Protest at Old Trafford

Pogue Mahone

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Has anyone well sourced articles/blogs/statistics about how much money the Glazers paid themselves and how much money has been used to service the debt after the acquisition? How does it compare to other owners (e.g. FSG / Kroenke)?
I reckon that Swiss Ramble bloke would be your best bet. He’s the best writer on football finances I’ve seen.

Here’s a good twitter thread on this topic from him.

 

Spoony

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I was watching clips of Turkish fans, and they're insane...the amount of flares used is such a spectacle. Yesterday's protests were very polite in comparison. More flares needed has to be our motto.
 

Tom Van Persie

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The lack of people in the world who could trouser that money is one thing, but I also think these protesters are overlooking one small thing with their behaviour.

What owner is going to witness the scenes yesterday, and be more encouraged to get involved?
Unless they plan to come in and literally treat us as their own wild footballing ride and plough insane money in, they'll see that merely owning us, and spending what the Glazers allow each year isn't enough.

Just why would you? Just buy another business and get your profit out of that, or another club that costs say 200million.
I've been thinking the same thing. The fecking Saudi's will be all over it if we do go up for sale. They don't care about all that.
 

Lennon7

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I was watching clips of Turkish fans, and they're insane...the amount of flares used is such a spectacle. Yesterday's protests were very polite in comparison. More flares needed has to be our motto.
feck that it was like being tear gassed at times
 

Sandikan

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I've been thinking the same thing. The fecking Saudi's will be all over it if we do go up for sale. They don't care about all that.
I read a pretty balanced piece by one journo, well capturing all the complaints people have, but also putting over the fact that the Glazers are the ones who have seen our value and income sky rocket.
Nothing is ever totally good or bad, but some fans seem unable to understand that.

It is worrying how much the club is worth now. You either have an even more ruthless money machine come in - which is either birth right families who may well have a questionable regime, or it comes from a huge businessman who has crushed millions of little people to get that money.
But businessmen who have made that money have done so for a reason, and aren't in the habit of just lashing money into something without gain.

The other option is to have a "collective" of individuals of high wealth. But the Red Knights tried that strategy, but quickly found they had nowhere near the resources , even pooled together.
 

#07

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United fans had one choice open to them to show the world how angry they are about the Glazer ownership: get the Liverpool game cancelled. We are, as the Glazers will tell you, a very well watched club. However, we're watched most when we play Liverpool. This was the chance to tell everyone that we want the Glazers gone.

Its a shame that a handful went too far, I'm not going to try and justify that, but I can't hide my delight that the game was postponed. The protests probably wouldn't have merited a paragraph in most papers today if the fans had simply stood on the forecourt. I thought the fans were going to stop the busses on their approach to Old Trafford. In the end some took a more direct route and, while I don't want to see people getting hurt, I'm happy that the game was stopped. I'd also be happy to take a three point deduction from the Premier League. We only need four to make make top four anyway.

Today broadcasters around the world will be furious, sponsors will be outraged that they've not had a chance to showcase their brands. Good! Maybe it will sink in that the Glazer ownership is so toxic that it's now stopping 'the show.' Without games the Glazers have nothing to sell and, since money is the only language the Glazers understand, they need to get the message: no game, no profit, so get lost.
 

TMDaines

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Has anyone well sourced articles/blogs/statistics about how much money the Glazers paid themselves and how much money has been used to service the debt after the acquisition? How does it compare to other owners (e.g. FSG / Kroenke)?
I’m sure Swiss Ramble has on Twitter.
 

#07

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I don’t know why people are surprised by this. Football is a business - the glazers being toppled could see it all come crashing down. It’s the domino theory all over again :lol:
Also they recently had Bruno Fernandes on. Pretty sure that would've been a big show for them. Plenty of ad revenue. They won't bite the hand that feeds. They want United's press department to let other big name players go on talksport and get them more views.

As you say football is a business.

Sky was happy to whip up fans against the super league, yet Dave Jones was trying to censor Gary Neville yesterday. Cos super league hurt Sky's viewership so it was fine for fans to attack it. Whereas fans stopping a game costs Sky money so now the fans are the enemy. End of the day its all about money.
 

PedroMendez

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I reckon that Swiss Ramble bloke would be your best bet. He’s the best writer on football finances I’ve seen.

Here’s a good twitter thread on this topic from him.

thanks.

