Just seems to be clogging up the transfer rumour thread, so better to discuss it elsewhere.

I did watch it live and was somewhat surprised by Phil Bird's second to last question, which was along the lines of "What is it like to be Burnley's first Black Manager?".

I think Kompany seemed a little taken back by it, as were the others who were following the live stream on the chat.

I think you could maybe expect that type of question when Vincent first joined us, but this didn't seem to be the right place or time and had no relevance to the upcoming game.

It seems the Club are removing all traces of the press conference from all their social media platforms, but numerous people have seen it and been discussing it.

Strange question from Bird. Not relevant at all to the pre match discussion.
He maybe should have gone the whole hog then and asked him what is it like to be Burnley’s first manager to field five black players in a single match?

I hate that sort of question, he’s our manager, not our black manager. Why even bring that up? It’s almost the sort of question someone who has an issue with it would ask.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:58 pm

I hate that sort of question, he’s our manager, not our black manager. Why even bring that up? It’s almost the sort of question someone who has an issue with it would ask.

I think this thread should be removed now that it is being suggested Bird may be a racist , which I’m sure he is not

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:09 pm

I think this thread should be removed now that it is being suggested Bird may be a racist , which I’m sure he is not

No I disagree, the subject matter should be discussed in an adult manner. The question was totally inappropriate and shouldn’t have been asked. It was stupid, and I’m sure a mistake

Daft question to ask but in no way does that justify some of the abuse flying around about him on twitter.

When I heard him ask that (watched it live on YouTube), my first thought was that this must be something the club have specifically checked with Vincent as an appropriate question to ask - as Phil Bird is an employee of the club (at least on some form of basis anyway). The fact that the club is scrubbing mention of the press conference seemingly shows that not to be the case. It's a very peculiar thing to ask at this juncture, in a pre-match conference and I am shocked that Bird didn't have the foresight to think "Hang on, that's a bit weird" before going ahead and asking it.

It strikes me far more as the type of manager profiling question that might have come up during VK's initial arrival (i.e, "How proud are you to be Burnley's first black manager" might be an OK question in the context of a first interview after joining the club, littered in amongst the many others). In the context used today it's just very bizarre and I wouldn't be shocked if we start to see less of PB as a result - a shame if so, as he's clearly a bloke with a huge affinity for the club who means well. An innocent (in his own mind) set of words escaped his mouth, and he might find himself in bother for it. I have sympathy if so - but fully concur it was inappropriate in that forum.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:09 pm

I think this thread should be removed now that it is being suggested Bird may be a racist , which I’m sure he is not

I’m sure he isn’t a racist Elizabeth. It was just a strange out of context question to ask.

4 pager?

fatboy47 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:40 pm

4 pager?

You really think it won't be locked by then.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:09 pm

I think this thread should be removed now that it is being suggested Bird may be a racist , which I’m sure he is not

Phil Bird struck me as naive, nothing more sinister than that

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:41 pm

Phil Bird struck me as naive, nothing more sinister than that

I'll second that.
Bird isn't racist.
Daft question out of context with the Presser though.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:41 pm

Phil Bird struck me as naive, nothing more sinister than that

Spot on

It’s possible he meant to ask it in a positive vein , as something to celebrate.. however it did come across as left field and out of context

How strange !
It's definitely a weird question to ask. I really can't imagine that Phil thought about asking that question before the interview. It has to be a spur of the moment brain freeze moment. At least I hope so.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:09 pm

I think this thread should be removed now that it is being suggested Bird may be a racist , which I’m sure he is not

there's nothing in the post you refer to that makes that suggestion.

Goalposts wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:57 pm

It’s possible he meant to ask it in a positive vein , as something to celebrate.. however it did come across as left field and out of context

Hopefully it was meant in a positive way. But I feel in this day and age it shouldn't be a question that needs asking.

For those of us who missed it, what else was said outside of this?

I was taken aback when he did the presser for Tuesday's game with Hull. I had always thought of him as a commentator, not a journalist. I watched today's presser on clarets+ before I read of the gaff on the transfer thread, and it was obviously edited out, but even then his questioning style is a strange one..... comforting, friendly tone but awkward at the same time. He has a habit of asking a question as a statement from the interviewee -

"you'll be looking forward to a Lancashire derby"

VK was kinda taken aback by that too, because it pressured him into saying everything you'd think someone might say about a derby, meanwhile he was probably thinking he didn't give a damn

As to the inappropriate question I've been hoping that it was a misheard question - Belgian manager, but too many have heard it for that not to be the case. I would suggest asking that question is an incident that can get you fired. Beyond stupid.

