Have the Glazers played a blinder?

[matherto]

Let's face it, they're never going anywhere.

They'll continue to take just as much money as they always have done outside of the club.

Meanwhile fans are already turning on INEOS over different decisions/non-decisions.

Ratcliffe and co will get all the stick from here until the end of time as they're in charge of the football side of things and the Glazers will sit there in the background removed from the stress of occasionally having to go to a game or read a negative thing happening and they'll be laughing from here to eternity about what they've managed to pull off.

They'll continue to dangle the carrot to our new 'co-owners', maybe give them a bite or two here and there and watch as we burn to the ground (or drown, given the state of Old Trafford) and they'll never, ever feel the bile of the fans.

It's early days and it's catastrophising but turning this club around to even staying where we are right now let alone sinking lower is gonna be slower than Maguire on his worst day. I can't see an upside to any of it.

 

[Plant0x84]

Goodness me, Time to turn the tv off and walk away from your computer if supporting the club is making you this miserable. Disengage for a bit. When you come back to it you will be refreshed and hopefully so will the team.

I am sure INEOS will buy the rest of the club just as soon as they can, and the Glazers can’t take any dividends out contractually for 3 years.

Turning the club/team around was never going to be a quick thing, or an easy thing for that matter. Fans must be patient, have some resolve and defiance and stand by the club in its hour of need.

Work will start this summer on upgrades at Carrington, and the task force is working on plans for OT. These are big projects but will come good in time.

 

[simonhch]

Thankfully the first post in response is an utterly sensible one.

 

[The Cat]

Most fans are not that stupid.

 

[arthurka]

Anyone having doubt that SJR is fully invested just needs to watch his interview before the Coventry game.

 

[Wibble]

Goodness me, Time to turn the tv off and walk away from your computer if supporting the club is making you this miserable. Disengage for a bit. When you come back to it you will be refreshed and hopefully so will the team.

I am sure INEOS will buy the rest of the club just as soon as they can, and the Glazers can’t take any dividends out contractually for 3 years.

Turning the club/team around was never going to be a quick thing, or an easy thing for that matter. Fans must be patient, have some resolve and defiance and stand by the club in its hour of need.

Work will start this summer on upgrades at Carrington, and the task force is working on plans for OT. These are big projects but will come good in time.

I'm also surprised that it has taken this long for people to realise what a massive bunch of cnuts the Glazers are.

I'm not totally convinced by Ratcliff/INEOS, but of the potential options this seems to be by far the best we can hope for. We will eventually get rid of the Glazers totally, we aren't a plaything of a Gulf state and at least the football will be far more of a priority now.

 

[BabySinclair]

Anyone having doubt that SJR is fully invested just needs to watch his interview before the Coventry game.

What has he said?

 

[Adz_99]

You'd have to be mad to be blaming Ineos for anything right now. At least they're trying to make positive changes. Which is more than the useless, bone idle parasites have managed in the last 20.

 

[Jezpeza]

Of course they played a blinder.

They had no liquid money, nada, and managed to buy the worlds biggest football club by offering insane interest returns to investor loans secured against the club and its future revenues.

Over 18 years they took out over a billion in dividends and then sold 25% of something they never paid for for another 1.25 billion and in the near future will probably get the best part of another 4 billion at the sales conclusion.

Thats a blinder.

 

[jasT1981]

Change has to happen at the top and so far SJR has been working on changing the highups behind the scenes who were major factors in our decline

Yes, our football is woeful a lot of the time, but there's been no transfer window in place since the new owners came aboard so club structure is being worked on. I am pretty sure Ten Hag is gone at the end of the season.

This was never going to be a sudden fix. Change has to start at the top.

 

[Withnail]

There'll also be no dividends paid for at least three years so the contention they'll continue to take money just as much money as they always have out of the club isn't really true.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

They never planned on selling, they just wanted an investor. And they got one.

