Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
It's not a case of discounting evidence, or being surprised, or not willing to ask the questions. The vast majority of us are just normal fans, we have zero control over the ownerships of the club, or how it's run. The means when new owners come in we really only have 2 choices, be positive and hope for the best, or walk away.
The third option is accept it's going to be a shit and waste or time and money suffering week after week, an unhealthy and masochistic choice.
That being the case most of us choose to hope for the best and continue to support the club season after season. I don't think anybody has the right to judge us for that, not to be surprised when we don't want to hear an unending list of negatives. We've made our choice, we don't need the choice questioned over and over again.
I think it’s those who object to the questions being asked who are the issue. Being disengaged with the situation off the pitch is an option for all of us and a perfectly reasonable choice.
Questions are being asked before they have even step foot in the door though?
Think majority of us have some relative scepticism about any new owners but like it or not, they need to be given a chance before a witch hunt starts.
So questions are not allowed then. Thanks for clarifying.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
What doesn't add up? Sometimes I feel that unless it's your mate varney being involved it's automatically bad.
Other owners with different business models and ideas to what you are used to, can actually work.
Fifth time lucky then.
so because the last 4 have been bad, these owners automatically are? I don't think you will find anyone one here who would defend any of the previous owners but why the negative attitude against the new lot, why are they being tarred with the same brush?
Because of the previous owners, I'm a little apprehensive but i'm open for them to prove themselves. You had them written off as bad and as failures back in January. I'm not sure if you know something that you cant share, or as I said earlier, anyone non Peter Varney automatically gets treated with hatred. I suspect it to be the latter
Inevitably the interview and the motivations behind it are already being slagged off in certain quarters in the usual style, so I'm posting as a reminder the original intro article which explains that this was all CM's own initiative, The link to the main article is at the bottom of that one. When you get to it, you'll see the banner image is a mess, bear with us, I may need techie help with that.
I think the main benefit is an insight into how the structure will work (assuming he is still able to speak for all significant consortium members). There's more than will be possible to put into a club PR statement even if they wanted to. But there were interesting things he asked to keep off the record, and other things we had no time for, such as the future of the real estate. As you will see, he really wanted to talk about him at Sunderland which I managed to avoid until we got to the end of the designated running time, and Zoom terminated that abruptly
Looking forward to see what people make of it
Thanks Prague - interesting.
I guess my more emotional reaction is one of mild disappointment although I'm not sure what else I was expecting. Maybe it's because a lot of this has leaked already and I was hoping for something extra. Maybe I was hoping for a clearer statement of ambitious intent but, again, that is probably an unrealistic expectation. The rest of this transfer window and the next will tell us more.
My head has some concerns:
- I'm worried that there will be no one Head of Charlton - we'll have Rodwell, Scott and Warwick all having seemingly equal status but potentially different visions, missions, objectives - whatever you want to call it - with great potential for core disagreements - who pulls the whole thing together? CM paints a picture of himself as some sort of Walsingham type character whispering in the investor's ears which, again, has the potential for major disruption going forward
- Would like to know a LOT more about Global Football Partners Ltd. Is this just a CAFC vehicle or does it have a wider remit and where does CAFC fit into it?
- CM himself says that GB & JF's investments are relatively small beer for them so that would make it very easy for these individuals to walk away yet I guess we are hugely/solely reliant on them to fund short/medium term losses.
So, my jury is still out, partly driven by our painful experiences in recent years. I'm not in the Airman camp of saying it will fail but I would want to understand a lot more before I adorn my bedroom with Gabriel Brener/Josh Friedman duvets and pillows.
It would be helpful to understand what people think “success” looks like.
I think for the vast majority of us success would be building a squad capable of a minimum top 6 finish this year, with the aim to get promoted next year if we don't win the play offs this season. Once promoted, steady and intelligent investment to establish us as a Championship team with an outside shot at the playoffs over the few years after that.
If we can do the above whilst attaining category one status for the academy I think that is a very successful 4-5 years of ownership without needing gamble astronomical sums.
I know it sounds easy written down and no doubt there will be big challenges along the way to achieve it, but having at the right senior management team in place and astute investment in the playing side should make it a real possibility.
Sounds fine but will probably require, shall we say, £100m net investment?
Wouldn’t that be the same for whoever bought the club be that SE7 or one of the other mystery suitors you’ve mentioned previously ? Sounds a tad high to me but probably close if you’re doing that over and above a five year timescale.
