And to be fair Mikey, I did mention the wraps a few pages back. I'll give credit where it's due, I really will. Cesar and his team have proven to be excellent opportunists, and I will give them full kudos for this. I'd do the same if I was in their position. You consistently have excellent market research from the individuals in touch with the pulse right on your doorstep; what are you going to do, walk around them a pay (Insert research company name here...).
This is the mild issue I have with having Paul access these boards, he seeds concepts and drives promotions. They still need to execute their other strategies, but the supporters have been proven to be the lightening rod in the past. I'm not so arrogant to think we make it or break it, but we certainly are an important driving force. Take the supporters out of the equation and let's see how great their "pub nights" are. Take your videos away and maybe I float into the distance because I'm even further out of touch. Don't demean your importance, but also let's keep our heads in the clouds.
Our core issue is the ability to immobilise and function as a singular unit. This is important because when push eventually does come to shove they will be armed and we will not be prepared. I do have this in perspective, this is not necessarily an us vs. them scenario, it's about respect. And we need to regain the respect they are stripping from us and stop feeding their marketing team. I know for a fact that they are still tapping up members for concepts and approval on ideas and using members as sounding boards.
I ask that they give us our freedoms back and really bring it back to the "organic" element they promised since day one. Was that the trust or was it an attempt to placate via hyperbole, or in essence talk out of both sides of their mouthes. Paul once suggested I'm like a dog after a bone, he couldn't be more correct, I am. I hate the fact they have reduced something so passionate down to a convoluted or opaque ploy. I will not be placated or pushed into a corner, I'm here to stay, and I'll be back and I will want the atmosphere to be a genuine as always. I hope this is what Jack is working on, I hope Rooney is working on... Everyone.
I would hate to find out that TFC has discovered how the insure and make profit off road trips and suddenly strip Connie and her team of their efforts. I would hate for one day that only "TFC Approved" banners are allowed in the stadium. It would drive me insane if they started to make tailgates and strip the work and habit forming effort of Pat and Boris. I would be incensed. But they have been slowly doing this anyway, and that is what perturbs me, this to me is what this thread is about. It's the systematic and conniving theft of concepts and ideas. It's the taking advantage of passions. Like I said, I have both friends and enemies here, but they are my friends and enemies, and no one from the outside will take that away from me. Ever.