Club Sale | It’s done!

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Roboc7

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I think the club could survive, even thrive in short to medium term. I think we're probably at or nearing the limit though that we can do that under current ownership. I've never bought this idea the owners have seen us as a cash cow to milk and asset strip. Yes they've taken dividends but they're proportionate to those paid under the PLC relative to revenues and turnovers at the time.

I've never really bought into this idea that X money going into shareholders pockets was fine by X amount going into the owners pockets was ever something worth getting the bed sheets and permanent marker over.

I do think though the Glazers know their current strategy isn't going to work long term. They can currently afford to invest in first team at current market values and spending expectations. In five-ten years? Probably not. The investment needed in stadium would need come through borrowing. This is another factor.

They either act now or they cross their fingers and hope for best but that approach risks the slowing of increase of the value of he asset.
The Glazers have milked the brand, complete neglected all the assets and now have no short, medium or long term prospects.Once the ESL disappeared it closed off a new revenue stream they desperately needed.

The club needs huge investment on and off the pitch, Glazers can’t borrow anymore to do it so they are done. Ideally I’ve no doubt they’d have liked to cling on in hope of being able to sell streaming rights but combination of their incompetence and financial markets mean they have little option but to sell.
 

Dazzmondo

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Any updates on who the most likely buyers are at this stage? Would ideally like this confirmed before January
 

Nou_Camp99

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Any updates on who the most likely buyers are at this stage? Would ideally like this confirmed before January
I think you should give the club a call and let them know your schedule. Hahaha.
 
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red thru&thru

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Yes, and you can see the washing in progress when (some - not all) the fan base starts turning from mocking City, PSG, actively shouting against horrific human rights practices etc, to just accepting the same fate for us.

My last paragraph was to underline the point that you can still support the club, no matter who owns it. Just as we do today with the glazers.
I've personally never mocked City or PSG. It's not their fans fault. However, I have mocked the club, City. The way they have to go and "buy" fans is cringe worthy.

Yeah, I agree with the last paragraph. We will still support United, irrespective. However, it does surprise me when people say they would done with the club. Surprising..
 

Monks_United

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Folks shouldn't pretend to know what is or isn't reasonable and gettable in terms of an investment without having had a chance to go through the kind of analysis any potential investor would go through.

As for the investment in infra and players that is required, I do think we are significantly better off than Chelsea for eg. and they were sold for a ridiculously large sum of money. Recession notwithstanding, if anyone thinks that Man Utd even at a 30-40% premium wouldn't be attractive for potential investors then I do think you're off your rails.
 

devilish

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The PL is becoming the Super league. Teams such as Brighton and West Ham can afford to buy internationals from Brazil, Germany and Argentina. It will be very expensive to get us back to winning the PL and the CL. Super rich owners have changed the dynamics of the game.
It won't. The Serie A of the 80s had small/mid sized clubs affording talent like Batistuta, Careca, Hagi, Laudrup, Gazza, Taffarel etc. Yet one thing was missing. Fiorentina wasn't Real Madrid or Manchester United. They might have had the money but they lacked the fan base.
 

van Nistelrooy

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In five years the expectation of a £200-£250m investment just to keep pace will become the normal. Nobody who needed to leverage a £750m buy out, albeit 16 years ago, could possibly afford that. The Glazers aren't cash rich, they're asset rich
It's like playing Monopoly with no cash to play with, but holding plenty of property cards which other people desire to complete a suit.

Let the bidding commence.
 

Tarrou

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oil nations will pay a massive premium I don't see how US consortiums will realistically stay involved
 

devilish

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oil nations will pay a massive premium I don't see how US consortiums will realistically stay involved
I agree. On the other had Oil nations have yet to pay premium on a big club. They tend to buy garbage clubs like Newcastle or Shitty
 

red thru&thru

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Clubs are always for sale for right price. We weren't for sale in 98 or 2006 either.
When you're on the stock market, you are always for sale. Someone can buy shares and then you have to make an offer, after buying so many.

However, since being on the NYSE, it's not the same, as Glazsers held the controlling shares.