"#MUFC have paid £209m in last 5 years to fund Glazers’ ownership structure: £120m interest plus £89m dividends. In fact, in last 10 years they spent an extraordinary £838m on financing: £488m interest, £251m debt repayments & £99m dividends. Took out £140m loan since year-end."

:annoyed:

Thats pretty insane, considering that only Kroenke seems to do the same, but on a smaller level (~100m during the last 5 years).
 

AshRK

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Not sure if this protest will make the Glazers sell the club but it will definitely be a kick in their arse and may force them to buy quality players this summer. I do expect Glazers to have a say and protect their image and spending on quality players would be a way to answer this protest.
 

Murder on Zidane's Floor

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Or your the perfect example of someone labelling thousands of people as thugs based on the actions of a minority and patronising why people do it and what they expect.

No one is going to feel sorry for you because you couldn’t watch the game and despite what you think your clearly not better than fans who took some action.

Any one with any sense has criticised those that went too far it’s only certain people like yourself that focus on it and attempt to act all superior.
I advocate for not watching the games as a form of protest, why would I care the game is off?

Swing and a miss.
 

big rons sovereign

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I advocate for not watching the games as a form of protest, why would I care the game is off?

Swing and a miss.
That's exactly the kind of protest they want, nice and quiet, no coverage or any notice taken.
Direct action is the only way to make them sit up and take notice.
Not showing up to games will do nothing as they know that somebody else will just take your place.
 

Murder on Zidane's Floor

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That's exactly the kind of protest they want, nice and quiet, no coverage or any notice taken.
Direct action is the only way to make them sit up and take notice.
Not showing up to games will do nothing as they know that somebody else will just take your place.
You've misunderstood everything.

Not the actual games because match day fans don't generate much commercial revenue in comparison with millions of viewers every week.

You think them having a brand no one watches is "quiet". They won't be able to sell sponsorship deals to companies if they generate lower viewerships than Everton.

Seriously, think bigger than fecking flares and chants outside an empty stadium.
 

Tiber

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I see MUST have released yet another letter calling for the Glazers to let MUST sit on the board and then sell shares to fans. Presumably out of the goodness of their hearts.

What a waste of bandwith :rolleyes: if fans want to force change getting games called off and pissing off TV networks and sponsors across the world is one of the few ways to make an impact. Not weekly 'Dear Joel' letters
 

FrankDrebin

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The issue has never been the fact the club/glazers have brought players because they clearly have, on big and reasonable fees.

One of the major issues, for me, has and will continue to be based on the infrastructure of Old Trafford and in general the Match Day going experience for the fans, as Neville alluded too.

Old Trafford, internally and externally, is dated and tired , with the surroundings being practically a dump (outside OT is a mess) .

Sure from a distance OT still looks reasonably ok but it doesn't take much for you to eventually witness the cracks, the leaks and the rust .A unattractive mess and the Glazers have shone 0 intention of bringing the club up to the modern standards and they will continue to show 0 intention too.

Signing players in comparison is an absolute p*ss walk and it shuts up the fans quickly too, especially those who've never experienced OT up close on matchdays.

By all account Carrington is looking rather stale too. Would that place be enhanced upon anytime soon ? Nope.
 

clarkydaz

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I see MUST have released yet another letter calling for the Glazers to let MUST sit on the board and then sell shares to fans. Presumably out of the goodness of their hearts.

What a waste of bandwith :rolleyes: if fans want to force change getting games called off and pissing off TV networks and sponsors across the world is one of the few ways to make an impact. Not weekly 'Dear Joel' letters
I suppose the point is to see how they respond, if at all. After all Joel said he wants to heal and communicate with fans. Ball is in his court
 

Roboc7

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I advocate for not watching the games as a form of protest, why would I care the game is off?

Swing and a miss.
As I guessed from your posts and total lack of understanding probably never attended a game but somehow think you can belittle everyone else.

I’ve just seen another post where you think fans not attending games won’t make a difference, clueless. You carry on advocating turning your tv off whilst actually watching it, what a game changer.
 
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big rons sovereign

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You've misunderstood everything.

Not the actual games because match day fans don't generate much commercial revenue in comparison with millions of viewers every week.

You think them having a brand no one watches is "quiet". They won't be able to sell sponsorship deals to companies if they generate lower viewerships than Everton.

Seriously, think bigger than fecking flares and chants outside an empty stadium.
You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about mate. And that's fine.
 

Rightnr

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I see MUST have released yet another letter calling for the Glazers to let MUST sit on the board and then sell shares to fans. Presumably out of the goodness of their hearts.

