Howard should have won

franknhonestfranknhonest Posts: 17
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I think Howard should have won the Apprentice. He was clearly the most intelligent guy there (and a fellow mathematician to boot!).

Why is it that most people who leave school (and university) can't write properly or add up? Exam standards should go back to those of 1985 or earlier.

Last year's candidates were better than this year, which explains why there were 4 people in the final last year and only 2 this year.

If this year's group of goons is the best the BBC can find for the show then it needs to do a serious rethink.

:)

Comments

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 414
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    Howard had potential but did not live upto in the later rounds. Similar to Ben who had the potential and the raw business skills to be the next apprentice but did not deliver consistently enough. I have disagreed with SAS more than usual this series but Ben did look a broken man after hm Pmed that one task. Howard also justly went over Lorraine and Kate.

    I think this year's group was better than last year. Other than Alex, Lee, Claire and then Raef last year does not have the same depth as this year. Plus this year had some unquestionable legends and brilliant characters. The mix was magnificient.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 153
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    I'd agree with the op. I also thought Howard was naturally the more complete article than the girls.

    However, SAS has never been a fan of methodical people in this show. He's always more likely to go for flambuoyancy and instinct, something that just wasn't Howard's game.

    If I was choosing the winner though, I would have gone for Howard.
  • SystemSystem Posts: 2,096,970
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    I liked Howard. I think he would have been a worthy winner, but I knew SAS would not pick him.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,220
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    If I was to choose someone to hire/ work with in a real life it would be Howard.

    I wouldn't pick him as the Apprentice for Sir Alan Sugar though
  • jjackson42jjackson42 Posts: 9,202
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    Jocko Homo wrote: »
    If I was to choose someone to hire/ work with in a real life it would be Howard.

    I wouldn't pick him as the Apprentice for Sir Alan Sugar though

    Came across as a good back-office team player.

    JJ
  • davey_waveydavey_wavey Posts: 27,406
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    I think Howard was very competent and consistent throughout. He would be a good person to employ in business but I don't think he was the right person to be Sir Alan's Apprentice. I agreed with Nick's assessment of him that he didn't take enough risks.
  • Compton_scatterCompton_scatter Posts: 2,711
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    I read that Alan didn't want any fish-faced people working for him.
  • Sweet FASweet FA Posts: 10,913
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    None of the men were much cop this year, including Howard.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 924
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    I think Howard was very competent and consistent throughout. He would be a good person to employ in business but I don't think he was the right person to be Sir Alan's Apprentice. I agreed with Nick's assessment of him that he didn't take enough risks.

    I agree. However I don't think he seemed to want the job as much as Debra and Yasmina very obviously did. Although I would have put him above Lorraine, Kate or James and into the interview round. The end winner would have been the same however.
  • Burning BallsBurning Balls Posts: 4,493
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    Howard was very strong, but his risk-averse psychology did not match with Sir Alan's enterprise.

    Both approaches to risk can be successful (high/low risk) if handled correctly.

    It's just too bad that their approaches were so different. Sir Alan went for Yasmina because she was a low-cost high-risk innovator which suits his enterprise better.

    (The chocolates for example were low-cost and high-risk due to the innovation. Could have been a hit or miss really, but it hit).
  • brangdonbrangdon Posts: 14,090
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    Was he more risk-adverse than, say, Kate?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 5,273
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    I doubt Howard was the most intelligent person there. I'm afraid he came across to me like a grade A drip. To be fair, he was quite useful on tasks, but most of the girls has more balls than he did. He just fitted the nice young good-looking male demographic which tends to make favourites out of guys whether or not they deserve it.
  • Kyle123Kyle123 Posts: 25,782
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    Howard wasnt bad, but I think his firing was justfied. Maybe not over Lorraine, but he was a bit too safe.

    Last years candidates sucked big time. (Except for Claire)
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 924
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    Kyle123 wrote: »
    Howard wasnt bad, but I think his firing was justfied. Maybe not over Lorraine, but he was a bit too safe.

