Serious topic, shows why most of us still do ( me included) want him gone as he has damaged the brand, the club, the name, etc. Off topic, STREET FIGHTER!! Who would be like? Blanca springs to mind immediately, teeth to match!
I'm not with ayre on this,. scuse me but **** the "brand". Luis is a winner and we could do with more players of his mould imo I like the fact he pisses off most people, our fans included, cantona wasn't run out of utd after his judo kick,so what's a little nibble ffs. the press hate him Cos he's ****ing class and has ability most can only dream of. long live king Luis!
Problem is Cantona had one "thrash out" moment..... how many has ol Luis had now? Getting ridiculous really? Never answered what Street Fighter he was though....
I'd say he was...... akura I count 2 bites, 1 racial slur, it's part of his game, his relentless desire to win causes these outbursts imo, something he will never learn to tame and I wouldn't want him to either. I wouldn't change my mind if he bites someone else again tbh all this B's about the "brand" makes me laugh though, it's a football club ffs! winning things creates this "global brand" everyone keeps ****ing over, we have more chance of winning with players of suarezs calibre in the side, to sell him to protect our "brand" is bollox imo.
Brand = fans in Asia and quality sponsorship. Fans in Asia = money. Money = top players. Top players = success on field. Its easy to pooh the brand... but the brand indirectly affects that which we care about most. Success on field. Chelsea and city get to skip first two steps... we can't. Henry and co. don't eat lead and poop gold. Its all connected like that song... the hip bones connected to the knees bone... the knee bones connected to the collar bone... the collar bones connected to the... ... etc.
I know what a brand is milk mate, how did we create our brand in the 1st place? winning trophies simple as that. we can do all the deals with Gatorade, warrior etc all we like. we are not a brand 1st and football club 2nd and the day we put sponsorship contracts before winning trophies is the day we become.... I dunno..... arsenal.
Cantona was also never racist and as far as I remember he never openly stated he wanted to leave the club when he was in his prime
cantona was going to quit all together before Ferguson pursuaded him not to if I remember rightly? and he was also part of a team that was at the time dominant. I don't blame him for wanting to move to a team in the Cl, thats natual imo, I do blame him for bringing I all on himself, but he diddnt leave and we should be happy for that, I am anyways
Ian Ayre is a businessman who would not know a football from a tin can so I wish he would just stop doing interviews and talking about Suarez and leave that stuff to Rodgers. I don't see any other managing directors giving interviews about football matters every few months.
I don't think you really do know what a brand is. LFC have been a brand 1st and a football club 2nd for over a decade. The problem has been that neither part of the brand has been managed successfully. A brand is multi-faceted. It's not just about trophies won, it's not just about present or past players, it's not just about Anfield or Paisley or Shankley. It is about the unique tableau that they unite to describe. Your understanding of what LFC means is not the same as mine. It couldn't be as you were not there with me and my family and friends etc. But the brand attempts to pull all those individual threads together. Our brand is bigger and better globally than the vast majority of football clubs (forget the Forbes style listings). Along with a handfull of clubs LFC have a worldwide reach and are immediately recognised as a brand. The brand nowadays brings in more income than attendances. The more income, the more chance to build a successful side who's efforts then enrich the brand further. Why are we different from Arsenal/ Chelsea? Well along with United we have managed to add those indefinable elements of history, romance and quality. Therefore Ayre is right when he says that nobody (including Suarez) is bigger than the club and nobody (including Suarez) will be allowed to bring the brand into disrepute!
I know full well what a football brand is and agree with you mostly. in your opinion is the "brand" more or less valuable with Luis Suarez in the "brand" or not in the "brand" look at arsenals "brand" for example.... if we put the "brand" 1st and concentrate on making money 1st then there is no gaurantee success will come after is there? yes we need to expand our already global "brand" but let's not make that the no1 priority at the club.
OK... I will be admittedly extreme here to make my point... Say Suarez went out on the field yesterday... scored a goal... celebrated by putting on a kkk hood, urinating on a linesman and then ****ed on the centre circle... He doesn't get disciplined and helps us qualify for Europe. Mums stop buying kids replicas. No minorities or women show up at game. Come summer we need more depth to help us compete and win in competitions but there is no money. We won't win anything without investment and better players. Today you need money to win. You need a brand to make money. What happens off field is huge in terms of chasing our ultimate goal... winning silver. Yes... I hate the commercialism too... I don't cheer or get excited and hug my fish when we sign a new sponsor like I do when Carragher nets a hattrick. Sadly I think the brand IS über important in the goal to win silverware... but yes... the silverware is... and has to be our primary focus. Brand is just the pedestal that supports the silver.
There may have been some commercial damage done to the brand because of Suarez's actions and statements. Perhaps only Ian Ayre or Billy Hogan could truly tell you that. My own opinion is that any damage is minor and temporary. LFC is, was and always will be bigger than any one player including Louis Suarez. It's not really a question of putting the brand first. The growth of the brand is inextricably linked to the achievements on the pitch. However, the more income we can generate the 'better' the players that we can buy. It's amazing the commercial growth that has taken place it's even more amazing how that growth has matched and even surpassed the growth that others have achieved whilst still retaining CL football - and even wining it! But we won't have another Instanbull if we don't have the income to invest in the team. So it has to be a balance between commercial and sporting success. At the moment, just maybe, commercial growth is even more vital.
Dave I agree with your view, the brand and success on the pitch are inextricably linked. Let's also not forget the huge benefits Suarez has brought to the brand. Shirt sales alone must be very lucrative. And what about that advert Suarez did taking the mick out of himself, it doesn't seem to have harmed the brand if he's still wanted front stuff like this.
Green dude with orange hair was the best (can't remember his name and too lazy to look it up). Had some awesome spinning move
