18 Sep 2021 12:05:58
What the odds on Celino or mr popa smurf buying derby.
18 Sep 2021 12:44:43
Fat and zero Brum
but Papa Smurf buying Direby would have been hilarious.
(Your profile pic of Bielsa on his bucket with the binoculars is forking awesome)
18 Sep 2021 12:49:53
Papa Smurf will turn 90 in December, not sure even he would want the aggro now. Cellino probably saw Leeds as a chance to turn a quick profit if he could get us back to the Prem, and have some fun while doing it. Looks like Derby could be doomed to the third tier, with a total of 18-21 points deductions in the offing. Would require a shed load of investment to turn that round enough to be anywhere near the Prem and a profit on that investment - too much risk for Cellino, and certainly no prospect of any fun.
18 Sep 2021 13:59:18
As a fan you to have been there to understand what it really means when your club has been completely dismantled by disreputable owners.
Mel Morris is no different to Peter Ridsdale, both of these men will carry on living their lives normally unlike the faithful fans who support their club religiously come rain or shine.
That’s why I really do pity the Derby fans, just as people like you and I. Their club will probably take many years before it even gets a sniff of entering the Premiership.
My point in saying this is let’s not forget what it’s like to have one greedy and over ambitious man to tear apart our beloved football club and be thankful that our current owner is being competent and financially prudent.
18 Sep 2021 14:38:23
But it’s derby opt
Fat frank
Would you care if manu.
18 Sep 2021 15:52:38
Thanks baz its a close up pic of my tea mug.
18 Sep 2021 16:18:56
Aus it’s about the fans, fat Frank is a nobody as far as coaching is concerned, just used Derby as a stepping stone to nowhere.
It’s not ever likely to ever happen to ManU but would I care? Absolutely and unequivocally not!
18 Sep 2021 17:33:18
OP - what Ridsdale and Morris have in common is that they were each a lifelong supporter of the respective club which they led to financial meltdown - they were both also previously seen as relatively successful business men, Morris perhaps more so. It must have been a strange position to be in. Having presided over the demise of their boyhood team, their business reputation in tatters, and despised by their fellow supporters.
Perhaps they both stand as a cautionary tale. It must seem like a dream, running your childhood team, and in Morris’ case also owning it. And when they started out, the fans would have welcome being run by a fellow fan, who in both cases also apparently had some business acumen - a committed and safe pair of hands. Unfortunately this combination led to blind ambition for their respective clubs, with heart very much ruling the head. Obviously there will be cases of fans as chair/ CEO and or owner have worked, but the dream can quite easily, and quickly turn to a nightmare.
18 Sep 2021 21:08:19
Just to be clear, I’m not suggesting that being fans of their respective clubs is in any way an excuse for Morris or Ridsdale’s actions.
18 Sep 2021 22:35:36
I’m glad you added that extra post Clu, but I can’t believe it’s only blind ambition behind these two men, their self serving greed and lust for more money is more like the truth. They took outrageously irresponsible gambles with their respective clubs.
19 Sep 2021 09:13:29
OP - yes, their ambition for the success, and money that can go with it, made them blind to the risks they were taking.
That they were fools with their own money too - Morris far more so, having apparently ploughed in at least £200m (including buying the stadium for £80m when it’s only worth a fraction of that) , whereas Ridsdale once said he owned 3m shares in Leeds, but I’ve no idea what price he bought them at - does not absolve them of their recklessness with the heritage and futures of their clubs, the livelihoods of their employees and the treasured memories and dreams of the many thousands of supporters.