Jump to content
Melbourne Football

City Football Group (CFG) [Owner of Melbourne City]


Torn Asunder
 Share

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, Tommykins said:

You get three marquees in the MLS, since the departure of Lampard and Pirlo they're marquee's have looked much more decidedly like ours.

Maxi Moralez - Signed from Leon in Mexico, good European pedigree but certainly nothing amazing

Jesus Medina - Young gun from Paraguay who been okay, but is seen as lacking in ambition given he's only 21 and hasn't proved a whole lot.

Crowds are down significantly (29k first season, have settled at about 23k now), can't speak to the atmosphere.

Have watched a couple of games and its not great by any stretch but they play on a baseball diamond ffs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the problem with the stadium is that CFG want to build it in New York City (as defined by the five boroughs Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island). The other MLS side, Red Bulls, play in a football-specific stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

However, the overall track record of CFG with its minor clubs is decidedly uninspiring.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere else but it makes interesting reading. We may not be a fully firing senior team but our suits, as we've known, are pulling lots of strings in the background. An independent A-league seems inevitable and would align with the recommendation of the Crawford Report of 2003.

(This is a separate issue to the salary cap. I recall that CFG were happy to invest in Australia because the cost of running a club here was relatively low due to our salary cap.)

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-city-here-for-the-long-haul-says-vice-chairman-pearce-20181224-p50o2j.html

Melbourne City here for the long haul, says vice chairman Pearce

Michael Lynch

25 December 2018

They might have faced a mini fan revolt, controversy over their key striker Bruno Fornaroli and some soul searching about their role and identity within the Australian game, but Melbourne City officials are adamant the club is in this country for the long haul.

City showed plenty of grit and commitment to come back to forge a last gasp draw with Melbourne Victory last Saturday night in the Christmas derby, and they have now taken four points out of six available from two clashes with the defending champions on the pitch so far this season.

Their vice chairman Simon Pearce, a Sydney-based communications expert who is also on the board of Manchester City, the Premier League champions, was watching on on Saturday night, delighted with the way his team managed to shrug off any outside distractions and put together a performance of character and resilience to gain a deserved share of the spoils.

For executives like Pearce, the big game is as much off the field as on it, and he sought to allay fears that City might tire of their Australian subsidiary if it cannot match the success it has had with its youth team and its W-League championship-winning women's team with the senior men at A-League level.

''Melbourne City and CFG [City Football Group] are committed to Australia and to all aspects of the Australian game. His Highness Sheikh Mansour and Melbourne City’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak are aware that for Melbourne City to succeed it must do so as one of many ships on a rising tide of Australian football’s development and success,'' Pearce told guests at a pre-match dinner.

Pearce was a driving force in the recent battle for reform within the game and ultimately achieved what many thought impossible - the ousting of the Lowy family from control of Australian soccer - earlier this year.

It was a long, protracted affair. While Greg Griffin, the feisty then-Adelaide United owner was the man who fired the bullets and relished the verbal confrontations with the Lowy camp, Pearce was helping orchestrate the campaign strategy in the background, working closely with the players' union (PFA) boss John Didulica and others.

He was also involved in the Congress Working Review Party and worked closely with Football Federation Victoria chairman Kimon Taliadoros and newly elevated FFA chairman Chris Nikou, both of whom have helped usher in a more broad-based and representative FFA Congress.

Pearce is also one of the drivers behind the push for an independent A-League, one of the major tenets of the reform agenda that ultimately brought about the seismic changing of the guard at FFA headquarters.

The A-League would have been independent years ago had the recommendations of the Crawford Review of the sport, commissioned by the then-Howard Government almost two decades ago, been implemented.

As a result of Crawford's work the old Soccer Australia was euthanised along with the NSL and the FFA and the A-League created. However the premier competition remained under central control with the then board, run by Frank Lowy, reluctant to grant it autonomy.

Now it is set to be cut loose, with the City powerbroker one of those ushering in the change.

