Club Sale | It’s done!

[marktan]

That's not down to City's riches (well yes and no). The main reason for City's dominance is Pep. Pep is a genius manager, he's up there with any in the history of the game in terms of what he can do with a team in terms of peak level, consistency and all that. Klopp is also a great manager, but he's not on Peps level. City and Liverpool both had excellent depth, but Pep is just relentless in league play while Klopp just can't get a team to dominate quite the same.

Of course they only have Pep because of the money, but swap managers and keep the teams the same and Liverpool would've won more league titles during this period.

You can build to compete with them, Qatar or no qatar it is possible. You just have to be smart with purchases, and your manager needs to be a great manager. But it's unlikely you'll dominate a Pep side in league play, it'd be like somebody else dominating a Fergie side in league play... Just wouldn't happen. Individual seasons sure, but not over a longer period.

Not true at all - Liverpool had nowhere near the same depth. Look at last season - Jota, Salah and Mane played almost every game in the PL and CL as Firmino was injured. Only when they signed Diaz in January could they rotate and thus went on a winning run in both the league and CL. The other season they finished a point behind City their rotation was Origi and Shaqiri.

City had who? Jesus, Sterling, Foden, Mahrez, Bernardo, and probably one or two others hiding I've fotgotten - if you check their lineups from that season Pep very often rotates both his wide forwards between the weekend and midweek games. For me that was by far the biggest difference between Liverpool and City - playing 3 games a week effectively with no rotation catches up with you fast.

 

[Fanta Stick]

I have been away the past month doing some deep dive investigative journalism.

Think John Pilger.

I have discovered that INEOS is actually an acronym for

Is
Not
Ecological
Or
Safe

Right.In.Our.Faces

That firmly swings the pendulum in favour of the homophobes and cereal human rights abusers for this red devil.

 

[Adnan]

I hope Guardiola doesn't leave Man City anytime soon because I fully believe he's beatable. We need the ambition from the top to match Sheikh Mansour and the idea at the football level to develop a proactive attacking playing style with a head coach who fits into that.

If we can do that, then you will see the vulnerabilities appear in Guardiola's approach imo. Liverpool with Klopp beat him to a league title by developing a proactive attacking playing style but FSG couldn't match the ambition of Sheikh Mansour in the long-term.

 

[NicolaSacco]

knowing their nature, the repeated rounds of bidding, the we arent sure we want to sell, the we want to keep a stake, even the attending of cup finals suddenly, the fact it could have been cut and dried a while back leads me to think they are trying to squeeze as much as they can from their richest bidders, the Qataris....

can help but feel the Glazers will get an incredible deal

What did they actually buy the club for?

 

[Marcelinho87]

Talking of Malcolm Glazer, how do we think things would have panned out with him? He was obviously a clever guy, unlike his sons who just inherited shit.

Then he never once visited OT, that I know of? I think it would have probably been more of what we know now, shit.

 

[FujiVice]

Talking of Malcolm Glazer, how do we think things would have panned out with him? He was obviously a clever guy, unlike his sons who just inherited shit.

The same. They learned from the best.

 

[bosnian_red]

Not true at all - Liverpool had nowhere near the same depth. Look at last season - Jota, Salah and Mane played almost every game in the PL and CL as Firmino was injured. Only when they signed Diaz in January could they rotate and thus went on a winning run in both the league and CL. The other season they finished a point behind City their rotation was Origi and Shaqiri.

City had who? Jesus, Sterling, Foden, Mahrez, Bernardo, and probably one or two others hiding I've fotgotten - if you check their lineups from that season Pep very often rotates both his wide forwards between the weekend and midweek games. For me that was by far the biggest difference between Liverpool and City - playing 3 games a week effectively with no rotation catches up with you fast.

Sure they didn't have amazing attack depth til they signed Diaz, and Firminos injury played a part, but they chose to ignore those positions while loading up on midfield depth. City have literally no midfield depth. They play Rodri, de Bruyne, Gundogan every game and Bernardo rotates between midfield and the front 3. They got Phillips as an irrelevant English player booster to replace 37 year old Fernandinho, so it's not like their depth was much better last year. It's knowing where to focus your depth signings and what you need. They didn't have a massive squad, but they had durable players where they needed it and got depth where it was best to have it. And you can't compare depth for Salah to depth for mahrez. City didn't have a single key player in attack. They had competition and quality players, but their best players who they don't tend to rotate were de Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva. Even Gundogan in midfield only gets rotated as he's older now. There's no use in loading up on depth in positions where you have a great player who will play almost all the minutes anyway.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

What did they actually buy the club for?

They didn’t buy the club.

Their father bought it for 790m using leverages that loaded hundreds of millions of debt onto the club and is one of the most highly criticised purchases in sports history.

He then passed away and left it to them.

They have done nothing to ‘own’ Man Utd other than being born to a ruthless businessman who used debt to buy Man Utd.

Btw - Jim Ratcliffe is currently 70… think about how that might pan out.

