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Sportsnet590 interview with Ralph Krueger

Toon Saint

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Toon Saint

Toon Saint

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Interesting interview with our new Chairman here:

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/prime-time-sports/

 

Prime Time Sports - March 17th - 5pm

Monday, 5 pm: Ralph Krueger and Buck Martinez

 

Starts around 11:00 min mark til about 34:30.

 

- Contacted last 'fall' by KL about position on board, didn't expect to be made Chairman but 'cards have fallen that way'

- KL felt he was suited to role and RK says he is 'quite surprised' about how many things he feels comfortable with in new role

- Seemed clued up on status of MLT calling him a 'hero' in town and mentioned him saving saving us from relegation numerous times in the 90's

- Goal we 'are shooting for' is catching Man Utd this season

- Will 'absolutely not' be involved in football decisions, a lot of his day-to-day tasks will be involved in communication and creating a culture that is 'loaded with respect'

- Wants to build brand and bring it to Canada and North America and play with the 'big teams'

- He couldn't say how the club will evolve as he has just arrived at the club

- Taking it real slow and getting to know people and environment, consuming information like crazy

- First board meeting with League coming up soon

- We have best academy in country - mentioned Luke and Adam and the exposure they will get at WC.

- Will be focused on building commercial arm of organization. Huge gap that needs bridging.

- Going to bring in a Director of Sport who has 'tremendous experience and expertise'

- Will be spending time meeting corporate sponsor candidates over the next few days - board has narrowed it down to three candidates.

- Trying to bring in a better budget so we can retain kids and bring in new talent to the organization

- Joked about Sky Sports coverage in which he mentioned 'hockey' rather than football - talked about need to learn new vocabulary.

- His gold medal at Sochi was a great 'PR event' just before his appointment, and feels this made the fans more receptive to him

- Organized an event where he will be communicating with local radio station, happy to take difficult questions.

- Thinks fans have found this talk of open communication 'refreshing' but accepts he will be judged on results next season

- Fans have been accepting and find his Canadian accent 'refreshing'?? (Might be talking about craic with staff here)

- Some waffle about leadership models and leading for the right reasons

- Believe patience is something he will bring to the club, so we can build financial arm of organization 'inch by inch', whether that takes 2,3,4 years

- Is in 'no rush' to help build the success at the club

 

Direct link courtesy of MLG: http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand-3/Ralph-Krueger-with-Tim-Micallef-and-Sid-Seixeiro--PTS--20140317-Interview.mp3

Edited by Toon Saint
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Saint_John

Saint_John

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Rather than start a new thread I will put it here....In case this has been missed (I couldn't find it posted elsewhere), here is Ralph's Motivational Speech he gave to the World Economic Forum (Davos) in 2012. (It is hard to find with Google because it is "unlisted" on Youtube)

 

It has only had 45 views so don't think many have viewed it, however it is 1 hour & 17 mins long so it is not for quick viewing.

 

(1/ Think Positive Process 2/ Be a Team player 3/ Be a Team player Leader 4/ Reach Beyond your grasp 5/ Happiness )

 

I think 1:04 is a change from Nicola and I hope he plays 1:06 to the players going to the World Cup.

 

It is "skill" to talk for that long without a script and therefore I think he is a "W" (hand jesters) (and that Glasgow is a " L ").

 

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Gruffalo

Gruffalo

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- Wants to build brand and bring it to Canada and North America and play with the 'big teams'..

 

I'd be interested to know just how far he's willing to go to export 'Brand Saints' Stateside and how, in an ideal world, he sees it all panning out.

 

Has he expanded on this at all ?

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hypochondriac

hypochondriac

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Cheers for transcribing all that Toon Saint.

 

Apparently he's made a verbal agreement with Radio solent do get the fans forum going again, so good to see him sticking with that in that interview.

 

Excellent. I will be attending. WOuld be good to know the extent of Katherina's continued financial commitment.