''Our view is that independent, licensed A- and W-Leagues are fundamental to success and we look forward to playing our part in the new leagues working group that will hopefully navigate that transition by March 31, 2019,'' Pearce said.

''Here at Melbourne City we are committed to ensuring our club is everything it can be as quickly as possible. We are a learning organisation and having just completed 10 years' work in Manchester I can assure you we are still learning there too.''

Pearce stressed the CFG's commitment to its Australian project. Melbourne City, along with the Manchester flagship and New York City, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the CFG.

City are, says Pearce, taking the long view.

''Melbourne City strengthens each year and we build both on and off the field. We will not make decisions for short term returns over medium and long term sustainable success. ''

In what most would interpret as a reference to the stand-off over star striker Fornaroli's future at the club, Pearce reiterated City's vision.

''That means holding the line on what the club stands for even when that stance produces immediate inconveniences. Only in this way can you create a culture of excellence and an identity that attracts quality.

''That’s not always readily understood by people. We are five years into our Melbourne City journey. When we celebrate our 10th anniversary, I promise you, just like Manchester City, we will have already hit a critical point in our development where the hard and unwavering work of these initial seasons will pay ongoing dividends.''

Pearce acknowledged that it has been a long battle to establish City's image under their new ownership in England, but said that task had been accomplished. He believed success and commitment to the future will do the same here.

''The title of the official book marking the 10 years of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership in Manchester is ironically entitled Killing the game.

''And for the first five years that’s how we were perceived. Very few subscribe to that point of view now – and those that do come mainly from Salford [a traditional Manchester United supporting area].''

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, HEARTinator said:

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere else but it makes interesting reading. We may not be a fully firing senior team but our suits, as we've known, are pulling lots of strings in the background. An independent A-league seems inevitable and would align with the recommendation of the Crawford Report of 2003.

(This is a separate issue to the salary cap. I recall that CFG were happy to invest in Australia because the cost of running a club here was relatively low due to our salary cap.)

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-city-here-for-the-long-haul-says-vice-chairman-pearce-20181224-p50o2j.html

Melbourne City here for the long haul, says vice chairman Pearce

 

Michael Lynch

 

25 December 2018

 

They might have faced a mini fan revolt, controversy over their key striker Bruno Fornaroli and some soul searching about their role and identity within the Australian game, but Melbourne City officials are adamant the club is in this country for the long haul.

 

City showed plenty of grit and commitment to come back to forge a last gasp draw with Melbourne Victory last Saturday night in the Christmas derby, and they have now taken four points out of six available from two clashes with the defending champions on the pitch so far this season.

 

Their vice chairman Simon Pearce, a Sydney-based communications expert who is also on the board of Manchester City, the Premier League champions, was watching on on Saturday night, delighted with the way his team managed to shrug off any outside distractions and put together a performance of character and resilience to gain a deserved share of the spoils.

 

For executives like Pearce, the big game is as much off the field as on it, and he sought to allay fears that City might tire of their Australian subsidiary if it cannot match the success it has had with its youth team and its W-League championship-winning women's team with the senior men at A-League level.

 

''Melbourne City and CFG [City Football Group] are committed to Australia and to all aspects of the Australian game. His Highness Sheikh Mansour and Melbourne City’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak are aware that for Melbourne City to succeed it must do so as one of many ships on a rising tide of Australian football’s development and success,'' Pearce told guests at a pre-match dinner.

 

Pearce was a driving force in the recent battle for reform within the game and ultimately achieved what many thought impossible - the ousting of the Lowy family from control of Australian soccer - earlier this year.

 

It was a long, protracted affair. While Greg Griffin, the feisty then-Adelaide United owner was the man who fired the bullets and relished the verbal confrontations with the Lowy camp, Pearce was helping orchestrate the campaign strategy in the background, working closely with the players' union (PFA) boss John Didulica and others.

 

He was also involved in the Congress Working Review Party and worked closely with Football Federation Victoria chairman Kimon Taliadoros and newly elevated FFA chairman Chris Nikou, both of whom have helped usher in a more broad-based and representative FFA Congress.

