Possible MyFC member - ready to be shouted down

[Bill Kent]

I'm with you on this one Slarti. My fellow ardent fans and I will sign up if and when the deal is done.

[Slartibartfast]

AFF, I think Jeff will pay them his £7:50 for the same reason me and Bill will pay ours, to keep an eye on them.

While I will debate tactics and team selection with anyone in the sure and certain knowledge that I am always right I really wouldn't want the likes of me picking the team.

If I picked the team I think you would see a certain Mr J Jackson playing wide on the left so what do I know?

 

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Originally Posted By: Slartibartfast

AFF, I think Jeff will pay them his £7:50 for the same reason me and Bill will pay ours, to keep an eye on them.
While I will debate tactics and team selection with anyone in the sure and certain knowledge that I am always right I really wouldn't want the likes of me picking the team.
If I picked the team I think you would see a certain Mr J Jackson playing wide on the left so what do I know?

You certainly wouldn't get an arguement from me about that!

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I can also see(to a point) the advantage of being an insider!

Just not my bag!(sorry, I'm Americanised now! )

[Jeff]

Yeah, I think you're right Slarti.

 

I just feel that even though I don't want to do it for basic moral reasons, I must to try and understand fully how it will work as let's face it, it will affect what we see on the pitch each week.

 

Yeovil have just scored. Get in!

3 minutes left.

[twerly]

The members can empower themselves to do just about anything by changing the "rules" in the constitution of the co-operative (IPS).

 

For example, the members could want to have the power to appoint the executive directors of the club.

 

A resolution at the AGM would achieve that if carried.

 

OK, you haven't got enough time to wait till the next AGM. Call a Special General Meeting (SGM). An SGM is the same thing as an EGM in a limited compnay.

 

You need 10% of the members to vote for an SGM but there will be the facility to do that online.

 

 

[DA11]

Originally Posted By: Jeff

Yeah, I think you're right Slarti.

I just feel that even though I don't want to do it for basic moral reasons, I must to try and understand fully how it will work as let's face it, it will affect what we see on the pitch each week.

Yeovil have just scored. Get in!
3 minutes left.

Jeff I agree with your comments. I signed up on Thursday mainly to have a look around. I'm not bothered about having a vote and to be honest I won't even vote as I believe it probably wouldn't make a difference. There are a lot of misguided souls on there thinking that they were going to get a vote in which club to buy. Some bizarre comments like changing the name to MYFC Storm as it would have more marketing power and deregionalise the club. There are so many threads with so many replies that it really is just a glorified football forum. It's a bit like myspace without the music. As I said in another thread, most of the people seem like real decent folk but I do feel it is them that have been sold down the river. I don't think any of them really expected a non league club from the initial hype that sucked them in.

[rsheard]

Originally Posted By: American FLEET FAN No1

If Myfc , or the people that have come on here(that appear to be more than mere members), had answered the questions about their numbers , and how Ebbsfleet was chosen, instead of just trotting out the block answers, I might just feel easier about the whole thing!

Because the people who have posted here ARE mere members, we don't have access to the exact membership numbers, nor the inside track on how EUFC was selected from the many clubs in the running.

As many of us have repeated ad nauseum, those details will be made public when the deal is completed. So, like us, you can choose to be patient until those numbers are made public, or you can revel in your conspiracy theories.

[Uncle Urchin]

Originally Posted By: rsheard

Originally Posted By: American FLEET FAN No1

If Myfc , or the people that have come on here(that appear to be more than mere members), had answered the questions about their numbers , and how Ebbsfleet was chosen, instead of just trotting out the block answers, I might just feel easier about the whole thing!

Because the people who have posted here ARE mere members, we don't have access to the exact membership numbers, nor the inside track on how EUFC was selected from the many clubs in the running.

As many of us have repeated ad nauseum, those details will be made public when the deal is completed. So, like us, you can choose to be patient until those numbers are made public, or you can revel in your conspiracy theories.

steady mate...Fleety has been a fan all of his life......of course there will be conspiracy theories when every which way they turn all the pre hype turns out to be lies...

charitable trust....not even a trust but a limited liability company

fans will vote for the chosen club..really...did you..?

no money will be taken at all... it will all go to the club.....really....21%?

we didn't tell the fans trust as the existing board asked us not to...thought this was a fans thing...??

you guys simply don't get it do you...(and I did try to tell you RS) its not the merits of the deal which may or may not be good for EU...its the lies and the spin and the arrogance.....I posted profiles and fotos of chairman brooks and micky the liquidator on here last night and they have been removed.....by a moderator....??

want to hazzard a guess why...?

