Leo

Smoggle said:
It’s not the first time he’s questioned Leo on his podcast. His latest gripe goes something like this and he’s said most of this before:

-He doesn’t understand why he’s at the club through several managerial/backroom staff changes. If Bernie had worked under 4 managers he would have sacked himself.
-He doesn’t understand why many boro fans chant his name and give him adulation. If Bernie was still a striker at the club he’d be calling out the fans to chant for him as he can change a game, not Leo. Also, he claims the fans never chanted for Pears who later became a coach at the club and gave many years service as a player.
-his latest rant mentioned he (Bernie) has passion too and he can’t even get a job with the kids, but Bernie also has honesty, principles, standards etc blah blah whatever that means… it’s difficult to know whether he’s suggesting Leo doesn’t but I’d hope not.

That’s about the gist of it. It’s disappointing if he can’t see why many fans like Leo, his passion for the club and the bond forged through a terrible tragedy is unique, but his lack of previous at the club is irrelevant as is comparing to other individuals. He does say he’s met him and likes him, and wishes him luck though.

It does make a change from him going on about everything being woke though. I do actually like Bernie and I’m glad he does a podcast even if it is occasionally like listening to an auld fellah down the pub, I can’t help thinking he’s a bit out of touch on a few things, but his heart’s in the right place and he was a great player.
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Bernie worked under Maddren, Rioch, Todd and Lawrence.

The fans never chanted for Pears… apart from the two or three years of “England’s No.1,” songs, he’s dead right.

If he genuinely doesn’t know or understand why people hold Leo in such regard or feel a connection with him then he really shouldn’t be surprised as to why he isn’t working as an analyst or broadcaster any more. It’s basic stuff.

Bernie was a class player but that streak of bitterness he seems to have really doesn’t show him in a very positive light. But then I’m sure he doesn’t actually care, he’ll just going on “telling it like it is,” etc from the comfort of his garage.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
Bernie worked under Maddren, Rioch, Todd and Lawrence.

The fans never chanted for Pears… apart from the two or three years of “England’s No.1,” songs, he’s dead right.
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I think he means being part of the coaching staff, but it’s a daft point by him anyway as clubs don’t always sack all the backroom staff every manager change anyway. As for Pears, I think he means when he was coaching at Boro, but it’s a daft point by him again because if something similarly tragic happened to Pears the coach, I have no doubt the fans would chant support for him.


viv_andersons_nana said:
If he genuinely doesn’t know or understand why people hold Leo in such regard or feel a connection with him then he really shouldn’t be surprised as to why he isn’t working as an analyst or broadcaster any more. It’s basic stuff.

Bernie was a class player but that streak of bitterness he seems to have really doesn’t show him in a very positive light. But then I’m sure he doesn’t actually care, he’ll just going on “telling it like it is,” etc from the comfort of his garage.
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Hard to disagree with that. Sometimes people who “tell it like it is” are just being controversial or contrary without offering anything of real substance.

I don’t doubt he’s got some great inside knowledge and will know people in the game to find occasional things out, but he is from a different era and how things were done in his day often isn’t relevant to now, and it isn’t changing any time soon, for better or worse - so his rants often appear bitter and out of touch. Like I said though, I do like him even if I don’t agree with a lot of what he says, he certainly appeals to a particular and common breed of cynical/ better-in-my-day fan - some of his interviews have been great to be fair.
 
Slaven was an iconic player, absolutely fantastic. Can understand why he’s untouchable for lads a couple of years before my time.

Had a unique chemistry with Ally Brownlee which will always take me back to our best days as Boro fans.

Never liked him though, an impression I got from meeting him quite a few times and everything else.

Found him embarrassing as an ‘expert summariser’ / analyst, hated his ‘I’m a realist’ shtick. The guy was the epitome of the lazy, under-researched old school pundit which Neville and Carragher killed off when they actually started working hard at their new job. I forget who it was, someone like Crespo or Veron or Drogba, but remember hearing Bernie on the radio and doing a “I’ve never seen them play, but in my day…” bit. I mean come on man, if you’re paid to analyse football, at least try and watch some football. Don’t just turn up with old bloke in the pub opinions.

I’ve never learnt anything from listening to Bernie broadcast or even been particularly entertained. And since getting released by the club from formal duties, he’s got jealous and bitter to the point of being a crank.

Secondly, no-one really asked him to be this professional Boro fan. I don’t buy his annual book, or subscribe to his podcasts, but do note the bitterness about the club despite the fact that his income stream is entirely about milking MFC. They’re both making money out of MFC, but at least Leo is actually training and motivating players and being a valuable part of the culture of the club and we all love his presence, and he’s trained himself up to do that. What’s Bernie Slaven contributing?

