I don't care who owns the club as long as they care about the club winning trophies. I genuinely don't think the Glazers care about the footballing aspect of the club as long as we make them money but the Saudis seem to really care as for them its about prestige and showing off rather than money. If they're is another buyer who is rich enough and who wants to make sure we compete, then I would rather have them than the Saudis but as of now, the Saudis are our best bet if we need a change.
The Saudi Takeover Rumor Thread
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
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Ye, not really, because Chelsea, City and PSG (to a degree) had soul and history on their own terms, but lacked foundations for fighting at the top. They sold their soul in exchange for something.
We’d be selling it for resources we’ve already got, or to be just a little bit richer.
People get so melodramatic about oil money. I assume you people run your cars on hemp then, not oil gotten through the support of these kingdoms and the wars waged across the world to secure oil resources for regimes who back western interests?
With Phil Jones in the squad he already has at least one Orc
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...reveal-abuse-saudi-arabia-political-prisoners
Leaked reports reveal severe abuse of Saudi political prisoners
...
Justin Shilad, a Middle East research associate at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the case of Fahd al-Sunaidi, a journalist, showed the extent and reach of the crackdown ordered by the crown prince.
“In terms of researching Saudi Arabia [and political detentions], the cone of silence is not like anything I have ever seen, and I have researched Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iraq … The level of fear, intimidation and all round silencing of information, it is beyond what we see in the war zones in the region where you have the Islamic State operating.”
Leaked reports reveal severe abuse of Saudi political prisoners
...
Justin Shilad, a Middle East research associate at the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the case of Fahd al-Sunaidi, a journalist, showed the extent and reach of the crackdown ordered by the crown prince.
“In terms of researching Saudi Arabia [and political detentions], the cone of silence is not like anything I have ever seen, and I have researched Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iraq … The level of fear, intimidation and all round silencing of information, it is beyond what we see in the war zones in the region where you have the Islamic State operating.”
Cant be bothered replying to all the replies.
What I want to add is the Saudis are ruthless and want prestige, they'll want a return on their investment immediately. They'll want us winning the league next season, if that doesn't happen (which is wont) then Ole will be sacked, that's what I meant about meeting expectations.
What I want to add is the Saudis are ruthless and want prestige, they'll want a return on their investment immediately. They'll want us winning the league next season, if that doesn't happen (which is wont) then Ole will be sacked, that's what I meant about meeting expectations.
You get pretty aggressive and superior over a simple difference being pointed out.
Do you feel more intelligent than me, and morally superior as well perhaps? Though I’m not sure you know so much about me, if you assume I have a car. Or are you just generalizing a little?
I’m not too afraid of being perceived as dramatic or melodramatic. Or else I wouldn’t write on a football forum as if winning the Premier League is indeed a very important thing in this world, were as you quite rightly say some kingdoms wage war on others to make money for their rich, and buy football clubs ro advertise for it.
I am afraid, though, of arguments like ‘there’s evil in the world and no one is totally clean, so caring at all is stupid, unhip, hypocritical or melodramatic’.
If they spend say 100s of millions and assemble a squad worthy of winning the league, and the manager fails - they are quite right to sack the manager.
If you've got the world's best f1 car, and but your driver is failing to win the title (even if he's finishing second) you need to bring in someone who will win with it.
Sports teams only ever have a short window to win, players peaks only last for a few years and if you've spent a lot of money assembling a squad of players in their prime you need to cash in. Or else it's a waste of time and money. It's why Madrid go through so many managers - they know this, so they will not settle for anything less than great. It's why they are the most successful club in the world.
But it isnt. Utd makes their own money thats the difference, it would only allow Utd to use all the money on the team not the owners and paying of loans.
That is a huge difference.
Sorry, didn't mean to come across like that. I am generalising and perhaps it would have been better if I had not quoted you in that part of my comment. Your opinion was just one of many I've read around the origins of "oil money". I find (another generalisation coming up) in society on whole, the only time people seem to care about oil money is when something close to them is being purchased by it. However we don't seem to care that much when our politicians are purchased with it (or other forms of money).
