Why The World's Richest Football Club Is In Crisis

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  • Опубліковано 13 чер 2023
  • Forget Manchester City, PSG, and Newcastle United's Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Saudi Arabian ownership regimes - could it really be that Championship strugglers West Bromwich Albion are the richest club in world football?
    Recent reports suggest that the largest individual shareholder at West Brom is the People's Republic of China - the second largest economy on Earth - yet the Baggies are currently mired in debt and crisis, and have been on a downward spiral ever since their Chinese takeover in 2016.
    So in this documentary, HITC Sevens takes a deep dive into West Brom's complex ownership structure, the mysterious figure of Guochuan Lai, and why the club faces a serious fight for its future.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 653

  • @averagewelsh12
    @averagewelsh12 11 місяців тому +685

    As an Albion fan, thank you for making this video and highlighting the club’s staggering issues, it’s heartbreaking to see such a slow death.

    • @nicholastricarico2957
      @nicholastricarico2957 11 місяців тому +24

      Quite the shame, too, as they're a bit of a sleeping giant in the English game.

    • @TheMestarit
      @TheMestarit 11 місяців тому +9

      Could be worse, could be a reading fan I’m unsure if we will be operating everyone running the club left and we’re in 200m debt

    • @Pokemaster_416
      @Pokemaster_416 11 місяців тому +3

      But Brighton doesn’t have staggering issues?

    • @BaggieSnave93
      @BaggieSnave93 11 місяців тому +21

      @@Pokemaster_416Tinpot Brighton have no right to call themselves Albion.

    • @Pokemaster_416
      @Pokemaster_416 11 місяців тому +4

      What’s tinpot about 6th place? Better than any finish your club has done

  • @grantsnelson3303
    @grantsnelson3303 11 місяців тому +215

    I’m an American who got into football in late 2020. I wanted a club to support but couldn’t get into any of the big 6 clubs, felt like a bandwagoner. Traced back family lines to brierley hill so I became a baggies fan. Tough time to pick up being a fan of them, but now I am obsessed with the club. Hoping for the best in the future but certainly expecting the worst

    • @alterbridgegod
      @alterbridgegod 11 місяців тому +22

      You made a good choice. Great club

    • @indiekiddrugpatrol3117
      @indiekiddrugpatrol3117 11 місяців тому +25

      May not be great right now but they're one of the pioneers of English football, proper historic club with a proper working class fanbase.

    • @carllondonnuman7604
      @carllondonnuman7604 9 місяців тому +1

      Where you from in the US mate?

    • @A-small-amount-of-peas
      @A-small-amount-of-peas 9 місяців тому +8

      Good on you for being a proper football fan who doesn't just pick a glamour club to support

    • @grantsnelson3303
      @grantsnelson3303 9 місяців тому +7

      @@carllondonnuman7604 Charlotte, NC. The South

  • @shanebeaumont3215
    @shanebeaumont3215 11 місяців тому +303

    Very impressed with the research you have done on this Alfie, it's shocking that none of the media have reported on this despite all of the protests of our club. Thank you for shining a light on our predicament

    • @nigeh5326
      @nigeh5326 11 місяців тому +15

      The national media only care about Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs.
      Football is not about the game it’s just about the money now 😔

    • @NazriB
      @NazriB 11 місяців тому

      Lies again? Time Crisis Horny Sex

    • @depekthegreat359
      @depekthegreat359 11 місяців тому

      @@nigeh5326 Don't forget to add Chelsea as but mostly,the national media only care more of the fake big clubs of more than fourteen which are of course,Chelsea and Manchester City and on his behalf,I did respond,good friend!!!🏋‍♂️

    • @kal77uk
      @kal77uk 11 місяців тому +1

      WBA are a badly run team so why would the media report on it. Its not like the players didnt accept the Chinese cash or the fans didnt realise they had a Chinese oligarch owner.

    • @KingofWolves3277
      @KingofWolves3277 11 місяців тому +2

      @@nigeh5326 can't wait for Luton to change that!

  • @KirbyBackwards
    @KirbyBackwards 11 місяців тому +250

    Banger video once again mate, it's honestly unbelieveable you're not a bigger channel with how much research and effort you put in

    • @arrowhasautism9953
      @arrowhasautism9953 11 місяців тому +10

      Sadly. Its because he doesn't shout all the time like all the other football youtubers

    • @thedethrocker8858
      @thedethrocker8858 11 місяців тому

      I absolutely agree...he should just feck off and make his own channel with the same style and presentation...but I'm guessing we don't know all the dealings behind the scenes...the dude off the original HITC is fucking unbearable

    • @timlamiam
      @timlamiam 11 місяців тому +6

      he has over 500k subs, that's already damn impressive.