If he’s going in with two feet on Leo Percovich of all people, confirms my belief that there’s only one Boro legend out of the two of them, and you can guess which one it is.
 
jonny_greenings_sock said:
Slaven was an iconic player, absolutely fantastic. Can understand why he’s untouchable for lads a couple of years before my time.

Had a unique chemistry with Ally Brownlee which will always take me back to our best days as Boro fans.

Never liked him though, an impression I got from meeting him quite a few times and everything else.

Found him embarrassing as an ‘expert summariser’ / analyst, hated his ‘I’m a realist’ shtick. The guy was the epitome of the lazy, under-researched old school pundit which Neville and Carragher killed off when they actually started working hard at their new job. I forget who it was, someone like Crespo or Veron or Drogba, but remember hearing Bernie on the radio and doing a “I’ve never seen them play, but in my day…” bit. I mean come on man, if you’re paid to analyse football, at least try and watch some football. Don’t just turn up with old bloke in the pub opinions.

I’ve never learnt anything from listening to Bernie broadcast or even been particularly entertained. And since getting released by the club from formal duties, he’s got jealous and bitter to the point of being a crank.

Secondly, no-one really asked him to be this professional Boro fan. I don’t buy his annual book, or subscribe to his podcasts, but do note the bitterness about the club despite the fact that his income stream is entirely about milking MFC. They’re both making money out of MFC, but at least Leo is actually training and motivating players and being a valuable part of the culture of the club and we all love his presence, and he’s trained himself up to do that. What’s Bernie Slaven contributing?

If he’s going in with two feet on Leo Percovich of all people, confirms my belief that there’s only one Boro legend out of the two of them, and you can guess which one it is.
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Well said.
 
Why is he giving Leo such a hard time? You would be hard pressed to find anyone as passionate as Leo. What he may lack in experience as a manager he more than makes up for with his passion, honesty, motivation, drive. This is what football is missing generally and in Leo we have someone who has forged a relationship with the fans second to none.

What other club official has gone into the stand, such as with the Red Faction, to sing, chant, and dance? Or walked into the middle of the pitch to raise the crowd and thank them personally for their support beating his heart?

Is Bernies jealousy borne out of envy that here we have someone who is so popular with most of the fans, if not all, unlike himself maybe? Who knows where Leos journey will take him, the team, and the fans?

I just hope if things do turn toxic he doesn't end up on the receiving end of the criticism from those hoping he fails.
 
'Oh Leo said,
We are all one, we are red,
Oh oh words can't describe,
When we score at the Riverside.'

'In a town of iron and steel,
Leo helped us to believe,
That we can be as one,
Up the Boro, here we come'

I will get my coat............
 
Bernie’s still bitter that no one turned up for his testimonial. Great player….would have scored twice as many goals and played for Scotland if he had been offside less😉
 
I don't have any insider info, just reading between the lines, I think we will get a new 'head coach' with the club appointing the rest of the first team coaches around him.
Leo will be part of that coaching staff, I think the club has and is increasingly looking the south american market for young talent. I don't think the Payero issue will put them off, the problem with Pyero was the two managers in firstly Warnock and then Wilder blocking the path to the first team. Warnock even said he didn't anymore than two 'foreign players' in the squad.
There is more Brazillians than ever playing in England, they are increasingly choosing England over traditionally the Portuguese & Spanish leagues, largely due to wages, but also the English game is not the blood & thunder long ball game of the past and now is more suited to south americans more technichal based style.
To have and Spanish speaking coach who can sell the club to potential signings and then help them settle in, will be a major advantage, thus I think the club will find a place for Leo. I don't think we will see an new head coach bringing in his own men.
 
Leo is prob no more passionate about the area and fans as a lot of ex-boro players difference is he talks about it with passion ... nuff said
 
Respect and love Leo so much and hope we win on Wednesday but don't want him to be our manager and it to turn sour on him as it did with Mowbray (also a legend) towards the end with some fans. Hopefully, Leo is at the Boro for a very long time yet
 
Having Leo take the 1st team affairs for a game or two is perfect for me. Gets his chance to manage his beloved boro without the inevitable vitriol managers suffer when it all goes wrong.
If he gets a couple of wins he will be even more cemented into boro folklore.
Then he can go back to being the leo we love, exuding passion and fearsness from the bench.
 
Met he a few times and what a guy. Remarkable in many ways
Who knows what he will be like as a manager?
Could be the best manager in history . Who knows
Let's give him full respect and support.
One thing for sure is his passion and man management of players will be just what we need. UTB
 
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