Swiss Ramble on the Glazers

[Pogue Mahone]

This Twitter thread definitely merits its own thread. An excellent analysis of why the Glazers are far worse owners than those at any of our rivals, despite spending lots of money on transfers.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Essential reading for anyone in any doubt about how badly our club has been damaged by their ownership and why we shouldn’t be too worried about what might happen when the club is sold.

 

[Raw]

Saw that earlier, great write up. Glazers are absolute parasites.

The rival fans spouting "but you spent £1bn how can you complain about the Glazers?!" need to shut up and read it.

 

[VP89]

We aren't really doing much about it though

 

[Raw]

We aren't really doing much about it though

That's the depressing truth of it. Why on earth would they sell when they're sitting pretty with their millions in dividends every year?

Unless the fanbase is completely united and stops going to games and attacks the sponsors, they'll never leave. The only hope is that someone ridiculously rich comes in with an offer they can't refuse. And unfortunately you're looking at the morally bankrupt sheikhs and oligarchs of the world at that point.

 

[Member 125398]

We aren't really doing much about it though

There have been several well organised and very visible protests over the years and it's done nothing. Someone posted a letter to the FA in another thread questioning the legality of their ownership, which is an interesting angle (although I wouldn't count on the FA for any help).

The only thing that will persuade them to sell is if they're losing money the fecking vampires.

 

[Kill3r7]

That's the depressing truth of it. Why on earth would they sell when they're sitting pretty with their millions in dividends every year?

Unless the fanbase is completely united and stops going to games and attacks the sponsors, they'll never leave. The only hope is that someone ridiculously rich comes in with an offer they can't refuse. And unfortunately you're looking at the morally bankrupt sheikhs and oligarchs of the world at that point.

You won’t come across many morally righteous billionaires. Certainly not many that are willing spend £4-5 billion to buy us (a sports club). So in that sense we are looking for a wealthy sugar daddy no need to pretend otherwise.

 

[VP89]

There have been several well organised and very visible protests over the years and it's done nothing. Someone posted a letter to the FA in another thread questioning the legality of their ownership, which is an interesting angle (although I wouldn't count on the FA for any help).

The only thing that will persuade them to sell is if they're losing money the fecking vampires.

Since the coming of social media there hasn't been much on scale aside from the game vs Liverpool after the Super League announcement.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Interesting read and scary, agree the only reason they will leave is when they cannot suck any more money out of the club, hence they will destroy us.

 

[Member 125398]

Since the coming of social media there hasn't been much on scale aside from the game vs Liverpool after the Super League announcement.

Green and Gold until the club's sold then, get social media-ing.

 

[Lynty]

Good read.

You could turn a blind eye to the financial leeching (like we did pre 2013) if they put skilled people in positions to acheive success.

They don't give a damn about success, just the unlimited supply of dividends every season. They'll milk us dry and then sell us when theirs nothing left to give - no amount of fan protest will change that.

The only way out of this is via an oil rich arab or a future benevolant/uninterested Glazer spawn. Avram looks like he bathes in the blood of young virgins though, so he'll probably live forever.

 

[Stig]

I don't have Twiter and would rather not sign up.

Is it available anywhere else ?

 

[VP89]

Green and Gold until the club's sold then, get social media-ing.

I don't much use social media.
Yes, if there is a planned protest I would attend, money permitting. But there isn't really anything - in no small part because United is fragmented into different fan groups who don't get in sync.

 

[m1tch]

That's the depressing truth of it. Why on earth would they sell when they're sitting pretty with their millions in dividends every year?

Unless the fanbase is completely united and stops going to games and attacks the sponsors, they'll never leave. The only hope is that someone ridiculously rich comes in with an offer they can't refuse. And unfortunately you're looking at the morally bankrupt sheikhs and oligarchs of the world at that point.

As a side note, its fair to say that moral bankruptcy is a common trait amongst billionaires, whether they be from the Arab world, Russia, or the West. It's just the Western ones have better control over PR here.

