Pick one club...

Macers

You have the funds..you have the balls...what club would you chose to take over?

For me...

Athletico Madrid - great team with bags of potenial - good fan base to boot...

CD Tenerife - 1 tier below La Liga. Great potential with the right investment - although the fact its on an island with limited fan base - stadium is 25,000 capacity...

Suprise suprise. Im gonna go with Man United!!!



Buy the club, clear the debts, keep the squad, expand the last of the stadium and put a higher roof in it!!!


Then I give supporters groups a bigger say in what happens at OT(with me having a majority share to stop any more Glazers comin in)


Id also lobby the powers that be using Germany (google Borussia Dortmuns stadium and see their terrace - awesome) as an example, the implementation of safe terraces. And Id tell the stewards to cop on and stop givin out to people for singin/standing up.




as a club to develop, ive always felt that theres a huge amoutn of potentasil in Athletico. Financial problems have ruined them, thats how they lost Raul

hunter164

Shels..............Bring them back to the big time!!

shane86

United.

Buy it up, sell Ronaldo and Rooney to the pool for £15 each (or a two for £25 special). Donate a few more to, I dunno, Leeds :pac: Replace them with an all star selection from Andorra, the Faroes and San Marino....

Actually, scratch San Marino off. Too good, they nearly gained a point off a team of PL players in a match I once saw :eek:


In reality though, buy an EL club maybe! Lure some retiring stars for one last crack, build up. £300 million to play with.

Zaph

Macers wrote: »

You have the funds..you have the balls...what club would you chose to take over?

For me...

Athletico Madrid - great team with bags of potenial - good fan base to boot...

CD Tenerife - 1 tier below La Liga. Great potential with the right investment - although the fact its on an island with limited fan base - stadium is 25,000 capacity...

Eh, that's two clubs.


Assuming you can't buy the team you support (in my case Leeds) it would have to be Man U. Sell the squad off for half nothing, play 10 keepers outfield and see how quickly I can get them into the Conference.

If I was doing it properly, Fiorentina. Always had a soft spot for them, and I'd love to see another team break the dominance of the top few clubs in Italy. Fourth this season, which is good progress from last year, but I can't see them winning the league without a lot of investment.

DSB

Shels aswell

Macers

Could you really expect to make a return in you investment with Shels though?

EL have a very poor fan base (lets be honest) and alot of clubs make a loss or just about break even...

I'm speaking purely from a business point of view...

SantryRed

Would have to be Shels. Would get them back were they belong. I would then pay people fifteen euro to come to games to develop an interest in EL clubs and make it as big as the Premiership.

WOuld love to buy Watford as well. Stop playing sh1te football and get them to the Premiership with quality attacking football.:D

hunter164

SantryRed wrote: »

Would have to be Shels. Would get them back were they belong. I would then pay people fifteen euro to come to games to develop an interest in EL clubs and make it as big as the Premiership.

WOuld love to buy Watford as well. Stop playing sh1te football and get them to the Premiership with quality attacking football.:D

Watford will never hit the big time!!

SantryRed

hunter164 wrote: »

Watford will never hit the big time!!

We were there last year:rolleyes:

~Rebel~

Forest. Pump money in and try to bring them back to the glory days.

Or Parma...just always liked Parma...some amazing players have passed through their doors as a stepping stone, bit like the west ham of italy.

Cool_CM

1. FC Köln!
Brilliant fanbase who support them no matter what, they've just fallen on hard times, but here's hoping for next season!
Christoph Daum,
1. FC Köln,
Abstieg 2008,
Wir stonn zo dir FC Kölle!

Xavi6

MK Dons. Read up a bit on them and I like what I see. Good size stadium, over 10,000 at every home game and most importantly, most of the fans are in their teens at the oldest which means in twenty years time you'll have a loyal base of fans who will start bringing their kids along.

Also recently got promoted and have a good squad on which to build. Being the only club in their area though is the biggest selling point.

DSB

Xavi6 wrote: »

MK Dons. Read up a bit on them and I like what I see. Good size stadium, over 10,000 at every home game and most importantly, most of the fans are in their teens at the oldest which means in twenty years time you'll have a loyal base of fans who will start bringing their kids along.

Also recently got promoted and have a good squad on which to build. Being the only club in their area though is the biggest selling point.

Poor oul Wimbledon though.

Xavi6

DSB wrote: »

Poor oul Wimbledon though.

Yes cause the Premiership is so much worse off withough Longball FC who just kept breaking records for lowest attendences ever, all under 10,000.

DSB

Xavi6 wrote: »

Yes cause the Premiership is so much worse off withough Longball FC who just kept breaking records for lowest attendences ever, all under 10,000.

It was still 10,000ish peoples local club that was taken from them. I support a team with a far lower fanbase than that and it'd be ****ing sickening if that moved completely out of Dublin just because they felt there'd be a bigger potential fanbase in Carlow or something.

Xavi6

DSB wrote: »

It was still 10,000ish peoples local club that was taken from them. I support a team with a far lower fanbase than that and it'd be ****ing sickening if that moved completely out of Dublin just because they felt there'd be a bigger potential fanbase in Carlow or something.