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Lallana's Left Peg

Lallana's Left Peg

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I like that he is saying the right things without giving timescales etc. which gives others the ammo to go after him. He's made an encouraging start (as much as you can do after a week) and I like that he knows ultimately it is what happens on the pitch that influences supporters moods.

 

Time to convince Pochettino now because if what I am told is correct the Board have already made up their mind about him and the ball is in his court :)

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Toon Saint

Toon Saint

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I'd be interested to know just how far he's willing to go to export 'Brand Saints' Stateside and how, in an ideal world, he sees it all panning out.

 

Has he expanded on this at all ?

 

Not really. Talked about most things in very broad terms, without going into specifics.

 

Most notable titbit in terms of commercial growth was the three candidates for sponsorship that he is meeting with over next few days. I'm guessing aap3 will not be one of those. :lol:

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Pancake

Pancake

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Rather than start a new thread I will put it here....In case this has been missed (I couldn't find it posted elsewhere), here is Ralph's Motivational Speech he gave to the World Economic Forum (Davos) in 2012. (It is hard to find with Google because it is "unlisted" on Youtube)

 

It has only had 45 views so don't think many have viewed it, however it is 1 hour & 17 mins long so it is not for quick viewing.

 

(1/ Think Positive Process 2/ Be a Team player 3/ Be a Team player Leader 4/ Reach Beyond your grasp 5/ Happiness )

 

I think 1:04 is a change from Nicola and I hope he plays 1:06 to the players going to the World Cup.

 

It is "skill" to talk for that long without a script and therefore I think he is a "W" (hand jesters) (and that Glasgow is a " L ").

 

 

That was really good, thanks John.

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Badger

Badger

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Interesting interview with our new Chairman here:

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/prime-time-sports/

 

Prime Time Sports - March 17th - 5pm

Monday, 5 pm: Ralph Krueger and Buck Martinez

 

Starts around 11:00 min mark til about 34:30.

 

[/url]

 

A critical point you missed in your summary (at about 19:55) is a reference to bringing in a Director of Sport.

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trousers

trousers

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A critical point you missed in your summary (at about 19:55) is a reference to bringing in a Director of Sport.

 

Yep, just listening to that bit... it sounds like they already know who it'll be as he said "...who has tremendous experience and expertise..." or maybe that was just a generic description of who they are looking for...?

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Window Cleaner

Window Cleaner

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Yep, just listening to that bit... it sounds like they already know who it'll be as he said "...who has tremendous experience and expertise..." or maybe that was just a generic description of who they are looking for...?

 

 

Perhaps that's why Hodgson is at most of our games of late. Jack in the England job after the WC, sporting director at Saints.

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Bewildered

Bewildered

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Yep, just listening to that bit... it sounds like they already know who it'll be as he said "...who has tremendous experience and expertise..." or maybe that was just a generic description of who they are looking for...?

 

Krueger went to school with and is rumoured to be friends with Ottmar Hitzfeld, just saying...

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hypochondriac

hypochondriac

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Most impressive interview I have heard, however I do think we need to fully prepare ourselves for one or two of the 'golden generation' to be moved on this summer to provide further long term funding for the club.

 

I've expected that for a while. Shaw will be going IMO and maybe schneiderlin.

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Badger

Badger

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Yep, just listening to that bit... it sounds like they already know who it'll be as he said "...who has tremendous experience and expertise..." or maybe that was just a generic description of who they are looking for...?

 

This is a little bit of a concern, and possibly the 'acid test' as far as MP is concerned. I think we're all pleased by RK's assurances he won't be treading on MP's toes, but will a Director of Sport or whatever give him the same sort of 'freedom' and be welcomed aboard ?

 

This might get closer to SCW Mk II than RK will.

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Badger

Badger

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Krueger went to school with and is rumoured to be friends with Ottmar Hitzfeld, just saying...

 

May very well be friends with him, but doubt they went to the same school, bearing in mind they grew up on different continents.

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Window Cleaner

Window Cleaner

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May very well be friends with him, but doubt they went to the same school, bearing in mind they grew up on different continents.

