The Everton Board Thread 2014/15

[Kiwi]

I agree with everything here actually.

I was just pointing out that most ownership groups haven't done the bolded bit well enough.

Best example of this would be the likes of Leeds and Villa, who had the financial input into the playing squad but not the commercial side of things, and so accordingly when the results fell away only had debt and similar revenues to fall back on. Where clubs have been successful in growing from zero to success story with the likes of City, Chelsea e.t.c. they have increased revenues and marketing and their commercial side whilst also investing into the squad. While some of this can explained by the money thrown away at these clubs, for me its no coincidence that the phenomenal growth city is undergoing is backed up by IMO the best marketing initiatives and global communication in the Prem.
My mates a city fan and occaisionally I see some of their stuff on facebook and they take every and any creative way to make the players seem available and accessible to the fans. Their marketing division is top class and you can see that with how they've expanded from no-ones to one of the top supported clubs in the world purely by harnessing right the expansion of the PL worldwide and combining it with investment and success on the pitch.

 

[SerenityNigh]

That just means that if we had those owners and they came in and gave cash for team strengthening we'd push off from a higher position. If, for example, Peter Coates at Stoke or Ellis Short at Sunderland had taken over control of Everton that could have made a huge difference to us. We dont necessarily need a Shiek/Oligarch. All that would be dependent on sale price, of course, which brings us back again full circle to the real problem: it's not doing without a billionaire; it's putting up with profiteers determined to exact their pound of flesh.

Add Zingarevich and Fernandes to Coates and Ellis in the discussion. What have/will these owners bring to their clubs? I think @RaleighBlue's comments are on point.

 

[SerenityNigh]

I have to agree with Davek on this one, that with the right investment into the team, as long as it was combined with clear financial movement and activity off the pitch to stabilize and produce more income for the club, would help to grow the club to the point where it could consistently fight for and compete in the Champion League places. Where other clubs have gone wrong in the past as they have just pumped money into the squad without necessarily improving the marketing and sponsorship side of the club, meaning that the increase in money spent rises whilst the money being made by the club does not. This improvement in the financial side of the club provides that stability that gives the club a bit of breathing space should the first few initial investments into the squad not work. A balance needs to be achieved between both IMO. First thing those coming into ownership of the club should be doing is looking at expanding the marketing of our club in foreign markets to pick up on the global growth of the Premier League into the likes of the US and Asia, and starting this by binning the Kitbag deal that so inhibits our clubs ability to expand in these areas. The second step would be seeking better global partnerships by approaching technology companies and the like to spread their brand and ours simultaneously. When you have this financial betterment of our current structure off the field then you can build on it with added investment into the playing team and squad. Ideally both would happen simultaneously. I can't see the off field commercial stuff happening off the field under the current ownership of the team nor the investment into the team so unless drastic changes start occurring there needs to be a change in the ownership of the club.

While it seems clear that on-field success and commercial success are related, it often seems to be tenuous relationship. Only a few teams have enough brand to be successful commercially when they aren't successful on the field. It will be interesting to see what happens with United post-Ferguson--how much of their success was tied to him and not the club? No doubt van Gaal can bring success to this club, but how much and for how long?

 

[Kiwi]

While it seems clear that on-field success and commercial success are related, it often seems to be tenuous relationship. Only a few teams have enough brand to be successful commercially when they aren't successful on the field. It will be interesting to see what happens with United post-Ferguson--how much of their success was tied to him and not the club? No doubt van Gaal can bring success to this club, but how much and for how long?

Aye as always its a balance. I think with the likes of United, Barcelona, etc, they need to maintain their success to maintain the growth of their fanbase, as those fans are used to winning and will drift away if they arent. With the expansion of the PL into the US though we as Everton have a stunning opportunity to attract fans that arent all about winning, which should be done through better marketing of our strengths and history. But theres only limited time before that window runs out and people pick a side. We need to capitalise whilst we still can and there is still growth. If you can harness yourself to that growth right, you can grow more than perhaps your respective rivals, and this is what we should be focusing on, to catch up commercially by making the most of the NBC PL boom as well as its spread into Asia.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Aye as always its a balance. I think with the likes of United, Barcelona, etc, they need to maintain their success to maintain the growth of their fanbase, as those fans are used to winning and will drift away if they arent. With the expansion of the PL into the US though we as Everton have a stunning opportunity to attract fans that arent all about winning, which should be done through better marketing of our strengths and history. But theres only limited time before that window runs out and people pick a side. We need to capitalise whilst we still can and there is still growth. If you can harness yourself to that growth right, you can grow more than perhaps your respective rivals, and this is what we should be focusing on, to catch up commercially by making the most of the NBC PL boom as well as its spread into Asia.

Don't think Barcelona or Real Madrid are worthwhile comparisons. They have huge brand and commercial power, but they're essentially state-subsidized clubs. United has had great success, but I'm not sure there will ever be another "United." Teams will find alternate paths to success, in part because this path won't be an option. You see Chelsea and City have taken quite different paths. Arsenal's path may be closest to United's track, and Arsenal has been successful, but when does it translate into further honors?

 

[RaleighBlue]

While it seems clear that on-field success and commercial success are related, it often seems to be tenuous relationship. Only a few teams have enough brand to be successful commercially when they aren't successful on the field. It will be interesting to see what happens with United post-Ferguson--how much of their success was tied to him and not the club? No doubt van Gaal can bring success to this club, but how much and for how long?

