Manchester United 2023-24 Thread

100,421 Views | 1893 Replies | Last: 5 mo ago by Thunder18
Furlock Bones
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AG
Glazeholes
Dre_00
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According to the Athletic, Ratcliffe will pay a premium for 25% but with certain conditions. One of which there is an outlined path to majority ownership and the second being he wants say in sporting decisions. It wasn't clear to me (maybe I missed it) if he would have solo decision making powers in sporting decisions or if he would just be involved. But I gathered that he would be looking for sole decision making responsibilities (or at least the final word) because he's paying a premium for that 25%.

Basically, he's selling at to the Glazers as you get to keep majority ownership (for now), I'll pay a premium on the 25% which will set a large valuation for the whole. But in return, you have to let me make all sporting decisions and I want an agreed upon path for me to take full ownership at some point. Ratcliffe gets what he really wanted (sporting control) and benefits from the commercial machine that the Glazers will continue to operate. Glazers keep running the commercial arm and see their investment valued at an even higher level than it was previously (in theory anyway). Everyone is happy...except for, once again, the fans.

If all of that is true, it probably means that any of the rumored redevelopment of OT is put on hold indefinitely (again...or rather still). And the sporting decisions are made by a non-Glazer entity which is what many wanted. Whether Ratcliffe will be any good at it remains to be seen but it's a new body that people wanted.

Edit to add: All of this has to be approved by the board but that feels like a formality. Glazers dominate the board and this doesn't even get presented unless it's something they want to do. Assuming that it is presented to the board, it will get approved.
Showstopper
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We also keep all the debt servicing which weighs down FFP. His original proposal had INEOS taking on the debt from the club, but he won't be doing that as a minority owner. I was a huge Sir Jim supporter originally. I don't like this because the fundamental broken structure remains.
Furlock Bones
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It's all a charade.
Dre_00
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I don't like it either. It's better than the status quo (I think) but it's not nearly enough to remove the rotten foundation at the club.
Aston94
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If it is a way to get the Glazers out eventually then it is a good route. They clearly were not going to get what they needed out of a pure sale, so if this is the way then this is the way, We can not like it all we want, but we have to realize it is going to be a difficult process to fully usher them out.
Dre_00
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It's definitely not clear that it will lead to the Glazers ultimately leaving in full. And it's not clear if Ratcliffe will have full say in sporting decisions or a shared decision making role which could actually make things worse. And even it is full control, he's not exactly wowing the world with his Nice footballing decisions.

All of that said, any change at this point brings hope of maybe, possibly, some improvement to an environment that is currently devoid of all hope.
Showstopper
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Yeah, I recognize that before last November and, more specifically, at the beginning of the year when both bidders emerged, we all would have been thrilled with a 25% purchase that could become 100% in a few years. It just kind sucks that Sir Jim's bid went from Glazers out and debt off the books (yay!) down to Joel and Avram stay as minority owners but the other four go (not great but at least they are not in control) down to 25%, all of them stay and remain in charge overall, but Sir Jim runs football (ugh… better than nothing… I guess).

I mean, Sir Jim has basically become the Elliott Group (remember when we hated them?) with the addition that Sir Jim basically becomes John Murtough's supervisor (until he fires him, probably, and hires Paul Mitchell, which is likely a large upgrade).

I'm just saying… it's definitely better than nothing, but…
Furlock Bones
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Y'all are crazy if you think the Glazeholes will allow a minority owner make all of the decisions. If anything they will say, first things first we get our dividends every year. Then you do what you like.
Showstopper
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I didn't say I thought he would be in full control. Quite the opposite. I think he will be able to fire Murtough because they don't care about Murtough. But setting transfer budgets and stuff like that I think will still be Glazer decisions.
Furlock Bones
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Showstopper said:

I didn't say I thought he would be in full control. Quite the opposite. I think he will be able to fire Murtough because they don't care about Murtough. But setting transfer budgets and stuff like that I think will still be Glazer decisions.
sorry, it wasn't really directed you specifically. i just replied to your post. I just have zero faith that this will be good for the club. i think it's going to be the same old Glazeholes.
Thunder18
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Casemiro out against the Blades this weekend
Dre_00
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Well, considering he's been average at best and it's Sheffield United, there probably isn't a better time for him to miss a game.