‘sale’ that gives them all the spoils of ownership with none of the accountability

Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25% stake – all that talk of job cuts and belt tightening, squad turnover, comings and goings in the executive suite, meetings between Ratcliffe and Erik Ten Hag, a fresh energy both on and off the pitch – it’s been easy to forget that commercial control of the club remains firmly in the hands of the Glazer family. Manchester United’s corporate structure splits ownership into Class A and Class B shares. Real control of the club lies with the owners of the Class B shares, which are worth 10 times the voting rights of Class A shares. Ratcliffe has spent around $1.6bn for a quarter of the club’s Class A and B shares. But even once the deal is approved, the majority of the Class B holding, along with voting power and control of the board, will remain with the Glazer family. If this is the start of the Glazers’ exit from their investment in Manchester United, it is a curiously sedentary departure.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/05/glazer-family-manchester-united-sale-jim-ratcliffe

 

[Ahmer Baig]

Why would fans turn on INEOS?

 

[padzilla]

I am concerned Ratcliffe is acting as a useful idiot for the Glazers but it's far too early to say either way. This summer will be the first big test really and how we start next season both in terms of playing and coaching personnel.

 

[Lentwood]

The only people turning on INEOS are the very daftest / dumbest amongst us, and that's saying something on here.

 

[Insanity]

You know, I was thinking about this the other day and the only reason they have sold this 25% stake is because of our under performance in the past eleven years. The way their chosen men pissed away more than Gbp 1b since Fergie left and turned their coffers dry, they had very few options left then to take outside investment into the club to keep it going. They finally realized that they are good at sucking blood but are terrible at running a football club. For them to keep sucking blood they need someone to sort out the football side of things. Enter Jim, a "local lad" looking to buy a major English club for a while. The terms weren't what he liked but this 25% allows him to get his foot in.

He'd be hailed a hero If he is able to get things right on the football side and in conjunction can improve the facilities. In due time, he can put pressure on the Glazers to sell more (or convince a couple of the six to sell them his stake after he has increased the club's value with his improvements) and try to get a controlling stake. If he is not able to improve the football side of things, he can always blame the Glazers for interfering or not providing enough funds needed for getting back us to the top. He can claim that the Glazers have destroyed things beyond repair and it is unfix-able with them retaining any kind of control of the club. He can then force them to sell the controlling stake that way. I think in either scenario he can control the narrative with the help of the British press. The fans already (and rightly) hate the Glazers and will lap anything up.

In a way, it's Jim who might have played a blinder. In either scenario, I can see him taking control of the club in due time. In one, us fan will get the joy of seeing our club back competing again while Jim gets full control and in the other, we might have to suffer more pain but ultimately we get rid of the Glazers. Financially, the second one will be more beneficial to INEOS. With Jim being 70 and having a billionaire's ego, he might be wishing for the first.

 

[IRELANDUNITED]

Let's face it, they're never going anywhere.

They'll continue to take just as much money as they always have done outside of the club.

Meanwhile fans are already turning on INEOS over different decisions/non-decisions.

Ratcliffe and co will get all the stick from here until the end of time as they're in charge of the football side of things and the Glazers will sit there in the background removed from the stress of occasionally having to go to a game or read a negative thing happening and they'll be laughing from here to eternity about what they've managed to pull off.

They'll continue to dangle the carrot to our new 'co-owners', maybe give them a bite or two here and there and watch as we burn to the ground (or drown, given the state of Old Trafford) and they'll never, ever feel the bile of the fans.

It's early days and it's catastrophising but turning this club around to even staying where we are right now let alone sinking lower is gonna be slower than Maguire on his worst day. I can't see an upside to any of it.

Liverpool fans really shouldn’t be allowed on here. Manchester United will be back to the very top of football sooner or later whether you like it or not. Just accept it.

 

[izak]

I'm also surprised that it has taken this long for people to realise what a massive bunch of cnuts the Glazers are.

I'm not totally convinced by Ratcliff/INEOS, but of the potential options this seems to be by far the best we can hope for. We will eventually get rid of the Glazers totally, we aren't a plaything of a Gulf state and at least the football will be far more of a priority now.

It was never the best option, there were bidders willing to facilitate things quicker, they were bidders that could have bought the whole right of the club if the Glazer weren't out right cnuts.

We had option that would have made a solid decision on the stadium by now, we had an option that would have sacked the current manager if the result were as bad as they've been, we had other options that were far better than what we are seeing.

 

[doubleohseven]

I'm also surprised that it has taken this long for people to realise what a massive bunch of cnuts the Glazers are.

I'm not totally convinced by Ratcliff/INEOS, but of the potential options this seems to be by far the best we can hope for. We will eventually get rid of the Glazers totally, we aren't a plaything of a Gulf state and at least the football will be far more of a priority now.