 

[Intenhaagwetrust]

With the way he’s run the club for 18 years and how he’s handled this sale process, I hope nobody wants to do any business with Malcolm Glazer after this is all over

I Mena, being dead is definitely going to do harm to him. Getting new business on line

 

[pocco]

It's not clearly false - it depends entirely what the club is worth. I can afford an Aston Martin if they are going for a tenner.

In this case the value of the club is what a willing buyer is willing to pay. So if the Qataris are willing to pay more than SJR then he can't afford it. You're trying to defend an illogical position. The OP was right and you are wrong - sorry.

So you're basically saying you are wrong. "IF the Qatar is are willing to pay more"...we'll no shit, that's how this whole process works. If SJR is willing to pay more, then Jassim can't afford it?

We'll, actually no, again that is wrong. He'd just simply not be willing to pay what is required, even if he can.

 

[Attila]

So another day with no real news...what a drag

 

[Grande]

A cynic is just what a fool calls a realist, don't you find?

Diogenes of Sinope says hi.

 

[NicolaSacco]

They didn’t buy the club.

Their father bought it for 790m using leverages that loaded hundreds of millions of debt onto the club and is one of the most highly criticised purchases in sports history.

He then passed away and left it to them.

They have done nothing to ‘own’ Man Utd other than being born to a ruthless businessman who used debt to buy Man Utd.

Btw - Jim Ratcliffe is currently 70… think about how that might pan out.

Yeah I get that. Just trying to work out the profit they’ve made. Even if you count the £790m as money Malcolm Glazer spent (and I appreciate he didn’t *actually* spend it) then his purchase has increased in value by over £5m a week. For 18 years. Plus dividends. Nice work if you can get it.

 

[Tarrou]

Given there is no evidence of it being a state bid, would that be self-induced turmoil?

oh look, you’re having the exact same argument with someone again

 

[NicolaSacco]

Diogenes of Sinope says hi.

He was actually a hermit so he probably didn’t say hi very much.

 

[marktan]

Sure they didn't have amazing attack depth til they signed Diaz, and Firminos injury played a part, but they chose to ignore those positions while loading up on midfield depth. City have literally no midfield depth. They play Rodri, de Bruyne, Gundogan every game and Bernardo rotates between midfield and the front 3. They got Phillips as an irrelevant English player booster to replace 37 year old Fernandinho, so it's not like their depth was much better last year. It's knowing where to focus your depth signings and what you need. They didn't have a massive squad, but they had durable players where they needed it and got depth where it was best to have it. And you can't compare depth for Salah to depth for mahrez. City didn't have a single key player in attack. They had competition and quality players, but their best players who they don't tend to rotate were de Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva. Even Gundogan in midfield only gets rotated as he's older now. There's no use in loading up on depth in positions where you have a great player who will play almost all the minutes anyway.

Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Fernandinho is plenty of depth for two positions. They play 4 in attack meaning you only need one of Gundogan, De Bruyne or Bernardo to play deeper next to the DM.

Liverpool didn't chose to prioritise midfield, they just don't have the budget to spend like City do. Check their relative net spends since Klopp and Pep came in. It's a world apart. Also Fabinho, Henderson and a choice of the perma crocks in Keira, Ox and Thiago is hardly depth, they didn't sign anyone to replace these or Wjnaldum, they've resorted to playing one of those two 19 year olds there instead this season.

At the end of the day - more attacking depth = can rotate between mid week and weekends = more sharper = more likely to win games

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Yeah I get that. Just trying to work out the profit they’ve made. Even if you count the £790m as money Malcolm Glazer spent (and I appreciate he didn’t *actually* spend it) then his purchase has increased in value by over £5m a week. For 18 years. Plus dividends. Nice work if you can get it.

No worries, wasn’t trying to be patronising, genuinely thought you might not know the sordid details as you’re a fan of another club etc.

5m profit a week… for 18 years. Hopefully they’re grateful to be so fortunate.

 

[Chief123]

The only winner in the last 24 hours is Al Watan media. They’ve never had so many views in their life.

 

[MarkoDolohov]

The fact Brexit Jim has to rely on Bonds/Loans to help him finance the bid from the major banks is embarrasing. Go back to focussing on Nice ye ballbag looking fool.

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[BluesJr]

Jim is an absolute cretin. Cannot believe anyone would even consider him an option.

 

[arthurka]

The fact Brexit Jim has to rely on Bonds/Loans to help him finance the bid from the major banks is embarrasing. Go back to focussing on Nice ye ballbag looking fool.

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Yes please do that, feck off

 

[NicolaSacco]

No worries, wasn’t trying to be patronising, genuinely thought you might not know the sordid details as you’re a fan of another club etc.

5m profit a week… for 18 years. Hopefully they’re grateful to be so fortunate.

It’s all cool, I didn’t think you were patronising.

 

[Widow]

Brexit Jim

This has got really boring really fast!

 

[pocco]

Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Fernandinho is plenty of depth for two positions. They play 4 in attack meaning you only need one of Gundogan, De Bruyne or Bernardo to play deeper next to the DM.