    Last years candidates sucked big time. (Except for Claire)

    In some ways the not play safe/in a recession was a bit of a theme this year. SAS's belief that in a recession companies should take risks, BUT manage those risks properly. As SAS has weathered several recessions now perhaps it's sound advice. Paul Kemlsey doesn't seem to have paid attention though :D

    Claire???? Suck-his-lips-right-off Claire? Oh Pleeeezzz!
    Actually many of them weren't that good really compared to this year. I would employ Lee, Simon and Jennifer M though.

    http://www.bellamakeover.ie/About_us-i-47.html OT but what Jenny M is now doing.
  • LaurieMarlowLaurieMarlow Posts: 5,003
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    Tercet2 wrote: »

    http://www.bellamakeover.ie/About_us-i-47.html OT but what Jenny M is now doing.

    She'll have a tough time making that project work over the next few years. Great idea for Ireland in 2006, but the country is expected to hit 20% unemployment by the end of the year. No money for those kinds of fripperies.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 924
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    She'll have a tough time making that project work over the next few years. Great idea for Ireland in 2006, but the country is expected to hit 20% unemployment by the end of the year. No money for those kinds of fripperies.

    Sorry if it was a bit off topic. Howard getting overlooked again :(

    Yeah, Ireland's economy seems to have tanked. But in recessions high end specialist firms often come through. There's always a market for quality. Whereas you compete only on price, someone will always undercut you. Recession never hits everybody, there's always some whose business increases because of the collapse of others eg accountants handling liquidations. Also during the 30's recession Hollywood boomed. People escaped into fantasy and glamour if only for a moment.

    Bringing it back to Howard, he's in the pub business. That should do well in a recession too for similar escape reasons.
  • LaurieMarlowLaurieMarlow Posts: 5,003
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    Tercet2 wrote: »
    Sorry if it was a bit off topic. Howard getting overlooked again :(

    Yeah, Ireland's economy seems to have tanked. But in recessions high end specialist firms often come through. There's always a market for quality. Whereas you compete only on price, someone will always undercut you. Recession never hits everybody, there's always some whose business increases because of the collapse of others eg accountants handling liquidations. Also during the 30's recession Hollywood boomed. People escaped into fantasy and glamour if only for a moment.

    Bringing it back to Howard, he's in the pub business. That should do well in a recession too for similar escape reasons.

    While I agree with some of what you're saying, I don't think you can necessarily say that because there's a market for specialist firms and glamour can be popular in recession that this business is likely to do well.

    Its success or failure will come down to a variety of different factors, but I think it's worth remembering that 20% unemployment is massive and those still in jobs are all facing wage cuts (even public sector workers). I have loads of friends in Dublin and after years of spending like tomorrow will never come, they're suddenly having to budget for basics like food and toiletries. I can't think of a single one who could fork out for this, though a couple of years go there would have been quite a few.

    If the business was established, I'd have more faith, but I would not want to be involved in a start up in Ireland at the current time. Particularly given that it's selling such luxury (and such frippery for want of a better word, as nobody really needs a high end fashion photography shoot). She's selling Diamonds FGS!!!! There's a thriving wedding photography market anyway, I'm sure freelancers would undercut these prices significantly, they don't have grafton st rents to pay for one thing.

    But we will all have to wait and see.

    Howard, on the other hand, is in a great business to ride out the recession. :)
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 924
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    As you said, Howard is in a great business to ride things out. But drink isn't a necessity (ok for some maybe) but it's a way of making yourself feel better after a crap day. I agree with you, her market will shrink greatly, but it's impossible for us to know how many are needed per week to cover running costs and stay afloat. Free lancers can undercut, but unless they advertise people won't think to phone them unless it's a wedding. Her USP is it's a one stop shop and the advertising puts the idea into heads. A wedding anniversay present perhaps?
    Anyhoo, sorry Howard and fans for going OT.
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