LCFC - Shit or Bust time.

[davieG]

With the imminent appointment of a 'name' manager in Sven and the soon to be departing Milan 'Pinocchio' Manderic I believe we are entering a very dangerous era in the history of LCFC.

The Thai consortium are hell bent on making us a 'name' to be reckoned with and appear to be about to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve it.

The pending appointment of Sven or his ilk suggests they are prepared to spend big in order to achieve their 'marketing' aims. Fine some will say success for them will bring success for the fans and well it might. But history is littered with the rise and fall and even demise of clubs that have tried to rise above their natural/current status to quickly.

My fear is that this whole takeover scenario, where did Mandaric's promise of only selling to genuine football people go will end in tears.

At best all we can really hope for is a mid-table Premier position and that the current consortium can find newer richer buyers for when they eventually decide that they've taken the marketing of their businesses as far as it will go. If that isn't or can't be achieved then the many alternatives provide for some potentially shocking outcomes from being saddled with unmanageable debts ala Portsmouth or worse.

There's no hiding the fact that I've never taken to Mandaric since his duplicitous courting days with LCFC but there was due to his own financial state a limit to how far he could take us up or bring us down. The potential for success with these new owners is greater but then so are the risks and the chances of melt down.

Some may say the thread title should be Shit and bust.

[Webbo]

I think most of us have sussed MM by now however it's too soon to judge the Thais. I shall be giving them the benefit of the doubt for now.

[davieG]

I think most of us have sussed MM by now however it's too soon to judge the Thais. I shall be giving them the benefit of the doubt for now.

Well I've only said things about them that they have said themselves and that is enough to put fear for the future of LCFC in my mind.

We are a marketing vehicle for them, they are planning to pump money beyond what MM could afford and yes it might bring success these are facts clearly stated by them. But what happens if they are not successful or who do we move onto even if they are successful - these are my questions these are my fears.

I'm not suggesting the Thai's are bad people just whether their business aims will benefit the longer term stability and future of LCFC. I just can't see it being so.

[Thracian]

With the imminent appointment of a 'name' manager in Sven and the soon to be departing Milan 'Pinocchio' Manderic I believe we are entering a very dangerous era in the history of LCFC.

The Thai consortium are hell bent on making us a 'name' to be reckoned with and appear to be about to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve it.

The pending appointment of Sven or his ilk suggests they are prepared to spend big in order to achieve their 'marketing' aims. Fine some will say success for them will bring success for the fans and well it might. But history is littered with the rise and fall and even demise of clubs that have tried to rise above their natural/current status to quickly.

My fear is that this whole takeover scenario, where did Mandaric's promise of only selling to genuine football people go will end in tears.

At best all we can really hope for is a mid-table Premier position and that the current consortium can find newer richer buyers for when they eventually decide that they've taken the marketing of their businesses as far as it will go. If that isn't or can't be achieved then the many alternatives provide for some potentially shocking outcomes from being saddled with unmanageable debts ala Portsmouth or worse.

There's no hiding the fact that I've never taken to Mandaric since his duplicitous courting days with LCFC but there was due to his own financial state a limit to how far he could take us up or bring us down. The potential for success with these new owners is greater but then so are the risks and the chances of melt down.

Some may say the thread title should be Shit and bust.

======

I was going to respond by saying I hardly care anymore with Leicester City no longer representing anything I used to associate with the club but before I'd written a sentence I realised that it simply wasn't true and that I'm a part of the Leicester City ride whatever and can only sit back and enjoy the latest drama.

In fact I realise that today's determination to make City something of a world brand - or a club of world renown - is something I've always wanted and I really never did understand why we should be so parochial and why we rarely seemed to have the courage to step outside our pre-set boundaries.

Okay it would be my way to try and achieve that in what I see as a responsible way but what has that approach ever really done for me?

Look at the irresponsibility of our last Government, but the world went on and those responsible will doubtless continue to feather their nests whatever. People, rather like the planet, are collectively self-sustaining and for this reason I've come to believe in the Perfect Universe - the concept that, rather like when a stone is thrown into water it doesn't matter how big the stone, the water quickly returns to its original state as if nothing happened.