I'm sure we'll suck with or without him.
Dre_00
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Shaw still out for "this block of games"...whatever that means. I'm guessing through the next international break.

AWB is close to returning to training.

Varane, Amrabat, and Reguillon are all available for selection. We might actually have a player whose primary position is left back? Is that allowed?
Thunder18
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Sir Bobby Charlton passed away today. RIP to a United and England legend
Aston94
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Rest in Peace Sir Bobby.
Dre_00
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Dre_00
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Well Reguillon didn't even make the bench so I guess CM playing at LB it is.

ETA: Actually it's Lindelof at LB. So not any better.
Dre_00
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The McTominay giveth and the McTominay taketh away
Dre_00
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Pretty poor overall. Very poor up to Sheffield's penalty. A little better afterwards (Hojlund should have scored twice). But that midfield is going to be painful and I'm not entirely sure what they hell we're trying to do out there. We'll probably see Eriksen at some point.
Thunder18
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Dalot! Top bins
Dre_00
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The good: probably just about deserved that win

The bad: just about deserving a win against a team with all of one point is sub-optimal

The good: created some (though not a ton) good chances and easily could have had 2-3 more; felt at least somewhat dangerous

The bad: barely outshot said team with one point and actually had less shots on goal

The good: it's 3 points

The bad: still so far away from being anything resembling very good...and City are 8 days away.
Dre_00
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Some other random thoughts.

Amrabat had a nice game. He's pretty calm on the ball and makes himself available in the right places. At times dropped back as a central defender, left back, and pushed up towards the 18. Nearly broke the crossbar with his shot from distance. If Casemiro gets his **** together, an Amrabat/Casemiro midfield could be interesting in certain games.

Onana made a couple of good saves which he really needed. But several of his saves were saved to the center of goal rather than towards the side. I distinctly remember him doing this at Ajax as well. I don't expect that to go away and it'll probably cost us at some point. But it's very nice not having to clench every time the ball gets played back to our goalie.

Rashford had some moments but he's struggling. Hojlund has a lot of quality but you can see he needs to improve in some areas. Maguire and Evans both played very well IMO.
Dre_00
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Mainoo played the first 45 minutes of CL youth game against Copenhagen. Hopefully means he isn't too far from returning.
Dre_00
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Reguilon starts! A recognized LB playing LB!

Varane in for Evans. Only changes from Saturday's starting 11.
Aston94
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AG
Better win today to have any hope of advancing from the group.
Showstopper
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Well Copenhagen isn't exactly intimidated.
Thunder18
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Showstopper said:

Well Copenhagen isn't exactly intimidated.


Why should they be? We are incredibly average
Dre_00
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I don't understand what McTominay and Amrabat are meant to provide against a team who is going to play 10 behind the ball.
Dre_00
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I mean for god's sake, our creators are Maguire and Varane
Showstopper
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AG
I was shocked McTominay started. The problem is he doesn't touch the ball, isn't great at carrying the ball… but I guess he is our top Premier League goal scorer so there is that.
Dre_00
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Personally, I've reached the point where I have begun to doubt ETH's ability. I've said before that he might be using the first couple of months of the season to employ his style for perceived long term benefit at the expense of short term gains. But it's now late October and this team hasn't put together a good performance against a first team opponent even one time this season. Can't explain this away anymore.

The second half and the City game will, in my opinion, go a long way in determining his job security. If this keeps up over the next 120 minutes of football...and no reason to think it won't...then I would put his odds of getting sacked before the end of the season and greater than 50%
Showstopper
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I'm a ten Hag fan but I am really worried for him. Getting drummed out of Champions League and being midtable isn't good for job security in the best of times. And if Sir Jim is saying "Why did we spend so much on Antony and (then) 30 year old Casemiro" back in March, and there is rumors about him talking to Potter…

Well, we will see I guess.
Showstopper
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AG
Like we probably need to win this game to get Europa League. Europa!
Showstopper
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AG
Harry Maguire! And you guys wanted to sell him and Mctominay! (And by you guys I mean me lol)
 
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