Club Sale | It’s done!

[Nori-]

Exactly.

I mean look at the stupid contract given to mbappe at PSG to demonstrate idiocy.

The way I look at it is, it's not my money.

If the owners want to spend their oil money on securing the best talent in the world rather than a new shopping mall in Qatar, who am I to say no?

Rival fans will obviously start comparing transfer fees, wages blah blah, but I don't support United because I want to be an accountant.

 

[Dan_F]

Leaving aside the humans right stuff, are people happy if we are run in a similar fashion to PSG?

From the outside, it seems to me like they make mistakes all over the place but get away with it in a league with close to zero competition. Seems to have been pretty toxic at times, the ultras don’t seem thrilled with the owners either.

 

[Blood Mage]

Is this a joke or what

I mean it's a bit like saying chlamydia is better than aids but it's still true. The Saudis even let women drive now.

 

[fallengt]

The scene when Glazers fail to find a buyer because selling price is too damn high.

 

[Mr. Robot]

Out of interest, is there anyone over the age of thirty here welcoming the oil money with giddiness?

Definitely not.

 

[Mickeza]

It was behind a paywall so only subscribers to the Athletic, which is most likely somewhat of a echo chamber. Highly unlikely that poll is reflective of most United fans.

Most definitely. The athletic is full of guardian types such as myself. I voted Jim on it.

 

[Sushi Kagawa]

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ offer to buy #mufc will be sent out today. It should be around 4 billion plus incentives. [@Santi_J_FM]

 

[Champ]

Nope, I am not saying that, but once again history has shown that reforms sadly means human sacrifices. It's not about tolerating them, but more about being open to dialogue instead of boycotting them - as it by all accounts is they way to achieve change. Saying feck you to them won't achieve anything.

They invested in the West because it is a safe option but probably mainly to get close to relevant decision makers. Investing in sports is more about promoting the country - most people didn't even knew what their property portfolio is in the West whereas owning Manchester United will leading to constant attention and scrutiny (unlike the temporary WC).

But change has already started in Qatar and the other members of GCC, but that is hardly reported on in the West.

Qatar got given the world cup nearly a decade ago, can we honestly sit here and say major advancements have taken place for the freedom of a person to express themselves in the country?
I guess steps have been taken, but reading reports on this subjects suggests that these steps have been token gestures without actually improving the issues.

The fact that a ruling elite have been basically entrenched in their views for decades, even more so after the world cup, puts paid to the thought that they will change due to their western purchasing exploits.

Everyone is free to think as they wish, run a country as they wish, but if it pervades the basic right of living a 'free' life especially women, then it should be highlighted and rightly frowned upon with the biggest upside downy face and realistically no amount of mental gymnastics can justify that.

 

[BluesJr]

What are we actually anticipating happening today? Bids publicly announced?

 

[Tarrou]

I mean it's a bit like saying chlamydia is better than aids but it's still true. The Saudis even let women drive now.

I guess you could see it that way

Women driving >>> all the head chopping

If you pretend they can’t drive in Qatar like

 

[pacifictheme]

I was astonished to read it somewhere that they own more in UK than the Queen lets try to digest that for a second, so Its alright for them to invest and buy things in UK and have more property than the Queen itself, but not let them buy a football club because of moral brigade yeah right sounds about right.

Thats not alright either is it? This is two wrongs not making a right.

And BTW the royal family shouldn't fecking exist anyway.

 

[CantonaManc]

What are we actually anticipating happening today? Bids publicly announced?

Yeah we should know who are the bidders today and how much the bids are

 

[Loon]

What are we actually anticipating happening today? Bids publicly announced?

Submission of multiple bids before 10pm and then the Raine Group vetting them. Some cheeky so and so's will try to leak stuff, and they'll be speculation as to who is the biggest bidder, but I doubt anything official for a bit.

 

[Mockney]

I’ve never understood why it’s so bad to see some people as better fans than others … some people clearly are. I’m not as ‘good’ as a fan who goes to every away game every season, and I’m perfectly fine with that. People get far too worked up about it.

 

[Infra-red]

The Malaga story scares me, although I know it was at a much smaller scale. Just because we might get bought by someone from that region, it doesn't mean that we'll have the backing we think we'll have.

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/05/18/how-malaga-went-from-rags-to-riches-to-relegation/

Indeed. ME money is no guarantee of sucess. The Malaga story should be a cautionary tale for those on here desperate for Qatari money. Also see Saudi-owned Sheffield United.

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It was behind a paywall so only subscribers to the Athletic, which is most likely somewhat of a echo chamber. Highly unlikely that poll is reflective of most United fans.

