[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[Neil Weaver]

People are forgetting the most important aspect of what the Beckham signing would bring;

It would p*ss everyone else off a LOT.

and make Vinjay explode, which could only be a good thing.

[JAL]

People are forgetting the most important aspect of what the Beckham signing would bring;

It would p*ss everyone else off a LOT.

Sorry, continual winning football from Rovers would pee a lot off but Beckham simply doesnt fit into that winning formula.

[BuckyRover]

**wrong thread""

[den]

No offence intended but i'd say that says more about you and unfortunately a common attitude in British football that pigeonholes players as being too small, too short, too slow etc etc. At the time you wrote Lennon off we were being linked with him for a couple of million, he'd cost more than 5 times that at present so clearly he has improved a massive amount. I just think it's far too easy to write players off saying if he was any good then someone else would have picked him up sooner. Players like Ian Wright as one example would never have made it if everyone shared that view.

Total and complete representation of anything I've ever said MB. I never wrote Lennon off. I said he had one weakness that he wouldn't improve on and that was that he didn't provide an end product often enough. At the time, I would have stayed away from him because of that limitation - plus, at that time, we were all making assumptions that we had plenty of dosh to spend, so would have other alternatives. Lennon is a good player and always has been, but he's not improved on that final ball one iota. To say that because his value has gone up is proof that it has, is wrong.

My whole point at the time was that there are certain parts to a players game that they either have, or they haven't. How you get to the conclusions of the post above I don't know.

[BuckyRover]

Total and complete representation of anything I've ever said MB. I never wrote Lennon off. I said he had one weakness that he wouldn't improve on and that was that he didn't provide an end product often enough. At the time, I would have stayed away from him because of that limitation - plus, at that time, we were all making assumptions that we had plenty of dosh to spend, so would have other alternatives. Lennon is a good player and always has been, but he's not improved on that final ball one iota. To say that because his value has gone up is proof that it has, is wrong.

My whole point at the time was that there are certain parts to a players game that they either have, or they haven't. How you get to the conclusions of the post above I don't know.

Lennon:

Year/Games/Assists

09/10 - 25 - 14

08/09 - 38 - 8

07/08 - 35 -8

No improvement?

[den]

Lennon:

Year/Games/Assists

09/10 - 25 - 14

08/09 - 38 - 8

07/08 - 35 -8

No improvement?

Compelling stuff Bucky.

Two points:

1] He wouldn't be expected to have exactly the same stats for two seasons running would he.

2] he has been playing in gradually improving teams so I would expect that he has far more posession as the team improves. So, unless his form completely goes down the pan, he will have more assists.

Proves nothing about whether he's suddenly become a new Beckham, does it? I don't know why we ever release any player, seeing as it's possible to improve anyone's skills. No such thing a natural talent is there? You wonder why the coaches don't see that.

Anyway, I'm following Ewood and I would in ruining this thread. Sorry guys.

[bluebruce]

Putting all this marketing stuff aside for a moment (and a Beckham would almost pay for himself), and as much as I think he has been vastly overrated for much of his career, David Beckham is still DEFINITELY better than anything else we have at right midfield. To think otherwise is, IMO, delusional. The bigger problem would be whether we could even convince him that 4,000 holes is appealing. Whether he would be better than anything we could get if the money comes in...well that's a different question. But right now, he would be the perfect boost the new owners are looking for- an improvement on what we've got, and the perfect launchpad for a global publicity and marketing surge.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

What the hell has this thread turned into? I couldnt care less about Beckham because we HAVENT BEEN TAKEN OVER YET. Why are people arguing about Lennon? Are we signing him as well??

[BuckyRover]

Has EAIW been banned?

Waggy also?

[Guest Russian_Rover]

Back on topic, a new Q&A from Mr Syed

http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/08/19/blackburn-takeover-latest-qa-with-ahsan-ali-syed-190802/

Ahsan Ali Syed, the Bahrain-based Indian businessman who says he wants to buy Blackburn Rovers, describes himself in his company’s 2009 annual report as a “Dreamer, Visionary, Navigator and Leader”.

That report, for Western Gulf Advisory AG, which describes itself as “a self-sustaining investment and asset management company”, can be viewed and downloaded at this link.

Mr Ali, as he is known at his Bahrain HQ, has already given extensive interviews in Britain to the BBC website (link here for British-based listeners) and to the Guardian (link here).

