Liverpool have got themselves back into the Champions League and started re-developing Anfield since Fenway took over.
Southampton's owners have financed back to back promotions and re-established the club in the Premier League. Next season will be tough, but keeping good managers and players is always difficult for smaller clubs, and there's no evidence to suggest that the money they bring in won't be reinvested.
Tottenham were nowhere when Lewis bought them, and have won a trophy and played Champions League football since. They've wasted many of the opportunities his money has afforded them, but to suggest they'd be better off still under Sugar would be absurd.
Stoke are an unfashionable club and spent 23 years out of the top flight. I'm not sure why you think they're not an example of a successful takeover.
United is a weird one. The Glazers seem awful, but they've presided over one of the most trophy-laden periods in the club's history.
Yeah, I see that they've been 'successful', but if that was the success a takeover got Everton you wouldn't class it that way - possibly with the exceptions of Liverpool and Tottenham, so let's look at those:
Liverpool was a built-in massive brand and was bought for pennies. Their first big money takeover got them out of the CL spots in the first place and nearly put the club into administration. Which allowed the valuation of the club to be so low for Fenway to take over and run it more profitably. Additionally, they have plans to redevelop Anfield, they haven't begun construction yet, we'll see when it actually starts.
Tottenham are an odd case I think. Their current management has spent a load more money to basically get them in the same place as us. They're much better businessmen, but seem to be worse football men. I'd be happy with the money and business nous of Tottenham's owners, but it would be damn frustrating to see them kick every manager they get out to the curb when results go poorly for a few weeks. Levy would have fired Martinez after the February we had and we'd be back to square one.
As for Southampton (
@ijjysmith) I believe that there are concerns that the current owner is asset stripping them in preparation for selling them. I'd rather not see that. I think Ijjy was the one that mentioned that (sorry for tagging you in the board thread Ijjy, but you're the Southampton expert).
Stoke are successful - for Stoke. I wouldn't want that success at Everton.
United is proof that brand > ownership. The Glazers can be awful, because the United brand is large enough to keep the ship afloat. It's where every club should be aiming for. There aren't many clubs in that category - Bayern, United, Real, Barca....think that's it. (Although the R/S brand is awful close, they just haven't won in 24 years (lol) which dilutes the brand).
So in a sense, you're correct loads of takeovers have been successful. But I stand by the fact that only two have been successful in the way that Everton define success. Maybe 3...Tottenham may be the third. I'm leaving Liverpool out because of the circumstances surrounding the takeover - pretty sure none of us want to be outside of the court room that Kopites were that day.