GAME OVER

Finally, we have had elections at Barça. Bartomeu has clearly won and will be President the next 6 years (in theory, we all know how this Club goes...)

As there have been many analyzes of these elections, I do not think we have another matter. So, here it is.

BARTOMEU: The triplet and trident. The triplet and trident. And everything works fine. And, what does not work, it is the fault of others. This and the support of a press unworthy of the name (with exceptions), which has hidden to all the socis the "bad" issues, has had enough to win. He has not presented any program (go to his website and see if you can find it), and neither it has been necessary. He asked for fair play in January, when he said that elections would be at the end the season but he and the members of his Board have been traveling up and down since then on behalf of the "events of the Club". He dind't want to go to any debate with the other candidates, except the obligatory on TV3, which is the essence of democracy. But, he is chosen by a majority of socis and, if they think the Club has to be this, it is their decision. We will have enough time to check if this Club becomes just a football team.

LAPORTA: I think he was wrong on both the timing and strategy. He said he was running for elections at the last minute and thought it was because he had to and not because he really believed in it. Nor did he present any particular program (also, go to his website), but a good number of names, really, quite exciting. Program as such was "we did so and will do so if we win." It seemed the student who leaves everything to the last day trusting his memory, and it fails him in the final exam. While on stage he is the best of all by far, the day of the debate was at a low level, without getting virtually the melee with Bartomeu (and it is very clear that Laporta is much better in this regard). If he wants to continue in the race, I think he has to do a deep self-criticism and start working from scratch.

BENEDITO: Got 8000 votes in 2010 and now 3000. Does this mean that people have no trust on him or he has done a bad campaign? Surely not, but Laporta was not in 2010 and had no clear replacement within his group and, now he was. It is quite possible that, sociologically, voters of one and another are very close, though, defended Club models are quite different. He presented his "100 proposals" as a program and many of them, really, really interesting. It has been five years breaking stones going across the country. As a worker, I do not think anyone can say anything. However, as I said once, I think he lacks something to be a media and charismatic leader. I doubt that, after two consecutive defeats, can present something more exciting for the future. We'll see.

FREIXA: A very well presented program (go to the web, like everyone else). A group of well known names by the fans, together with another group of "football workers" unknown to most of the general public. However, I said from the beginning that his credibility, to me, was nil. He has been 5 years in the Board and now he criticizes left and right. "Everything they did was wrong, the Board members had no information ..." I ask: Why did he not leave, if it was like that? If one day he is able to explain it (I doubt), he could be an interesting candidate.

BATISTE: I respect everyone's ideas, however, I can't come to understand that a group that only appeared with the idea of ​​having the famous "animation stand" and to get affordable prices for travel to matches, has been about to be a candidate. Or maybe that's what really matters to the soci. The team wins, no matter how, and that we can go to watch it wherever in Europe.

FARRE And, following the above reasoning, he was much more far from being a candidate. And, in contrast, he had a very interesting program. Even a sponsor to put more money than Qatar Airways! The upside for me is that, now that he knows how it works and what to do, can be a very interesting candidate for forthcoming elections.

MAJO: Beyond the idea, pretty well explained of the electronic voting, I do not buy anything. Majó is the person who said "Messi, best mum" when the Faus-Messi affaire ("that man", remember?). As Benedito, he has already been (and lost) more than one  elections, which does not make him for the future.

FONT: His name was mentioned as a possible candidate for many weeks and finally decided, due to time constraints, not to show and prepare the next elections. We'll see what happens.

MANAGING BOARD: They weren't a candidate, but it seemed. They bought, sold and loaned players during the election period, going far beyond what the statutes say, with the excuse of "The coach demanded it." Unacceptable for a club like Barca.

Personally, it has made me very happy to see how many of the ideas that have been put in this blog in recent months about the "Model of Club" and other stuff, have appeared in many of the programs of the candidates. I do not mean (which could also be), that some of them have been copied. To the contrary, what makes me happy is to see that, someone unknown like me is not so far, in concept of Club and way of doing things, of these that have been present at the elections. Also, you know I was in the group "Origen" which got to submit a program and finally decided not to run the call of the elecions. Right now, I do not know if we will try to participate in the next one.