    • @KirbyBackwards
      @KirbyBackwards 11 місяців тому +4

      @@timlamiam Yes mate its certainly no small feat, Just mean with the amount of eyes on football content probably a few more of them should be over here

  • @spacebory
    @spacebory 11 місяців тому +71

    It’s scary to be a baggies fan at the minute. Disgraceful how the FA and EFL have allowed situations like this to occur time and time again

    • @twilliamspro
      @twilliamspro 11 місяців тому

      Birmingham are in similar Issues hope you guys find new owners Like we seem to be

    • @whakjob
      @whakjob 9 місяців тому

      from one Albion to another, Enjoy Sarmiento ( PS - Brightonion here )

    • @lorddarlo6194
      @lorddarlo6194 8 місяців тому

      ​@@twilliamsproYou got took over we have no clue what the fuck is happening to us

  • @paulvinten7672
    @paulvinten7672 11 місяців тому +43

    This sounds like Portsmouth Version 2 and football still won't sort out it's regulations
    As a Pompey fan, I'm gutted for baggies, they've got a great fanbase.

  • @danielsaunders8068
    @danielsaunders8068 8 місяців тому +14

    As an Aussie whom is 50yrs old now and became a WBA fan at 8yrs old. Because of an English kid that moved to Australia. We became best friends and because Paul was a Baggies fan I became one. It's so disappointing to see whats happening to our beloved club.

  • @astralplainer
    @astralplainer 11 місяців тому +49

    Not a Baggie, but a 45-year English football fan. I remember them in the old First Division during 'The 3 degrees' era. It's disgusting how the rot has set in. These clubs need to be protected, not destroyed by shady foreign gangsters laundering their dodgy cash at the expense of loyal supporters. Come on FA sort it out!

  • @Chaos-co1iv
    @Chaos-co1iv 9 місяців тому +19

    this is heartbreaking to watch, even as a villa fan. yes im not a fan of the baggies one bit but seeing a historical founding club get destroyed by rich greedy uncaring owners is terrible. it also makes me as a villa fan feel very blessed as this easily could have been us. hopefully this situation gets resolved with minimal damage to club any further.

    • @connorlee5873
      @connorlee5873 9 місяців тому

      Who bought villa out from the Chinese

  • @soundscape26
    @soundscape26 11 місяців тому +81

    And this is why the Bundesliga system of club ownership will always be the best despite cases like RB Leipzig.

    • @wesleyankomah4361
      @wesleyankomah4361 11 місяців тому +22

      That’s why Bayern wins the league every year 🤣

    • @timujin1000
      @timujin1000 11 місяців тому +15

      @@wesleyankomah4361 City???

    • @maciejbala477
      @maciejbala477 11 місяців тому +1

      at least RB Leipzig aren't looking to ruin the club, they just pumped a lot of money into it and are treating the fans like shit compared to other BL clubs

    • @ColinS89
      @ColinS89 11 місяців тому +10

      @@timujin1000 City have won the league 3 years in a row, and now it’s looking like Newcastle will be a legit contender (in addition to the other usual suspects like Arsenal, United, Liverpool, etc). Meanwhile, Bayern have won the league for a decade straight. It’s no comparison.

    • @soundscape26
      @soundscape26 11 місяців тому

      @@wesleyankomah4361 And that's because of the clubs' ownership system and the 50+1 rule?

  • @benmartin7708
    @benmartin7708 11 місяців тому +39

    Albion fan from birth from an Albion supporting family going way back this club is in my blood and it’s heartbreaking and devastating our club could really disappear. Excellent video Alfie and we need more coverage as this could happen to any club without proper regulation the fit and proper person test is a joke and football is being used to allow corrupt individuals or groups to take advantage. Villa also was in this predicament before nswe took over and Pompey was also in this boat. One things you missed in the video was another loan taken out by Jeremy peace which we have no idea what it was for that yunyi promised to pay when they bought the club this is also outstanding. The action 4 Albion also wanted this investigated because it is alleged peace used this money to actually increase his shareholding to sell the club. Peace although he ran a tight ship his legacy is tainted with all this and this is after he promised he would only sell to those he knew would look after the best interests of the club in reality he took the overinflated price and ran.

    • @jespertheilmannjensen3822
      @jespertheilmannjensen3822 11 місяців тому +1

      To be honest I don't know whether Jeremy Peace got greedy, or whether he genuinely believed the promises made by Guochuan Lai. Either way the Throstles are suffering, and I fear that the worst is yet to come.

  • @nilsoskar
    @nilsoskar 11 місяців тому +114

    Thank you for making this video, as an Albion fan it’s a scary time when we used to be so good with our money, everything looks very dire if we fail to go up next season…

    • @bababababababa6124
      @bababababababa6124 11 місяців тому +4

      You only barely missed the playoffs last season tbf, next season you might be there

    • @al1ex916
      @al1ex916 11 місяців тому +5

      @@bababababababa6124some very good teams in the championship next season. Gonna be very difficult for them to get playoffs with some very well run clubs around

    • @bababababababa6124
      @bababababababa6124 11 місяців тому +3

      @@al1ex916yeah Leicester Southampton Leeds Middlesbrough Coventry and a few others won’t make it easy, but I feel a 6th or 7th place finish for them idk why 😂

    • @pincermovement72
      @pincermovement72 11 місяців тому

      We won’t get promoted the teams that will come down will be too strong .

