Watched the steam late last night ,first time back on this site tonight. The meeting was for me disappointing,having arranged questions for the board we were given very little answers. Indeed the CEO stated more than once that we have been over this point time and time again.She still was not giving answers. She must get the fans on board some of whom have a great depth of knowledge of this club and have held positions within the old supporters club. Ifeel she has just dug a deeper hole for herself and can not seewhat is facing her just afew weeks away. 2% of fans is nothing to what she will be coming up against next time.
If she keeps stating, as she did, that she has answered a question put to her time and time again, might it not trigger something deep inside her head that perhaps she's not actually explaining it very well?
If she keeps stating, as she did, that she has answered a question put to her time and time again, might it not trigger something deep inside her head that perhaps she's not actually explaining it very well?
If we are customers rather than fans as I keep hearing, I dread to think of the look on my bosses face if I used the phrase, "I've already answered that question" in front of any unhappy client.
Good job Alan Sugar isn't our chairman or she would have been fired. Every managerial decision being right - well how can that be if you sack them a few months after you appoint them. Does that mean they will continue to appoint a new right manager every 6 months. We didn't sack them, RD and KM did! It is incredible. I don't think she is evil as some suggest, just incredibly naive. I suspect everything she says is what RD has told her.
Wanting to be a community and strong academy club are not bad aspirations and we do like academy players coming good. But we don't like the team being too inexperienced so as to face certain defeat as has happened too many times. Against Preston we had three young left backs playing - by definition, 2 of them playing out of position. We knew what was going to happen before it did. You can't get away with this in the Championship - apart from anything else, you have to be careful not to damage the player.
Very disapointed, but not surprised so not sure why I am.
Much, if not all, of RD'S investment is in the form of debt, and he charges interest on it. Can't remember exact figures off top of my head, but something like £40M at 3% ie over £1M interest.
Unless you are prepared to argue the owner should gift his money, or it's better to pay 3% interest to a Bank.not sure where this leads. He could get at least 6% on a crowd funding site.
Much, if not all, of RD'S investment is in the form of debt, and he charges interest on it. Can't remember exact figures off top of my head, but something like £40M at 3% ie over £1M interest.
Unless you are prepared to argue the owner should gift his money, or it's better to pay 3% interest to a Bank.not sure where this leads. He could get at least 6% on a crowd funding site.
He could, but then he wouldn't get to spend it, which is the point, I think. TJ/MS/KC didn't charge interest.
In my view the reason the questioning wasnt as strong as it could have been was due the deliberate divide and rule strategy of structuring the meeting the way it was, watering down with randoms, adding the fans forum which is 99% concerned with operational issues like VE, potholes, tickets etc to divert from the bigger strategic questions. Altho i think they still did a reasonable job despite that.
That's about the first reasonable statement I've read. Most people seem to want blood on the floor. That was never going to happen. The end result is that there is now a structure for future meetings. The original gripe was no communication between the club and fans and I see this as a step forward. Not going to please everyone or even a majority but its a start
In my view the reason the questioning wasnt as strong as it could have been was due the deliberate divide and rule strategy of structuring the meeting the way it was, watering down with randoms, adding the fans forum which is 99% concerned with operational issues like VE, potholes, tickets etc to divert from the bigger strategic questions. Altho i think they still did a reasonable job despite that.
That's about the first reasonable statement I've read. Most people seem to want blood on the floor. That was never going to happen. The end result is that there is now a structure for future meetings. The original gripe was no communication between the club and fans and I see this as a step forward. Not going to please everyone or even a majority but its a start
With all the threads of the last couple of days I haven't noticed any comment on the "£4.5M" that RD has invested in The Valley. We know about the pitch, the seats, Vista lounge and the big screen but does that really add up to that much ?
My impression FWIW is that the Trust did their best, but as I have found at VIP meetings it is very hard to keep probing each answer received to put those on the top table on the spot. There is pressure to move on as you have "had your turn" and ME is next to you wanting to take the mic back. What is really needed is a 1-1 meeting between the Trust and the club, with an agreed agenda in advance.