Lest we forget, Ratcliffe himself is a complete 'cnut', a completely untrustworthy individual and Ineos' track record within sports is not good. If Gareth Southgate is our manager for the next few seasons we can only expect further pain.

I agree not being a sports-washing device is great, but Ineos would happily trade with ME dictatorships for dangerous chemicals, support fracking and are clearly on the political right.

I'm not sure, by any means, football is in any way their priority, just another toy for them to play with.

 

[JJ12]

Fans are turning on INEOS? Already? Surely not

 

[Wibble]

It was never the best option, there were bidders willing to facilitate things quicker, they were bidders that could have bought the whole right of the club if the Glazer weren't out right cnuts.

We had option that would have made a solid decision on the stadium by now, we had an option that would have sacked the current manager if the result were as bad as they've been, we had other options that were far better than what we are seeing.

There were only 2 bidders vaguely in the race, so what others would have done, who didn't have or want to spend as much, isn't really relevant.

 

[JJ12]

It was never the best option, there were bidders willing to facilitate things quicker, they were bidders that could have bought the whole right of the club if the Glazer weren't out right cnuts.

We had option that would have made a solid decision on the stadium by now, we had an option that would have sacked the current manager if the result were as bad as they've been, we had other options that were far better than what we are seeing.

There was 1 other bidder and his background is still not totally understood

 

[Wibble]

Lest we forget, Ratcliffe himself is a complete 'cnut', a completely untrustworthy individual and Ineos' track record within sports is not good. If Gareth Southgate is our manager for the next few seasons we can only expect further pain.

I agree not being a sports-washing device is great, but Ineos would happily trade with ME dictatorships for dangerous chemicals, support fracking and are clearly on the political right.

I'm not sure, by any means, football is in any way their priority, just another toy for them to play with.

At least they seem interested in making the football better. About all we can hope for I'm afraid.

 

[Malons]

Undeniably bad owners, but we've always had owners throughout our history whose primary goal was to make money out of the club. To use the profits to line their pockets or pay dividends.

We need to stop pretending that in 2005 that changed. Sometimes it's as if people genuinely think they bought the club from a socialist cooperative.

I agree with criticism of how they have run he club. But this whole "they're just looking to make money out of us".

Yeah? And everyone else before them too.

 

[izak]

There were only 2 bidders vaguely in the race, so what others would have done, who didn't have or want to spend as much, isn't really relevant.

Okay was this the best option it's debatable innit?

 

[Wibble]

Okay was this the best option it's debatable innit?

Given the only other bid withdrew, not really.

 

[Drainy]

They have absolutely played a blinder for their family's wealth since buying United.

Bled the club dry, having let the club pick up the tab for their purchase and now letting others pick up the investment they neglected over the years, while getting mostly paid the future value of the club once TV rights are renewed and the infrastructure is paid for

 

[Withnail]

Okay was this the best option it's debatable innit?

Let's not get into all this again. Other bidders? Stop being coy. You're talking about the Qataris. You could at least be honest about it but their bid failed and was possibly smoke and mirrors so there's not much to discuss.

 

[izak]

There were only 2 bidders vaguely in the race, so what others would have done, who didn't have or want to spend as much, isn't really relevant.

There were bidders in the early stages from all over the world, the Glazers greed by Valuing the club at an outrageous price beyond the club reality Value meant others withdraw their bids.

The Whole Moral thing made sure the Arabs wouldn't win, but we forget No billionaire is clean, just look at how the USA is funding millions into killing innocent in Pakistan and you still having people some how performing mental gymnast as to why genocide happening there is good for world peace.

 

[rcoobc]

Roughly speaking, The Glazers borrowed £1bn, bought the club for £1bn, stuck the debt on the club, and the club rose in value to 6 times what they paid for it.

By my calculations they've made £5bn. I'd say theyve played a blinder yes.

 

[Wibble]

There were bidders in the early stages from all over the world, the Glazers greed by Valuing the club at an outrageous price beyond the club reality Value meant others withdraw their bids.

I made a bid but the Glazers said it wasn't enough. I then withdrew my bid and drank the six pack. So feck them.

