Make the call Joy - or is it already too late? (6 Viewers)

[Deleted member 5849]

Which is a large part of our problem. It obviously won't happen but I personally would love it if Chelsea/Man Utd/Arsenal etc merchandise was banned from being sold in the city sports shops...

Birmingham City (naturally!) weren't happy about this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-25433028

But the idea's sound for a one club city.

Well... a (hopefully some time soon!) one club city(!)

By itself it's nothing, but it does need that awareness creeping in all over the place.

With the ground on the geographical outskirts of the city nowadays (yes yes, I know!) all the more reason/need to have it creep into the centre, too.

 

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[spider_ricoh]

That's always been the way though hasn't it? Its always been fairly apathetic.

True enough - in the last few years it was perfectly possible to stroll through the city centre on a matchday and have no idea there is a game going on that afternoon.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Birmingham City (naturally!) weren't happy about this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-25433028

But the idea's sound for a one club city.

Well... a (hopefully some time soon!) one club city(!)

By itself it's nothing, but it does need that awareness creeping in all over the place.

With the ground on the geographical outskirts of the city nowadays (yes yes, I know!) all the more reason/need to have it creep into the centre, too.

I think the community work the club was doing at least until last season was actually very good. However Coventry should feel like Sky Blue City, as awfully cheesy as that sounds-OK not everybody's a football fan but it should give people something in common to be proud of.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I think the community work the club was doing at least until last season was actually very good. However Coventry should feel like Sky Blue City, as awfully cheesy as that sounds-OK not everybody's a football fan but it should give people something in common to be proud of.

Yeah, it's again the irony with our owners really. It's one of the things I was sad enough to write in and complain about, and they did, to their credit, reel off a list of things they did do in the community.

Problem was, you'd never know they did a lot of it unless you were looking for it.

 

[spider_ricoh]

Yeah, it's again the irony with our owners really. It's one of the things I was sad enough to write in and complain about, and they did, to their credit, reel off a list of things they did do in the community.

Problem was, you'd never know they did a lot of it unless you were looking for it.

There's a lot in that. It's not good doing good on its own, it helps to be seen doing good

 

[spider_ricoh]

I think the community work the club was doing at least until last season was actually very good. However Coventry should feel like Sky Blue City, as awfully cheesy as that sounds-OK not everybody's a football fan but it should give people something in common to be proud of.

Yes, it's like when you go to somewhere like Newcastle, Leeds or Derby - those clubs are highly visible in their communities, much more so than we are. OK two of those are bigger clubs than us but you could say the same about Stoke, Swansea, Cardiff to name but three more.

 

[stupot07]

Interesting the appetite for a Phoenix has diminished somewhat.


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[Danceswithhorses]

Interesting the appetite for a Phoenix has diminished somewhat.

Yes, it seems they've taken an even more drastic step, ie not caring about football in Coventry AT ALL.

 

[spider_ricoh]

Yes, it seems they've taken an even more drastic step, ie not caring about football in Coventry AT ALL.

As mentioned above, the city of Coventry was giving the impression of studied indifference well before the club shifted itself to Northampton

 

[Houdi]

Trouble is 44 years with no top 6 finish and with the only consistency shown being that of consistent failure, the club has absolutely no goodwill to fall back on. The problem isn't the fans on forums like these who talk/threaten about walking away if 'things' carry on as they are, its the 100's who are and have just given up without any fanfare at all. The one battle SISU can never hope to win is with the vast majority of fans who have steadfastly refused to follow them outside the City. Its one thing to be at war with CCC/ACL, but quite another to effectively declare war on your customers.

 

[skybluericoh]

Trouble is 44 years with no top 6 finish and with the only consistency shown being that of consistent failure, the club has absolutely no goodwill to fall back on. The problem isn't the fans on forums like these who talk/threaten about walking away if 'things' carry on as they are, its the 100's who are and have just given up without any fanfare at all. The one battle SISU can never hope to win is with the vast majority of fans who have steadfastly refused to follow them outside the City. Its one thing to be at war with CCC/ACL, but quite another to effectively declare war on your customers.

This sums up me in a sentence, SISU have declared war on the supporters of Coventry City. No matter who was to blame for the beginning- SISU are the aggressors now.

