What's with the 'more sensitive Baz clappers'? To be fair Harrow was correct, some of the stuff on here lately about Bassini is libelous. It may be your opinion but that won't be a defence. I'm just saying because potentially there are implications for the people concerned, the moderators and the site as a whole. (I lecture in this stuff so I do know). The main point is what has he actually done wrong? If Malky turns around and says he wants to speak to them then he may as well let him. The horse has already bolted.
Well put BHD. We're all free to form our own opinions and some people prefer to do that on gut feeling whilst others look for evidence. If we all liked the same people or formed identical opinions we'd kill each other as we would fight for the same wife. As it is the facts are Bassini hasn't made a mistake yet apart from his early PR. He refused cardiff permission to speak to Malky but its a different ball game when Malky asks to speak to Cardiff. I know what I would have done in his shoes and it would have involved a large conversation to try and convince Malky not to talk, failing a change in the guys position I'd tell him I'd discuss with the club board as those guys have been working with him longer and encourage him to also talk to GT, after the board discussions I'd then give permission so I guess the same as Bassini, any other viewpoint anyone thinks would have ended in a better outcome (I take the point that the personality of the owner and ability to encourage and reassure an employee is yet to be qualified). So in this scenario nobody has lied. As to taking a bouncer to the club are you sure it wasn't just his driver or was this guy controlling access to Mr B?
Libellous? Unless I've missed some seriously defamatory stuff, I've not seen anything on these boards as in any way actionable.
It just needs to lower his reputation in the eyes of right thinking members of society, who are not unduly naive or suspicious; and society as a whole not just a cross-section of it. Anyway, can we all just chill out and move on.
I know the definition (and its application in some case law, albeit from a while back) that's why I was surprised that anyone would say some of the things said about our beloved owner could constitute defamation. I'm just concerned that there is no chilling effect; people are entitled to their opinions on Bazzini and, considering how other fans talk about their owners (Newcastle, anyone?) I'd say we're fairly laid back! My personal view is that Bazzini is shrouded in mystery and I don't like it. You have to have huge resources to make a good go of running a football club and Bazzini doesn't fit the bill. No idea where he got the money to buy the club (presumably debt, or silent backer) and don't see what he intends to get out of it (perhaps it's simply a vanity project). I don't buy the idea that he plans to make a quick buck, as I don't see how he can. I'm no conspiracy theorist but, given that I don't see Bazzini as a knight in shining armour, I'm still sceptical as to why he's here. Incidentally, I don't blame him for selling Graham or Buckley (although I feel we should have got more for the former) and there's nothing an owner can do when the manager decides the grass is greener elsewhere. Hopefully we'll negotiate good compensation for Mackay (£500k+) and try for some restrictive covenants (e.g. non-dealing/soliciting clause(s)).
By any definition, 'liar' ranks as one of the most serious slanders/libels. I suppose thief or murderer might be worse........
I would change my vote if voting now I can't think of one positive thing he has done - unless you accept that the Buckley fee was reasonable Negative - got the minimum acceptable for DG - I am sure he could have handled the sale in a way to have held out for more. The loss of Winter and now Malky indicate that he is not inspiring anyone behind the scenes with confidence in our future Still no information on anything concrete going forward
Playing devil's advocate, could we honestly have got more for Graham? (Hear me out, in no way am I belittling his record last year.) He is unproven at that level, his career has long spells without scoring - at Carlisle he went the backend of a season without scoring and he had a fair drought in his first year with us. That could suggest to a buyer he is inconsistent - was last year a one-off? They would look at it as buying potential who would be worth having if the team got relegated - look at those who bid for him: QPR, West Brom and Swansea. Finally he said that he wanted to play in the Prem, by doing that the club's stance is weaker as the buyer knows you are going to be left with a disappointed player. I don't think you can necessarily put Winter going down to him. Yes, he wanted to become more hands-on, understandable seeing as its his investment - people knocked Ashcroft for not being involved, we can't have it both ways. As others have noted maybe Winter wanted the challenge of being a full CEO running day to day operations. Lastly, do you honestly think Malky would have stayed if Ashcroft, Simpson etc were still in charge, I don't.
OK - no offers higher for DG but still feel a bit underpaid. We don't know why Winter went but since both he and GT had mention that if they were sacked repercussions would follow the sale implies he was expected to stay a while llonger at least so reading between the lines Baz and he may not have hit it off. MAlky may have stayed if he had confidence in our future - who knows - but he clearly was not impressed so went very easily Nothing concrete there but equally nothing positive
No higher offers, but the auctioneer's gavel was slammed down on about the second bid. A few of us would liked him to hold out for a bit more.
That was my point though SLB, were any higher bids likely to be forthcoming? As fans we all feel he should have gone for more but was that viewed shared by the rest of the football world? Was it realistic on our part looking at the wider facts from a detached, non-Watford, business perspective? As I say, not necessarily my view but playing devil's advocate.
Fair enough, bd, and there is nothing to say that holding out will necessarily net a higher fee, but I think with 'top scorer' mantle he would've garnered a developing interest from more clubs - more demand, hence more money.
Laurence Bassini has a position I would not like. He or his backers have bought a club with a problem. Money is not very big and things needed to be done to make the club safe. We knew a player would go, Danny Graham, and that happened. Will Buckley going is a bonus for the money but perhaps not the team and now Malky Mackay leaving is another bad hit. To suffer this in your first weeks is not a good start but none of his making and we and the staff know what the club is like financially. I just hope he has a lucky touch somewhere or we could have a rough ride ahead.
I have to say i am neither over the moon nor running for cover. He has not done anything obvious which would seem that he is captain of the titanic and wants to ruin us. Whilst he could maybe of held out for a higher bid for Danny, but we need to remember is he did not just take the first offer of around 2mill over time, he hald out for 3.5 cash in hand, which for the club is a great deal. People keep saying that newcastle were interested, but they never registered a bid and we dont know that they would have, he could have waited till the end of this month and still have no offer higher than 3.5mill and by which time swansea would have said stuff this waiting and probably gone else where. Then he was open and said there were no approaches for Mackay which there werent and when there was he quickly turned it down, then having spoken to the board and MM he had to accept, or MM would have walked and we would have got nothing for him. £0 vs £300,000?, i know which i prefer!! Yes i know he is taking the money from the club to pay the debt, but its not often you get an owner come in and write off all debts for free, and at least he is doing this!! He would appear to be more open honest and reliable than the Russos.
That's the point bhd, he can't just 'walk' without compensation. He was contracted. The fact he signed a contract recently means we will get more money for him than if he hadn't.
In all fairness the sum for DG was perfectly fine... as mentioned here he is unproven in the premiership and isnt a young talent that could improve massively over time. Also I think the fee for Buckley was derisory...a young english winger with one of the best touches in the championship and pace for £1mil? not good enough... The points Buckley may have contributed this coming season may turn out to be worth more than that 1 million.... and we sold him to a championship club... if he has a brilliant season this season....note the IF... he could make the step up to the prem and hence a massive rise in his value. Apart from the Buckley point I find it hard to criticise Bassini so openly. He's not in this to make money... football club owners don't make huge sums of cash and especially owners of ones heavily in debt. There is money from his own pocket or even his own investors it doesn't really make a difference... and every decision they make effects their value... What im trying to say his he needs a lot more time to settle and show his worth to the club and maybe he needs the support of the fans so that he feels welcome and can get on with the job
Yes but thats not generally how it works... owners only see real profit when they sell the club on and only if it is financially attractive in most cases... so bassini has a lot riding on this
But had he resigned as opposed to been poached we would have got less for it, so in the end he made the right decision to let them talk.
