Dave Bassett

[BushBlade]

I've witnessed "mergers" in other businesses outside of football and I can tell you what happens. First of all, it's rare to get a merger of two successful businesses. It's usually the case that one or the other is struggling and they see an opportunity to cut costs and be more efficient by joining together. Unfortunately what happens is business goes backwards in the short term and the end result is often one big weak company instead of two small weak ones.

I think a merger of the Sheffield clubs would achieve nothing. Some folks seem to think it would result in one big successful city club able to pull in 50,000 fans every home game. What's more likely is that we'd end up with one unsuccessful club with less support than either club has now. The rivalry that comes with having two city clubs, both with long traditions and proud history, is the beating heart of football in Sheffield. It should and will remain that way imo.

I think what is more likely is that both clubs will "gear up" in terms of their infrastructure if they are successful in getting to the next level. For United I'd expect see the capacity increased to over 40,000 and I think we've already started to focus on younger supporters and foreign students to increase our support base. Our pricing structure reflects that as well to some extent, being considerably less expensive than Wednesday's, making it a more affordable football experience for families and people on lower incomes. For Wednesday I'd expect to see them relocate to a new stadium in the East end of Sheffield, close to the M1 and probably increase the capacity closer to 50,000. If they did that I think they'd be looking to increase their support by appealing to a wider catchment area and a more wealthy fan base.

Both ideas could work well. However, if Wednesday targeted this type of more wealthy supporter they'd need to be aware also that they are often "fair weather friends" and not die hard supporters. So if success on the field didn't follow they could soon find themselves occupying a half-empty stadium - a white elephant! with spiralling costs and significant debts. I quite like that idea!

I worked for two companies that were involved in mergers. I wouldn't say either were particularly successful, apart from for the owners, who got very rich.

The idea that two bitter rivals could merge and form a super club is deeply flawed.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I worked for two companies that were involved in mergers. I wouldn't say either were particularly successful, apart from for the owners, who got very rich.

The idea that two bitter rivals could merge and form a super club is deeply flawed.

Maybe you have captured the increasing likelihood of a merger - the owners get very rich.

When the McCabes sell up what stake will the owners have in SUFCvSWFC?

Whole industries can be sacrificed for political gain. Certainly the interests of about 40000 regular Sheffield fans, maybe 30000 hard core Sheffield fans will be of no consequence whatsoever if the respective owners of the city football clubs decide the business route is by merger. Nor will they understand that maybe over half of those fans, both sides, would never go to a game again.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

A merger would be fantastic idea,as long as the merged team plays at Hillsborough,I would be all for it

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

I can't believe some people think a merger would be a good idea. I would rather blow my brains out tbh.

 

[LSF]

Basset has no affinity to Utd ,we were one of his many employers as were Forest and Dingles. He has a place for Wimbledon but his team are Chelsea. How do I know because I had a private dinner with him with 7 other guys and asked him the question ,I was the only Blade present. He went down in my estimation that day ,very disappointing.

Had the same conversation with him one evening (see my avatar) and yes, Chelsea were his preference, but in mitigation, he said he was pretty indifferent about all the London teams.
His first ever match was at Highbury where his uncle took him and they watched all London teams when he was a kid.
I didn't get the impression he was dyed in wool Chelsea, just when pressed, he chose them as his slight preference.
Certainly didn't cause me to lose any respect for him, he was affable, friendly and down to earth.
As for where sufc stand in his loves..... We employed him for 8 years and he's still a few mates up here, that's as far as it goes I reckon.

 

[Garibaldi]

As for where sufc stand in his loves..... We employed him for 8 years and he's still a few mates up here, that's as far as it goes I reckon.

Genuinely surprised at that. I can imagine him thinking that way about Palace, Forest & Leicester, but thought his time up here might mean more than that.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

It would be really shit if we merged. Yes most fans would never go again, me included. Sheffield has nothing to gain by merging both teams. It would put players and staff out of employment too. Leeds is wank, everyone supports the same team...how boring.

 

[Garibaldi]

I can't believe some people think a merger would be a good idea. I would rather blow my brains out tbh.