After the last VIP my mate, a very successful businessman, spoke to Katrien and told her that she needed to change her demeanour and attitude - it was no good her getting defensive every time someone was providing a view or opinion which was different to hers. Obviously she failed to reflect on that advice and we saw more of the same on Tuesday evening.
To me she is a lovely lady, who has fallen in love with the club and wants to do her very best in her role. Unfortunately, through no fault of her own, she has been thrust into the role with no previous experience and I genuinely hate to say it but she is out of her comfort zone and not up to the task.
She will need supporting if we are to rebuild our club up again, so I hope the Trust grasp the nettle and very quickly provide her with the names of fans who can do a good job on target 20,000. I shall still be protesting, but we also need to build up a rapport to convince her that the perceived negative fans are actually what all staff/customers are - ie the clubs best asset.
Finally @JohnBoyUK , I don't know you but your comments above touched a nerve. If ever we get introduced, I owe you a drink. Still hate Spurs though:)
From someone who has really suffered over the last two years as a result of the RD regime this is a remarkably generous post. Good on you.
In my view the reason the questioning wasnt as strong as it could have been was due the deliberate divide and rule strategy of structuring the meeting the way it was, watering down with randoms, adding the fans forum which is 99% concerned with operational issues like VE, potholes, tickets etc to divert from the bigger strategic questions. Altho i think they still did a reasonable job despite that.
That's about the first reasonable statement I've read. Most people seem to want blood on the floor. That was never going to happen. The end result is that there is now a structure for future meetings. The original gripe was no communication between the club and fans and I see this as a step forward. Not going to please everyone or even a majority but its a start
What structure is that ?
KM agreed to meetings with fans regarding particular matters as they come up and future Q & A's
In my view the reason the questioning wasnt as strong as it could have been was due the deliberate divide and rule strategy of structuring the meeting the way it was, watering down with randoms, adding the fans forum which is 99% concerned with operational issues like VE, potholes, tickets etc to divert from the bigger strategic questions. Altho i think they still did a reasonable job despite that.
That's about the first reasonable statement I've read. Most people seem to want blood on the floor. That was never going to happen. The end result is that there is now a structure for future meetings. The original gripe was no communication between the club and fans and I see this as a step forward. Not going to please everyone or even a majority but its a start
What structure is that ?
KM agreed to meetings with fans regarding particular matters as they come up and future Q & A's
She put those forward as an idea. I wouldn't regard that as a structure.
So East Kent Addicks have pulled out of the Fans Forum because of poor communication.
John C gets his opportunity to really raise the issues about what tactics the Board are putting into action to achieve the strategic plan and then spent 10 minutes querying CADSA, disabled access in the West Stand and Valley Express. Exactly the issues raised at the last FF.
Craig's stance impressed me - he hit the nail on the head and the top table looked uncomfortable. He looked more a CEO than the present incumbent.
I think KM got off lightly last night - and I think her welling up after about an hour, had the desired effect on the (mostly) male, articulate, white middle aged and middle class representatives, who probably - without realising - felt slightly sorry for her. I know I would have it I'd been there.
Syd was Syd. Bless him. He really does need another hobby.
With all the threads of the last couple of days I haven't noticed any comment on the "£4.5M" that RD has invested in The Valley. We know about the pitch, the seats, Vista lounge and the big screen but does that really add up to that much ?
I did comment on this earlier - the consensus seemed to be a blooming expensive sofa.
With all the threads of the last couple of days I haven't noticed any comment on the "£4.5M" that RD has invested in The Valley. We know about the pitch, the seats, Vista lounge and the big screen but does that really add up to that much ?
In my view the reason the questioning wasnt as strong as it could have been was due the deliberate divide and rule strategy of structuring the meeting the way it was, watering down with randoms, adding the fans forum which is 99% concerned with operational issues like VE, potholes, tickets etc to divert from the bigger strategic questions. Altho i think they still did a reasonable job despite that.