    • @nilsoskar
      @nilsoskar 11 місяців тому

      @@pincermovement72 agree mate not looking great

  • @ryanflavell6159
    @ryanflavell6159 11 місяців тому +19

    As a wolves fan, I should be laughing but I'd love to see albion in the Premier league competing with us and villa. Wolves seemed to have hit the jackpot as far as Chinese ownership is concerned. My albion fan mates are just fed up and I don't blame them. Hopefully it's sorted

    • @lorddarlo6194
      @lorddarlo6194 11 місяців тому +5

      Ay you lot in trouble though with financial rules much like us you ay really covered but I read Lopetgui could leave because of some fincial issues. If both of us founders are the football league do end up in the Shit. Hopefully Villa have far more Caring fans than deluded to Try and save there rivals and Midlands neighbours or Walsall maybe being to some Black Country being to others not in the Black Country could ask the Government to save the two biggest clubs in the Black Country

    • @YellowPotatoable
      @YellowPotatoable 11 місяців тому

      @@Richard-bl5yr Glad someone mentioned this! Don't want to see any great football club collapsing like this, but it's not like other Midlands clubs weren't having a field day when Villa almost went into administration!

    • @ccook92
      @ccook92 11 місяців тому +2

      No you shouldn’t be laughing, football is bigger than rivalries. ANY club going under is devastating, rival or not.

    • @conallhomer453
      @conallhomer453 11 місяців тому

      @@ccook92 exactly

  • @joeosborne-ellis9288
    @joeosborne-ellis9288 11 місяців тому +27

    Thank you for making this video, as a life long albion fan this is the worst time the club has had in my lifetime and yet there has been such limited coverage about the terrible state of affairs.

    • @jackninetynine5036
      @jackninetynine5036 11 місяців тому +1

      People only wake up when clubs are on the brink Of disappearing like Bolton & derby were. Even some of our fans are still burying their heads under the sand

    • @jackninetynine5036
      @jackninetynine5036 11 місяців тому +2

      @Donald Duck 2000 what an irrelevant point

  • @TheWithlings
    @TheWithlings 11 місяців тому +85

    Hey Alfie, great video as always. I had no idea it was so bad at WBA, gotta feel for the fans. You touched upon Birmingham being owned by Carson Yeung in this video who was infamously in prison for money laundering whilst still owning the club.
    I'd love you to do a deep dive into the shenanigans that have gone on there ever since the league cup win in 2011 - as they've managed to avoid League 1 forever (so it seems) I don't think the situation there has ever had much attention outside of the Midlands.
    Thanks and keep up the good work 👍

    • @nigeh5326
      @nigeh5326 11 місяців тому +4

      I’m a Baggies fan and can remember Blues having financial issues way back in the 80s.
      They have always wanted to match the Villa but never had the money, the history or the stadium to do it.

    • @Dan_Gilpin
      @Dan_Gilpin 11 місяців тому +3

      100% agree, would definitely like to see Alfie comb through our mess too, have messaged him a few times to see if it can be done!

    • @hudson7354
      @hudson7354 10 місяців тому

      @@Dan_Gilpinwhy ? Daniel Ivery has done the business and tomorrow is our Birthday

    • @EmuGamesMaster
      @EmuGamesMaster 10 місяців тому +2

      How times change in a short space of time… KRO

    • @TheWithlings
      @TheWithlings 9 місяців тому

      @@hudson7354 would just be good to get another perspective and from someone outside the blues community. Also with what's just happened it'll be nice watch it through on YT and think thanks f*ck that's over 😂

  • @vespachez
    @vespachez 11 місяців тому +27

    As a baggies fan this helps us all understand more. Thank you Alfie. We can only hope 💙

  • @123Metalguru
    @123Metalguru 11 місяців тому +9

    Thank you for covering this Alfie- the state of West Brom has been ignored by a lot of people for a long time. Excellent video

  • @psthebam
    @psthebam 11 місяців тому +20

    Been waiting for a video like this one, i am from Mexico but for some reason i love this club so much and this frikkin situation makes me so very angry i want nothing but the best for West Brom! Their fans deserve much better!

  • @HDxvies
    @HDxvies 11 місяців тому +50

    Honestly thank you so much for this video! As an Albion fan it’s great to see that we’re being spoken about in the public, we’re in crisis and don’t even know our future. It is looking likely day by day that if we don’t get new owners that we could be in liquidation and the club dissolved. I pray this doesn’t happen as I wouldn’t know what to do if my club dissolved, just hope that this gets sorted out in the near future. We’re one of the founders members of the football league we deserve better than this! This takeover should never of been approved dodgy since day 1! COYB💙

    • @HDxvies
      @HDxvies 11 місяців тому +1

      @@Bootneck777 Yes as no investment in the squad has happened since Lai owned the club 🤦🏼‍♂️

  • @Macho_Fantastico
    @Macho_Fantastico 10 місяців тому +4

    I'm glad you covered the Baggies, a friend of mine (Baggies fan) explained how strange their ownership is and I had no idea.

  • @manning0
    @manning0 11 місяців тому +42

    It's criminal how these owners are sucking the life out of football clubs like parasites, but at least there's people like you Alfie, bring light to these scandalous proceedings.

    • @jakenh8264
      @jakenh8264 11 місяців тому +4

      There will be no punishment for these criminals.

