I understand why Laporta did what he did this summer, bringing players to make sure we don't fall further into oblivion. Yes, if we fall further it is going to become a downward spiral, I understand all of that.
I'd have preferred that he is more careful and prudent with the temporary oozing of cash/newfound wealth, whatever, and stop his spending spree and focus more effort on cutting the wage bill. The latest thing involving those 4 years is something in the right direction, even though I am not proud of the bad publicity that came with it and how it makes the entire institution look like fools.
I want him to pay down our debt more.
I just want him to stop and pause for a second, don't throw everything in and have a plan, a rather long-term one, not just for his presidency to bring the club back on healthy footing. If he is short-sighted as I suspect he is, he will only worry about the current season. What will happen in the next couple of years? I hope he has a sound plan.
Again, what are we going to sell next summer, and in the summer of 2024, 2025? Are they going to sell you and me?
In 5 to 10 years, we will sell the club probably. This is the source of panic behind the Super-League obsession from Madrid and Barca in particular. The scare that the model does no longer add up, and every bad period of management is gonna generate major losses that can't be reasonably covered fast enough without sacrificing the club's no1 objective, staying at the top of the game.
Again, in ideal circumstances, with proper leadership in terms of President and board, the club can raise the money needed to be super-competitive. Football has gotten absurd in terms of money, but it's still just manageable enough, but only for smart leaders. But there is no guarantee that political clubs will elect proper leaders all the time. Look at real life, it's a never ending cycle, bad, good, slightly bad, decent, bad, good, shit, great, bad, good, shit, good. When it's good, you'll make enough to keep functioning at the elite level. But who covers the shit? From which money? Back in the day, 20 years ago the shit was easily coverable. Now the shit is hundreds of millions of damage.
If Barcelona is privately owned, and basically Bartomeu has to answer to an owner. The guy is a) fired by the owner for sheer incompetence before he blows the hole ship up, or b) he is not fired, he causes major losses for the club and the owner covers it because it's his fault the guy wasn't fired in the end. When you have the most power, and you bring in the money, it's your responsability. You fuck up, hire clowns, have 10 billions net worth, cover the losses of your own fuck up and do better next time.
That's what is about. But what if b) is not on the table at all. An incompetent is in charge, he doesn't have anyone to cut his head off in time, and instead he will proceed to lie and sink the club into many years of problems? That's really bad.
For me, there is a sound principle in bussiness in general, which is valid. Whenever you risk your own wealth and your own money, you have the most to lose and you are the most alert, because it's your own future at stake. Barcelona's circle of responsibility is sketchy, and it's basically down to the moral fiber of the president. If you have a shit president, he has enough means to blow shit up.
Bartomeu the rat torpedoed the club, and the guy is out of his mandate, chilling in the Caribbean or some shit like that drinking Pina Coladas. And you have to pay the bill. The club can't really pay it because it has no real money, except what they make. And you can't make money without spending money. This is the key problem. Private ownership will solve it.