I am sure that transfer obsessives on Twitter, whose only dream is to, "BUY MBAPPEEEE!" would prefer Qatar.

Fanzines and their message boards (eg UWS) seem to be opposed, though and based on that, I'd guess a lot of the hardcore support are, too. None of that will make any difference of course, because ultimately the Glazers don't give a damn what United fans think and will, as always, do whatever is best for them personally (which in this case means selling to the highest bidder).

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

The Athletic fan survey

Only open to subscribers, all rival fans going in and choosing Jim.

I'm a United fan and nytimes subscriber, so I get access to The Athletic and I didn't even bother voting in it. You overstate how much people care to rig that poll. It is not representative of all United fans, neither is redcafe, just like twitter is not representative of the general public. If you want a more complete picture, some journalist can go out and poll season ticket holders, away fans and make 1000 phone calls to general public in the Manchester area.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Out of interest, is there anyone over the age of thirty here welcoming the oil money with giddiness?

I'm giddy about the idea of the Glazers leaving and United getting an owner who will allow them to operate as they should have been able to over these last 17 years. (There's no way we would have gone 10 years without the title if the Glazers weren't about)

I don't think oil money is necessary at all for United to be able to operate that way, but I do think they're the only ones ruthless enough to snatch the club off the Glazers hands and boot them into touch, and their interest (if genuine) will go a long way towards seeing the back of them

If Ratcliffe could come in, allow United to operate as they should, prioritise sporting success, let football men make the football decisions etc he'd be my choice.

Where do you stand on it?

 

[ZupZup]

Out of interest, is there anyone over the age of thirty here welcoming the oil money with giddiness?

Nope. Really, I just would have liked United to be run like a decent self sustaining football club without owners who don't invest and pull millions out in dividends and interest payments. I appreciate that at United's level, what I want doesn't really exist though. You either have business owners who want a return on their money or end up with owners like City and Newcastle.

 

[Frankiekeane]

Out of interest, is there anyone over the age of thirty here welcoming the oil money with giddiness?

Yes me but I also wanted Rupert Murdoch to buy Man Utd not the Glazers

 

[LARulz]

Nope. Really, I just would have liked United to be run like a decent self sustaining football club without owners who don't invest and pull millions out in dividends and interest payments. I appreciate that at United's level, what I want doesn't really exist though. You either have business owners who want a return on their money or end up with owners like City and Newcastle.

I'm pretty much in this camp too. There isn't a realistic ideal solution

 

[altodevil]

Much prefer Qatar to Jimmy boy

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Indeed. ME money is no guarantee of sucess. The Malaga story should be a cautionary tale for those on here desperate for Qatari money. Also see Saudi-owned Sheffield United.

Surely, the kind of blokes that buy Malaga & Sheffield United aren't the same level as the blokes who can afford to bid for United? The latter are the ultra-rich 1% of the 1% who aren't going to make a prestige purchase and then run it under austerity.

 

[TrueRed79]

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Good. Don't want this club tainted with state ownership and human rights abuses.

 

[laughtersassassin]

The Malaga story scares me, although I know it was at a much smaller scale. Just because we might get bought by someone from that region, it doesn't mean that we'll have the backing we think we'll have.

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/05/18/how-malaga-went-from-rags-to-riches-to-relegation/

I actually follow Malaga a lot due to my Family having accomodation over there.

That run in the CL was magical. Robbed against Dortmund with that poxy Offside goal haha

In truth I simply don't think this is relevant to us as we are so much bigger and a lot of the issues with that wouldn't appear here.

 

[laughtersassassin]

Good. Don't want this club tainted with state ownership and human rights abuses.

Fans have no say in that matter

 

[Bosws87]

Indeed. ME money is no guarantee of sucess. The Malaga story should be a cautionary tale for those on here desperate for Qatari money. Also see Saudi-owned Sheffield United.




I am sure that transfer obsessives on Twitter, whose only dream is to, "BUY MBAPPEEEE!" would prefer Qatar.

Fanzines and their message boards (eg UWS) seem to be opposed, though and based on that, I'd guess a lot of the hardcore support are, too. None of that will make any difference of course, because ultimately the Glazers don't give a damn what United fans think and will, as always, do whatever is best for them personally (which in this case means selling to the highest bidder).

I’d be fine with Qatar been attending most home and away games within the U.K.

All the majority have ever wanted is a debt free United allowed to spend the money they generate, I’m not convinced Jim taking over would be that so I’ll pass.