[rvr]

Originally Posted By: American FLEET FAN No1

Just not my bag!(sorry, I'm Americanised now! )

Well, since that phrase was used in the 60s - and started in England - I think you haven't caught the "American" bug yet.

rvr

[American FLEET FAN No1]

There goes my CV!

[DixieDean]

Originally Posted By: American FLEET FAN No1

If Myfc , or the people that have come on here(that appear to be more than mere members

And man didn't really land on the Moon. The Americans mocked it in my grandad's shed to fool the world

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Originally Posted By: DixieDean

Originally Posted By: American FLEET FAN No1

If Myfc , or the people that have come on here(that appear to be more than mere members

And man didn't really land on the Moon. The Americans mocked it in my grandad's shed to fool the world

Can you prove they did?

[JoeBloggs]

OK. A long post alert here.

 

Having waited to look through the comments and discussion from my initial post, I would like to comment on a few posts:-

 

"John Pearce - If you have any interest in Ebbsfleet United"

 

As I said at the beginning, I have no links to Ebbsfleet. The interest in following the results etc. has come from the possible takeover. Without it, I would probably not have even noticed Ebbsfleet Utd but Saturday, I was keeping an eye on the score online.

 

 

"RA22Y - If the MyFC takeover goes through, I'll be setting up an e-mail account so that the fans who are not members of MyFC can let me know their thoughts - listening to the fans is very important and something I'll be pushing on the MyFC forum."

 

While I agree with the sentiment, you could have 800 Ebbsfleet supporters all email you with the same observations but your one vote will not make a lot of difference. You will be one vote among 20,000 and will need to convince a lot of people to make a difference.

 

 

"rvr - You can just join the Trust, especially if their shares in the club are not bought up by MyFC (at least I hope that's the case)."

 

The MyFC website states that they will not be trying to buy a club unless they can purchase 100% of the shares. I don't know how many shares the Ebbsfleet Trust owns but surely any will stop the 100% being purchased.

 

 

"1 F in Fleet - Each and every year I put more money into my club than anyone that chooses to only pay their £35 to MYFC per annum , and maybe NEVER see the team - BUT THESE PEOPLE EXPECT A SAY IN MY CLUB"

 

This comment is exactly what worries me. I do not want to get involved with this if it alienates the true supporters. 1 F in Fleet SHOULD have more say in the club than someone who just pays £35 a year (or £27.50).

 

 

"Slartibartfast - I love the idea of people all round the world supporting little old us so I welcome all the instant fans but I am worried that their money will change my club."

 

As a Chelsea supporter, I have seen how money can change a club. Believe me, I enjoy winning the trophies etc. but the club is not the same.

 

 

"DA11 - Some bizarre comments like changing the name to MYFC Storm as it would have more marketing power and deregionalise the club."

 

I agree, a bizarre comment. From the limited knowledge I have about Ebbsfleet, I think the club have had enough name changes now and to call it after a trust that may purchase the club is just stupidity.

 

"DA11 - I don't think any of them really expected a non league club from the initial hype that sucked them in."

 

To be honest, I did. The money raised from 50,000 members would not be enough to purchase some of the clubs in the list people wanted.

 

I personally was willing to give my £35 to help a team. I am not naive enough to think that my vote would be important. I was just looking to use it to help a team. The only problem joining the Trust and paying the same amount is that one of the stipulations when MyFC were choosing the club to buy is that they could purchase 100%. What would happen to the Trust then. After 90% of shares are purchased it is a compulsory buyout and therefore it could be wasted money.

 

Again, just being honest with my comments above. £35 is not a massive amount to pay out and with 20,000 other people it could make a real difference to some clubs including Ebbsfleet.

[waggamick]

A lot of the confusion arises from the fact that this is such a radical concept.

The originators had to wing it in that it was all new to them as well.

Compounding the problem is the lack of transparency brought about by the 'commercial sensitivity' of the deal given their were 8 eight other clubs in the offing.

The aims and objectives of MFC are both revolutionary and evolutionary.

If you can access the MFC site...not a member..get one of your board to give you a look...another argument for making season ticket holders and Trust members pro rata MFC members on a year for year basis...greater access means greater transparency...you will see among the hundreds of threads and thousands of posts that the the whole thing has been evolving since day 1.

