Maybe not in the immediate future by give it 2-3 years and they will be going for the money.
Newcastle United now owned by the PIF | PL receives "legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control NUFC" ;)
- Thread starter Damien
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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.
Maybe MBS will bring public beheadings to St James Park!
I eagerly await the angry response if Newcastle are serenaded with "Murderers!" in the near future.
Be quite the twist if they got relegated this season
Gallowgate End.
You have to wonder if sports washing actually works in the long term. I feel that all this will do is bring more attention to MIB's crimes and human rights violations. Qatar spending billions maybe made them more relevant but outside PSG I don't feel that they've looked any better.
You're only a decent manager away from winning the league, your squad is as good as both City and Liverpool's
Why should we interfere in their club's business ? For them this is a good step for the future. They hated the owner for being skint with the money, now they get owners that will spend shit ton on their club. Good luck for them. We're not going to force them to be sad because United fans think so.
Sure. But the dynamic is different for football. In any case i'm talking more about your journalists and media personalities who are parroting the same line about investment = all good things.
Salman is such a fit and proper person, a welcome addition to the league. Nobody has a bad word to say about the chap, I hear he's a great humanitarian.
Hi all, I’m a saudi and happy to answer any questions about some of the misconceptions about Saudi (if mods allow).
Also, mods, if you think my post is not fit for the forum or is gonna sway the conversation in a wrong way, please feel free to remove it)
Everything below is my own personal thoughts as a Saudi citizen who loves his country and sees posts that are not exactly accurate.
About me. I was born in saudi, left it for few years because I didn’t like where the country was going to work in a western country. Came back around 2017 when MBS announced Vision 2030 which addressed all my issues with my home country and wanted to see it with my own eyes.
First, my thoughts on the take over:
I absolutely hate it. But not because it’s Saudi. I think states intervening in football have ruined it. This applies to City, PSG and -to an extent- Chelsea. I love football and i don’t want it to be a propaganda tool. I wouldn’t want any state funds into United either. But that’s just me.
Now let me address some of the issues I’ve seen some posters raise (and rightly so, the media have been ruining saudi image for years and it’s hard for people to tell the truth from outside)
On the war in Yemen:
Let me ask you this, and think about it. If a group of militias took control over one of your neighboring country and started sending missiles to your city. What would you want your country to do? Keep in mind that the official government of that neighboring country acknowledged that they can’t control the situation and actually asked your country for help dealing with them.
Saudi have spent billions trying to build and help Yemen but the militia (allegedly supported by weapons from Iran) kept that money from citizens and prevented them from getting aid. Saudi does not want to occupy Yemen, has it occurred to you what benefits saudi in this war? Beside protection for its own people?
On women rights:
Saudi has made strides in that area under MBS rule. Percentage of women in workforce is 75% with equal salaries and rights to men. Saudi have done a lot to empower women and we’re seeing more women in high leading positions everyday. Women are now free to do whatever they want and gender does not play a role in anything anymore.
On human rights:
I really don’t know what to say here. I’ve lived in the west and I have to say human rights for all citizens (Saudia and expats) are on bar or better than most countries. The media keeps saying we’re not doing enough but maybe I’m ignorant to what that means. But in day to day we’re fine.
On life:
Saudi has one of the best health care systems in the world. Health care is seen as a right. Saudi was one of the best countries in the world dealing with COVID. Free vaccines to everyone (even illegal immigrants) no questions asked.
Saudi has one of the best education systems in the world. Not only higher education is free, the government actually pays you money (grants) to finish higher education. Student loans don’t exist. If you get accepted in Harvard for example, Government pays for your education, travel tickets, housing and give you allowance, no strings attached. Just come back and spend the same number of years inside saudi to build it and maybe transfer some knowledge (but they don’t enforce that).
Standard of living is high. Homelessness is almost non existent. Financially people are better off here (and they should be, it’s a wealthy country and wealth is not horded)
On Sharia Law and the death penalty:
Yes, that’s a thing. But it’s rarely practiced. Very rarely. And for very specific crimes (murder where there were enough witnesses and the family of the deceased rejected a significant sum of money). Why is it worse than the electric chair in several countries? It’s a law and every country has the right to put its own laws (and you have the right to feel it’s unjust)
On Qatar blockade:
Qatar has been speaking badly of Saudi and plotting lots of schemes and ruining its reputation in the media for a long time. Saudi asked them to stop but they didn’t which resulted in the blockade. Things are fine now (for the most part). I personally didn’t like it but I don’t have all the details. All I can be sure of (according to how I know my government) is that it was a last resort.
On (the murder):
For the lack of a better word (English is not my first language) it was disgusting. I was surprised and ashamed and there’s no excuse to what happened. I think my government made a mistake and they pretty much admitted so.
