Premier and EFL league football is a financial basket case in no other business’s would companies be allowed to run their finances like they do. I will take Pompey’s financial stability any day. The worst case is the championship which allegedly is over one billion collectively in debt. If ever there was a case for a wage cap then this must be it.
The longer we stay stable the easier it will get so many clubs are a mess
I can totally understand the frustration that came particularly last season and the Eisner's have made mistakes and missteps along the way IMO and some things have taken a lot longer than anticipated. The idea that they didn't want promotion is totally wrong. They did and do want promotion just not at any cost and they want the club to be in a position where they don't have to spend loads abd loads to be solid in the Championship. Could they have invested a bit more at certain key times in transfer windows? Yes, but I'm quite content with them.
The show ambition coalition was an absolute embarrassment though. Childish "Football manager computer game" wishlists based on fantasy economics trying to tell actual business people how to run a club. Demanding a meeting with the owners as if they represented anyone but themselves and a handful of other fans. Entitled pricks trying to make it all about themselves. The plane stunt was an absolute muppet show.
You only have to look at the state our opponents yesterday are currently in to see the value of the Eisner's approach. As well as QPR and various other championship clubs for that matter. Sustainability is a boring word but it is absolutely key. Heck we're seeing clubs like Sheffield United get to the Premier League and use it just to pay off their mountain of debt. It's not a long term strategy to live life massively in the red as a football club
Only two squad mistakes I can think of
1. Not blowing Millwall out to that water to buy Thompson
2. Tyler Walker
Both with the benefit of hindsight of course
(29-10-2023, 12:47 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ]I can totally understand the frustration that came particularly last season and the Eisner's have made mistakes and missteps along the way IMO and some things have taken a lot longer than anticipated. The idea that they didn't want promotion is totally wrong. They did and do want promotion just not at any cost and they want the club to be in a position where they don't have to spend loads abd loads to be solid in the Championship. Could they have invested a bit more at certain key times in transfer windows? Yes, but I'm quite content with them.
The show ambition coalition was an absolute embarrassment though. Childish "Football manager computer game" wishlists based on fantasy economics trying to tell actual business people how to run a club. Demanding a meeting with the owners as if they represented anyone but themselves and a handful of other fans. Entitled pricks trying to make it all about themselves. The plane stunt was an absolute muppet show.
You only have to look at the state our opponents yesterday are currently in to see the value of the Eisner's approach. As well as QPR and various other championship clubs for that matter. Sustainability is a boring word but it is absolutely key. Heck we're seeing clubs like Sheffield United get to the Premier League and use it just to pay off their mountain of debt. It's not a long term strategy to live life massively in the red as a football club
Absolutely spot on.
(29-10-2023, 01:33 PM)slayer Wrote: [ -> ]Only two squad mistakes I can think of
1. Not blowing Millwall out to that water to buy Thompson
2. Tyler Walker
Both with the benefit of hindsight of course
That January 18/19 window was a bit of a disaster. Signed a load of league 2 players frankly when we needed a bit of quality to go up. The Marquis and Ellis Harrison signings were a massive waste of money really top albeit hindsight and all that.
(29-10-2023, 12:47 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ]I can totally understand the frustration that came particularly last season and the Eisner's have made mistakes and missteps along the way IMO and some things have taken a lot longer than anticipated. The idea that they didn't want promotion is totally wrong. They did and do want promotion just not at any cost and they want the club to be in a position where they don't have to spend loads abd loads to be solid in the Championship. Could they have invested a bit more at certain key times in transfer windows? Yes, but I'm quite content with them.
The show ambition coalition was an absolute embarrassment though. Childish "Football manager computer game" wishlists based on fantasy economics trying to tell actual business people how to run a club. Demanding a meeting with the owners as if they represented anyone but themselves and a handful of other fans. Entitled pricks trying to make it all about themselves. The plane stunt was an absolute muppet show.
You only have to look at the state our opponents yesterday are currently in to see the value of the Eisner's approach. As well as QPR and various other championship clubs for that matter. Sustainability is a boring word but it is absolutely key. Heck we're seeing clubs like Sheffield United get to the Premier League and use it just to pay off their mountain of debt. It's not a long term strategy to live life massively in the red as a football club
Totally agree with you. The only thing the plane stunt did was to send a message to the owners that some supporters weren't happy with what was happening on the pitch. The Eisners then took it on board to improve the squad which RH has done really well against all the doubters including myself.
The Championship is a much higher level all round & more investment will be needed to hold our own in a very competitive environment. Ipswich appear to be coping really well after promotion last season & took a few financial risks to guarantee promotion. But have not it appears spent a lot in the summer apart from recruiting Hirst on a permanent contract.
The owners are looking to invest in the January window which does show ambition. Let's just hope that there are a couple of quality players we can pick up including a decent back up striker in case Bishop gets injured.