I know that some candidates will read this and some will not. Some will like it and some will not. It is what it is. In any case, this game is over and now it begins a new one. We'll see what happens!

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on twitter: @JordiPascualP

ESPAI BARÇA

I wanted to write about the elections and the pre-candidates. In fact, I had it prepared fifty-fifty. However, what I have read of Josep Maria Bartomeu about the "Espai Barça" has made me change my mind. According to the pre-candidate and former unelected president (but legitimate), if his candidacy doesn't win, it is unlikely that this reform is made. Let's see:

1) The reform approved by the socis was "all or nothing". There was no alternative. It was the proposal of the Board or not doing any action.

2) A project was presented for a total amount of € 600M, when this same Board was contrary to the known "Foster Project" by Joan Laporta, costing € 300M ... because it was very expensive.

3) The construction of a new Palau Blaugrana is presented to a vote when it was already included in the electoral program. What is the reason for it? This new Palau will have a capacity of 10,000 spectators. The minimum demanded by Euroleague Basketball. Is it there so little confidence in filling it? Unable to be 12,000 or 15,000 spectators?

4) Mini-Estadi disappears. If there was so few people attending (and better not to mention Barça B match against Betis), do you think that they will go a lot to Sant Joan Despi?

5) From the 1st Ring, they will disappear several rows of seats (we do not know how many), to make way for a series of "VIP Boxes" and "Hospitality". "UEFA compels us", they say. LIE. So clear. And when they want, I show them. Show us UEFA regulations obliging do this.

6) WiFi coverage will be placed around the Camp Nou. Wasn't this in the electoral program, and it haven't been done?

7) Catering kitchens and modern extraction systems will be improved, they tell us. Let's see, so many stadiums they have seen and they have not realized that what is needed are real restaurants where people can have different offers (sandwiches, snacks, menu, "a-la-carte" ..) and not a better system for smoke's extraction?

8) Some of the money needed to make the reform will come from all these concessions and other spaces (shops, etc.), which become long-term (can be up to 50 or up to 99 years); this point was confirmed by the then Vicepresident Faus ("this man", do you remember?), asked about it in one of the presentations of the reform. But let's have clear that if they give us the money now, for all the years of the concession we will not see anything. Or is it not? What revenues will we have therefore?

9) The number of season ticket holders at the Camp Nou has dropped to 84,000. That is, there are 15,000 seats available to the public for each match. This, while there is a fairly long waiting list of socis who want a seat. Meantime, in time of Laporta, the seats were changed by others narrower, so the actual discomfort is clear enough in many areas of the stadium, without the current Board has done nothing to fix it.

10) Therefore, we speak of a reform where the socis, beyond escalators and elevators, will have little benefit. € 420m just for the Camp Nou I do not think they are justified.

Now, make no mistake about one thing. A major reform of the Camp Nou is necessary. In many ways, as I have said many times. Not only escalators, elevators, toilets and kitchens cleaner with better flues. The reform the Camp Nou requires is more than that. Make no mistake. And, I have not heard any pre-candidate saying he will do nothing in this regard. What Bartomeu has done with his statements is purely emotional blackmail to the socis.

Is it necessary a reform of the Camp Nou? Yes. So clear.

Is this reform that they propose needed? No. So clear.

Do we need a President with these ideas? No. Even clearer.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on twitter: @JordiPascualP

ELECTIONS AT BARÇA (& IV)

In previous posts I have talked about what, to me, should be the future of Barça. I have spoken of the economic model, sports and other sports. Now, it's time to talk about the one who owns the Club: The "Socis" (Members).

The socis of Barça go voting, every six years, which will their President. Every year there's Assembly of Delegates, which could gather a little more than 4000 partners to decide the general lines to be followed by the Board. The reality is that just over 1000 are attending. And that's it. It is very difficult (if not impossible) that the partners may have other activities and participation in the daily life of the club. Convene a non-confidence motion, with the new Statutes, means they have to be 15% of the members entitled to vote who request it. Around 20000. In 14 days, without having Census Members.

