Posts Tagged → FC United
Mark Of A Mile Stone – One Free Green And Gold Scarf
I’d like to reward at least one person from my followers on twitter for their support towards the cause. The cause is the promotion of what’s wrong in football, not just removing Glazer. I’ve done this in the past but I believe this is a mile stone to do it. People say its dead but when someone sees just one Green and Gold scarf, they start thinking about the issue. That for me, means a psychological solution to the problem. Am going to send out one free Green and Gold scarf to the 2,000th follower of the @wewantglazerout twitter account. Worth £5 and it will be from The Manchester United Supporters Trust. I’d love to send everyone something but I don’t have a money tree. I’ve done these in the past and I’ll consider doing another one in the future for the next big mile stone.
The Rules -
These are my rules, I’ll tell you if your the 2,000th by twitter. Don’t tweet at me moaning you were it, I’ll ignore you. I decide.
No fake accounts. No repeat accounts. Example, unfollowing, then following back.
Must hate Glazer and I will post anywhere in the world depending on location, access(Libya might be hard to post to but I’d try) and postage price. The person notified should contact me within 24 hours otherwise it moves to the next person. If you contact me saying you already have one, I can pick someone else, instead.
The Aim Is To Promote The Cause Against Glazer and The Issues Within Football Ownership and Governance. Spread it and don’t forget it.
#LUHG
Football Ownership The Dos and Don’ts
In the last year alot has been said about football ownership but there are still afew totally clueless people who write things they have no knowledge about. Cue Louise Taylor of the Guardian I don’t often get offended but this does offend me. There are certain areas which have been discussed over the last year and most people understand what would and wouldn’t happen. Thinking ‘all clubs’ under supporter football ownership schemes would have all their fans vote online for the first 11 every time they play, means you really don’t have a clue. Ebbsfleet are the worst example of football ownership going and its not slightly comparable with the examples myself and many 100,000s of others would accept. Thinking Manchester United would be taken over by the fans and then the fans would vote online to pick the team is so off the mark you’d have to live on mars to think that’s what me, other football supporters or the Manchester United Supporters Trust would want! To show anyone who doesn’t understand what could happen heres what wouldn’t and would happen.
A takeover of Manchester United by the fans WOULD NEVER see!
- Any online voting system.
- Fans voting on the 11 players that play each game.
- Fans choosing the manager.
- A vote on future signings.
- The fans being able to sack the manager.
A take over of Manchester United by the fans WOULD SEE.
- A board of directors as any other football club.
- The only voting would be for the people who make up the members of the board.
- The members of the board would have the interest of the fans and the club at heart.
- The board of directors would make footballing and club decisions like any other club.
- The board of directors would be forced to follow certain rules after a takeover. Examples – The club cannot be put up for sale. Debt cannot be put on the club. The stadium and training grounds cannot be sold. Tickets prices are to be recommend under deals between the club and IMUSA. IMUSA, MUST and other fan groups are to have official links to the club, these cannot be broken (as Glazer did back in 2005).
- The board would give the manager a set transfer budget. Example – Any mega expensive signings would as with ANY club be considered by both parties. David Gill, the Glazers and the Manchester Board still have to consider everyone who the manager signs. Finances are important.
- The board can be asked to starting to consider other issues such as safe standing, away ticket allocations, final allocations, sponsorship ticket levels, ticket prices and future expansion of the stadium through fan groups such as IMUSA and MUST.
The fans want what is in the interests of Manchester United Football Club but the club also has the interests of the fans. Its a two way street and currently its mostly a one way street. Most fans would agree many areas of ticketing for games away from Old Trafford are poor. This is one area the club can its self campaign but currently does naff all. From the facts above its clear the Spanish, German and FC United routes of football ownership are the correct ways to go BUT every club and its fans, have different issues they want to address. Certain people thinking we as fans plan to vote on the team or have a voting system in place to sack the manager need a reality check. We want the manager to have freedom, the team to have support, the club to be free of debt, the club to be stable and have the fans interests in its mind.
Stories Of The Week….
