The Melbourne City Thread

[Dan Cooper]

If City loaned some younger players to Heart, would City still be paying their wages and would they be excluded from the salary cap if City did pay the wages?

That's what salary caps are for - to help ensure equalisation of the competition - and to ensure things like that don't happen.

 

[Dan Cooper]

Well it didn't end up being a 100% sale as predicted widely in the press. But a sale none-the-less.

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.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Is the kind of league we have? One with a club owned by a foreign giant? Shithouse.

 

[Boro]

Is the kind of league we have? One with a club owned by a foreign giant? Shithouse.

Really? It's excellent news for the league imo.

 

[Dan Cooper]

Really? It's excellent news for the league imo.

I think it's potentially good news. But obviously we'll need to see how things play out and what the true effect is. It's for situations like this that a salary cap is very important - and very important that it is policed correctly.

 

[Gentlemen]

That's what salary caps are for - to help ensure equalisation of the competition - and to ensure things like that don't happen.

But the point is, City could loan us these players with us paying around 10 cents a week for them (city paying the rest) for devolpment.

I mean, you've got the Visa-limit to account for, but 5 very strong youngsters could really tip the scales.

 

[Dan Cooper]

But the point is, City could loan us these players with us paying around 10 cents a week for them (city paying the rest) for devolpment.

I mean, you've got the Visa-limit to account for, but 5 very strong youngsters could really tip the scales.

I think you are kidding yourself, and I'm sure the competition will make it quite clear what will and won't be tolerated and how the salary cap applies to the new entity

 

[CotchNCo]

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE VICTORY
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE POOR

loving the jealous victory supporters

So who do you support? Melbourne Heart? Melbourne City?

What will be your colours in the future?

Personally i just want Heart/City to become relevant so the derby actually means something.

 

[moomba]

For those that don't go on the Association Football (Soccer) board I'm a long time poster on there. Aussie born and bred, including 6 years in Melbourne. But have lived in Manchester for 11 years or so. Been a supporter of City for over 20 years and a season ticket holder since I moved over here. So I've sort of been through it all with the owners and what they're all about.

Anyway, interesting news coming out. But an Australian club (as well as US, China, Europe etc) has been in the works for a while now.

I can definitely see the name change, and I would have said the shirt colours were a sure thing too. But since the takeover the people in charge (Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and in more recent times Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain) have maintained a pretty non confrontational approach. So I don't think they'll jump in to force an unpopular change through, although I'm pretty sure that they want a common branding across all of the clubs.

As far as loan players I don't think that will happen. Apart from the senior squad we're full of kids that IMO aren't really suited to the A league. What I think will happen is a lot of resources being put into developing your own players. And they will be trained the same way ours are and NYCFC's kids will be. Within the confines of the salary cap I'm sure you'll end up with a competitive team, the aim would definitely be to make the club the best in the league short, and long term.

Will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[Dan Cooper]

Personally i just want Heart/City to become relevant so the derby actually means something.

A full house at Etihad made up of more than just Victory supporters would be awesome.

Local derbies might really start to mean something if there is two way support from the crowds.

 

[moomba]

I also think people have the wrong idea about the relationship between MCFC and Melbourne Heart. It's not going to be MCFC-lite or anything like that, and the purpose of the club won't be to support MCFC.

I suspect the relationship will be limited to shared branding, shared resources like scouting and merchandising and maybe regular tournament/friendlies between the members of the group. I don't see any big effort to get around salary caps (for you), or FFP (for us). And I suspect movement between the clubs will be pretty limited.

 

[moomba]

I should also add that if you take away the obvious benefits of spending on quality players, your average City fan would be very complimentary of the way the management engage with supporters, listen to supporters and respect the heritage and history of the club. Far better than it has been under a succession of owners, foreign and UK based.

It will be a bit harder here as I think there is a conflict between maintaining the history of Melbourne Heart and the obvious need to have the City name and sky blue colours as part of a common brand. But they do things the right way even if there will be things that you don't agree with them about.