That being said, the family of the deceased have dropped charges (and before someone jumps, I don’t believe they were forced to. It’s not how our government operates.). I don’t think it was under MBS orders though but feel free to believe what you want. Saudi have never tried to justify it. Screw ups like this happen with every country and they all should be held accountable. A human life is sacred and this should not happen.
Hope I didn’t forget anything. Happy to provide sources and discuss in a civil manner.
Bottom line: there’re a lot of Manchester United fans in Saudi and we feel hurt every time someone makes a racist comment against us. Why should we be treated differently to other countries? I’m here cause I love Manchester United and so do you.
Note: I’ve been a lurker in this forum for years. I created the account to write this post when there were rumors of MBS buying Manchester United due to all the hateful comments I read. But felt lazy writing it and that thread died away anyway.
Also, mods, if you think my post is not fit for the forum or is gonna sway the conversation in a wrong way, please feel free to remove it)
Everything below is my own personal thoughts as a Saudi citizen who loves his country and sees posts that are not exactly accurate.
About me. I was born in saudi, left it for few years because I didn’t like where the country was going to work in a western country. Came back around 2017 when MBS announced Vision 2030 which addressed all my issues with my home country and wanted to see it with my own eyes.
First, my thoughts on the take over:
I absolutely hate it. But not because it’s Saudi. I think states intervening in football have ruined it. This applies to City, PSG and -to an extent- Chelsea. I love football and i don’t want it to be a propaganda tool. I wouldn’t want any state funds into United either. But that’s just me.
Now let me address some of the issues I’ve seen some posters raise (and rightly so, the media have been ruining saudi image for years and it’s hard for people to tell the truth from outside)
On the war in Yemen:
Let me ask you this, and think about it. If a group of militias took control over one of your neighboring country and started sending missiles to your city. What would you want your country to do? Keep in mind that the official government of that neighboring country acknowledged that they can’t control the situation and actually asked your country for help dealing with them.
Saudi have spent billions trying to build and help Yemen but the militia (allegedly supported by weapons from Iran) kept that money from citizens and prevented them from getting aid. Saudi does not want to occupy Yemen, has it occurred to you what benefits saudi in this war? Beside protection for its own people?
On women rights:
Saudi has made strides in that area under MBS rule. Percentage of women in workforce is 75% with equal salaries and rights to men. Saudi have done a lot to empower women and we’re seeing more women in high leading positions everyday. Women are now free to do whatever they want and gender does not play a role in anything anymore.
On human rights:
I really don’t know what to say here. I’ve lived in the west and I have to say human rights for all citizens (Saudia and expats) are on bar or better than most countries. The media keeps saying we’re not doing enough but maybe I’m ignorant to what that means. But in day to day we’re fine.
On life:
Saudi has one of the best health care systems in the world. Health care is seen as a right. Saudi was one of the best countries in the world dealing with COVID. Free vaccines to everyone (even illegal immigrants) no questions asked.
Saudi has one of the best education systems in the world. Not only higher education is free, the government actually pays you money (grants) to finish higher education. Student loans don’t exist. If you get accepted in Harvard for example, Government pays for your education, travel tickets, housing and give you allowance, no strings attached. Just come back and spend the same number of years inside saudi to build it and maybe transfer some knowledge (but they don’t enforce that).
Standard of living is high. Homelessness is almost non existent. Financially people are better off here (and they should be, it’s a wealthy country and wealth is not horded)
On Sharia Law and the death penalty:
Yes, that’s a thing. But it’s rarely practiced. Very rarely. And for very specific crimes (murder where there were enough witnesses and the family of the deceased rejected a significant sum of money). Why is it worse than the electric chair in several countries? It’s a law and every country has the right to put its own laws (and you have the right to feel it’s unjust)
On Qatar blockade:
Qatar has been speaking badly of Saudi and plotting lots of schemes and ruining its reputation in the media for a long time. Saudi asked them to stop but they didn’t which resulted in the blockade. Things are fine now (for the most part). I personally didn’t like it but I don’t have all the details. All I can be sure of (according to how I know my government) is that it was a last resort.
On (the murder):
For the lack of a better word (English is not my first language) it was disgusting. I was surprised and ashamed and there’s no excuse to what happened. I think my government made a mistake and they pretty much admitted so.
That being said, the family of the deceased have dropped charges (and before someone jumps, I don’t believe they were forced to. It’s not how our government operates.). I don’t think it was under MBS orders though but feel free to believe what you want. Saudi have never tried to justify it. Screw ups like this happen with every country and they all should be held accountable. A human life is sacred and this should not happen.
Hope I didn’t forget anything. Happy to provide sources and discuss in a civil manner.
Bottom line: there’re a lot of Manchester United fans in Saudi and we feel hurt every time someone makes a racist comment against us. Why should we be treated differently to other countries? I’m here cause I love Manchester United and so do you.
Note: I’ve been a lurker in this forum for years. I created the account to write this post when there were rumors of MBS buying Manchester United due to all the hateful comments I read. But felt lazy writing it and that thread died away anyway.