So far this week I’ve nearly seen it all, apart from Glazer leaving. Abit of FC United, Manchester United, Liverpools new American owners(where I think they are going) and one or two other pieces. I think I’ll start with last nights Rochdale Vs FC United Game for starters. I think all United fans will relate to this in some way or another. Am not saying your a fan(I am not myself, MUFC for me), but alot I’ve spoken too find it very interesting. Even the die hard reds. Unless you’ve been living under a rock or live on the other side of the world, which is possible if you’ve come from twitter. FC United have made it into the second round of the FA Cup, which to me is unbelievable. They won 3-2 with a injury time goal.
Here is a quote from me…. “I know its asking for alot and most FC United fans will say it won’t happen for many years, if ever but at this moment in time there is that tiny chance. Maths says a 1st round win, then a 2nd round win into a draw with Premier League sides.” …. lets change that to, 2nd round win into a draw with Premier League sides. I’ll leave it at that.
From my last review of Manchester United I’d say its been a slow start but we’re not losing which is always important. I might be the first to say this but could United be running into a small bit of form. Since the shocking second half against West Brom, United have won 5 on the bounce. Won 3 cup games and 2 League games. The game in Turkey the other night was the most impressive so far. I only say the start of form because they need to prove in the league they can do well in the next few games. These include Wolves tomorrow, which from fans I’ve spoken to no expect less than 3 goals from the strike force. The big one is City away. With City losing 3 on the bounce, am hoping we can get a good win today, then go and put a proper show of football on midweek.
One other interesting thing which is floating around is over in Anfield. You’ll likely want to hear something else but considering that another group of Americans have took over an English club. Its relevant when looking at owners as a whole. This time the Americans seem to be increasingly open talk to the press. I get the feeling they don’t really know what they are doing and in areas they’ve admitted that. This gives me a real insight into the people in the game. They’ve just got a new manager and now new owners. Dan Roan from the BBC asked them alot of questions yesterday. The ones that stood out to me were the 39th game question and language used. The term ‘EPL’ like ‘NFL’ was used alot. Later on there were other questions asked around the club its self. All I heard was ‘we want to increase revenues’. Where have we heard that before! The Glazers? Tom Hicks? Anyone. It basically means putting ticket prices up and selling more shirts. On the new stadium, I believe there is a strong possibility of a future ground share. Liverpool fans don’t want it? Tough. You wanted more American owners. You got em and if the Everton Kirby stadium was only going to cost around £78m for a 50k stadium as part of a larger £240m development, the new Americans will bite Evertons hands off. If they can half the cost with Everton, instead of spending a risky £300m development, they can spend possibly less than 1/3 of that and get the extra 10,000-30,000 seats they wanted to milk more cows. These Americans aren’t stupid and will milk them, like they are milking United. Theres one other thing, if your a Liverpool fan reading this (I don’t know why you would be reading this) at home feeling all happy about no more debt. First thing I’d be doing is digging to find out just where that money came from to buy the club. All of that will come clear over the next year or so, apart from the ticket prices. Yep, they’ll be going up.
One week ago we had the ‘United Against Glazer’ protest, an important article involving Jeremy Hunt midweek but I’ve also had one or two other interesting things come up. I won’t make them public just yet but they’ll come out during the week, so keep an eye out. Might not be big or that exciting but there interesting nonetheless. The protest and the Jeremy Hunt comments are very important and hopefully you’ve read the past blog posts, if not just go down the page. As ever my comments repeating the pressuring of your local MP, The Government, Number 10, The Sports Minster, The FA and PL all still stand strong. Go for it.
For any questions or comments you can follow me on Twitter @wewantglazerout
Manchester United vs FC United
Heres a question I’ve been asking myself over the last few days. What would happen if FC United ever played Manchester United? Am not an FC United fan, I’ve never been to a game and I don’t plan too but I respect where they are going. I see FC United as the best fan run club in the country and they are best example in this country of where all clubs should go. When FC were set up, the United vs United was one of the things people talked about but I don’t think anyone ever gave it that much thought. Most people talked about the fans etc. Who would who support and so on. For me this isn’t about starting an argument because plenty of people have been there and done that. I’ve been thinking about what would happen between the two clubs. FC United vs Manchester United or in my mind FC United as ‘the fans’ vs Manchester United ‘ Malcom Glazer and his goons.’ This battle isn’t on the pitch, its off the field of play. This battle takes place in the stands, in the offices, on the phones, in the media, in the directors meetings and directors boxes. Even if the game hasn’t taken place yet, this is has already started.