Liverpool didn't chose to prioritise midfield, they just don't have the budget to spend like City do. Check their relative net spends since Klopp and Pep came in. It's a world apart. Also Fabinho, Henderson and a choice of the perma crocks in Keira, Ox and Thiago is hardly depth, they didn't sign anyone to replace these or Wjnaldum, they've resorted to playing one of those two 19 year olds there instead this season.

At the end of the day - more attacking depth = can rotate between mid week and weekends = more sharper = more likely to win games

Only a couple of years ago City won the league without a striker. And they generally play 3 midfielders (recently Rodri, Gundogan and KDB). Plus Bernardo is a wide attacker, but has been used as a CM at times. They don't have amazing depth in midfield but Pep has them organised and uses strengths of players to cover other positions. Just like he somehow brought Cancelo and Zincheko from nowhere and used them as inverted fullbacks.

Of course their success is mostly down to Pep.

 

[croadyman]

The fact Brexit Jim has to rely on Bonds/Loans to help him finance the bid from the major banks is embarrasing. Go back to focussing on Nice ye ballbag looking fool.

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Gonna be quiet until the weekend by looks of it

 

[croadyman]

The only winner in the last 24 hours is Al Watan media. They’ve never had so many views in their life.

Definitely had their 15 mins of fame

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Gonna be quiet until the weekend by looks of it

Have a feelin’ Friday’s gonna be an interesting day!

 

[Adnan]

Only a couple of years ago City won the league without a striker. And they generally play 3 midfielders (recently Rodri, Gundogan and KDB). Plus Bernardo is a wide attacker, but has been used as a CM at times. They don't have amazing depth in midfield but Pep has them organised and uses strengths of players to cover other positions. Just like he somehow brought Cancelo and Zincheko from nowhere and used them as inverted fullbacks.

Of course their success is mostly down to Pep.

City had won two league titles before the arrival of Guardiola. And Cancelo didn't come from nowhere, he was a very good fullback hence I wanted us to sign him at the time.

Their success is without a doubt due to their owner and without him there would be no Guardiola. Just listen to their fans below.

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[Partridge]

I have actively reached out to someone in haiti who can work a bit of voodoo magic upon the glazers. My own personal curses aren't working so its time to step it up. fingers crossed.

 

[No Love]

Erroneously entered the Malcolm Glazer Sack Watch thread.

 

[BluesJr]

Still a strong possibility something happens this week. A lot of stock trading.

 

[Wibble]

Yeah. Can you explain to me why Qatar would be worse than an American consortium for example?

What American consortium? Any particular American's you have in mind?

A better (also) fictitious comparison would be if the US government wanted to buy us. And I'd guess few would want that either.

 

[Wibble]

there is no evidence of it being a state bid

Don't be so naive (or self-deluded).

 

[bosnian_red]

Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo, Fernandinho is plenty of depth for two positions. They play 4 in attack meaning you only need one of Gundogan, De Bruyne or Bernardo to play deeper next to the DM.

Liverpool didn't chose to prioritise midfield, they just don't have the budget to spend like City do. Check their relative net spends since Klopp and Pep came in. It's a world apart. Also Fabinho, Henderson and a choice of the perma crocks in Keira, Ox and Thiago is hardly depth, they didn't sign anyone to replace these or Wjnaldum, they've resorted to playing one of those two 19 year olds there instead this season.

At the end of the day - more attacking depth = can rotate between mid week and weekends = more sharper = more likely to win games

Oh of course they had the financial power to do it - but Liverpool also built an excellent squad themselves. Ignore net spend at that point, just looking at the squads after the fact. The reason for City's dominance to this extent is because of Pep. Put another manager there and they won't dominate anywhere close to this level, year on year.

 

[Walter Sobchak]

Oh of course they had the financial power to do it - but Liverpool also built an excellent squad themselves. Ignore net spend at that point, just looking at the squads after the fact. The reason for City's dominance to this extent is because of Pep. Put another manager there and they won't dominate anywhere close to this level, year on year.

As soon as City made the decision to bring in Txiki a decade ago, Pep was always the end-game. They just emulated the Barcelona model for all intents and purposes and brought in their key men for the execution.

 

[Fanta Stick]

I have actively reached out to someone in haiti who can work a bit of voodoo magic upon the glazers. My own personal curses aren't working so its time to step it up. fingers crossed.

I have made a voodoo doll with the likeness of Avram.

Looks like a pair of glasses on a turkey's gooch.

I don't know any spells though.

 

[Newstyle]

It should come as no surprise at all that the sale is delayed, considering the Glazers' inability to fetch a reasonable amount for even a single player.

 

[Woodzy]

Jim is an absolute cretin. Cannot believe anyone would even consider him an option.

Feels like a rich man having a bit of a jolly without any serious intent.

 

[putzmcgee123]

Jim is an absolute cretin. Cannot believe anyone would even consider him an option.

I reckon the man just loves being in the news.

 

[Keiro]

Can anyone honestly tell me how they can be behind a bid from someone who demonstrably has not got the personal wealth to buy the club (clearly state backed) and whose Father was the Emir of a country with human rights offenses out the kazoo? It’s bonkers. Is everyone a teenage glory hunter on this forum or are we seriously willing to forego everything this club stands for to compete with a plastic club across the city. Genuinely curious.