You're in pretty good hands even if you ignore the financial benefits the new ownership will bring.

For those with time who want to know a bit about Ferran Soriano (he seems to be the key player involved buying up clubs) have a look at a Youtube doco called "FC Barcelona Confidential". Apart from being a bloody good documentary of a key time in Barcelonas history there is a fair bit about Soriano and Begiristain and the roles they played in Barcelona's revival. Also a book by Soriano called Goal: The ball doesn't always go in by chance has a lot on his football philosophy.

 

[Redalert]

A rebranding wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for Heart, taking on the City identity might bring a few thousand more through the gates.

 

[Dan Cooper]

A rebranding wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for Heart, taking on the City identity might bring a few thousand more through the gates.

Absolutely. What Heart have lacked since day one is unique difference of their product, and when you are pitching in the same market as a longstanding and successful existing product that is essential. This re-badging is exactly what they need in my opinion.

 

[giggler99]

Absolutely. What Heart have lacked since day one is unique difference of their product, and when you are pitching in the same market as a longstanding and successful existing product that is essential. This re-badging is exactly what they need in my opinion.

I Agree but as long as Scott Munn gets the ass as part of the re-branding.

 

[giggler99]

For those that don't go on the Association Football (Soccer) board I'm a long time poster on there. Aussie born and bred, including 6 years in Melbourne. But have lived in Manchester for 11 years or so. Been a supporter of City for over 20 years and a season ticket holder since I moved over here. So I've sort of been through it all with the owners and what they're all about.

Anyway, interesting news coming out. But an Australian club (as well as US, China, Europe etc) has been in the works for a while now.

I can definitely see the name change, and I would have said the shirt colours were a sure thing too. But since the takeover the people in charge (Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and in more recent times Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain) have maintained a pretty non confrontational approach. So I don't think they'll jump in to force an unpopular change through, although I'm pretty sure that they want a common branding across all of the clubs.

As far as loan players I don't think that will happen. Apart from the senior squad we're full of kids that IMO aren't really suited to the A league. What I think will happen is a lot of resources being put into developing your own players. And they will be trained the same way ours are and NYCFC's kids will be. Within the confines of the salary cap I'm sure you'll end up with a competitive team, the aim would definitely be to make the club the best in the league short, and long term.

Will be interesting to see how it goes.

out of interest pal you seem to be in the know, with the colour change with Heart being red like city's cross town rivals do you think that MCFC will want to A. indifferently change the colours immediatly to SKy Blue b.) incorporate red with sky blue ie. blue and red strips or c.) keep existing colours knowing Victory are also blue and SydneyF.C are sky Blue and keeping exciting supporters happy.

 

[pantskyle]

out of interest pal you seem to be in the know, with the colour change with Heart being red like city's cross town rivals do you think that MCFC will want to A. indifferently change the colours immediatly to SKy Blue b.) incorporate red with sky blue ie. blue and red strips or c.) keep existing colours knowing Victory are also blue and SydneyF.C are sky Blue.

Why do you think he is in the know?

 

[giggler99]

Why do you think he is in the know?

He just knew a lot about the MCFC setup so he might know how they will go about it. Would like to know his opinion that's all. personally I think Heart's Colours should stay red and white.

 

[moomba]

out of interest pal you seem to be in the know, with the colour change with Heart being red like city's cross town rivals do you think that MCFC will want to A. indifferently change the colours immediatly to SKy Blue b.) incorporate red with sky blue ie. blue and red strips or c.) keep existing colours knowing Victory are also blue and SydneyF.C are sky Blue and keeping exciting supporters happy.

My gut feeling is that we'll want common colours between all teams in the group. But it's not easy as it will depend on kit suppliers (NYCFC will have Adidas, we have Nike for example) and obviously this would be the first time that a change of colours is required.

I don't think they'll be too bothered by common colours with Sydney, or the similar colours with Victory. I think they see Sky Blue as a pretty central thing behind the whole branding of the group. But they won't want to come in and piss off the supporters straight away by forcing a colour change through.