"Socis" (less and less, by the way), go to the Camp Nou every 15 days. One reason is that there are fewer members seats. How is this? All Right. Very simple. Not everyone who leaves the seat (resign as member), is replaced by other members. In the late 90s, the Club had major headaches in Champions League games. By law, 5% of tickets should be for visiting supporters. And this meant moving a large number of people (mostly Lateral (side), 3rd Row), to do so. Today, this is much easier. With a capacity of 99,000 seats, only 84000 (figure given by the Vice-President Faus in one of the presentations for the reform of the Camp Nou), are members. That is, 15,000 seats have been lost (or have been won 15,000 tickets to put on sale every game, each one to look as they want).

And, as ever fewer members, it is increasingly difficult to have complaints. At least, in the stadium. Very special circumstances should be taken to the "soci" make a mass protest. It's not about the "soci" to complain every day. Not at all. It is establishing channels that allow the members to say theirs. To participate more actively in the day by day. Nor, it does not try to monitor the activities of the Board. No. That's why they were elected.

For instance. The Delegates we talked about earlier are chosen by lottery. Don't you mean that, to encourage participation, it would be better than those members who want to be (delegates), can be elected directly? And if you do not get the number that mark the Statutes, then the draw is made to choose the rest.

Or, the members to have option for interviews (interactive, for example), with the Officials of the Club? These may, from time to time, go explaining what happens in the Club.

Many will say to me that most clubs that's what happens. Do not forget one thing. In the vast majority of clubs in the world, people that go to the Stadium aren't club owners. They are supporters, only. Here, as I have said many times, we are the "owners". The decisions of the Board are (or will be) in accordance with an electoral program and, as we say the members. On the other clubs, no. There is one person or group of persons who, because they have the majority of shares in the club, decide what they believe is best for their personal interests. And if they get tired, they sell it (the Club), and go away.

At Barça, it does not happen. And it doesn't have to happen. Barça must remain of its members. And they to say theirs. And, it is not to send an e-mail to complain that the seat is broken. Or that water falls when it rains because a pipe from the top is broken. Or ... No. This is not member participation. But then, neither the schedules nor the restoration of Camp Nou does not help much, not to say it does not help anything. Matches on weekdays at 10 pm. With some sandwiches and drinks at exorbitant prices (and no more than that). Members who go to the stadium arrive just in time, watch the game and leave quickly, because tomorrow people have to get up early to go to work. And let's not talk of those who live outside Barcelona and have 2-3 hours to arrive. At some point there was talk of formulas as applied by Bayern, which takes off place at those who do not go to matches. Normal schedule in Bundesliga is 15:30 on Saturday. There's a match at 18:30. One on Friday at 20:30 and Sundays match at 15:30 and another at 17:30. The same as here, so. And some would like to apply the measure. I know they will tell me that this is not the fault of the club. If TV, that if the Asian market, if ... Are you sure? At all? Can anyone tell the me difference (in TV rights), when playing on Sunday at 5pm or Sunday at 9pm? I'm not so clear.

What should be the mechanisms that allow the participation of the membrs? As I said, there are a few: Interactivity with Officials, suitable schedules, adaptation of the Stadium, Assemblies with more representative Delegates ... If you think about it, certainly you'll nfind some more.

It is our Club, and we are all interested in this is working.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

ELECTIONS AT BARÇA (III)

Historically, FC Barcelona has been a multidisciplinary Club. Basketball, Handball, Volleyball, Rugby, etc. have been sports where the name of our Club has been present. Currently, up to 12 different modalities are practiced in the Club. Of these, 4 are considered professionals (Basketball, Handball, Roller-Hockey and Futsal), while the rest are amateurs.

The questions that many people raise are: Is it necessary to spend so much money to maintain (in the case of professional sports) as a loss-making activities for the Club? and, moreover, should we have so many different amateur sports in a club that is as professional as Barça?

I will tell you yes. To both. Let's start by the amateur sections. The last to go was an historical as was baseball. The justification was that the cost of this section was around 400,000€/year and, since the Club had a "deep economic crisis as a result of the previous Board" had to eliminate those expenses which were not necessary. Well, for you may have an idea, bringing Neymar with family and friends to the presentation of  the player cost (travel, hotels, etc.), according to what the former President Rosell said in his statement to the judge, 301,000€. That is, in a couple of days we spent the same cost that baseball has in a year. No comments.