 

[stupot07]

Trouble is 44 years with no top 6 finish and with the only consistency shown being that of consistent failure, the club has absolutely no goodwill to fall back on. The problem isn't the fans on forums like these who talk/threaten about walking away if 'things' carry on as they are, its the 100's who are and have just given up without any fanfare at all. The one battle SISU can never hope to win is with the vast majority of fans who have steadfastly refused to follow them outside the City. Its one thing to be at war with CCC/ACL, but quite another to effectively declare war on your customers.

Not getting at you, but I don't get this all 44 years of failure bollocks because we haven't had a top 6 finish. An FA Cup and 34 years in the top flight was a massive achievement. Is finishing 6th in league two really better than playing top flight football.

The truth is we never realised how good we had it back then.


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[shmmeee]

It was also their biggest mistep IMO.

Far better (especially if there was "underhandedness" from the council) to stay at the Ricoh and have the fans on your side, visible, in the city and the media, each week, than to isolate yourself from your biggest PR asset.

If they'd been the bigger man in the summer and negotiated a 3 year deal instead of the grandstanding (or even better if they'd not put us into admin at all) then this season's festivities could've been played out not just on the message boards but at the ground and if they do have a solid case against the council you'd expect most to get on board.

Unless, of course, there is no solid case against the council and they didn't want to risk being on the wrong end of fan anger. Apathy plays far better than anger after all.

 

[shmmeee]

Not getting at you, but I don't get this all 44 years of failure bollocks because we haven't had a top 6 finish. An FA Cup and 34 years in the top flight was a massive achievement. Is finishing 6th in league two really better than playing top flight football.

The truth is we never realised how good we had it back then.


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So you do get it?

It didn't feel like success at the time, so it wasn't a success.

For a kid in Africa a hot meal feels like a successful day, probably not for you. It's OK people telling you there's others worse off, but ultimately we don't care if it's not us. We always felt like the underdogs in the Prem, but had been there too long to have that spirit.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

If they'd been the bigger man in the summer and negotiated a 3 year deal instead of the grandstanding (or even better if they'd not put us into admin at all) then this season's festivities could've been played out not just on the message boards but at the ground and if they do have a solid case against the council you'd expect most to get on board.

Unless, of course, there is no solid case against the council and they didn't want to risk being on the wrong end of fan anger. Apathy plays far better than anger after all.

That was never on offer though. The Trust Q&A on their website states

Yes, Chris West and Paul Harris were advised post 29 January 2013 meeting during a follow up discussion with Tim Fisher, Mark Labovitch and John Clarke, that the Club wanted a three year run off period. This was totally rejected by the ACL representatives.

(my emphasis)

http://www.skybluetrust.co.uk/index...e/218-questions-and-answers-with-acl-and-ccfc

 

[stupot07]

So you do get it?

It didn't feel like success at the time, so it wasn't a success.

For a kid in Africa a hot meal feels like a successful day, probably not for you. It's OK people telling you there's others worse off, but ultimately we don't care if it's not us. We always felt like the underdogs in the Prem, but had been there too long to have that spirit.

But that was still a success, and with hindsight people still say "44 years without success/top 6". Yet on the flip side many still see us a sleeping giant/PL club in waiting/get back where we belong, etc. so they obviously do view those 34 years as a success.


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[shmmeee]

But that was still a success, and with hindsight people still say "44 years without success/top 6". Yet on the flip side many still see us a sleeping giant/PL club in waiting/get back where we belong, etc. so they obviously do view those 34 years as a success.


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What do you want? Logic from football fans?

 

[covmark]

But that was still a success, and with hindsight people still say "44 years without success/top 6". Yet on the flip side many still see us a sleeping giant/PL club in waiting/get back where we belong, etc. so they obviously do view those 34 years as a success.


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Doesn't really matter if it's deemed a success now, at the time it was a struggle and we lost more than we won. People get fed up with losing no matter what league we're in.

 

[skybluetony176]

Not getting at you, but I don't get this all 44 years of failure bollocks because we haven't had a top 6 finish. An FA Cup and 34 years in the top flight was a massive achievement. Is finishing 6th in league two really better than playing top flight football.

The truth is we never realised how good we had it back then.


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I agree. Beating the bigger clubs at Highfield Road was winning a cup final to me. Most memorable were man u (boxing day IIRC) Chelsea (opening day of the season and dion scoring the first hatrick of the season IIRC) knocking ville out the FA cup at vile, beating vile at vile in the league for the first time and doing it in style. You'll never get this feeling by being a man u fan, look how bitter they are with one indifferent season. It's all about perception. Going back up to the championship will be another one of these days. I just prey it comes.