NRC wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:14 pm

there's nothing in the post you refer to that makes that suggestion.

In fairness it was certainly heading in that direction, my take on this is that Phil birds obviously had a brain fart but deserves the benefit of doubt that nothing untowards was intended, it needs a line drawn underneath it & a polite reminder from somebody of a no repeat.

This could turn into what questions you would have asked previous managers.
Mine would be,
What is it like to be the first Burnley manger to fall off a bar stool in Nino's Rawtenstall ?

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:09 pm

I think this thread should be removed now that it is being suggested Bird may be a racist , which I’m sure he is not

Give up

clarethomer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:18 pm

For those of us who missed it, what else was said outside of this?

He was asked how Twine will fit into the side as it is and would he play as a striker. VK was non committal and said he can play as a striker, but he is versatile and can also play well between the lines. He also said something to the effect of Twine is very talented and he is hoping talented players will make the difference.

Asked about how he felt about Jay scoring and of course he was delighted.

Think he was asked about the captaincy and Cork and he replied something along the lines although one person wears the armband the leadership is needed from others in the team too.

A question about how he broke it to Costelloe about being dropped. VK just started he told him to get his head down and keep working hard.

Asked about Churlinov and he was non committal, as to be expected.

There were some other bits, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

rufus lumley wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:23 pm

This could turn into what questions you would have asked previous managers.
Mine would be,
What is it like to be the first Burnley manger to fall off a bar stool in Nino's Rawtenstall ?

Who was that then? Not Jimmy Mullen?

More Recent.

rufus lumley wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:38 pm

More Recent.

Can’t be Dyche surely? I thought he only fell off bar stools around Whalley?

burnleymik wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:32 pm

He was asked how Twine will fit into the side as it is and would he play as a striker. VK was non committal and said he can play as a striker, but he is versatile and can also play well between the lines. He also said something to the effect of Twine is very talented and he is hoping talented players will make the difference.

Asked about how he felt about Jay scoring and of course he was delighted.

Think he was asked about the captaincy and Cork and he replied something along the lines although one person wears the armband the leadership is needed from others in the team too.

A question about how he broke it to Costelloe about being dropped. VK just started he told him to get his head down and keep working hard.

Asked about Churlinov and he was non committal, as to be expected.

There were some other bits, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

Cheers, much appreciated

Get Bird out of the club for that

Goalposts wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:57 pm

It’s possible he meant to ask it in a positive vein , as something to celebrate.. however it did come across as left field and out of context

That was my thought, a bit of "look at is, Burnley the so-called racist club with its black manager".

But even if that was the intention, I'm not sure there was any need for it.

I’m glad that so many people are happy to hang their hat on Phil Bird not being a racist, without any knowledge either way as to whether he is or isn’t. Fair play to those people.

Is the question he asked racist, does it make him a racist no it isn’t and no it doesn’t but it’s certainly stupid naive and above anything else unnecessary.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:58 pm

I hate that sort of question, he’s our manager, not our black manager. Why even bring that up? It’s almost the sort of question someone who has an issue with it would ask.

I agree with "why bring that up" but the MSM (especially BBC) nowadays seemingly try to make many things (that aren't about race) about race - so Bird is just falling into that to some extent.

So, how did VK actually reply? What did he say?

It’s supposed to be a pre-match press conference so questions should really relate to the forthcoming match.

I thought the question was totally wrong and unacceptable.

He said "what's it to you, you white *****"

Only joking, mods, please delete at will

Coincidentally during the Hull City commentary he said he "gets confused" between Ian Maatsen and Samuel Bastien, because it's "all new to me".
I don't recall him getting confused between Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood.
And now he asks this question to our manager.
Why bring race into anything these days? It shouldn't be recognised, let alone referenced in any environment.
If I asked my boss that question, I'd be in front of HR.
It might be different if this was raised during a wider feature of managers in football during Black History Month or Kick it Out, for example.
Our club has had an image problem for years due to the mainly white British recruitment. I can't be the only fan that got sick of the "Brexit FC" jibes.
Now we've started a new, exciting era and this happens.
Maybe he's not racist, I don't know the guy. But he is at least, deeply ignorant.
This guy is out of date and out of touch, and I'd like him out of our club.

