The truth about Lai's

[Whicka_Mon]

Soulman, if you owned a corner shop with a flat above it in which you reside, worth, say a £100,000. You put the flat and shop on the market, intending to leave the area and retire, A gentleman from afar does his due diligence and offers you £300,000. Your customers say please don’t sell to him because he plans to turn the corner shop into a shoe shop and we will have to go a long way to get our shopping.

What you do? Well I know what anyone would do. I know the UK,s top accountant would suggest you take the £100,000 because they know the value of those customers thoughts and how they loved you for charging them inflated prices for years to keep your little shop in the black. They would lose £200,000 because they believe the customers have some kind of ownership of something they utilised but actually never did own and have no right to.

How the people who used the shop for years spent there money is for them. They utilised a service as football fans do for their entertainment (or not). They follow something that they do not own, control and have little, if any say in what goes on within that club.

One man though, one who shopped cautiously over years, saving £600.00 or more a week, well he now owns a supermarket so never goes hungry, unlike the silly little accountant who holds a grudge tighter than a rusted nut, the one who despises the shop keeper for doing sound business, the one who now walks to the supermarket to buy his groceries then slinks home to moan about all that befalls his ruined accountancy career.

The shop keeper, now retired, is enjoying his well earned retirement.

Good analogy apart from the well earned retirement bit

[Whicka_Mon]

Or Evans in January?

People surmise things and then state that it is the truth. Although it may well be Lai's agenda to recoup his outlay. Turning down multi millions whilst still paying the players involved wages means that he is really stupid or this is not the case.

[BaggieBlood]

Soulman, peace was wonderful, he always invested in youth and the stadium.

Look at the the Halford lane and the east stand corners, what exceptional work.

He came in as the west Bromwich born wba fan who forced out Paul Thompson who actually built the East stand.

He certainly backed his managers and was greatly saddened when robbo have agreed fees for ugo and hasselbaink decided he didn't need them after all and would rather go down.

He didn't force longstanding wba shareholders to sell their cherished shares to him and his sister through one scheme or another.

He totally deserved a £30m dividend and £180m fee on top of the £1m annual salary.

He also did not sell to a naive idiot after telling us he would sell to somebody who would have our best interests at heart and would take us forward, but ensured he benefited the most and his statement of "mid championship team" became true.

The thing is soulman you pay your money and back the team you love.

You don't make excuse after excuse for not going and you just don't come on here as it breaks up your day and gives you something to do to away the hours.

In essence your season ticket is your supermarket loyalty card and you were born and bred a baggie and that is what you will always be despite who owns the supermarket.

We should put a statue of the c??? In the east stand toilets so his fans can make the one in a lifetime pilgrimage to his shrine.

Until then pilgrims will make up boll ux that fans wanted the c??? Head on a spike while he was here and basically forced him to sell, when the truth is he wanted to sell for years and employed the divisive and destructive pulis to ensure the top flight status until he sold up to the highest bidder.

[WBA123]

Yeh just one question
If this is Lai's agenda why did he not sell Dawson and JRod for £25m.

Exactly, he could have asset stripped us if he really wanted to. I completely understand he's a business man and he wants the best return for his investment.

I imagine in the summer when the window closed, he wanted to see where we were come January and if we are in or around the top 8 or close to the playoffs then he might have a dart at a player or two in January transfer window.

Its a sensible business plan, look just down the road at Villa to see how spending money guarantees you absolutely nothing. In fact Leeds, Norwich, Sheffield Utd are the top 3 and they have spent a fraction of what we have. Its about spending it wisely. That's why we need the new technical director and recruitment man to be exceptionally good at their jobs.

Ultimately, 3 seasons in the premiership are much more lucrative than 3 seasons of parachute payments.

[baggieal]

Exactly, he could have asset stripped us if he really wanted to. I completely understand he's a business man and he wants the best return for his investment.

I imagine in the summer when the window closed, he wanted to see where we were come January and if we are in or around the top 8 or close to the playoffs then he might have a dart at a player or two in January transfer window.

Its a sensible business plan, look just down the road at Villa to see how spending money guarantees you absolutely nothing. In fact Leeds, Norwich, Sheffield Utd are the top 3 and they have spent a fraction of what we have. Its about spending it wisely. That's why we need the new technical director and recruitment man to be exceptionally good at their jobs.

Ultimately, 3 seasons in the premiership are much more lucrative than 3 seasons of parachute payments.

You are right about spending. Equally, a good experienced and tactical manager, could make do with what they have at their disposal and still get the side playing good football on a shoestring i.e Smith when he was at Brentford! Even Mowbray is doing a good job on a shoestring...........

You could also say, only an inexperienced manager would play Chris Brunt in CM and have a big say to recruit former mates like Mears and Bartley who are crap, and not play decent youngsters i.e Edwards. You could say say such an inexperienced manager does not know plan B - makes absolutely stupid subs, and comes out with insulting bollox after we have been utter garbage i.e" we battled" etc etc. Step forward Darren Moore!

Big Dave lost the supporters at Hull with the team playing like a pub side ( not a blip ) and the drums will be banging loudly for him to go, if we are garbage again for the fifth game on the trot!!!

Do I feel sorry for him? No whilst he was a legend as a player - I have wasted hundreds of pounds lately to watch worse football than anything Pulis served up ( that takes some doing ) but we have been playing Hull, Wigan etc - not Man City or Chelsea FFS............

PS - bet that little t wat in China wishes he would have accepted 25 million or circa for Dawson and Rodriguez. Nobody would pay that now based on their pathetic performances of late!!!!

[Whicka_Mon]

You are right about spending. Equally, a good experienced and tactical manager, could make do with what they have at their disposal and still get the side playing good football on a shoestring i.e Smith when he was at Brentford! Even Mowbray is doing a good job on a shoestring...........

You could also say, only an inexperienced manager would play Chris Brunt in CM and have a big say to recruit former mates like Mears and Bartley who are crap, and not play decent youngsters i.e Edwards. You could say say such an inexperienced manager does not know plan B - makes absolutely stupid subs, and comes out with insulting bollox after we have been utter garbage i.e" we battled" etc etc. Step forward Darren Moore!

Big Dave lost the supporters at Hull with the team playing like a pub side ( not a blip ) and the drums will be banging loudly for him to go, if we are garbage again for the fifth game on the trot!!!

Do I feel sorry for him? No whilst he was a legend as a player - I have wasted hundreds of pounds lately to watch worse football than anything Pulis served up ( that takes some doing ) but we have been playing Hull, Wigan etc - not Man City or Chelsea FFS............

PS - bet that little t wat in China wishes he would have accepted 25 million or circa for Dawson and Rodriguez. Nobody would pay that now based on their pathetic performances of late!!!!

Pulis was experienced he played Brunt at Left Back and right wing. He also didn't have a plan B.
They should have snapped Burnley's hand off with Dawson. Who has been bang average since we signed him. His one above average season has been the exception not the norm.
Even when we signed him and played him at centre half he always dropped a *******. One of the worst passers of a ball I have seen. And now we have him sulking round the place

[baggieal]

Pulis was experienced he played Brunt at Left Back and right wing. He also didn't have a plan B.
They should have snapped Burnley's hand off with Dawson. Who has been bang average since we signed him. His one above average season has been the exception not the norm.
Even when we signed him and played him at centre half he always dropped a *******. One of the worst passers of a ball I have seen. And now we have him sulking round the place

Totally agree with you about Dawson and his body language stinks! He does not want to be with us but he's been found out more now because of the formation and equally with as bad players around him!

Brunt at least did a job in the other positions he played - occasionally! The worst position to put him is CM and he's been ineffective in almost every game. It's more difficult to have a plan B against top premier teams as opposed to the garbage like Hull, Wigan etc etc. I agree the football under Pulis was dire, but nothing beats the last two away games for being so shocking especially when you consider the quality of the opposition.

Can't see Dawson or Rodriguez going for more than 15 million now tops - I would struggle to pay 10! Rodriguez also has been more poor than decent. Whilst, I hated Foster for doing what he did - I must say he's a class above Johnstone who would struggle to get into a premier side - average at best!

Shudder to think had Barnes/Gayle not been with us!

[Baggiemadguern]

Soulman, peace was wonderful, he always invested in youth and the stadium.

Look at the the Halford lane and the east stand corners, what exceptional work.

He came in as the west Bromwich born wba fan who forced out Paul Thompson who actually built the East stand.

He certainly backed his managers and was greatly saddened when robbo have agreed fees for ugo and hasselbaink decided he didn't need them after all and would rather go down.

He didn't force longstanding wba shareholders to sell their cherished shares to him and his sister through one scheme or another.

