S.A.F.C. - the future

[Blyth_bucaneer]

The idea anyway that supporters have " influence', beyond going or not, is for the birds.

Clubs are bought and sold on the basis of money. It's always been about money, it will always be about money.

Supporters doling out nessages, other than actual support, will have no effect at all, other than potentially alienating those to whom they are aimed.

There is a list as long as a pick pockets arm of supporters who have demonstrated, held protest meetings, organised petitions and debased themselves in Parliament Square to no end at all.

Things are settled in the end by money. Wailing at plate glass, and holding mock funerals makes no difference, nor does composing badly written, open letters. The main difference between the two here is that the former might have something to complain about, the latter do not.

Spot on. I did enjoy telling Methven to fcuk off via a steak and kidney pie though.

 

[Smug in Boots]

The idea anyway that supporters have " influence', beyond going or not, is for the birds.

Clubs are bought and sold on the basis of money. It's always been about money, it will always be about money.

Supporters doling out nessages, other than actual support, will have no effect at all, other than potentially alienating those to whom they are aimed.

There is a list as long as a pick pockets arm of supporters who have demonstrated, held protest meetings, organised petitions and debased themselves in Parliament Square to no end at all.

Things are settled in the end by money. Wailing at plate glass, and holding mock funerals makes no difference, nor does composing badly written, open letters. The main difference between the two here is that the former might have something to complain about, the latter do not.

Ashley just sits back and laughs then dreams up something else to wind them up with, Bruce was an absolute classic.

He then shuts them all up by pretending to sue the PL about the takeover ... genius.

Reminds me of this how he plays around with them

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[Guinness Guzzler]

Cheers.

I've seen the debate over there and it's become very personal, no surprise, and insults are being thrown around.

People who are voicing concerns are being told they're just sitting on their arses, bowing down to the owners, etc.

I can see why that puts people off posting and encourages the mob mentality the forum has become.

I've asked various questions, of RAWA, which aren't being answered.

As just a few examples why do they claim to be the voice of all Sunderland supporters, on their website ...

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... then always deny that when challenged.

Also, if the statement, was intended for Louis-Dreyfus, has it been sent to him or the club - surely you must want to know.

If it hasn't are they expecting him to be logging on from Geneva?

Lastly, why, before the EFL has ratified the new owner/chairman was it felt necessary to publicly ask for a meeting?

To be fair its "the independent voice for all Sunderland fans" as in its for all fans, anyone can join. I know it's a bit into semantics here but it doesn't say "the independent voice of all Sunderland fans" (which would suggest it speaks for all). Previously there were groups for those in branches, those who were senior supporters etc. RAWA is an attempt to be for all rather than for a specific group. Iirc this was mainly because the club got sick of every group wanting to meet to discuss largely the same things. So RAWA had reps for each group (there's a BLC rep, senior rep, message board rep etc) so all the main questions from each group could be sent to the club in one meeting. Probably not a great explanation but I believe that's why the tagline, just to say it's open for every Sunderland fan to join, not that it speaks for every Sunderland fan!

 

[Smug in Boots]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

 

[Guinness Guzzler]

Fair point, that would probably happen in fairness and would also do no good. Your point about it going on the website and an email at the same time is ok but it still means they can put what they want which may not be in tune with the membership which is basically what's happened with this statement. I agree it needs a lot more thought before future releases.

I do agree, but ultimately in a group with a committee running it there needs to be some element of them releasing what they think is in tune with the majority of members. I mean, if they ran every action or statement past the members every time there'd be no need for a committee, and you'd still have some saying "I gave my opinion and it doesn't match what was in the final statement". It definitely needs to improve, which I think it will over time, but it's also a pretty tricky thing to get right and you'll never please everyone! I'm just hoping we're moving into a time where the running of the club is fine and we can look at other, much less controversial, things.

 

[Southern A]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

Guessing it’s a Head of Data Analysis or something similar

 

[Alebeac]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

Interesting snippet again.
If you had said "unlike what we have had for 20 years" I would have said a manager.

 

[Confucius]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

did he hint on the footballing side, or business side?

 

[6inarow]

There's now an attempt, on RTG, to make this an 'us and them' situation as was done with the takeover.

In that case most on here were saying the takeover was happening ...

... over there it generally became the opposite partly because of the 'us and them' nonsense.

I'd remind Scott934 and @6inarow that there are people on RTG who disagree with you.

There are also RAWA members, on both forums and social media, who disagree with you.

People are entitled to their opinion just as you are.

