I hardly ever go on FB so not really seen any updates. Hope all is ok. Nothing changes with us, still drowning in work and unreasonable expectations. Let me know about the beers. Talking of Tolstoy, I really miss Steve.
This thread is not about John Dennis and neither is it about Patrick Cryne. As far as I am aware, both of those gentlemen supported the academy so how can it be. This thread is about the academy. Why are people so unhappy / unwilling to even think again from first principles about the academy. Why are posters reacting like I have questioned the existence of God, just because I have questioned the wisdom of the academy. Why are people so unwilling to debate the issues or the principles. Why are people so unwilling to justify the reasons why they hold the belief that the academy is a good thing. If we did not have an academy, why would it make sense for us to start one? I am an old man, and old men are supposed to be set in their ways. Yet I am willing to question some sacred cows, whilst you youngsters appear unwilling to do so. Come on, give me your reasoning and not your mantra. Let us play pretend. Let us pretend that we do not have an academy and that we are thinking of starting one. The manager needs funds to buy a player that he believes is a vital addition, a striker. He goes along to the CEO and asks for £1m. The CEO say no because he needs that money for academy running costs. The manager is naturally upset. He asks whether he can have the money next season, but the CEO say no, because he needs the £1m for running costs next season as well. But he adds, there will be a young player leaving the academy set up at the end of the year who they have high hopes for. Great says the manager, is he ready for the first team. No says the CEO, but he will be in 2 or 3 years. OK says the manager, I suppose if I have to wait 2 years it will worth it for a top quality striker. Oh, he isn't a striker say the CEO, hes a centre back. The story is meant to illustrate both the time lag in our investment and the potential unsuitability of the eventual player that the academy produces.
So what you are saying is that in business you should never make an investment because short term cash at hand is far more important than long term improvement of your business.
That rather depends. If cash flow is the problem, in other words you are choosing between one use for the cash or another use for the same cash, then you chose whatever has the better short term effect on cash flow, because if cash runs out, you close the gates. If cash flow is not a problem, then you do both. My example assumes you are making a choice between one thing and the other because cash flow is a problem and historically, things at BFC have always been difficult choices for that reason. Are you sure that you and Conan are not the same person. You seem to conduct your discussions in exactly the same manner. You both appear unwilling to answer questions, to state opinions and produce evidence, but you do both like a question.
It's all us 'young ones' as you so disrespectfuly limo everyone younger than you (and therefore less knowledgeable) as. We must all be the same The north stand and academy was built at our most cash rich point. We had just had a season in the premiership and was hoping for a return. We secured hefty funding to help with the cost and had sold a player for many millions.
I had just added more to my post. The north stand and academy was built at our most cash rich point. We had just had a season in the premiership and was hoping for a return. We secured hefty funding to help with the cost and had sold a player for many millions. Though yes seriously you do talk down to people because they are younger than you. You literally slated 'young people' in this thread purely for their age. You have also in the past said more than once that your knowledge is superior.
Are you talking about cash flow at the time of construction or to run now? I find it interesting that you have added the cost of the north stand into the cost of the academy. It inflates the cost of the academy and makes it look that bit more inefficient, when the two are not actually related. Your agenda is clear. For the record I think the academy and the north stand were absolutely the right thing to do. The club was ambitious at that time and the ambition was justified. We could start a thread about the investment made by the previous regime into infrastructure and facilities. It would be a very short one.
You haven't presented any evidence. You have just plucked some totally arbitrary figures from god knows where. Please don't claim these as supportive facts.
As I said earlier, the North stand was built after we sold Ashley Ward. My reference to youngsters was meant as self-deprecating. Take it from me that being 66 years of age is nothing to be proud of. If you think I am wrong, if you think my reasoning is wrong, then it should be quite easy to prove me wrong through argument and logic. All I have seen so far is a hissy fit. No argument, no reasoning, no logic, just attempts at personal abuse.
No reasoning apart from the reasoning which you have just quoted and the reasoning that you ignored earlier in the thread.
Once again, this has got nothing to do with the Dennis regime or the Cryne regime. If you think that I added the cost of the North Stand to the cost of the academy then you have not read this thread closely enough. I have no problem in debating things that I have actually said, but I will not debate things that I have not said.
Just to save me having to read right back through the thread to something that may, or may not be relevent, would you mind telling me again?
The first team use the training facilities. We rent out the training facilities. We attract players because of the training facilities. We have developed first teamers via the training facilities. We have sold players for profit from the training facilities. The north stand is a stand which houses supporters and generates money it is not a training pitch. We did the developments (plural) when we were cash rich. The academy is self funding if you look at it objectively rather than with an agenda.