 

Pearce is also one of the drivers behind the push for an independent A-League, one of the major tenets of the reform agenda that ultimately brought about the seismic changing of the guard at FFA headquarters.

 

The A-League would have been independent years ago had the recommendations of the Crawford Review of the sport, commissioned by the then-Howard Government almost two decades ago, been implemented.

 

As a result of Crawford's work the old Soccer Australia was euthanised along with the NSL and the FFA and the A-League created. However the premier competition remained under central control with the then board, run by Frank Lowy, reluctant to grant it autonomy.

 

Now it is set to be cut loose, with the City powerbroker one of those ushering in the change.

 

''Our view is that independent, licensed A- and W-Leagues are fundamental to success and we look forward to playing our part in the new leagues working group that will hopefully navigate that transition by March 31, 2019,'' Pearce said.

 

''Here at Melbourne City we are committed to ensuring our club is everything it can be as quickly as possible. We are a learning organisation and having just completed 10 years' work in Manchester I can assure you we are still learning there too.''

 

Pearce stressed the CFG's commitment to its Australian project. Melbourne City, along with the Manchester flagship and New York City, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the CFG.

 

City are, says Pearce, taking the long view.

 

''Melbourne City strengthens each year and we build both on and off the field. We will not make decisions for short term returns over medium and long term sustainable success. ''

 

In what most would interpret as a reference to the stand-off over star striker Fornaroli's future at the club, Pearce reiterated City's vision.

 

''That means holding the line on what the club stands for even when that stance produces immediate inconveniences. Only in this way can you create a culture of excellence and an identity that attracts quality.

 

''That’s not always readily understood by people. We are five years into our Melbourne City journey. When we celebrate our 10th anniversary, I promise you, just like Manchester City, we will have already hit a critical point in our development where the hard and unwavering work of these initial seasons will pay ongoing dividends.''

 

Pearce acknowledged that it has been a long battle to establish City's image under their new ownership in England, but said that task had been accomplished. He believed success and commitment to the future will do the same here.

 

''The title of the official book marking the 10 years of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership in Manchester is ironically entitled Killing the game.

 

''And for the first five years that’s how we were perceived. Very few subscribe to that point of view now – and those that do come mainly from Salford [a traditional Manchester United supporting area].''

 

I agree with the culture they seem to want to create but why the hell are they sacrificing on the field with such a rubbish style of play, why cant we have a uncompromising manager that can enforce a great style of play. Joyce isnt the answer, let him take care of the juniors.

And why the hell didnt Scott Munn come out earlier and say something to ease minds. 

Its all a facade until they pull a finger out and show us what we think they should be doing.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, HeartOfCity said:

I agree with the culture they seem to want to create but why the hell are they sacrificing on the field with such a rubbish style of play, why cant we have a uncompromising manager that can enforce a great style of play. Joyce isnt the answer, let him take care of the juniors.

And why the hell didnt Scott Munn come out earlier and say something to ease minds. 

Its all a facade until they pull a finger out and show us what we think they should be doing.

IMO the evidence suggests Munn is not empowered to speak on anything much at all. Pearce is a professional spin doctor (working at the highest levels) and IMO it's clear that we are run from City Football Group, with local Bundoora management doing as they're told.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What that actually says is:

We know what we're doing

It'll all be brilliant in five years

We're not telling you what we're doing, why we're doing it, what we're trying to achieve, or how we'll get there

You're all bloody peasants

If you continue to disagree with us you're definitely a peasant like the peasants from Salford

And shut up

  • Like 3
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, fensaddler said:

What that actually says is:

We know what we're doing

It'll all be brilliant in five years

We're not telling you what we're doing, why we're doing it, what we're trying to achieve, or how we'll get there

You're all bloody peasants

If you continue to disagree with us you're definitely a peasant like the peasants from Salford

And shut up

Yeah. It's a pity that Pearce has got the time to tell the suits at a pre-Derby dinner but no-one can be bothered to tell us, the members.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tbf to CFG no owners of any club are transparent about their plans. Besides the stereotypical statements. Only saving grace could be that it is true that CFG are holding back until the league is more favorable ie Independent. 

still won’t result in more independence of our club from CFG control

Edited by Dylan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

From The Mag https://www.themag.co.uk/about-us/

It claims to a voice for Newcastle United fans, independent from the club. Supporters having gripes about their club is nothing new. Clubs listening to their supporters might be something new!