But that's just the way it went unfortunately. It's all in the past so time to move onwards and upwards with the new Dons. Great potential there hence my decision to take them over.

Royale with Cheese

Cool_CM wrote: »

1. FC Köln!
Brilliant fanbase who support them no matter what, they've just fallen on hard times, but here's hoping for next season!
Christoph Daum,
1. FC Köln,
Abstieg 2008,
Wir stonn zo dir FC Kölle!

+1

And it's not just cos I support them. They've a large fanbase, good stadium, good location. They really have just underachieved for the past decade.

CHD

Man City cause i beleive they could be giants in England with the right investment.In my opinion there more of a sleeping giant than the likes of Newcastle and all.They might not have a great history but they have the makings of a top club.

dc69

If we are talking about making money then Leeds utd is king.Huge support,ready made stadium.

you would double your return within 8 years.

Starting today with realistic investment

2009/2010-championship
2012-premiership

Because they are a big name club they would attract foreign players more succesfully then say sunderland etc,when starting off as say a bottom prem team.

I wonder when the person is gona come along and do it,they will make a killing.

Cool_CM

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

+1

And it's not just cos I support them. They've a large fanbase, good stadium, good location. They really have just underachieved for the past decade.

Damn right, hopefully they can stay up next season, been on erasmus for the year in Berlin since September, but I'll be back to make the Köln v Hertha matches next season in Rhine-Energie and Olympia Stadion come hell or high water!

Mr.Nice Guy

I'd probably go with Aston Villa. A real sleeping giant. They've already got a top manager, solid fanbase plus lots of young talented players. With strong backing the club could definitely push on and challenge for fourth place. O'Neill's not had the chequebook that others in the league have had but if I was at the helm, and I was a rich chap, I'd give him £50m plus and let him do his thing.

Jazzy

Shelbourne... just to ban DesF from Tolka Park to see wat would happen

kryogen

It would be hard to pick one tbh, ill stick to just England

The potential in Leeds and MK Dons is undeniable, but i think clubs like Blackburn and Villa, Charlton and Sunderland, Derby and Hull habe pretty good potential too.

Look id just buy United, clear the debts and reap the financial rewards of the most successfully run team in the world and make sure we get the best players to continue that success

mormank

defo be fc united. the team that the supporters set up when the glazers came to town. they seem like the perfect anti utd team. i mean imagine the magnitude of this derby if u got them into the premier league!!!

shane86

Macers wrote: »

Could you really expect to make a return in you investment with Shels though?

EL have a very poor fan base (lets be honest) and alot of clubs make a loss or just about break even...

I'm speaking purely from a business point of view...

You would need a new stadium and still have to refuse people if you were fielding a team with Giggs, Makelele, and several other near retirement stars and a few new boys. The fairweathers wouldnt stay away

BaZmO*

It would have to be a London club, gotta keep the wife happy with the shopping.

Nalz

Bohs. Put them were they belong. Amongst the elite of Europe

Mitch Connor

mormank wrote: »

defo be fc united. the team that the supporters set up when the glazers came to town. they seem like the perfect anti utd team. i mean imagine the magnitude of this derby if u got them into the premier league!!!

would be impossible to buy - the set up and ethos of the club would not allow it.

Great club though - 3rd straight promotion this season. I don't think they will ever be 'big time' though, the hatred of commercialisation would mean they would struggle to compete at higher levels financially.

As for taking over a club, would have to Man United.

I'd run it as 'not for profit' as possible.

I'd try to reduce ticket prices, even if just for kids - with the stretford end being designated as a 'singing' area (try to get the entire stadium joining in, but start with the core of the stadium).

I'd give fans a bigger say in the direction of the club, or at least keep them more involved.

I would pump more time and money into local youth development and scouting - Man City are way ahead of United in this area, which is most disappointing given the history of Man United.

Improve the stadium - increase in capacity.

Ronan|Raven

Cool_CM wrote: »

1. FC Köln!
Brilliant fanbase who support them no matter what, they've just fallen on hard times, but here's hoping for next season!
Christoph Daum,
1. FC Köln,
Abstieg 2008,
Wir stonn zo dir FC Kölle!

Fortuna Fortuna Köln, after their money man went away it all went down down down

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SC_Fortuna_K%C3%B6ln

hunter164

Macers wrote: »

Could you really expect to make a return in you investment with Shels though?

EL have a very poor fan base (lets be honest) and alot of clubs make a loss or just about break even...

I'm speaking purely from a business point of view...

Once Shels are contending in Europe everyone will want to support them. That will take at least 2 years but as they get promoted and contending in the league old fans will come back. When they get in the Champs. League they will be the 1st Irish team to do it and their support will be immense.:D

King John V

If I had a spare 500m lying around I'd sort out the Leeds situation. Gradually, I'd increase the calibre of players coming in, along with the training and stadium infrastructures. In 5-10 years Leeds would once again be a top flight force to be reckoned with :cool:.

ibh

Buy West Ham and pump some money in and break into the top 4 within 3 years. World domination would surely follow soon afterwards.

Alternatively buy Swansea and finance them all the way to the premier league. They get good crowds so just need a helping hand to make it to the big time..