I'm always amazed anyone thinks it's an idea at all. You cant beat the rivallry of a two-club city, even if it means struggling along winning nothing. The likes of Forest v Derby, Southampton v Portsmouth, Sunderland v Newcastle - yeah they may hate each other but it's just not the same as the day to day rivallry in Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester etc.

 

[BushBlade]

Maybe you have captured the increasing likelihood of a merger - the owners get very rich.

When the McCabes sell up what stake will the owners have in SUFCvSWFC?

Whole industries can be sacrificed for political gain. Certainly the interests of about 40000 regular Sheffield fans, maybe 30000 hard core Sheffield fans will be of no consequence whatsoever if the respective owners of the city football clubs decide the business route is by merger. Nor will they understand that maybe over half of those fans, both sides, would never go to a game again.

I think that to make money, both owners would have to sell to a third party at above market value. Or one owner buys the other out.

In my cases, although both were mergers in name, they were effectively larger companies buying out smaller companies, more like take overs. The owners who got rich, were the owners of the smaller companies who received very good sums for the businesses they formerly owned. I'd question how beneficial the mergers were for the partners of the buying companies (apart from the individuals who initiated the deals).

Of course, the big difference is the outcry. No one gave a shit when my bosses got rich then walked out, leaving their former staff to the wolves. If any rich foreigner thought they could impose a merger on the people of Sheffield, they're as deluded as a third world dictator threatening the U.S.

 

[Garibaldi]

It would be really shit if we merged. Yes most fans would never go again, me included. Sheffield has nothing to gain by merging both teams. It would put players and staff out of employment too. Leeds is wank, everyone supports the same team...how boring.

Exactly. And there's no guarantee of success either. Just look at the state Leeds have been in.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Exactly. And there's no guarantee of success either. Just look at the state Leeds have been in.

True, but in amongst the whole process and catalogue of events at Elland Road did Ken Bates, the Italian madman and other owners care two hoots about Leeds fans? No way.

At Hillsborough did Mandaric worry about Wednesdayites? No way. He spotted an opportunity to buy the club and cheat creditors by striking when the time was right, he was looking for that type of opportunity no matter where it occurred I'm sure. He sold when the time was right and spent a bare minimum on the club in the meantime. Wednesday fans were the victims throughout and the cheated creditors obviously suffered greatly.

The new owners may well develop an affinity with Wednesdayites but for a mighty while yet they measure prospects and financial performance in business terms and run it as a business proposition, nothing more nothing less. You don't turn up from Thailand just looking to make 20000 people in South Yorkshire happy bunnies for their own sake.

A merger might make absolute business sense to Financial Analysts acting as advisers to the foreign owners of the two clubs.

I love having a Blades fan as owner, even half owner, it matters folks even if he has made mistakes.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

I think that to make money, both owners would have to sell to a third party at above market value. Or one owner buys the other out.

In my cases, although both were mergers in name, they were effectively larger companies buying out smaller companies, more like take overs. The owners who got rich, were the owners of the smaller companies who received very good sums for the businesses they formerly owned. I'd question how beneficial the mergers were for the partners of the buying companies (apart from the individuals who initiated the deals).

Of course, the big difference is the outcry. No one gave a shit when my bosses got rich then walked out, leaving their former staff to the wolves. If any rich foreigner thought they could impose a merger on the people of Sheffield, they're as deluded as a third world dictator threatening the U.S.

North Korea isn't third world. They are more up to date with tech (now including nuclear weapons) and have a higher standard of living than most of Europe

 

[BushBlade]

North Korea isn't third world. They are more up to date with tech (now including nuclear weapons) and have a higher standard of living than most of Europe

Did I actually mention North Korea and is it relevant to the point I was making?

If I'd said 'a successful merger is like rocking horse shit' would you have piped up saying 'rocking horses don't shit'?

 

[snootyfenooty]

North Korea isn't third world. They are more up to date with tech (now including nuclear weapons) and have a higher standard of living than most of Europe

Don't know where you get that notion from, unless you count eating tree bark and grass as opulence. I think you're mixing them up with South Korea.

