So they're back training today ...

[hrundi99]

How elitist of me to ask the odd question you utter utter mug

:crazy:

 

[themanonthehill]

Valuable input there
7000 posts, 6950 of which are full of emoticons
Is it a free period ?

 

[hrundi99]

Valuable input there
7000 posts, 6950 of which are full of emoticons
Is it a free period ?

And yet my post with just an emoticon is so much more interesting than any of yours.

Go ahead and attack my post count. You've got nothing.

 

[themanonthehill]

You are a mug. One of the few remaining that think all is rosy in tigertown. But a mug all the same.

 

[smeghead]

C'mon now Mulvi. You assume too much.

Half the problem is that you carry on like, and are perceived as a tool by many people on these forums (Not a great concern in itself) So to presume that you know a persons opinions on how the club is going is a bit rich considering you do not know this person.

For all you know it could be somebody who shares concerns with you but thinks. "Nah I am just going to get this f**kwit on another one of his rants"

 

[themanonthehill]

Then if he shares the concerns, he'd raise his own issues and concerns and agree with the ones I and others fearful of 2008 and beyond have raised. Yet he doesn't does he. So he is either an internet bell end who seeks to turn it into something personal or the kind of mediocrity accepting dickhead (which are a great number among our fans) that thinks all is rosy. Not once has he disputed any of the facts i have brought up

 

[smeghead]

. Yet he doesn't does he. So he is either an internet bell end who seeks to turn it into something personal

Firstly that is a bit of the pot and kettle routine right there.

As you know many folk are in fact reactionary in the way they approach problems. It may just be that he/she has concerns in regards to the club but his/her far more pressing concern is that you are constantly publicly ripping into the club which that person finds offensive and reprehensible.

You will find not many people will share your opinion as long as you continue presenting it in childish ways.

The vehemence you spit has gone past the point of passion in many eyes and is now a diatribe which actually harms your concerns more than helps get them addressed

My suggestion as made in another thread is

Scraping the barnacles from the barrell again I see Mulvi.

At least do the casual viewer of your efforts a favour and mix up your terminology or drive at a different point each day.

The pedestrian predictable crap you are peddling is so very tiresome.

If anything I would be interested in seeing a well thought out argument you are going to present at BRLFC info day. No need to trot out the same old Big Mac, Junior Burger, Nepotism, Morris the spastic cliches. It actually detracts from any validity your underlying thoughts may have.

I understand you have serious concerns about the clubs direction. Most of us have entertained such thoughts in our time as supporters. But rather than throwing childish internet tantrums how about you go and talk to someone in the club about your grievances. Hell even if you feel they will not listen David Treodden is a highly affable gentleman whom would probably be interested in a old Balmain fans concerns.

Just a thought though Mulli. Because quite frankly the same tired diatribe is beyond old. Not the substance of the back thought but the deliveery.

Oh and what is the point in you trying to belittle people who now support the Wests Tigers in a very real way. I understand you have your views on a one team philosophy. For myself that is the way I am. However without knowing each individual back story it is not our jusdgement to make. If someone where a bandwagon supporter they would only rob themselves of the real joys of supporting a team. Therefore it makes it their problem not mine. (Of course my refferences to the bandwagoner are generalisations not aimed at specific people)

A bit arrogant quoting myself but I figured you had missed it

 

[themanonthehill]

So it is diatribe wanting and expecting key issues in the running of a club to be addressed so that past f**k ups aren't repeated. Now i'm not sure if you were a Balmain member at the time of the merger but one thing that was sacrosanct etc was that `50% of games will be played at Leichhardt'. A wests CEO has whored the clubs arse to anyone with 5 cents and we are left with 3 games a year.

That same CEO preaches on about needing to balance the books etc. Now St George, Cronulla, Manly, Penriff among others are managing to balance their books without whoring games out to all and sundry - and these clubs aren't the No 1 in merchandise sales. My point is if we need to whore games out - where is the money going ? Valid question no ?

 

[smeghead]

No but it is diatribe just lathering averything with insults. As you can probably see in the other thread our debate is far more pressing without the need to get into insulting the Clubs players or officials on a personal level

I was a Balmain member at the time and I do remember the mood regarding a 50% base out of Leichhardt.

One thing I think is easily forgotten is how much damage was done to the clubs finance in the Lamb and Pearce tenures as coach. We were very close to the edge and tbh the initial Telstra deal saved out arse in a major way. We are slowly improving in that area as is shown by the fact we now have had a major sponsor for 3 years (something unheard of before)

he difference between us and the clubs you have mentioned are

a) better corporate facilities
b) Alot of support from both State and Federal government.

Point B is the real factor that is the difference though.

