FFC to be sold?

There are a couple of big rumours going around today. Firstly, the Boa situation doesn't look great, but we still might be able to stop him from going to Newcastle. Secondly, and this is the big one, according to posts on a couple of boards, it's looking increasingly likely that Al Fayed is looking to sell Fulham. This is huge news, Mohammed Al Fayed has done amazing things for our club, but maybe this isn't all bad...

 

If Big Mo is not going to continue to put money into the club as most all other owners do, I am in favor of him selling the club. I am very grateful for all Al Fayed has done for the club, but he seems to have put the brakes on his spending.

I am not saying we need to have the money of Abramovich or Arsenal, but it would be nice to be able to compete with the likes of West Ham and Wigan when trying to sign new players.

We have to be shrewd in the transfer market because Al Fayed refuses to give Cookie any money. We might need some new blood in here to inject some life back into the team on the pitch and to get some excitement amongst the supporters at the club.

 

I'm with you, we can't sell our best player just to line to coffers. He either has to dig a little deeper into his brimming wallet, or he should sell up. Still, he did save Fulham, so we're all grateful for that...

 

Much is being made of CC having no money to deal. But when you look at the club and player roster, all the 'holes' other than replacing Clark, were dealt with.

And there's no doubt that MAF is 'tidying up' his holdings (not just FFC, but Harrods, as well) so as to project better value for money offered.
For a hint on this, I suppose one could look towards the gossip sections of the news.

Yes, I know that's stale - posted on the Offal a few hours ago.

But the point is that CC has dealt with a view of value for money, no doubt at the direction of MAF.

He has plugged the holes with N Jensen and HH, and hopefully Elrich; shunned Marlet so as to rid himself of part of the wages wasted.

When the team changes hands, the new owner will be able to manage as he likes without being saddled with huge contactual debits.

Perhaps another middle eastern or oriental magnate with money to burn on a showcase project.

I doubt we will ever having the luck of getting someone like Abramovich, but would we want that, anyway? I'd rather it was someone more like Phil Anschutz, who seems to have got the right plan finally in motion in his MLS holdings

 

I do not want an Abramovich running the show, but I want someone who is willing to spend some cash to get some quality in here.

Yes, the gaps were filled for the most part, but are the new players breathtaking and raising the excitement level at Fulham? I would say no.

If Big Mo wants to sell the club, my advice would be to get on with it. Quit carrying us fans through this period of flux and downsizing. The best way to sell a club would be for it to remain in the Premiership, not in the Championship.

 

I cannot see how the gaps were filled? Please give me some details... especially in the goal? I see that warm bodies have replaced last year's players... but can they keep FFC in the Premiership or will these new guys get us relegated? I am curious what you all think???

 

Re: RE: FFC to be sold?

While I am not saying we are going to get relegated this season, I am of the belief that we will struggle in the bottom half of the table for the better part of the season if we continue with the roster we have right now.

People want to believe that we are this season's version of Everton, but we are not. Everton had youngsters like Leon Osman, Tim Cahill mixed with veterans in Lee Carsley, Alan Stubbs, Alessandro Pistone and David Weir. They played well together and they worked hard for another and for manager David Moyes.

Heidar Helguson, Ahmad Elrich and Jaroslav Drobny are unproven in the Premiership and while I hope they can cut it, they did not look all that impressive in Columbus last week. In both games none of the three were effective in my mind.

As for Niclas Jensen at left back, I am happy we actually signed a natural left back. I hope his experience will help the defense this season.

We have our work cut out for us this season to stay afloat in this league. There has to be a sense of urgency in the players and the manager to get this season started off on the right foot. If we do not start well, it could snowball into a bad season.

Only time will tell what will happen with Fulham. I have faith that somehow and someway we will survive this season! My fingers and crossed my fellow Fulham friends!

 

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I have to say, I thought Helguson looked pretty promising. It might take some time for him to adjust to the Premiership, but I thought he and CJ were an exciting pair up front. As for the other newbies, the jury' still out, although Jaroslav made some impressive saves last Saturday.

 

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I have some hope that Helguson can be effective for us as well. I am not saying he is worthless at all, but he has a lot to prove on this level. Let's hope he can have a great season for us.

 

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Helguson def. looked good but his shooting (along with the other strikers) was awful.

 

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I cant understand why people hang the crepe for the funeral when the patient hasnt even been diagnosed, yet, by the Doc!

Get my drift?

Helguson replaced Cole... so some say: "well, he is an unproven quantity. "

Dare I suggest that Cole had BECOME an 'unknown quantity'?

 

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Well, I do not think that is all true Petty. We all had a chance to see Fulham play once and some of us, including you, saw them twice last week. I think it is fair to say that we have a pretty good idea what kind of a hand we have been dealt. With talk of players like Malbranque and Boa Morte leaving, things are only looking worse for the season.

As I said, I am hoping we can survive this season. That is honestly, my only goal for the team this season. I hope Heidar can bang in 10-15 goals for us as well. I would rather have him on the pitch than Andy Cole, that is for sure.