Another day has nearly gone past for this thread. Afka looking increasingly more and more like a mug. Dubai has a lot to answer for. Wonder how Caws feels down at south London press hq?
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
It's not a case of discounting evidence, or being surprised, or not willing to ask the questions. The vast majority of us are just normal fans, we have zero control over the ownerships of the club, or how it's run. The means when new owners come in we really only have 2 choices, be positive and hope for the best, or walk away.
The third option is accept it's going to be a shit and waste or time and money suffering week after week, an unhealthy and masochistic choice.
That being the case most of us choose to hope for the best and continue to support the club season after season. I don't think anybody has the right to judge us for that, not to be surprised when we don't want to hear an unending list of negatives. We've made our choice, we don't need the choice questioned over and over again.
I think it’s those who object to the questions being asked who are the issue. Being disengaged with the situation off the pitch is an option for all of us and a perfectly reasonable choice.
Questions are being asked before they have even step foot in the door though?
Think majority of us have some relative scepticism about any new owners but like it or not, they need to be given a chance before a witch hunt starts.
So questions are not allowed then. Thanks for clarifying.
You are coming across so Holier than thou with your replies. Dismissing everyone as if we are a piece of s**t on the bottom of your shoes without responding to the valid points being raised.
Another day has nearly gone past for this thread. Afka looking increasingly more and more like a mug. Dubai has a lot to answer for. Wonder how Caws feels down at south London press hq?
What about making a return on everything by asset stripping (players) and then walking away?
Is it possible in business to do that?
If you have assets yes, but that's different to a flip.. also a flip is short term and not over years. Considering the amount of people supposedly involved, id have thought there are far easier ways to make money than asset stripping CAFC.
What about gambling on success, not making money, so asset stripping to make the losses less bad?
Sometimes I get two Euromillions lucky dips for £5, and occasionally will get a ‘winning’ return of £3.70 or suchlike.
Seth. I think I’m right in saying that even if some of your worst fears are realised, that you like me would continue to support the club or what’s left of it. I’d suspect you’d be willing to support a “phoenix club” if that were the eventual outcome ? What you’re seemingly worried about is way way way beyond the control of any of us and to be honest it’s probably highly unlikely. Why not draw a line under what’s a fait accompli and just enjoy the ride. Up, down or sideways you’ll be here caring regardless. Quite how you haven't given yourself an ulcer is beyond me. Forget what you can’t control and just support the shirt for a bit.
It’s always been “way beyond the control of any of us”, from the Glikstens onward. It doesn’t stop us exerting influence collectively and sometimes that influence has been decisive. I really, really detest the just “support the shirt” crap - it’s what people said when we moved to Selhurst.
Agree, if everyone just turned up to 'support the shirt' regardless of the shoddy work of an owner, said owner can just shrug and think "I can do whatever I want with this club and the mugs still turn up and pay their money to watch".
@PragueAddick thanks for sharing this. it's a really good interview and dare I say I am optimistic now. Brener and Freidman sound and look like the most sensible and viable owners we have had since our Prem days.
Can I ask you one thing... What was you gut feeling having this conversation with CM. he comes across well to me with his answers. but what is your gut feel?
I say this as, for example everyone who met Southall knew he was a wrongun within seconds! TS, stories still to come, but the videos of him posing for photo shoots etc, a little worrying..
so what do you think of CM?
Brace yourself for a long, and somewhat foggy answer
It is probably the case that when you meet someone who has managed to set himself up very publicly as a cartoon villain or buffoon, you inevitably conclude that they are more complex characters than you supposed. So I'm trying to be aware of that. I'm also aware that I tend to see the good side of people, partly because years of recruitment work builds that tendency in, and that people with more experience of him, and higher up the pay grade than me, do not speak well of him. So caveat emptor..but...
Firstly he is definitely not a wrong'un in the Southall/Farnell sense. Likes a tax haven too much for my taste, but so do some good Lifers
Second, the Eton thing. You can see it in his huge self-belief, and expectation that people will bend to his will; but he's not really another Boris Johnson. It seems that his passion for football is genuine, which itself is unusual with that lot, and there are other things he does which don't fit the template. His politics lean right, but not, it seems, that far right. He seems to genuinely believe in the reform of football governance - he worked with Damian Collins MP on some of the plans, so it's not just talk.