I will however agree that we as members deserve to see the books of the club. But I blame Balmain & Wests for that. It is the reason I resigned my BRLFC membership because they basically scoffed at my suggestion saying "what would you want it for" Between that and the lies of Benny Elias on that merger vote night they had removed all trust

 

[themanonthehill]

But smeg we have won a comp, had the 3 yr telstra deal, are no 1 in merchadise sales, mo 1 drawing sydney team for crowds etc and we are still, according to our CEO, in the predicament that we have to sell home ground advantage out for 50% of our home games to balance the books. This tactic is similar to that of governments who sell assets to balance budgets. It is not sustainable. If we are book balancing now on the back of No1 crowds, whored home games, merchandise sales etc, what state will we be in when (inevitably) the cycle turns and we are not (and if performances don't pick up on the field) you can bet your bottom dollar we won't be top drawing team or lead merchandise sales. A legitimate concern no ?

Also smeg, only a clown would be of the belief that having no solid home ground makes it easier to make a finals. No finals = harder to attract sponsors, harder to attract players, less TV exposure etc etc etc. Do you not think the `take the 5c extra' mentality while beneficial in the week telstra sign the cheque is not beneficial or advantageous to the club long term ?

 

[smeghead]

It is actually a combination thing Mulli. I do believe now that any debts of our past have been taken care of. Costs of running the organisation have climbed steadily in the last few years at about 5% over inflation from my knowledge. o we can agree on those rough principles.

The factors keeping the ground whoring alive do in fact find their basis in dolid fact.

A few facts are

* Telstra etc pay us to be there
* Telstra etc supply the security
* LO & CS cost us to rent the field from Council
* At LO & CS We pay for security
* Up until this year with LO lighting rental was required for night games. This is still the case for CS
* Big Screen hire is required for both LO & CS
* Particularily in night games we require a really great crowd to make money. With scheduling and weather this is by no means a lock.
* We are number one in Sydney with crowds because of Telstra. Possibly keeping 3 blockbuster games there in future will help keep us at the top of the tree. Along with increased capacity for both LO & CS.
* We are at least 2 years before reaching full development of LO & CS
* The corporate facilities @ LO & CS are pathetic. Those things make a difference to the amount we can command in the open market for sponsorship dollars

 

[themanonthehill]

Can we really be in any worse a position than Manly who have an antiquated ground (which holds less than both LO and CS) and until this year had no permanent lighting either though smeg. Every other suburban club is in the same boat re screens, security etc. IF we are struggling to balance the books now then the long term future can't be all that bright. We are 2 yrs from winning a comp, no 1 in merchandise and no 1 in crowds and yet still struggling.

The way the deal was renewed also stunk to high heaven smeg. It reeked. All year people were asking and all year it was delayed until a decision could be made in our off season when rugby league is less talked about. We are told it is for a year but how can we have any trust in the administration for this to be the case ?

 

[smeghead]

Manly are propped up by Max Delmege. That is why they are in a much better position financially than us regardless of their home grounds antiquated status.

The security situation is the only factor we hold similar in costs with other suburban grounds. St George is propped up by streams of funding. Cronulla own their ground. Parramatta is our only real comparable and their corporate facilities are great and plentifull which keeps them in good stead.

The other factor is the rental of Concord. Until our home grounds are developed this is yet another cost required to keep us on the ball.

I don't disagree with you on your final point Mulli. Maybe this is where a pointed question at the open day will be usefull. Just a simple "How long are we looking at"

 

[super_coach]

How long will we be able to hang onto our support base. 2005 will only be a distant memory soon. I dont know but probably up to 40 percent of our suport base came on the back of 2005. Can we really afford another dismal season. You dont need to win it every year but you need to be up their and generating postive media.

We cant buy a headline at the moment, except for the re hashing of the Benji Shoulder saga. Camp Concord is as quite as the deaf and dumb school..Why because theirs no news--same old same old.

Anyway my long drawn out point is, the big support base will start to dwindle if 2008 goes pear shape and their is every chance it will

 

[ride the tiger]

whats the deal with corporate facilities? What are they & why are they so important?

What's the sponsors priority when they put good money into a club? Is it to sit in comfort & eat free food while they watch the footy? or is it to expand thier brand name thoughout the public by being linked to a successful & popular club?

 

[themanonthehill]

This is exactly the crux of the issue. If we are just managing to balance the books now, what happens when the fans we picked up in 05 head back to the pamfas or up to the Titans. How do we balance the books in that case with a non performing side, dwindling support and the chance that any decent players we do have left seek greener pastures. 2005 should have been a springboard and our fearless CEO predicted we would become the Man U of the NRL - we are far more like Coventry City as things stand at the minute

 

[innsaneink]

How long will we be able to hang onto our support base. 2005 will only be a distant memory soon. I dont know but probably up to 40 percent of our suport base came on the back of 2005. Can we really afford another dismal season. You dont need to win it every year but you need to be up their and generating postive media.

We cant buy a headline at the moment, except for the re hashing of the Benji Shoulder saga. Camp Concord is as quite as the deaf and dumb school..Why because theirs no news--same old same old.

Anyway my long drawn out point is, the big support base will start to dwindle if 2008 goes pear shape and their is every chance it will

It already has, our crowds are down on 2006.

 

[aids]

how much did it drop by?

 

[innsaneink]

http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/2006.html

http://stats.rleague.com/rl/crowds/2007.html

about 2500 per game