Cloughie1975
John Robertson
It was poor when Forest visited last year too.
Edit-Just noticed Louth Red said the same!
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The World Famous City Ground - Home of the PROPER WORLD‘S OLDEST LEAGUE CLUB
- Thread starter donny
- Start date
Edit-Just noticed Louth Red said the same!
Marinakis has an estimated wealth of $3 Bn. Even in this era of higher interest rates he should be able to borrow against his assets (should he choose) . Equally, you'd hope with a different climate that local politicians would make the case for investment to boost the local economy. Proper leveliing up rather than just allowing London to get ever bigger.
Ashley
Steve Chettle
Marinakis isn't going to sink anything even remotely close to that level of his personal wealth into a new stadium, and the council won't be helping us even if they can afford it (which they can't).
It was absolutely terrible, it’s massively depressing and I’d find it very hard to go to that ground week in week out..
Wickio
Robbie Findley
Was also there and thought the atmosphere was as bad as I've seen these last couple years. Ground is phenomenal but it feels more like a corporate venue than a football ground.
He could, should he choose, borrow against it.
I'm not saying that these politicians will. What I am saying is it's in their gift. Rather than writing a letter complaining, they should do something about it. Make plans, go out and sell them and raise the money.
How else do big infrastructure projects get built?
I'm not saying it;s likely. Just that's it not impossible. Why give up without trying?
Everton got huge loans - which now they can't finance due to the impact of Ukraine/ Russian sanctions - but seemingly turned down finance from the council who could see the local benefits.
Redemption
Agenda Benda
The council would have lent the money at good rates - because it gets two hits: the jobs to build the stadium; plus the extra economic impact from the extra spending.
Everton didn't want the conditions that came with public money, especially the transparency.
Ashley
Steve Chettle
Borrowing Everton or Spurs stadium levels of money sounds like a terrible idea and could put the very existence of the club at risk.
Politicians (especially in this country where corruption is rife and done openly with little consequences) will only ever look after number 1, even if they had the means to do so. Not to mention that the council is bankrupt so the local politicians can't do anything anyway (not that they would anyway, the council are no friend to the club), and as we aren't London or even in the South we won't be getting any financial support from central government either.
If we move away from the City Ground, the new stadium (whatever its capacity) will be built as cheaply as possible (thus will likely be similar to modern identikit stadiums that other similar sized clubs to ourselves have moved to) and will be built in a location dictated by the councils whims and best interests.
Long Rodney
Youth Team
Their whole ‘kop’ end was created to help the atmosphere wasnt it? they all looked like they were stood down there and it was still utterly hopeless.
i think the saddest bit with spurs is they’ve got that awful touristy atmosphere but absolutely no success to show for it.
i think the saddest bit with spurs is they’ve got that awful touristy atmosphere but absolutely no success to show for it.
sammy the snake
Jack Armstrong
I’m way beyond the taking the piss with Suprs mate.
Hand on heart I wouldn’t replace our mediocrity with fleeting successes with that bollox
Hand on heart I wouldn’t replace our mediocrity with fleeting successes with that bollox
valspoodle
Steve Chettle
We used to have a trip to Lagos which gave us a few days off and the Guinness brewery was a godsend. There wasn't much else to do. That was over 50 years ago and I wondered if it was still going; obviously is.
valspoodle
Steve Chettle
I wondered what Ukraine had to do with their submission. Claiming that has something to do with their problem is just bollocks, for any other problem you'd just call it hazards of business.
Little reward without risk.
I just don't agree that as we're from Nottingham that we have to abdicate ambition and accept being smaller than London and the South.
Burnham and Rotherham have shown politicians can be a force for better in Football.
I'm no Boris voted but he is right that new infrastructure needs bold vision as well as investment. Everyone derided the Dome now all the big bands want to play the O2. Crossrail took years , went over budget but is now vastly exceeding predicted passenger numbers. Liverpool has riots then a gets a complete refurbisment of the docks , spawning restaurants, galleries and hotels to become a major tourist destination.
Yet Nottingham's Broad Marsh is to be turned into " a small recreational area" after missing out on Central Funding.
Where's the ambition and fight? As Marinakis has said Nottingham's willingness to accept second best is surprising.
Buidling a flatpack stadium in Toton won't deliver a top 10 club's ambitions.
I advocate a state of the art stadium on the present site with a ground share down the road for a couple of years
Ashley
Steve Chettle
I'd rather not risk the clubs existence by borrowing a small country's GDP worth of money to build a stadium that we'd rarely ever fill, if that's all the same.
Nottingham is a provincial city with a limited pull, and Forest are not a big global "brand" like the Sky Sports Six and never will be. These might not be facts that you like and are willing to accept, but they are facts nonetheless.
Politicians are seldom a good force for anything, let alone football. Voting in this country ultimately boils down to voting for lesser evils. Given that the council are quite happy to try and fleece us for the leasehold on the current site, the chances of them giving us any sort of help whatsoever doesn't seem very likely. Certainly there will be nothing forthcoming in terms of financial support for any plans Forest may have.