As the name suggests, they are amateur teams; ie, the players do this sport because they like it, and they have no financial compensation that allows them to live of the sport. As such, these sports serve to show the name of Barça everywhere. To compete. Nothing else than that. So many sponsors and partners and I do not know how many things we have, can't we find one of more local type that serves to cover part of the costs they have? At the end of the day, how much money (among all these amateur sports) are we talking about? 5M€/year? For a club with an overall budget of over 500M€, this means 1% of the total. To put it differently: What an average player of the football team earns (gross), is what cost us all sections at the end of the year. And there would be many simple solutions, such as involving professional players, who serve for these sports. I think there is no more getting around the issue.

Let's go to 'professionals' sports. Teams ready to compete at the highest level in all competitions. Teams that play the "Champions League" for their sport, which often are in the finals and win. Teams costing us a lot of money each year and they tell us they are a bottomless pit. That, however much you try, you can never be profitable. Are you Sure? Has anyone looked well how the NBA works? Has anyone looked at how they work teams across Europe that do not have a "mother" football team who gives the name and much more? As many clubs from around the world come to see the model of "La Masia" to carry it to their clubs and countries, I think we should go there to see what and how. Because if Memphis Grizzlies, with a capacity in the Fedex Forum of 18,000 spectators has benefits and this Club is only dedicated to this, we have to start thinking how they do there.

They have said us about having global sponsors for all sections, about sponsorship for each team, this and that. What I can not understand is that a club like Barça have so much trouble to put a commercial name on the shirt when, we are told, there are so many sponsors and so many people who want to invest in our Club. Something is not right. Or we do not know how to sell the brand "Barça" or, we can not explain what the different sections represent or whatever. What is certain is that there is something that we do not do well.

Together with the purely sporting part is the exploitation of the sports arena. The "Palau Blau Grana". Years ago that is small and outdated. The Board put in the same package of reform of the Camp Nou building a new "Palau" when this was something that had in its election manifesto. If someone tells me reasons why you must go to referendum something we already said they wanted to do... Also, one of the prerequisites for this new construction is that Euroleague Basketball forces have pavilions at least 10,000 people capacity. What capacity will have the new "Palau"? Well, 10,000. That is, it appears that the Board has no great interest (or do not know how it works), in a large enclosed sports arena. Beyond the matches, there are many activities to do on a Pavilion of these features. Perhaps no one has explained, but here too there are "VIP Boxes", restaurants, etc. It is, like the case of football, to offer all kinds of services, match-day as well as the other days. People should have the need to spend the day at the club facilities and, if football game is at 8pm, do not have a match of whatever at 6pm, for the simple reason that people leave the Palau to go immediately to Camp Nou. Now, if you have the game in the Palau at 5pm, there may be people who go to eat something before changing scenario. Obviously, this is linked with the prices at the concessions of restaurants and similar. With current prices and services neither the Camp Nou nor the Palau. Has anyone stopped to consider the revenue that could we have with another model of pricing and service?

The sections are closely related to the exploitation of the "Palau". In fact, there is no, in these sports, the earnings of football by television and/or ticketing. One thing to decide is what we do with Club members and their relationship with other sports. Obviously, the first thing that matters is that the person who will watch basketball or handball is the "soci" of the club. But, as we said before, there is a problem of exploitation. The futsal team played a few days ago the "Elite Round" of UEFA giving access to the "Final Four" of the sport. It was played at the "Palau". What was the assistance of spectators? Below 2,000. Something does not work. The same with basketball. The "Palau" is only full 6 or 7 days of the year when we play 40 home games in a season. Little bit. Very little. We have, in different sports, some of the world's best in their specialty, but usually the "Palau" is half full (or half empty, as you prefer). I repeat: something does not work. You see matches of other Clubs in their domestic competitions and halls are full. And, let alone "Champions" matches. Tickets are sold many days before the game. With so many experts in Marketing, New Technology, etc. Are we not able to find ways to fill a "Palau" that, at most, has a capacity of 8,000 spectators? How to fill one 10,000 or 15,000?

