Manchester United, that didn't last long. Seven up

[Archer]

I wonder how both fans and especially sports journalists feel regarding the current crown prince of Saudi Arabia buying the club?

over a billion pound was taken of the club by the leeches Glazers

A  billion ffs.

Imagine how much could sir Alex invested if he had that money, we could have been with 5 or 6 extra champions league with this money.

I hate them so much and I wish the saudis take over the club and kick those bastards away.

Well, that is one view expressed on a leading United forum. It is a minority view though.

Steady on feller. The UAE doesn’t have a squeaky clean image regarding Human Rights. I don’t recall any principled protest against your current owners when they started pouring the money in.

I would hope that the Saudis are told to do one if they come knocking.



https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/united-arab-emirates

That's an opinion taken from a united forum, not Archer's opinion.

This is my opinion; I couldn't care less who owns them. They are so far beneath us now that no amount of money or investment will bridge the gap as it stands. Not a single united player would get near our best XI. And hardly any would make the squad. DDG would make a reasonable back up keeper and thats about it.

Not in my lifetime  

Irrespective of where the line came from, Archer chose to post it here.

You may well be right about the quality of the two squads. But then you’ve had all the dirty money pouring in, whilst we’ve been funding the Glazers. Say what you like about MUFC but the money we spend has all derived from our efforts, backed by our history and worldwide reputation. Liverpool have done pretty well on a similar basis, as have Arsenal and Tottenham.

Back to the actual football. We did pretty well on Saturday and it was good to see that when the shackles are off we can be an attacking force to be reckoned with.

Looking forward to Tuesday evening with great apprehension.

Dirty money? What makes it dirty?

I thought we’d established that control of the sovereign wealth of the UAE is in the hands of people whose approach to human rights is about as rigorous as my approach to removing fat from my bacon butty.

Ah, you associate human rights issues with dirty money. I didn't realise there was a correlation. I associate dirty money with corruption, crime, money laundering, criminal gangs, drugs etc etc...rather than money earned from natural resources and investment of the proceeds.

By the way, City aren't owned by a SWF.

We could debate this for months but that would get really dull, really fast. I note that the ownership is in the sole hands of one man whose wealth derives from his position within the controlling family.

I’ll avoid further criticism since it seems to be bad for your health
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/united-arab-emirates

Should probably have this conversation over at yours, but what are your expectations this season?

Champions - obviously
Champions League - Win? Would beaten finalist be good? Semi?
Othker cups?

I've read that link before and indeed many of the other country chapters.

I just tire that the human rights stick is used to beat City by rival football supporters. Citeh bingo at it's finest.
Yet all the big clubs are happy to take the dollar from dubious sources. United have or have had associations with state or private businesses from a variety of colourful regimes:
Russia, Turkey Saudi, Azerbaijan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE all  with related United sponsorships.

The Billionaires Club is a good read. UAE gets a section naturally but the book is particularly scathing on USA owners as well.

[MANTIS01]

What a lack lustre first half on a European night at Old Trafford, verging on the embarrassing.

Can't say I approve of all the hugging and kissing of oppos in the tunnel pre-match. Let's get the opposition all relaxed and happy, makes it feel like a testimonial.

Remember Roy Keane bristling in the tunnel telling Viera he was getting fucked up out on the pitch. United miss that type of character, I mean Valencia just doesn't fulfil that leader role for me.

[tikay]

I hope Jose has some half-time magic up his sleeve, his team were completely outclassed first half.

[Pokerpops]

Juve are rather good.

Hoping we can string a few passes together in the second half and maybe even get in their faces a bit more.

Still, the Valencia/Young Boys result is helpful.

[Pokerpops]

I wish Martin Keown would just STFU.

[tikay]

Juve are rather good.

To be fair, yes, very good.

[Juperjiper]

Mourinho made some game changing substitution attempts

[hhyftrftdr]

They're just not very good anymore are they?

Yeah they will probs qualify from the group in 2nd, then get turfed out in the knockout stages by the first team they come up against. But what a fall from grace. Mourinho is fast becoming a tactical dinosaur and its hard to think of a manager (apart from Moyes) who's stock has fallen as vastly and quickly as his.

Great stuff and long may it continue.

[arbboy]

They're just not very good anymore are they?

Yeah they will probs qualify from the group in 2nd, then get turfed out in the knockout stages by the first team they come up against. But what a fall from grace. Mourinho is fast becoming a tactical dinosaur and its hard to think of a manager (apart from Moyes) who's stock has fallen as vastly and quickly as his.

Great stuff and long may it continue.

You just summed it up.  They are bang average and over paid for a lot of talent that isn't worth it relative to their rivals buys for similar money.  Ed Wood has a lot to answer for but never has his head on the block.  i want it to be the mid 1980s again this year and they finish solid mid table like when i was a kid.  They were never a big club when i was a kid.  Would be amazing to get back to those days.

[nirvana]

Anyone watch the Man U-Liverpool game today? Thoughts?

Are Man Utd better then everyone else or is it just a poor PL this season?

Will they win a record 19th title this season?

Who do we need to buy to replace an ageing Giggs/Scholes?

Is Berba the real deal or should he go

SAF replacement? Mourinho or Guardiola?

United showed a lot of patience to get the right guy..hahawwhafffwhafff

[Pokerpops]

Anyone watch the Man U-Liverpool game today? Thoughts?

Are Man Utd better then everyone else or is it just a poor PL this season?

Will they win a record 19th title this season?

Who do we need to buy to replace an ageing Giggs/Scholes?

Is Berba the real deal or should he go

SAF replacement? Mourinho or Guardiola?

United showed a lot of patience to get the right guy..hahawwhafffwhafff

WP WP 

[TightEnd]

Manchester United’s shambolic investments lack a grand design

says

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/24/manchester-united-shambolic-investments-lack-grand-design-jose-mourinho

[Pokerpops]

Manchester United’s shambolic investments lack a grand design

says

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/24/manchester-united-shambolic-investments-lack-grand-design-jose-mourinho

He’s not wrong.

Although there were some encouraging moments in yesterday’s game, there was still the sense that it could all go horribly awry.

[guardian2017]

Manchester United ready to back José Mourinho with £100m-plus in January

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/29/manchester-united-back-jose-mourinho-january-transfer-window-100m

Varane and ...?

[rinswun]

£100mil is not even Varane on his own.