02 Sep 2015 08:17:02
Morning everyone. Window over, thank god, time to move on. Others may disagree but personally i think we have done excellent business and am happy with what we have moving on.
I have a question though particularly bearing in mind what has gone on the other side of manchester. When the glazers sell up be it next year ten years whatever, what type of owner do we want to replace them?
Option 1 is a multi billionaire owner who wants to go toe to toe with the likes of city, chelsea and psg and spend whatever it takes to achieve instant success even if that means arresting the development of young players in favor of the established star regardless of age or sell on value.
Option 2 would be the type of owner that let's the club continue the way it always has by which i mean continuing to look to develop young talent be it from home or abroad whilst at the same time always making funds available to purchase star players as and when they become available.
Personally i would always choose option 2. I don't want to see the club i have followed for 50 yrs become a rich mans toy with our oligarch or oil sheik trying to prove he can outspend everyone else. I am looking forward to watching depay and martial much more than i would have been watching pedro. City have spent over 50m on de bruyn, many experts say why? and also how is he now worth 3x what chelsea sold him for 2 years ago?. Who was the last young player to come through the ranks at city or chelsea? Jose hints he needs more players yet they have 94 registered players and a successful trophy winning youth set up yet only loftus cheek occasionally gets a start.
Ourselves arsenal and liverpool have a history and tradition that stretches the globe something that city and chelsea don't have and can never buy. In summary if you will allow me to mention 2 of my favourite films, i don't want the soul of my club to be sold for ' a fistful of dollars or for a few dollars more'
02 Sep 2015 10:26:43
Tradition doesn't win the top trophies players do.
Said a few times on here that City have heavily invested in the infrastructure and top players whilst our owners have done what to the ground? Chelsea's owner is building them a new stadium whilst we have the same as we have had for years. A few more years and that will sound like the Scousers who have a great history and tradition yet win little. I wish we had a billionaire owner who respects the clubs tradition and not ones who bled the club at a time we needed to develop.
02 Sep 2015 11:28:23
In a dream world I'd like the club to be owned by the fans and run for the fans. Similar to how they run it in Germany. Bayern Munich are the example we should follow, a club who mixes its management with a combination of former players and top business men. Something that keeps the focus always on the sporting aspect of the club while also allowing the club to be run in a financially beneficial way.
The club should stick to its identity and hire people who will progress the club but not wander too far from the traditions of the club.
But that will not happen, anyone who buys our club will want to make a profit out of it. So I would want a owner who was also a fan of the club and would balance the profit making and the sporting aspects of the club.
I'd like to see an owner who will focus on youth development, while also investing in the first team. Someone who'll invest in the soul of our club but also add the needed clout to the first team with a top class signing every summer.
I want balance and stability for the club rather than lurching one way then the other.
{Ed002's Note - Fan ownership is never going to happen.}
02 Sep 2015 12:34:16
I know Ed002, that's why I said in a dream world. Can't I at least dream. lol
{Ed002's Note - It is that damp patch again.}
02 Sep 2015 12:58:41
Good to have you back. lol