takeover update

[lesliemoss]

On the bbc.com site, Friday Gossip Column, pick up the "Independent' story about the possible takeover talk. It seems to be more specific than many of the previous articles. There's also an interesting story about the 'money-man', Eli Papoushado from Israel, who has stated he's interested in the investment aspects of a takeover.

[El Toro]

On Soccernet as well...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=380834&cc=5901

[David Villa7]

i wish they could just take over and get on with the season.

[Ami05]

very interesting.

[claret50]

This also;
http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=12628

[west_ham]

Personally I found it all a bit tiresome now.

I have had comments, good but mostly bad, coming from all directions. One person said to me the other day 'it doesn't look good for your lot'. Another person (a ManU fan) gave me the third degree about how dodgy it all is and how Gill said that Masher was offered to them first. Actually I should dig out that post someone submitted which denied the offer...

Anyway because so little is known people are making up their own 'facts' about what is happening, especially the media. Whilst I agree it's frustrating to be kept in the dark I can see the necessity to keep things quiet until a deal is done. The Glazier deal was publically torn to shreads before it was even finalised.

What I would love right now is for the deal to be finalised and Joorabchian to come out and explain how clean and above board it all is with names of financial backers and his reasons for striking this deal. I wonder how many of these people would stick by what they have said and written.

[northbankbar]

I'm with you all the way WH.
The media will always make up "facts" when there are none. I can only hope that what you would love to see regarding Joorabchian does come about.

[Miles Brasher]

What I would love right now is for the deal to be finalised and Joorabchian to come out and explain how clean and above board it all is with names of financial backers and his reasons for striking this deal. I wonder how many of these people would stick by what they have said and written.

Well, the deal is to make money, plain and simple. You're going to have to guess whether it's in the long term or the short term. Personally I can't believe it would be any kind of asset stripping operation

[west_ham]

If Joorabchian is just out to make lots of money very quickly before departing then he can't be that good a businessman. I expect that businessmen at his level of wealth like to protect their business reputation as well as their money. If other businessmen see him bleed a football club dry before leaving them and taking all the profits then they will surely think twice about whether to do busines with him themselves.

There are all kinds of common sense answers like this that I can think of but, of course, everyone else is too cynical and automatically assume the worst.

[Miles Brasher]

If Joorabchian is just out to make lots of money very quickly before departing then he can't be that good a businessman. I expect that businessmen at his level of wealth like to protect their business reputation as well as their money. If other businessmen see him bleed a football club dry before leaving them and taking all the profits then they will surely think twice about whether to do busines with him themselves.

There are all kinds of common sense answers like this that I can think of but, of course, everyone else is too cynical and automatically assume the worst.

I agree, I'd also like to think that they wouldn't want to sell to anyone that would destroy the club as a means to make money. It's always a bit of a mystery to me why people want to invest huge sums of money in a football club to make money., simply because they normally don't. The reason that West Ham may be a good investment is that it's seen as a club that unlike ManU can be grown considerably. Whether it's ever going to challenge Arsenal and Chelsea as one of the top clubs in London is a gamble though...

[west_ham]

It's always a bit of a mystery to me why people want to invest huge sums of money in a football club to make money., simply because they normally don't.
I agree. It's seems to me like large profits are far from guaranteed when running a football club, especially when you consider the money required to purchase some of the bigger names. So maybe this is why people refer to the second most preferred cynical answer for foreign onvestors which is money laundering.

I'd also like to think that they wouldn't want to sell to anyone that would destroy the club as a means to make money.
This is another nugget of common sense which strikes me but seems to go over the heads of the many others in the footballing world.

Brown may be many things but he's not a financial fool. He cares mostly about money but the welfare of West Ham is also on his list. He is only going to agree to the sale of our club if it a) substantially lines his pockets and b) will benefit the club in the long term (among many other conditions I am sure). It seems the former is in the bag as long as Joorabchian displays the goods soon, so Brown's attention should now be turned to the latter, especially with the all hype surrounding this takeover. Again he has a business reputation to protect here (or does he...?:p ).

I also read, on one of the many articles on this, that Brown has stipulated that he would like to remain on the board after the takeover. This also confirms some interest in the clubs welfare and also in being a part of what is about to happen.

[west_ham]

Actually I should dig out that post someone submitted which denied the offer...
If anyone is interested I think these are it:

http://www.kumb.com/0506_story.php?id=11855

http://www.kumb.com/0506_story.php?id=11861

[15woodcroft]

I don't think the take-over is any more cynical than buying a 100 million pound club, moving them to a larger stadium in a strong market, building a CL squad, and selling for 500 million.

It's the only way I can see now to make any real money back on such an investment.

I'm still apprehensive though.

[TheresaWHUFC]

I don't think the take-over is any more cynical than buying a 100 million pound club, moving them to a larger stadium in a strong market, building a CL squad, and selling for 500 million.

It's the only way I can see now to make any real money back on such an investment.

I'm still apprehensive though.

In today's Metro: "One of the partners behind Joorabchian's bid to take over West Ham has admitted he is only interested in the club for 'real estate' reasons. Eli Papouchado, an Israeli billionaire, said: 'I don't know a thing about football but I know about creativity and building. I am only interested in that team because of real estate. There is real estate in every deal.' But Papouchado also revealed the deal was not complete, adding: 'No reason for a celebration yet' ".

[15woodcroft]

"I am only interested in that team because of real estate. There is real estate in every deal."

This is in part what I'm apprehensive about. The take-over partners may be more interested in getting their hands on some prime east london real estate than building West Ham Football Club. Perhaps Eli's planning on selling the land to the burgeoning Muslim community in the area. Stranger things have happened.

Anyhow, if this were the case then I'd think the deal would hinge on getting residency in the new Olympic stadium. But what shape the team is in once it gets there may be of less consequence to Eli Papouchado et al.

[TheMobyDick]

Well after todays debacle,let em build a huge Commecial Block on the site of the ground.
Never in some of the darker days of following the hammers have I seen such a lack effort/interest on the part of a team.It shows a complete lack of respect for their loyal fans.They should be roundly blasted on Sunday.

[TheNewOrleansHammer]

Wengers view..........

..........http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=382357&cc=5901


Can you say oxy-MORON?

Moron may refer to:

Moron (psychology), a psychology-related term for a person with a genetically determined mental age between 8 and 12


F-ing idiot, he is undermining English football because he won't buy English, has no academy and insists on building a team a foreigners. Then comes out with this horse sh!t. Who are the teams not owned by Englishmen?
Chelsea
Man U
Villa
Portsmouth
Each has a strong back bone of British players, youth and experience, purchased or nurtured for various amounts of money.

Before I get slammed by a ton of Arsenal 'fans' I will mention A Cole (nurtured) and Walcott (Purchased Englishman) as the exceptions to a ten year rule. The one good thing is Arsenal do play attractive football but I refuse to believe that they wouldn't if they had English players in the side.

P.S. this is why Arsenal are my least favorite team in the Prem. Well that and the unhealthy amount of American bandwagon fans they have. Is it the same in anyone elses city???

[claret50]

Maybe by tomorrow we'll all know what's happening regarding the club, but either way, it has to be sorted soon.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=407653&in_page_id=1779

[Lasse]

And now rumours on Joorabchian WITH Scolari!!! Hope this saga ends soon, no wonder everybody are confused.

[David Villa7]

And now rumours on Joorabchian WITH Scolari!!! Hope this saga ends soon, no wonder everybody are confused.
pards would have probably heard bout this, if he doesnt get a result against reading, he is in deep shit. (not saying he would get fired)