http://theequitykicker.disqus.com/Nic Brisbourne’s view from London on venture capital and exploiting change in technology and mediaenTue, 20 Nov 2007 05:34:57 -0000http://www.theequitykicker.com/2007/11/15/the-masses-have-collaborated-to-buy-a-football-club/#comment-4455798Weenie, I take on board your points, but in terms of making long-term progress it will be difficult. The style of negotations which take place when trying to acquire players is often fast-moving, requiring very quick decisions. The MyFootball crowd won't be able to make those decisions.<br><br>The club I support, Port Vale, are now run by a supporters group and they have found it very difficult to work with what is acceptable practice within the football industry. They have been accused of wearing rose-tinted spectacles and being naive as they have tried to apply modern business practices to what is still essentially an industry run by cowboys.mspokeTue, 20 Nov 2007 05:34:57 -0000http://www.theequitykicker.com/2007/11/15/the-masses-have-collaborated-to-buy-a-football-club/#comment-4455797No one knows for a fact that from a footballing perspective whether this will work or not, since the whole concept has been untested.<br><br>How do you measure success though? Avoiding relegation? Promotion? Becoming and remaining a debt free club?<br><br>All the above are possible and in the case of the latter, should MyFootballClub cease to exist, that's what will be left, a debt free club.<br><br>Compared to all the debt ridden clubs we have, even in the Premier League, that will be a huge success in anybody's eyes.<br><br>Up the Fleet!weenieFri, 16 Nov 2007 09:16:17 -0000http://www.theequitykicker.com/2007/11/15/the-masses-have-collaborated-to-buy-a-football-club/#comment-4455796Good to hear from you mspoke. You make two good observations - first the importance of marketing for mass collaboration initiatives, and second the difficulty of making them work over time.<br><br>In this case they certainly have their work cut out. It is hard enough for a single person with ten times their resources to do a good job.nicFri, 16 Nov 2007 09:13:40 -0000http://www.theequitykicker.com/2007/11/15/the-masses-have-collaborated-to-buy-a-football-club/#comment-4455795Nic, these guys did a great job seeding interest in this idea through football forums and the wider media. From a footballing perspective it will never work, they simply won't be able to make decisions quick enough.<br><br>As you say it is a great example of mass collaboration though.mspokeFri, 16 Nov 2007 08:06:30 -0000http://www.theequitykicker.com/2007/11/15/the-masses-have-collaborated-to-buy-a-football-club/#comment-4455794Good news. I couldn't understand why the posties didn't offer to by Royal Mail!<br><br>Looking forward to the update.JoThu, 15 Nov 2007 12:15:29 -0000