The Melbourne City Thread

[MC Extra Dollop]

It's not like victory are a basket case off field like the heart were. I don't see too many jumping ship tbh

Would you like to elaborate on that? Or would you prefer to let the adults discuss this?

Must be the first 'basket case off field' sporting organisation to double in value in a five-year period between them being bought and sold.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/f...watershed-moment/story-fni2wcjl-1226808364122

While the much-maligned club has underperformed on the field and struggled to lift crowds, Heart has built a self-sustainable model and sold for a profit which is a rarity in the sporting landscape.

The Herald Sun understands that the current owners, led by chairman Peter Sidwell, have made a $6m profit on Heart.

http://sportsbusinessinsider.com.au...ce/staying-on-track-melbourne-hearts-mission/

It cannot be forgotten that Melbourne Heart are still in their infancy, barely four years old and encouragingly the Heart is expected to post a small profit for the upcoming year.

http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/sport/league_season_score_down_UfyEAJU3a6IzQjBPsaNO9J

It is understood that Melbourne Victory was the only club to record a small profit for the 2012-13 season, although Melbourne Heart and Adelaide United reportedly broke even.

See, the thing is, people just look at the ladder and assume that Heart was struggling in a business sense. Like most unsuccessful (on-field) sporting clubs do. To the credit of the people in charge of the club, that simply was/is not the case. They didn't spend outside their means when the times were tough and now the wheel looks like it's going to turn. In the Melbourne market and with a 30,000 seat stadium to utilise, it could certainly be the start of something big.

In all seriousness, I can't see too many current MV members making a switch. But what about the people who don't really actively support any team, but right now would say 'Victory' if you asked them? They're the ones that could certainly change allegiances.

 

[pantskyle]

here comes the huge unfair financial advantage!!

Still a salary cap.

 

[Crows_United_FC]

Still a salary cap.

True, but big bucks will be spent on a marquee,facilities etc...

 

[Richo is God]

No, but the potential talent share will bring recognizable names in world football down to Australia.Look at how Sydneys crowds leaped when Del Piero joined them, they have had (if I'm not mistaken) the highest away attendances of any club since he joined.

It is mad to suggest Heart/City and Victorys crowd figures will switch wholesale, but it is equally mad not to even consider there will be a fair amount of casual fans who will be more willing to follow Heart/City if the players are there and the performances and ladder position improves.

Each club naturally has their hardcore element that would rather die than support the other, but as the league is so young and the sides all virtually new start ups, there is little to no generational support you see in AFL, so quite a lot of football people are casuals who will go where the best action is. That is the market Heart/City will hope to capture.

Fair point. It will be interesting to see where this takes the A-League in terms of potential other billionaire owners buying into the Australian soccer pending the success of the man city/heart partnership

 

[Jatz]

True, but big bucks will be spent on a marquee,facilities etc...

Won't guarantee success...

 

[pantskyle]

True, but big bucks will be spent on a marquee,facilities etc...

Good. Our current facilities are a disgrace.

 

[Crows_United_FC]

Won't guarantee success...

well it did for Man City!

 

[pantskyle]

well it did for Man City!

Man City didn't have a salary cap.

 

[Crows_United_FC]

Man City didn't have a salary cap.

Whilst that is true as well, they can spend $30 million + for a Marquee if they wanted to!

 

[pantskyle]

Whilst that is true as well, they can spend $30 million + for a Marquee if they wanted to!

In the A-League?

Never heard that before.

 

[CotchNCo]

Whilst that is true as well, they can spend $30 million + for a Marquee if they wanted to!

But they wouldn't because that is stupid. I can somewhat understand the argument you're making but you still only get 1 foreign marquee and the player would need to want to come to Australia and play.

 

[Crows_United_FC]

In the A-League?

Never heard that before.

Well an A-league team has never been run by a billionaire before!

 

[bomberlegend2007]

Doesn't the A-League have a salary cap though?

 

[pantskyle]

Well an A-league team has never been run by a billionaire before!

I think any marquee would be a City youngster or playing not getting time or something.

I really doubt we would pay for a marquee.

 

[MelbourneCrow]

Apparently the Heart have sent out a message to members, pledging that 'Heart' will be retained as the name. Uhhh you don't get that choice if you don't own the club!

I got the email and can't see that anywhere in it.

 

[Crows_United_FC]

But they wouldn't because that is stupid. I can somewhat understand the argument you're making but you still only get 1 foreign marquee and the player would need to want to come to Australia and play.

TBH if the player is shown the right cash, that player wouldn't hesitate to even come to play here in Australia. That being said, there are a lot of players that play for glory, but there's also a lot of players that will go anywhere if offered the right amount of cash!

 

[Jatz]

well it did for Man City!

No it didn't. Who won last season again?

 

[giggler99]

That Victory is now number 2.

lol at least Victory are still a Melbourne club through and through what ever happens in the future whats Heart arrr sorry City? A Manchester city pawn based in Melbourne.

At least it solved the identity crisis through.

 

[Crows_United_FC]

No it didn't. Who won last season again?

The EPL has a few good teams, so they can't expect to win the league all the time, but Man City as a club has changed. From a middle table club to one of the best in the world in the space of a few years!

 

[Dan Cooper]

I fail to understand how thinking that a team getting the financial backing and access to all benefits of the richest team in the world will improve rapidly and become a force is delusional.

What's delusional is thinking it won't happen.

According to you it already has >

Enjoy your current moment Victory.

You are now number 2.

...and that is totally delusional

 

[Hot Pocket]

lol at least Victory are still a Melbourne club through and through what ever happens in the future whats Heart arrr sorry City? A Manchester city pawn based in Melbourne.

At least it solved the identity crisis through.

If Victory are Melbourne, why do they have the colours of Victoria while Heart have the colours of Melbourne?

 

[Dan Cooper]

At least it solved the identity crisis through.

That is a major plus of this purchase.

 

[Smokin]

can the salary cap be exploited due to the fact that this is effectively a subsidiary of another club?

ie Man City 'loaning' out a player to Melbourne City for waaaay unders, as they will pay him another "European salary" from the Manchester office?

 

[pantskyle]

According to you it already has >



...and that is totally delusional

You are number two as far as wealth goes.

You're the one presuming what I mean.

 

[Dan Cooper]

Extract from the Heart mail-out >

A consortium led by Manchester City Football Club has acquired Melbourne Heart FC effective immediately. The consortium also includes the ownership group of the Melbourne Storm as minority shareholders with a 20 percent stake.

"Manchester City and their Australian partners have made a strategic investment and I welcome them to our growing competition. It’s another sign that the world is taking notice of Australian football.

Regarding its plans for the Club, Ferran Soriano stated: "The first thing we must do is take the time to listen and learn and then to develop our strategy for strengthening the Club over time."

Out of respect for the coaching staff and the players in the middle of the A-League season, the new ownership group will not be making any major announcements until mid-2014.