New VOTV163 with Thomas Sandgaard interview

Pico · December 2020

Has your CAST badge turned up?

mistrollingin62 · December 2020

Still no show in Bexley.

bigstemarra · December 2020

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

Airman Brown · December 2020

bigstemarra said:

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

I was obviously conscious that there wasn’t much point in just doing another version of the many interviews TS has done in recent months - the reason I didn’t approach him earlier - and of the trust Q&A which happened afterwards but was available beforehand. Fortunately TS was very forthcoming when questioned on detail, and we also have the advantage of being able to go long.

stonemuse · December 2020

Pico said:

Well worth it for the back cover Matt Tees photo alone

It’s a great pic

ParkinsonOut · December 2020

The tortoise arrived with my VOTV this morning 👏🏻👏🏻

dickad1 · December 2020

Airman Brown said:

bigstemarra said:

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

I was obviously conscious that there wasn’t much point in just doing another version of the many interviews TS has done in recent months - the reason I didn’t approach him earlier - and of the trust Q&A which happened afterwards but was available beforehand. Fortunately TS was very forthcoming when questioned on detail, and we also have the advantage of being able to go long.

Really enjoy the interview, and it did add to everything else that is already out there.

I don't want to spoil it for those who have not yet had the chance to read, but there is one section where you state you are not fully persuaded by what Thomas is saying but you don't really expand on your position.

Wonder whether you might do so here in due course?

Airman Brown · December 2020

dickad1 said:

Airman Brown said:

bigstemarra said:

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

I was obviously conscious that there wasn’t much point in just doing another version of the many interviews TS has done in recent months - the reason I didn’t approach him earlier - and of the trust Q&A which happened afterwards but was available beforehand. Fortunately TS was very forthcoming when questioned on detail, and we also have the advantage of being able to go long.

Really enjoy the interview, and it did add to everything else that is already out there.

I don't want to spoil it for those who have not yet had the chance to read, but there is one section where you state you are not fully persuaded by what Thomas is saying but you don't really expand on your position.

Wonder whether you might do so here in due course?

I hadn't intended that to be unclear, but I didn't want it to come across as negative either. I just don't think you can drive the commercial income to the level where it will support the club financially to the extent he is suggesting (outside of the Premier League).

dickad1 · December 2020

Helpful, thanks.

I suppose he is to be applauded for having such a mindset. At the very least he’ll get part the way towards a sustainable business model with such ambition, as opposed to none, and that will be a few more bottles of water or footballs the club can afford!

And I would imagine commercial revenue will be further enhanced in the Premier League (if ever we get there again) having invested in structures to attract it at lower levels.

hermann · December 2020

Great to see an owner engaging with VOTV after so many years of it being on the front line against the previous regimes

Fanny Fanackapan · December 2020

Successful delivery in Wadhurst today !

Weegie Addick · December 2020

Pico said:

Has your CAST badge turned up?

No. I'm beginning to suspect my postie is a secret Addick.

carly burn · December 2020

Airman Brown said:

dickad1 said:

Airman Brown said:

bigstemarra said:

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

I was obviously conscious that there wasn’t much point in just doing another version of the many interviews TS has done in recent months - the reason I didn’t approach him earlier - and of the trust Q&A which happened afterwards but was available beforehand. Fortunately TS was very forthcoming when questioned on detail, and we also have the advantage of being able to go long.

Really enjoy the interview, and it did add to everything else that is already out there.

I don't want to spoil it for those who have not yet had the chance to read, but there is one section where you state you are not fully persuaded by what Thomas is saying but you don't really expand on your position.

Wonder whether you might do so here in due course?

I hadn't intended that to be unclear, but I didn't want it to come across as negative either. I just don't think you can drive the commercial income to the level where it will support the club financially to the extent he is suggesting (outside of the Premier League).

Sounds like the kind of challenge TS would relish.
10 years ago I'd agree with you, but who honestly knows?
With the right message to the right people and the potential could really blossom.

sillav nitram · December 2020

Still Worried in West London!

Fumbluff · December 2020

Arrived in SW London yesterday

Airman Brown · December 2020

carly burn said:

Airman Brown said:

dickad1 said:

Airman Brown said:

bigstemarra said:

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

I was obviously conscious that there wasn’t much point in just doing another version of the many interviews TS has done in recent months - the reason I didn’t approach him earlier - and of the trust Q&A which happened afterwards but was available beforehand. Fortunately TS was very forthcoming when questioned on detail, and we also have the advantage of being able to go long.

Really enjoy the interview, and it did add to everything else that is already out there.

I don't want to spoil it for those who have not yet had the chance to read, but there is one section where you state you are not fully persuaded by what Thomas is saying but you don't really expand on your position.

Wonder whether you might do so here in due course?

I hadn't intended that to be unclear, but I didn't want it to come across as negative either. I just don't think you can drive the commercial income to the level where it will support the club financially to the extent he is suggesting (outside of the Premier League).