That's about the first reasonable statement I've read. Most people seem to want blood on the floor. That was never going to happen. The end result is that there is now a structure for future meetings. The original gripe was no communication between the club and fans and I see this as a step forward. Not going to please everyone or even a majority but its a start
What structure is that ?
KM agreed to meetings with fans regarding particular matters as they come up and future Q & A's
She put those forward as an idea. I wouldn't regard that as a structure.
We have different opinions on how it was presented. I believe it was a start to a continuing dialogue. To me that is a structure.
With all the threads of the last couple of days I haven't noticed any comment on the "£4.5M" that RD has invested in The Valley. We know about the pitch, the seats, Vista lounge and the big screen but does that really add up to that much ?
I did comment on this earlier - the consensus seemed to be a blooming expensive sofa.
KM also then went on to say £2.5M later...
Yes, I heard the £2.5M but thought it was a slip of the tongue. Perhaps the £4.5M is a deliberately inflated figure and the £2.5M the more accurate amount ?
So East Kent Addicks have pulled out of the Fans Forum because of poor communication.
John C gets his opportunity to really raise the issues about what tactics the Board are putting into action to achieve the strategic plan and then spent 10 minutes querying CADSA, disabled access in the West Stand and Valley Express. Exactly the issues raised at the last FF.
Craig's stance impressed me - he hit the nail on the head and the top table looked uncomfortable. He looked more a CEO than the present incumbent.
I think KM got off lightly last night - and I think her welling up after about an hour, had the desired effect on the (mostly) male, articulate, white middle aged and middle class representatives, who probably - without realising - felt slightly sorry for her. I know I would have it I'd been there.
Syd was Syd. Bless him. He really does need another hobby.
I don't know why, but the phrase 'silent majority' just makes me want to break things. So fucking smug. How do they know they're the majority?
It's the same kind of phrase as "most people think". It is something that cannot be proved or, more importantly, disproved. Because only, say, 300 protesters turned out it means the remaining 10,000 there on the day were, by definition, supportive of the board. All well and good but it is complete bollocks.
Comments
Organiser do you not think it detracts from the point being made by the majority
The meeting was for me disappointing,having arranged questions for the board we were given very little answers.
Indeed the CEO stated more than once that we have been over this point time and time again.She still was not giving answers.
She must get the fans on board some of whom have a great depth of knowledge of this club and have held positions
within the old supporters club.
Ifeel she has just dug a deeper hole for herself and can not seewhat is facing her just afew weeks away.
2% of fans is nothing to what she will be coming up against next time.
Wanting to be a community and strong academy club are not bad aspirations and we do like academy players coming good. But we don't like the team being too inexperienced so as to face certain defeat as has happened too many times. Against Preston we had three young left backs playing - by definition, 2 of them playing out of position. We knew what was going to happen before it did. You can't get away with this in the Championship - apart from anything else, you have to be careful not to damage the player.
Very disapointed, but not surprised so not sure why I am.
Did I not hear her say that she is flooding the ground for the Ipswich game with UoG students....I bet she gets them to wear bright colours too.
Dammit she's outwitting us all....
Seems spot on.
From someone who has really suffered over the last two years as a result of the RD regime this is a remarkably generous post. Good on you.
John C gets his opportunity to really raise the issues about what tactics the Board are putting into action to achieve the strategic plan and then spent 10 minutes querying CADSA, disabled access in the West Stand and Valley Express. Exactly the issues raised at the last FF.
Craig's stance impressed me - he hit the nail on the head and the top table looked uncomfortable. He looked more a CEO than the present incumbent.
I think KM got off lightly last night - and I think her welling up after about an hour, had the desired effect on the (mostly) male, articulate, white middle aged and middle class representatives, who probably - without realising - felt slightly sorry for her. I know I would have it I'd been there.
Syd was Syd. Bless him. He really does need another hobby.
The less we hear from her the better.
Can we be invited next time?......Ok.
Not even an apology!
KM also then went on to say £2.5M later...