The following article refers to the 'Newcastle United Fan Forum' which as far as I can tell is run by the club, much like our ‘Melbourne City Fan Representative Group’

(it appears that the last time our fan rep group met was in February 2018).

https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/10/why-newcastle-united-fans-forum-is-a-complete-sham-exercise-from-start-to-finish/

Why Newcastle United Fans Forum is a complete sham exercise from start to finish

Considering how bad this all sounds, you have to worry how bad it would be if we could hear the audio of the Newcastle United fans forum.

Sunday 7th October 2018 by Chris Holt

In 2015, at a Newcastle United fans forum, the minutes confirmed how they like to “control and reinforce the positive messages the club wished to deliver.” The approach to the forum is very similar to their approach with the media.  In Mike Ashley’s words: “If you want to refer to dealing with the media as lying, then I would say yes, but I don’t think it’s lying in the true sense of the word.”

Anyone that goes into a forum representing fans, or reading the sanitised minutes that are belatedly released afterwards, must therefore take a sceptical approach.  Assume they’re telling you only what they want you to hear.

With this in mind, what misdirection have the club engaged in at the most recent forum?

Sports Direct sponsorship

The club state “Sports Direct is only allocated what the club doesn’t sell”, a point I queried on Twitter.

Anyone with eyes in their head can see that Sports Direct don’t just take what’s left of unsold space.  It’s an insult to the intelligence of anyone that has sat in St James Park to suggest otherwise.

Sports Direct retail agreement

Apparently, in comparison to the club shop “online sales are accounted for differently but the net profit for the club is unaffected.” Which is a very vague statement, after all, considering that the costs associated with websales are much lower, the profitability should be much higher, shouldn’t it?  Not just unaffected. Sports Directs accounts call what the club receive from websales a “service fee”, the pertinent question that springs to mind is what exactly is that service fee?

Unfortunately, while the minutes include a very innocuous statement – “During the meeting is was agreed that further clarification would be provided on online sales subsequent to the meeting” – in the meeting itself the question of what this service fee is, only became a requirement for a follow up  because the Chief Executive did not know how much the club receive from online sales.  It seems he has not been able to find out or tell us in the fortnight since either, despite taking it away.

Justin Barnes and Keith Bishop

These are two highly contentious individuals and the minutes tell us nothing about their roles, while claiming to clear up exactly what they do. It’s generic language that fills a few lines but tells readers nothing whatsoever.

Whose interests do they represent?

If the club don’t, who pays them to spend their time at the club and why?

Why don’t the club employ people to represent the club’s interests in those roles?

Why have they attended Rafa’s press conferences?

Why do they not attend the Fans Forum?

Why does the owner need a conduit to the Chief Executive?

Why doesn’t the owner replace the Chief Executive if he can’t work directly with him and needs a conduit?

If Keith Bishop is engaged in PR on behalf of NUFC, why is the club’s name in the mud?

Shouldn’t he be relieved of his duties and be replaced by someone that actually listens to fans and engages with them, to facilitate a stronger bond between club and “customers”?

Where’s The Money Gone?

The answer to this question provided the most alarming revelation of the forum, public confirmation from the club that they’re prioritising repaying Mike Ashley’s debt above improving the training facilities, the academy or the squad.

Newcastle United did not try to disguise the fact that there was money in the bank to sign players in August.  The minutes confirm “deals were not possible despite the money being available for these players.” Indeed, vast sums were apparently available, as was made clear “players were pursued, some of which were well above and beyond the club’s current transfer record.”