Sounds like the kind of challenge TS would relish.
10 years ago I'd agree with you, but who honestly knows?
With the right message to the right people and the potential could really blossom.

I'm reluctant to critique this point in detail, but just for example do you agree with Thomas that Charlton's particular location in London is an advantage and that Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs are disadvantaged by being squeezed by their neighbours. Or is that a misunderstanding of how London and London football works?

Rothko · December 2020

The dynamics of London were changing and shifting towards the east and have been since 2012. Whether that continues will be interesting, but the structural issue is that Arsenal and to less extent Spurs are dominant in the city, it's the niche you put yourself in below that. Fulham will always be the tourist weekend club, it's where we put ourselves in that next level.

Davo55 · December 2020

Fanny Fanackapan said:

Successful delivery in Wadhurst today !

Congratulations @Fanny Fanackapan I didn't even know you were expecting!

Airman Brown · December 2020

Rothko said:

The dynamics of London were changing and shifting towards the east and have been since 2012. Whether that continues will be interesting, but the structural issue is that Arsenal and to less extent Spurs are dominant in the city, it's the niche you put yourself in below that. Fulham will always be the tourist weekend club, it's where we put ourselves in that next level.

I agree with that, but I found the idea we have Greenwich and Bexley (plus a bit of Bromley and Lewisham) to ourselves a bit off-beam. It's not the reality on the ground, even though we are pretty much irrelevant in London outside that patch. I suspect Thomas believes - and may even have been told by self-interested parties - that the reason for the club's poor commercial performance in the past has been down to a failure to maximise the opportunity and that better people and a different approach can transform that. I think it's a lot more complicated than that. However, he and Wayne Mumford will be at the start of discovering that for themselves.

On the other side of the equation is the sheer inevitable cost of succeeding in the Championship. There is a likely contradiction between believing you can progress quickly and adopting an organic approach.

Rothko · December 2020

I don't even think we have all of Greenwich, to be honest, I think once you get west of the Valley (say the Blackwall approach) then the community there is more diverse in terms of support, then say Bexley.

I also never really brought the Murray world view that the new people into the Royal Borough would flock to the Valley, London is too interconnected that you suddenly give up your season ticket at the Emirates because you need to change trains at Stratford instead of going straight into Highbury and Islington.

charltonbob · December 2020

mistrollingin62 said:

Still no show in Bexley.

It's normally in Danson Park

letthegoodtimesroll · December 2020

Rothko said:

I don't even think we have all of Greenwich, to be honest, I think once you get west of the Valley (say the Blackwall approach) then the community there is more diverse in terms of support, then say Bexley.

I also never really brought the Murray world view that the new people into the Royal Borough would flock to the Valley, London is too interconnected that you suddenly give up your season ticket at the Emirates because you need to change trains at Stratford instead of going straight into Highbury and Islington.

People do go to a game involving two teams they don’t support if the opportunity presents itself, often with family or friends, or sometimes because it’s local or an easy journey to make and, If they enjoy it, they’ll go again and, as every football fan knows, somewhere along the way that can easily become a habit. Throughout the whole time I’ve been a Charlton fan there seems to have always been those I’ve gone to home and away games with that have been a supporter of another club.

rananegra · December 2020

Airman Brown said:

Rothko said:

The dynamics of London were changing and shifting towards the east and have been since 2012. Whether that continues will be interesting, but the structural issue is that Arsenal and to less extent Spurs are dominant in the city, it's the niche you put yourself in below that. Fulham will always be the tourist weekend club, it's where we put ourselves in that next level.

I agree with that, but I found the idea we have Greenwich and Bexley (plus a bit of Bromley and Lewisham) to ourselves a bit off-beam. It's not the reality on the ground, even though we are pretty much irrelevant in London outside that patch. I suspect Thomas believes - and may even have been told by self-interested parties - that the reason for the club's poor commercial performance in the past has been down to a failure to maximise the opportunity and that better people and a different approach can transform that. I think it's a lot more complicated than that. However, he and Wayne Mumford will be at the start of discovering that for themselves.

On the other side of the equation is the sheer inevitable cost of succeeding in the Championship. There is a likely contradiction between believing you can progress quickly and adopting an organic approach.

There's a distressing level of Palace shirts on kids in Lewisham (and with the cuts Social Services are reluctant to get involved). People without the Surrey connection are going there for the Premiership football. Some will get an affection for the stripy diving ****s and carry on going. (Ironically I know people who live in Lee who do this who were introduced to the trip to the Sainsburys car park by Charlton fans going there).
So, if Palace can do it, I think there's room for our support to be expanded, quite a bit really, but it depends on:
* the narrative around the club is positive (decent, community-focused, family oriented, prepared to be active when called upon - certainly different from most of our local rivals)
* the quality of the football (this has been our failing for quite some time)
* the ease of getting to the ground (out of the club's control but surely there are things that can be done to at least engage with the useless train companies?)