Jazzy

Id also take over Boardeaux and give them loads of money.... perhaps sign Xavi to partner Xavi in midfield

Charlie

It would have to be my beloved Newcastle United. Great Stadium already in place, massive fan base, and trophy starved to boot. To even win a league cup and parade it around Gallowgate would be epic.

However, alot of what I would hope to accomplish, the new owner is doing. Debt wiped off, signing section for next season, reduced season tickets for families, interest free loans on season tickets. Good on ya big Mike.

Macers

Leeds seem to be getting a fair bit of a mention - am I right in remembering they don't even own their own stadium?

quarryman

Yep Leeds for me, though I am biased.

55000 in Wembley on Sunday and a lot more would have fit had the Doncaster tickets been proportioned correctly.

Great stadium and facilties. Decent city. Huge fanbase.

Had they been promoted on Sunday I reckon buy-out offer would have been on the cards.

Bubs101

Napoli for me. Massive catchment area, one team for one massive city. Have the glamorous history from the Maradona years. Very loyal, if violent, fanbase. Massive void of a strong team in the south of Italy. Money isn't as big in Italy as it is in England and Spain so it would probably be cheaper to get a team into the Champion's League. Also, the best pizza in the world. No brainer

Jazzy

Bubs101 wrote: »

Napoli for me. Massive catchment area, one team for one massive city. Have the glamorous history from the Maradona years. Very loyal, if violent, fanbase. Massive void of a strong team in the south of Italy. Money isn't as big in Italy as it is in England and Spain so it would probably be cheaper to get a team into the Champion's League. Also, the best pizza in the world. No brainer

have to clean up all the rubbish first!

event

leeds again for me as a fan

SectionF

Trilla wrote: »

Bohs. Put them were they belong. Amongst the elite of Europe

You can't buy Bohs, just as you can't buy FC United. That's why, in contrast to the fantasies of most fans, when we say 'we', we mean 'we'.
Sorry if that upsets the usual suspects for sounding superior an' all, but it happens to be true. :cool:
That doesn't mean, however, that Bohs can't buy you. How much would Shels cost anyway?

PS: in Engerland, I'd buy Leeds, just 'cos we're (in the other sense) Leeds.

Macers

hunter164 wrote: »

Once Shels are contending in Europe everyone will want to support them. That will take at least 2 years but as they get promoted and contending in the league old fans will come back. When they get in the Champs. League they will be the 1st Irish team to do it and their support will be immense.:D

I can understand what you mean (seriously) but for Shels or any Irish club to become big and great in Europe would they not have to join the English League? If they did I think the whole of Ireland would support them...

I don't think any Irish team would have competiveness by staying in the EL let alone how the will power totake on Europe...

If Shels (for example) got excepted to the English League and worked their way to the Premiership - how many Irish families (regardless of who they support) would go to see Shels play Liverpool or United etc...

Just my 2 cents...

hunter164

You know a man can dream! But Sunderland have tried to get the Irish market by trying to be like an Irish club which has worked for the but it's bad for Irish football.


I think if Shels were accepted into the Prem a lot of people would travel to England for the games.

Macers

hunter164 wrote: »

You know a man can dream! But Sunderland have tried to get the Irish market by trying to be like an Irish club which has worked for the but it's bad for Irish football.


I think if Shels were accepted into the Prem a lot of people would travel to England for the games.

Why is it bas for Irish football...? Sunderland have done great since Quinn too over - instant promotion etc.

Keane as manager has done well.

I think the main problem for Sunderland is there location... Its not in the most fashnable part of the UK and I think Keano was right in saying its hard to bring big names there...

hunter164

It's bad for Irish football because people are looking at Sunderland as an Irish team and supporting them when they should be supporting teams that are actually Irish.People are going over to Sunderland to watch matches instead of heading to EL or 1st Div. games. I see fellas at Shels games in Sunderland jerseys. Given they're not the only jerey I see but still they are trying to get Irish fans to go over to watch them and taking fans from EL and 1st Div.

Macers

hunter164 wrote: »

It's bad for Irish football because people are looking at Sunderland as an Irish team and supporting them when they should be supporting teams that are actually Irish.People are going over to Sunderland to watch matches instead of heading to EL or 1st Div. games. I see fellas at Shels games in Sunderland jerseys. Given they're not the only jerey I see but still they are trying to get Irish fans to go over to watch them and taking fans from EL and 1st Div.

I understand your point but would you rather watch Shels vs. Sporting Fingal or Sunderland vs. Man United?

I don't mean to pick on teams but just trying to see a return in investment here...

hunter164

Shels vs. Franchise anyday of the week.

Macers

hunter164 wrote: »

Shels vs. Franchise anyday of the week.

Fair enough...

I think you'd be throwing good money after bad but hey as you said a man can dream!

hunter164

Do you follow Cork City?

Macers

hunter164 wrote: »

Do you follow Cork City?

No I only work in Cork.

I used to play for Liverpool as a youth but got injured and release...

My heart lies with them for obvious reasons...

hunter164

Well then if Liverpool were in the League 2 you'd still support them and dream of better days??


btw I support Liverpool aswell.