 

 

Anyway rare would be the case where a 65 year old and a 54 year old went to the same school at the same time, unless it was one of these complete schools where pupils range from 5 to 19 or so.

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Pancake

Pancake

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May very well be friends with him, but doubt they went to the same school, bearing in mind they grew up on different continents.

 

Indeed:

 

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sport/hockey/Hitzfeld-trifft-Krueger-Es-braucht-ab-und-zu-eine-Niederlage/story/13382216&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dralph%2Bkrueger%2Bottmar%2Bhitzfeld%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DITw%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26channel%3Dsb%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D629

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Badger

Badger

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Anyway rare would be the case where a 65 year old and a 54 year old went to the same school at the same time, unless it was one of these complete schools where pupils range from 5 to 19 or so.

 

Perhaps he was Ottmar's 'fag' ?

 

Anyone got a copy of 'Ottmar's Schooldays' ? Or perhaps a new literary project for Brarsey.

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SuperSAINT

SuperSAINT

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The same thing crossed my mind. I believe there is still a role for John Williams in this board structure.

 

There's a chance that the CEO job will go to Gareth Rogers on a full time basis. Apparently Krueger said they'd like to appoint from within for certain roles.

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Toon Saint

Toon Saint

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Could this new Director of Sport/Football be John Williams? just a thought

 

Doubt it. He was interviewed for Chairman position but obviously didn't get the job. Seems strange that he would then be offered the lesser (though obviously still v. important) position as director of football.

 

He doesn't have any experience/expertise in that role either - not that that has been an issue for us in the past - but RK's interview does seem to suggest that whoever is appointed will be a 'football expert'.

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Window Cleaner

Window Cleaner

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Do we really need an Owner, Chairman, CEO, Director of Sport, Les Reed and Head Coach? Seems one or two posts top heavy to me.

 

We don't have a head coach, we have a first team manager, his assistant and a first team coach. As for the rest I don't much care as long as we can finance it all without it being a burden on team finances. We've made a few little economies of late I think,something to do with global sponsorship etc, a few more quid on the shirt sponsorship and we'll probably be quids in anyway.

Still don't understand why the rest of the Liebherr family (ie the other half) won't give us shirt sponsorship . It wouldn't do them any harm and as for giving us more than the 300K pittance that the others are said to give us it would just be chickenfeed to them. Especially as they're said to have increased sales because many seem to mistakenly connect them with Saints.

Edited by Window Cleaner
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SO16_Saint

SO16_Saint

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Do we really need an Owner, Chairman, CEO, Director of Sport, Les Reed and Head Coach? Seems one or two posts top heavy to me.

 

I agree. No other team in the world has a "Les Reed" in their back room staff set up... what kind of position is this Les Reed anyway, and who is filling this post?

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Glasgow_Saint

Glasgow_Saint

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Not worried that a Director of Sport/Football might not be completely independent from Ralph and might also encroach on MP's turf?

 

There is always a risk, but the more I thought about it + heard from Freddy the more convinced I am that he wouldn’t and wont let people interfere.

 

I thought initially + after his opening comments that there was a big risk - I thought that since he's been a coach he would be pulled in this direction. However thinking more about it, being a coach in the past perhaps makes him less likely? He will have had experience of people interfering himself and will know that it doesn’t bring success.

 

What I initially thought was a negative, I now believe to be a positive. Freddy will sympathise with the tough job Mopo has and will leave him to do what he does best (at least I hope so anyway)

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Goatboy

Goatboy

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There is always a risk, but the more I thought about it + heard from Freddy the more convinced I am that he wouldn’t and wont let people interfere.

 

I thought initially + after his opening comments that there was a big risk - I thought that since he's been a coach he would be pulled in this direction. However thinking more about it, being a coach in the past perhaps makes him less likely? He will have had experience of people interfering himself and will know that it doesn’t bring success.

 

What I initially thought was a negative, I now believe to be a positive. Freddy will sympathise with the tough job Mopo has and will leave him to do what he does best (at least I hope so anyway)

 

Are you ok?

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