They did however try to muddy the waters about when cash can and cannot be spent. Pages are dedicated to a discussion about cashflow, about when the club receive premier league payments, about instalments for players, both in and out, but ultimately, that’s all redundant, a smokescreen.  The club have said they could have broken our transfer record if they wanted to, they chose not to though, or failed to do so (more on that later).

What should infuriate any Newcastle fan though, is that despite having all this money available, cash flow might have subsequently become an issue of the club’s own making.  That the money we had and didn’t spend in the summer, might not be there in January.  Not because we’re waiting on payments, but because we chose  to repay  Mike Ashley some of his loans – “The amount owed to the owner was disclosed in last accounts (£144m) and the figure is currently less than that.”

How do I know this repayment was made after the transfer window closed and not before?  Because on 7th August Mike Ashley wrote to MP Jeremy Wright and stated “As owner of Newcastle United, I have provided the club with interest-free loans, the outstanding balance of which as at today’s date is £144 million.”

So, between 7th August and 24th September some of the loan to Mike Ashley was repaid.

At a time when the manager is desperate for a few quality signings, Newcastle have conceivably created a cash flow shortage of their own making going into the January window. We’re waiting on future Premier League payments and transfer instalments to replenish funds we could have spent on the squad or training facilities, had Ashley not took them for himself.

Inability to sign players

Why, if the club had money to spend, was the manager left so dissatisfied in the summer.  The club covered this – “several clubs simply did not want to sell their players, or the players did not want to make the move.”

Is that not the most inadequate response you could come up with if you were trying to annoy supporters?

In mid-September The Magpie Group tweeted a damning list of the many statements from Newcastle United that have followed disappointing transfer windows.  For those of us that have heard these pathetic excuses for a decade now, to hear the same sort of thing repeated again is as inevitable as it is insulting.

These sorts of answers have always been dispiriting to Newcastle fans, but what’s most dismaying, is that the club see this as the end of the conversation.

Our Chief executive doesn’t further consider our inability to buy players for “well above” the record fees previously paid because “players did not want to make the move.”  This is ok by him that 19 other clubs in the league are more attractive to players.  There is no self-reflection whatsoever.  No cause and effect considered between running the entire operation like a discount tat store and not being able to attract proven talent.

For sale?

What the club found it important to relay to us on this matter is that it’s the fans’ fault no one is buying – ”There have been groups who have expressed an initial interest, but who have been discouraged with proceeding, due to the visibility and scrutiny that comes with the football club.”

This is nonsensical.  The visibility and scrutiny of the club is well-known and is one of it’s biggest assets.  Which top club with ambition to be a great club could (or would) hope to fly under the radar of media and supporter scrutiny? Any prospective buyer would be well aware of this at Newcastle and would embrace it.  They certainly would not contact the club and only then realise it was a big deal after having done so.  The only thing that would discourage a prospective buyer after they made an approach would be their interactions with Mike Ashley and his people.

The scrutiny that comes at Newcastle would only be an issue to a buyer if their intentions for the club were as insincere as Mike Ashley’s.  It’s a very good thing if such people think twice about making an approach.   It’s something that might have made Ashley think twice, if only he’d known anything about the history of the club when he bought it.  He now finds it problematic that he’s not been able to pillage the club quietly, hence his frequent pronouncements that he wants to sell.

All told, I like the fact that the fans forum, no matter how inadequate, cannot shield the club from the weakness of it’s positions being exposed.  There’s a range of people that attend with a range of perspectives, many of which I disagree with and I have a lot of sympathy with those people that take criticism despite their best efforts and genuinely held beliefs.

I think even club representatives are just as much victims of the process rather than necessarily part of the problem.  For example, Lee Marshall’s work day (and Twitter feed) would be much easier to manage if he was just allowed to dump a three hour mp3 onto the club website rather than poring through the audio for publishable snapshots.