There was a good thread in the general domain prior to MFC having their own Forum.....worth a look if you can find it. It was there that a lot of the concerns were raised.

I know the initial idea was that the MFC members would choose the club but I think this has evolved into MFC members voting on whether they agree with the choice of Ebbsfleet United or another club(from the 8 on offer) is the way to go.

While Leeds and other high profile clubs were opted for by many of the original 50000 respondents that showed an interest in 'owning' a club, a scan of the original threads showed that the more committed(and probably now paid up) members were much more aware of the costs involved and were opting for Conference and Non-Conference sides.

Looking at the many threads on the MFC Forum there is an overwhelming positivity and a genuine concern for the feelings of the current EUFC fans.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted By: JoeBloggs

"1 F in Fleet - Each and every year I put more money into my club than anyone that chooses to only pay their £35 to MYFC per annum , and maybe NEVER see the team - BUT THESE PEOPLE EXPECT A SAY IN MY CLUB"

This comment is exactly what worries me. I do not want to get involved with this if it alienates the true supporters. 1 F in Fleet SHOULD have more say in the club than someone who just pays £35 a year (or £27.50).


"Slartibartfast - I love the idea of people all round the world supporting little old us so I welcome all the instant fans but I am worried that their money will change my club."

As a Chelsea supporter, I have seen how money can change a club. Believe me, I enjoy winning the trophies etc. but the club is not the same.

This sums it all up perfectly in my opinion.
JoeBloggs is one of the 'members' of MyFC with morals and a true understanding of what it means to be a fan of any team, indeed of any sport.

It's the 'members' who don't have these attributes that quite frankly scare the [****!!****] out of me.

There is a thread on there today debating the pros and cons of saying you are a 'member' of MyFC on your CV.

If anyone anywhere asks me about football, I will gladly talk about the Fleet. It would never enter my head to put in on my CV.
However, if MyFC people are doing the interviewing, it's a shoe in the door as you joined a website once.

It's downright tragic really.

[Chopper TN]

Thanks for the thread JoeBloggs. A lot of good info here. I will join MyFC soon.

[JoeBloggs]

Why would that go on a CV. For what benefit. I have no experience but I paid £35 to a website. Strange thing to debate in a forum.

 

And Chopper, no problems. Just trying to find out for myself. Like I have said a couple of times, the Ebbsfleet supporters are the important people here and I am glad some have posted. I am personally thinking that is myFC take over the club, I will pay my money to them as the trust may be forced out. I don't know what percentage they own of the club. If it is less than 10% then they can be forced out but if MyFC don't take over, I will probably join the Trust. I have a liking of the club developing.

 

[Jeff]

I have absolutely no idea either.

 

I did find out today that Sacha is the nephew of Cantona which is something I never knew.

 

A bloke on there called Matt hasd posted brilliantly about the match yesterday.

 

I'll find it and copy onto here.

 

[Jeff]

Voila.

 

'Well I'll start with a summary so I don't bore everyone straight off with a long winded email. Player ratings according to myself and after consultation with my brother (both of us attended the match on Saturday:

 

GK - Cronin - 6

In truth, he had very little to do for most of the game. A few misplaced kicks and one save of any note. Had no chance with the goal.

 

Hawkins - 7

Solid performance at the back, but was more than keen to push on whenever the chance came his way. Composed, rarely misplaced a pass and was never beaten down his wing.

 

Opinel - 7

One of the players in the side who could possibly play at a higher level. Had a number of one on ones with the wide player down his side but always came out on top.

 

Smith - 6

Did his job for the best part, first half was a breeze, one or two moments in the second half where perhaps he could have done a little better. All in all, not a shoddy performance.

 

McCarthy - 7

Solid, composed but again rarely called upon.

 

Bostwick - 6

Does the thankless task of covering the back 4 from midfield okay. Strong player who will get stuck in. Great pass down the line to set Purcell away for the equaliser (at first I thought it was Hawkins but hard to tell from my position).

 

McPhee - 5

Rare glimpses of being a player, but too few and often found lacking of ideas in the final third.

 

Long - 9

A player of high quality. The first player on the field who caught the eye by some way. Massive ability on the ball, clearly the sides play maker, technically very good, at the heart of everything going forward. Took his goal well.

 

Moore - 6

All in all, Moore didn't do much to impress on the day. He gets a 6 rather than a 5 for his harassing of the keeper for the winner, but other than that, mostly non existent and a bit light in the challenge.