 

[Grendel]

So you do get it?

It didn't feel like success at the time, so it wasn't a success.

For a kid in Africa a hot meal feels like a successful day, probably not for you. It's OK people telling you there's others worse off, but ultimately we don't care if it's not us. We always felt like the underdogs in the Prem, but had been there too long to have that spirit.

Actually for those who were there at the time it did feel like success and also it was taken for granted.

Ask Leicester if success would be 34 years from now and still be in the premiership or a few relegations and promotions and what would it be. Mixing with the big boys every season was success.

 

[shmmeee]

Actually for those who were there at the time it did feel like success and also it was taken for granted.

Ask Leicester if success would be 34 years from now and still be in the premiership or a few relegations and promotions and what would it be. Mixing with the big boys every season was success.

I dunno, I'm 33 next month and growing up I was surrounded by Man Utd, Villa, Liverpool, etc. fans and never felt successful.

I'd imagine that's the same for most younger than me and a fair few older.

And to be clear, I'm not stating that it's not success, just that I don't think the majority saw it as that at the time.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

And to be clear, I'm not stating that it's not success, just that I don't think the majority saw it as that at the time.

I do think you're probably right, although always found that a bit false myself.

Compared to Rochdale we've been bloody spoiled!

Always seemed like playing the victim to complain at only being one of the more successful top flight clubs in Britain... at least we don't have that to worry about now:slap:

 

[Houdi]

Not getting at you, but I don't get this all 44 years of failure bollocks because we haven't had a top 6 finish. An FA Cup and 34 years in the top flight was a massive achievement. Is finishing 6th in league two really better than playing top flight football.

The truth is we never realised how good we had it back then.









When we were in the Premiership and lost 2-0 or 3-0 to Man Utd did the fans leave Highfield Road and say well that's not too bad losing to one of the best teams in Europe? No of course not, fans want to watch a winning team at whatever level. Look at the fans reaction when we got 2 late goals in the 'poxy' JPT trophy against Preston, did they say well its only a Mickey Mouse lower league only cup match, well not where I was sitting.
Statistically you have at least a 25% chance of being a top 6 side every season, to fail to do even once in 44 years is utterly unbelievable.
The league is your bread and butter, and whether it was the Premiership, Championship or Division 1 we have virtually never even threatened a top 6 finish never mind obtain one. Leicester have managed 2 promotions in the last 3/4 years, the only thing we seem to ever celebrate is a successful relegation fight, and we have had plenty of those over the years.


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[covmark]

I dunno, I'm 33 next month and growing up I was surrounded by Man Utd, Villa, Liverpool, etc. fans and never felt successful.

I'd imagine that's the same for most younger than me and a fair few older.

And to be clear, I'm not stating that it's not success, just that I don't think the majority saw it as that at the time.

Totally agree.
Success is not seen as scratching around at the bottom of the league for 30 plus years, fans get pissed off with it, then apathy sets in.
Having said that a couple of decent season's maybe a playoff push or automatic promotion, I think we'd see a big upsurge in support. Our present situation leads me to think that could be a long way off, sadly.

 

[skybluefred]

Totally agree.
Success is not seen as scratching around at the bottom of the league for 30 plus years, fans get pissed off with it, then apathy sets in.
Having said that a couple of decent season's maybe a playoff push or automatic promotion, I think we'd see a big upsurge in support. Our present situation leads me to think that could be a long way off, sadly.

The above is correct---A reported 500,000 people turned out to watch the FA CUP parade---and similar numbers
turned out when we got promoted to the old 1st division. People are very fickle and will only turn out for success,
they miss the thrills and spill's along the way.

 

[skybluefred]

Totally agree.
Success is not seen as scratching around at the bottom of the league for 30 plus years, fans get pissed off with it, then apathy sets in.
Having said that a couple of decent season's maybe a playoff push or automatic promotion, I think we'd see a big upsurge in support. Our present situation leads me to think that could be a long way off, sadly.

The above is correct---A reported 500,000 people turned out to watch the FA CUP parade---and similar numbers
turned out when we got promoted to the old 1st division. People are very fickle and will only turn out for success,
they miss the thrills and spill's along the way.

 

[The Gentleman]

Not quite true though.

I'd still be all for offers made direct to the club rather than via media/football league.