He does indeed know how to charm people and get them on his side, but there's a tendency to treat the attribute as a dark art; yet most journalists need to acquire this skill, and he describes journalism (rather than PR) as his core competence. I tend to think it's not such a dark art because it seems to frequently be undone by another attribute much mentioned by Sunderland people - a volcanic temper. I only saw brief flashes of irritation in our process, but there have been mutterings already from others.
So I would not like him as a boss- but in the interview he seems to obliquely acknowledge this weakness; he has been seriously ill too and it's possible this also has caused him to re-appraise his priorities in life a bit. Trouble is, AFAIK if you have a short fuse, the best you can do is work on controlling it, it never disappears completely (don't I know it )
Like others in the thread, I thought a lot of what he says about how a club should be structured and run made perfect sense. I felt afterwards that if it had been a complete new face, and not CM with his public profile, I'd have been genuinely enthusiastic. Then again, I remind myself that some quite smart Lifers were initially taken in by Katrien Meire. See what I mean, it's complex.
I guess it all comes down to how much influence he wields, and what happens if he uses that influence and then runs up against obstacles, human ones.( I saw a bit of that when he was talking about the EFL). That's where I think things may go a bit pear.
Like I said, caveat emptor, other assessments are available...
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
What doesn't add up? Sometimes I feel that unless it's your mate varney being involved it's automatically bad.
Other owners with different business models and ideas to what you are used to, can actually work.
I think unless he gets the involvement he want and thinks he deserves he's going to slag it
What “involvement” is it you imagine I want, because it only exists in your head, whatever it is? What I do is write. If I want to do that I will.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
What exactly doesn’t stack up based on the Methven interview ? I accept we don’t have anything other than that but why do you think what was said doesn’t stack ? To me I think it’s a refreshingly logical plan.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
It's not a case of discounting evidence, or being surprised, or not willing to ask the questions. The vast majority of us are just normal fans, we have zero control over the ownerships of the club, or how it's run. The means when new owners come in we really only have 2 choices, be positive and hope for the best, or walk away.
The third option is accept it's going to be a shit and waste or time and money suffering week after week, an unhealthy and masochistic choice.
That being the case most of us choose to hope for the best and continue to support the club season after season. I don't think anybody has the right to judge us for that, not to be surprised when we don't want to hear an unending list of negatives. We've made our choice, we don't need the choice questioned over and over again.
I think it’s those who object to the questions being asked who are the issue. Being disengaged with the situation off the pitch is an option for all of us and a perfectly reasonable choice.
Questions are being asked before they have even step foot in the door though?
Think majority of us have some relative scepticism about any new owners but like it or not, they need to be given a chance before a witch hunt starts.
So questions are not allowed then. Thanks for clarifying.
No one said questions so the childish answer isnt warranted. All I said is that there being asked before TS name has been taken off the door.
Things will come out in the wash sooner or later if thats the case but maybe...just maybe...we end up with owners who do what they think is best who make the odd mistake here and there.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
Then we might as well close the club, nothing stacks up, if they buy the assets would that make you feel better? It’s just a much bigger risk.
Anyone buying a club is taking a huge financial gamble, that’s the reality of English football.
What about making a return on everything by asset stripping (players) and then walking away?
Is it possible in business to do that?
If you have assets yes, but that's different to a flip.. also a flip is short term and not over years. Considering the amount of people supposedly involved, id have thought there are far easier ways to make money than asset stripping CAFC.
What about gambling on success, not making money, so asset stripping to make the losses less bad?
Sometimes I get two Euromillions lucky dips for £5, and occasionally will get a ‘winning’ return of £3.70 or suchlike.
Seth. I think I’m right in saying that even if some of your worst fears are realised, that you like me would continue to support the club or what’s left of it. I’d suspect you’d be willing to support a “phoenix club” if that were the eventual outcome ? What you’re seemingly worried about is way way way beyond the control of any of us and to be honest it’s probably highly unlikely. Why not draw a line under what’s a fait accompli and just enjoy the ride. Up, down or sideways you’ll be here caring regardless. Quite how you haven't given yourself an ulcer is beyond me. Forget what you can’t control and just support the shirt for a bit.