    • @skp8748
      @skp8748 11 місяців тому

      Yanks do the same but at least keep the operable... seems like only arabs are to be trusted

  • @alimuthana7293
    @alimuthana7293 11 місяців тому +9

    As an Albion fan, Lai has led the club into a hole of despair and he doesn’t seem bothered to do anything to fix the issues he created. We will not get promoted with his revolving door policy of leadership.

  •  11 місяців тому +4

    Another West Brom fan here. I hope this coverage San shed some light on our situation. Unbelievably none of this makes the mainstream news and like you said because we are not on of the big 6/7/8 teams in England. Hopefully this sheds some light and gets some people to ask more questions.

  • @TDBTylerable
    @TDBTylerable 11 місяців тому +9

    As an outsider looking in this whole situation is truly devastating and I hope this gets resolved for the fans... I just can't see how.
    I'm getting really sick of new owners coming in and using clubs as playthings, tons of wealth yet dubious financial shenanigans and absolutely no clue how to organise things what-so-ever.
    It's additionally sickening that it's also happening to clubs that have been around since the late 1800s... (stares at my local club Reading for another example), hopefully I'm not sounding too hyperbolic when I say that's literally history and ought to be protected, no matter who you support.
    Great video Alfie, well made, truly spells out the mess that I hope WBA can get away from intact!

  • @richiesimons4403
    @richiesimons4403 11 місяців тому +10

    Thank you so much Alfie for putting this video out. As I am a West Bromwich Albion fan, our plight needs to be told.
    It's a real shitstorm of immeasurable proportions.
    Our once great club is in serious danger of following the likes of Bury and Chester.
    We hope against hope someone, decent and proper will buy the club. Otherwise Administration, transfer embargos and points deductions will follow.
    It's as infuriating as it is heart breaking.
    Thank you again for sharing our plight.

  • @lucamarks4792
    @lucamarks4792 11 місяців тому +7

    As a west brom fan couldn't thank you more for making this video, about some time someone highlights the circus going on at albion

  • @charleslouis4907
    @charleslouis4907 8 місяців тому +3

    I'm a french west brom fan, I knew there were monay problems but not this extent thank you for informing me better

  • @SpoopyGamer
    @SpoopyGamer 11 місяців тому +54

    My local team, just down the road. I go to the games quite often, such a shame to see the fall they've had.
    Theres still glimpses of hope, the squad isn't as bad as it's made out to be having seen them play in person. Theres some young talent that should keep them around even if they have to sell the bigger players.
    The owner simply doesn't care, he never shows up, he never invests. Just takes loans out in the clubs name

    • @nigeh5326
      @nigeh5326 11 місяців тому

      He is setting us up for bankruptcy imo 😡
      He takes out a loan that he will never repay as he owns the club so who can stop him?
      He then okays a bigger loan from a company he owns at a higher interest rate so the club has to pay his company from out of day to day funds that saves him having to pay himself from his own pocket.
      He is doing the sort of dodgy accounting that crooks have always done.
      Thing is if he is not investing and we have no money in the bank to pay wages or buy new players the club will rapidly go bust.
      The attendances will fall as even with a good manager, a few decent older players and a few good youngsters we can’t push for promotion. A mid table or worse position next season combined with this financial dodgy dealing will only further our decline.
      The parachute payments have gone the money has been spent and now all we have are v limited funds for day to day let alone for buying new players.

    • @gravy3858
      @gravy3858 11 місяців тому +3

      Who’s your first team ? 🤔

    • @robertjewkes604
      @robertjewkes604 11 місяців тому +2

      Support your local team then maybe lolbion won’t be in this situation

    • @_jayintheuk_
      @_jayintheuk_ 11 місяців тому +1

      How are they your 2nd team if they're just down the road?! 🤔

    • @ianmacfarlane1241
      @ianmacfarlane1241 11 місяців тому +6

      ​@@_jayintheuk_ Maybe OP supports a lower league team, and when it's inconvenient to travel to away games he goes to WBA home games... assuming they are at home.

  • @theunknownstuntman4010
    @theunknownstuntman4010 11 місяців тому +7

    Great vid Alfie, very well covered and proves that only certain clubs owners are looked at

  • @bradleyhesom
    @bradleyhesom 8 місяців тому +5

    As a fellow baggies fan. I am thankful for you raising awareness of out great club which is slowly dying due to incompetent owners who don't care about the club. Its heartbreaking to see it happening.

