New CFG team

[Falastur]

I guess we may know more on Wednesday, but I think there may be something more to this. I remember, after Melbourne, there was speculation about where City would look to go next and one report suggested well known or iconic cities worldwide, naming Shanghai, Cape Town and Buenos Aires as possibilities. (I've searched everywhere for that report and have missed it).

We appointed a guy called Joan Patsy, who as far as I know is still there, to spearhead the operations in South America: http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20141...ntina-con-el-manchester-city_54416580289.html

Also, for some time, CFG has been pursuing chairtable initiatives globally, and in addition to NYC/Melbourne/Manchester, the community programmes seem to have been focused at Kuala Lumpur (a place someone suggests Txiki said we may be looking at) and Barranquilla in Colombia, as well as Cape Town. See, for instance, here: http://www.nycfc.com/post/2015/03/1...-fc-melbourne-city-fc-600000-football-charity and http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/city-in-the-community/2016/june/young-leaders-summit/1464966891

Clearly things are moving in China, while a few months back, when we announced that Pep would take over, one UK sports journalist (Neil Ashton, IIRC) said that we'd almost concluded a deal to buy a South American club only for it to fall through. He added that we were still looking and that might offer Pellegrini the job of coach if he was amenable. Perhaps, then, it wouldn't also be a surprise if we've done a deal with this guy for him to move the club to Cape Town and for us then to buy a majority stake with him keeping a minority stake and remaining involved as the local expert (which is how we seem to like to work this stuff).

This may well be wrong, of course. However, there's enough previous chatter out there to mean it wouldn't be entirely surprising for it soon to emerge that this former Black Aces club, reborn as Cape Town City, will be part of the CFG.

I think Goa didn't quite fit the commercial profile they're looking for in terms of globally resonant cities. I suspect they might not have been conivnced by the potential of the Indian league as opposed to other leagues, too.

Meanwhile, Yokahama to me seems to be more about the commercial tie-up with Nissan. Though they're quoted sometimes as a CFG member in publicity materials, they don't seem to participate in stuff like the community programmes. Girona seems mostly about a sweetener for Pep's agent (and brother), and they clearly are apart from CFG.

Anyway, Falastur, you follow this stuff more closely than I do and I respect your opinion. If any of the above is bollocks - entirely possible - then I'm happy to be put right. :)

Must admit I'd had similar ideas about the Cityzens Giving thing, although I'm not sure you could argue Goa was rejected on the virtue of not being a "globally resonant city" and then claim that Baranquilla is one. I think it was more about the set up of the league. Got to admit I'd never heard of that Neil Ashton story though - normally this kind of stuff doesn't slip me by. Got a link?

Can't disagree with much else you've said although I think it has to ultimately come down to "wait and see".

 

[petrusha]

Must admit I'd had similar ideas about the Cityzens Giving thing, although I'm not sure you could argue Goa was rejected on the virtue of not being a "globally resonant city" and then claim that Baranquilla is one. I think it was more about the set up of the league. Got to admit I'd never heard of that Neil Ashton story though - normally this kind of stuff doesn't slip me by. Got a link?

Can't disagree with much else you've said although I think it has to ultimately come down to "wait and see".

Cheers. I'm assuming that the South American franchise is likely to be elsewhere than Baranquilla and that there may be some kind of Academy and community programme set up there, but we'll see. If they buy up the local club in Baranquilla, it obviously blows the Goa theory out of the water!

The Ashton comment about FCG in South America is here (though be warned, you'll have to scroll down a dull column about van Gaal and United first): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...on-Manchester-United-great.html#ixzz4CDSGOZzr

Anyway, the piece was dated 28 January and the salient comment was that: "A deal to buy a South American club fell through recently and City had plans to offer [Pellegrini] a role if they had been able to complete the move. Instead they are already looking into alternatives."

 

[Josh White]

Looks like the Mpumalanga Black Aces wont be joining the CFG

 

[kaz7]

 

[WRicko]

Was it suggested Korea was a possibility this summer with the pre season tour and the Nexen Tire link

 

[Falastur]

Was it suggested Korea was a possibility this summer with the pre season tour and the Nexen Tire link

It was suggested, but who knows if it's true. By this point, stories of CFG expansions have become like transfer rumours - more of them turn out to be nonsense than real.

 

[Falastur]

If anyone was interested, Comitis held a press conference yesterday and announced the club name as Cape Town City FC, playing in blue (although honestly it's more reminiscent of Boca Juniors than us - plus, the badge is nothing like ours).

He denied having a partnership with any other club, though he did say he was hoping to form one and had contacted foreign teams in the hope of a deal - and he specifically namechecked three CFG teams as he did so.

That said, it feels more like a plea for recognition than a hint at a deal already struck, so I have my doubts that CFG will go for this.

 

[WRicko]

If anyone was interested, Comitis held a press conference yesterday and announced the club name as Cape Town City FC, playing in blue (although honestly it's more reminiscent of Boca Juniors than us - plus, the badge is nothing like ours).

He denied having a partnership with any other club, though he did say he was hoping to form one and had contacted foreign teams in the hope of a deal - and he specifically namechecked three CFG teams as he did so.

That said, it feels more like a plea for recognition than a hint at a deal already struck, so I have my doubts that CFG will go for this.

Sounds like he want the low level partnership black aces had bad maybe sell on one day to CFG or someone

 

[Falastur]

Sounds like he want the low level partnership black aces had bad maybe sell on one day to CFG or someone

No, I think he genuinely wants a serious partnership, I just get the feeling he hasn't had much encouragement in his search.

 

[WRicko]

No, I think he genuinely wants a serious partnership, I just get the feeling he hasn't had much encouragement in his search.

Anything more would mean selling a stake loosing identity etc

This way he can sell players and get expertise on coaching scouting etc