We have two ways. Or we accept the current model, and we'll always complain that spending is unsustainable or, we start to look seriously what others do, that fill halls and have benefits

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

ELECTIONS AT BARÇA (II)

In this second post about the future of Barça, I want to talk about sports model. About football. About the Sections (other sports), I will discuss it in a forthcoming.

What has made Barça a great club in recent years, beyond the victories and titles, is the way to play. A work that begins in the late 70s with people like Oriol Tort or Laureano Ruiz, but it gets the final boost from the arrival of Cruyff as coach. Cruyff carries with it the working model at Ajax, it begins to be applied to all grassroots football. So, 25 years ago. Not 4 days.

This model (a way to play, a way to train) is a mainstay when we speak of being "More than a Club". A Club where all teams play the same way, from the lowest/youngest to the top/oldest. Obviously, there are variations from one team to another, for the simple reason that the players are not all equal. But the idea is one and only one.

Now, that is gone. The first team plays in a way that has little to do with that. Some people speak of evolution, revolution, even ... Forgive me, but now is another style of play. Beyond that you like it or not. In the meantime, the youngest at the Club continue to work as usual, and the closest to the first team (Barça B, Juvenil A) are in no man's land. Neither here, nor there.

This is what they have to say potential candidates: What model they want. And how it is applied. And this means to coach people that cas apply this model. And, look for players that are adaptable to the model. And, having an effective Technical Secretariat. No point having a fantastic program (as they say is the COR, with 20,000 players in its database) if we don't sign the type of player we need (when we have to sign). This is a second premise. We've been told plenty of times in recent times that if  we don't find outside here the player we need, we will look at home. Is this "Barça's Philosophy? Excuse me, but no. If you want to do things well, the first thing is to look at home. And, if you do not find what we seek at home, then you have to go outside. But not vice versa. The club invests around 20-25M€/year in Grassroots/Academy... to go signing outside? Sorry, but I'm lost.

The Club sports model, then, must have these 3 legs: Model of play, model of training and model of recruitment/training.

The model of play must be ours, we've had so far. That is based on positional play. For all Club teams. And if a candidate wants to change, he says. Not worth what we have now: Saying one thing (that the model is not discussed), and make a different, ie play another way. And, if they want to change, they have to tell us why. This about "the model is obsolete" is a lie. The problem is that many do not yet know how the model works, and as it is difficult, or very difficult, if solutions are not found, the better thing is to change.

Similarly, and linked with the above, how to train should be the same: everyone has to train the same way (obviously, with the differences based on age: it is not the same a 9 year old boy, one of 15, or an adult). And therefore, it is needed to have trained coaches who understand how Barça works. And, apparently, once we are out of Barça, there are no coaches in the world who know the functioning of positional play. It is not time for a global approach? Similarly we have exported the  brand "Barça" across the globe in terms of a number of things, why not do it at the level of methodology?

Finally, the third leg. The recruitment and training. As I have said many times, the current recruitmenr system does not work. At least the structure. There are many trips here and there that could be solved differently, just as there are many places where there is no presence of the Club. We need to do these processes more rationally, so that there is maximum presence and hence the maximum information. And also, we have to use all ways to obtain this information. And, there are many unused. As for training, as I said before, the current model of "La Masia" is to be used. First, always, from home. And to see well the needs of the first team and search at home. It can not be that Barca B let go, especially in recent years, a lot of players that are replaced by others, that the following year are leaving again. This, I understand, means that there is no clear policy regarding the type of players they are searched/needed. Furthermore, the way that happens mostly: those who go do it for free and those that come are costing us money.

Over these three legs I understand we have to build the Barça of the future. And if a candidate believes that the legs should be a different way, say it. But in concretion. What and how he will do it. It has to be clear to all. Barça is a football Club, and it is useless to have many benefits if then the performance on the pitch is not as expected.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

ELECTIONS AT BARÇA (I)

It seems that the pre-electoral campaign for the elections for President of FC Barcelona which, at the latest, will be in the spring of 2016, has already begun. Beyond the possible/probable candidates, I want to make some reflections on what I think any of them should consider.

The first (and it is what this post is dedicated t), is the club model. Not model referred to the sports side, but in terms of economic and social aspects.