As for "ambition and fight", well... the "fight" here is against geography, established global brands and basically the government (nationally and locally); it is a "fight" that we are never going to win.
As for "ambition", there's a fine line between being ambitious and having delusions of grandeur. Developing the City Ground to be a 40k stadium with better facilities and aiming to become an established Premier League club would fall under the former, building a stadium similar to Tottenham's would fall under the latter.
Given that we've made no progress with the current plans for the City Ground, I think its safe to say rebuilding a new state of the art ground from scratch on the current site is a no goer.
isaacs
Viv Anderson
I have a kind of unique perspective, maybe unique is the wrong word, but an outsiders view of our stadium and our clubs current standing and our potential going forward. To some i'd be known as a plastic, but i have to share my thoughts on this.
Irish born and bred into a family who definitely was not a football family (Gaelic Games was the sport in my house) but at some stage in the mid 85-86 era, a time i can't even remember because i was only a 4 or 5 year old child, i became obsessed with the team playing in my favourite colour red with the badge of a tree and water with the cool R and baby e in its name. (Had i come from a football family i'd probably be United or a f***ing Scouser now so i thank my families lack of enthusiasm for football every single day)
That immediately set me as a complete outcast growing up in my town (a staunch football town) because i was absolutely surrounded by United, Liverpool and Celtic fans. The odd sprinkle of Arsenal, Villa and Spurs but i was equally showered with compliments and hated (Hi Liverpool) since being that kid in the late 80s strutting around town with every bit of Forest gear i could get my hands on.
Everytime i've travelled over the sense of pride i have when i cross the Trent Bridge is absolutely priceless. Pride that i'm finally with my own, my family of mates that have one thing in common, the love for our club. If we ended up on a bowl on the edge of the city i'm sure that kids heart will be smashed and as an adult i'd be angry and filled with even more bile for the current game than what i already am.
But the club definitely has serious potential growth. I honestly believe that our badge is one of the most iconic in all of sports across the world. Since promotion wearing that badge in my hometown i have local kids shouting Forest related things to me (Waka Waka being the most hilarious) and unfortunately every other football loving adult commenting on our woeful defence last week/40 signings (i never thought i'd prefer the pat down days of "whos your manager now? Christ whatever happened to that great club, ah Cloughie that i've been used to since the 90s). A one hour stroll about town has suddenly become a 2 sometimes 3 hour stroll because of the amount of people who stop and talk to me about all things Forest. It has been absolutely incredible to live this after the torrid 23 years away.
My point is our presence in the Premier League has massively built up our "brand" (christ i want to be sick) and because of our location, badge, fanbase and unique history it has a story that can capture many many others outside of Nottinghamshire. The club was disgracefully branded throughout much of the 90s and into the noughties and 2010s up until 2016 when there seemed to be some national recognition of the uniqueness of this club.
The longer we stay in the PL, the more we buy into the ambition the Big Man is selling us yet at the same time keep the unique spirit of our fanbase the more investment and fans will fill the WFCG. A modern 4 stand 45,000 capacity City Ground is definitely enough to sustain a place in the mid table of the top flight for the next decade or so.
One of my best mates, an Old Trafford season ticket holder happened to be driving past Nottingham last year and decided to pop in to see the old lady. His exact words were "Whatever you do, do not let go of that beaut of a stadium. 4 unique stands i couldn't believe it. It must be special on a match day" to which i replied with "You will never realise how special it is"
I wouldn't want to move to become more successful nor have any amount of Michelin star fire pit trumpet blowing infested amenities filled bowl in the world. It is a magical place that we are all rightfully proud of. (And for those "plastics" like me, happy that that 4/5 year old decided this was the one for me)
Irish born and bred into a family who definitely was not a football family (Gaelic Games was the sport in my house) but at some stage in the mid 85-86 era, a time i can't even remember because i was only a 4 or 5 year old child, i became obsessed with the team playing in my favourite colour red with the badge of a tree and water with the cool R and baby e in its name. (Had i come from a football family i'd probably be United or a f***ing Scouser now so i thank my families lack of enthusiasm for football every single day)
That immediately set me as a complete outcast growing up in my town (a staunch football town) because i was absolutely surrounded by United, Liverpool and Celtic fans. The odd sprinkle of Arsenal, Villa and Spurs but i was equally showered with compliments and hated (Hi Liverpool) since being that kid in the late 80s strutting around town with every bit of Forest gear i could get my hands on.
Everytime i've travelled over the sense of pride i have when i cross the Trent Bridge is absolutely priceless. Pride that i'm finally with my own, my family of mates that have one thing in common, the love for our club. If we ended up on a bowl on the edge of the city i'm sure that kids heart will be smashed and as an adult i'd be angry and filled with even more bile for the current game than what i already am.
