Do you ever worry?

[sunderlandsnicestboy]

To be fair, you could say the current ownership brought our identity back. Before they took over we were just a shell of a club, the League one days, even the dregs of our previous Prem stint if you took the red and white stripes away you wouldnt know its Sunderland AFC, the atmosphere was bad, the players didnt care, the ownerships were either asset stripping or just happy to tread water and our heritage was being losers.

All the points made in are valid, i just think they're problems with wider football in general and the way the modern game is evolving where it is what made it so special in the first place. Hopefully the club can continue to straddle the line between being in touch with the fans and also maximising income as it will be imparative to any future success.

 

[riffraff]

We’ve tried being shite for 88 years. It’s overrated.

 

[Boris Bear]

Bob Murray presided over a couple of decades of failure and underperformance on the pitch and walked away with a profit. The idea that he was selfless is misguided.

People have short memories.

 

[Gloucester]

I dont worry about it, but all these things can and likely will happen.

I dont go to a lot of home games. But because I live a long way away, Sunderland AFC is a major link to my family home so all this does matter to me. I like the fact that when I pick up my lad from his football training he wears a Sunderland kit and people know it means something to him in the way that maybe a Bayern, Manchester City or Arsenal one doesnt.

I would add that something the club deserves a lot of praise for is that theyve tapped into the local identity well. The lighthouse and foghorn before the game, the lambton worm Tifo etc. All that matters to me and gives us an identity lost in many tourist clubs.

I also like that the owners havent spelled out a vision. How many 5 year plans have Newcastle promised? How many Projects. Making your vision well known is a risk. If its not ambitious enough fans will criticise, too ambitious and theyll question why its not being achieved.

I trust them to run the club well and hopefully find a slow progression to stabilise top half Premier league football. A cup run here and there maybe, a european trip too would be great. That would do me.

However
Football is an expensive business. To compete with the PL you need money. As long as players wages are going up, and the cost of running a club goes up.... prices will too. Its almost inevitable some loyal fans will be priced out in favour of corporate sponsorship.

Cracking post mate

 

[Wearson]

To be fair, you could say the current ownership brought our identity back. Before they took over we were just a shell of a club, the League one days, even the dregs of our previous Prem stint if you took the red and white stripes away you wouldnt know its Sunderland AFC, the atmosphere was bad, the players didnt care, the ownerships were either asset stripping or just happy to tread water and our heritage was being losers.

All the points made in are valid, i just think they're problems with wider football in general and the way the modern game is evolving where it is what made it so special in the first place. Hopefully the club can continue to straddle the line between being in touch with the fans and also maximising income as it will be imparative to any future success.

100% wider football in general.

You think it hadn’t been happening for the last 30 years or so, it’s too late. The games gone, what we have now is a totally different thing.

 

[RGZ]

I think this ownership has given us an identity we never had nevermind removing one

 

[Sgt Pepper]

After all the worry I had in recent years when we were absolute shit and stuck in the third tier, I’m just enjoying the present moment far too much to worry about any of that. Maybe I will further down the line, hopefully I won’t and hopefully I won’t need to.

 

[Rick O Shea]

I am more worried that I'll wake up and find we're still in League 1, and the last few years have been a surreal dream.
I also worry that I'll stop reading threads and end up posting something almost identical to someone else.

 

[Zweiguys]

That the club ownership is so ruthless, so relentless (to use their own term) to deliver success that

1. They will alienate huge numbers of loyal supporters by a. Pricing them out of the SOL b. Turfing supporters out of their seats they have sat in for decades c. making demands that season ticket holders buy Europe / Domestic Cup Tickets at inflated prices d. Largely remove concession pricing e. Kill the community feel and heritage of the club of generations of families supporting the club.

2. They will sell the club at the first opportunity to make a huge gain leaving us at the mercy of Chelsea like owners

3. Thst this is all about money rather than glory

These are consequences and experiences fans of other clubs have had.

One of the things I always find strange is how the owners don’t ever come out and spell out their vision for the club and how they are going to achieve it.

I watched the interim CEO being interviewed and he said all the right things but did he mean it, are we all a bit gullible lapping up all the positive engaging PR.

They are bloody good, bloody clever and done bloody well. But does anyone worry they might lose their club as they know it.

Which club can we hope we will emulate to have what is success but also ensures that the club is primarily for the people and most importantly not the fan who watches on TV but the one who attends rain , hail and shine.