So with our football club. It is a roller coaster but our fans will readjust whatever and even if the club eventually disappears, something else will grow to take its place so any worry is pointless. What will be will be.

PS: Love the "Pinocchio reference! We should have posters of the guy!

[Vacamion]

Faint heart never f***ed fair maiden.

Speculate to accumulate.

There are no pockets in shrouds.

[davieG]

======

I was going to respond by saying I hardly care anymore with Leicester City no longer representing anything I used to associate with the club but before I'd written a sentence I realised that it simply wasn't true and that I'm a part of the Leicester City ride whatever and can only sit back and enjoy the latest drama.

In fact I realise that today's determination to make City something of a world brand - or a club of world renown - is something I've always wanted and I really never did understand why we should be so parochial and why we rarely seemed to have the courage to step outside our pre-set boundaries.

Okay it would be my way to try and achieve that in what I see as a responsible way but what has that approach ever really done for me?

Look at the irresponsibility of our last Government, but the world went on and those responsible will doubtless continue to feather their nests whatever. People, rather like the planet, are collectively self-sustaining and for this reason I've come to believe in the Perfect Universe - the concept that, rather like when a stone is thrown into water it doesn't matter how big the stone, the water quickly returns to its original state as if nothing happened.

So with our football club. It is a roller coaster but our fans will readjust whatever and even if the club eventually disappears, something else will grow to take its place so any worry is pointless. What will be will be.

PS: Love the "Pinocchio reference! We should have posters of the guy!

Don't get me wrong as a fans form the 60's where we enjoyed plenty of high level success I'd like to be there again but I'd like to achieve it in a proper manner, many will quite rightly argue that is an impossible these days of money talk but I still feel decidedly uncomfortable about buying success and also the potential dire consequences of failure it's intrinsic to me.

I guess our perspectives on this reflect our personal characteristics I'm a cautious, let's do thing the right, sensible way, where as from what I know of you Thracian you are much more of a natural risk taker in life.

That's probably why my life has been one of steady, if somewhat boring progression and yours has been one of many highs and lows, ups and downs. Neither is right or wrong. In fact the risky approach can sound very attractive but my make up makes me naturally fearful and seemingly focussed on the 'what if it doesn't work'.

[surrifox]

Short termism of the sort favoured by MM works if you've got the resources of Abramovich or the arabs behind you. If you can go out and buy the best players in the world just to block your opponents from getting them; it's less so when you are still largely dependent on a strong team ethic and a clarity of purpose shared by the players and management. That goes when the manager and playing system changes on a monthly basis. Successful managers get the best from a coterie of "their" players - ones they have signed or brought into the team- who were Sousa's players? Who will be Sven's ? Another clear out of unwanted players is on the cards- another lost season

[surrifox]

Don't get me wrong as a fans form the 60's where we enjoyed plenty of high level success I'd like to be there again but I'd like to achieve it in a proper manner, many will quite rightly argue that is an impossible these days of money talk but I still feel decidedly uncomfortable about buying success and also the potential dire consequences of failure it's intrinsic to me.

I guess our perspectives on this reflect our personal characteristics I'm a cautious, let's do thing the right, sensible way, where as from what I know of you Thracian you are much more of a natural risk taker in life.

That's probably why my life has been one of steady, if somewhat boring progression and yours has been one of many highs and lows, ups and downs. Neither is right or wrong. In fact the risky approach can sound very attractive but my make up makes me naturally fearful and seemingly focussed on the 'what if it doesn't work'.

the success or failure of our football team is part of the fabric of our lives - I truly believe that and in some respects enjoy the summer because it is the one time I am free of the angst associated with following city for 40 odd years. I understand your concerns and to some extent share them, there is something rather grubby about bought success (and incredible hubris associated with expensive failure) and we have a culture of the most successful periods in our history being built painstakingly with real playing "heroes" and managerial legends

[Far Post Gerry]

Sod it, even if it does go tits up, we'll all still be here. That's what Mandaric and the Thais will never understand; being a "football person" is more than just chasing success. You support City whether we're in the Champions League or the Unibond League. Personally I'm rather past caring which.