Obviously new build properties in the area mean the population is growing. But what's on offer at Charlton (particularly if the football gets better) is different and can appeal to armchair Sky team fans. As we all know, the experience of watching a game in the flesh is very different to watching it on the tv.

I'd also suggest the Olympic stadium issue cuts both ways - there must be quite a few disgruntled West Ham fans who dream of watching football in a proper stadium and there's one a few tube stops and a short bus ride away

killerandflash · December 2020

rananegra said:

Airman Brown said:

Rothko said:

The dynamics of London were changing and shifting towards the east and have been since 2012. Whether that continues will be interesting, but the structural issue is that Arsenal and to less extent Spurs are dominant in the city, it's the niche you put yourself in below that. Fulham will always be the tourist weekend club, it's where we put ourselves in that next level.

I agree with that, but I found the idea we have Greenwich and Bexley (plus a bit of Bromley and Lewisham) to ourselves a bit off-beam. It's not the reality on the ground, even though we are pretty much irrelevant in London outside that patch. I suspect Thomas believes - and may even have been told by self-interested parties - that the reason for the club's poor commercial performance in the past has been down to a failure to maximise the opportunity and that better people and a different approach can transform that. I think it's a lot more complicated than that. However, he and Wayne Mumford will be at the start of discovering that for themselves.

On the other side of the equation is the sheer inevitable cost of succeeding in the Championship. There is a likely contradiction between believing you can progress quickly and adopting an organic approach.

There's a distressing level of Palace shirts on kids in Lewisham (and with the cuts Social Services are reluctant to get involved). People without the Surrey connection are going there for the Premiership football. Some will get an affection for the stripy diving ****s and carry on going. (Ironically I know people who live in Lee who do this who were introduced to the trip to the Sainsburys car park by Charlton fans going there).
So, if Palace can do it, I think there's room for our support to be expanded, quite a bit really, but it depends on:
* the narrative around the club is positive (decent, community-focused, family oriented, prepared to be active when called upon - certainly different from most of our local rivals)
* the quality of the football (this has been our failing for quite some time)
* the ease of getting to the ground (out of the club's control but surely there are things that can be done to at least engage with the useless train companies?)

Obviously new build properties in the area mean the population is growing. But what's on offer at Charlton (particularly if the football gets better) is different and can appeal to armchair Sky team fans. As we all know, the experience of watching a game in the flesh is very different to watching it on the tv.

I'd also suggest the Olympic stadium issue cuts both ways - there must be quite a few disgruntled West Ham fans who dream of watching football in a proper stadium and there's one a few tube stops and a short bus ride away

To be fair, Lewisham is still fairly near Selhurst Park, it's a similar distance as Bexleyheath is from Charlton

Lewisham is probably more in Millwall territory anyway than Charlton

carly burn · December 2020

Airman Brown said:

carly burn said:

Airman Brown said:

dickad1 said:

Airman Brown said:

bigstemarra said:

Great interview with our Tommy; puts some flesh on the strategic thinking behind raising the profile of the club and reaching out to more folk. Interesting stuff and very positive as TS is a man with a plan; and it's a good one!

I was obviously conscious that there wasn’t much point in just doing another version of the many interviews TS has done in recent months - the reason I didn’t approach him earlier - and of the trust Q&A which happened afterwards but was available beforehand. Fortunately TS was very forthcoming when questioned on detail, and we also have the advantage of being able to go long.

Really enjoy the interview, and it did add to everything else that is already out there.

I don't want to spoil it for those who have not yet had the chance to read, but there is one section where you state you are not fully persuaded by what Thomas is saying but you don't really expand on your position.

Wonder whether you might do so here in due course?

I hadn't intended that to be unclear, but I didn't want it to come across as negative either. I just don't think you can drive the commercial income to the level where it will support the club financially to the extent he is suggesting (outside of the Premier League).

Sounds like the kind of challenge TS would relish.
10 years ago I'd agree with you, but who honestly knows?
With the right message to the right people and the potential could really blossom.

I'm reluctant to critique this point in detail, but just for example do you agree with Thomas that Charlton's particular location in London is an advantage and that Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs are disadvantaged by being squeezed by their neighbours. Or is that a misunderstanding of how London and London football works?

Don't think it applies to just London football to be honest. The territorial boundaries of football have been changing for years. The biggest stumbling block is obviously the level we play at.

We are certainly many years away from even contemplating being in competition with the club's you mention for a neutral fans affection.
To get to the levels he's talking about, we'd need to be in the hearts and minds of a majority of people that live outside a certain radius of the Valley... Or maybe even London?
We do however have a good geographical location to be able to provide live football to a huge swathe of people who in the past have been hindered by location.
And If the level of football is good and the pricing and whole experience is right, then who knows?