So unless you make a stand against everything you shouldn't make a stand against anything?
Could Utd be sold soon?
- Thread starter wolvored
- Start date
So unless you make a stand against everything you shouldn't make a stand against anything?
Or when Shinawatra was in charge there. There's been some rum coves in charge at various clubs. The mafia man at Chelsea seems to get a pass (or did) and our own Louis Edwards who, allegedly, flogged condemned meat to Manchester schools. Not as bad as condoning the torture of prisoners I grant you, but football and dodgy characters have a long relationship.
True but the thing is there is likely to be a lot more Saudi ‘PR’ style investments in the coming years. And potentially reform in that country too. Should we really rule out a move like this without knowing the full story. As I say the regime is abhorrent but all our countries in the west trade with them, even little old Ireland has links with their dairy industry. Yes a takeover is different but it’s all commerce at the end of the day.
This will give you some idea of the value of UK-Saudi trade. There's something called 'Vision 2030' that we want to be involved in (the UK that is, and I don't pretend to know what it is) but, according to the site I've linked, our top exports there don't include military hardware, unless that falls under 'transportation.'
http://www.sbjbc.org/membership/saudi-uk-trade-relations/
I realise the West (particularly the UK) does a lot of business with KSA and I’m not naive enough to think that is going to stop, the occasional murder of a journalist and bombings in Yemen notwithstanding. As far as United goes, however, it would be the final straw for me if United became some hybrid of a PR investment and means of entering a pissing contest with the UAE and Qatar monarchies. As for MBS, I am fairly sure that “reform” essentially means economic reform (Vision 2030 is an economic diversification programme) rather than any serious attempt at political or social reform. You can’t fundamentally reform a regime that is propped up by Wahhabi clerics.
Anyway, let’s hope this is all hypothetical. It is the Daily Star after all.
I don't think you could just stop being emotionally invested in a team you've followed for 3+ decades but the Saudis buying United would seriously put that theory to the test for me.
I'm going to call you Ol' Mo. All your anecdotes are so old.
I'll take that as a compliment.
9 pages of discussion about something that will never happen any time soon.
"The net worth of the entire royal family has been estimated at well over $1.4 trillion".
Purchasing United at £4bn would cost them 0.0038% of their fortune. If they decided to part with 0.01% they'd give us around £7bn(or 35 Neymars) to play with.
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"The net worth of the entire royal family has been estimated at well over $1.4 trillion".
Purchasing United at £4bn would cost them 0.0038% of their fortune.
Some people just cannot comprehend how much money people have!
The art of conversation
"The net worth of the entire royal family has been estimated at well over $1.4 trillion".
Purchasing United at £4bn would cost them 0.0038% of their fortune. If they decided to part with 0.01% they'd give us around £7bn to play with.
No Germans please.
If the money from filthy, corrupt royal families was divided amongst their people there'd be no world hunger.
Yeah Bezos hypothetically could open a subsidiary to buy us if he wants to.
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This debate has been quite the eye-opener. Apparently, we have fans among us who would literally sell their soul for the opportunity to compete financially with City.
People choosing to stand against something but completely ignore the thing when their own governments seem to have their hands into, seems pretty hypocritical to me.
Yeah you either stand against it, or just shut up because we are all part of it.
I don’t get this thing, you have morals for one case, and no morals for others? How does that work?
Key word
Who's completely ignoring it though? How do we, as a people, bring about serious change government policy other than voting at election time for a more moral leadership? I voted for a party who said they would stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia, so did millions of other people.
So being against (for example) women being stoned to death for adultery or kids being beheaded for attending a protest is just us being 'politically correct', now is it?
The absolute state of some of the posts on here today.
One thing this thread has confirmed for me is that if the terrible day ever does come that this despicable regime somehow manages to gain control of the club, swarms of social media cretins and transfer obsessives will celebrate like they've won the lottery. Depressing stuff.
If the club becomes a political pawn, of course it becomes a political debate.
Would I want it to happen? No. Would I still support United? Yes.
You could say the same about the legit royal famlies?!
I didn't realise this thread would blow up like this. I don't think any fan can point at another and say, "no, you are wrong if you will still fervently support the club if KSA take over". Not all fans have to be politically and ethically conscious while supporting the club. Some might just want to be entertained and watch their club win after a hard day at work. While some want that and make sure that the club is in the hands of the people who are morally and ethically correct. In the end, we are all fanatics right? Our love for the club is irrational. I can't see how you can just distance totally away from the club you have followed for your entire life, if the takeover happens. You may not get the same joy you once used to get if we win, but the day might just seem brighter than usual.