 

Eribenne - 2

And I'm being generous. Used as a target man he appears to lack arial ability, power, pace, control, technique and finally....... temperament. Ludicrous sending off, was always going to be red, you simply cannot get away with headbutting an opponent, especially 10 ft from of the ref & lino. That said, I think the side actually benefitted when he left the pitch as the ball went beyond where he would normally have been the target and Purcell's pace often got him in behind the centre backs.

 

Purcell - 9 (MOM)

Superb. Never stopped running, chased every ball no matter whether it seemed a lost cause. Caused all manner of problems among their back line who simply couldn't handle him. Technically adept, he's quick and has an excellent left foot. Ran the line non stop, especially after the side went down to 10 men and deserved his break on 84 when he was subbed for Barrett. Close call with Stacey Long (MOM at the ground) for Man of the Match but he gets my nod for sheer work rate and endeavour, not to mention a sublime finish for the equaliser.

 

So as you can tell from the above, myself and my brother finally made the transition from being old loyal Chelsea supporters to getting down the to Fleet and I have to say, we thoroughly enjoyed our day out down there.

 

We're no strangers to non league football, in our old days of following Chelsea Home, Away and accross Europe we used to pop down to watch Barnet play in the Conference whenever we could make a game (I know, Barnet, Boo Hiss). So it's fair to say we had some experiences to draw on when making comparisons.

 

So to take it from start to finish, I suppose I should comment on the journey. Well few may have been as jubilant as us when the Fleet were named as the MYFC team, living in Kent and a mere 15 minute drive to the stadium, we were desperate for a local side to support since giving up Premier League football some 6 years ago. The journey down the A2/M2 was painless, but parking was even better. Their is ample FREE parking around the ground for everyone, or certainly everyone who turns up more than half an hour before kick off. A relief considering my brother had told me we'd be parking in Ebbsfleet Train Station for £5 as `it's only around the corner'. Not so, we parked 1 minute from the ground (if that) for completely nothing, nada, zilch. Quailty.

 

The ground itself. Well it does, there's ample seating for those that want it, a bar inside (which is more than I would expect) a few refreshment shacks and a toilet block, which is moderately grubby but it does for us blokes. Obviously can't comment on the ladies loo as I gathered there may be some opposition to me `taking a peek'.

 

Refreshments. Well we both got a burger and chips for £4.50 and the best spin I can put on it is...... the chips were nice enough. Now I've had some ropey grub at a football ground before and I sort of expect that when perhaps I'm paying £2 for a burger outside a ground somewhere, but when I pay £4.50, I expect better than the inedible lump of meat in a bun I was served at the game. I think I'll try the sausage at the next home match, can't go wrong with a jumbo sausage..... can you?!

 

Fans..... well, you could say there's a severe lack of passion on the terraces, that may prove be a tad unfair, but as a first gamer I often found myself being more vocal than the vast majority of those Hard Core supporters. That said, and in all honesty, there was a sizeable proportion of OAP supporters on the sideline terraces where I was stood and perhaps they've outgrown the age of shouting at refs and jeering at opposition players. The youngest group of supporters (based in the seats behind the goal) did carry a large drum in among them, but even then this was rarely beaten and only 4 or 5 barely noticably songs were attempted during the 90 minutes. The most noticable was "The Referees a......" (Well I think we all know this one) after the ref mistakenly showed a red card to the Stafford player caught up in the Eribenne tussle, only to then realise he got the wrong one out of his pocket and to change it to a yellow.

 

Performance. It was good. The Fleet controlled the game from start to finish and even when down to 10 men, always looked the victors. That said, it was easily evident as to why Stafford were in the bottom 3 of the division. They lacked pretty much everything, in every department. They didn't deserve their goal, they rarely broke over the halfway line with any real endeavour and they had not a single player of any real note. I think we may go some time before we see a couple of bungling, lead footed, complete donkeys of centre halves back at Stonebridge Road. Bring on the bottom two for that comparison.

 

All in all We had a good day out, the club has solid foundations. With regard to the possibility of obtaining promotion, I think it could be a distinct possibility with the signing of 3-4 good players. Without a shadow of a doubt the club needs a striker and in my honest opinion, probably a pair of midfielders to boot. The defence is solid enough and with the imminent return of MacDonald they may be strengthened further. I'd reserve comment on a 4th signing until I have seen a few more games. Not long to wait now.

 

Hope I didn't bore you all too much.

 

Till next time.'