http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/23/germany-bust-boom-talent Interesting point about coaches and the numbers of coaches. Spainish FA puts coaches out to every kids team they can find and pays for the coach to take their badge.
I think a few have taken the question too literally. Yes, we know that Sir Lansdown IS Bristol City and I for one have absolutely no issues with this at all as I would rather have a wealthy benefactor who has supported his club all his life than some American or Arab consortium or Venture Capitalists with no connection who would view it as a business opportunity and react the way the market does when things don't quite go to plan... The question really is can we emulate the Dortmund model, i.e. younger and hungier players on lower wages looking to make a mark, and leaving aside the question of ownership, the answer is a most definite yes. In fact, everything the club has publicly stated since early last season has shown the intention to go down this road plus, we are already seeing the implementation of the plan with the signing of the archetypal profile player from Arsenal and hopefully, the lad from Swindon to follow with more shortly after so we can actually have a complete pre season with our new players so they get used to what SoD wants from his team. Have to disagree with some of the long terms sustainabilty comments though. Yes, we probably can self sustain League One football with a successful side however even with a lower base wage bill, AG's current capacity of just over 19,000 would not be able to self-sustain a successful (or unsucessful) NPC team with commensurate wages let along a premier league team. This is why we need more seats to become self sustaining and like any prudent company, we have to take a long term view and plan for success 5-10 years or even longer down the road and not just adopt the current attitude of not seeing further than the end of the nose that seems to be prevelant in modern society. As in politics, we need an owner with conviction and vision rather than a opportunist and luckily, our benefactor is in the business of looking at things in the long term and can see the benefit of building now for better things to come... I for one, am encouraged by the way things are going and with half a dozen new signings of the pedigree of the first, we may hopefully spend less time in this division than some think...
The Dortmund team is based on a mentality that is entirely different to a club in England. That mentality cannot exist at City because it goes far beyond having young players. Dortmund basically tore the club apart and thought about everything even club images. You mentioned prudent company so you are already offside Dortmund talk of brands and business it's about fans and a philosophy. That philosophy is on and off the pitch. Your point about AG is wrong. There are examples after examples of doing miles better for less. City have been ran badly at best. David James being signed by the clubs owner wondrous things into perspective.
Again, too literal - it is the base model we are talking about and anyway, the entire backroom philosphy from coaching to scouting and sigings HAS basically been torn up and we have started again from scratch... I agree that things in England are not the same with 50%+1 fan ownership (although investors in Germany CAN take majority control after 20 years, Wolfsburg for instance, which is owned by Volkswagen) unlikely to become the model over here however in all other respects, the club are trying to rebuild from the base up on a better model. The point is that we can't dwell on the past, mistakes have been made, its human nature but we have to look forward now - the most important thing is how we react to our mistakes and learning not to make the same ones again - this is the measure of success and I would suggest that SL probably learned his lesson with David James and although the decision was no doubt one made for the right reasons in his mind (i.e. to the benefit of the club in terms of raising profile), I think it is fairly safe to say that he won't be doing that again. The day to day running of the football matters at the club is now in the hands of well qualified people (I am not talking about the board) and that is about as good as you can do in terms of employing people who know about football, and trusting them to do the job The final piece of the puzzle is to restore the connection with the fans which appears to be at the heart of most of your comments so in all seriousness, perhaps you could apply to go on the fans parliment. The club say that it is their aim to restore the connection but as I think is the case with most people or organsations that badly lose their way, they are not sure what to do and are asking for help and direction to steer them back on course. They need to hear from the very people that are most aggreived and I would like to think that as a genuine City supporter, you could help them in this...
I think you there are providing a no forme there. The blue print is fundamentally different. Fans parliament, I would not be worthy, don't know enough people to put myself forward, those who have a bit of influence have shied away from it, in the case of the Eastend don't agree with it as its a way of ticking a box v influencing things. I would like to see a fan on the board, elected maybe ( happens abroad) as people at City at boardroom level do include those who are not fans even not football fans at all. A background in commercials v being a fan explains why the club is disconnected at times. I do think obvious improvements are happening. Some could be very good. German model no chance mate.
Go on Three Lions, put yourself forward. I did back in the 90's for the Football Council and although we then ran into a brick wall at every turn, I genuinely believe the Club are now very receptive to supporter's input. The ideal will be a supporter/fan on the board, but let's go the Parliament route as then someone who is unconnected with the Club heirarchy may be elected. Whereas if it was instigated now, the Supporter place on the board would come from those who are a hair's breadth away from the Board at the moment and it would be a "place for one of the boys" and not a City fan from the terraces (or cheaper seats than the padded ones). Go on Three Lions, take the plunge.
I don't want to push anyone into a roll that they are not comfortable with but it is sometimes good for the hierarchy to hear it from grass roots level, thats all...
Few weeks ago I was on a coach from west street to wolves. Most of us on that think similarly but I doubt I could sincerely talk for them or even my close mates. I have involved myself in fundraising petitions fans events nd the and enjoyed it but this FP! I think that someone a bit higher up the pecking order and those who can get others really motivated are not interested in this point. Maybe if this parliament might attract the right type if it shows it will affect things. Shall see. Something on Dortmund at Wembley http://grahamtomlin.blogspot.co.uk/...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Take the plunge and ask if you may sit in on some of the meetings, so you can get a feel for what is wanted of you, before you commit to it. Rest assured, the Club do not want "Yes" persons; neither do they want those who disagree angrily or rudely about everything the Club suggests. If the Club is sincere with the Fans Parliament, they will welcome anyone and any comment that is delivered constructively and that has been thought about before presenting to the Club. Try it for a while and you will probably find that you will "grow into it" and as you are clearly passionate about City, who better to represent your fellow supporters.
As I said you would have to be sincere about it. It doesn't look right to me as those who I would list as having skills w.ay past mine and histories of beng active fans and arsed to stand up have swerved this. It needs those who really know a few and can bring something to the table, in the case of the Eastend those who did most have stayed away.
Darn shame - whilst I have absolutely no doubt that those on the parliment do a good job, a different angle or a fresh pair of eyes is always a good thing. I also have little doubt that the Eastend boys stay away because they have probably had enough of being ignored in the past but I sense that there is a complete sea change going on at the club and, if we are to rebuild everything from the ground up, this should include our ideas...
I hope to see a sea of change too but take this re-development. Fans were told they would be consulted every step of the way. Fans are yet to see an image of it yet!!
I Ashton Gate is rebuilt; Originally the plan for rebuilt Wedlock had execitive boxes planned. Now there will not be any boxes in Wedlock and they will be sited at rear of Dolman instead. Somebody somewhere listened to those of us who made the point that we do not want boaxes in the home end.
There will be no home end. There will be a silly enclosure to replace decades of history. I would not describe that as being even third prize. This enclosure would not be acceptable at many German clubs. Boxes in the Dolman is logical. Anybody interested in the topic could be cynical that the re-location in the as yet seen design has anything to do with fans views. The enclosure being built simply does not share the dynamics of an "end", fans are not being liaised with, or if they are it is not evident. If somebody somewhere is listening they are only listening to what they want, and there are not involving support openly.
