21-01-2023, 07:39 AM
An interesting press conference. The content was quite bland but the body language revealing.
Cullen dominated, coming across very confidently and pointing out that the club wanted a new approach to choosing a head coach because previous strategies hadn't worked. This alluded to the fact that both he and Hughes had appointed previously untried head coaches at Forest Green and MK Dons and it had been a success. Other than that it was the usual stuff about 'visions', long term strategy and 'fitting in' with the club's management structure.
As we went from him to Mousinho to Hughes, the charisma-vibe visibly wilted.
Mousinho came across quite well though, by the number of swigs he was taking from the water bottle and general delivery, seemed pretty nervous and clearly a fella who, a. couldn't believe his luck and b. was clearly unaccustomed to this attention. There was nothing much in what he said to inspire or doubt that he might be the right one.
The came Hughes......
Some people shine in a spotlight, others look like a rabbit frozen in the headlights or a suspect in a local break in. Hughes' shifty demeanour didn't help add credibility to his points about why Mousinho was the chosen one. His po-faced delivery and lack of eye contact with the assembled media smacked of a good poker player or a suspect who knows he's about to be found out.
We haven't seen a lot of Hughes - perhaps for good reason - but let's hope appearances don't count for much.
Mousinho revealed little more of interest in his one-to-one interview except how he came ot the club's attention - he and Hughes met a while ago at an FA coaching course and was invited to apply. So this is a Hughes-led appointment.
Got to hand it to Cullen and Hughes. They were quite aware of how this appointment would go down with fans but have gone with their convictions of who would be the best person, not who would displease the fans most.
Hughes came across in the press conference as a poker player or a crook. If it's more poker player, he may have scooped some good pots in some backwater dives in the past but he's in Vegas now, gambling everything he's got.......with the Mob, Nevada-shovel at the ready, looking over his shoulder.
Cullen dominated, coming across very confidently and pointing out that the club wanted a new approach to choosing a head coach because previous strategies hadn't worked. This alluded to the fact that both he and Hughes had appointed previously untried head coaches at Forest Green and MK Dons and it had been a success. Other than that it was the usual stuff about 'visions', long term strategy and 'fitting in' with the club's management structure.
As we went from him to Mousinho to Hughes, the charisma-vibe visibly wilted.
Mousinho came across quite well though, by the number of swigs he was taking from the water bottle and general delivery, seemed pretty nervous and clearly a fella who, a. couldn't believe his luck and b. was clearly unaccustomed to this attention. There was nothing much in what he said to inspire or doubt that he might be the right one.
The came Hughes......
Some people shine in a spotlight, others look like a rabbit frozen in the headlights or a suspect in a local break in. Hughes' shifty demeanour didn't help add credibility to his points about why Mousinho was the chosen one. His po-faced delivery and lack of eye contact with the assembled media smacked of a good poker player or a suspect who knows he's about to be found out.
We haven't seen a lot of Hughes - perhaps for good reason - but let's hope appearances don't count for much.
Mousinho revealed little more of interest in his one-to-one interview except how he came ot the club's attention - he and Hughes met a while ago at an FA coaching course and was invited to apply. So this is a Hughes-led appointment.
Got to hand it to Cullen and Hughes. They were quite aware of how this appointment would go down with fans but have gone with their convictions of who would be the best person, not who would displease the fans most.
Hughes came across in the press conference as a poker player or a crook. If it's more poker player, he may have scooped some good pots in some backwater dives in the past but he's in Vegas now, gambling everything he's got.......with the Mob, Nevada-shovel at the ready, looking over his shoulder.