That doesn't make your point about the oil money invalid, but in my opinion, in the grand scheme of thing, if some rich Arab dude owns a football club, it's fine. I'd much rather they own a football club than the bombs they're dropping on Yemen, fully faciliated by BAE.
We aren't repaying any loans. We are spending £24m a year on interest payments and paying out about £18m to the Glazers in dividends. £42m a year - that doesn't even buy a Fred.
So?
That lack of ruthlessness has created this mess. We kept shite players because we not been ruthless enough to get them out. We give contracts to meditocrity. Just look at how we handled Jose. Give him a contract the moment he flirts with PSG then we get embarrassed to Sevilla and get schooled by Conte in the cup final.
The same with Van Gaal. We kept him on in 2015 because we made top four when Klopp was available.
I rather a board be ruthless than be happy that managers give us top four finishes.
Yeah, that will be unfortunate...
Oh, you know what? Let's lower expectations so much that we won't ever have to worry about firing another manager.
This post is so ridiculous and it's everything that is wrong with this club.
All of that is true, but how is it currently relevant? How does what the Glazers spent on financing debt in, say, 2008, impact how much money we have to spend this summer?
The Glazers have wasted monumental amounts of money over the years, granted. But right now, this year, we are spending £24m a year on interest payments. Our financial position now is very strong - more than strong enough to compete at the very top. The problem is spending our enormous wealth wisely.
I hope this happens asap. I don't think glazers has any motivation to bring us back to top. We need some major investments .
A bunch of Saudis to buy them all
And in Old Trafford bind them
There is a gargantuan schism between politicians and voters in the UK and a large part of that is because these elected officials don't reflect voter's views, despite the fact they are paying their salary. People are sick of the opaque nature of political financing, maybe you just aren't looking properly. Someone posted this in the Brexit thread - well worth a watch. https://www.zdf.de/politik/frontal-21/drahtzieher-des-brexits-english-version-100.html
I'm not sure why owning Utd would suddenly reorientate bin-Salman's moral compass?
I find it strange the Glazers get a free pass from so many but Woodward gets all the blame for us being shit.
I’m not saying we should get the Saudi’s, but getting rid of our current owners would be a good start if we want to get back on track.
They hired Woody, made him CEO, kept him there despite years of mediocrity on the pitch. The only thing they did right was not sacking Fergie when they bought the club.
I’m not saying we should get the Saudi’s, but getting rid of our current owners would be a good start if we want to get back on track.
They hired Woody, made him CEO, kept him there despite years of mediocrity on the pitch. The only thing they did right was not sacking Fergie when they bought the club.
Yes, well, fair enough. I still think it’s good that people react when it’s close to home, and it’s better even if they then expand their scope even wider, but if the grand scheme of thing leads them to still do nothing and even not give a feck when it’s on their turf, that’s to me worse, not better.
I don’t think the Saudi ruling class, nor the Dubai or Quatari ones, choose between either committing humanitarian crimes or investing in football, sadly, I think they do the one to make it easier to do the other.
And the fact that Glazers support an American government contributing to this doesn’t excuse wanting to go from bad to worse.
What the Saudi's could bring is actually employing the right people to run a football club for them. We already spend boat loads of money, we just spend it so poorly.
The Saudi's could bring money for a new stadium but if we had people who knew what they were doing running the club, it is possible to have success and finance a stadium or stadium improvements without Saudi ownership. The Glazers need to take action or sell, not necessarily to Saudi's.
The Saudi's could bring money for a new stadium but if we had people who knew what they were doing running the club, it is possible to have success and finance a stadium or stadium improvements without Saudi ownership. The Glazers need to take action or sell, not necessarily to Saudi's.
I don't want to be a propaganda machine for them whatsoever. This crap about City being a well run club is laughable too. What about the fact they hide the true source of their sponsorships, as well as altering the way they pay players to make it appear they have a low wage bill. Is that what everyone wants at United? I'd rather suffer crappy defeats to Barcelona for the next fifty years than have the Saudi's take over.
How would that work? Say if we get new owners , who invest nothing but take nothing how would we finance a new stadium while continuing to pump money into the football side of things (which most believe we don't so enough of?)