The Whole Moral thing made sure the Arabs wouldn't win, but we forget No billionaire is clean, just look at how the USA is funding millions into killing innocent in Pakistan and you still having people some how performing mental gymnast as to why genocide happening there is good for world peace.

The Qatari bid didn't go through because of many fans objections but simply because the INEOS big suited the owners better. The only way to change this is a time machine and stop the Glazers taking over in the first place. It still pisses me off that my few shares were compulsorily purchased.

 

[Judas]

Fans are turning on INEOS? Already? Surely not

There's a number of pure simpletons already throwing hissy fits about INEOS. Apparently they're not doing enough and they're clearly just wasting time? A mind melting amount of thick folk on here.

 

[Garethw]

Once again we have become the laughing stock of football with new videos of Old Traffords roof leaking during the Arsenal game.

Nothing is more symbolic of the neglect and mismanagement of this fine club by the parasitic Glazer family.

The only way I see fans turning on Ineos is if they allow ETH to continue and next season is another write off. That will be seen as pure incompetence and it will massively damage SJR’s reputation here.

We have to understand that Ineos have virtually no real control over the club. They are minority investors. Any authority they have has been given to them by the Glazers. A little bit like when a company sub contracts work out. Ultimately the Glazers are still the majority owners and any major decisions will still have to be rubber stamped by them.

 

[tenpoless]

Did they play a blinder? no.
Are they blind? yes.

 

[doubleohseven]

The Whole Moral thing made sure the Arabs wouldn't win, but we forget No billionaire is clean, just look at how the USA is funding millions into killing

One major reason I'm glad Qatar's state bid was unsuccessful is not having to endure the 'whataboutery' of its proponents, especially those automatically accusing critics of anti-Arab racism.

The only way I see fans turning on Ineos is if they allow ETH to continue and next season is another right off. That will be seen as pure incompetence and it will massively damage SJR’s reputation here.

Depends on who'd they replace him with.

If it's Southgate...

There's a number of pure simpletons already throwing hissy fits about INEOS. Apparently they're not doing enough and they're clearly just wasting time? A mind melting amount of thick folk on here.

It's just that, to some, on field results are more
important than new training facilities, better PR and 'Wembley of the North'.

The WFH fiasco is an indication of a 'Hard Brexit Jim' mentality the club neither wants nor needs.

So some good. Some bad. But any final say has to be on performance.

Let's see what they can do going forward.

 

[Rockets Redglare]

I am concerned Ratcliffe is acting as a useful idiot for the Glazers but it's far too early to say either way. This summer will be the first big test really and how we start next season both in terms of playing and coaching personnel.

I never thought I’d see the day that a self made billionaire who was brought up in a council house in Manchester be called a “useful idiot”.

But then again this fanbase seems to surprise me every single day.

 

[Pickle85]

There were bidders in the early stages from all over the world, the Glazers greed by Valuing the club at an outrageous price beyond the club reality Value meant others withdraw their bids.

The Whole Moral thing made sure the Arabs wouldn't win, but we forget No billionaire is clean, just look at how the USA is funding millions into killing innocent in Pakistan and you still having people some how performing mental gymnast as to why genocide happening there is good for world peace.

To your first paragraph: Billionaires Wanting to Maximise Profits!' Hold the front page...!

To your second point - Qatar didn't win and the sooner you let it go, the better.

Unrelated, but it's staggering how unrealistic a certain section of our fanbase can be around the pace of change they expect. They're getting their ducks in the row and these things take time - better to do it right than quickly.

 

[RoyH1]

I've seen no one credible turn on Ineos or SJR. Anyone with any maturity or understanding of how business works can understand that this is not a quick fix. Too many things are wrong and the Glazers still have final say and all they care about is their return on investment.

 

[Matt Varnish]

Let's not get into all this again. Other bidders? Stop being coy. You're talking about the Qataris. You could at least be honest about it but their bid failed and was possibly smoke and mirrors so there's not much to discuss.

Totally agree with this, they never actually appeared, the only pictures you saw of this sheik were stock photo's, my belief there was only ever one serious bidder.
With a freeze on dividends for three years that's going to put money back into the club.
INEOS/Ratcliffe will need those three years to sort all the shit out, and build a team both on and off the pitch.
I'm quite happy with the pace things are moving at.

 

[Real Name]

Who turned on INEOS?