So What Do We Want Our Club To Be Like?

[Whiskyman]

Taans's thread "Take a Bow Dave's" got me thinking. I don't agree with all the dewy eyed "did it for love" bollox (at least that's how I see it) about buying the club because they're "fans". Maybe they are but personally I think that's horse manure.

But what makes a good football club owner? Some people probaly think Gold & Sullivan qualify but I would rate Abramovich as one of the best. Why? Because he has transformed Chelsea from a club who were pretty much at our level in the overall scheme of things into the "super club" bracket. And from a purely football perspective he genuinely seems to enjoy watching his toy performing.

The Sheikh at Man City is also transforming them into a big player. Like the Russian they are investing very heavily in their academies and training facilities. But the Sheikh and his people don't seem to have the same enjoyment in watching their "investment" rip the opposition to pieces.

Our own owners, absolute paupers in comparison, have gone the other

[bonzosbest74]

So I guess my question is do we want someone like Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour

Yes, yes, yes.


It ain't happening organically so let's buy some success, surely we've been through enough crap as fans an deserve a sugar daddy.


I've served my apprenticeship, my first game at UP was 1983 and I've seen lots yo-yoing, been to a cup final in Cardiff, some play-offs, a third place finish and lots of sh1t stuff.


A word of caution though. . . . . .whoever it is has to be a genuine billionaire. There are too many like the forrest, Hull & Cardiff owners who are merely masquerading as rich boys and are possibly as much of a hindrance as they are a help.

[OZHAMMER]

So I guess my question is do we want someone like Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour

Yes, yes, yes.


It ain't happening organically so let's buy some success, surely we've been through enough crap as fans an deserve a sugar daddy.


I've served my apprenticeship, my first game at UP was 1983 and I've seen lots yo-yoing, been to a cup final in Cardiff, some play-offs, a third place finish and lots of sh1t stuff.


A word of caution though. . . . . .whoever it is has to be a genuine billionaire. There are too many like the forrest, Hull & Cardiff owners who are merely masquerading as rich boys and are possibly as much of a hindrance as they are a help.[/quote]

wouldn't that make us plastic? as a club?

i don't care so much about success, as i do about our heritage, and what we stand for. bring back the quality football, and put more emphasis on the academy, and i will be

[herbiehammer]

So I guess my question is do we want someone like Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour

Yes, yes, yes.


It ain't happening organically so let's buy some success, surely we've been through enough crap as fans an deserve a sugar daddy.


I've served my apprenticeship, my first game at UP was 1983 and I've seen lots yo-yoing, been to a cup final in Cardiff, some play-offs, a third place finish and lots of sh1t stuff.


A word of caution though. . . . . .whoever it is has to be a genuine billionaire. There are too many like the forrest, Hull & Cardiff owners who are merely masquerading as rich boys and are possibly as much of a hindrance as they are a help.[/quote]

wouldn't that make us plastic? as a club?

i don't care so much about success, as i do about our heritage, and what we stand for. bring back the quality football, and p

[rednekst]

There is one thing I can say without much contradiction and that is the 'owners' didn't buy us because they were fans.

If they were real 'fans' then they would have put their money into the club before buying Birmingham.

They, like most business ventures, have an overview in the long term...their's was the acquisition of a new ground and selling Boleyn Park.

It's called money, money, money...to them!!!!

[GARNETT]

Whisky,
I would like very much to know where you got your information re our scouting and investment in our training grounds.

[Taansend]

I thought talking about our owners was pointless because it's "just business".

[Tone_Loc]

Whisky,
I would like very much to know where you got your information re our scouting and investment in our training grounds.

I don't think disbandment and disinvestment are things that would be "announced" by anyone. I think Whisk's general point is that there's very little evidence to suggest that academy and scouting activities are being advanced or maintained (there's certainly nothing to suggest that we have a cohesive strategy from the junior teams into the senior squad).

If they (SuGo) had been investing heavily into the academy then they would sure as hell go out of their way to make sure we all know about it.
Especially around season-ticket renewal time.

When was the last time you ever heard David Gold actually talk about the academy playing a "key role" ??

Apologies if there ARE examples of such commitment left right and centre but I've not seen any of them. Would love to be wrong however and it would cheer me up no en

[Ironworks1]

So I guess my question is do we want someone like Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour

Yes, yes, yes.


It ain't happening organically so let's buy some success, surely we've been through enough crap as fans an deserve a sugar daddy.


I've served my apprenticeship, my first game at UP was 1983 and I've seen lots yo-yoing, been to a cup final in Cardiff, some play-offs, a third place finish and lots of sh1t stuff.


A word of caution though. . . . . .whoever it is has to be a genuine billionaire. There are too many like the forrest, Hull & Cardiff owners who are merely masquerading as rich boys and are possibly as much of a hindrance as they are a help.[/quote]

No no no

I couldn't care a s hit about success that's been wholly purchased by an owner with zero affiliation to the club.

I didn't want the Icelandics to buy us. I hate the modern desire to buy success - immedi

[jon15u]

How would i like our club to be?!? Simple, capable to compete with the big boys without losing( well its already lost, ) its identity, To be capable of even a half chance of walking out winners away to Chelski, and not too big for our boots to be beaten by the likes of Cardiff.

Never do i want to become a Chelsea, a middle of the road team would do me fine, which is almost what we are, all we need is a manager that hasnt got Samanthas ethos, Rodgers springs to mind.

I want the feeling of fighting for a win, or a cup, not the feeling of its our given right.

I want players we can be proud of, the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, ( we have one in Noble, but to a lesser degree). I want to feel once again pride being a supporter, instead of feeling like our club is a joke.

West Ham i will support till the day i die, its runners a different matter.