I only ask these questions now because on Friday there is a very big game. FC United have sold all their 3,2000 away tickets and face a League One Rochdale Side who are in 13th place. I know its asking for alot and most FC United fans will say it won’t happen for many years, if ever but at this moment in time there is that tiny chance. Maths says a 1st round win, then a 2nd round win into a draw with Premier League sides. We’ve all seen those games which have been set up during the FA Cup and Carling Cup draws over the last few years. If FC United ever get to that point, if it be this year or in 20 years time, I guarantee now that draw will throw up United vs United.
The battle of United vs United for me if it does ever happen. Throws up some very interesting questions. First is ‘What happens if its at Old Trafford?’ and ‘What happen if its at Gigg Lane or The New Stadium?’ How are the fans and the club of FC United going to react to CES? FC United as a club hate Glazer as Standard. How will they react before, during and after the game? The same can be said for Manchester United. Its clear discussions would have to take place but would there be any middle ground? I doubt it. Manchester United won’t want the flags up and FC United will. That game could be the biggest protest against Manchester United and it won’t be just the fans. It will be the other football club on their side.
This piece gets very interesting. Lets consider the draw isn’t at Old Trafford but a draw at Gigg Lane/Ten Acres Lane. A stadium where FC United say what goes. Lets think about this. Manchester United playing in a stadium where they have no protection from the protests they’ve been trying to keep quiet for so long. It won’t just be a small section of the away crowd, it would likely be the whole stadium. Anything you can think of could be possible on that day as a fan of FC or United but would FC United as a club want to make a point or just get on with the game. I’d like to think they’d push it not only in the media but to Manchester United direct. You could do a limitless amount of things to get at the Glazers regime of ‘you do I as we say’ and make a huge point of it.
What I’d like to think what would happen in the board room is FC United as a club would invite The FA, The Sports Minister Down and all the different Leagues. Football League, Premier League etc. They put them around a table, tell them how it is, then get them to watch the game later on. We might finally get though to the footballing authorities who can make a change in football. Anyone who didn’t turn up could be a made a point of within the media. Avoiding the situation might make the government think twice about leaving it down to a corrupt group of people to deal with. The banks have their own regulators, why doesn’t football?
There was a media report the other day about FC United not wanting to give the Glazers money on match day. Too right. So questions for that are, if FC United were drawn at Old Trafford would it be a case off they totally boycott away tickets? and not move it for all the TV money in the world? They are interesting points which could make a huge statement. All these questions lead down to one thing, one man called Malcolm Glazer, 82.
First Post Background, Rooney, David Gill, FC And The Enemy
Welcome to my blog. Many of you we’ll have likely come here via my twitter page @wewantglazerout and this blog will hopefully provide yourself with information and more detail about what’s going down in the world of Manchester United, Malcolm Glazer and the supporters fight of removing the cancer of our club. I am known as ‘the tweeting carrington resident in one or two places, or the big red from South Manchester for those that know me.
For those who don’t know, Manchester United Were Brought By A Man Called Malcolm Glazer in 2005 under a heavy amount of protests. Afew years before the protests worked and the Government stopped the owner of Sky called Rupert Murdoch buying the club before Glazer came along. The first time it wasn’t about debt and until 2005 no one really knew what was too come. Manchester United Are Now In Over £700m Of Debt Thanks To Malcolm Glazer. Around £520m on the club and around another £220m and rising in their personal PIK debts. Alot of people believe the PIK debts are the Glazers debts. Well in 2010 this changed. The Bank debt the club was originally brought with was converted into bonds. This is still debt and the club still owes this money. The issue is the bank rules on what the Glazers could take out has been relaxed. The Glazers plan was to use Manchester Uniteds accounts which currently have £160m in, to pay part of this debt off but this has been delayed after the protests and to avoid any more fan backlashes. The bond rules state they could take out around £70m and use this to pay down the PIK debt. This has not yet happened. A meeting was reported on the bloomberg website between the Glazers and the 10 or so holders of the PIK debt last week which showed the only reason they weren’t going to use the clubs cash was because of a fan backlash.