I guess being the toy of a billionaire is the best ownership financially, as it doesn't need to turn a profit. However, giving someone total control (like the Glazers have) can obviously backfire like it has for us, given they've not just been disastrous financially but in terms of how they run the club.
Back to being a PLC has to be the way to go.

 

[Adnan]

I read the Swiss Ramble thread earlier and it doesn't shock me anymore. Like I said in one of the threads yesterday, they're the worst owners in the EPL from a footballing POV.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

We aren't really doing much about it though

I’m not sure what point you’re making in this thread? In your opinion, what should fans be doing that they haven’t tried so far?

 

[Ramshock]

This Twitter thread definitely merits its own thread. An excellent analysis of why the Glazers are far worse owners than those at any of our rivals, despite spending lots of money on transfers.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Essential reading for anyone in any doubt about how badly our club has been damaged by their ownership and why we shouldn’t be too worried about what might happen when the club is sold.

some

 

[Pogue Mahone]

some

 

[TheGame]

It's actually very shocking stuff when you read all of that. People just align that money has been spent on transfers and don't actually drill down into the issues about where that money comes from or the issues raised in that thread.

 

[Red_toad]

Can we get the Manc red devil and gold Trafford back to tell us how great the Glazers have been for the club and that debt is a good thing?

 

[VP89]

I’m not sure what point you’re making in this thread? In your opinion, what should fans believe doing that they haven’t tried so far?

Protest regularly outside Old Trafford on matchdays. I didn't really see too much anti glazer related banners in my sample of games at OT last season.

If there is a supporter base in Tampa Florida then to make their voices known where the Glazers do go.

I think we've always had a flurry but it's been quick to stop. Glazers now just think any protest will be short and sweet regardless. I am not saying your thread isn't damning but I just feel, what's the point, we as fans aren't pushing change enough.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

It's amazing they were even allowed to buy us in the first place considering they didn't use any of their own actual money.

Would the PL allow a buy out like that of a club nowadays? Actually the PL probably dont give any shits about anything...

 

[GazTheLegend]

The best quote in the whole thread for me is "their club continues to pay huge sums merely for the privilege of having the Glazers as owners."

They don't care about our club and should never have been allowed the custody of something they simply know nothing about other than using it as a cash machine for their tenures.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

It's actually very shocking stuff when you read all of that. People just align that money has been spent on transfers and don't actually drill down into the issues about where that money comes from or the issues raised in that thread.

Surely the pressure is going to build when they have to start paying sponsors because of no CL football again. I know they will just then not spend on transfers or infrastructure of the club, but that will put us in an even worse downwards spiral. Eventually there will be no money to take out of the club without bankrupting us. What happens if the money the club generates cannot pay the loan interest?

 

[GazTheLegend]

It's amazing they were even allowed to buy us in the first place considering they didn't use any of their own actual money.

Would the PL allow a buy out like that of a club nowadays? Actually the PL probably dont give any shits about anything...

No - the rules would not allow it anymore. Ironic given we are stuck with this shit.

 

[m1tch]

It's amazing they were even allowed to buy us in the first place considering they didn't use any of their own actual money.

Would the PL allow a buy out like that of a club nowadays? Actually the PL probably dont give any shits about anything...

Bullshit ain't it. BSkyB's bid was blocked but they let the Glazers buy us with a Wonga loan.

 

[avgp_1]

That's a sickening read.

 

[ilrm]

Instead of wasting time with protests that won't be televised (barring a few disgruntled fans) or doing anything criminal, why doesn't each and every fan pick up the phone and call an investment bank every day to inform them that if they find a buyer for United, the fans would publicly support the new buyer?
Be polite, inform them that United is a listed company, whose data is publicly available and that its not being run well. Make multiple calls a day to different investment banks. It will cost you nothing but your time and the price of a phone call. The transaction fees are paid by the buyer or seller depending on who the banks represent.