(29-10-2023, 01:33 PM)slayer Wrote: [ -> ]Only two squad mistakes I can think of
1. Not blowing Millwall out to that water to buy Thompson
2. Tyler Walker
Both with the benefit of hindsight of course
Thompson was not available to us that January - they wanted him back. End of story. By the time he was available he was no longer the player we saw.
And yes, Tyker Walker was a flop, but he was Cowley's flop not the Eisners' flop. But he was only here for a few months on loan, it's not like we signed him.
Tornante own the club, but they do not run the club on a day-to-day basis, they employ CEOs and managers to do that and let them make the decisions on who we buy within the set budget. Blaming the Eisners for any bad signings is as wrong as praising them for good ones.
both Harrison and Marquis were both welcomed by us lot on line when they arrived, seemed like the missing pieces in our jigsaw.
More importantly that was money made from cup runs and prize money. If we had a million and a half to spend now, I suspect we would get better value
(29-10-2023, 02:09 PM)mikey393 Wrote: [ -> ] (29-10-2023, 12:47 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ]I can totally understand the frustration that came particularly last season and the Eisner's have made mistakes and missteps along the way IMO and some things have taken a lot longer than anticipated. The idea that they didn't want promotion is totally wrong. They did and do want promotion just not at any cost and they want the club to be in a position where they don't have to spend loads abd loads to be solid in the Championship. Could they have invested a bit more at certain key times in transfer windows? Yes, but I'm quite content with them.
The show ambition coalition was an absolute embarrassment though. Childish "Football manager computer game" wishlists based on fantasy economics trying to tell actual business people how to run a club. Demanding a meeting with the owners as if they represented anyone but themselves and a handful of other fans. Entitled pricks trying to make it all about themselves. The plane stunt was an absolute muppet show.
You only have to look at the state our opponents yesterday are currently in to see the value of the Eisner's approach. As well as QPR and various other championship clubs for that matter. Sustainability is a boring word but it is absolutely key. Heck we're seeing clubs like Sheffield United get to the Premier League and use it just to pay off their mountain of debt. It's not a long term strategy to live life massively in the red as a football club
Totally agree with you. The only thing the plane stunt did was to send a message to the owners that some supporters weren't happy with what was happening on the pitch. The Eisners then took it on board to improve the squad which RH has done really well against all the doubters including myself.
The Championship is a much higher level all round & more investment will be needed to hold our own in a very competitive environment. Ipswich appear to be coping really well after promotion last season & took a few financial risks to guarantee promotion. But have not it appears spent a lot in the summer apart from recruiting Hirst on a permanent contract.
The owners are looking to invest in the January window which does show ambition. Let's just hope that there are a couple of quality players we can pick up including a decent back up striker in case Bishop gets injured.
I would dispute the idea that the plane opened their eyes to the need to improve the squad. Rich Hughes was busily going about his work at this point and I imagine he'd have recognised the need to strengthen the squad depth in the summer and shift the deadwood.
Of course the plane didn't influence the strengthening of the squad. That was all down to Hughes & JM, the Eisners wiill have had absolutely zero influence on which players we chose to sign.
Any such idea is a desperate attempt by the coalition to save face and make themselves look a bit less stupid than they have proved themselves to be. The reality is that they were wrong then, are wrong now and nothing can save them from looking stupid in the eyes of the Pompey fans they wrongly claimed to represent.
Most fans are embarrassed that PFC has such idiots amongst it's fan base.
(29-10-2023, 03:35 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ] (29-10-2023, 02:09 PM)mikey393 Wrote: [ -> ] (29-10-2023, 12:47 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ]I can totally understand the frustration that came particularly last season and the Eisner's have made mistakes and missteps along the way IMO and some things have taken a lot longer than anticipated. The idea that they didn't want promotion is totally wrong. They did and do want promotion just not at any cost and they want the club to be in a position where they don't have to spend loads abd loads to be solid in the Championship. Could they have invested a bit more at certain key times in transfer windows? Yes, but I'm quite content with them.
The show ambition coalition was an absolute embarrassment though. Childish "Football manager computer game" wishlists based on fantasy economics trying to tell actual business people how to run a club. Demanding a meeting with the owners as if they represented anyone but themselves and a handful of other fans. Entitled pricks trying to make it all about themselves. The plane stunt was an absolute muppet show.
You only have to look at the state our opponents yesterday are currently in to see the value of the Eisner's approach. As well as QPR and various other championship clubs for that matter. Sustainability is a boring word but it is absolutely key. Heck we're seeing clubs like Sheffield United get to the Premier League and use it just to pay off their mountain of debt. It's not a long term strategy to live life massively in the red as a football club
Totally agree with you. The only thing the plane stunt did was to send a message to the owners that some supporters weren't happy with what was happening on the pitch. The Eisners then took it on board to improve the squad which RH has done really well against all the doubters including myself.
