07 Jun 2023 22:57:30
I see that the Qatari’s have made a final bid for United and that, apparently, they will be walking away on Friday. I wonder if their ‘walk’ will take them down the East Lancs road?

1.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 00:45:50
Tbf, I am pretty sure this is Sheikh Jassim's fourth take it or leave it offer for Man United. Don't think he quite understands what the means, considering he keeps coming back :P

But, I am sure this time, he means it.

100%.

2.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 04:16:54
Fifth time apparently according to the article I read. perhaps the Glazers have undergone an epiphany and don’t want anything to do with tainted money ….

3.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 06:48:41
WDW but would you accept it if they were to buy Liverpool? Could be the only way to compete both now and in the future….

4.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 07:42:24
Manchester United have made a mockery of the word 'deadline' too.

5.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 08:21:45
@1jj that’s the £ 4 billion question isn’t it?

As a Liverpool fan I’d say yes but as a member of society I’d say no. If there was a vote I’d tick the ‘no’ box but, being honest, if they did buy the club I’m fairly sure that my hypocrisy would kick in fairly quickly and I’d pretty soon close the door on the room where my conscience lives.

6.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 08:58:53
Love that WDW! I think most would tbh. I'd love klopp to be able to compete with pep on an even playing field. Only one winner.

7.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 09:27:35
I hate the way elite football has gone and I pine for the good ole days.

I think if this sportswashing p. ing contest continues then that’ll be it for me and the premier league.

{Ed001's Note - but Spanish football has been sportswashing itself clean of the Franco regime since the 50s. How is it suddenly seen as an issue? In fact almost all the owners in the game have been dodgy throughout its history and used their football clubs as a way of washing themselves clean in the eyes of the locals. The only difference now is the amounts of money have gone up, and the level of the washing involved has reached global proportions. Though I am not sure there are many regimes who can claim to be as brutal and bad for their own country as Francos was, but Real Madrid washed that all away for him nicely.}

8.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 09:31:13
Could not agree with you more WDW. And I'd feel and react in EXACTLY the same way.

9.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 10:54:09
They will buy Man United.
And in 6 months time there will be a New Rule that stops these oil clubs from buying premier league teams.
We will be left behind. As a club we will probably back the rule also.

10.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 10:56:02
Whether we get new owners or not, we need to get cracking with the multi-club model. That is the only realistic way we can compete. (and yes, it's another form of cheating) .

11.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 11:02:54
I'd have no problem with them bidding for us, only to change things is open up to it, not shut the door on it, plus we would get top signings that we need.

12.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 11:15:13
Problem is the world is completely crooked but just at different levels so it’s a case of where does people’s moral compass actually fall.

The fans in the ground who aren’t happy could stop buying tickets but those tickets would be sold to someone else in a heartbeat. People might stop paying sky which might have a small hit and then others who illegally stream games but that’s not going to affect the clubs.

13.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 11:46:37
I think you’re right Ed but at least in the past the owners have generally had links with the area where they own a club and so regardless of any illegalities the fans still felt a connection with the owners and the club itself.

The way football has gone that connection is being ripped apart and you are now getting fans choosing which team to support based on players they like or the colour of their shirts rather than supporting a club local to them.

They are now global brands rather than local football clubs and that is a real shame. Inevitable progression but still a shame.

The days of my grandad and his brother walking down Breck road and separating for one to go to Goodison and the other to Anfield are long gone unfortunately.

{Ed001's Note - those days you are referring to would never have happened. Liverpool and Everton never play at home on the same day. Mostly people used to go to which ever one was at home, like my dad used to. Half the group he hung around with at uni were reds, half were blues and they went to the games together. Sadly that will never happen any more due to matchday segregation and it is probably a big part of why such nastiness has built up between the two sets of fans.}

14.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 12:34:22
Just a reply to Ed001’s reply to me.

I’m not saying it’s new, just if it keeps going I’m this direction then football at that level becomes less meaningful for me.

It’s already lost most of its charm.

