But in reality Ax, its a pointless and inaccurate comment.
- The Salisbury poisonings occurred in March 2018
- In June 2018 Roman withdrew his visa renewal following questions being raised by the UK government that he found intrusive.
- At the same time he took Israeli residency and stalled the massive expansion development of the club (quite rightly as he could even reside here)
- The club then continued to operate under Bruce Buck over a four year period during which the club were subject to to transfer embargo due to proven shady dealings primarily surrounding the Kakuta signing (that turned out well didn't it), as well as a worldwide lockdown, during which we won the CL.
- Roman, along with 6 other Russian oligarches were sanction in 2022 following the Russian invasion. (the country was largely up in arms over the reporting of the invasion of Ukraine).
- Having very nearly gone to the wall the club was then sold to the reportedly only group that physically stumped up the dough by the deadline.
- Since then many of us have been highlighting how sh*t this "project" is and what is really going on, but just as many wanted to believe that there is an achievable route to success.
At which point during these course of events should us men have picked up our pitchforks and our lady folk burnt their colllective bras to march on the club to protest our misgivings to our largely absent owners.
Even this 17 Jan protest will, by its very nature, be disjointed and presented by a minority. Granted banners inside the ground, pitch demonstrations etc are all trespass and can be prosecuted but a far more effective method would be if there could be a truly unified demonstration similar to the minutes applause that the ground sometimes does of its own accord. If at 15 minutes each home game the entire ground were to start chanting the "You've Killed our Club" chant it would be more effective as it would get airplay, especially if it were without profanity and would be coming from up to 40,000 voices as one.
I don't feel it is a pointless or inaccurate comment mate.
I appreciate your response and the points you have listed. If I may reply.
I haven't, and won't, say we should have done anything in 2018 and around what you pointed out happened then. It is still very saddening to look back upon that costing us our "cathedral of football" but nothing we could or should have done.
Regarding what happen to Roman and, more importantly, the club in 2022 I do firmly believe our core fanbase should have been out protesting against government, and I feel we let ourselves down by not doing so.
Only 1 year prior to that our core fanbase let Roman know the plans to change the football landscape with the super league was not acceptable.
1 year late the government took action that could have wiped our club out. Supporters could not even buy tickets to attend matches.
Their actions were such a blunderbuss approach with no consideration to what it did to thousands upon thousands of their own people, putting jobs at risk as well as the existence Of a historical, top level team, that I believe should have been met with protests and resistance.
While personally I don't believe Roman did any of the things they accused him of regarding putins war I know he is not a Saint and bent/broke football rules like most others in the game likely do.
Protesting in his name I understand could not have been done, but for the club and what a place it was put in I do think could and should have happened.
Roman was the owner but the supporters are the land lords. I hear what you are saying. What the government said, the lies and fear the spread, meant the majority could not speak up, or feel they should speak up, for Roman. We could have for the club and each other though, is how I feel.