What a waste of bandwith :rolleyes: if fans want to force change getting games called off and pissing off TV networks and sponsors across the world is one of the few ways to make an impact. Not weekly 'Dear Joel' letters
They were part of the protest yesterday, I think.

And I generally agree with this approach. If we just blindly protest and don't show willingness to engage the Glazers, they'll be seen as obstructionist. We know the Glazers won't engage but the wider public might not know not realise this.

By allowing the Glazers to keep acting arrogantly in an open and public forum, you expose them for their greed and lack of engagement with fans. This is a far more mature and clever way of achieving and implementing change.

Meanwhile, keep the pressure up and don't let them relax. Don't prove them right by buying shirts or any other merchandise. Don't buy anything from sponsors and if asked why, say it's because of the Glazers.
 

Murder on Zidane's Floor

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As I guessed from your posts and total lack of understanding probably never attended a game but somehow think you can belittle everyone else.
Love how the metric of "attending a game" means you can't have an opinion on how best to eject the Glazers from the club.

Thankfully, going to a game isn't synonymous with knowing anything of note.
 

Roboc7

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Love how the metric of "attending a game" means you can't have an opinion on how best to eject the Glazers from the club.

Thankfully, going to a game isn't synonymous with knowing anything of note.
No you can have an opinion I just knew you were someone who watches on tv, that explains a lot of what your saying and why. You come across like someone who’s never been to a game and doesn’t understand what it means to people that do. You don’t understand the reality of attending a game, during, before or after and the good and bad. It’s not a criticism just explains a lot.

Don’t have to go to games to be a fan so you can forget the poor me attitude, but like I say you keep watching whilst advocating not watching, you’ll really hurt the Glazers.
 
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horsechoker

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The issue has never been the fact the club/glazers have brought players because they clearly have, on big and reasonable fees.

One of the major issues, for me, has and will continue to be based on the infrastructure of Old Trafford and in general the Match Day going experience for the fans, as Neville alluded too.

Old Trafford, internally and externally, is dated and tired , with the surroundings being practically a dump (outside OT is a mess) .

Sure from a distance OT still looks reasonably ok but it doesn't take much for you to eventually witness the cracks, the leaks and the rust .A unattractive mess and the Glazers have shone 0 intention of bringing the club up to the modern standards and they will continue to show 0 intention too.

Signing players in comparison is an absolute p*ss walk and it shuts up the fans quickly too, especially those who've never experienced OT up close on matchdays.

By all account Carrington is looking rather stale too. Would that place be enhanced upon anytime soon ? Nope.
We'll wait for a stand to collapse before fixing it
 

horsechoker

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Fixing it ? they'll expect fans to sit on the rubble. Maybe they could turn it into some commercial opportunity. Some novelty.
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Withnail

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I advocate for not watching the games as a form of protest, why would I care the game is off?

Swing and a miss.
This is what you think will be more effective than getting actual people on the streets disrupting matches?

It's so far from a realistic proposal I'm baffled you put it into words and posted it.

You're living in a fantasy land if you think it's possible to reach millions of football watching fans around the world and convince them not to watch United games.

Please tell me I've misinterpreted you because that is nuts.
 

LawCharltonBest

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The person who does these letters to the Glazers on behalf of MUST.. who would that be?

A lawyer or an every day fan?
 

big rons sovereign

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Neither do you. Seems so long as something is "loud" means it if effective.
You're just being facetious now.
Nothing was ever achieved by sitting and doing nothing.
How did the suffragette movement work?
How was the poll tax stopped twice?
It wasn't by refusing to do anything that's for sure.
The whole world was watching yesterday and the whole world saw the message.

How many saw you refusing to watch?
 

acrebo

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Pure Tory brain.
? Because I disagree with a disorganised rabble walking around the pitch taking selfies, throwing beer cans and wrecking equipment?

My political leanings have absolutely nothing to do with seeing a bunch of pissed kids essentially dilute what was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a REAL statement.

Those fans that got on the pitch messed it up... for all the news coverage, there isn’t a single screenshot / clip which truly shows what the message should have been.
 

Moriarty

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Coppers being coppers. 'Stop resisting' accompanied by a flurry of blows, seems to be the mantra these days. Back in the day, we'd see this on a weekly basis at away games only then, the beatings took place either inside the black maria or when they opened the doors at the cop shop. I suppose if mobiles had been available then, you'd see some pretty horrendous footage.