Spot on. Manchester United is embedded in the heart and soul of the city. Same with Liverpool and Barcelona etc. Local supporters made it what it is. Global fans are important, increasingly so, but the club was built by and is sustained by local fans.
Club Sale | It’s done!
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May be the Qatar bid comes from someone who is a long time utd fan, (though I find it highly doubtful they started supporting in 1992 right before the years of success).
However is it really important? North Korean leader is apparently a long time Manchester United fan too, doesn't make him any more qualified to submit a bid.
Also those who are okay with Qatari ownership and their questionable poltical and human rights records, how would you feel if suddenly Kim Jong-Un became interested and someone very wealthy related to him submitted a bid? Its probably an extreme example and I am not trying to equate both the states but it does show that we cannot completely separate the club from the baxkground of the owners. There may be various degrees at which different people are comfortable but pretty much everyone would have an issue if the best bid footballing wise came from, e.g., someone fronting for North Korea.
However is it really important? North Korean leader is apparently a long time Manchester United fan too, doesn't make him any more qualified to submit a bid.
Also those who are okay with Qatari ownership and their questionable poltical and human rights records, how would you feel if suddenly Kim Jong-Un became interested and someone very wealthy related to him submitted a bid? Its probably an extreme example and I am not trying to equate both the states but it does show that we cannot completely separate the club from the baxkground of the owners. There may be various degrees at which different people are comfortable but pretty much everyone would have an issue if the best bid footballing wise came from, e.g., someone fronting for North Korea.
Anyone have any idea how long this is supposed to take? How long after the intial Newcastle bid did Ashley sell?
It was always going to take months because of the Glazers demands. They are asking full price for an asset loaded with debt and barely maintained infrastructure. Paying off the debt then the stadium, after paying full price must feel like being asked to buy the club twice. They are seeking oil states because they know any private savvy investor can spot just how extreme the asking price is. Glazers are entitled to sell at their wish but the fee just screams the other type of entitlement.
Of course the club belongs to Mancunians first and foremost but citing it, for example, as a main factor in making Ratcliffe an ideal candidate is taking it too far. Roles are a matter of competence not geography. Even our new manager is an outsider who has more in common with our tradition than Ole did. aThere's no level of management where it should carry any weight when assessing potential candidates
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I didn't say it made Ratcliffe an ideal candidate. In fact i didn't mention Ratcliffe at all.
Yes I know, the clue is in "for example".
I disagree with your last sentence though, insofar as i don't agree with state-backed bids.
Who said it was?
That last sentence won't apply to statebacked bids because their unsuitability as owners is grounded in more than just where they are on a map. There are legit humanitarian reasons for not wanting to associate.
Fair enough.
When I was in Dubai not long after 92 you simply got a South African satellite cable subscription to watch PL football. Most people had one. Someone as rich as him would have one for sure. United shirts were also hugely popular
Absolutely kidding yourself here.
No club in top flight football is a working man's club and hasn't been for years... Manchester United is a corporate monster priced out of reach for many of the working class.
See I interpreted that is as I a make Manchester red again type thing, as in take it away from City.
i haven’t looked into this Jim guy but I’m not sure there will not be many owners of $60b petroleum and chemical companies that are squeaky clean. The narrative here so far seems to be Qatar bad, Jim good, but has anyone done any thorough research on the guy? Off so would love to see a bulleted summary
After writing this i jumped on ChatGPT
Have there been any controversy with the company ineos?
Yes, there have been some controversies associated with the company INEOS over the years. Here are a few notable examples:
- Environmental Controversies: INEOS has faced several environmental controversies over the years. In 2018, the company was fined £300,000 for releasing toxic gas into the atmosphere at its Grangemouth plant in Scotland. In 2019, the company was also accused of illegally dumping waste water from its Rafnes plant in Norway.
- Fracking Controversies: INEOS has also been involved in controversies related to hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the UK. The company has been one of the most vocal supporters of fracking in the country and has faced criticism from environmental groups and local communities who oppose the practice. In 2017, the company's plans to conduct seismic surveys in Sherwood Forest were met with protests.
- Sports Controversies: INEOS is also known for its involvement in professional sports, particularly cycling. The company has been criticized for its financial backing of Team Sky (now known as Team INEOS), which has been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. The company has also faced criticism for its involvement in the America's Cup sailing competition, which has been criticized for its high cost and environmental impact.
While the controversies I mentioned earlier are some of the more well-known ones associated with INEOS, there have been a few other issues that some people may find concerning:
- Tax Avoidance: Like many multinational corporations, INEOS has been accused of engaging in aggressive tax avoidance. In 2016, the company was listed as one of the top ten tax avoiders in the UK by the charity Oxfam.
- Health and Safety Concerns: INEOS has been criticized for its health and safety record at some of its plants. In 2014, for example, an explosion occurred at the company's Grangemouth plant, which injured several workers and caused a shutdown of the plant for several months.
- Political Influence: Some critics have raised concerns about the political influence that INEOS wields, particularly in the UK. The company's founder, Jim Ratcliffe, is known for his close ties to the UK government and his support of Brexit.
(That’s just the non edited output from ChatGPT - worth saying that i have not corroborated any of this, just straight copy and paste)
I think I went a long time only knowing about Cantona and Giggs from watching the highlights package that my local station had. The first full match that I watched was the United v Juve when Giggs equalized at OT. Its very possible for someone to support United even without access to our games on TV and we here are talking about a son of a former PM!
Who are you backing then
https://www.chemanager-online.com/en/news/ineos-fined-ps167000-million-runcorn-spill
Manchester United is not the first thing INEOS wants to bring back to Manchester. It had leaked some toxic caustic soda as well
Qatar was a British colony. This leaves a strong connection between the two countries. For example the oldest standing Manchester United supporters club in the world is in Malta. My grandfather was both an Anglophile and an independentist which can feel weird for those who aren't versed with the country especially at the time. He was also a proud United fan. We're talking here prior to the Munich crash. I was a United fan since birth but I became truly passionate through my older cousin who is obsessed by United. Success meant nothing really. In Malta you're exposed to both the Serie A and the EPL and AC Milan of the time were simply untouchable.
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Who asked?
#Ratcliffe4lyf
#JimnotJassim
#JimnotJassim
I see no one is asking the most important question here in all this......
Which is going to look better on the front of next season's shirt, Ineos or Qatar airways?!
Which is going to look better on the front of next season's shirt, Ineos or Qatar airways?!
If this is all internet can find on INEOS then it doesn't sound much. There is no way it is even close to being the same as the plight of women, gays, economic migrants etc. along with other issues realted to human rights, press freedom and justice in a whole state. Specially when the state has the ability to chnage all of this but simply chooses not to.
Now I have no intention to get involved in what the Qataris think is the best way to run their country and its something for them to deal with. But the scrutiny that will come with owning something as big as Manchester United will be unlike anything previously seen with PSG, City etc. and this will be something that will be good neither for our club nor for Qatar. We would not want to be the stick that is used to beat a questionable regime for whatever that happens back home in Qatar. There are a lot of journos with heavy anti-united bias and they will lap up every opportunity to create unnecessary controversies. Imagine an openly gay player that we are rumoured to be interested in (but fail to acquire) or we do not even show interest, this will be something that press will try to link with the owners, and something we shouldn't have to deal with.
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Fixed. Expected a lot of fans that were so against State ownership would suddenly have no qualms once it involved United so no surprise there.
You sound just like City fans back in 2008 and Newcastle fans more recently.
Any criticism was due to everyone being “scared shitless”.
Phenomenal post. Can relate to that wholeheartedly.
It is absolutely incredible that people don’t see themselves as hypocrites with dodgy morals but rather “changing their mind”.
It is absolutely incredible that people don’t see themselves as hypocrites with dodgy morals but rather “changing their mind”.
This bloke was agreeing State ownership was absolutely despicable and hated everything those clubs stand for (along with the fans that support them), yet all it took was a Qatari bid for United to make him change his mind.
Not into discussion = will not reply back
Its always been the case that whatever the journalist, if they arent a man utd fan themselves then they are unable to maintain a neutral constructive position in their articles and cant help but write negative nonsense to massage their tribalist egos.
I just thought - the word “seer” - is it literally like, someone that sees? Like “see“ with an r on the end, like someone who views is a viewer, except you don't want another e in there cos seeer looks weird. Obvious things you’ve only just realised.
So nobody could become a fan in 92 then? We just won a European trophy v Barca in 91 feck sake
Imagine if he came out and said that he had split loyalties between two rival clubs.
A seer is like a prophet, like a person who sees into the future
To be fair he went to a pre season game v Sociedad after the season we had last season, I wouldn’t say our recent football attracted his support!What does that pic prove about him loving the club since ‘92? It’s this seasons kit!
And, as we all know, match going fans are the most important
Judging and then putting words into others' mouth now are we? Something you've asked others not to
I still don't get the opposition to this fellow's(Jassim) bid for United. I am sorry if this offend anyone but I am Nigerian now living and working in the UK and I can categorically tell you that being openly gay in Nigeria is against the law and the "culprit" will be prosecuted. Now if a Nigerian Billionaire say Aliko Dangote wanted to buy a British Club, should he be held to scrutiny by a law popular among most Nigerians? I would say that is stereotyping seeing that there are Nigerians who are not homophobic, I for one am not.
I am not naive to think he is not being used as a front for the Emir, but as it is today, he is an independent free citizen who is allowed to have an opinion of his own.
Unfortunately, people can only be changed to the extent and speed they want to be. Many years ago, being openly gay was against the law in the UK and being black meant you were second class in the US. Women can now drive in Saudi Arabia.
Even today, institutionalized racism is something the west is still struggling with, why are we not up in arms with how the powers that be are dealing with these issues of inequalities?
Forcing ideologies on people or trying to ostracize a whole group of people will not bring the change we desire across the world.
At the end of the day, we are Manchester United fans and supporting what is best for the club should be our primary aim. We are football fans and we should see the bids through the eye of a football fan who wants to see his team do well.
Please if my post offend anyone, it is not my intention and the MODS are free to delete it and give me a
.
I am not naive to think he is not being used as a front for the Emir, but as it is today, he is an independent free citizen who is allowed to have an opinion of his own.
Unfortunately, people can only be changed to the extent and speed they want to be. Many years ago, being openly gay was against the law in the UK and being black meant you were second class in the US. Women can now drive in Saudi Arabia.
Even today, institutionalized racism is something the west is still struggling with, why are we not up in arms with how the powers that be are dealing with these issues of inequalities?
Forcing ideologies on people or trying to ostracize a whole group of people will not bring the change we desire across the world.
At the end of the day, we are Manchester United fans and supporting what is best for the club should be our primary aim. We are football fans and we should see the bids through the eye of a football fan who wants to see his team do well.
Please if my post offend anyone, it is not my intention and the MODS are free to delete it and give me a
.
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