yeah, it was a s*** interview all round... and if you think it doesn't matter, tell that to companies looking to sponsor and the money it brings - in fact, why you even on a public forum talking about the game? Just watch it, go home, live ya life, repeat

This was once a quality forum....

I watched Olise's... I don't know what you call it - 'welcome video' when he first joined. It was documentary-esque in terms of having people that knew him provide some insight and background into his character. He either is or plays somewhat of an 'enigma' type or at the very least far removed from the conventions we may expect of footballers. He came across as the archetypal Frenchman, perhaps more suited to brooding outside a Parisian cafe in muted clothing, folded up in deep contemplation or ennui, slowly puffing on a cigarette if that conjures up some imagery.

Quite frankly, it's somewhat refreshing given the usual half-witted cliches trotted out: "The gaffer just told me to go out and give it my all", "the lads gave 110%", "I just want to thank the fans" etc. I actually much prefer his demeanour, makes him more relatable for me and lends itself to his footballing style in offering something a bit different, original and of actual interest. I don't think it's because he's "a bit simple", he just doesn't conform well or parrot others as we see so often, once again, appealing to myself but I would guess plenty of others too. He may just be a bit shy, maybe even a bit arrogant or maybe just very introverted and so on.

Anyhow, it's an improvement and refreshing in my eyes. If anybody wants him to read from a script for contractual obligations and that is deemed necessary for financial reasons then so be it however I for one do not support or like that position. I'd prefer to see Mickey out there reacting naturally to media questioning, if he must be put in that position, and not just offering up the usual drivel we've all become so accustom to. In any event and whatever choice he makes, he'll still have my support that's for sure.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Totally agree. I am late to the party and just now watched it. He wasn't rude, didn't scowl, just told the truth. Brilliant, I like him even more.

Edited by Slimey Toad (12 Nov 2022 9.09am)

Thought this was worth a share [Link]

Just hope it hasn’t become a distraction for him and it can be quickly forgotten.

I couldn't disagree with you more. I don't think he'll be remotely embarrassed by the interview, now or in the future. Olise strikes me as more intelligent and more self-possessed by far than the average footballer, and like it or not I suspect he knows exactly what he's doing. Whether it's the right or wrong way to conduct an interview is a different question; I have no doubt Michael conducted that interview the way he wanted to, after thinking about it. It seems obvious that his curt responses were designed to make a point; they were not thoughtless and off-the-cuff.

The media side of the business is part of the job for the club, but not for the player. It would be true to say that a player who is media-friendly is likely to make more money through sponsorships and so on...being a camera magnet definitely benefits a player commercially. But if Olise is prepared to forego the finacial gains of being a media star and feels more comfortable without the attention then that's up to him. It's only part of his job if he wants it to be and quite clearly he doesn't. Why would he need media training if he has no interest in ever speaking to the media?

I'm genuinely shocked that you took an interview that I thought was dripping in sarcasm as evidence of the player's low intelligence. I thought the opposite. My take was finally, here's a player who's actually sharp enough to see through the media and take the piss out of the interviewer with a straight face. Olise strikes me as anything but dim.

Edited by sydtheeagle (19 Jan 2023 7.09pm)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.