Football Ventures

[ianofcleveleys]

Really good message, typical of everything Sharon and colleagues are doing, positive, professional, engaging and caring. I'd echo that sentiment Francis, club being run as well as at any time I can remember, going back as far as the 70s. 

[Underpants]

7 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

In Sharon we trust, even with unconventional eyewear cleansing habits.

Is she married?

Asking for a friend....... 🙄

[paulhanley]

There's never quite been a time like this. Board/Football staff/fans in pretty much complete in alignment. In fact it rarely happens at any club. In the 1970s the fans and team were aligned but I don't remember many folk having particular regard for the board. The 80s was horrendous. By the 90s we'd Bruce etc ... but Gordon Hargreaves was far from everyone's cup of tea. Gartside and Allardyce was the closest to this we've had .. and that fell apart with rancour. 

Well done to Sharon and FV. After the destruction of what went before we've marched across footballing wildernesses with nothing to call upon but our wits and resilience and a positive attitude, warding off pot-shots from all directions. We've marched such a distance that championship football is now just about visible. It remains a distant view on a far horizon with highly challenging miles still to cover before we arrive. However there it is unmistakably shimmering in the distance. Onwards we go. 

Edited May 22, 2023 by paulhanley

[Cheese]

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/23582643.bolton-wanderers-sharon-brittans-automatic-promotion-aim/

“We were disappointed that we lost to Barnsley, but when we look back and reflect, we're very happy with our progress,” she said. “Next season, I want us to have automatic promotion – that is our aim.

“I am very ambitious, and I'd like to take this club from the brink of liquidation back to the Premier League where it belongs. That’s the journey we’ve subscribed to and I, more than anyone, want to fulfil that.

“When I left Barnsley after the Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg, I was waiting to be let out and our fans were leaving in the coaches and they were banging on the windows, shouting at me saying the most wonderful things – and we’d just lost! We weren’t going to play in the final and they were still shouting messages of support. That’s really, really special.”

 

“I have a very close relationship with Ian Evatt,” she said in an interview with the EFL magazine. “Somebody gave me some advice very early on to not have a close relationship with the manager, because they're transient and they come and go. I thought that's the opposite of what I want to be.

“I don't want our manager to feel that he's transient and that it's only a matter of time before he's gone. I want our manager to feel that he's part of a journey, and that's where I think we are different."

Edited June 12, 2023 by Cheese

[Mantra]

https://www.efl.com/contentassets/08bd1a83c4f34be292ec7c8fae8c7903/efl-magazine-issue08-summer2023_digital-compressed.pdf
 

EFL magazine interview with Sharon, p14

[TrickyTrotter]

On 06/12/2021 at 14:03, Mounts Kipper said:

2 million cash pumped into the business in return for shares. Reported at companies house.

Another £2m put in for shares or conversion of a loan.

 

[Mounts Kipper]

31 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Another £2m put in for shares or conversion of a loan.

 

But we’re told by some we’re skint. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

On 05/07/2023 at 21:00, Mounts Kipper said:

But we’re told by some we’re skint. 

I don't think we are skint, but it is possible that the investment was needed because we're not rolling in cash.

Whatever the case, I'm taking it as a positive that someone is happy to put some cash in.

[Whitesince63]

I’m sure there’s money there if it’s needed and I’d rather have it drip fed in like this than a dollop of money in one go which could then be wasted as Wigan did last year. It all fits in with the sustainable running of the club.

[Wanderlust]

11 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

I’m sure there’s money there if it’s needed and I’d rather have it drip fed in like this than a dollop of money in one go which could then be wasted as Wigan did last year. It all fits in with the sustainable running of the club.

It's a tricky one. Wigan took on a hefty payroll in L1 and it got them up - which gave them the financial rewards of the Championship but, once they got there they were hogtied by the very hefty contracts they were already committed to so they couldn't spend again to stay up.

I guess the trick is to get the players on contracts that are affordable but will allow you to sell them on quickly if needs be or to do a Norwich (or us before Eddie's money) and have a core of affordable players that can already play at the next level and be a yoyo team for a while that builds up the pot - but that makes it very difficult to attract the players you need on the contracts you want to give them, especially as sell on and performance clauses have become such a large part of deals these days. Still FV have done a decent job selling our "vision" and winning a cup in front of 80k at Wemberley can only help.

So difficult to progress up the leagues sustainably - even more so since basement bargains like Eidur and McAteer don't seem to exist these days.