First post and too much to blog about, first thing is Wayne Rooney, I’ll keep this short because we’ve heard enough about him. Some of us reds hate him and some will still love him but he either got away with it or something had been set up. Fergie didn’t let Beckham, Ruud, Stam or Keane get away with it, theres no reason why he’d let Wayne and his agent the hoover man get away with it. When I say set up, Fergie and Rooney planned this to make it known to the Glazers ‘I am this club and we can hold you to ransom.’ or it was a private plan to get funding. Why else would it be public? Fergie gets a proper transfer fund, Gill gets a story to prolong his job and Rooney gets his lifes biggest pay off. Everyones happy apart from the Glazers. They now have to watch part of their fund towards debt go towards a player and if they have allowed Fergie to spend big, its gonna be big bucks not being paid on debt. I am not the only one to have come up with that conclusion. One or two scousers I’ve spoken to agree.
David Gill, what can we say about the Man. To most hes known as Judas Gill but I’ve come up with a new one The Manchester United Information Minster. Have a watch…. The Iraqi Information Minister
For those that don’t know he doesn’t think debt is a problem at Manchester United and he thinks United can challenge Manchester City interms of money power. City are owned by a billionaire oil tycoon and have spent over £400m so far just on players. They spent £22m on Lescott and deal for Tevez could be reportedly worth £41m by the end of it. Tevez might be hated now but at the time fans were singing his name and asking for Fergie to sign him up. Why didn’t he sign, money. United just could not compete and I believe they didn’t want to be held ransom next to what City could offer. If United ever go in for a top player City will be watching and waiting to do the same thing. The Debt and City Money Bags. Were not talking about winning things simply about signing players and United were held back by Chelsea and now City. Back when Roman took over, we were in for Duff, Essien and Mikel. Mikel was a clear sign of how money and agents twist todays game. We got priced out of Duff and then Essien. Its something David Gill won’t admit because the money hes paid. Funny that. Won’t admit theres a problem with money because hes paid too much money.
Am not really a fan of FC United, my team is United and only United but I do keep an eye out too see just what they are up to. I think the best things they bring to the table is to show that fan ownership of a club is perfectly viable and the stadium development they have planned is fantastic for the City and Local Area it will stand on. I was reading they have raised just over £300k of £500k needed for donations back on the 21st Of Sempetber the day their share sheme was launched which aims to raise a total of £1.5m. If you are an FC United supporter no doubt you’ll have put paid in but if you haven’t done I’d recommend you do so. This share offer closes on the 30th of November 2010 so do it now for success. Its possible that the ground could be built for the start of 2011 if all goes well but as FC United say it can only work if enough fans put in. Link below…. Copy and paste.
http://www.fc-utd.co.uk/communityshares
The other big news story is that FC United have entered the FA Cup in the first round after beating Barrow 1:0 and will now play away against Rochdale at 3pm on the 6th Of November. This is a big if but if they do beat Rochdale to enter the second round, then beat their second round opposition, it gets tasty against the really big boys with the a possible draw against Manchester United. As I say its a massive if, but what a story that could be.
Final piece of the first blog which cannot be missed is the enemy. Liverpool, City and Leeds. Leeds got beat tonight you’ll all be pleased to know. 4:0 at home against Cardiff which leaves them 16th in the Championship. I’d say its safe to say we won’t be playing them anytime soon, shame. City well they were back to their best this weekend after Arsenal put them back in their place after a 3:0 which I can say rather enjoyed after last weeks ‘Rooney is signing for City’ Couple of pictures of idiot city fans on twitter that most of you should have seen and Liverpool, yes they won but they are still down in 18th place. They play Bolton and then Chelsea next so that could be interesting. To any City fans reading this. 35 years in February.