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:29 pm

I’m sure he isn’t a racist Elizabeth. It was just a strange out of context question to ask.

Jamesy, me , you and every reasonable person knows that Bird isn’t a racist. I posted because of the agitators who constantly stir up the racial card.
Comments from the poster I replied to who wrote that it was the type of question someone who had an issue with Kompany being a black manager might ask are totally out of order and unhelpful in the real fight against racists.
The disappointing thing is that some decent people can’t see what these people are up to.
Of course it was a strange question to ask and it would be useful to know what prompted it.

A poor and inappropriate question but doesn't deserve chastising for it.

Now don't know Phil but i think it was just a off the cuff question that he wished he hadn't but there you go .
It reminds me of a girl at work who has an anchor tattoo on herself , one of the lads said why would you have that done , i just said " maybe she likes seamen " well it is still a running joke . Look still makes cringe but it was said without thinking .

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:23 pm

Of course it was a strange question to ask and it would be useful to know what prompted it.

it really doesn't matter. It could have been a brain-fart, ill-considered, good-intentioned (to bring out pride) or deliberately more provocative, but either way it has no relevance whatsoever. There is simply no basis to have asked it and there is no "excuse" response to be given

JLR81 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:21 pm

Coincidentally during the Hull City commentary he said he "gets confused" between Ian Maatsen and Samuel Bastien, because it's "all new to me".

That stuck out to me when I was watching too.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:23 pm

Jamesy, me , you and every reasonable person knows that Bird isn’t a racist. I posted because of the agitators who constantly stir up the racial card.
Comments from the poster I replied to who wrote that it was the type of question someone who had an issue with Kompany being a black manager might ask are totally out of order and unhelpful in the real fight against racists.
The disappointing thing is that some decent people can’t see what these people are up to.
Of course it was a strange question to ask and it would be useful to know what prompted it.

How do we know he's not a racist?

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:39 pm

How do we know he's not a racist?

That question needs flipping on it's head.

Elizabeth wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:23 pm

Jamesy, me , you and every reasonable person knows that Bird isn’t a racist. I posted because of the agitators who constantly stir up the racial card.
Comments from the poster I replied to who wrote that it was the type of question someone who had an issue with Kompany being a black manager might ask are totally out of order and unhelpful in the real fight against racists.
The disappointing thing is that some decent people can’t see what these people are up to.
Of course it was a strange question to ask and it would be useful to know what prompted it.

I get it Elizabeth and I agree with everything you say above. Perhaps it’s time to put this one to bed as it’s run it’s course now?

Pickles wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:39 pm

That stuck out to me when I was watching too.

I feel that related to his lack of familiarity with the squad, and on some level the two names being somewhat similar - both ending in the rime that is "en"

taio wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:40 pm

That question needs flipping on it's head.

Of course it does, but us who don't know him cannot say either way, unlike the poster I was replying to.

Nori1958 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:48 pm

Of course it does, but us who don't know him cannot say either way, unlike the poster I was replying to.

I think it's best to assume someone isn't a racist unless they prove otherwise.

A really, really poor question to ask. Whatever context or intention; it is just a shocking question.

This is what identity politics and bullshit divisive media has created.

Phil probably felt the need to ask that from some crap thought he had because of some of the dross that’s come on our airwaves over the past few years subconsciously influencing him - guaranteed he thought that he was gonna be ‘inclusive’ or whatever for his great question.

It creates this weird ‘treading on eggshell’ environment and is quite frankly insulting to Vincent.

Any deliberate treatment to an individual that differentiates based on things outside of their own behaviour is just discriminatory, full stop.

We have to leave this behind and to quote a famous Dr ‘to judge people not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character’.

We could have a full team and back room staff entirely from Burnley or Mozambique; as long as they gave their all for Burnley I’d support them either way.

UTC

Very interesting that the press conference is still available on Clarets+ but that question has now been removed.

taio wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:40 pm

That question needs flipping on it's head.

Spot on.