(Hell, send them recorded delivery, or by kissogram, or something)

I still think the flush out all motives is the best approach, so I'd still be pressuring the city council to find some land to offer the club if they want it, and to publicly announce they'd help them with the planning permission etc.

And I'd like councillors to stop saying the club's a sideshow wrt the Ricoh, and instead say that yes, if it did come back they'd like it to be central to the Ricoh.

All things that can be done by 'the other side' relatively easily, all things that are to the advantage of the football club if taken up on, and are to the advantage of their own position if not.

Imagine the outcry if the club says it's building a ground, here's the committee... and then refuse the offer of land within the city in favour of something five miles away! It'd force them to either publicly reveal Warwick University or something similar as their option, or it'd expose their whole position as a delaying/obfusicating tactic.

So why not pressure the other side to do that?

How many 60 acre sites are available in Coventry? If there was would CCC be obliged to look at all possibilities on that land. Housing etc comes higher up the list than another football stadium that the city doesn't need. People need to realise that CCFC although important to the city , is not the highest thing on CCC agenda at present due to central government cuts. Why do CCC need to flush out all motives when Labovitch is telling us all we need to know about the 'New Stadium'.

With regard to the offer again, lots of people do things through 3rd parties and I have no objection to it being made via the FL, at least there is absolute proof that it was made. Sisu/Otium are doing all there work through 3rd parties from talking about the new stadium - Labovitch, talking to Nuneaton Council - god knows as it was only one tentative enquiry to Sandra Garlick - New stadium group. Strange how lots of people want CCC to come out and talk for themselves yet we never seem to get anything straight from Sisu/Otium anymore.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

A football club comes higher on our list than housing.

Hence the lobbying thread.

It's our job to show a football club's more important than housing!

 

[Monners]

A football club comes higher on our list than housing.

Hence the lobbying thread.

It's our job to show a football club's more important than housing!

Tongue in cheek I know, and he lobbying point is true - but a Local Authority (like any landowner) will always look to maximise a return. Housing always wins out as the best option unless the land needs a high level of remediation (such as sites of old gasworks).

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Not getting at you, but I don't get this all 44 years of failure bollocks because we haven't had a top 6 finish. An FA Cup and 34 years in the top flight was a massive achievement. Is finishing 6th in league two really better than playing top flight football.

The truth is we never realised how good we had it back then.
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I wonder if in a few years time we'll be saying 'we never realised how good we had it' to be mixing it with the galacticos of the Championship. Relying on an Alex Baptiste own goal to draw at home to ten man Blackpool, we were spoilt like kings that day...

 

[The Gentleman]

A football club comes higher on our list than housing.

Hence the lobbying thread.

It's our job to show a football club's more important than housing!

But if you're lobbying CCC and they will never favour CCFC over things that are more important, then shouldn't we actually be lobbying the people who can really make a difference - our owners. What real lobbying have we done to Sisu/Otium? March was in Coventry, holding signs up in football grounds doesn't touch them, even staying away from Sixfields isn't totally down to Sisu as I am sure there are some who cannot be arsed with travelling 70 miles for a home game. We have had a few very small gatherings outside Sisu HQ but imagine 5000 thousand fans outside their office causing problems for the capitol city. Imagine that again 4 weeks later.

It is not our job to show that our football club is more important than housing, education, welfare, healthcare because to be honest in the grand scheme of things, these things are far more important than CCFC. However, it is absolutely the job of our owners to do what is right for our football club and it's fans.

If you want to start lobbying then can I suggest Sisu's door because as of so far, it really hasn't been tried and the small attempts that have had a go have been ridiculed on here by some.

 

[SkyblueBazza]

I await your pole to evaluate the situation CCFC is in. I will gladly take part.

Have you seen the size of his 'pole'?


PUSB

 

[stupot07]

Statistically you have at least a 25% chance of being a top 6 side every season, to fail to do even once in 44 years is utterly unbelievable.

that's only true if all things are equal, which they aren't, especially consider 3/4 of those 44 years were in the top flight.

If all things were equal Sunderland and man city would both have been joint favourite at 20-1 to win the league before the season kicked off, yet Sunderland were 2000-1 and man city 9-4



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[stupot07]

Personally I think a promotion next season followed by relegation back to league one then a another promotion charge will get the fans going. We'll easily be getting 26-27k with 2 top 6 finishes in 3 seasons.


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[dongonzalos]

Seems that there will actually be no decline in attendances next season then.

Be pretty hard to