Narks vs Kool-Aid Kids

[Chip and Chase]

So the watershed moment in modern Manly history was the Penn buy out for sole control of the club at the end of 2014.

If you were drinking the Penn Kool-Aid this was supposed to be the turning point, there would be no more infighting and the one owner model would drive us back to being a premiership powerhouse. Decisive management free of interference.

If you were a Nark you were worried about the unchecked egos and the likely continuation of the "Manly" culture as we knew it. Could they be trusted ? would Manly flourish under their leadership ?

So 3.5 years on how are we looking ??

I will confess to being a bit of a Nark at the time, but willing to see what transpired. For a moment there in the middle of last year I thought we were over the worst of it and back on track to being premiership contenders. Bozo was head of football, recruitment looked good and the team performance was on an upward trajectory. There were still some off field back office issues but things looked promising. But from about Round 20 last year it seems we have capitulated into a rabble the likes of which I haven't seen since Peter Sharp days.

My tale of the tape from the Nark point of view

* Tooves shafted
* Football Club openly shunned and disrespected
* Complete clean out of playing roster - some good, some bad
* Signing a player to the first ever "life time" NRL contract
- risky "eggs in one basket" gamble
* Sponsorship dramas (Coco Joy and Lottoland)
* Revolving door of CEO's still spinning
* Investigated for match fixing
* Guilty of Salary Cap breaches
* Little to no progress on Brookie
* Fan engagement seems at all time low
* A coach that looks to be struggling
* A team that looks like it could quite possibly acquire our first ever wooden spoon

It seems to me that hiring Bozo was both the best and the worst thing that happened. He got some short term success but at what cost ? He has left us some problems to deal with, and since his departure the place has descended into chaos, completely bereft of any leadership, on or off the field.

I wonder if the Kool-Aid kids are still buoyant ?? what have we got to look forward to ? Who do we turn to in order to get us back on track. Do we just start a new 5 year plan from now ?? It seems that this year is gone now, with the injuries we have, the current 2 and 6 record and the tough run of games approaching we are long odds to make the 8.

How do we rebuild from here and are the Penns the owners to take us forward ?

 

[Captain Moondog]

“You're either on the bus or off the bus.”
― Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
I'm at the bus stop but I could use a lift.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I’ve been called a Nark many times in my decade on Silvertails.

And, nothings changed I still am!!

 

[Captain Moondog]

I’ve been called Nark many times in my decade on Silvertails.

Possibly spellcheck or the predominance of dyslexics on silvertails?

 

[Sue]

Gets back to the simple things that have always been the cornerstone of good footy sides.

Get the team fit with a first class conditioner line Alex Corvo

Get the roster management in the hands of someone who has an idea. Flegg playing Funa is an outside back in a Top 30 littered with outside backs while Fainu misses in a team with only one hooker.
It is absolutely crazy our list. Jono Wright and not Anderson!Extending Winterstein!
It’s embarrassing


Get a coach who thinks , or instruct the current coach, that discipline matters. And enforce it ruthlessly regardless of reputation.

Front office handles all non football issues. Coach coaches.

Transparency and honesty with sponsors and Members

It’s not rocket science

 

[MadMarcus]

“You're either on the bus or off the bus.”
― Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
I'm at the bus stop but I could use a lift.

Tooves is under the bus

 

[Captain Moondog]

Tooves is under the bus

He'll be on top if they go much furthur.

 

[sheridanstand78]

The truth is that we have gone backward as a club since the takeover. They promised an end to the dysfunction! All we see now is a club that is closed off to the fans, we get fed half-truths and there is a distinct lack of leadership and discipline at the club right now!!

 

[The Wheel]

One problem is that who would or could take over as new owners?

 

[EagleFlys]

One problem is that who would or could take over as new owners?

A) Who do we know that has 15-20 mil to buy a business that loses 1 mil per year? No one I know has or would, but Penn did. Thanks Penn.

B) Penn can't float it unless he retains a majority shareholding and kicks in to cover retained earnings losses each year. May recoup some Capital but still requires a business model turnaround or he simply creates a capital funding pool that will diminish.

C) Private buyers would be scarce. Assets are poor quality, and the ROC we are getting from the players is terrible. If wins = members = sales = sponsorship = ^ revenues.

D) Private equity would strip the place bare, move to Perth, and ask NRL for a rebadging allowance to part fund the acquisition. If it could turn a profit it would simply then list and get out.

Take your pick, but A is at least the more probable and D is quite possible.

 

[bob dylan]

I’ve been called a Nark many times in my decade on Silvertails.

And, nothings changed I still am!!

If you are a nark, you are not alone.

 

[Chip and Chase]

I don't know that any NRL team makes money does it ?? The secret is to keep the losses to a minimum I suppose.

It's a pity there aren't a lot of other options, be nice if Hugh Jackman decided to have a flopping contest with Rusty and buy us out......he could afford it by just making one movie.

 

[bob dylan]

One problem is that who would or could take over as new owners?

I could buy them at the moment because they aren't worth a ****.

 

[bob dylan]

I don't know that any NRL team makes money does it ?? The secret is to keep the losses to a minimum I suppose.

It's a pity there aren't a lot of other options, be nice if Hugh Jackman decided to have a flopping contest with Rusty and buy us out......he could afford it by just making one movie.

Maybe DCE might buy us out.

He could be his own boss.