Barça is a club with around 150,000 owners: the "socis" (members). All with the same rights and duties. Every 6 years by universal suffrage, we choose the person who will lead us through this period.

Each year, in order to control the action of the Board, we have the General Assembly of Commissioners. First problem. The Commissioners basically are chosen through a lottery process. That is by far, if some one wants to go to the Assembly, if the machine does not pick your membership number, you will not be there. This, among other things, makes an Assembly which has more than 4,000 potential participants, only have, at crunch time, around 1,000. Few people. Very little, to decide, and often without all the required information, what we want to be done in the next period.

Moreover, one of the things that is being considered is whether the current model can increase substantially the income/benefits of the Club. At the end of the day, if the Club has no benefits, you can not sign players (if needed), you can not make improvements to infrastructure, etc.

To make it easy, we will say that basically there are 3 types of Club model. The first is the one we have said. The one that Barça has today. One where those who go to the stadium, are the owners, at 100%, of everything that represents the Club.

The second model is followed by the majority of Clubs worldwide. The Club is a Corporation with an(some) owner(s). These are the ones who decide what happens in the Club. People who go to the stadium to watch the games, unless they are shareholders, they have no say over what happens in the Club.

A third model, mainly, is used in Germany. Basically, in this model, the supporters (the "socis" for Barca) are the owners of the football club. At the same time, there is a "Corporation" that is responsible for the whole theme about marketing, advertising, etc. That is, what is the "non sport" part, the Club (ie the sports part), is the majority shareholder of the "Corporation".

The key question is: Can Barça, with its current structure, maintain the same level of income/benefits thatthe other big Clubs have?

If the answer is YES, we don't need to talk anymore. Only (and already is a big job), they should seek ways to encourage higher participation of the "socis" and, at the same time, greater control over the actions of the Board. And when I say control I do not mean an agency to audit every 5 minutes what the Board is doing. At the end of the day, when it is chosen it is because it is believed to be the best prepared to do. I mean some sort of "Parliament" or whatever you want to say, to be able to say yes or no to certain specific activities (such as money invested in signings, infrastructure, etc.). It is not that, every time we buy a laptop (for example), you have to ask this body to give its approval. No. This is the day by day of the Board. It is, roughly, the general control of the big budget items.

If the answer to the question we've done before is NO, it is necessary that we think we want to be. What and how.

Being a "Corporation", like the majority of Clubs means that, those who go to the stadium, in principle, decide nothing. Now, they do not own anymore. The owners are a group of people who invest their money and as such, their first goal is to have an economic benefit. No sports. So that we understand: winning the Champions League is good for the money paid to the entity, not the sporting event. This means that you can buy and sell players based on an income statement, not the performance that may occur in the field. The big advantage for most of the current "socis" is that our money is no longer in danger. There are others who win or lose. Like any ordinary company. Because that's what Barça would become. A company like many other that manufactures cars or drinks. Like any ordinary business, there will be some sponsors who will pay money to add their trademark on the pitch. They will be those who are entitled to tickets for the big games. So they pay. On the other hand, if we like it, it's well, and if not, too. And the day they get tired of this "toy" they will leave. They will sell their shares to others. That will continue to decide what is best for their pockets. Examples include Manchester United, AC Milan, Liverpool, PSG, etc.

The second option, if not possible the actual one, is the German model. Here is a company that represents what is the "nos-sport" side. The sports Club is still owned by the "socis", and they always have the majority of shares in the Corporation. In this sense, I recommend the following article (in Spanish) by @feriurgo which explains very clearly how the system works. It has the advantages of the availability of a lot of money. The disadvantage, as in the previous case, it would no longer be all ours. Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, etc. work with this model.

There is still another option. Accepting that we can not grow with the current system and not wanting to change. This can mean that we can be many years without winning the Champions League (and perhaps not participate at it). Moreover, this also represents that the work done with at the grassroots still have to be much higher than we do now, because we will not have the necessary money or to buy great players (when needed), or pay large wages that they have. It is to stay with the current model (assuming you can not grow up with it), with all that it would mean at all levels.

In any case, the first thing to decide the one who wants to be the next President of Barça is this. Without the definition of this model, it will be difficult to decide the sports policy, which I will talk about in the next entry.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP