31 Jan 2016 10:25:37
I see reports today that the Glazers are looking to cut costs by 15% across various departments including the academy. Whilst this is a very concerning direction particularly given City are doing the opposite, it brought one thing to mind, are they gearing up to sell the club? I recall one of the main Eds indicating the possible sale of the club in 2017 and a trait of companies where a sale is on the cards is to cut costs, improve profits to make the numbers look as good as possible to maximise the value.
These are worrying times and reading this morning that Peps wife was shown around St Bede's college (where City have an agreement in place) by one of Peps former Barcelona colleagues now at City could be a sign of where he is going. I just hope we are not or have not been sat on our laurels in all this.
The club and all our fans need to wake up to where we are and the very real threat from a very ambitious club across the City looking to knock us off our perch.
31 Jan 2016 10:53:04
Redman, perhaps you would prefer if we kidnap pep and force him at gunpoint to sign a contract for us? Its a free world and if he chooses to sign for city then so be it.
The same media sources have also reported united are trying to sign bale Ronaldo neymar hummels etc, which we know is BS so why do you disbelieve any possible unconfirmed positive reports and choose to be concerned about every possible negative report.
There is hysteria created by media outlets all the time,
It has also been reported we met with pep and José bur you don't believe that
Our wage bill is the same as city, or higher, our crowds and support is bigger, at the moment our team is worse,
Pep is not the only coach in the world, we will have to rise to the challenges from all around us and overcome them and we will,
But you would rather believe the end is nigh.
31 Jan 2016 11:02:52
Looks like they're beginning the process of trimming costs in anticipation of a sale. Spending on first team squad won't be effected, so maintain short term competitiveness, increase profits and raise the price of the club. But it's telling that they're sucking money out of club infrastructures at a time when the biggest clubs are investing.
31 Jan 2016 11:14:43
Ken
I would prefer to know our club is not ignoring the best as we did when SAF retired. I am sure Liverpool fans were saying the same as you in 1993. If Pep chooses City then so be it as long as we haven't sat back and let them have a free run, if so I think we have lost the plot. I guess we will not know until it is announced officially but my concern about the threat from City is growing as I see our own club floundering and cost cutting doesn't help that feeling. Ignore it if you wish but I see the same arrogance and slide that beset Liverpool after 1990. It needs addressing quickly.
31 Jan 2016 11:29:35
If we don't get Pep then we need the success that Mourinho brings. I think we would win more under Mourinho, certainly in the first two seasons, than city will win under Pep.
31 Jan 2016 11:30:40
That is my point red man you don't know but you quote reports that you want to be worried about and ignore retorts from the same sources that say we have talked to pep. Yes City are growing and improving so are many others. We are not in an ideal position right now in many aspects but as you yourself have said many times the game and football world has changed hugely since the 80s and early 90 s so I don't expect us to do a Liverpool.
31 Jan 2016 11:36:07
Whatever about Pep, Ken. Are you not worried that cuts are being planned to the club's long term infrastructures at a time of record profits?
31 Jan 2016 12:34:06
Does anyone know how much this 15% amounts to? I bet it's less than the amount we have literally wasted on most signings over the past three years.
Definitely getting ready for the sale if true, but then anybody willing to spend the billions necessary to buy the club will be carrying out thorough due diligence and therefore will identify areas that lack investment or have been neglected to massage profits. This will probably give the buyer more negotiating power, so it's kind of pointless in my eyes.
Cuts should only be made if the business performs better after them - a buyer will see straight through any BS.
31 Jan 2016 13:15:51
At the end of the day Pep would have already eyed up the state of both clubs looking at infrastucture and the youth devopment along with all aspects of the club.
Call me negative but our stature and history will only go so far we have been in a mess for 3 years now, city are the more stable option who seem to have the edge at the moment if i was looking at a new employer job stability would be my primary concern.
31 Jan 2016 18:02:51
As red man, Danny beast and Simon pointed out, it is so disturbing that our owners are planning these cuts and especially at a time when revenues are at an all time high. If you fail to invest in any business then you're going backwards and that is exactly how it feels at the moment.
I think the owners have a big decision to make. Invest and make the club better then sell an piss off back to the States. Or just make cuts, possibly increase short term profits and get out.
As Beast says, any buyer wishing to pay $3b will see right through this bs.
31 Jan 2016 19:09:05
Schmid. Unfortunately, cutting costs will make the club more attractive to certain buyers who will want to maintain low operating costs to maximise profits. I fear that what the owners will try to demonstrate over the next few seasons is that the club can remain competitive (I. e. CL), continue to draw in lucrative sponsors, and keep churning out record profits, while simultaneously reducing the costs of running the club. The club is being marketed at businesses who want to maximise dividends, and if costs can be cut from things like the academy while it remains profitable, it will be done.