Can you quickly show me a breakdown of the costs? Doesn't have to super accurate but just in the ball park.
So we give Ole one summer and expect him to create a miracle in winning the league? Nonsense, no manager will join United if they know they'll be sacked if they don't win the league immediately. We're in this predicament because there isn't a DoF in place to determine whether the signings are actually United quality.
Where have I said to lower expectations? Nowhere, you're making it up to suit your agenda.
It's time to be realistic in what we can achieve. We won't win the league next season, the quality between our squad and City, Liverpool is too great to bridge in one summer, so shall we just sack Ole now without giving him a fair crack?
You need to learn to fecking read before coming out with bullshit like your last sentence.
They are an extremely well run club regardless of how they cheated to fund it.
They designed their entire back ground staff and even signed players to suit Pep's style before they even signed Pep! They had a vision where they wanted to be on the field, the style of play and even the infrastructure of the club. They've achieved everything they set out to outside of the CL (yet).
It's funny how they all keep lining up for the Madrid job though. Who sack their managers even if they win the league and CL.
Yes because no manager joins Barca, Madrid, Bayern, PSG or Chelsea when they sack managers after a year when they have won nothing.
They all managerless according to your stupid logic.
Sorry who's lining up for that job?
They've had 3 managers just this season alone. They managed to get the Spanish national team manager to jeopardize his job and get sacked a week before the world cup.
Most managers (including the ones they've already sacked - see JM) would still bend over backwards to manage them. If Zidane doesn't work out this stint, they'll sack him and get another manager easily.
Bit of a difference managing a team in a 2 horse race with a squad filled with world class players, rather than go to United, rebuild the squad in one summer and then win the league in the same season.
Stupid logic, now you're trying to be offensive, congratulations! Nice debate
We can ride our high horses into mid-table oblivion, or we can suck it up and accept that a Saudi takeover - or similar - is the only way to complete.
The Glazers care not about the football - it's a business to them, top and bottom. Once they have rinsed the remainder of the empire dry and the commercial deals fall by the wayside after our last league win becomes evermore distant, they'll pull out and sell the well picked over carcus of Man Utd to whatever Mike Ashley character will buy the debt for a dollar.
Manchester United Financial Corporation - not my MUFC
The Glazers care not about the football - it's a business to them, top and bottom. Once they have rinsed the remainder of the empire dry and the commercial deals fall by the wayside after our last league win becomes evermore distant, they'll pull out and sell the well picked over carcus of Man Utd to whatever Mike Ashley character will buy the debt for a dollar.
Manchester United Financial Corporation - not my MUFC
What makes you think they will be other than businessmen?
Bit of a difference managing a team in a 2 horse race with a squad filled with world class players, rather than go to United, rebuild the squad in one summer and then win the league in the same season.
Stupid logic, now you're trying to be offensive, congratulations! Nice debate
If Pep had not won the league in his second season after spending like £300m then do you think he would have survived? No.
If the Saudis come in and spend a lot of cash they not coming in to finish top four, so top reds like you can applaud it as some sort of achievement. They coming in to win things and challenge for stuff something we should be doing.
And you changed the goalposts to two horse leagues and all that. These teams don’t struggle to find managers. Do you think Ole is the only manager out there? Did you see how we sacked Van Gaal hours after winning the cup? Did that stop lots of managers wanting the Man Utd job? You making up stuff as you go along.
If they put a proper football structure in place, we'd be fine. There would be no need for getting in to bed with a bunch of murderous human-rights abusing cnuts.
We already have the resources to compete. What we have been missing for a long time is the knowledge of how utilise those resources.
This!
Many clubs are well run without the need for billions being spent. Southampton are better run than us
Liverpool and Spurs to a certain extent seem to be quite competitive doing things the more traditional way. We really don’t need the Saudis to compete.
Bit of a difference managing a team in a 2 horse race with a squad filled with world class players, rather than go to United, rebuild the squad in one summer and then win the league in the same season.
Stupid logic, now you're trying to be offensive, congratulations! Nice debate
Forgot Chelsea didn't play in the Premier League
See City and PSG. See all the other stupid shit they're doing (i.e. Jeddah tower).
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