It’s always been “way beyond the control of any of us”, from the Glikstens onward. It doesn’t stop us exerting influence collectively and sometimes that influence has been decisive. I really, really detest the just “support the shirt” crap - it’s what people said when we moved to Selhurst.
You missed out the bit where I said “for a bit”. I’m not, unlike you so negative as to think this new ship is holed before it sets sail. Tired of your lecturing to be honest. You hold a very special place in the Charlton Supporter history but I think you’ll see from the tone of many recent posts that there’s a place to embark on a witch hunt for the owners and it ain’t right now. If and when it is you can glory in I told you so.
I think for the vast majority of us success would be building a squad capable of a minimum top 6 finish this year, with the aim to get promoted next year if we don't win the play offs this season. Once promoted, steady and intelligent investment to establish us as a Championship team with an outside shot at the playoffs over the few years after that.
If we can do the above whilst attaining category one status for the academy I think that is a very successful 4-5 years of ownership without needing gamble astronomical sums.
I know it sounds easy written down and no doubt there will be big challenges along the way to achieve it, but having at the right senior management team in place and astute investment in the playing side should make it a real possibility.
Sounds fine but will probably require, shall we say, £100m net investment?
Is that how much Plymouth have spent on the last two seasons?
Are Plymouth an established Championship side with a Category One academy? Because those were the metrics in the post Airman was replying to.
I think for the vast majority of us success would be building a squad capable of a minimum top 6 finish this year, with the aim to get promoted next year if we don't win the play offs this season. Once promoted, steady and intelligent investment to establish us as a Championship team with an outside shot at the playoffs over the few years after that.
If we can do the above whilst attaining category one status for the academy I think that is a very successful 4-5 years of ownership without needing gamble astronomical sums.
I know it sounds easy written down and no doubt there will be big challenges along the way to achieve it, but having at the right senior management team in place and astute investment in the playing side should make it a real possibility.
Sounds fine but will probably require, shall we say, £100m net investment?
Is that how much Plymouth have spent on the last two seasons?
Are Plymouth an established Championship side with a Category One academy? Because those were the metrics in the post Airman was replying to.
Okay, I apologies. Substitute Plymouth and add Luton, Coventry, Rotherham, Birmingham. Shall I carry on?
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
Then we might as well close the club, nothing stacks up, if they buy the assets would that make you feel better? It’s just a much bigger risk.
Anyone buying a club is taking a huge financial gamble, that’s the reality of English football.
This is the way I see it too. Our club has its own unique problems but you have to be a bit mad to want to buy any EFL club at this moment in time.
I won’t be rolling out the red carpet or anything for Methven & co. I just hope there’s enough enthusiasm and nous to get the right players in for a promotion push and consolidation in the league above, before the money men get bored.
It’s not long term safety by any means, but it’s far better than staying rudderless under Sandgaard in the short term.
I can't believe that he's so naive not to know the role of a CEO. From the various points he makes about himself I think he's going to perform the role in all but name.
Lets hope he phones sandgaard for advice on that (not !!!) Here we go again ?
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
I’m with you @Airman Brown , I don’t see how this deal stacks up unless they can get us into the EPL in quick time and flip us for a profit.
Inevitably the interview and the motivations behind it are already being slagged off in certain quarters in the usual style, so I'm posting as a reminder the original intro article which explains that this was all CM's own initiative, The link to the main article is at the bottom of that one. When you get to it, you'll see the banner image is a mess, bear with us, I may need techie help with that.
I think the main benefit is an insight into how the structure will work (assuming he is still able to speak for all significant consortium members). There's more than will be possible to put into a club PR statement even if they wanted to. But there were interesting things he asked to keep off the record, and other things we had no time for, such as the future of the real estate. As you will see, he really wanted to talk about him at Sunderland which I managed to avoid until we got to the end of the designated running time, and Zoom terminated that abruptly
Looking forward to see what people make of it
Thanks Prague - interesting.
I guess my more emotional reaction is one of mild disappointment although I'm not sure what else I was expecting. Maybe it's because a lot of this has leaked already and I was hoping for something extra. Maybe I was hoping for a clearer statement of ambitious intent but, again, that is probably an unrealistic expectation. The rest of this transfer window and the next will tell us more.