[Mantra]

So far the signing I am most excited to see is Nlundulu, so it’s not saying much. Saw glimpses of talent last season and think he’s the one that I would bet on to come good out of him Victor and Jerome.

I still trust the process and have full faith in Evatt, Sharon, Markham etc

But feel like we are sailing a little close to the wind so far. Missing out on Baccus and Wilson has put us on the back foot again.

The point made above re: players needing time to gel in pre season is very valid. We have one of the most complex tactical set ups in the league and lower level players take even longer to adapt to that.

Baxter and Cogley I’m sure are very capable players but as has been said, compared to Trafford and Bradley, it’s unlikely they will be an improvement.

Realistically though we were always going to struggle to improve on those two unless we gambled on more Premier League youth talents. So I’m satisfied with them without being excited but that is because of the level of their predecessors.

If we started the season now our squad would be fine, we have suitable cover for every position. Dare I say it’s a squad that could certainly get promoted without further additions. But to make our chances as high as possible we really need a couple of sprinkles of quality. Hoping we make 2 “big” signings pre-august, otherwise it’s going to be another playoff campaign for us.

One attacking midfielder and one defensive midfielder. Maybe a RWB on loan…

[Traf]

Baxter & Cogley could end up being better signings than Baccus & Wilson might have been, who knows?

I'm certainly not getting upset about is not signing fuckers I'd never heard of anyway.

[Casino]

Baccus still at St Mirren or did he accept PSGs offer?

[Biggish Dave]

6 minutes ago, Traf said:

Baxter & Cogley could end up being better signings than Baccus & Wilson might have been, who knows?

I'm certainly not getting upset about is not signing fuckers I'd never heard of anyway.

How dare you not get excited by a few YouTube clips and looking at their football manager stats

[Casino]

1 minute ago, Biggish Dave said:

How dare you not get excited by a few YouTube clips and looking at their football manager stats

I get my info from Lusty, you cheeky bugger

[Traf]

2 minutes ago, Biggish Dave said:

How dare you not get excited by a few YouTube clips and looking at their football manager stats

I'm sorry, sir.

Can we get Daniel Braaten back?

[tomski]

Had a derby fan give it the big one about Wilson. Oddly isn’t that painful.

small upside is I suspect Johnston will sign a new deal if we are not stupid enough to miss the boat.

[Traf]

1 hour ago, tomski said:

Had a derby fan give it the big one about Wilson.

Didn't a better player/prospect go the opposite direction in the deal?
We weren't offering a player.

[true white]

Derby sold best player. Lots best striker. Brought in a quite a few players. Of which 2-3 would get into our side? But we have not strengthened yet? Let’s see start of season where we are. I’m Evert we trust. 

[tomski]

7 hours ago, Traf said:

Didn't a better player/prospect go the opposite direction in the deal?
We weren't offering a player.

Supposedly mate. Don’t know much about him Or Derby to be honest.

[Whitesince63]

3 hours ago, true white said:

Derby sold best player. Lots best striker. Brought in a quite a few players. Of which 2-3 would get into our side? But we have not strengthened yet? Let’s see start of season where we are. I’m Evert we trust. 

This TW. Derby have lost two key players for them last year in McGoldrick and Knight who’s gone the other way in the Lewis deal and they’re tied to deals with the likes of Barkhuisen who’s another year older, on biggish money and singularly unimpressive. Frankly I’m not bothered about missing out on Kane Lewis, the Derby deal it seems was under discussion previously and his injury record doesn’t impress so to be honest I don’t think Derby are actually as strong as they were. Clearly they might like us still have business to do but I’m still backing IE and CM to pull a couple of rabbits out of the hat before we kick off. Sometimes you just have to be patient and remember that the thoroughbreds come through at the end!!

[Mantra]

16 hours ago, Biggish Dave said:

How dare you not get excited by a few YouTube clips and looking at their football manager stats

Made me wonder what Baccus’ stats actually are (stats are out of 20)

Edited July 12, 2023 by Mantra

[Biggish Dave]

Nowt special then based on these. He's a bad un. Evatt & Markham in!!!

[Mantra]

5 minutes ago, Biggish Dave said:

Nowt special then based on these. He's a bad un. Evatt & Markham in!!!

Haha main takeaways are hard working, bit of pace. His stats are actually very well rounded. 
I’m sure we can find other options just as good though

[Ani]

For the stats to be meaningful would need to see them alongside say Morley. 
 

is Messi a 20 ?