thought it was important that Milan knew that we still supported him - he's the best chairman we've had - and that, in my opinion, those chants were borne out of frustration. They weren't aimed at Milan. They were not personal.â€

After a cautious start, the meeting settled into a groove which soon began to mirror Radio Leicester's Monday night “moan-in†- a few decent questions, the occasional excellent question, some badly needed succinct questions and some truly awful, irrelevant questions posed by fans who might have been better staying at home and watching EastEnders.

Mandaric, the consensus seemed to be, dealt with it all pretty well.

There was a rousing round of applause at the end as compere, Alan Birchenall, wound up the evening.

“At least there's one thing,†said the Birch, as the fans reached for their coats and headed for the pub, “at least he had the balls to do it. And how many other chairman have we had here who have been prepared to do that? See you Saturday.â€

If the Mercury think our appearance as a one-shot bandit to win a cup game at Villa changes any of my thoughts about MM and Leicester City's present situation they're mistaken.

Focus on the fact that some Uncle Tom Cobleigh seemed to decide at least some of our signings, apparently without any sort of proper viewing or research on our behalf, might have been more worthy.

Players have been signed who only needed one look and two or three confirming looks to confirm were not men for an English Championship assault.

Any amount of people would have evaluated those players competently.

And saved a situation where vast amounts of wages are being paid out on an extended squad, many of whom will serve no useful purpose.

a squad that will have to be trimmed drastically.

[Fez of Mahrez]

.

[Thracian]

He'd have caught it too, if he hadn't been played out of position (reserved for a situation when the bird was in fact playing in it's favoured, natural position).

I'd have sooner heard more about "The Meeting" and fans' thoughts on it - seeing as that's the title of the thread - that yet more of your banal claptrap and cheapskate pisstaking.

The forum is becoming more and more like TB with every thread disappearing into irrelevence.

Can't you go off and start another topic about beer?

[Ric Flair]

I'd have sooner heard more about "The Meeting" and fans' thoughts on it - seeing as that's the title of the thread - that yet more of your banal claptrap and cheapskate pisstaking.

The forum is becoming more and more like TB with every thread disappearing into irrelevence.

Can't you go off and start another topic about beer?

:laugh: :laugh:

[The People's Hero]

I'd have sooner heard more about "The Meeting" and fans' thoughts on it - seeing as that's the title of the thread - that yet more of your banal claptrap and cheapskate pisstaking.

The forum is becoming more and more like TB with every thread disappearing into irrelevence.

Can't you go off and start another topic about beer?

It's interesting you say that, because when I start to type a post, I usually think to myself 'now, what would Thracian like to read about.'

I'd make the obvious point about your hypocrisy, but I think it stands as a more poignant and amusing critique of your character left unsaid.

[Manwell Pablo]

I'd have sooner heard more about "The Meeting" and fans' thoughts on it - seeing as that's the title of the thread - that yet more of your banal claptrap and cheapskate pisstaking.

The forum is becoming more and more like TB with every thread disappearing into irrelevence.

Can't you go off and start another topic about beer?

Oh come on the meeting was probabley crap, like a watered down live version of the football forum on Monday minus the three pricks taking the calls.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'd have sooner heard more about "The Meeting" and fans' thoughts on it - seeing as that's the title of the thread - that yet more of your banal claptrap and cheapskate pisstaking.

The forum is becoming more and more like TB with every thread disappearing into irrelevence.

Can't you go off and start another topic about beer?

Banal claptrap. That's my favourite type of claptrap. I'm pretty sure this post fits snugly into that particular pigeonhole too.

[The People's Hero]

What exactly is your problem with that article Thracian?

Not enough pointless, incendiary, stirring?

No mention of our various young players?

The fact that it says what it needs to in a clear manner with no mis-used lofty literary devices?

Come on.

[Thracian]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe_the_line

I'll be guided by that. I always thought it referred to the ancient work of horses towing the canalboat lines predictably and monotonously along the towpaths.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'll be guided by that. I always thought it referred to the ancient work of horses towing the canalboat lines predictably and monotonously along the towpaths.

Fair play.

[The People's Hero]

Banal claptrap. That's my favourite type of claptrap. I'm pretty sure this post fits snugly into that particular pigeonhole too.

Remove the B and the 'clap' and the result is what Thracian was found setting up just outside the academy changing rooms.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Remove the B and the 'clap' and the result is what Thracian was found setting up just outside the academy changing rooms.

Consider the moral highground well and truly seized.

I need a smiley that's like a mixture of and obviously :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Kind of like a "sailing close to the wind" one.

[Guest]

To be honest, the meeting was a waste of time, although the comedy value was high. We certainly had more than a bit of a giggle. It was quite funny when Scoweh and I left, and the SSN crew came running after us for any comments. I declined the chance to appear on the telly, although my quote to them was genius, even if I do say so myself

Unfortunately, I shall not be posting it here or anywhere else as it was one of those "had to be there" moments.

[Thracian]

Oh come on the meeting was probabley crap, like a watered down live version of the football forum on Monday minus the three pricks taking the calls.

Granted that's how it sounded. And didn't we have some new "pricks" doing their bit of heckling. Or conveniently interrupting MM?

[Manwell Pablo]

Remove the B and the 'clap' and the result is what Thracian was found setting up just outside the academy changing rooms.

Amusing. People are looking at me because I'm giggling again.