Bob Murray did everything for the fans, not himself, but delivered limited success.

Is the future for us or despite us ??? Will success be worth it.

Only really interested in views of people who actually go to games … for anyone else what do they care…. And there’s the rub. 40000 people may be sensitive to change but for millions we are just performing seals creating an atmosphere and feeding their entertainment.

Do we feel German football is more wholesome more in tune with supporters?

I think Chelsea, Mags, West Ham, Man Utd have all been destroyed as clubs.
Daft as it might sound I am glad I don’t support Man City, I think it’s lost its soul.
Probably only Liverpool has kept in touch with its roots. Can we do that?

KLD stated a 5 year plan and delivered. What’s to worry about?

 

[MickeyV]

That the club ownership is so ruthless, so relentless (to use their own term) to deliver success that

1. They will alienate huge numbers of loyal supporters by a. Pricing them out of the SOL b. Turfing supporters out of their seats they have sat in for decades c. making demands that season ticket holders buy Europe / Domestic Cup Tickets at inflated prices d. Largely remove concession pricing e. Kill the community feel and heritage of the club of generations of families supporting the club.

2. They will sell the club at the first opportunity to make a huge gain leaving us at the mercy of Chelsea like owners

3. Thst this is all about money rather than glory

These are consequences and experiences fans of other clubs have had.

One of the things I always find strange is how the owners don’t ever come out and spell out their vision for the club and how they are going to achieve it.

I watched the interim CEO being interviewed and he said all the right things but did he mean it, are we all a bit gullible lapping up all the positive engaging PR.

They are bloody good, bloody clever and done bloody well. But does anyone worry they might lose their club as they know it.

Which club can we hope we will emulate to have what is success but also ensures that the club is primarily for the people and most importantly not the fan who watches on TV but the one who attends rain , hail and shine.

Bob Murray did everything for the fans, not himself, but delivered limited success.

Is the future for us or despite us ??? Will success be worth it.

Only really interested in views of people who actually go to games … for anyone else what do they care…. And there’s the rub. 40000 people may be sensitive to change but for millions we are just performing seals creating an atmosphere and feeding their entertainment.

Do we feel German football is more wholesome more in tune with supporters?

I think Chelsea, Mags, West Ham, Man Utd have all been destroyed as clubs.
Daft as it might sound I am glad I don’t support Man City, I think it’s lost its soul.
Probably only Liverpool has kept in touch with its roots. Can we do that?

No. Not for a second.
My lad is 28 and hangs out in the kind of clubs frequented by DJs that you and I have never heard of. In one such place, he spotted a lad wearing a T-shirt that said something about Mackems. They were having a bit crack, and it turned out he was talking to Maurice, KLD's twin. (They had the private jet parked around the corner at London City and he and his mates were flying up for a game next day)
So far, so unlikely.
Regarding the ownership, he said the whole family are behind the project. They want to take this Club to the top. Most of the board are trusted business associates. Even their Mam set up an overdraft for us at her bank. The best valuation of SAFC probably amounts to about 5% of the family wealth, so even a huge profit is meaningless.
Tom Burwell (Interim CEO) said in his Business of Sport interview that the future for the family is envisioned as at least 10-15 years. This is karma for the rich Texan numpty and the Barrow Boys that ruined our club over a previous 15 years.
So don't worry. KTF.

 

[mackinbristol]

That the club ownership is so ruthless, so relentless (to use their own term) to deliver success that

1. They will alienate huge numbers of loyal supporters by a. Pricing them out of the SOL b. Turfing supporters out of their seats they have sat in for decades c. making demands that season ticket holders buy Europe / Domestic Cup Tickets at inflated prices d. Largely remove concession pricing e. Kill the community feel and heritage of the club of generations of families supporting the club.

2. They will sell the club at the first opportunity to make a huge gain leaving us at the mercy of Chelsea like owners

3. Thst this is all about money rather than glory

These are consequences and experiences fans of other clubs have had.

One of the things I always find strange is how the owners don’t ever come out and spell out their vision for the club and how they are going to achieve it.

I watched the interim CEO being interviewed and he said all the right things but did he mean it, are we all a bit gullible lapping up all the positive engaging PR.

They are bloody good, bloody clever and done bloody well. But does anyone worry they might lose their club as they know it.