I suspect that there is an event horizon. Once past it you are a 'big' club for at least a generation of people. Look at Liverpool. Outside of Istanbul, they haven't been successful in real terms since the 80's - but they're still classed as one of the biggest clubs in the world. Or they were until very recently.

United will be seen as a massive club (assuming they don't get relegated) for 20 years regardless of trophy haul. If that 20 years is entirely barren, they will begin to fall off. Liverpool is the model of that.

The problem is it takes a while of real success to reach the event horizon. Currently I see United, Real, Barca, and Bayern in all of world football as past it. Chelsea are knocking on the door. City are a ways off, Liverpool lost it, but lost it recently so they could grab it again without as much work. The likes of PSG are miles away.

However, these are 'MASSIVE' clubs that could survive finishing 15th and it be seen as a catastrophe and expected to be righted immediately. We don't need to aim that high yet. We should aim for where Tottenham and Arsenal are - which is big clubs that are always expected to compete, but aren't expected to win. They wouldn't immediately be expected to challenge for the league title the year after finishing 7th.

But as @Kiwi pointed out - we should be paying attention to what City is doing, because they are miles ahead of the rest of the league in marketing. It will pay off big time.

 

[Chang Elephant]

Fair points lads, very balanced, fair, even handed, moderate etc.

 

[roydo]

I suspect that there is an event horizon. Once past it you are a 'big' club for at least a generation of people. Look at Liverpool. Outside of Istanbul, they haven't been successful in real terms since the 80's - but they're still classed as one of the biggest clubs in the world. Or they were until very recently.

United will be seen as a massive club (assuming they don't get relegated) for 20 years regardless of trophy haul. If that 20 years is entirely barren, they will begin to fall off. Liverpool is the model of that.

The problem is it takes a while of real success to reach the event horizon. Currently I see United, Real, Barca, and Bayern in all of world football as past it. Chelsea are knocking on the door. City are a ways off, Liverpool lost it, but lost it recently so they could grab it again without as much work. The likes of PSG are miles away.

However, these are 'MASSIVE' clubs that could survive finishing 15th and it be seen as a catastrophe and expected to be righted immediately. We don't need to aim that high yet. We should aim for where Tottenham and Arsenal are - which is big clubs that are always expected to compete, but aren't expected to win. They wouldn't immediately be expected to challenge for the league title the year after finishing 7th.

But as @Kiwi pointed out - we should be paying attention to what City is doing, because they are miles ahead of the rest of the league in marketing. It will pay off big time.

Interesting that. Thinking of the Italian clubs, Inter, AC Milan and Juventus I would still think of a massive clubs. But their global star is fading.

And remembering a few years back, the likes of Lazio, Napoli, Roma and Sampdoria all tilted at the big prizes, but now, not much to speak about really.

And in Germany, Bayern have really been the only consistent club to dine at the top table. Hamburg, Monchengladbach, surely others, just seem to fade away.

 

[roydo]

Fair points lads, very balanced, fair, even handed, moderate etc.

*checks this is the board thread*

 

[RaleighBlue]

Interesting that. Thinking of the Italian clubs, Inter, AC Milan and Juventus I would still think of a massive clubs. But their global star is fading.

And remembering a few years back, the likes of Lazio, Napoli, Roma and Sampdoria all tilted at the big prizes, but now, not much to speak about really.

And in Germany, Bayern have really been the only consistent club to dine at the top table. Hamburg, Monchengladbach, surely others, just seem to fade away.

Yeah, I explicitly left out the Italian clubs because all of the corruption over the past decade or so. I think it's hastened the fall of those clubs in the eyes of external fans. And I think that's the key of this 'event horizon'; the concept that fans of other leagues think of you as one of the biggest clubs going. Not diehard football people, but just everyone that really knows anything about football thinks of you when they think of the sport.

I bet if I went and asked anyone in my office(non-expats) to name a 'soccer' club that if I got any answer at all I'd get one of those four clubs...unless I chanced upon another serious fan. I don't see any Italian club with that sway currently. But I know they had it recently.

 

[Chang Elephant]

*checks this is the board thread*

This is the new board thread where contributors spend multiple paragraphs essentially seeking to diminish the sheer negative impact of the board, by providing diversion and context*.

Meanwhile, Bill is out deflowering virgins and moistening female genitalia across Christendom.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Yeah, I explicitly left out the Italian clubs because all of the corruption over the past decade or so. I think it's hastened the fall of those clubs in the eyes of external fans. And I think that's the key of this 'event horizon'; the concept that fans of other leagues think of you as one of the biggest clubs going. Not diehard football people, but just everyone that really knows anything about football thinks of you when they think of the sport.

I bet if I went and asked anyone in my office(non-expats) to name a 'soccer' club that if I got any answer at all I'd get one of those four clubs...unless I chanced upon another serious fan. I don't see any Italian club with that sway currently. But I know they had it recently.

That's a great experiment. Ask them to name 5 clubs each and provide the results. Very local information, but perhaps interesting.

 

[SerenityNigh]

This is the new board thread where contributors spend multiple paragraphs essentially seeking to diminish the sheer negative impact of the board, by providing diversion and context*.

Meanwhile, Bill is out deflowering virgins and moistening female genitalia across Christendom.

That sure puts OOCs into context

 

[4737carlin]

Shouldn't this thread have a post by now saying well done to the board on the new contract for Martinez?

 

[magicjuan]

Shouldn't this thread have a post by now saying well done to the board on the new contract for Martinez?

Or well done for inserting a trigger clause for compensation?