brieverton
Player Valuation: £40m
I understand the concerns with the multi-club model. You would assume that Friedkin is very keen on getting us into Europe, and there seems to be no clarity on what happens then? I guess this is the general direction of travel in the game, but it does take a bit of mental gymnastics to attempt to rationalise it. If there is to be an announcement today, then Roma fans are bound to look at it with some uncertainty for them as it is for us. I do think that on paper at least, that Friedkin is the most credible bidder so it has to be considered against that. In my book they get a chance to show what they can do. I don't think there is a comparison in Europe for this, Everton and Roma are pretty comparably sized in my view, though I'd say our growth potential is considerably higher than theirs. It wouldn't raise questions if he owned clubs similar to those in the MSP portfolio for example. What if next season, Friedkin was to buy, say, Stuttgart, for example? I don't think I'd be happy about that.
I can see why an investor wants to diversify their portfolio, but whilst football is a global business the comparisons to other industries only go so far. I don't see the multi club model being based on rationalisation and co-operation and I'd wonder in that sense why someone would go down this road. But you would have to have at least some respect for what Friedkin and his family have achieved in business. He is not at all comparable to Moshiri. In that sense, if this goes through, I would be reasonably confident that we will be a well-run club which opens up possibilities that have not been open to us in the modern era.
I can see why an investor wants to diversify their portfolio, but whilst football is a global business the comparisons to other industries only go so far. I don't see the multi club model being based on rationalisation and co-operation and I'd wonder in that sense why someone would go down this road. But you would have to have at least some respect for what Friedkin and his family have achieved in business. He is not at all comparable to Moshiri. In that sense, if this goes through, I would be reasonably confident that we will be a well-run club which opens up possibilities that have not been open to us in the modern era.