I am not saying that I support the KSA takeover. However, I can see why a portion of the fans will support it. That said, I hope the Glazers get their act together. Our club is going through one of the leanest years in the modern era, and the last thing we need are rumours like this. We need our fanbase to be united more than ever.
I am not saying that I support the KSA takeover. However, I can see why a portion of the fans will support it. That said, I hope the Glazers get their act together. Our club is going through one of the leanest years in the modern era, and the last thing we need are rumours like this. We need our fanbase to be united more than ever.
No person can be aware of or make a stand against every evil in the world that their government is involved in mate thats obvious. Especially if they aren't political or didn't even vote for that government. But to have the attitude of ''oh well i can't change all the shady stuff the government is doing, so i just won't bother having a moral stance on anything else.'' makes no sense to me personally.
What sort of world would we live in today if everyone in the past had the attitude that if they can't change everything then then won't bother to try to change anything?
Everyone has their own moral compass, the world is many shades of grey, and it's up to every individual to decide where they draw the line. It's perfectly reasonable that for some that line will be the idea of something they love thats a huge part of their lives like a football club potentially getting bought out by a brutal regime behind some of the worst human rights atrocities in recent times.
Pretty much nailed it with that statement.
Have to say if we were purchased by Saudi Arabia. That would be me done with football. I can't condone it. I have ripped into City fans for the fact that every trophy they've won since the new regime has blood on it.
I don't see that the Saudis are any worse than the owners of Man City, Chelsea, PSG.
That said, those owners are awful. But very very rich.
That said, those owners are awful. But very very rich.
Glazers will sell up eventually, after they have taken and made what they can. Hope to feck it isn’t the Saudis though.
There are very few buyers out there that will be able to afford the purchase. It’s time to prepare your selves for the inevitable guys. The Glazers are vermin and will eventually sell to the highest bidder.
You think the Mega rich Saudis who would wipe out the debt by buying the club are worse than than the Glazers because from what I've seen life doesn't look to bad on the blue side of the City.
Was unaware that the Saudi had investments in these companies
Totally agree with all this post.
Also something which also hurts me is that they were allowed to borrow money to buy, don't think this should be allowed at any football club; especially a club such as ours which is a money making machine. I for 1 am sick of the club being used by the owners as their personal cash cow.
Totally agree with all this post.
Also something which also hurts me is that they were allowed to borrow money to buy, don't think this should be allowed at any football club; especially a club such as ours which is a money making machine. I for 1 am sick of the club being used by the owners as their personal cash cow.
The moral argument is pointless, the best way to shine a light on riskay regimes is through allowing them to bring attention towards themselves and integrating them further into the international theatre.
Due to the historical role that royals have played in the Middle East, Middle Eastern owners are your best hope for a successful football club these days.
Hippy protests that mean the Saudis go and invest in one our rivals rather than us is not going to topple their regime back home.
Due to the historical role that royals have played in the Middle East, Middle Eastern owners are your best hope for a successful football club these days.
Hippy protests that mean the Saudis go and invest in one our rivals rather than us is not going to topple their regime back home.
Out of curiosity, if the Glazer's are interested in transferring ownership (partial or full) to the fans at the right price, how many of you would buy in and what % of your savings will you comitt?
Assume that we'll move to a model similar to RM or Barca where fans get voting rights.
Assume that we'll move to a model similar to RM or Barca where fans get voting rights.
It would break my heart if the Saudis took over, I wouldnt know what to do.
The way things are going for the Saudis at the moment it wouldn’t surprise me if they did something to avert the worlds eyes away from their current headlines, perhaps a bit fanciful but if anyone could afford United it’d be them.
I wouldn’t stop supporting or following the club, there’s nothing that any of us can do about who owns our club, I understand why some would but I just want to watch Manchester United play exciting football, I don’t like the Glazers but them cnuts won’t stop me following United and I’ll feel the same whoever owns us.
I wouldn’t stop supporting or following the club, there’s nothing that any of us can do about who owns our club, I understand why some would but I just want to watch Manchester United play exciting football, I don’t like the Glazers but them cnuts won’t stop me following United and I’ll feel the same whoever owns us.
Yes, that scumbag bastard should have been hanged for war crimes.