But this is the first time Glazers have admitted that they will listen to offers, so it helps in the negotiations for a buyer. Without this, the Glazers hold all the cards.
 

red thru&thru

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True but some clubs were close in terms of prestige ie Liverpool, AC Milan and Inter
Agreed. However, no other clubs, besides the likes of Real or Barca, are on the same level as us.

People will pay a premium for a premium product. United are amongst the elite when it comes to sports brands.
 

Hernandez - BFA

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Obviously no one would know for sure, but in terms of likelihood, would we get sold before next SUmmer?
 

devilish

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Not convinced you can put any Serie A side on that list these days.
Liverpool is the only one, but they’ve grown immensely since 2013, at the time of that sale they were absolutely light years behind United on and off the pitch.
We're talking on a pure prestige basis, a sleeping giant with history and fan reach.. We're talking of a club who won 7 CL titles and 19 Serie A titles here and who has a fan base of 99m fan base. AC Milan would be closer to us then fecking City or Newcastle are

Money is not an issue. These Saudi/Abu Dhabi/Qatar don't need it.
 

golden_blunder

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Indeed. And I think most prefer local rivalries. I'd ratherbsee us play the likes of West Ham and Southampton every week than Barca, Real et al. The fear is it will kill the PL eventually. Europe competition was always then icing on the cake but domestically competition where it's always been at. Perhaps global punters think differently.
I prefer local rivals too, bread and butter of your own country should always come first
 

Tarrou

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We're talking on a pure prestige basis, a sleeping giant with history and fan reach.. We're talking of a club who won 7 CL titles and 19 Serie A titles here and who has a fan base of 99m fan base. AC Milan would be closer to us then fecking City or Newcastle are

Money is not an issue. These Saudi/Abu Dhabi/Qatar don't need it.
Maybe it's not that straight-forward? None of these countries bid for Chelsea.

Remember, the oil nations are not buying clubs just because they love football and don't care about money. They expect a return like other investors, just in a different way.

Just playing devils advocate here, I really don't want oil-money to buy us so clutching at straws tbh.
 

NinjaZombie

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Does it matter where the investor is from?
As long as the investor is not a human rights violator and guarantees investment in the club/infrastructure, there should be no problem.
I think the concern is that a US consortium will be too similar to the Glazers for most people's liking. A bunch of people looking to make some money out of the club.
 

devilish

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Maybe it's not that straight-forward? None of these countries bid for Chelsea.

Remember, the oil nations are not buying clubs just because they love football and don't care about money. They expect a return like other investors, just in a different way.

Just playing devils advocate really, I really don't want oil-money to buy us.
Which is exactly the point I am making. They seem interested in taking nobodies (City, Newcastle) and turn them in football giants. There's no shadow of the doubt that such thing would have never happened without their intervention. Such thing won't be possible with clubs like United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
 

Red Dreams

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I prefer local rivals too, bread and butter of your own country should always come first
If we have owners who actually understand the history of our club and English football in addition to not needing the money from a Super league, we should be alright.
In addition to the need to improve the squad and maintain and expand the Youth Program the other obvious need we have is the need to bring the stadium and training facilities back to where it was as we knew them.
 

lsd

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When you're on the stock market, you are always for sale. Someone can buy shares and then you have to make an offer, after buying so many.

However, since being on the NYSE, it's not the same, as Glazsers held the controlling shares.

But this is the first time Glazers have admitted that they will listen to offers, so it helps in the negotiations for a buyer. Without this, the Glazers hold all the cards.
 

red thru&thru

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One thing I believe will happen, whoever takes over, one or two of the class of '92 will be involved!
 

Roboc7

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I agree. On the other had Oil nations have yet to pay premium on a big club. They tend to buy garbage clubs like Newcastle or Shitty
Because it makes more sense, they are looking for good PR and you get much better PR (and less opposition) from building up Newcastle than you would from buying us and being successful.

It’s also a lot cheaper so I still find it hard to believe a state will buy Utd or Liverpool, most likely a consortium of some description.
 

Chairman Steve

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If any United playing alumni are involved in a bid, then I‘m certain it’ll be a Middle Eastern bid. It seems to be their MO on these things.

Here’s your former star to tell us how great this OPEC member is etc.
 
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