{Ed001's Note - I was just pointing out that it never actually really had the charm, it was just you managed to ignore or just didn't know about the issues previously.}

15.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 13:47:08
Ok I’ll let that slide Ed001.

There is a difference between “direction it’s going in” and something different we’ve never seen before.

Like players wages. They’ve been obscene for decades and it’s getting worse with the general world wide cost of living issues. If it continues in that direction, football loses a lot in my opinion.

Doesn’t mean I don’t recognise the wages being obscene for most of the 21st century.

16.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 13:41:43
I agree with ed1 totally, the outrage to anything from middle east by the west is laughable considering what has gone on in Western countries not all that long ago.

{Ed001's Note - and also that the regimes in the Middle East were put in place by the west, in particular the UK. They knew what kind of people they were dealing with when they gave them power.}

17.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 15:06:02
In the end it's just, and only, about money, and nothing else. Money is the same color everywhere you go, just the people doing the buying and selling changes. It's all fine and good to talk about morals, ethics and social responsibility, but ask the people doing the business if they care? You already know the answer.

18.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 16:09:57
I don't think any state should own a football club be it Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France or Mexico. The question to ask is why would a nation want to own a football club? Would people be happy if the United States government bought Liverpool?

19.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 17:06:27
The U. S government is the biggest gangster on the planet. Why would we want them over some tame in comparison Middle East owner.

20.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 17:18:07
Just my tuppence worth, the Glazers were never going to sell unless they got their 6 billion into their sweaty hands. Why sell a cash cow unless you get crazy money? Get another gangster to give you some money and both share the fruits of the cow.
The Qataris might look to another Premier League team to splash their cash on.

21.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 17:18:14
Exactly John, no one would be happy if the US govt bought Liverpool so why do people expect us to be happy if Liverpool were bought by Qatar? Nations shouldn't own football clubs.

22.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 17:35:25
@Thunderbird, States may want to own football clubs because generally the European clubs are Global brands, if like PSG you have Mbappe on your books you also have a Global superstar footballer,

Taking the above points of Global club/ superstar they have fans, Global fans, Global brands have great influence globally.

however there can be blowback to such influence, LOOK at Budweiser lite brand absolutely bombing brand now. $29 billion down so far, UK is a little behind on this boycott.

Scouse John, Incorrect re USA government being biggest gangster on planet, black illuminate (not a racist thing), the lovely UK Crown is above the USA government as the black illuminate pyramid - that is why UK pushes the “special friendship “ with USA all the time.

23.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 17:50:28
I’ve been boycotting Bud Lite my whole life because it’s a crap beer.
Why would a state want to own a global brand with great influence? Sportswashing.

24.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 18:37:40
The sportswashing/ Real issue isn't really on anyone's radar because most of us weren't alive in the 1950s and I daresay most people don't know about it. I thought Madrid were always owned by the Socios.

Also, what is that about fans of LFC and EFC walking off down the road to watch both teams play on the same day at the same time? That hasn't happened since 1894. I think someone's grandad and uncle have lied to someone, or they're making stuff up for clout.

25.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 19:11:34
What's paying for this Saudi investment in sport. Oil. With Opec cutting production due to them losing billions. Fuel prices will rise. They are part of a cartel that control oil prices. Franco regime was awful. But that don't excuse for one second some of what the Saudi govt have reportedly done.
My own opinion no state govt should own a club or franchise. It could potentially be used politically.

26.) 08 Jun 2023
08 Jun 2023 20:43:37
I wasn’t there Ed but pre war my grandad definitely told me that on occasions Liverpool and Everton would play at home on the same day. My grandad supported Liverpool and his brother was Everton and they lived in Walton so they would walk down together and each go to watch their teams.
Football was an integral part of the community back then and the local people were hugely proud of their local teams.
Alas those days are gone.

27.) 10 Jun 2023
10 Jun 2023 01:19:27
Just to point out, I’m not really expressing outrage against regimes on a football rumours site, merely expressing how boring it becomes when the competition is reduced to a couple of clubs who outspend everyone.
I know it’s always happened to a degree, but it’s reached a new level in my opinion.

Football should have had a salary cap years ago in my opinion.