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Post by covunistudent on May 19, 2005 16:29:38 GMT 1
Yes they are a PLC so that does mean that United can be brought and sold by anyone in the world.
But how many people really know what a PLC actually means? Certainly the average football fan probably wouldn't. Also no Manchester United fans could stop them going to a PLC even if they had wanted to. That said it has allowed them to get continued success, which only Arsenal and Chelsea can compete with (and even Chelsea needed a Russian billionairre.) (Considering that Arsenal do have a lot less resources Arsene Wenger has done quite well.) So yes Manchester United being a PLC has allowed them to get success (along with the biggest stadium capacity in England paid for by being a PLC etc.)
The reason why Manchester United fans are concerned (in case anyone doesn't know) is because they will go into debt when Glazer takes them over. He has already got the 75% now so he can take them private again (that I think means they can become a limited company) and the loan is secured against future revenue. (Leeds United already tried that, and look what happened to them.) However I doubt that will happen with Manchester United.
As for if Manchester United fans are loyal or not obviously theres a hardcore of fans. Yes I hate the Asian supporting fans ("I love David Beckham oh he doesn't play for us anymore, so therefore I now support Manchester United AND Real Mardid") type of fans as much as anyone else.
The 2000 entry is another bone of contention altogether. I don't blame Manchester United for pulling out (which they didn't want to do, the FA and the government almost forced them to do it.)
So yes I can see why people are concerned. However boycotting the club is IMO not the thing to do. Its still the same club only with different owners. And no I would not think setting up a new club is the thing to do.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 19, 2005 18:08:49 GMT 1
PLC means Public Limited Liability Company which effectively means that the shares in the club are open for absolutely anyone to purchase. To purchase the requisite amount of shares as Glazer has done and to stop the club being floated publically the company changes its legal style to a Private Limited Liability comapny (Ltd) which means shares can only be purchased if offered directly or through an approach to existing shareholders. The liability in both styles remians the same though as both are limited liability companies. There are other differences pertaining to disclosure of all financial documents as well. The main fear of the plastics though is that the buyer in this instance has debts in excess of half a billion pounds and is more than within his rights to draw a sufficient dividend out of the funds of the company without reporting to the same official process as would have been through dividend declaration of a plc. If I were Glazer I too would draw on the reserves of the company to prop up debt ridden associate businesses elsewhere- something he has already done with the company behind the Tampa Bay Buccanears to an extent. The most lucrative market for funds to be plundered in this way would be from the Far East although the base in the UK is likely to suffer increased pricing beyond that accustomed to. I can see games being priced the same way as curently at Chelsea which are extortionate (Four figure season tiket prices)  The American market will suffer as previously MUFC had an intangible tie in for marketing with the New York Yankees baseball brand which may now be withdrawn as owned by a potential competitor. I foresee much wheeling and dealing as big money earners beyond the age of 26 will likely be phased out to allow for younger players in more of a prime and on lower wages. Remember that the players are no more than assets of a business and as will all assets depreciate with age. Therefore paying £100k per week to a Keane is a lot less desirable than paying the same to a Rooney. The supply and demand of the brand also renders any protests of the new regime useless as 30,000 staying away will just allow those in the queue to travel up the M1 and M6 to see their heroes. Bad times coming for MUFC....great days ahead for the rest of us  |
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Post by Rich on May 19, 2005 19:55:14 GMT 1
The 2000 entry is another bone of contention altogether. I don't blame Manchester United for pulling out (which they didn't want to do, the FA and the government almost forced them to do it.) No the government forced them to go to Brazil. There was nothing stopping them from going to Brazil and putting out a reserve/youth team in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the FA Cup. Like a Utd fan on a film/documentary said about them at the time, whose to say they wouldn't have drawn Exeter or someone like that in the 3rd round. A team their youth team should be able to beat. |
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 19, 2005 21:46:44 GMT 1
The team that got the return back in to take Man Utds place were Darlington who lost in round 2.
They were drawn away at Villa Park and got slaughtered 3-0 so there would have been no difference really ;D
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Post by Dave on May 19, 2005 22:40:09 GMT 1
oh well we still all follow united!  |
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Post by Rich on May 19, 2005 23:10:04 GMT 1
Got to give the plastics some credit. While us real football fans stand out in the cold after spending lots of money on match tickets and transport they are watching the game from the comfort of there own living rooms and they can do what they like. As in they can give hand gestures to the television and not even have to worry about getting into trouble. Still I know what I would rather be and thats CCFC. Loudest away fans in the Football League.  |
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 20, 2005 18:07:40 GMT 1
Totally agree with everything you just said ....apart from the last line  Noisiest away fans I can recall in no particular order are Newcastle Man City Sunderland Leeds West Brom Wolves Of course Villa are in that list as one of the better following to make noise in unison |
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Post by Rich on May 20, 2005 19:59:27 GMT 1
I said the Football League so I wern't including Premiership teams.