Unfortunately, there are people at the club who will not allow that, they believe they can better manage the message coming from the club by sanitising the conversation. Considering nothing whatsoever above reflects well on the club, you have to worry how bad it would be if we could hear the audio.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder whether anyone saw this?

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/wanderers-chairman-sticks-by-babbel-in-letter-to-fans-after-rbb-walkout-20190103-p50pfq.html

A club that cares about the relationship between it and its supporters.

About fucking time that we saw the same sort of thing from City to our members, about where we are at and where we're going. Instead we get a deafening silence from Munn, Pearce, Marwood and Soriano.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, jw1739 said:

I wonder whether anyone saw this?

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/wanderers-chairman-sticks-by-babbel-in-letter-to-fans-after-rbb-walkout-20190103-p50pfq.html

A club that cares about the relationship between it and its supporters.

About fucking time that we saw the same sort of thing from City to our members, about where we are at and where we're going. Instead we get a deafening silence from Munn, Pearce, Marwood and Soriano.

Reads more like the dreaded vote of confidence in Babbel than an actual letter to fans to me. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"it's not a mini Manchester city"
why the fuck were some of the on field helpers wearing man city jerseys?

again no match programmes at the walkway bridge to the MCG and none at the merch stall inside the ground
club is fucking slack and connection with the fans/members is getting more distant every week 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Thrillhouse said:

"it's not a mini Manchester city"
why the fuck were some of the on field helpers wearing man city jerseys?

again no match programmes at the walkway bridge to the MCG and none at the merch stall inside the ground
club is fucking slack and connection with the fans/members is getting more distant every week 
 

No programmes at the steps to gate 2 either. Were there any at all, anywhere? Perhaps all given out for the women's match?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, Cityamatic said:

Not sure about Friday, but at the Jets game it was an electronic version only. I only found out on twitter on the day of the match.

I would be nice if they send out a questionnaire to the fan base to see if fans would like to keep going with the magazine or want it in digital format. Such an approach keep the fans involved.

Edited by Mr MO
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Mr MO said:

I would be nice if they send out a questionnaire to the fan base to see if fans would like to keep going with the magazine or want it in digital format. Such an approach keep the fans involved.

Good comment. Has anyone received a "How did we go last month" type questionnaire recently? I haven't, and I used to get them fairly regularly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

42 minutes ago, malloy said:

Programmes or the independent fanzine "Schip Happens"? I recall the fanzine beung handed out at the imp, but never an official matchday programme.

AFAIK there were no "Heart Programmes." The fanzine "The Pulse" and its successor "Schip Happens" were produced and distributed by supporters. Even the short-lived "The Chameleon" was a fanzine and had no input from the club.

Those were the days!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, jw1739 said:

AFAIK there were no "Heart Programmes." The fanzine "The Pulse" and its successor "Schip Happens" were produced and distributed by supporters. Even the short-lived "The Chameleon" was a fanzine and had no input from the club.

Those were the days!

I though there was a couple matchday programs, but my memory is a little hazy. You probably are right that the club never made any.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, malloy said:

I though there was a couple matchday programs, but my memory is a little hazy. You probably are right that the club never made any.

So's mine. But I do clearly remember that even after the takeover I wrote "JW's Pocket Guide to the Takeover" and that the article was carried in "Schip Happens." The club also produced a weekly video called "The Pulse" at one stage - several editions are viewable on line.

Unfortunately I have only two .pdf editions of "Schip Happens" on my PC. One each from seasons 2 and 3. Worth a read. What a fantastic magazine it really was.

If anyone wants a copy, please PM me with a valid e-mail address to reply to. I will delete all such addresses when the document is sent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
13 minutes ago, Jovan said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/18/manchester-city-chinese-club-sichuan-jiuniun-third-tier-portfolio-cfg

We just move further down the pecking order. 

If CFG ever get enough teams for their own league we are odds on to be relegated. 

Couldnt care less tbh. In fact it might even be a good thing, they might be more inclined to leave us alone and give us some independence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...