Investment bankers are looking for ideas all the time. Imagine if each bank gets a 100 calls a day, for 3-4 months ... there has to be an enterprising banker who can leverage this opportunity (through the wealth management/buyout teams). The media will definitely report on this. As a starting point, you only need to focus on a few banking/wealth management centers:
USA: NYC, Boston, Chicago, LA
Europe: London, Amsterdam, Paris, Zurich, Geneva, Monaco, Dublin, Frankfurt
Asia: Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Mumbai
The best thing about this is that most of the large banks have multiple branches across every city, many who compete within the firm for deals - its a total dog-eat-dog business. You can literally pick one bank and make cold calls to all their branches in a day.

Check your local laws on cold calling. Don't do anything illegal.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

No - the rules would not allow it anymore. Ironic given we are stuck with this shit.

Well thats good at least.

They should bring in some sort of rule against dividends being paid out if the club is in debt. If such a thing could be enforced.

 

[Bastian]

Excellent summary.

 

[HookedOnAPhelan]

Sabotaging every home game until they sell is the only thing that has a shot at working. But is it possible to get enough fans onboard for that?

 

[Sweet Square]

Great twitter thread.

 

[TheGame]

Surely the pressure is going to build when they have to start paying sponsors because of no CL football again. I know they will just then not spend on transfers or infrastructure of the club, but that will put us in an even worse downwards spiral. Eventually there will be no money to take out of the club without bankrupting us. What happens if the money the club generates cannot pay the loan interest?

I imagine at that point they will just bail and leave the club in the shit.

 

[clarkydaz]

Sabotaging every home game until they sell is the only thing that has a shot at working. But is it possible to get enough fans onboard for that?

if we remain very low in the table it will obviously snowball. However if things pick up resultswise you fear it fizzles out, Just like the outrage of an ending transfer window, ride the storm/ignore for a few days then it goes away

 

[TrueRed79]

All laid out in bare facts from Swiss Ramble. It's disgusting. The revolt has to start from within the club. Fergie created this mess in the first place with the suing of two horse owners that held a large portion of shares. Least he could do is come out and say it's not working, and for the Glazers to start looking for potential buyers and pass the baton.

 

[Koldbeer2021]

It's amazing they were even allowed to buy us in the first place considering they didn't use any of their own actual money.

I think thats the thing that would anger me the most if my club were in that position.

They put the club into debt for the 'benefit' of them owning the club. If they made the club loads of money above and beyond this that would be I suppose justifiable.
'
Instead all they've done is ride the coat tails of a hugely inflationary financial situation in the premier league (most clubs have seen huge growth in incomes over that time period). Their growth is nothing beyond the other clubs up there towards the top of the table and in recent years has if anything started to get overtaken more readily by others. Secondly they also rode the coat tails of a very successful manager in Fergie who allowed the commercial side to flourish through continued on field success. no surprise that once he is gone for a few years the commercial growth has basically stopped as the thing that was propelling the growth was no longer present.

They basically do absolutely nothing that justifies the huge amount of leveraged debt they put on the club, nor the dividends, etc.

They've done nothing that any other chairman/board in any of the big 6 clubs haven't been able to do (and much better fwiw) than Man Utd. So why should they be able to leech off of the club as if they are adding value when if anything they are destroying value?

 

[mu4c_20le]

It's beyond incompetence.

 

[Ramshock]

There is so many if you dont laugh you will cry

 

[The Corinthian]

It's amazing they were even allowed to buy us in the first place considering they didn't use any of their own actual money.

Would the PL allow a buy out like that of a club nowadays? Actually the PL probably dont give any shits about anything...

I think Burnley were bought the same way last year? But yea, it’s a total joke it was allowed. FA are cnuts.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

All laid out in bare facts from Swiss Ramble. It's disgusting. The revolt has to start from within the club. Fergie created this mess in the first place with the suing of two horse owners that held a large portion of shares. Least he could do is come out and say it's not working, and for the Glazers to start looking for potential buyers and pass the baton.

That’s a bit of a myth. Magnier and McManus were, first and foremost, sharp business men. Once they got an offer they couldn’t refuse for those shares they would have sold up, no matter what they thought of Fergie.

 

[CM]

Sickening and makes for really grim reading. How all of this is legal staggers me