The Championship is a much higher level all round & more investment will be needed to hold our own in a very competitive environment. Ipswich appear to be coping really well after promotion last season & took a few financial risks to guarantee promotion. But have not it appears spent a lot in the summer apart from recruiting Hirst on a permanent contract.
The owners are looking to invest in the January window which does show ambition. Let's just hope that there are a couple of quality players we can pick up including a decent back up striker in case Bishop gets injured.
I would dispute the idea that the plane opened their eyes to the need to improve the squad. Rich Hughes was busily going about his work at this point and I imagine he'd have recognised the need to strengthen the squad depth in the summer and shift the deadwood.
I would suggest that they didn’t bat an eyelid at the gesture. It was quite clear that there was very little support for it.
Plenty of squintiest on here too. I don’t see them holding up their hands and saying they were wrong.
(29-10-2023, 05:44 PM)Cunninglinguist Wrote: [ -> ] (29-10-2023, 03:35 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ] (29-10-2023, 02:09 PM)mikey393 Wrote: [ -> ] (29-10-2023, 12:47 PM)D'Alessandro dreaming Wrote: [ -> ]I can totally understand the frustration that came particularly last season and the Eisner's have made mistakes and missteps along the way IMO and some things have taken a lot longer than anticipated. The idea that they didn't want promotion is totally wrong. They did and do want promotion just not at any cost and they want the club to be in a position where they don't have to spend loads abd loads to be solid in the Championship. Could they have invested a bit more at certain key times in transfer windows? Yes, but I'm quite content with them.
The show ambition coalition was an absolute embarrassment though. Childish "Football manager computer game" wishlists based on fantasy economics trying to tell actual business people how to run a club. Demanding a meeting with the owners as if they represented anyone but themselves and a handful of other fans. Entitled pricks trying to make it all about themselves. The plane stunt was an absolute muppet show.
You only have to look at the state our opponents yesterday are currently in to see the value of the Eisner's approach. As well as QPR and various other championship clubs for that matter. Sustainability is a boring word but it is absolutely key. Heck we're seeing clubs like Sheffield United get to the Premier League and use it just to pay off their mountain of debt. It's not a long term strategy to live life massively in the red as a football club
Totally agree with you. The only thing the plane stunt did was to send a message to the owners that some supporters weren't happy with what was happening on the pitch. The Eisners then took it on board to improve the squad which RH has done really well against all the doubters including myself.
The Championship is a much higher level all round & more investment will be needed to hold our own in a very competitive environment. Ipswich appear to be coping really well after promotion last season & took a few financial risks to guarantee promotion. But have not it appears spent a lot in the summer apart from recruiting Hirst on a permanent contract.
The owners are looking to invest in the January window which does show ambition. Let's just hope that there are a couple of quality players we can pick up including a decent back up striker in case Bishop gets injured.
I would dispute the idea that the plane opened their eyes to the need to improve the squad. Rich Hughes was busily going about his work at this point and I imagine he'd have recognised the need to strengthen the squad depth in the summer and shift the deadwood.
I would suggest that they didn’t bat an eyelid at the gesture. It was quite clear that there was very little support for it.
Plenty of squintiest on here too. I don’t see them holding up their hands and saying they were wrong.
Not that I agreed with them much, but I never understood why people got upset with the PFC Coalition. They had a view and ran with it. The majority didn't go with them and they've more or less disappeared. I certainly understood why they were so fed up.
Listening to the recent Cullen interviews showed just how professional we appear to have become this season compared to others. There's talk of sports nutrition experts and specialised coaches that just didn't seem to be there beforehand. There also seems to be an air of confidence that has spread to the boardroom. It just feels so much different to when we were temporarily flying with the Cowley's
But being Pompey it's really hard for me to enjoy our success. I'll only be able to enjoy it when it's all over and we receive our award - joining the shit show that is the Championship! I'd love to be a fly on the wall when the Eisner's find out how much they have to pay Championship players!
Ben Thompson was not priceless. Enough money offered and he would have been sold. Look at what happened to his Millwall career (and beyond) afterwards.
Sunderland publicly stated that it cost them £4M a year to attempt to get out of League 1. We can reasonably assume we have been spending the same.
You can add up the £4M or so per year for every season we've been in League 1 since, and compare it to the £2M that would have absolutely bought Ben Thompson (probably 1.5x his market value at the time).
Wasteful policy and we know that the lessons have been learned since, as Tornante stated when they signed Morrell for what was probably 1.5x his market value at the time.
(31-10-2023, 12:31 PM)slayer Wrote: [ -> ]Ben Thompson was not priceless. Enough money offered and he would have been sold. Look at what happened to his Millwall career (and beyond) afterwards.
