I was listening to 5 live for a bit last night and the topic of foreign owners came up. It got me thinking of the other clubs in the championship that are under foreign stewardship (there are 11 apparently) and how our owners fare.
To be frank, I think we've got a better deal than most and this season they certainly have 'put their money where their mouth is'. Tan and TG seem to have a long term plan, though how long long is I don't know. Hopefully the Langston debt can be sorted and the loan to equity conversion can happen. That would stabilise things nicely. MM seems to have spent wisely and finally adressed the shortcoming we knew we had last season, pace, width and plan B. A few old heads for free or small fees (HH, Smith and Bellars- though that situation is unique) and decent fees for promising younger players (Mutch, Maynard, etien, Connolly, Noone, KimBo).
Leicester's owners seem to want instant results and it is very much a big boy's toy, chucking money at over rated players with no real structure. They want to be seen in the prem and see it as a status symbol. Watford's owners have gone mad. Getting rid of Dyche, tearing up their plan of developing from within and loaning themselves 10 players. Given that you are limited to how many loanees can be in the match day squad........ Zola has a squad of 40 and doesn't know what to do with them all. He wants to send some out on loan. Can you loan out loaned players?
There are a couple foreign owners that keep doing the rounds, selling one and buying another. Some with no plan to move things forward once they own a club.
All in all, while many disagree with the foreign owners and it may be nice to have a Welsh owner, Welsh manager and Welsh players, we could be far worse off that what we've got.
The teams in the prem that stand out regarding ownership are probably Everton and the Swans. They don't chuck money at things but seem to be running a steady ship. Everton for longer than the Swans, but credit to HJ's guidance over the past few seasons. However, there is still unrest regarding the Glaziers at ManU, Liverpool still haven't stabilised after their US owners and there is unrest at the Emirates. Chelski baulk at the interfering in footballing matters of their owner and as for Man City...... it's going to end in tears with the salaries they are offering.
To be frank, I think we've got a better deal than most and this season they certainly have 'put their money where their mouth is'. Tan and TG seem to have a long term plan, though how long long is I don't know. Hopefully the Langston debt can be sorted and the loan to equity conversion can happen. That would stabilise things nicely. MM seems to have spent wisely and finally adressed the shortcoming we knew we had last season, pace, width and plan B. A few old heads for free or small fees (HH, Smith and Bellars- though that situation is unique) and decent fees for promising younger players (Mutch, Maynard, etien, Connolly, Noone, KimBo).
Leicester's owners seem to want instant results and it is very much a big boy's toy, chucking money at over rated players with no real structure. They want to be seen in the prem and see it as a status symbol. Watford's owners have gone mad. Getting rid of Dyche, tearing up their plan of developing from within and loaning themselves 10 players. Given that you are limited to how many loanees can be in the match day squad........ Zola has a squad of 40 and doesn't know what to do with them all. He wants to send some out on loan. Can you loan out loaned players?
There are a couple foreign owners that keep doing the rounds, selling one and buying another. Some with no plan to move things forward once they own a club.
All in all, while many disagree with the foreign owners and it may be nice to have a Welsh owner, Welsh manager and Welsh players, we could be far worse off that what we've got.
The teams in the prem that stand out regarding ownership are probably Everton and the Swans. They don't chuck money at things but seem to be running a steady ship. Everton for longer than the Swans, but credit to HJ's guidance over the past few seasons. However, there is still unrest regarding the Glaziers at ManU, Liverpool still haven't stabilised after their US owners and there is unrest at the Emirates. Chelski baulk at the interfering in footballing matters of their owner and as for Man City...... it's going to end in tears with the salaries they are offering.
