Ah, but in this case, I think the MESSAGE is the important part
It would surprise me greatly, if Ulrich had sent out that email, with those requirements in it, without the board having approved it first.
Also, it would stun me to learn that he was instrumental in the price hike and the short notice for paying to retain a spot in the league.
So, while I am completely at peace with you taking pot shots at Ulrich
I think you - in this instance - should be gunning for larger prey...
Nick
Nick, I agree with everything you say mate but I think you are missing what I am suggesting.
ulrich has no say whatsoever in the price hike itself, he is but a very small cog in that organization; he has however, a say in its delivery and timing.
This guy punches well above his weight in the Millennium purely because they can't get anyone else to do his job because as a public relations exercise, ulrich is a fackin disaster.
In any 'normal' commercial enterprise, ulrich would have been sacked a long time ago because of the way he treats the Millennium's customers i.e. teams and players.
He is actively hated by an awful lot of people purely because of his attitude, intransigence and rudeness.
I agree, the price hike is a very real problem and it is one that should be addressed by people like yourself who have to pay the damn monies (fortunately I don't have to any more).
I don't agree with Chicago in suggesting that a player's representation would have little effect because I genuinely believe that if you guys organize yourselves, it would provide team and player with an effective representation that has some real power..
For all the faults the Millennium guys have (and there are many) they do listen when you grab them by the throat and apply pressure (metaphorical pressure) but if you got no voice, then why should they listen to anything?
I have always gotten on OK with Laurent and with Baldrick (when he's gets off his high horse), Barry is an OK guy and Manfred, well he don't say much anyway.
As for pedro, well, I will no waste no more typing time on him but I think sometimes the Millennium board (as a collective decision making body) display mild signs of Asberger's syndrome because they seem to be blissfully unaware of how they are coming across and seem bewildered when sh!t like this comes raining down.
In this sense, ulrich is merely a convenient tool maybes to push it through but I can't believe they will use him in this way when it has the propensity to backfire so badly.
All the time there is no effective competition in terms of an alternate league in Europe, then they can do pretty much what they like, especially when you guys cannot even bother to organize yourselves.
I think it's time we had some competition in Europe in terms of an alternate league.... Hmmmmmmm..... there was an opportunity not so long ago whereby I was made aware of a certain individual's interest in doing just that and I was being consulted as to its viability and potential but for one reason or another, it was decided to shelve the idea ... I hope he changes his mind because isn't competition a good thing ?