Which club can we hope we will emulate to have what is success but also ensures that the club is primarily for the people and most importantly not the fan who watches on TV but the one who attends rain , hail and shine.

Bob Murray did everything for the fans, not himself, but delivered limited success.

Is the future for us or despite us ??? Will success be worth it.

Only really interested in views of people who actually go to games … for anyone else what do they care…. And there’s the rub. 40000 people may be sensitive to change but for millions we are just performing seals creating an atmosphere and feeding their entertainment.

Do we feel German football is more wholesome more in tune with supporters?

I think Chelsea, Mags, West Ham, Man Utd have all been destroyed as clubs.
Daft as it might sound I am glad I don’t support Man City, I think it’s lost its soul.
Probably only Liverpool has kept in touch with its roots. Can we do that?

All of that could happen, but I really don't think it's likely.

There will be changes and some of that will piss some people off. They will expand some of the more expensive seating areas, and inevitably the prices will continue to rise as they always have done.

However my gut feeling is that KLD isn't going to fuck over the fans or the club.

He just gives off the feeling of somebody who genuinely enjoys being involved with the club. He goes to most home games, he's completely changed how the club operates since joining, and even stuff like the Ronaldinho charity game the other week where he came on and played half of the second half.

Most importantly though. Why worry?

So far he's done one hell of a job turning this club around. If he decided in a few years time, if at that point we're an established Premier League side then he will have left us in one hell of a better condition than he found us!

 

[chriswallace85]

Not really, no.

1. I think they know the club, and the profile of the core fanbase.

2. I don't think the owner wants to sell. I think he's in it for the love of the game.

3. See above. Football club ownership isn't usually a profitable pursuit.


And 4, his da didn't do any of those things with Marseille.

I also like that the owners havent spelled out a vision. How many 5 year plans have Newcastle promised? How many Projects. Making your vision well known is a risk. If its not ambitious enough fans will criticise, too ambitious and theyll question why its not being achieved.

I like that about them too. I can't remember "5 years" ever being mentioned until it was practically delivered.

And I say that as a supporter who was practically demanding timescales on here 5 or so years ago when it looked like we were going nowhere. They've more than earned my trust now.

 

[Loch Ness Drogba fan]

That the club ownership is so ruthless, so relentless (to use their own term) to deliver success that

1. They will alienate huge numbers of loyal supporters by a. Pricing them out of the SOL b. Turfing supporters out of their seats they have sat in for decades c. making demands that season ticket holders buy Europe / Domestic Cup Tickets at inflated prices d. Largely remove concession pricing e. Kill the community feel and heritage of the club of generations of families supporting the club.

2. They will sell the club at the first opportunity to make a huge gain leaving us at the mercy of Chelsea like owners

3. Thst this is all about money rather than glory

These are consequences and experiences fans of other clubs have had.

One of the things I always find strange is how the owners don’t ever come out and spell out their vision for the club and how they are going to achieve it.

I watched the interim CEO being interviewed and he said all the right things but did he mean it, are we all a bit gullible lapping up all the positive engaging PR.

They are bloody good, bloody clever and done bloody well. But does anyone worry they might lose their club as they know it.

Which club can we hope we will emulate to have what is success but also ensures that the club is primarily for the people and most importantly not the fan who watches on TV but the one who attends rain , hail and shine.

Bob Murray did everything for the fans, not himself, but delivered limited success.

Is the future for us or despite us ??? Will success be worth it.

Only really interested in views of people who actually go to games … for anyone else what do they care…. And there’s the rub. 40000 people may be sensitive to change but for millions we are just performing seals creating an atmosphere and feeding their entertainment.

Do we feel German football is more wholesome more in tune with supporters?

I think Chelsea, Mags, West Ham, Man Utd have all been destroyed as clubs.
Daft as it might sound I am glad I don’t support Man City, I think it’s lost its soul.
Probably only Liverpool has kept in touch with its roots. Can we do that?

I don’t know about 2 and 3 but absolutely 1. Prices already going up now.