According to his company’s last annual report, WGA had retained earnings of $101.7m (£65m) in 2009 on assets under management of $1.2bn (£766m). The report shows the company is underpinned by a loan of just over $1bn from a related party.

The report says WGA has a “robust network of more than 3,200 consultants, associated and reliable partners”. The 2009 report also showed that WGA directly employed 11 people.

Mr Ali has stressed he is not proposing to invest company money into Blackburn, but personal money. Unsubstantiated media reports say that family wealth, stemming from long-term business interests in the Hyderabad region of India, could be as high as $5bn, although there is no family sharing his name listed in Forbes’ most recent list of Indian billionaires.

Sportingintelligence has asked Mr Ali a series of questions about his interest in Blackburn, and we have received the following replies from Julia Thiem, PR manager at WGA.

Q: How much Mr Ali will pay for the club?

A: We are not disclosing these figures.

Q: When does he expect the deal to be finalised?

A: This is hard to tell but we are hoping to finalise it asap. The MoU that has been signed on Monday gives us an exclusivity period of four weeks.

Q: How much does he intend to invest over how many years? £200m over 15 years?

A: Actually, we are planning to invest a total amount of £ 300m. However, we are currently working on our long-term strategy and therefore on the allocation of funds.

Q: How much does he intend to spend on transfers this month?

A: The transfers are something that is in the hand of the management of a club. And as far as we are concerned, Sam Allardyce has commented on that today*.

Q: Does he [Mr Ali] have any other sporting interests?

A: Mr Ali also is into horse racing and owns a stable in Bahrain as well as nine thoroughbreds. Furthermore he has a passion for Formula 1.

Q: Why Blackburn?

A: Mr Ali is a fan of Blackburn Rovers for almost 10 years now. Besides, Blackburn Rovers caught his attention because they are fitting his overall investment strategy.

Q: Has he looked at other clubs – did he consider Liverpool for example?

A: Yes, he had also other suggestions on his table. However, Blackburn immediately caught his attention as they are a stable, well-run club.

Q: How much is Mr Ali’s personal wealth? (He says this deal is being done in a personal capacity).

A: Mr Ali’s personal wealth is very public. And whatever is public is public and we do not want to add any further details.

* Sam Allardyce’s most recent public comments on the subject: “The danger for me is people start thinking we have all this money available now. I have been told we could get the deal done no sooner than probably the end of September. Quite simply we can’t pay more money for players at the moment, it just can’t be done. At the moment we work only from what we can afford.”

I find the bits in bold worrying and a bit strange, the first bit suggests the £100m will be spread over 15 years. Once you take the debt, sale and stuff he wants to do with the infrastructure away that doesn't divide a lot of transfer money by 15 (could be as low as £3m a window i.e. £100m divided by 30 windows). The second bit is strange in that with previous questions specifically on money (the £300m and the £100m transfer kitty) he has been happy to answer them and talk numbers but is now being coy when asked directly about his personal wealth.

I disagree that it's public knowledge as Mr Syed doesn't not appear on any rich lists and his companies are all private so don't release a lot of financial information. The papers have quoted figures of £5bn-£8bn and it's unclear how much of this comes through WGA and how much he is "due to" inherit.

Probably reading too much into that answer I hope.

And what's with this bit????

[syed] describes himself in his company’s 2009 annual report as a “Dreamer, Visionary, Navigator and Leader”

[ewoodpo]

Like somebody said on a previous page when we are taken over we should go out and buy ourselves a Honda. Now that's what you call a proper target Market Japan.

[tony gale's mic]

Like somebody said on a previous page when we are taken over we should go out and buy ourselves a Honda. Now that's what you call a proper target Market Japan.

No, when we get taken over we should buy players that are best for our team not best for our target market.

[Guest Russian_Rover]

No, when we get taken over we should buy players that are best for our team not best for our target market.

Because Honda would never get in our team would he

[Baz]

Putting all this marketing stuff aside for a moment (and a Beckham would almost pay for himself), and as much as I think he has been vastly overrated for much of his career, David Beckham is still DEFINITELY better than anything else we have at right midfield. To think otherwise is, IMO, delusional. The bigger problem would be whether we could even convince him that 4,000 holes is appealing. Whether he would be better than anything we could get if the money comes in...well that's a different question. But right now, he would be the perfect boost the new owners are looking for- an improvement on what we've got, and the perfect launchpad for a global publicity and marketing surge.

