22-10-2021, 09:40 AM
I've watched the video and thought I'd share my random thoughts.
Once again I think he comes across well, just as he did at the Guildhall.
I've caught whispers that the most recent TGFC meeting was lengthy, challenging and even turbulent. However, and perhaps as a result though, lots of good information was then shared a the meeting. I suspect that this has informed ME that our fanbase wants to hear from him directly about plans/progress, hence the video. Although for such a worldly and successful chap I'm not sure why it has taken him 4 years to discover that we are different to yank sports supporters.
On the video it is disconcerting to hear ME outline the "buy then discover major problems" experience has happened with both Fratton & Roko, but they are somehow "unexpected". Either they need to step up the due-diligence to ensure that they do not have such surprises, or they could litigate against the vendors for recompense if they consider that they have grounds (and most successful US businessman are not shy with involving their lawyers and I doubt ME is any different), or perhaps there is an element of this being a "line" to manage expectations.
It's very surprising to hear that the club is spending more on the pitch this season compared to last. That challenges the understanding I certainly had and probably the slack I had given the club that as the budget was reduced, we couldn't hold on to Jack/Naylor etc.
A good explanation of the journey from the train station. Something that we have all taken for granted over decades. A good reason for the rail bridge.
He hopes to rebuild the capacity of Fratton to 20/21k and holds out the thought of 30k at some point (with a new North Stand possible) if we get to the Championship or probably Premiership. Haven't we been here before? Once you get to the Prem it is not the time to make huge and disruptive changes to the infrastructure that will almost certainly reduce capacity in the short term at a time of relatively massive demand. I'd have thought that the time for that sort of infrastructure investment & turmoil is beforehand, so that we are geared up on revenue streams to be more sustainable if we get there, but then I'm not a gazzillionaire.
Are the purchases of land around Fratton and negotiations about the rail bridge really part of improving the asset value, rather than anything else in the short to medium term?
Interesting to hear him again mention winning the Stanley Cup, despite that happening for the Ducks in 2007, two years after the Samueli's had bought the franchise from Disney & Eisner in 2005 and changes its name in 2006. I think that they would consider the Stanley Cup to be theirs and not the Eisners.
Once again I think he comes across well, just as he did at the Guildhall.
I've caught whispers that the most recent TGFC meeting was lengthy, challenging and even turbulent. However, and perhaps as a result though, lots of good information was then shared a the meeting. I suspect that this has informed ME that our fanbase wants to hear from him directly about plans/progress, hence the video. Although for such a worldly and successful chap I'm not sure why it has taken him 4 years to discover that we are different to yank sports supporters.
On the video it is disconcerting to hear ME outline the "buy then discover major problems" experience has happened with both Fratton & Roko, but they are somehow "unexpected". Either they need to step up the due-diligence to ensure that they do not have such surprises, or they could litigate against the vendors for recompense if they consider that they have grounds (and most successful US businessman are not shy with involving their lawyers and I doubt ME is any different), or perhaps there is an element of this being a "line" to manage expectations.
It's very surprising to hear that the club is spending more on the pitch this season compared to last. That challenges the understanding I certainly had and probably the slack I had given the club that as the budget was reduced, we couldn't hold on to Jack/Naylor etc.
A good explanation of the journey from the train station. Something that we have all taken for granted over decades. A good reason for the rail bridge.
He hopes to rebuild the capacity of Fratton to 20/21k and holds out the thought of 30k at some point (with a new North Stand possible) if we get to the Championship or probably Premiership. Haven't we been here before? Once you get to the Prem it is not the time to make huge and disruptive changes to the infrastructure that will almost certainly reduce capacity in the short term at a time of relatively massive demand. I'd have thought that the time for that sort of infrastructure investment & turmoil is beforehand, so that we are geared up on revenue streams to be more sustainable if we get there, but then I'm not a gazzillionaire.
Are the purchases of land around Fratton and negotiations about the rail bridge really part of improving the asset value, rather than anything else in the short to medium term?
Interesting to hear him again mention winning the Stanley Cup, despite that happening for the Ducks in 2007, two years after the Samueli's had bought the franchise from Disney & Eisner in 2005 and changes its name in 2006. I think that they would consider the Stanley Cup to be theirs and not the Eisners.