Absolutely. If you take sentiment out of it, we’re a much more attractive proposition for any owner. The work that needs doing at United is really daunting.
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Yes, it should.
Also, it’s a lot more palatable to do that if other clubs are also required to do it.
This is the whole issue. FFP has not been enforced. So we want to imagine a scenario where either the rules are enforced or we get another FSG, only this time a slightly more benevolent version, who is willing to go to the limits of what is permissible to spend, according to FFP.
Our owners have been good, and I am not down on them at all. The only slight gripe is whether or not they have spent all that they could have done, while still keeping within the rules. I don’t think they have.
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Plus the potential buyers of Utd will have seen how utterly toxic the fans are against the Glazers… will give them food for thought no doubt
The alternative is Utd have shown themselves to be a really resilient brand. Someone may look at it and think that while the investment will be big, it will be relatively low risk (if their assessment shows there is RoI). We certainly have a degree of resiliency, as we saw through the 90s and 00s, but commercially we were a long way off the top sides during that period in a way that Utd never have been during their competitive downturn.
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Won’t it be completely different proposition buying united as they are traded on stock exchange? I know nothing about finance or what it would entail but seems like it would be harder to jump through the hoops, but again, I’m completely ignorant about these things.
so looking at the financials…what would they have done differently, if they’re not to dip into their own pockets? net debt £166.7mil…
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First off, I think they are good owners. The main issue is the rules are not followed by other teams, so FSG are playing a game that is inherently unfair. That is by far the biggest issue. In a rules based order, I back FSG.
I only wish we had a rules based order. Since we don’t…
What could FSG have done? It’s hypothetical, as we are grasping at straws since the game is foul. Still, in the spirit of giving an answer, I will offer something, since I suggested the possibility of attracting a more benevolent version of FSG.
A more benevolent version of FSG might have invested more of the club’s money into the squad, while investing their own money into infrastructure. This would have been on the understanding that they would get the money back on infrastructure spending when they sell their asset.
The version of FSG that we have did not do anything wrong, and in fact they did exactly as they said I.e. the club would pay for itself.
What we are seeing is the limitation of that model, given the lack of rules and the external revenue streams of some of our competitors.
So, I am imagining a scenario where we spend more, but stay within FFP, and stay away from a sports washer or human rights abuser.
A more benevolent version of FSG is the answer in the circumstance. More benevolent perhaps because they have deeper pockets, so don’t care too much if they fund some aspects of their asset from their own pocket, in order to make the team as competitive as it could be.
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PS - if the governing parameter is for them to not spend any of their own money, then they have done about as well as they possibly could have done.
At that point we are witnessing the limit of their self imposed rule.
If the rule is for them to invest as much as possible into the squad, while staying within FFP, then more money could have been spent.
We don’t want a sports washer, but if the governing authorities will not enforce FFP, a more benevolent FSG is required.
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I will never agree with this statement. 99.9999% of the football clubs in the world must operate within their means or go bankrupt. I would expect no different from Liverpool FC
the other 0.0001% can go fuck themselves and their oil money. Because that’s what we’re talking about.
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I agree that clubs should operate within their means, or go bankrupt. That’s the sensible business strategy and it makes complete sense. I remain appalled that the governing authorities have let the game down so badly on that front.
Since the authorities have let us down, I’d like to see a more benevolent version of FSG emerge, though one that still operates within FFP.
In addition to that, I’d like to see us apply a lot more pressure, and offer a more sustained message that speaks out against financial abusers.
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Yes and one of the main things some people forget, didn’t know, or don’t consider is just how far behind we were in the commercial aspects. It’s not like they just turned up and spent what we earned, but sought out deals that brought us up to operate at the level that a club the size of ours should be. So while we used to earn nearly £100m a season less than the likes of United from commercial revenue, we’re basically level now despite their massive headstartand prolonged dominance.
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An entitled World!
you’re not kidding. it’s fucking scary, the entitlement of immediate gratification.
What do we we want? EVERYTHING!
When do we want it? NOW!
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Lol, no way I want it yesterday ffs 
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Western society has been built on this for about 60 years if not longer, don’t kid yourself it’s this generation or last.
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I get that other clubs are not playing by financial rules etc but what others are not doing right should not mean we should or need to join their unethical spending. And disparity in spending is not new or unique to this recent years albeit difference in scale. In the 10 years prior to the Premier League era, where we were dominating, we were top spenders, only Manures who have won nothing during that period topped us. And the other league winners during that era were Everton and Arsenal who spent half of what we did. So disparity of spending has always been there. I don’t like it, I don’t think its fair but this is all the more why I appreciate our current principles of running a club and still won titles, rather than joining the rats to try to win everything.
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The problem is that if multiple clubs are owned by mega spenders, they’ll win. We can be happy with our principles and an FFP compliant model and a duster for the trophy cabinet. It’s the fact that United are available at the same time as us that rankles. We all want a Liverpool fan with infinite pockets but that person doesn’t exist.
Would be funny as FCUK if United fans are protesting against their new owners first match after the sale 
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just reading the same
Liverpool shocked by Julian Ward’s decision to quit as sporting director | Liverpool | The Guardian.
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Crazy times.
Wonder what’s going on behind the scenes. Could there be a return for Edwards on the horizon?
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