I don't think it is as clear as that, like he was suddenly undermined or undermined from the off. I think a few things lead to one another, culminating in the sale of Milner behind his back and the purchase of players behind his back also. The final straw if you like, the point of no going back.
I'm mainly guessing here but I'll put this scenario to you.
We just don't know what went on behind the scenes which makes it impossible to try to analyse what happened this summer. I'm still a bit stunned by the whole business and there have been so many theories that I've tied myself in knots trying to make sense of it all.
All I know is that Keegan walked out on us at the absolute worst possible time. If him being undermined in the market was the main issue, why walk as soon as it no longer became an issue? It wouldn't have resurfaced until December as we approached Jan 1st. And if it was the main issue, why not walk as son as he had an inkling he wasn't in total charge of transfer policy?
Those are my main problems with how it's panned out. I'm sure there's a perfectly good answer, and I'm probably missing it, but it doesn't add up.
I reckon he was told or assured that the likes of Taylor, Milner and Owen would be tied up to new deals and KK reassured these players and indeed others too and kept them up to date with developments, promising to bring in quality and to strengthen the squad which the likes of Shay were banging on about publicly even before KK was here and when Milner was sold, no new deal for Owen arrived and the promises he made to the squad based on assurances made to him, didn't materialise, he weighed all that up and thought "I can't go back". Trust is an important thing and so is authority. If players sensed or knew KK had no real authority, things can unravel very quickly. Players are very selfish, that's why it takes special managers to knit them together and create a winning team. Look what happened with Sir Bobby when he began to be undermined, he started to lose the dressing room. Players also watch TV and when they see KK saying Milner is staying and that's the end of it only for him to leave and KK saying it was his decision when they would have all know that wasn't true, what should they think?
You're a teacher Midds, if you promised your class a trip to Disneyland at the end of term and it never materialised, you'd lose their trust and while they may still do their homework because they have to, i.e. the players will still play and put a smile on, will they go that extra step for you? Will they do their best as you've inspired them to do so?
It's not a reason of course but I bet it played on his mind. He's a players man more than anything and we all know how sensitive he is, he probably thought about all that.
And then the fans. The KK we love and know fights our corner, is one of us. As much stick has he's had for walking out from a minority, he'd get stick from fans for paying lip service to a corrupt regieme, not instantly of course, but when the truth came out which it would surely do as the Jan window wouldn't have been any different.
Lets be honest, when you're being screwed about, timing goes out the window, sometimes you just have to get the fuck out of there.
That's all entirely possible. That's the thing, everyone's got a theory and has been reading between the lines all summer. Now it's exploded we're putting 2 and 2 together and I'm sure between us we've just about covered all eventualities.
I'd like to think Keegan put the club first and was professional throughout the summer but I've got my doubts. His comments after Chelsea scared the life out of me if I'm honest and set the alarm bells ringing loud and clear. Managers who are happy with things don't come out with what he did that day. This supposed undermining of him started a long time ago in my opinion.
Ah, fuck it! It's history now and I just want us to pick a few points up, starting tomorrow. The club comes first and always will.
