Steve Gibson's fmttm Q and A - Thursday

Corco65 said:
SG has cleared the majority of the debt, if he was to clear the rest and gave the club to the fans with a nil balance sheet, what's your master plan/blue print to run the club without it losing money and being successful at rhe sametine, other than expecting some other mug to put in their millions in?
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Well he's taken the first step in recruiting somebody who can actually recruit players rather than a guy (Gary Gill) who's expertise is in importing Wine to the UK. It's only 15 years later than needed but it's a massive step in the right direction.

Ironically, I think we're in the best position we've been in for years with MC. I actually think we're better set than we have been.

Don't assume my comments come with a caveat that I don't think SG is up for the job. I want the guy to succeed. Nothing would make me happier...

I said in my original post. Life is real in the grey areas. He's not the Messiah (though in fairness he's the closest thing when it comes to MFC) but if you're giving him credit for the success, which is rightly deserved; are you agreeing that he's responsible for where we are now?
 
atypical_boro said:
He needs to communicate better. He is slowly but surely losing the fans with each passing season in the second tier.

That said, he COULD win them all back over with either better results OR better communication.
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The point was about SG deliberately rinsing people, I made the point that the only person being rinsed is SG, his increase won't be £30 next season. He needs to continue to underwrite millions each year despite the relatively high ticket costs and that's not becuase of past mistakes, its because of the cost of football, if you have an alternative way of bringing success without making a loss I'm sure SG would want to know.

I agree communication isn't great, it never has been, not many complained about it during the successful years.
 
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Emmersons_BrazillianDong said:
Well he's taken the first step in recruiting somebody who can actually recruit players rather than a guy (Gary Gill) who's expertise is in importing Wine to the UK. It's only 15 years later than needed but it's a massive step in the right direction.

Ironically, I think we're in the best position we've been in for years with MC. I actually think we're better set than we have been.

Don't assume my comments come with a caveat that I don't think SG is up for the job. I want the guy to succeed. Nothing would make me happier...

I said in my original post. Life is real in the grey areas. He's not the Messiah (though in fairness he's the closest thing when it comes to MFC) but if you're giving him credit for the success, witch is rightly deserved; are you agreeing that he's responsible for where we are now?
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Good post and probably does a better job of summing up my feelings better than my own.

He achieved remarkable things for 12 years, the last 18 have been almost entirely unremarkable.
 
Corco65 said:
The point was about SG deliberately rinsing people, I made the point that the only person being rinsed is SG, his increas won't be £30 next seadon. He needs to continue to underwrite millions each year despite the relatively high ticket costs and that's not becuase of past mistakes, its becuae of the cost of football, if you have an alternative way of.bringung success without making a loss I'm sure SG would want to know.

I agree communication isn't great, it never has been, not many complained about during the successful years.
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Fair enough, yeah I don’t think he is out to rinse people. I do agree with you. But the fact is he sort of HAS to rinse people to give us any kind of shot of getting back on the right track on the pitch.

Without better communication, this plan will fail.
 
Corco65 said:
The point was about SG deliberately rinsing people, I made the point that the only person being rinsed is SG, his increas won't be £30 next seadon. He needs to continue to underwrite millions each year despite the relatively high ticket costs and that's not becuase of past mistakes, its becuae of the cost of football, if you have an alternative way of.bringung success without making a loss I'm sure SG would want to know.

I agree communication isn't great, it never has been, not many complained about during the successful years.
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Fair post. I didn't post the original message that you responded to and I do see where you are coming from in that I don't think his intention is to rinse people in a personal way.

But we have been one of the most expensive season tickets for at least 10 years in one of the poorest areas of the UK. That money hasn't been well used and objectively it's been wasted, albeit with the best of intentions. Add to that some poor communication, the most recent being really obvious RE the increase in cost without communication to fans.

I do appreciate that it's easy to say this in hindsight by the way. I didn't forsee any of this myself, in fact I think I was cheering on Strachan beasting the players running up hills in LA Manga. I'm slightly ashamed to admit but that's the truth.

There's probably more in which we agree than we don't. We certainly want the team to be better. That's all of us including SG.

In same way that you don't want to allow history to forget the immense commitment of the Chairman, I think it's as important to be objective and agree that things have been poorly managed for long periods, even if that's with the benefit of hindsight 👍🏻
 
atypical_boro said:
Fair enough, yeah I don’t think he is out to rinse people. I do agree with you. But the fact is he sort of HAS to rinse people to give us any kind of shot of getting back on the right track on the pitch.

Without better communication, this plan will fail.
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I just think the term rinsed is an emotive negative deliberate action, which I don't agree with. It would be intersting to see where lower ticket prices and no under writing losses by SG or any one else would get us.
 
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Hi Steve,

What ‘rising costs’ do Middlesbrough FC have to contend with, to necessitate the 7th highest season ticket prices in English football? And how is it, if other clubs are surely facing the same increase in expenditure, they’re able to offer significantly lower prices?
 
Habibi said:
Hi Rob this is a really great idea and I hope it will be well attended. However it isn’t accessible for those of us who don’t live in the area as Bristol-boro has already highlighted. It’s a frustration for those of us who don’t live in the area. For my daughter and I to attend it means taking an afternoon off work to travel there and having already taken time off to do the same tomorrow for the Leeds game. And this simply can’t happen with such short notice and our respective employers. I know you have said it can’t be live streamed or recorded but can we submit questions?
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Mate. Middlesbrough FC is a local club for local people.