 

[chriswallace85]

No. Not for a second.
My lad is 28 and hangs out in the kind of clubs frequented by DJs that you and I have never heard of. In one such place, he spotted a lad wearing a T-shirt that said something about Mackems. They were having a bit crack, and it turned out he was talking to Maurice, KLD's twin. (They had the private jet parked around the corner at London City and he and his mates were flying up for a game next day)
So far, so unlikely.
Regarding the ownership, he said the whole family are behind the project. They want to take this Club to the top. Most of the board are trusted business associates. Even their Mam set up an overdraft for us at her bank. The best valuation of SAFC probably amounts to about 5% of the family wealth, so even a huge profit is meaningless.
Tom Burwell (Interim CEO) said in his Business of Sport interview that the future for the family is envisioned as at least 10-15 years. This is karma for the rich Texan numpty and the Barrow Boys that ruined our club over a previous 15 years.
So don't worry. KTF.

Don't stop, I'm nearly there.....

 

[RTGAdmin]

But does anyone worry they might lose their club as they know it.

I think we already have in reality. Its a huge business run by foreigners with lots of foreign players.
The pre-match experience in the Stadium is very much choreographed.

That isn't what I grew up supporting.

It doesn't mean I don't enjoy following SAFC anymore though and the football this last season has been a joy to watch.

We as supporters will be around a lot longer than any owners, so even though in reality its a massive commercial business it will always be "our club".

 

[Redandwhitedust]

I like that about them too. I can't remember "5 years" ever being mentioned until it was practically delivered.

And I say that as a supporter who was practically demanding timescales on here 5 or so years ago when it looked like we were going nowhere. They've more than earned my trust now.

Other than in football, I know of no other business where customers (which lets be honest is what we are) are as loyal, invested in, or as expectant of answers from the business as we are.

I love my local pub. I drink in it. Im loyal to it. I want it to succeed. But I dont demand the landlord tell me how it's run, or his 5 year plan to make it better for me!

 

[chriswallace85]

Other than in football, I know of no other business where customers (which lets be honest is what we are) are as loyal, invested in, or as expectant of answers from the business as we are.

I love my local pub. I drink in it. Im loyal to it. I want it to succeed. But I dont demand the landlord tell me how it's run, or his 5 year plan to make it better for me!

It'll probably be a Costa or something in 5 years.

 

[Redandwhitedust]

I think we already have in reality. Its a huge business run by foreigners with lots of foreign players.
The pre-match experience in the Stadium is very much choreographed.

That isn't what I grew up supporting.

Me neither. But the younger fans expect more than just a handshake and 90mins of football. They are paying for an experience and thats what professional sport is.

I expect in my lifetime we will have "halftime shows".

I will say though, while its choreographed and theatrical, I think its great how the club does it. The video, the foghorn, the tifos are all uniquely sunderland.

 

[KarenDent]

No. Not for a second.
My lad is 28 and hangs out in the kind of clubs frequented by DJs that you and I have never heard of. In one such place, he spotted a lad wearing a T-shirt that said something about Mackems. They were having a bit crack, and it turned out he was talking to Maurice, KLD's twin. (They had the private jet parked around the corner at London City and he and his mates were flying up for a game next day)
So far, so unlikely.
Regarding the ownership, he said the whole family are behind the project. They want to take this Club to the top. Most of the board are trusted business associates. Even their Mam set up an overdraft for us at her bank. The best valuation of SAFC probably amounts to about 5% of the family wealth, so even a huge profit is meaningless.
Tom Burwell (Interim CEO) said in his Business of Sport interview that the future for the family is envisioned as at least 10-15 years. This is karma for the rich Texan numpty and the Barrow Boys that ruined our club over a previous 15 years.
So don't worry. KTF.

I love this.


Rob Mason also says the board are extremely ambitious

 

[chriswallace85]

Me neither. But the younger fans expect more than just a handshake and 90mins of football. They are paying for an experience and thats what professional sport is.

I expect in my lifetime we will have "halftime shows".

I will say though, while its choreographed and theatrical, I think its great how the club does it. The video, the foghorn, the tifos are all uniquely sunderland.

We've had all manner of nonsense on at half time in the past to be fair.I think we already have in reality. Its a huge business run by foreigners with lots of foreign players.

The pre-match experience in the Stadium is very much choreographed.

That isn't what I grew up supporting.

It doesn't mean I don't enjoy following SAFC anymore though and the football this last season has been a joy to watch.

We as supporters will be around a lot longer than any owners, so even though in reality its a massive commercial business it will always be "our club".

The club we've grown up supporting has been a hopeless basket case for the most part.

Maybe we're about to get the club we've always hoped for.