Haven't seen the start of the FCD-TFC thread, figured we'd get one going and might as well get a few things out there. One, we expect Denilson to start on Saturday (assuming he didn't pick up a knock last night). Two, if you watched last night's game, he certainly still "has it." View attachment 3219 For those of you with kiddos, the first 5,000 kids 16 and under into the stadium gets a free FC Dallas soccer ball!
I'm looking forward to the See Denilson's First Ever Thursday Evening Start Against The Fire In Blue Jerseys thread two years from now.
I'm surprised the FO hasn't learned its lesson about marketing a single player's appearance (much less start) to the masses. *Shrugs* I'll be there either way.
Apples v Oranges, 2007. Although really, at this stage of the season I'd think that "come see FCD on the road to the playoffs" or something would be a good sell. I'm personally not feeling Denilson mania, not like LA was with Beckham or Chicago with Air Cuauhtemoc(tm). If you'd like to dangle a player as carrot for Saturday, how about "featuring Ray Burse Jr in goal"? * Not to trash Sala, love him long time, etc. But he collapsed on the field again last night. I didn't get the impression that he was "just" time-wasting, despite the groaning eminating from the SEA announcers.
Denilson looked very good in the second half last night. Can't wait to see how it all comes together once the rest of the team get used to him.
So, what, we're supposed to just ignore that there is demand for the guy? We're supposed to ignore the buzz about it and not take advantage of it? You have GOT to remember that you here on Big Soccer are not like most of the people we have to SELL to - you guys are so locked in that, as you said, you'll be their either way. But a lot of other people aren't. And those are the people we have to reach out to.
Well that is simple of course, people just don't know they are demanding Denilson. We have to market to those people to let them know about what they are demanding.. Just kidding Drum'r.. I am ok with your marketing Denilson, that is one of the reasons to sign a DP - to give you a player to market and hopefully sell tickets on the way to an MLS Cup and USOC Cup
To the FOs credit, unlike say, Chicago, they're very good about running an ad strip at the bottom of the DMNs sports section promoting whatever game and whatever player(s). However, and this is just from my "gotta get out more" POV, a player like Blanco did/does have the power to command interest from the otherwise disinterested public. My sister in law perked up when she heard Blanco was coming to Chicago, and started watching their games on TV. Heck, my Dad knows who Blanco is, and you need scientific instruments to measure how little he cares for soccer. Denilson, by comparison, from what little I have experienced, doesn't seem to be perking as many people up "on the street". I completely and totally hope I'm wrong. Just the same, I also hope he's not Beckham Jr., where people finally opt to tune in or show up at the game, only to be hugely disappointed for whatever reason and disinterested in giving FCD a second chance.
I think people are wary about the fact that he has been somewhat off the radar screen. Once they see that he brings what he brought last night, that hesitation will fade like a fog in the midmorning sun.
"fade like a fog in the midmorning sun"??? I can tell you listened to too much of those Seattle announcers. They have you verbally inspired!
Kayvon really slotted that simile in there, didn't he. The ref really should have called him for excessive use of poetic liscense.
I do know that this is Big Soccer. And, therefore, most people here know that a player isn't guaranteed to start or even appear. Marketing the game to us as Denilson's first start is fine. Marketing to the masses as his first start is a little dangerous. The Beckham problems arose when the FO promoted the Beckham game to the unwashed and he didn't appear. I'm just surprised you guys would be marketing a guy's appearance when you've already been bitten once this season. Personally, I really like the Jogo Bonito ads. They promote Denilson in an attractive, buzz-creating way that doesn't lock you into starting him for any game.
Actually, that is the reason we didn't promote last Saturday this way was it didn't look like he would start. We heard yesterday that it was expected for him to start both yesterday and Saturday. Considering how he is playing, barring injury, it would be surprising for him not to start. And in general, this is sports - people generally know that you can't guarantee anyone will play, no matter how it is marketed. I really think a lot of you overestimate the "hammering" we took over the Beckham thing. Again, I didn't.
It's the bolded part that gets you into trouble. No, this isn't like the Beckham game, in which you started months out giving yourself more room for error....but still. People are idiots....and can get pissed off for all kinds of stupid reasons. That doesn't mean you, as a businessperson, trying to sell a product in a highly competitive, crowded marketplace, should trade on their stupidity.
So we have to hamstring ourselves of the momentum for the guy? Methinks we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Is there risk? Of course there is. Damn, Adam, you deal in speculation all the time. If you held your job to this kind of certainty, you'd never make a move.
Nope...just don't promote anything as "His First Start"....just promote the guy in general. Promote the team in general with Denilson as the "face of the franchise". Shoot, Kevin, it ain't that complicated. You be surprised how many things we don't do because someone brings up a valid long term customer perception issue. And we still make plenty of moves.
Personally, I think y'all should market Denilson in conjunction with the other players (That's why the Jogo Bonito poster was so cool -- it had the other guys in it too!). Although it was hard to tell from a view on my computer screen, I thought Denilson was starting to really come alive with those nifty pop-over-the-head passes, and if/when he can connect with, say, Toja . . . there could be some really cool futbol, imho (as a novice here and admittedly baised Toja fan). At any rate, whatever Denilson does or can do in the future, it won't matter unless its a TEAM effort. Go Hoops!
We do too - I think you overestimate the customer perception issue. I mean, really now - how was our attendance on 8-4 and 8-11 relative to other late summer games after such a glut of games? Pretty solid, esp. 8-11. And no, it wasn't just because of the $10 - we've done that before as well and it didn't have as much of an effect.
Those two comments don't make sense. So you did or did not consider the customer peception issue in regards to Beckham? And if you did you still decided to market the game that way anyways?? So you didn't really stop anything, did you? And now, because you've found a way to validate that him not showing up didn't hurt future attendances (even though you can't prove that you did not, in fact, piss off a segment of the potential customer base) you are willing to continue risking customer perception issues. Gotcha. Spurious logic....at best. At the very least, admit to what people have stated earlier in this thread, that the organization has not altered strategies following the Beckham game issue. KInd of hard to argue with that statement.
I'm surprised you think he'll still be in a Hoops uni in two years. You think he performed that well last night?
Ohh...like performance has anything to do with his place on the roster. You make me laugh. Actually, I thought he did very well in the 2nd half. If Abe Thompson didn't have the reflexes of a retarded tree sloth he would have had two assists.