My head has some concerns:
- I'm worried that there will be no one Head of Charlton - we'll have Rodwell, Scott and Warwick all having seemingly equal status but potentially different visions, missions, objectives - whatever you want to call it - with great potential for core disagreements - who pulls the whole thing together? CM paints a picture of himself as some sort of Walsingham type character whispering in the investor's ears which, again, has the potential for major disruption going forward
- Would like to know a LOT more about Global Football Partners Ltd. Is this just a CAFC vehicle or does it have a wider remit and where does CAFC fit into it?
- CM himself says that GB & JF's investments are relatively small beer for them so that would make it very easy for these individuals to walk away yet I guess we are hugely/solely reliant on them to fund short/medium term losses.
So, my jury is still out, partly driven by our painful experiences in recent years. I'm not in the Airman camp of saying it will fail but I would want to understand a lot more before I adorn my bedroom with Gabriel Brener/Josh Friedman duvets and pillows.
It would be helpful to understand what people think “success” looks like.
I don’t think asking questions is the same thing as treating somebody with hatred.
Apart from your good self declaring your hatred for Tories and Brexit voters I seldom see the word hatred posted on here. Please can you quote who has used the word hate on this thread.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
I’m with you @Airman Brown , I don’t see how this deal stacks up unless they can get us into the EPL in quick time and flip us for a profit.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
It's not a case of discounting evidence, or being surprised, or not willing to ask the questions. The vast majority of us are just normal fans, we have zero control over the ownerships of the club, or how it's run. The means when new owners come in we really only have 2 choices, be positive and hope for the best, or walk away.
The third option is accept it's going to be a shit and waste or time and money suffering week after week, an unhealthy and masochistic choice.
That being the case most of us choose to hope for the best and continue to support the club season after season. I don't think anybody has the right to judge us for that, not to be surprised when we don't want to hear an unending list of negatives. We've made our choice, we don't need the choice questioned over and over again.
I think it’s those who object to the questions being asked who are the issue. Being disengaged with the situation off the pitch is an option for all of us and a perfectly reasonable choice.
Questions are being asked before they have even step foot in the door though?
Think majority of us have some relative scepticism about any new owners but like it or not, they need to be given a chance before a witch hunt starts.
So questions are not allowed then. Thanks for clarifying.
Before we all dig Rick out (I’m not saying he’s right or wrong here), please remember that if we need to protest again, mobilise or take action in future, he’ll be the first one there making sure all runs smoothly and we’ll be relying on his experience once again. The man is Charlton through and through.
Christ Airman, how about an ounce of positivity for once?
See also Spivs, Duchatelet, Southall and Sandgaard. It’s always the same - why don’t we just discount the evidence and pose for selfies? Anyone who doesn’t is “negative”. Then people are surprised when it all turns to shit.
If it doesn’t appear to stack up, the chances are it won’t. I’m just asking the questions.
What doesn't add up? Sometimes I feel that unless it's your mate varney being involved it's automatically bad.
Other owners with different business models and ideas to what you are used to, can actually work.
Fifth time lucky then.
Didn’t think you should tar everyone with the same brush, despite the number of times we have been bitten.
It would be helpful to understand what people think “success” looks like.
I think for the vast majority of us success would be building a squad capable of a minimum top 6 finish this year, with the aim to get promoted next year if we don't win the play offs this season. Once promoted, steady and intelligent investment to establish us as a Championship team with an outside shot at the playoffs over the few years after that.
If we can do the above whilst attaining category one status for the academy I think that is a very successful 4-5 years of ownership without needing gamble astronomical sums.
I know it sounds easy written down and no doubt there will be big challenges along the way to achieve it, but having at the right senior management team in place and astute investment in the playing side should make it a real possibility.
Sounds fine but will probably require, shall we say, £100m net investment?
Is that how much Plymouth have spent on the last two seasons?
I think for the vast majority of us success would be building a squad capable of a minimum top 6 finish this year, with the aim to get promoted next year if we don't win the play offs this season. Once promoted, steady and intelligent investment to establish us as a Championship team with an outside shot at the playoffs over the few years after that.
If we can do the above whilst attaining category one status for the academy I think that is a very successful 4-5 years of ownership without needing gamble astronomical sums.
I know it sounds easy written down and no doubt there will be big challenges along the way to achieve it, but having at the right senior management team in place and astute investment in the playing side should make it a real possibility.
Sounds fine but will probably require, shall we say, £100m net investment?
Is that how much Plymouth have spent on the last two seasons?