[Lillehamring]

Don't get me wrong as a fans form the 60's where we enjoyed plenty of high level success I'd like to be there again but I'd like to achieve it in a proper manner, many will quite rightly argue that is an impossible these days of money talk but I still feel decidedly uncomfortable about buying success and also the potential dire consequences of failure it's intrinsic to me.

I guess our perspectives on this reflect our personal characteristics I'm a cautious, let's do thing the right, sensible way, where as from what I know of you Thracian you are much more of a natural risk taker in life.

That's probably why my life has been one of steady, if somewhat boring progression and yours has been one of many highs and lows, ups and downs. Neither is right or wrong. In fact the risky approach can sound very attractive but my make up makes me naturally fearful and seemingly focussed on the 'what if it doesn't work'.

heh, well, i'm with tony on this one, so you'll have to blame mrs davieG

personally, i'm in the school of thought of - if you can't beat them join them. we've been in this mess since the likes of shipman et al left the club...

i like the ties, i think they seem a lot more accessible than some overseas corporation's, they are effectively a family business rather than some giant financial conglomerate.

so far they seem to be doing the right thing, being involved without being embarrassing a la mandaric.

[davieG]

heh, well, i'm with tony on this one, so you'll have to blame mrs davieG

personally, i'm in the school of thought of - if you can't beat them join them. we've been in this mess since the likes of shipman et al left the club...

i like the ties, i think they seem a lot more accessible than some overseas corporation's, they are effectively a family business rather than some giant financial conglomerate.

so far they seem to be doing the right thing, being involved without being embarrassing a la mandaric.

It's not the Thai's that i'm worried about it's what happens after them when they've had their use out of us. But I guess at my age I shouldn't really let it bother me.

[iancognito]

I'm past caring which way it goes now. The club has gone so far from it's roots it's untrue and after 24 years I just don't feel a part of it anymore. It was bad enough with rising prices, fans complaining about people making a noise and the overseas investors dragging us off to Thailand and wherever else for marketing purposes but then I saw the Sven rumours and just laughed.

Finances mean I won't be going down this year and the current owners mean it could be some time before I ever do again. It's not really our club anymore.

[turkish14]

With the imminent appointment of a 'name' manager in Sven and the soon to be departing Milan 'Pinocchio' Manderic I believe we are entering a very dangerous era in the history of LCFC.

The Thai consortium are hell bent on making us a 'name' to be reckoned with and appear to be about to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve it.

The pending appointment of Sven or his ilk suggests they are prepared to spend big in order to achieve their 'marketing' aims. Fine some will say success for them will bring success for the fans and well it might. But history is littered with the rise and fall and even demise of clubs that have tried to rise above their natural/current status to quickly.

My fear is that this whole takeover scenario, where did Mandaric's promise of only selling to genuine football people go will end in tears.

At best all we can really hope for is a mid-table Premier position and that the current consortium can find newer richer buyers for when they eventually decide that they've taken the marketing of their businesses as far as it will go. If that isn't or can't be achieved then the many alternatives provide for some potentially shocking outcomes from being saddled with unmanageable debts ala Portsmouth or worse.

There's no hiding the fact that I've never taken to Mandaric since his duplicitous courting days with LCFC but there was due to his own financial state a limit to how far he could take us up or bring us down. The potential for success with these new owners is greater but then so are the risks and the chances of melt down.

Some may say the thread title should be Shit and bust.

Good post, but as other posters have mentioned everyone else is doing it so why not us? i find that im asking myself if it is us the fans that are behind the times and that this is the way football is going i am still not sure?

The thais imo will sell when they take us to what thay believe are our capabilities whatever they are,me personally thinks a mid table established prem league team. My worry is when or if we are a established mid table prem league team the owners will then want to push on again and when you start to compete with bigger budgets etc thats when i think it could blow up in our faces......either way exciting times ahead

[Pegosteve]

Appears that this is an "old timers" thread so may as well have my two penneth! Unfortunately football will never go back to the 60's or 70's. The Premiership is virtually a 3 tier league (The Scottish League on a grander scale!)