So maybe it might be a gradual thing, sky blue away strip and maybe play with that kit at home a few times. Or like you said a bit of blue and a bit of red. I could even see us (and NYCFC) playing in red and white stripes as an away kit. But long term I'm pretty sure they'll be trying to convince everyone that sky blue is the way to go.

From a bit of research over the past 24 hours it seems the colours might be the first real issue the club will have to deal with. Name change not so much of a problem.

 

[moomba]

I'm not ITK by the way. But if the club are recruiting for highly paid Manchester based consultants with a knowledge of the Melbourne sporting market and willingness to travel every couple of months they can PM me.

I have been following the NYCFC process pretty closely though and have a fair idea of what they club are trying to do with these purchases.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I can definitely see the name change, and I would have said the shirt colours were a sure thing too. But since the takeover the people in charge (Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and in more recent times Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain) have maintained a pretty non confrontational approach. So I don't think they'll jump in to force an unpopular change through, although I'm pretty sure that they want a common branding across all of the clubs.

As far as loan players I don't think that will happen. Apart from the senior squad we're full of kids that IMO aren't really suited to the A league. What I think will happen is a lot of resources being put into developing your own players. And they will be trained the same way ours are and NYCFC's kids will be. Within the confines of the salary cap I'm sure you'll end up with a competitive team, the aim would definitely be to make the club the best in the league short, and long term.

Will be interesting to see how it goes.

Fair points. Soriano's comments in News Ltd. about the global '...network of 36 scouts...' that will now provide services to the Heart sounds very promising. And perhaps we won't see much of it straight away, but if they're in this for the long haul (and it sounds like they are), it could definitely be part of the plans down the track, for MH to act as a kind of farm system for the big brother.

I'd be interested to see if the kit manufacturer changes to Nike next year as well...I'd love to see the gigantic Kappa shoulder and leg logos gone.

SBS is reporting that 'Melbourne City' is a done deal, effective from the start of next season. I just wonder if they might be reluctant to change to sky blue as well, considering there is already a team based in another major Australian capital city that wears sky blue. We shall see, I guess...

A full house at Etihad made up of more than just Victory supporters would be awesome.

Local derbies might really start to mean something if there is two way support from the crowds.

You're still here? Yeah, I'm sure Victory supporters would see a 50/50 split of support at Etihad as being more ideal.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Absolutely. What Heart have lacked since day one is unique difference of their product, and when you are pitching in the same market as a longstanding and successful existing product that is essential. This re-badging is exactly what they need in my opinion.

And a move to West Melbourne. Wonder if that's still on the cards?

 

[Dan Cooper]

Yeah, I'm sure Victory supporters would see a 50/50 split of support at Etihad as being more ideal.

It would be nice to actually hear the opposition supporters at a local derby. Even when Heart are the home team at AAMI - as per our most recent meeting - the Victory supporters completely drain out the Heart supporters.

 

[Dan Cooper]

And a move to West Melbourne. Wonder if that's still on the cards?

I wouldn't rule out anything at this stage. The name will obviously go and - even though I like the red/white stripes - they'll probably go as well.

The Melbourne City that runs out first game next season probably won't have a single trace of Heart left in it.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

It would be nice to actually hear the opposition supporters at a local derby. Even when Heart are the home team at AAMI - as per our most recent meeting - the Victory supporters completely drain out the Heart supporters.

Do you realise how patronising that sounds?

It would be nice to actually hear the opposition supporters at a local derby... FFS, give me a spell. If Heart starts getting something like 30% of the support at an away game against Victory, all it will be doing is reducing Victory's home ground advantage. And it would likely mean that Heart has become a power in the A-League. You're kidding yourself if you expect me to believe that any Victory supporter wants anything of the sort.

I wouldn't rule out anything at this stage. The name will obviously go and - even though I like the red/white stripes - they'll probably go as well.

Genuine lol. You're incredible.