  • @Dench999or911
    @Dench999or911 11 місяців тому +30

    Been waiting on this one for a while. In short, we are fucked. When Lai took over we were one of the best run clubs in the country…six years on and we are on the verge of losing our stadium and training facilities to the same firm that took Derby down. It’s not an ideal situation

    • @psthebam
      @psthebam 11 місяців тому +8

      One of my dreams is visiting the Hawthorns, this is just so sad to me im really hoping things get better. WBA deserves better

    • @shawklan27
      @shawklan27 11 місяців тому

      Oof

    • @ripdoom7658
      @ripdoom7658 11 місяців тому

      It’s not Ideal

    • @nigeh5326
      @nigeh5326 11 місяців тому +6

      @@psthebamthanks hopefully you will get to visit the Hawthorns.
      We are a proud club with a long history and deserve better than whats happened lately 😔

    • @lorddarlo6194
      @lorddarlo6194 11 місяців тому +2

      Stadium is protected by a Asset of Community Value meaning the fans get a say in what happens. Probably won't happen but Sandwell Council could block development they and local MP's are fighting for our future and one Emily or Emma something is pushing the Government to push out it's Paper on football Regulations. It may come to late for Albion despite her and the council's efforts

  • @lastcartridge
    @lastcartridge 10 місяців тому

    i've been enjoying your videos for a long time now, and I feel the need to point out, I'm not even a casual football fan. They're just that interesting and well done. Great work and thank you.

  • @hasharmohammad3926
    @hasharmohammad3926 11 місяців тому +12

    Getting just £18 mil for Pereira after the two ‘owners’ spoke when other clubs were willing to pay £30-40 mil for him just shows how badly we are run.

    • @benmartin7708
      @benmartin7708 11 місяців тому +1

      Let’s get it right we don’t know how much we received for pereira. It was undisclosed and there are many reports around that time we was negotiating off the books to be paid to other sources. John Percy broke that story and Luke dowling left shortly after

    • @1234legend1234
      @1234legend1234 11 місяців тому +1

      Rumours were it wasn't even 18mil it was 7mil one season, 7mil the following and then 4 the year after

    • @tomthomassony8607
      @tomthomassony8607 11 місяців тому +2

      @@benmartin7708 it’s called money laundering.

    • @areguapiri
      @areguapiri 9 місяців тому

      The owners are multi-billionaires. They can pay whatever they want to the plate.

  • @Azieehuncho
    @Azieehuncho 11 місяців тому +3

    Baggies fan here, thank you for covering this🙏🏻

  • @jonathanwalker6383
    @jonathanwalker6383 11 місяців тому +13

    It's a great video highlighting what is actually going on. I went to my first game with my father and gramdfather in 96 at home to grimsby when the ground was not its best and neither were the team but we had players like Bob Taylor and Richard Sneekes. Later it was Gary Megson who built the club it became. Pulis' final months started the death of the football. Which was completely finished off by Bruce. In between we took on owners who are decimating the club itself. I used to love the black country derby days against Wolves. Within 5 years, we'll be lucky to give Walsall a game.

  • @danielkarmy4893
    @danielkarmy4893 11 місяців тому +5

    We had a Chinese owner at Southampton from August 2017 to January last year. Yeah.
    It is all Chinese businessmen - all of them, because frankly, it's the same for all businessmen regardless of their nationality. They're not in it for sympathy, they couldn't care less about 100-year-old institutions or club supporters. Win and enrich yourself as much as possible, and whatever the cost is to others, that is an acceptable price for them to pay, and it's not your problem anyway; your task is to make money, and that's it.

  • @jamieclay1573
    @jamieclay1573 11 місяців тому +1

    Brilliant video. Tied together all of the ongoing research into the murkiness.

  • @vincentlewis838
    @vincentlewis838 11 місяців тому +3

    Another amazingly researched video Alfie. I feel for the west brom fans

  • @lokmansahat6220
    @lokmansahat6220 11 місяців тому +19

    Hello Alfie, can you make What the Earth is Going On to Hamburg, a former German champions in 80s and previously won European Cup now face a crisis in Bundesliga 2 when they missed chance to promoted to Bundesliga when they finish third place in automatic spot. They also lost to Stuttgart in Bundesliga playoff tie in this season.

    • @MrBlazemaster525
      @MrBlazemaster525 11 місяців тому

      There isn't a crisis there, they're just shit at getting promoted 😂😂😂😂😂

  • @EuLucio
    @EuLucio 11 місяців тому

    my favorite source of football news does it again, thanks for the video

  • @jjnrmason
    @jjnrmason 11 місяців тому

    Thanks for covering

  • @OleeHem
    @OleeHem 11 місяців тому +2

    Thank you so much for raising awareness of our struggles

  • @fintaylor9878
    @fintaylor9878 11 місяців тому +1

    Thanks so much for spreading our story

  • @deanfisher4324
    @deanfisher4324 11 місяців тому +3

    Many thanks for highlighting my club's plight. A very detailed and well researched piece. I truly fear for my club under the current ownership whoever the hell they are.

  • @jamiethesleeper1050
    @jamiethesleeper1050 11 місяців тому +4

    As a Baggies fan and thank you for covering this!

  • @j1bberz911
    @j1bberz911 11 місяців тому +5

    As a baggies fan thank you for covering this excellent work

  • @danchang9976
    @danchang9976 11 місяців тому +1

    Finally, thanks for highlighting this, massive wba fan and its sad what has happened to us

  • @Meacham777
    @Meacham777 11 місяців тому

    Cheers for the video 💙🤍

  • @albionnewsandopinions5343
    @albionnewsandopinions5343 11 місяців тому +1

    Great video. One small thing is that Bilic wanted to sign Pereira, that was Diangana (I think) that he didn't want us to sign

  • @elliotthughes2382
    @elliotthughes2382 11 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for making this video. The issues the Albion have do/potentially affect a lot of other clubs as well, which is why it's so important this is addressed, not just for the Albion.
    Sadly I fear our only hope now is to go into administration and hope we can get better owners that way.