He totally deserved a £30m dividend and £180m fee on top of the £1m annual salary.

He also did not sell to a naive idiot after telling us he would sell to somebody who would have our best interests at heart and would take us forward, but ensured he benefited the most and his statement of "mid championship team" became true.

The thing is soulman you pay your money and back the team you love.

You don't make excuse after excuse for not going and you just don't come on here as it breaks up your day and gives you something to do to away the hours.

In essence your season ticket is your supermarket loyalty card and you were born and bred a baggie and that is what you will always be despite who owns the supermarket.

We should put a statue of the c??? In the east stand toilets so his fans can make the one in a lifetime pilgrimage to his shrine.

Until then pilgrims will make up boll ux that fans wanted the c??? Head on a spike while he was here and basically forced him to sell, when the truth is he wanted to sell for years and employed the divisive and destructive pulis to ensure the top flight status until he sold up to the highest bidder.

Firstly, my Apologies Soulman.

Baggieblood, I come on here to discuss West Bromwich Albion with like minded people. We might not always agree, I respect that. I use this site as and when I wish to. I do not use it as often as i once did. That is mainly because the excellent humorous posters of a few years back have stopped posting or sadly left this world.

I do not post much during the day because I work.
I do not go to Albion games because geographically it is difficult and exceptionally pricey. I understand that seems to be an issue with some on here, however it is my prerogative and to that end I will follow any football club I choose and comment on them in any way I choose, much like people who comment on politics but never go to the House of Commons.

I have to admit that I perhaps do not love West Brom in the same way as you. I love my family members because they are human and can reciprocate that love. I love animals, again they can show you that in return. Loving a football club, the stand and footballers that wear the shirt they have no affiliation too is a little too far for me. I could follow them (if I chose too) I could support them, enjoy the entertainment, but love? I have more important things in life than West Brom. However, that said, I respect that you do love it and pay to go and see them and be entertained! (I think)

We both do not like where West Brom are or where they seem to be heading. I think we can at least agree on that. I would rather JP was still the owner than Mr Lai, you on the other would rather have neither. I just wonder how many owners we are going to have to have to get the perfect one?

How we go about supporting/following West Brom is an individuals choice and I will continue to follow them as I have done since I was a small boy. I was not born there, how or why I chose to follow them is another story. What I do know is generally posters on this site have been more than welcome to accept oversea followers of West Brom with open arms. To that end I shall continue to post as little and often as I desire

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Firstly, my Apologies Soulman.

Baggieblood, I come on here to discuss West Bromwich Albion with like minded people. We might not always agree, I respect that. I use this site as and when I wish to. I do not use it as often as i once did. That is mainly because the excellent humorous posters of a few years back have stopped posting or sadly left this world.

I do not post much during the day because I work.
I do not go to Albion games because geographically it is difficult and exceptionally pricey. I understand that seems to be an issue with some on here, however it is my prerogative and to that end I will follow any football club I choose and comment on them in any way I choose, much like people who comment on politics but never go to the House of Commons.

I have to admit that I perhaps do not love West Brom in the same way as you. I love my family members because they are human and can reciprocate that love. I love animals, again they can show you that in return. Loving a football club, the stand and footballers that wear the shirt they have no affiliation too is a little too far for me. I could follow them (if I chose too) I could support them, enjoy the entertainment, but love? I have more important things in life than West Brom. However, that said, I respect that you do love it and pay to go and see them and be entertained! (I think)

We both do not like where West Brom are or where they seem to be heading. I think we can at least agree on that. I would rather JP was still the owner than Mr Lai, you on the other would rather have neither. I just wonder how many owners we are going to have to have to get the perfect one?

How we go about supporting/following West Brom is an individuals choice and I will continue to follow them as I have done since I was a small boy. I was not born there, how or why I chose to follow them is another story. What I do know is generally posters on this site have been more than welcome to accept oversea followers of West Brom with open arms. To that end I shall continue to post as little and often as I desire

That is one superb post.

[mickd1961]

That is one superb post.

I totally agree.

I’ve reached a point in my life with grandchildren etc that football now takes a back seat,it no longer takes the same priority for me.

I’ve never understood the need to have West Brom wallpaper and bedspreads at home and to wear Albion logoed clothing like some do.

It’s evident that Albion do represent the centre of some poster’s universe and that’s their prerogative but some of us who are longer in the tooth have changed priorities.