Sunderland publicly stated that it cost them £4M a year to attempt to get out of League 1. We can reasonably assume we have been spending the same.
You can add up the £4M or so per year for every season we've been in League 1 since, and compare it to the £2M that would have absolutely bought Ben Thompson (probably 1.5x his market value at the time).
Wasteful policy and we know that the lessons have been learned since, as Tornante stated when they signed Morrell for what was probably 1.5x his market value at the time.
FFS it doesn't matter how much you were prepared to pay for a player.
He. was. not. for. sale. That's why Millwall recalled him, they needed him back. And looking at his career since we did very well to avoid over-spending on him even if it had been an option.
And how much do you think we paid for Morrell ? Reported to be £400k at the time ... how is that 1.5x his value for a welsh international championship player who cost his club more than that when they bought him ?
Morrell reminds me of Alan Mcgoughlin's fee.
Swindon sold him to scum for £1m. They never played him. We took him on loan and paid probably one of the best £400k pieces of business ever done by this club.
It's reasonable to ask questions of the owners and raise concerns. Flying planes and demanding meetings and getting all whiney and butt hurt when they didn't get one (like that was ever going to happen) is a stupid way to go about it. Acting all big like they had rights.
They put out false survey results, stirred a load of trouble up, and behaved like spoilt children.
If they had any shred of decency they should delete their stupid twitter account, apologise to the club for the way they did things, and accept they went about it all wrong and never make another statement.
One of their most ardent supporters (one of the 4 or 5) and perhaps one of the ring leaders portrays himself as a marketing guru. Well, if he was in charge of their strategy, god help the company he works for.
Reading and Sheff Weds show just what badly run clubs can do in a season or two, not that we need reminding!
You can say Millwall wouldn't sell him to Pompey for any price, and you can put full stops in daft places in the course of doing it, but it's false because every player has his price:
"The Blues’ interest in the player is long held and it was only nine months ago the club were within a whisker of getting a deal over the line, with things so advanced discussions over how to announce his arrival on social media were aired."
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/footb...on-3291925
Reckon we were lucky not to get him as his career’s gone badly downhill since, playing about 40 games in the last 4 years and now can’t get in the Stevenage team when at 28 he should be in the prime of his footballing life.
The Eisner's took over a club that had fallen 10 maybe even 15 years behind in terms of facilities, stadium condition and infrastructure. All of the big spending of the Gaydamak era went on fees and wages with barely a penny spent on FP and none on buying a training ground. That chasm is being closed bit by bit (or brick by brick if you prefer). The PST stopped the rot but Tornante have moved things forward off the pitch even if the long stagnation on it was frustrating.
It does lay bare how a few years of financial mismanagement can set a club back for over a decade.
(31-10-2023, 10:29 PM)slayer Wrote: [ -> ]You can say Millwall wouldn't sell him to Pompey for any price, and you can put full stops in daft places in the course of doing it, but it's false because every player has his price:
"The Blues’ interest in the player is long held and it was only nine months ago the club were within a whisker of getting a deal over the line, with things so advanced discussions over how to announce his arrival on social media were aired."
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/footb...on-3291925
That article was in 2021 ... 3 years after he went back to Millwall when they would not sell him.
It was a reflection of the sentimental affection Pompey fans had for him after his loan spell all those years before, but the simple fact was that he was not that same player by then and Cowley signing him in 2021 would have been a mistake.
I saw the title of this thread, rolled my eyes and didn't bother scrolling through.
I think the Eisners are doing a fantastic job here.
The ground for a start, and it looks like they've paid some dosh into the squad albeit they weren't overly expensive.
although most of that is obviously down to the JM & RH.
I'm probably out of order (and get some stick)by not reading all the posts, But I can't be bothered with any of the pettiness posts.
Other than that...Great forum ha ha
When you look at sides who have initiated ground construction or reconstruction you find that they stagnate and struggle ON the pitch.
However, as soon as the operation to upgrade is fulfilled it seems good times follow on the pitch. See Plymouth, Orient, Chesterfield to name just a few. We are now in that position. Not just the ground but infrastructure, training and recruitment have all been overhauled.
Pompey ARE making great progress and it's thanks to first the fans and latterly the Eisner family. They never promised it would be a bed of roses, far from it. Bit it is now tangible for even the most cynical of fans including me to see the progress everywhere.
Even this non losing streak was ridiculed by me. After 20 of those unbeaten games pompey had taken just 28 out of 60 possible points but in the last 7 games we've taken 19 out of 21 points. It all adds up to progress and a feel good factor.
If ever pompey were going to lay another ghost to rest, it should be to stuff Charlton good and proper at fratton.
Moving forward together, Play Up Pompey