Just an opinion mate although as you may have read into, I think some people are looking far too much into it

 

[Smug in Boots]

did he hint on the footballing side, or business side?

Sorry to look even more vague but I asked that question and he said 'a little from column A and a little from column B' ...

... tbf, he isn't a Sunderland supporter and loves having a laugh at my expense.

He did give me the date of the club announcement, that morning, so I have to go along with his 'sense of humour'.

 

[wendall gee]

Here's one for @Bigmackem and potentially really good news imo.

A proposed future sponsor has a big presence in various countries including South America and Africa.

Sometimes I'm given vague hints but this time I've been told who is being proposed and, despite having to Google the name, am very impressed ....

.... not sure how pleased the asbestos lads will be though tbh.

Don't be surprised if the SOL is renamed either. I, personally, don't have any particular affection for the name so, if money comes in, I'd be happy to see it called anything other than 'The Riverside'.

Bookmark this for fun and let's see if it comes off

The Asbestos lad is Bob Stokeo's hat off RTG, he's a MLF and I am sure he will want what's best for the club. I may be wrong but I don't think he will be that bothered. If anyone is sponsoring the team to support the club it will be him, rather than any business he may get through the sponsorship, if that makes sense.

 

[wendall gee]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

Definitely Salma

 

[Smug in Boots]

The Asbestos lad is Bob Stokeo's hat off RTG, he's a MLF and I am sure he will want what's best for the club. I may be wrong but I don't think he will be that bothered. If anyone is sponsoring the team to support the club it will be him, rather than any business he may get through the sponsorship, if that makes sense.

Yes I remember now, good lad anarl.

It would be good to carry him up the divisions with us imo ....

... where were Nissan when we needed them!

 

[Oliver's Army]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

Adrian Heath in charge of the Academy to fit in with the 'continental' approach.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Adrian Heath in charge of the Academy to fit in with the 'continental' approach.

I'd rather have his brother, Hampstead ....

 

[Oldsandy]

Just had a message, from someone who's happy for me to post a vague hint but nothing more.
(Not like I could, he's told me nowt.)

He reckons the new owner has made another appointment who'll be announced at the same time he becomes Chairman.

He's not giving anything away but says he's impressed and will be 'unlike anything we've had at Sunderland before' ...

... answers on a postcard please

Er... Kevin Philips as Supporter Liaison Officer?

 

[Alebeac]

I'd rather have his brother, Hampstead ....

As long as it isn't Ted Heath.

 

[Iain]

To be fair its "the independent voice for all Sunderland fans" as in its for all fans, anyone can join. I know it's a bit into semantics here but it doesn't say "the independent voice of all Sunderland fans" (which would suggest it speaks for all). Previously there were groups for those in branches, those who were senior supporters etc. RAWA is an attempt to be for all rather than for a specific group. Iirc this was mainly because the club got sick of every group wanting to meet to discuss largely the same things. So RAWA had reps for each group (there's a BLC rep, senior rep, message board rep etc) so all the main questions from each group could be sent to the club in one meeting. Probably not a great explanation but I believe that's why the tagline, just to say it's open for every Sunderland fan to join, not that it speaks for every Sunderland fan!

I don't really think that many people would mind RAWA being some kind of spokesperson for the fans, the problem is making the kind of demands that came out in the statement without really hearing what the fans did expect from the new owner. What I think has really made them look very amateur and a bit silly is if you look at the appointments that have been made and the statements that have come from the club already, kind of give an indication of which direction he is wanting to take the club.
It obvious with the appointment of Speakman he wants to build the academy back to what it used to be bringing talent through to the first team.
If RAWA want to be the spokesperson for the fans they need to know what the majority of the fans wants before making silly mag like demands

 

[HoratioCarter]

I do agree, but ultimately in a group with a committee running it there needs to be some element of them releasing what they think is in tune with the majority of members. I mean, if they ran every action or statement past the members every time there'd be no need for a committee, and you'd still have some saying "I gave my opinion and it doesn't match what was in the final statement". It definitely needs to improve, which I think it will over time, but it's also a pretty tricky thing to get right and you'll never please everyone! I'm just hoping we're moving into a time where the running of the club is fine and we can look at other, much less controversial, things.

Surely it is easy to get right if they realise their true position as supporters ( If you support someone or their ideas or aims, you agree with them, and perhaps help them because you want them to succeed.) they are not above the owner and have no rights regarding information on how the club is run.

 

[rowley]

Adrian Heath in charge of the Academy to fit in with the 'continental' approach.

They'll learn how to get lashed up then!