Didn't you know that ?

Steve Gibson does’t think anyone north of Bilingham or south of Stokesley is remotely interested in the mighty Boro.
 
Aet290204 said:
Mate. Middlesbrough FC is a local club for local people.

Didn't you know that ?

Steve Gibson does’t think anyone north of Bilingham or south of Stokesley is remotely interested in the mighty Boro.
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We are giving some fans an opportunity to question the Boro owner in person.
We will try and hold some events to include everyone at a later date.
If Thursday works well then we can plan other talks in person and available remotely.
 
fmttmadmin said:
We are giving some fans an opportunity to question the Boro owner in person.
We will try and hold some events to include everyone at a later date.
If Thursday works well then we can plan other talks in person and available remotely.
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It was a sarcastic observation Rob.

I know Hababi and her daughter, neither of them live local to Teesside and both of them put a right shift in supporting the Boro.

I’ve long thought our club don’t care much about supporters who live outside the area.
 
Society today eh? Gibbo is getting criticism because some people can’t attend. I can’t either but it sounds to me like Rob has requested something which he’s agreed to, even throwing in a drink and snacks, yet because some of you can’t attend, he doesn’t care about everyone.
I don’t want it live streaming, we all know how these things work, you’re much more likely to get the transparency you’re after if it’s not and I’m sure there’ll be transcripts we can read or we’ll hear about.
Maybe there’ll be something different broadcast later for the people who can’t attend, but for now, can’t we just be grateful something good like this is happening at all rather than thinking it’s not good, simply because it’s not good for you?
 
Gains said:
Society today eh? Gibbo is getting criticism because some people can’t attend. I can’t either but it sounds to me like Rob has requested something which he’s agreed to, even throwing in a drink and snacks, yet because some of you can’t attend, he doesn’t care about everyone.
I don’t want it live streaming, we all know how these things work, you’re much more likely to get the transparency you’re after if it’s not and I’m sure there’ll be transcripts we can read or we’ll hear about.
Maybe there’ll be something different broadcast later for the people who can’t attend, but for now, can’t we just be grateful something good like this is happening at all rather than thinking it’s not good, simply because it’s not good for you?
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My sentiments exactly. This is the second event like this in recent weeks where SG has devoted time to meet a selection of fans.
Well done. Hope it continues.
 
I think the jibe about Gibson not really caring about fans outside of the Teesside area has something to do with the "Stockton/mackems" statement and small things like ridiculous postage from the club shop/poor stock etc. Live outside the area and want to wear Boro merchandise...... sometimes easier not to shop at the official club store.

Daft little things, but it does sometimes feel if you don't live within a couple of miles of the Riverside and don't have a ST you're not considered anything but second class by MFC hierarchy.

BTW fair play to Gibson for his Q&A.....hope it goes well and the fans get some honest answers.

And well done to Rob for sorting it👍
 
Gains said:
Society today eh? Gibbo is getting criticism because some people can’t attend. I can’t either but it sounds to me like Rob has requested something which he’s agreed to, even throwing in a drink and snacks, yet because some of you can’t attend, he doesn’t care about everyone.
I don’t want it live streaming, we all know how these things work, you’re much more likely to get the transparency you’re after if it’s not and I’m sure there’ll be transcripts we can read or we’ll hear about.
Maybe there’ll be something different broadcast later for the people who can’t attend, but for now, can’t we just be grateful something good like this is happening at all rather than thinking it’s not good, simply because it’s not good for you?
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Yeah, but it’s not 2008 mate. Recording it and putting it out as a podcast really wouldn’t have been a whacky thing to do in 2024.

Rob’s even suggested that they tried to film it but didn’t because the cameraman they wanted wasn’t available, whoever that is.

I don’t really care, personally, I just think his PR strategy could be very easily improved. It’s not as if he is anywhere near as popular as he used to be.
 
Emmersons_BrazillianDong said:
Well he's taken the first step in recruiting somebody who can actually recruit players rather than a guy (Gary Gill) who's expertise is in importing Wine to the UK. It's only 15 years later than needed but it's a massive step in the right direction.
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Odd thing to focus on, especially since the same bloke has now been picked up by a team probably in the PL next season....

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Former Boro recruitment chief Gary Gill lands new role at Southampton

Southampton have hired Gary Gill, who was the head of recruitment at Middlesbrough the last time they won promotion to the Premier League
www.gazettelive.co.uk www.gazettelive.co.uk
 
h_m_boro said:
Daft little things, but it does sometimes feel if you don't live within a couple of miles of the Riverside and don't have a ST you're not considered anything but second class by MFC hierarchy.
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I'd argue that those of us who live outside the area AND have a season ticket are still considered second class, you highlight a good example of how the club just make it harder for us to support them without a TS postcode.
 
atypical_boro said:
Yeah, but it’s not 2008 mate. Recording it and putting it out as a podcast really wouldn’t have been a whacky thing to do in 2024.

Rob’s even suggested that they tried to film it but didn’t because the cameraman they wanted wasn’t available, whoever that is.

I don’t really care, personally, I just think his PR strategy could be very easily improved. It’s not as if he is anywhere near as popular as he used to be.
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This. It just strikes me as another closed shop event where he’ll no doubt hand-pick the questions he’s willing to answer and nobody will really challenge him.

You can get a replacement cameraman, absolutely. I know one, he’s the lad who did all the camera work for the heroes of the carling cup series.
 
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