The club will always belong to us the fans, we will be the only ones who really care about it. Owners, chief execs,managers and players will come and go and bleed what they can from us. Suppose I am a bit like Davie G and not a risk taker and am concerned about how the club could be left in the future. But what the heck, lets go along with the circus... look forward to what may happen in the future... premiership mediocrity is better than what we have now. Worse case is it all goes tits up we end up in lower tier football for a few seasons but we the fans will still be LCFC through and through.

Truth is we don't have a lot of say in the matter, thats the way of football these days.. lets hope the roller coaster is going upwards at this present time.. but please don't undo your seatbelts!

[surrifox]

part of the pride in following city (in my perception) was that we may not be brilliant but we have soul! Happy to put up with all the shite performances in the hope that redemption is just a couple of wins away. Now with all the caterwauling and managerial changes almost encouraged by MM we are beginning to resemble deluded Newcastle or Villa fans (without the successful bits)

[rams r4 sh*ggin]

With the imminent appointment of a 'name' manager in Sven and the soon to be departing Milan 'Pinocchio' Manderic I believe we are entering a very dangerous era in the history of LCFC.

The Thai consortium are hell bent on making us a 'name' to be reckoned with and appear to be about to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve it.

The pending appointment of Sven or his ilk suggests they are prepared to spend big in order to achieve their 'marketing' aims. Fine some will say success for them will bring success for the fans and well it might. But history is littered with the rise and fall and even demise of clubs that have tried to rise above their natural/current status to quickly.

My fear is that this whole takeover scenario, where did Mandaric's promise of only selling to genuine football people go will end in tears.

At best all we can really hope for is a mid-table Premier position and that the current consortium can find newer richer buyers for when they eventually decide that they've taken the marketing of their businesses as far as it will go. If that isn't or can't be achieved then the many alternatives provide for some potentially shocking outcomes from being saddled with unmanageable debts ala Portsmouth or worse.

There's no hiding the fact that I've never taken to Mandaric since his duplicitous courting days with LCFC but there was due to his own financial state a limit to how far he could take us up or bring us down. The potential for success with these new owners is greater but then so are the risks and the chances of melt down.

i agree bt we need to know who this mystery investor is to assume to quickly. to me if these people are serious and want to take the club forward then a sensible structure to the way we go about it will settle my mind. to much mystery surrounding these people and there aquaintances

Some may say the thread title should be Shit and bust.

[Karljohn]

With the imminent appointment of a 'name' manager in Sven and the soon to be departing Milan 'Pinocchio' Manderic I believe we are entering a very dangerous era in the history of LCFC.

The Thai consortium are hell bent on making us a 'name' to be reckoned with and appear to be about to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve it.

The pending appointment of Sven or his ilk suggests they are prepared to spend big in order to achieve their 'marketing' aims. Fine some will say success for them will bring success for the fans and well it might. But history is littered with the rise and fall and even demise of clubs that have tried to rise above their natural/current status to quickly.

My fear is that this whole takeover scenario, where did Mandaric's promise of only selling to genuine football people go will end in tears.

At best all we can really hope for is a mid-table Premier position and that the current consortium can find newer richer buyers for when they eventually decide that they've taken the marketing of their businesses as far as it will go. If that isn't or can't be achieved then the many alternatives provide for some potentially shocking outcomes from being saddled with unmanageable debts ala Portsmouth or worse.

There's no hiding the fact that I've never taken to Mandaric since his duplicitous courting days with LCFC but there was due to his own financial state a limit to how far he could take us up or bring us down. The potential for success with these new owners is greater but then so are the risks and the chances of melt down.

Some may say the thread title should be Shit and bust.

Mandaric is an asshole, but I think the Thai's are now becoming ruthless and stepping up their game, they fired Sousa it was just down to MM to deliver the news.

I totally agree with the comment about the demise of clubs who have tried to rise above their natural status too quickly, it is essential that organic growth takes place, at a comfortable pace, shit or bust is very apt!