From your list though I have to admit the Newcastle fans are noisy away from home. I remember Coventry playing them at Highfield Road in a game where the winner would go top of the league. The Geordies didn't shut up all game although they only had 3 songs.
We Hate Sunderland
Toon Army
SHEARER!
They were put to shame by the City fans at St James' Park this season just gone though. 3-1 up with over 40,000 fans in the ground and getting drowned out by 3000 City fans singing Twist & Shout.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 21, 2005 0:39:37 GMT 1
That is the age old problem of teams in any sport always being noisier away from home. The Holte End is fairly noisy at home games though....far more than the old West Terrace |
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Post by Rich on May 21, 2005 19:56:08 GMT 1
Nah the West Terrace is (or should I say was) the noisiest stand in English football on its day. Coventry V Derby for example. Unfortunatly though it didn't have its day to much in the last couple of seasons.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 21, 2005 23:59:56 GMT 1
It is only the middle 2 blocks behind the goal that make any noise in the West Terrace and then they are almost Panther like with their repeated 3 tunes.
The noisiest they ever got at Highfield Road was when they were protesting against Peter Reid at the game at New Year when Leeds slaughtered them. If they were as positive for the team as they were against the ex manager then the team might be lifted to do better.
The Holte End on the other hand is a great stand for getting everyone singing the same song quickly and together- bith upper and lower. The lower stand (I usually sit in the upper) however is the main starting area for the chants and songs. Kind of like footballs B2P ;D
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Post by Rich on May 22, 2005 11:39:04 GMT 1
It is only the middle 2 blocks behind the goal that make any noise in the West Terrace and then they are almost Panther like with their repeated 3 tunes. City fans have about 36 Songs/Chants The Sky Blue Song You Are My City City Till I Die Twist & Shout 10 German Bombers (thats more for away games) S.O.T.V If You All Hate Leicester Clap Your Hands If You All Hate Villa Clap Your Hands If You All Hate Walsall Clap Your Hands If You All Hate (Insert Team City Are Playing Here) Clap Your Hands Poor Little Cockney/Scouser/Brummie/Yam Yam (Depending On Who We Play) Sky Blue Army Micky Adams Sky Blue Army The Leicester Family Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside Oh Coventry Is Wonderful Small Town In (Insert Town/City/County Here) In Our Coventry Homes Boing Boing Baggies S*!t Can You Here (Insert Team Name) Sing Chim Chiminee Lets All Have A Disco EI EI EI O We Are Staying Up (For When We Are In A Relegation Battle) Fight, Fight Wherever You May Be Jingle Bells (Sung When We Are Winning Away From Home With Not Long Left) We Are The Leicester Haters Main Stand/East Stand Give Us A Song Did You Come On A Skate Board Did You Come In Your Sister (For When We Play Leicester) Stand Up If You Love City Top Of The League Your Having A Laugh (Could Be Changed To Premiership or Championship Depending On Opponants League Position) In Your Birmingham Slums We Hate Villa More Than You (If We Play Brum or Baggies) We Hate Leicester More Than You (If We Play Forest Or Derby) Your Dad Is A (Insert Opponants Local Rivals) Fan Can't be asked to list all the individual player songs as I'll be here all day. |
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 22, 2005 18:37:02 GMT 1
That's an impressive list but can't ever remember hearing that many per game.
Still think CCFC need to change the lyrics of The Sky Blue song as singing "Tottenham or Chelsea, United or anyone" seems a bit silly given the chance of ever playing them again. Maybe they should change it to "Leicester or Plymouth, Hull City or anyone"
At yesterdays cup final there were hardly any songs and chants at all just general "Go on" noise.
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Post by Rich on May 22, 2005 18:45:09 GMT 1
The origional words to the Sky Blue song were actually
Proud Posh or Cobblers, Oysters Or Anyone.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on May 22, 2005 18:46:41 GMT 1
Oysters?
I remember hearing Jimmy Hill singing "Proud Posh or Cobblers, Wolverhampton or anyone" on some tv programme about CCFC but have never heard of oysters. Which team was that supposed to represent?
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