  • @zikkyphil6250
    @zikkyphil6250 11 місяців тому +1

    Amazing journalism Alfie 👍

  • @jonathansmith2540
    @jonathansmith2540 11 місяців тому +1

    thank you for this i hope it gets the story spreading wider as a west brom fan i am gutted for us but the more we have on our side the better

  • @Sivo-vf8vb
    @Sivo-vf8vb 8 місяців тому +6

    Espero que supere la mala racha que ha tenido estos últimos años, soy nuevo seguidor de los Baggies, apenas desde 2018 estoy al tanto de ellos y viendo sus partidos, no se como me enamore de este club, hay algo en el que me encanta, seguiré con ellos siempre porque se que pueden llegar a la premier league otra vez, grande west brom

  • @richardfoster8463
    @richardfoster8463 11 місяців тому +5

    As a overseas WBA fan, this was an fascinating video - I knew we were up the creek without a paddle but I didn’t realise that it was THAT bad

    • @conallhomer453
      @conallhomer453 11 місяців тому

      Then you’re not a real Albion fan then are ya?

  • @bizzia1233
    @bizzia1233 11 місяців тому +4

    As a West Brom fan cheers for making this video

  • @vindaloo3134
    @vindaloo3134 11 місяців тому +7

    Many thanks for describing the plight of our club so eloquently.
    Thanks also for showing what football journalism can be (in comparison with the inane babble about Mbappe/Kane 'transfers') as well as highlighting that clubs are more than just commodities and that the lack of adequate regulation is a failure in duty of care

  • @jxckwba
    @jxckwba 11 місяців тому

    Good work on the video mate

  • @Samjones037
    @Samjones037 11 місяців тому +4

    Great video which highlights the awful situation our club is going through. Albion will have to sell our best players this summer, and with the standard of the Championship looking increasingly stronger next season, we could be in a relegation battle.

  • @jimbob-robob
    @jimbob-robob 11 місяців тому +2

    Nicely done Alfie...👍🖖✊️

  • @panamon1966
    @panamon1966 11 місяців тому

    Cheers for this

  • @chrislees9614
    @chrislees9614 11 місяців тому

    Very good assessment

  • @br1an432
    @br1an432 11 місяців тому +15

    could you do a video on jon obi mikel? i know you talk about him in the video about footballers who never player for their club, but i feel like an even more indepth video on what exactly happened could be really interesting

  • @ireaditsomewhere6294
    @ireaditsomewhere6294 11 місяців тому +2

    Nice video Alfie. Please kindly do a video about the possibile take over of Sheffield united by the Nigerian business man. The situation surrounding that and the challenges.

  • @AblemanSy
    @AblemanSy 11 місяців тому +2

    In short and a picture of Insigne? That's art!

  • @MartsTravel
    @MartsTravel 11 місяців тому

    Brilliant video

  • @danielowen2884
    @danielowen2884 11 місяців тому

    Fantastic video and thank you for giving this story the coverage it deserves. Also want to mention Actuon 4 Albion who have really pushed the envelope on this subject. It's looking bleak for us at the moment but one saving grace is the fact that The Hawthorns has some protection to it.

  • @slowedversion6393
    @slowedversion6393 11 місяців тому

    Amazing vid

  • @Swolekamania
    @Swolekamania 11 місяців тому +4

    Are you willing to do a breakdown of the richest current/former footballers?
    Full disclosure, I'm an Arsenal fan, and would like to see what you make of Mathieu Flamini.

  • @lucaslonchampt613
    @lucaslonchampt613 11 місяців тому +13

    Day 17: 7 Best Loan moves ever.
    The loan moves that have greatly benefited the team receiving the player for a limited amount of time. While not exactly the best, I always think of Morientes to Monaco as an example.
    Maybe they wouldn’t be in crisis if they did better loans!

    • @andyprd1899
      @andyprd1899 11 місяців тому +5

      Great idea. Come on Alfie!

    • @user-nx9ec8mr9p
      @user-nx9ec8mr9p 11 місяців тому +1

      Obafemi Martins to Birmingham

    • @Roundholesinsquarepegs
      @Roundholesinsquarepegs 11 місяців тому +1

      Anelka to liverpool, and we inexplicably let him go and replaced him with el hadji Diouf

    • @lucaslonchampt613
      @lucaslonchampt613 11 місяців тому

      @@Roundholesinsquarepegs Oh that's a great shout. I remember that one

    • @lorddarlo6194
      @lorddarlo6194 8 місяців тому

      We have had Romelu Lukaku in The Prem, Matheus Pereira named here was on loan we brought him, Harvey Barnes Leicester City Cup winner and now at Newcastle, Grady Diangana who was excellent we made it permanently he got injured we sacked Slav who backed him he has never been the same since and we had Dwight Gayle who along with Barnes transformed our Attack the season after we went down and we lost in the Play Off Semi Final to rivals Aston Villa on penalties after we stupidly sacked Big Dave Darren Moore and stupidly Gayle was sent off and Barnes was recalled early. Gayle, Barnes and Jay Rodriguez formed a dangerous partnership