 

[Pinchy]

It would bring my handicap down and Desso would get a long country walk every Saturday...
️

 

[TTMeysh]

I would be for a merger in the sense that the pigs go out of existence, we continue to grow as a club both on and off the pitch, gaining the support of future generations and therefore becoming the sole team representing Sheffield.

Or like the merger of 200AD and Starlord. After it was basically 2000AD but with Strongtium Dog & Ro-Jaws & Hammerstein. I think the analogy here is that we nick a couple of their less piggish players and recoup the scrap value of their stadium.

Similar to Warnock, I'm eternally grateful for everything he achieved but he's a heavily flawed character.

Let's be reyt about it - Warnock's 'flaw' is he's a me-me-me narcissist who puts himself first, second, third all the way down to last. Bassett's 'flaw' is he once said something stupid about a club merger.

 

[sheepbridge]

I would like to see us get to the premier league even though I know we would struggle to stay up, I do think that if we survived the first two seasons, we would be OK, but never trouble the top half.
I wont subscribe to sky on principle as It is part owned by murdoch.
For this weekend though I'm getting a day pass for now tv, I know it's owned by Sky, but watching us hopefully beating the pigs
Will help ease my conscience.

The belief that after a couple of seasons teams are a 'comfortable' Premiership team is exactly the reason some clubs are in real difficulties now.
Fans and directors start to believe it will never end so buy players they can't really afford on contracts they can't sustain without the Sky TV money.

Fans push for more expensive players in order to compete for Europe, not being satisfied with the fact that they are really a middle size club realistically above their weight already.
They then get relegated and can't afford to pay wages or sell players for what they purchased them for.
Wonder what Aston Villa's or Sunderland's wage bill is and how much they'd get for any of their big stars? As soon as the parachute payments run out they will be in real trouble.
As the club then slides through the divisions the fans then complain about how unfair it is they have transfer embargoes placed on them or worse.

This is my real gripe about the Premiership, that the hype causes unrealistic expectations and the money allows smallish clubs to believe they can sustain buying players that cost 30 million+ on 100k a week contracts. It's madness.
It's reported that some of the foreign owners of such clubs are now losing interest because no matter how much they spend they can't compete with Man U, City and Chelsea and are having to spend increasing millions each year just to stand still.

I actually really hope that one day Sky don't bid for rights, or do at a much reduced rate, but I suspect there were always be another company willing to step up.

 

[WILLIAM H BONNEY]

North Korea isn't third world. They are more up to date with tech (now including nuclear weapons) and have a higher standard of living than most of Europe

Thread definitely gone off track

 

[More Bladier than thou]

Did I actually mention North Korea and is it relevant to the point I was making?

If I'd said 'a successful merger is like rocking horse shit' would you have piped up saying 'rocking horses don't shit'?

So what 'third world' country are you implying ? No idea, you made the comment ?

Don't know where you get that notion from, unless you count eating tree bark and grass as opulence. I think you're mixing them up with South Korea.

Nope, they may eat dogs and other dodgy shit, but they are way ahead of the uk in terms of technology, they've had 4k tv channels for 3 years and due to launch an 8k sports channel next year. Samsung always release their phones over there first cos thats where they make them. Autonomous cars are already on the streets. A quarter of homes there are smart homes, they have a greater space program than the uk...i could go on. Point is, if youve been, you would be amazed by how far the uk and most of Europe lag behind Korea, china and Japan. Back to the point, about as much chance of Blades and wendy merging as there is of North and south Korea merging. Not sure why Harry Basset would say that, must of been on a wind up.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Merging Red and Blue would leave us all marooned.

 

[Sean Thornton]

So what 'third world' country are you implying ? No idea, you made the comment ?

Nope, they may eat dogs and other dodgy shit, but they are way ahead of the uk in terms of technology, they've had 4k tv channels for 3 years and due to launch an 8k sports channel next year. Samsung always release their phones over there first cos thats where they make them. Autonomous cars are already on the streets. A quarter of homes there are smart homes, they have a greater space program than the uk...i could go on. Point is, if youve been, you would be amazed by how far the uk and most of Europe lag behind Korea, china and Japan. Back to the point, about as much chance of Blades and wendy merging as there is of North and south Korea merging. Not sure why Harry Basset would say that, must of been on a wind up.

I think the strain of dealing with MacDonald and Shithouse Green sent him batshit crazy. He'd lost it at the end.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Merging Red and Blue would leave us all marooned.

 

[WILLIAM H BONNEY]

Merging Red and Blue would leave us all marooned.

And Sheffield Villa definitely hasn't got a ring to it.

 

[BushBlade]

So what 'third world' country are you implying ? No idea, you made the comment ?

Nope, they may eat dogs and other dodgy shit, but they are way ahead of the uk in terms of technology, they've had 4k tv channels for 3 years and due to launch an 8k sports channel next year. Samsung always release their phones over there first cos thats where they make them. Autonomous cars are already on the streets. A quarter of homes there are smart homes, they have a greater space program than the uk...i could go on. Point is, if youve been, you would be amazed by how far the uk and most of Europe lag behind Korea, china and Japan. Back to the point, about as much chance of Blades and wendy merging as there is of North and south Korea merging. Not sure why Harry Basset would say that, must of been on a wind up.

I'm not implying anything. It's just an analogy. It's a thread about mergers, not the socio-economics of Asia.

 

[Sean Thornton]

So what 'third world' country are you implying ? No idea, you made the comment ?

Nope, they may eat dogs and other dodgy shit, but they are way ahead of the uk in terms of technology, they've had 4k tv channels for 3 years and due to launch an 8k sports channel next year. Samsung always release their phones over there first cos thats where they make them. Autonomous cars are already on the streets. A quarter of homes there are smart homes, they have a greater space program than the uk...i could go on. Point is, if youve been, you would be amazed by how far the uk and most of Europe lag behind Korea, china and Japan. Back to the point, about as much chance of Blades and wendy merging as there is of North and south Korea merging. Not sure why Harry Basset would say that, must of been on a wind up.

I may be reading this wrong but are you saying Samsung manufactures in North Korea?

 

[The Crab]

I may be reading this wrong but are you saying Samsung manufactures in North Korea?

Fucking hell, I'd better delete my browsing history on my phone PDQ or Kim might have some "leverage" on me

 

[WILLIAM H BONNEY]

Fucking hell, I'd better delete my browsing history on my phone PDQ or Kim might have some "leverage" on me

From talking about a great man in dave Bassett. We now talking about north Korea and it's nuclear power and Samsung phones. only on a football forum could it happen

 

[The Crab]

From talking about a great man in dave Bassett. We now talking about north Korea and it's nuclear power and Samsung phones. only on a football forum could it happen

It's an online version of Chaos Theory

 

[Sean Thornton]

From talking about a great man in dave Bassett. We now talking about north Korea and it's nuclear power and Samsung phones. only on a football forum could it happen

I just need Hitler and Homosexual for forum bingo.

It's an online version of Chaos Theory

His agent offered Chaos Theory too us but Wilder doesn't sign bloody foreigners.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Nope, they may eat dogs and other dodgy shit, but they are way ahead of the uk in terms of technology, they've had 4k tv channels for 3 years and due to launch an 8k sports channel next year. Samsung always release their phones over there first cos thats where they make them. Autonomous cars are already on the streets. A quarter of homes there are smart homes, they have a greater space program than the uk...i could go on. Point is, if youve been, you would be amazed by how far the uk and most of Europe lag behind Korea, china and Japan. Back to the point, about as much chance of Blades and wendy merging as there is of North and south Korea merging. Not sure why Harry Basset would say that, must of been on a wind up.

You've definitely got the North and South mixed up. Samsung are South Korean. They don't even own any cars in the North unless you are a party cadre. The homes are largely tin shacks in the North. I have been to Korea, the South that is. I've also been to Japan and China. You are right what you say about these countries but I'm afraid you are 100% wrong about the North. The place is a basket case. A bit of Googling might be in order.