He certainly made sure that's the case.
We haven’t that’s the point. ie every little helps.
After all clubs like City and PSG have done exactly that.
Are you purposely ignoring the fact that the more money you spend the better your squad? Allowing for the fact that we both agree on that we’ve wasted money, it still would have helped.
Take for example every single time we’ve claimed ‘there was no value in the market’ or ‘no player available that would have improved our midfield’
That doesn’t happen at those clubs with these owners. They buy a midfielder when they blatantly need one like we did last summer, they don’t neglect the RW position for the best part of a decade like we did.
Its mildly amusing to see the meltdown of some of the folks here over this, when Saudis have been investing in pretty much everything in the world.
But then that discussion has been done to death here.
But then that discussion has been done to death here.
They are still odds on to go down, no?
Aye I hate this line of thought, same with the ones that say “it’s good there’s a new club that can topple the old elite” why? Your just replacing the dominant traditional top clubs who’ve spent years building themselves up to that level of success for the most part and replacing them with state backed oil clubs with feck all history who will now dominate. Is that what they want to see? Is that really the better option?
If Steve Bruce doesn't turn around Newcastle's form, he'll get invited to the embassy in Istanbul.
They now officially have the richest club owners on he planet. The wealth of the Saudi state dwarfs the emirates and Qatar. MBS paid half a billion for a fake da Vinci just to hang it in his yacht out of sight of the world. Imagine the amount of money he’ll throw at his sportswashing project.
It's nice to see her doing something other than riding around warehouses on a tricycle.
Well said.
What are their odds to stay up now? I will put a wedge on
If I were a betting man, I'd lay that bet.
Assuming the Saudis are in charge starting now, they'll probably bring in big reinforcements in January to stave off relegation.
One decent striker should be enough to keep them up. Then an entire rest of the squad in the summer.
I hear Kane fancies a move.
How are you involved with the Saudis?
I've always had a lot of time of Newcastle fans.
But this takeover is going to turn them into an absolute bunch of rabid cnuts.
There's nothing worse than a mid-tier club fanbase suddenly winning the lottery. Hopefully than can keep it a little bit classier than City.
But this takeover is going to turn them into an absolute bunch of rabid cnuts.
There's nothing worse than a mid-tier club fanbase suddenly winning the lottery. Hopefully than can keep it a little bit classier than City.
Does the Saudi takeover mean they've also purchased Newcastle United Women FC? Will they be allowed to take to the pitch without a male escort?
How am I, a random person on the internet, “interfering in their business “? Just saying my opinion, freely, which is great and wouldn’t be the case if I lived under MBS’s rule
As to the “good luck to them”, no. They can feck off. The club, the owners, and their silly fans who care more about buying a winger and winning a tinpot trophy in a made up game than being owned by a murderous narcissistic dictator of a backwards regime.
I hope Sunderland win the World Cup
I'm sitting in my local just outside Newcastle, nothing classy about these
I don’t see the issue. As long as no skin whatsoever is showing and the outfits are baggy enough.
Interesting that they seem to basically be welcoming foreign ownership I thought they were against.
Take it how you want, but the implication was that Newcastle would buy a whole new team in January...noises coming from the consortium is that won't be the case and I think we know that ain't gonna happen anyhow..
First order of business: sack Steve Bruce and hire Ted Lasso.
I have to agree with you. They will get a world class manager and players. They are going to be challenging City for sure.
How am I, a random person on the internet, “interfering in their business “? Just saying my opinion, freely, which is great and wouldn’t be the case if I lived under MBS’s rule
As to the “good luck to them”, no. They can feck off. The club, the owners, and their silly fans who care more about buying a winger and winning a tinpot trophy in a made up game than being owned by a murderous narcissistic dictator of a backwards regime.
I hope Sunderland win the World Cup
No, I was asking why their fans shouldn't be happy about this news when they hated their previous owners and this news only mean their club is going up. If you think Saudis are evil and they should care about that more than football, great, but it's an outside opinion from other club's fans. For their fans, there's nothing to be sad about. If they're happy about their club, great, I don't see the reason behind the meltdown I'm seeing in this thread. It's their own club, not us.
Wish there was a factory reset button for football. Clubs only spending money they generate themselves, back to the old European cup knockout style with Champions from each League, no more Sky, get the betting and alcohol sponsors on the tele and strips to feck and no more 3 new strips every season.
Rather them than us.
RIP NUFC
RIP NUFC
It'll be Conte, surely. He's the best manager currently out of work and loves to spend a bit of money.
I didn’t say they will buy a new team in January. I would expect to see that in the summer, however.
How long then before the big influx of Newcastle fans to the caf?
Will be funny as f*** if they get relegated this season especially after this takeover today.
Haha, just wistful thinking by me.
Yeah no doubt he’ll be gone soon. Although their strategy is to replace him. For the media image they’ll will probably not do it straight away and wait until a bad run after he’s had the winter window.