  • @twilliamspro
    @twilliamspro 11 місяців тому +3

    As a Birmingham fan with a similar Syrup of ownership. Since Carson Yeung albion have my sympathies

  • @reubenpage5
    @reubenpage5 11 місяців тому +4

    Albion fan - we have to get promoted or we are fucked. Thank you for covering this

  • @EliteReq
    @EliteReq 11 місяців тому +7

    As a West Brom fan. I am annoyed with the owner Lai Guochuan as since he took over the club In 2016 when we was a mid table Premier League team. We had 2 relegation, 8 managers in 6 years, terrible signings. And could get the club relegated to League One.

  • @witchbreed9079
    @witchbreed9079 11 місяців тому

    This is the sort of video tifo would and should have made before they sold out. Great work.

  • @BALHAM69
    @BALHAM69 11 місяців тому +17

    a documentary of Borussia Dortmund and how they were extremely close to bankruptcy in 2002 time and how Bayern had to save them. The extreme difficulties the club has had to manage within to get back to where they are #thepeopleschannel

  • @adamfarley127
    @adamfarley127 11 місяців тому +5

    As a baggies fan, I just want to say thank you for making this. One big Lai! #laiout

  • @safebans1369
    @safebans1369 11 місяців тому

    Video idea for you Alfie - best retirement league transfers. Which players that left Europe to get a big contract in a non-European league made the best decision as to where they went, in retrospect. Which players settled best and had the greatest success and experience in the league they went to to get some money. Maybe a good way of pointing out the players that did it in the least terrible way, both from a moral/political perspective as well as what was most lucrative for the player and club they joined. Could also be followed up by a worst retirement league transfer seven. Feel like it would be a nice balance of some of the things you like to analyse - sensible football career decisions and political motives. Love your videos mate.

  • @DJVm4GOD1
    @DJVm4GOD1 11 місяців тому +8

    West Brom have been in such a decline for ages and ages. From poor recruitment, and adjusting the squad, to how the club is run in general.
    A lot of their players either need moving on, or need a refresher. It's clear as day, but the trouble is, when you basically cannot afford the luxury of signing top level players for your division, there is next to no point. With the only chance being signing a decent free that'll hopefully push you forward.
    The signing of Bruce was pretty poor in mindset. Not because of his manager skills per say. But more the timing. WBA were in a downward patch. VI was rightly sacked, as the club were at one point 3rd, but then they entered a 7 game run where they had only won ONCE to Peterborough. He needed to be gone, but what you don't do, is replace him with a manager who was on his own downward spiral, and brought nothing in SB. Giving him another season with a crop of players on the decline themselves, was just a disaster waiting to happen.
    How this team managed to finish 9th with barely any good players that can score is beyond a miracle. Grant has been on such a downhill, yet he's still the club's overall top scorer for two seasons now. Says it all really. They need investment, and good one in that squad to get them not only the right track, but to score goals too. Otherwise, this is only going end up in them going to league 1.

  • @joshgould6405
    @joshgould6405 11 місяців тому +8

    As a West Brom fan, it’s great that you’ve highlighted the issue around the club. I don’t think others fans realise the dire situation we are in.

  • @judecrutchley7171
    @judecrutchley7171 11 місяців тому

    brilliant vid pal, as hopeless as it makes me feel

  • @Lythgoemania
    @Lythgoemania 11 місяців тому +1

    Would appreciate a more in-depth video on Wigan's current issues Alfie, in case this current takeover bid goes tits up

  • @EarlofSalop
    @EarlofSalop 11 місяців тому +5

    As a baggies fan I lost my love of the club with watching Pulis football. But the summer transfer window of 2018 was the final nail in the coffin. I still keep informed with them but I’ve just had to distance myself from the anger and disappointment the club caused me. Being a Chinese expat for 2 years the ccp will never bend to anyone in the UK. Chinese culture places such a focus on not losing face and selling the club for anything other than the £190-200 million it was brought for would be considered losing face. My only hope is a phoenix club to replace the baggies in a couple of years.

    • @conallhomer453
      @conallhomer453 11 місяців тому

      What do you mean by a phoenix club to replace us?

    • @GGMatt
      @GGMatt 8 місяців тому

      ​@@conallhomer453Well, as you're clearly unaware of the reality - We (WBA) aren't going to exist for much longer. People don't like saying it out loud but it's true. What happened to Bury FC is whats going to happen to us, that's pretty much inevitable now, and the only way we will ever get back to any realm of success is via a new club being born under a similar name, ie, a phoenix club.

  • @dale437
    @dale437 8 місяців тому

    Very insightful, cheers Alfie 👍🏼

  • @bababababababa6124
    @bababababababa6124 11 місяців тому +11

    I’m Nigerian so the only thing I knew about WBA was Semi Ajayi 😂 had no idea they were in crisis, didn’t they do okay last season?

    • @nigeh5326
      @nigeh5326 11 місяців тому +1

      Yes but off the field the finances are in chaos 😔.

