Grant blanks the media

[Englishman]

In protest at the re-arranged Everton fixture. Can't say I blame him.

A deserved win Avram?

Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance?

'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you?

After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

Is it a relief to win here?

'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?

'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?

'No problem.'

Is there an issue?

'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?

'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them?

'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now?

'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference?

'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday?

'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?

'No.' Is it easier to say nothing Avram?

'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky?

'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers?

'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?

'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?

'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race?

'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race?

'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?

'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy. Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?

'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented?

'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint?

'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack?

'Injured.'

What's his problem?

'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.

'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?

.....

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 93&cc=5739

[The D]

I support his stance. But he doesn't do angry very well does he?

[youlots]

Oh and what stance is that exactly...

I thought the exchange on Ballack's "injury" was probably the only thing of specific interest apart from the overall impression.

And whilst it is currently fashionable that the basis for any speculation/analysis on this forum (be it of the objective/subjective/factual/non factual/quasi factual/deridean/barthist/revisionist/freudian/maoist etc.etc genre) is, of itself, de rigueur and lest I disturb anyone's sensibilities (for which I truly and genuinely apologise for in advance ) I find that I can't help myself but wonder about the general tenor of that interview in the context of his press conference yesterday (where he made those curious remarks concerning Jose etc) and can only conclude that the man is either finding the pressue a bit much too bear and/or that he's been recently given some bad news by upstairs as it were.

Disclaimer: The above comment is not in any way reflective of the views or opinions of any other contributor/poster on this forum or indeed reflective of any of the views or opinions of the administrators/moderators of this site and any reader of this post is freely entitled to decide whether and to what extent the basis for the above speculation/analysis is either objective/subjective/factual/non factual/quasi factual/deridean/barthist/revisionist/freudian/maoist etc. either singularly or in combination with any of those identifiers, which are used merely by way of illustration, or by reference to any other identifiers that the reader may choose to employ for his/her purpose.

[ozboy]

Has to be on the way out. That interview has some bits in it that makes an amateur psyco the rapist like me think he's in the early stage of a breakdown.

No matter how angry you are you can't deal with the media by retreating into catatonic monosyllables. Management can't have the main man acting like that in public.

Ask the doctor indeed. Actually its quite amusing in its own weird deadpan way.

[Gem]

If Jose done it, it would be a touch of class and the media would drool.

Although I would like to know about poxy Ballack !!

[Chelsea FC Champions]

His reponse to being asked whether the victory put Chelsea back in the hunt for the Premier League title was: "Maybe not."

[Mr Chelsea]

dont think he's done himself any favours

the press will just go for the kill, fans will dislike him even more (if thats possible)

[Barn]

I thought it was a brilliant press conference, they dress up whatever anyone says in any way they want to what's the point in giving honest reponses??? On top of that, his answers to questions about the title race, he says what he needs to to the players (let's hope so anyway), the fans and the press made their mind up on Monday night that we were out of it and it's Grants fault so it doesn't matter a jot what he tells us he thinks of the title race.

For the first time this season, Well done Mr Grant.

[youlots]

So why was he still talking up our chances for the title after Wigan then? I reckon somethings happened between him and the playing group in the aftermath of the TBH fine.

[dreadis]

Don't know what's up with AG, but I must admit this is the first press conference he has done that I actually find interesting. Why, because his answers were unexpected. You must admit that his "normal" press conference includes dull answers to dull questions. Now, we had "f**k off" answers to dull questions. :)

He finally realised that the more forthcoming he is with british press, the more they will f**k you up publicly. However, AG, too little too late...Jose did that in his first ever press conference and won over the press..."I am the special one"!!!...priceless...

[dkw]

i thought it was bloody brilliant. good for the bloke. very jose`esque. we would all be applauding jose for doing it, so i think in this instance we need to applaud grant for the contempt he held the media in. it was a beautiful thing.

[youlots]

dkw I hope your right about this (ie. him being intentionally unresponsive) and given that my impressions only come from seeing the transcipt as opposed to the actual exchange then one doesn't have the further benefit of body language etc. He does come across as annoyed - whether that is just in respect of the press intrusiveness or for other reasons none of us can really say I suppose. Given he's usually very mild mannered I thought it seemed to odd and perhaps I'm just reading too much into it. Of course the last thing we need before the filth is some further crisis.

[dkw]

youlots, it wouldnt matter a damn what we do as a club. were gonna get pelters from all over in the run up to the game against the muck. so we might aswell revel in it. f**k em i say.

[Gem]

I thought these were pure gold, especially the first one, what clueless media twat asked that?! He has answered every question. c**t, bet it was Sky who asked it.

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?

'I answer every question.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?

'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

What's his problem?

'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.

'Well call him then.'

The 2nd one is stupid, they can still choose to write about the game rather than this, but they haven't. My God, what a bunch of c**ts they really are.

[dkw]

that last one was pure jose. "call him then". brilliant.

[youlots]

Of course dkw and I have never (unlike some) given a toss about what the media or anyone else thinks or writes about us etc. However, I just can't shake the feeling that something is not quite right here. Something just doesn't add up about that exchange given that he's always been pretty open before. Look, its no secret that I don't rate him as a manager and especially not of Chels but irrespective of that I'm a bit worried about his behaviour recently. Then again maybe I'm just reading way too much into it. I just hope he's ok that's all.

[coco]

[dkw]

i understand what you mean youlots, and maybe the pressure has got to him. it wouldnt be a surprise, i doubt hes ever been in the middle of anything like this before. though i do like the way he didnt hide and stood up to the media. nice pic by the way coco

[bluedeano]

Chelsea tv had said prior to the match that 'the club would not being giving interviews in response to SKY arranging the game for Thursday evening'.

[kalpitv]

Aprt from this unusual interview, I thought Grant was unusually happy at the Goodison Park even before the match had begun. And he kept smiling throughout the match, looking at the players

Probably got his salary yesterday from Roman?!

[dkw]

i actually thought he was scarier when he smiles. its horrible. like a death grimace. hes got too many teeth, like some kinda pirranha. gave me bloody nightmares.

[ethicalstrategy]

I have to say it was pretty strange.

I understand not cooperating with Sky over the scheduling of the match but what the press conference was about I don't know. If he had the hump with the press, and I could understand it if he did, then why not just boycott the press conference and take the fine? It was almost as if he was fullfilling his obligation to be there and answer the questions so he won't get a fine from the Premier League. But at the same time not really cooperate.

Not really sure what to make of it.

[bonetti]

Lets just hope the Sky were offended - should happen more often

[glory55]

Oh fair play to him!

Why should he be cooperative with the media??

Most of the journalists are f**king scumbags who dont give a toss about anyone.

All they do is talk about how ugly he is anyway!

He has probably made the noose for his neck now though,the press will be gunning for him big time!!

Look I don't particually like the bloke as a manager,but he has certainly shown a bit of backbone snubbing those media idiots!!

[Tim]

I did find it f*cking pathetic when, against Wigan, the commentators were joking about how ugly Avram looked in his suit, and yet they declined to make any comment about his opposite number, STEVE BRUCE.

Remarks like that are pathetically unprofessional anyway, but to make a point about Grant's lack of good looks but ignore the Elephant man was really, really low and showed their glaring anti-Chelsea bias.