But the club definitely has serious potential growth. I honestly believe that our badge is one of the most iconic in all of sports across the world. Since promotion wearing that badge in my hometown i have local kids shouting Forest related things to me (Waka Waka being the most hilarious) and unfortunately every other football loving adult commenting on our woeful defence last week/40 signings (i never thought i'd prefer the pat down days of "whos your manager now? Christ whatever happened to that great club, ah Cloughie that i've been used to since the 90s). A one hour stroll about town has suddenly become a 2 sometimes 3 hour stroll because of the amount of people who stop and talk to me about all things Forest. It has been absolutely incredible to live this after the torrid 23 years away.
My point is our presence in the Premier League has massively built up our "brand" (christ i want to be sick) and because of our location, badge, fanbase and unique history it has a story that can capture many many others outside of Nottinghamshire. The club was disgracefully branded throughout much of the 90s and into the noughties and 2010s up until 2016 when there seemed to be some national recognition of the uniqueness of this club.
The longer we stay in the PL, the more we buy into the ambition the Big Man is selling us yet at the same time keep the unique spirit of our fanbase the more investment and fans will fill the WFCG. A modern 4 stand 45,000 capacity City Ground is definitely enough to sustain a place in the mid table of the top flight for the next decade or so.
One of my best mates, an Old Trafford season ticket holder happened to be driving past Nottingham last year and decided to pop in to see the old lady. His exact words were "Whatever you do, do not let go of that beaut of a stadium. 4 unique stands i couldn't believe it. It must be special on a match day" to which i replied with "You will never realise how special it is"
I wouldn't want to move to become more successful nor have any amount of Michelin star fire pit trumpet blowing infested amenities filled bowl in the world. It is a magical place that we are all rightfully proud of. (And for those "plastics" like me, happy that that 4/5 year old decided this was the one for me)
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YellowBelly Red
Viv Anderson
The "pull" of our ground for "Sky Sports", is that its still a proper ground, full of proper people, with an atmosphere that money can't buy.
Walking over TB for a night game and seeing the WFCG under the lights, is something that is priceless.
Walking over TB for a night game and seeing the WFCG under the lights, is something that is priceless.
Rubics
Bin VAR!
You’re not a plastic! Great post that somebody should shove under the nose of everybody involved in the ground discussion. They should all be locked in a room and not allowed out until we see the white smoke!
sammy the snake
Jack Armstrong
People forget the pull of branding. That little e is huge and whenever I see a scarf with a capital E.. that’s plastic
Anyway great post. What we see at Forest are very unique stories, that’s what makes the club what it is. The sky sports 6 vomit inducing infatuation is so far removed from football it’s embarrassing
The Sky 6 isn't a locked out club. It used to be the top 4 and it'll become the Sky 7 with Newcastle breaking barriers.
Man City used to be nobodies until they bought everything, just like Chelsea before them. Spurs have achieved f*** all.
The only organic massive clubs in this country are United and Liverpool with maybe Arsenal towing behind.
Man City used to be nobodies until they bought everything, just like Chelsea before them. Spurs have achieved f*** all.
The only organic massive clubs in this country are United and Liverpool with maybe Arsenal towing behind.
Ashley
Steve Chettle
Chelsea and City got into the exclusive club pre-FFP. The FFP rules are there to ensure that nobody can challenge the elite again like they did.
Newcastle are about to run into FFP trouble this summer by the looks of things and Villa aren't far behind.
I'm Red Till Dead
Stuart Pearce
At one point I wasn't sure there was even the desire from the club to get out of League One.
FFP is rumoured to be rescheduled next season and the consequence for breaking the rules will be a fine, which Newcastle I'm sure won't care about.
The PL needs to change it's PSRs as right now the PL looks like the fall of Rome as the place eats itself. They will want the best players here so they can continue to brand the PL all over the world.
I'd personally like to see a salary and transfer cap to prevent countries buying titles, but also not punishing the bottom teams. It'll never happen though.
Chappers85
Can't Play Left-Back
But they're trying to make it one. Chelsea and Man City climbed that ladder with stacks of cash and took advantage of what few rules there were regarding football finance there were. Spurs have pulled off the greatest magic trick of all time by convincing everyone how massive they are, despite the last time they won the league it was closer to the Victorian era than modern day. They now want to pull the ladder up. Maybe Newcastle will find a way to muscle their way up it, but they're determined not to let anyone else in and the Premier League seem to want it that way too.
Ashley
Steve Chettle
FFP is being changed next season to help them brush the City and Chelsea charges under the carpet. It certainly won't be for the benefit of the other 14 clubs in the league.
We'll see more punishments for non-Sky Sports Six clubs going forwards, and rules designed to pressure the other 14 clubs (who the guy in charge of the PL sees as "little clubs") into selling their best players every summer.
It'll benefit us too as we were rumoured to fall foul of PSR again. Therefore, we may not have to sell Murillo and MGW if we stay up thanks to the new rules.