Are Plymouth an established Championship side with a Category One academy? Because those were the metrics in the post Airman was replying to.
Okay, I apologies. Substitute Plymouth and add Luton, Coventry, Rotherham, Birmingham. Shall I carry on?
Do any of those clubs have Category One academies?
Lots of us are very sceptical about the CM group, not just Airman so please don't direct all the negativity back in his direction.
I hope it works and I am still very interested in seeing who exactly has any controlling interest.
Yes, Sandgaard needed to be moved on, but not unless we have good owners for a change.
Success is, firstly, getting out of this league this season. Secondly making a decent fist of it in the Championship, and long term getting a shot back in the Premier League and buying back TV and SL. I think all CAFC fans want the same.
Comments
Because of the previous owners, I'm a little apprehensive but i'm open for them to prove themselves. You had them written off as bad and as failures back in January. I'm not sure if you know something that you cant share, or as I said earlier, anyone non Peter Varney automatically gets treated with hatred. I suspect it to be the latter
It is probably the case that when you meet someone who has managed to set himself up very publicly as a cartoon villain or buffoon, you inevitably conclude that they are more complex characters than you supposed. So I'm trying to be aware of that. I'm also aware that I tend to see the good side of people, partly because years of recruitment work builds that tendency in, and that people with more experience of him, and higher up the pay grade than me, do not speak well of him. So caveat emptor..but...
Firstly he is definitely not a wrong'un in the Southall/Farnell sense. Likes a tax haven too much for my taste, but so do some good Lifers
Second, the Eton thing. You can see it in his huge self-belief, and expectation that people will bend to his will; but he's not really another Boris Johnson. It seems that his passion for football is genuine, which itself is unusual with that lot, and there are other things he does which don't fit the template. His politics lean right, but not, it seems, that far right. He seems to genuinely believe in the reform of football governance - he worked with Damian Collins MP on some of the plans, so it's not just talk.
He does indeed know how to charm people and get them on his side, but there's a tendency to treat the attribute as a dark art; yet most journalists need to acquire this skill, and he describes journalism (rather than PR) as his core competence. I tend to think it's not such a dark art because it seems to frequently be undone by another attribute much mentioned by Sunderland people - a volcanic temper. I only saw brief flashes of irritation in our process, but there have been mutterings already from others.
So I would not like him as a boss- but in the interview he seems to obliquely acknowledge this weakness; he has been seriously ill too and it's possible this also has caused him to re-appraise his priorities in life a bit. Trouble is, AFAIK if you have a short fuse, the best you can do is work on controlling it, it never disappears completely (don't I know it
Like others in the thread, I thought a lot of what he says about how a club should be structured and run made perfect sense. I felt afterwards that if it had been a complete new face, and not CM with his public profile, I'd have been genuinely enthusiastic. Then again, I remind myself that some quite smart Lifers were initially taken in by Katrien Meire. See what I mean, it's complex.
I guess it all comes down to how much influence he wields, and what happens if he uses that influence and then runs up against obstacles, human ones.( I saw a bit of that when he was talking about the EFL). That's where I think things may go a bit pear.
Like I said, caveat emptor, other assessments are available...
Things will come out in the wash sooner or later if thats the case but maybe...just maybe...we end up with owners who do what they think is best who make the odd mistake here and there.
Anyone buying a club is taking a huge financial gamble, that’s the reality of English football.
Are Plymouth an established Championship side with a Category One academy? Because those were the metrics in the post Airman was replying to.
I won’t be rolling out the red carpet or anything for Methven & co. I just hope there’s enough enthusiasm and nous to get the right players in for a promotion push and consolidation in the league above, before the money men get bored.
It’s not long term safety by any means, but it’s far better than staying rudderless under Sandgaard in the short term.
Then stability in the Championship.
Please can you quote who has used the word hate on this thread.
Why should he? He’s got a view like everyone else, I’m sure he’d be delighted to be wrong and this group makes a success where others have failed.
I say this from a position of muted positivity, happy to give these guys a go in the absence of anyone else anyway!
I hope it works and I am still very interested in seeing who exactly has any controlling interest.
Yes, Sandgaard needed to be moved on, but not unless we have good owners for a change.
Success is, firstly, getting out of this league this season. Secondly making a decent fist of it in the Championship, and long term getting a shot back in the Premier League and buying back TV and SL. I think all CAFC fans want the same.