    • @bababababababa6124
      @bababababababa6124 11 місяців тому +2

      @@nigeh5326damn, at least you ain’t Reading though 😂

    • @lorddarlo6194
      @lorddarlo6194 11 місяців тому +1

      ​@@bababababababa6124 We are the next Reading

  • @jackninetynine5036
    @jackninetynine5036 11 місяців тому +7

    Thanks for making this video. There isn’t enough attention on our situation From the outside yet but this will get very ugly very soon. The owners are clearly asset stripping, they tried to look into selling our ground. Also blatant money laundering They tried to sell pereira to the Chinese league but then sold him to Al hilal for 20m under his value at the time in which the money is nowhere to be seen (this was questioned by the shareholders but no answer). Rondon was sold to the Chinese league & the money just disappeared from that. Hegazi was sold to the Saudi league, behind bilics back after the English transfer window shut so we couldn’t replace him. The yan zuning signing for 6m & never even got a work permit & seemingly disappeared back to China for nothing

    • @lorddarlo6194
      @lorddarlo6194 8 місяців тому +1

      The Ground is now protected somewhat by a Communion Asset Order by Sandwell Council meaning the Community and the fans get a chance to save the ground or in what happens. An MP for either West Bromwich or maybe she is a Councillor is pushing the MP or the Government to release it's paper on Football regulation and was seen with Action 4 Albion outside Number 10 trying to get the Government to release it before another English Club goes bust if she was joined by Reading and others then maybe they might take notice

  • @stuhill4914
    @stuhill4914 11 місяців тому

    Really good video, highlighting a shocking plight that is going under the radar. At this stage it seems that that only conceivable way out of this mess would be to go into administration and hopefully get rescued by new buyers. It would undoubtedly mean getting relegated in the process.

  • @NazJones2212
    @NazJones2212 11 місяців тому +1

    Alfie lad, you have to make a video on Heidenheim! The story is insane

  • @Zoltanlouis2009
    @Zoltanlouis2009 11 місяців тому

    Excellent video...... what a mess.

  • @markmonkeyman8321
    @markmonkeyman8321 9 місяців тому +1

    As an Albion fan this is crazy where we fell from too where we are now

  • @LordBathtub
    @LordBathtub 11 місяців тому +10

    Anything the Chinese touch turns to shit. Poor West Brom :(

    • @drillingig2368
      @drillingig2368 11 місяців тому

      If anybody says that in the media, they’d be ridiculed.

    • @LordBathtub
      @LordBathtub 11 місяців тому +1

      @@drillingig2368 doesn't make it any less true

    • @Clem_Fandango11
      @Clem_Fandango11 11 місяців тому +2

      You should see the mess at Reading. Chinese billionaire, and Ron Gourley trashed our club.

    • @williamlee7672
      @williamlee7672 11 місяців тому +1

      Wolves did ok. Inter are bad but at least they got to the champion league final and could have won.

    • @user-nx9ec8mr9p
      @user-nx9ec8mr9p 11 місяців тому +2

      ​@@Clem_Fandango11 should see the Birmingham owners. No one even knows who they really are.

  • @t.robinson4774
    @t.robinson4774 11 місяців тому +1

    Without the parachute payment or prospective promotion this coming season may well be the defining one for transparency over WBA’s future.

  • @michaelwijaya5562
    @michaelwijaya5562 11 місяців тому +1

    Can you provide a link for the WBA ownership schematic for us here to see?

  • @another_coding_channel_argh
    @another_coding_channel_argh 11 місяців тому

    "in short" 5:15 no Alfie, no 🤣 Savage

  • @nathanjm000
    @nathanjm000 11 місяців тому +2

    One thing I like about the NFL ownership is how each ownership group has to have one person own at least 30%

  • @KindredBrujah
    @KindredBrujah 11 місяців тому +1

    Steve Bruce man, seriously. How can people look at Newcastle before and after his tenure and ever consider employing him?

  • @andreichiriac7823
    @andreichiriac7823 11 місяців тому +1

    The story of Farul Constanța romanian champions this season winning their first (or maybe second?) title.
    Club owned, run and managed by romanian legend Gheorghe Hagi, a native of the city of Constanța.
    Youngest champions in Europe this season (average players age), important contribution (some of the vital) from: 2 players born in 2005, one in 2006,
    1 in 2003 and 3 in 2002 - all products of the club academy.
    Came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the decisive match against Gigi Becali's team FCSB(who has a claim to Steaua Bucharest history).

  • @YoungTizo
    @YoungTizo 11 місяців тому +3

    Shout out to my fav shareholder in all of football: Wan Kin!

  • @scottflannigan3062
    @scottflannigan3062 11 місяців тому

    Hope you can make one on my club Partick Thistle, HITC

  • @throstleonabush9639
    @throstleonabush9639 11 місяців тому

    Thanks Alfie for listening to the fans

  • @realnimrod5625
    @realnimrod5625 11 місяців тому +1

    First & from Trinidad and Tobago

  • @Boatswimmers7024
    @Boatswimmers7024 11 місяців тому +2

    WBA fan here