 

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Well, I'm feeling much more optimistic after we rebuffed Man City's bid for Steed. With only a week to go until the start of the season, CC isn't going to sell Boa (unless something quite remarkable happens) and he's told other clubs to leave us alone. His attitude is right and if he passes that onto his players then mentally we'll be prepared for a tough season.

 

FFC to be Sold

If Fulham is to be sold why not look at from Al Fayed's side of all this. He has ploughed a Very large amount into the club,previous managers in my opinion wasted some of that on the likes of Marlet,What has Fulham won apart from promoion to the premiership?...

If your in Business then you need to see some return so far Al Fayed has had nothing I don't blame him for not wanting to put more money into the club, I love Fulham don't get me wrong but Al Fayed is a Business man.

I would like to see Fulham win something like the FA Cup or even the Premiership it's self that's what there in it for.Winning those compititions means European Football and that means Money, Money Buys better players...Clubs like Arsenal,Chelsea and Machester united have proven that.


COYW's

 

Re: FFC to be Sold

How many clubs turn big profits or any profits for that matter in a fiscal year? Not many. As stated in an earlier post, those who get involved in the ownership of a team should expect to lose a little money. That is unfortunately the nature of the beast.

I have looked at this from Al Fayed's perspective and I completely disagree with what he is doing. He is pulling back more and more every season and pulling the purse strings tighter and tighter.

I agree with you that managers like Tigana did not spend the money well when it was given to him, but that was then and this is now. If Al Fayed does not trust Cookie or Lee Hoos with his money, sack 'em and find someone you trust to spend the money.

What I think a lot of people fail to see is that a big chunk of money a club can make comes from the fans. Whether it be buying merchandise or going to the matches, a lot of money is made from the fans. With the way Al Fayed is operating Fulham right now, he is making a lot of loyal Fulham supporters mad and disappointing a lot of people.

It took a great decade of Fulham Football to make it to the Premiership and I, like many others, do not want to see us go back down the ladder because Big Mo is a tight ass with the cash.

All is ask is for us to be able to compete in the transfer markets with the newbies and minnows of the Premiership. I am not asking for loads and loads of cash, but it would be nice to dump cash into the club rather than always suck it out as he has been doing. It effects the mindset of the supporters and I do not think I am the only one that sees it this way.

All I want to see if Fulham succeed. I hope this is a great year for the club as well! In addition, I hope the supporters who go to each and every match are shown a quality team on the pitch. They deserve it!!!

 

If FFC is up for sale - my guess is that maybe those two Turkish brothers are still interested in buying.
I think they wanted to combine the investment with a casino or
something didn't they?

 

I remember something about these two guys last January. I cannot remember though the situation with the casino, but you might be right.

 

Tom, How can you call Al Fayed a Tight ass, when he first took over the club he ploughed MILLIONS in to Fulham football club and at the end of the day (Today) what has it got back...plain and simple in my book NOTHING!...

When your in business at some stage when there's nothing coming back you have to tighten those strings think about it if Al Fayed continued at the rate your talking about he would be skint in no time at all. The whole idea of a business is to make MONEY, Fulham is Not making money.

On your other quote you say that clubs make money from the fans and merchandise, yes your right but when you have less than 20,000 fans you cant make the same profits as the likes Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal.
I would love to see Al Fayed and Cookie buy better players and Fulham to win the Premiership every supporter of Fulham wants that, but just think if you were the owner how long would you plough Millions into something thats not making MONEY?...

 

I could be corrected if I am wrong, but since Al Fayed bought the club, haven't they risen to the Premiership which is no small feat! I think i disagree with the comment that "the whole idea of a business is to make money..." b/c I would suspect most billionares that buy sports teams do it b/c their ego is rather large and want to be seen in the public eye and known by a non-business crowd like football fans, etc. I am sure if asked point-blank, Al Fayed could name dozens of ventures that were a more sure-bet to make money than a football club, don't you? I imagine Tom's sentiments are that you can't get us this close to greatness and then "tighten the purse straps" and claim that we're not maing any money...???!!! The problem with sports owners in general is that they claim to be committed to winning and making money...More times than not, those two are at odds. I can think of a litany of examples but won't waste your time with all of them.

 

You both seem to be missing my point. Nobody has stated and nobody denies the club has done wonderful well over the past 6 or 7 seasons growing from the lower ranks of Division 3 right upto the Premiership, and Yes they are in the premiership but all I keep reading from people like you is why doesn't Al Fayed put MORE money in to the club. so whoever the manager is can buy better players..Cookie has brought players and look what do we have after what I saw in columbus last week we will be lucky to win a handful of games I hope I'm wrong but not on that display last week I think even you might agree with me on that point. I'm trying to explain to you how Al Fayed may see it and again I may even have it wrong I don't know him any more than you. Fulham to Al Fayed is a Business and if the Business doesn't make money then yes you have to tighten the purse strings that's what happens in Business and that's why LOTS of business's Close down...
Selling of course is another option and if you have a new owner he may and he may not want to invest large amounts of money who knows, But asking Fayed to plough more money in would be great but there has to be a time when a man say's enough is enough.