(02-02-2022, 08:24 PM)exgaffer Wrote: I think there is a bit of history rewriting going on here.
Yes we are all disappointed with the way things are going on the field but I think laying all the blame at the Eisners’ door is a bit rich.
I was one of the people with a share in the club and the fact was we didn’t have the money required to make the ground safe, thereby retaining a decent capacity, let alone buy the training ground and finance a decent team.
I keep hearing that we should have sold to someone else and that the Eisners got the club for a ‘bargain’ price. If it was such a bargain, why weren’t they queuing round the block to buy it?
As I recall there wasn’t a long list of people eager to take us on.
We are being run prudently and look to have a future.
Am I satisfied with the fare being served up on the pitch? No it’s piss poor.
We are, however, a big club and I’m sure it will turn around soon, either under the current management team or another. I suspect it will be another.
In 5 years I see us playing in the Championship in a much improved Fratton Park.
Let’s all lighten up a bit lads, we don’t want to sound like Sunderland fans do we?
PUP
Some fair points ExG, but I think you're in danger of going a bit too pro Eisner there.
I really can't put an exact thing on it but I just don't get why there are still here. I think they actively avoided getting out of L1 for a number of years and I still think there was more to that Oxford play off defeat. Up until then I hadn't experienced a Pompey team so dismissively interested in winning a game (little was I too know that this would become quite common). Why buy a club and have no interest in progression? Then there was that January TW when we were top and the money to consolidate our squad disappeared and along with our promotion hopes.
The improvements/renovations they have done to the ground and the training ground also help them. It makes their asset worth selling if they need to get out and even with the current spending they'd still mostly likely make a profit. I think they chose a CEO who shares a similar lack of ambition and fight. Cullins showed his skill set in that first game of the season and hasn't looked back. I think Caitlin could see the minefield such an underwhelming approach to running a club like ours and got out quick. I appreciate the security during Covid but again they were also protecting their investment.
I'm not saying we should be spending billions but why does the current level of krapness feel much worse than the sackful of shit that have owned us over years? Probably because we find ourselves unable to compete with the likes of Shrewsbury for wages, our goals are now sponsored by Dave Lee Travis Builders and our manager is under absolutely no pressure despite being 12th in the division and closer to relegation than the playoffs. I don't want them sacked but what happened to ambition? Whenever the club try to do anything clever on the footballing side it's like trying to turn an ocean liner in a different direction. Other clubs can do deals, we can't. There is no ambition other than not overspending our underwhelming budget. We are starved of any highly rated signings and the ones that we do get are either injury prone or have some connection with Lincoln City. Even our manager was a low-cost option. And we're supposed to say thanks for a first team with half a team of loanees Mr Eisner!
In 5 years time, if they keep on with the publicity shy, long-distance relationship, I see them selling up to somebody. There's no way fans are going to remain patient whilst this small club mentality persists. Despite much darker times being experienced in my 40-odd years supporting Pompey, I think this year is the first time I am thinking "this is our place now".
Ignoring the underlying element of squinnying in this post, I think have a point!