Buy David Beckham and in 2 years your going to need to replace him, buy someone who is a better footballer now and at a younger age and you dont need to replace him. Its really as simple as that.

[ewoodpo]

No, when we get taken over we should buy players that are best for our team not best for our target market.

I'm not saying that we should go out and buy any old crap. Honda would walk into our present team all day long.

Japan might not be as big as India or China however, it's probably the most lucrative Market out there in Asia .

[tony gale's mic]

I'm not saying that we should go out and buy any old crap. Honda would walk into our present team all day long.

Japan might not be as big as India or China however, it's probably the most lucrative Market out there in Asia .

Honda is a good player but I don't buy into this notion that Asians will follow teams just because one of their own is playing/owning the club.

It might make a tiny dent, but how many Chinese fans do Everton have these days? Japanese players are also playing all over Europe I don't think one more will really turn their heads that much.

[ewoodpo]

Honda is a good player but I don't buy into this notion that Asians will follow teams just because one of their own is playing/owning the club.

It might make a tiny dent, but how many Chinese fans do Everton have these days? Japanese players are also playing all over Europe I don't think one more will really turn their heads that much.

Up to a certain point your right, this notion of more Asains watching a team because of a fellow countryman is crap. I'm of Indian heritage myself and just because a team has an Indian participating doesn't mean that I'd become a fan.

However, I have been to both Japan and India and no disrespect to the Japanese they are a differant breed once these guys get addicted to something it's like wow! Indian people I just don't know.

[Heinz]

Honda is a good player but I don't buy into this notion that Asians will follow teams just because one of their own

Keisuke Honda single handedly kicked one of the worst teams in the Dutch comp. doomed for delegation to a decent finish. The clubs (VVV) matches were shown in Japan and generated a lot of visitors/tourists there. I don't know about the community but he will sure as hell generate positive reaction. That being said I'd reckon he's very expensive but world class. I'd have have him anytime!

[Guest Russian_Rover]

Up to a certain point your right, this notion of more Asains watching a team because of a fellow countryman is crap.

I'm of Indian heritage

myself and just because a team has an Indian participating doesn't mean that I'd become a fan.

However, I have been to both Japan and India and no disrespect to the Japanese they are a differant breed once these guys get addicted to some thing it's like wow! Indian people I just don't know.

When we signed Santa Cruz I remember at least two Paraguayans joining this site as new "fans" just because we had signed him. Not sure if they're City fans now though....

[tony gale's mic]

When we signed Santa Cruz I remember at least two Paraguayans joining this site as new "fans" just because we had signed him. Not sure if they're City fans now though....

True but there's a massive stretch from two people joining a fan site, to millions of people spending money and supporting a club.

Also a lot of the Premier League fans there already have a team. Just because Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool etc all developed fans there it's going to be a lot harder for us to. Liverpool have a long tradition of fans over there and the other clubs were massive just as Premier League football was going big across the globe. Most people who watch Premier League football regularly enough to be of any interest to us will already support someone

We somehow need to find a raft of people who weren't already interested in football to suddenly support us even when we havent won anything. Yes India is less saturated than China/SE Asia but unless we're successful and start winning things or at least playing Champions League football, we'll hardly get anywhere. Success is necessary to get lots of fans abroad, not the other way around.

[MI ROVER]

Uncle syd's blue and white has a certain ring to it

[otto man]

When we signed Santa Cruz I remember at least two Paraguayans joining this site as new "fans" just because we had signed him. Not sure if they're City fans now though....

Hmmm........ First day on the boards yet "remembers" "fans" from years ago? Also leaps to the defence of a member who was previously banned? Could this character be located near "EWOOD", does anyone else suspect this? cos "I WOULD".....Busted dude!

[ewoodpo]

Hmmm........ First day on the boards yet "remembers" "fans" from years ago? Also leaps to the defence of a member who was previously banned? Could this character be located near "EWOOD", does anyone else suspect this? cos "I WOULD".....Busted dude!

You should join the old bill you'd quite easily make detective

[Guest Russian_Rover]

You should join the old bill you'd quite easily make detective

I hope that is sarcasm

[ewoodpo]

I hope that is sarcasm