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

Caymans so they get away with it! The leeches.

How can they register Manchester United in the Caymans?

 

[BluesJr]

I’ve never understood why it’s so bad to see some people as better fans than others … some people clearly are. I’m not as ‘good’ as a fan who goes to every away game every season, and I’m perfectly fine with that. People get far too worked up about it.

Totally. It also doesn’t mean those people know more though, or have any kind of greater knowledge.

 

[TrueRed79]

Fans have no say in that matter

I know that...It's my preference.

 

[Traub]

I’ve never understood why it’s so bad to see some people as better fans than others … some people clearly are. I’m not as ‘good’ as a fan who goes to every away game every season, and I’m perfectly fine with that. People get far too worked up about it.

There’s a difference between better fan and bigger fan though. There is obviously overlap, but being a bigger fan doesn’t automatically you a better fan.

 

[Wheato]

On the final day of the bidding for Chelsea, 3 more US investment firms threw their hat into the ring. 2 of them were much bigger than Todd Bohely/Clearlake. But because Clearlake had been involved from the very start, the deal with them was already too far down the road.

I wouldn't be surprised if these same investors didn't pop up out of the woodwork again.

I listened to a financial expert on a podcast the other day and he said that we should not be surprised if a quiet bid comes to the fore, because the real serious investors don't necessarily shout it from the rooftops. They don't show their hand early. We may not find out for weeks.

 

[Fahad Jawaid]

This top red brigade is very tiresome to be honest, how can you decide who is actually a fan. I have been supporting utd since 2003 when I was eleven years old. I have watched every match be it, league cup, champions league or fa cup, Europa League, For most part in Pakistan and now in UAE.

For champions League/Europa matches, they start at 1 am at night and then I used to have school and then so on. Now with the office, it's so difficult to follow matches knowing it will effect your next day at office but I still do but I never miss the match because I love the club soo much and watching utd play is the highlight for me for the week.

If we draw or lose, if effects me throughout the week, or until our next match. And I ensure that I avoid any event, gathering to ensure I watch utd play.

Redcafe is the only place, where I feel comfort talking or hearing the thoughts of other reds after a poor performance.

Bu this stupid generalisation of not being from Manchester or nearby makes us glory hunters or fake fans is tiresome, we love and support the club just as much.

 

[LARulz]

What are we actually anticipating happening today? Bids publicly announced?

Unlikely - it's a soft deadline which they can extend and so on. It's also just a way of firming up interest rather than a full on scale bid/negotiation

 

[sglowrider]

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I responded. 2/3rd for Ratty?

I voted for Putin and world peace.

 

[Loon]

Fans have no say in that matter

Yup. We saw that when the Glazers came in and ignored the protests from the start. Even some of our fan base even mocked the protestors.

Let's hope no matter what happens in the weeks ahead, we're not looking back saying "If I knew then..."

 

[Lyng]

Most definitely. The athletic is full of guardian types such as myself. I voted Jim on it.

Now I dont know what you mean by guardian type, but it makes sense for some fans to prefer Jim.
Personally of the named posibilities I guess I prefer Qatar, without it being something I am giddy about.

 

[Anustart89]

Good. Don't want this club tainted with state ownership and human rights abuses.

I didn’t realise that this poll would influence the outcome of the bidding.

 

[rajds89]

Good. Don't want this club tainted with state ownership and human rights abuses.

Unfortunately for you, you have no say in the matter. Question though, will you still support Man United and celebrate future successes?

 

[crossy1686]

Why….. why are the human rights charities so against this move? There’s something not quite right here.

You know exactly why ME human rights charities are speaking out against ME ownership of anything.

 

[buchansleftleg]

Some people are drawing a false equivalence with Qatar's position on Equality and diversity with the situation involving a young player and how the Women's team may feel about it. Without going into details for obvious reasons it's a lot easier for an individual to make changes in their life, perhaps make a full and frank apology, rather than hide behind legal definitions and claim a degree of innocence in spite of information widely known. In the past players have been able to get away with the "say nothing" approach, once legal issues had been dealt with, but, quite rightly, these days that isn't enough

A nation state may not be able to make such bold statements and rapid changes at home as easily and it is unrealistic to expect a nation to catapult through 30 years of societal change in just a few months. It can however agree to work within principles agreed within the club and wider community and invest in women's football to make all aspects of the club to be top-notch. It can also begin the process of making those societal changes at home once under the spotlight of international attention.

In both cases there are potential routes toward redemption, but both parties need to make positive steps rather than try and influence opinion in the media or just pay their way out of trouble.