United thread 2018/19

[Tom_mcfc]

"be able to watch and view football with balance" - comedy gold:)

I can still remember your first words on here after the first world cup game in the summer describing Sterling's performance as "absolutely fucking abysmal". Without doubt the most extreme post I saw after that game on here.

He was in my opinion, along with others. There was no balance because no one could admit he was shite yet many wanted to say Dele, Kane and other players were (which they were) that's where I can watch and regardless of being a city player admit when they haven't played well. Shame others can't. Put it this way I can watch a United game and know if they have played well and what players have. I am also not bitter enough to say it, others are as we have seen on this thread that they hate United more than they love City. Everyone is different aren't they.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

I've told this story before on here but it's always worth telling again. I originally got this story from the CEO of another English club (not City) who was trying to buy Rooney at the time but I had confirmation of it from someone at City later on. We'll call the CEO 'Paul' (not his real name) and I should make clear he's not still in the role.

Paul knew I'd had good contacts at City and also knew my neighbour, who'd designed a new training complex for them. One Friday afternoon when the Rooney transfer request story was headline news, Paul spoke to me telling me he was at OT and trying to sing Rooney. He told me that the rags' wage ceiling was £90k a week and Rooney's agent wanted double that. The Glazers had said no originally but, after he put an offer of £160k a week on the table, they caved in. He spoke to me while he was sat outside Gill's office and they were having a phone conference with the Glazers in the USA. The rumours were that City had made a huge offer and he wanted to know if I could find out if that was true or not. I had to say that, even if I could, it would take me quite a while as things were a lot tighter since the takeover.

He then said that he thought he'd been taken for a mug and that his suspicion was that they wanted to get an offer on the table to use as a bargaining chip with the Glazers. This explains the "no value in the market" comment of Baconface of course, as no decent player would go there for £90k a week when other clubs like City were paying a lot more. He then laughed and told me that it'd cost them as there were 5 players who had a "highest-paid player" clause in their contracts and that all would be getting the £180k a week, with others asking for commensurate increases (i.e. double their current package). Rooney did indeed sign a new contract and their wage bill strated to shoot up.

Eventually I got information from City that they had been approached about Rooney at the time but smelled a rat and demanded that his agent produced a genuine, written transfer request before they'd talk money. No such document was forthcoming so there was no offer and the £250k a week being splashed in the media was obviously put there by the agent.

Entertaining!
I'd have guessed it was to force breaking the wage structure.

 

[Rolee]

He was in my opinion, along with others. There was no balance because no one could admit he was shite yet many wanted to say Dele, Kane and other players were (which they were) that's where I can watch and regardless of being a city player admit when they haven't played well. Shame others can't. Put it this way I can watch a United game and know if they have played well and what players have. I am also not bitter enough to say it, others are as we have seen on this thread that they hate United more than they love City. Everyone is different aren't they.

He wasn't though, he was average.

I think sometimes Tom you lose all sense of objectivity in your attempts to appear non biased.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

He was in my opinion, along with others. There was no balance because no one could admit he was shite yet many wanted to say Dele, Kane and other players were (which they were) that's where I can watch and regardless of being a city player admit when they haven't played well. Shame others can't. Put it this way I can watch a United game and know if they have played well and what players have. I am also not bitter enough to say it, others are as we have seen on this thread that they hate United more than they love City. Everyone is different aren't they.

So you are sticking to your opinion then that he was "absolutely fucking abysmal". As I said that was the most extreme post about Sterling after that game and by very definition an extreme post is not balanced. And that's why I thought your earlier post was hilarious.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Haha I'm time traveling again. Meant 17/18.

Their net finance costs were £18m and they paid £22m in dividends. The also reported around £13m of director remuneration but some of that will be Woodward & Richard Arnold, the Group MD. Incidentally, Arnold & Woodward were at Bristol University together at the same time. Can't see anything about management fees.

 

[Jalfraag]

Their net finance costs were £18m and they paid £22m in dividends. The also reported around £13m of director remuneration but some of that will be Woodward & Richard Arnold, the Group MD. Incidentally, Arnold & Woodward were at Bristol University together at the same time. Can't see anything about management fees.

Thanks. Lower than I'd hoped. A rise in interest rates would have a silver lining though.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Entertaining!
I'd have guessed it was to force breaking the wage structure.

I'd guess you've guessed right. It was clearly to force the Glazers' hands over the wage structure. I've never got the full story but I understand they pulled a similar sort of stunt to sign van Persie in 2012, which was why the Glazers decided to move Gill out of his position. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for us) that backfired somewhat as Woodward came in and went to the end-of-season meeting where they discuss transfer strategy for the summer. The poor sap had to tell Baconface that he could only spend £30m net that summer and Baconface basically told him to fuck off and walked out. So it went from Gill & Ferguson to Woodward and Moyes in just a few short, sweet months.

All that crap about his wife's sister's death being the reason and that the Glazers were supportive owners is utter bollocks.

 

[Henkeman]

I'd guess you've guessed right. It was clearly to force the Glazers' hands over the wage structure. I've never got the full story but I understand they pulled a similar sort of stunt to sign van Persie in 2012, which was why the Glazers decided to move Gill out of his position. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately for us) that backfired somewhat as Woodward came in and went to the end-of-season meeting where they discuss transfer strategy for the summer. The poor sap had to tell Baconface that he could only spend £30m net that summer and Baconface basically told him to fuck off and walked out. So it went from Gill & Ferguson to Woodward and Moyes in just a few short, sweet months.

All that crap about his wife's sister's death being the reason and that the Glazers were supportive owners is utter bollocks.

I have to say, one thing that's notable is how they then managed to keep those shenanigans in-house. Compare that to now where it appears in the press half an hour later.

 

[casualdeyna]

If thinking Luke Shaw is sh*t and not as good as he was when he was at Southampton is being a bertie then f*ck me, I must be a MASSIVE bertie.

Imagine saying other people's opinions are biased or just wrong because they don't agree with you, it's an opinion!

 

[Henkeman]

Headline in the Guardian: "Mourinho's career is like the plague: has he run out of people to kill?"

Now, I'm a long way from loving the blessed José, but fuck me what kind journalism is that? Christ.

 

[kaz7]

If thinking Luke Shaw is sh*t and not as good as he was when he was at Southampton is being a bertie then f*ck me, I must be a MASSIVE bertie.

Imagine saying other people's opinions are biased or just wrong because they don't agree with you, it's an opinion!

Tom admits to not having seen much of the rags and shaw lately so he has no idea whether he is any good or not,he is shite as is the rest of the team

 

[Jalfraag]

Headline in the Guardian: "Mourinho's career is like the plague: has he run out of people to kill?"

Now, I'm a long way from loving the blessed José, but fuck me what kind journalism is that? Christ.

They employ Jamie Jackson/Paradise so it's above average for them.

 

[Andy TheCatalyst Morrison]

He was in my opinion, along with others. There was no balance because no one could admit he was shite yet many wanted to say Dele, Kane and other players were (which they were) that's where I can watch and regardless of being a city player admit when they haven't played well. Shame others can't. Put it this way I can watch a United game and know if they have played well and what players have. I am also not bitter enough to say it, others are as we have seen on this thread that they hate United more than they love City. Everyone is different aren't they.

FFS Tom you are spoiling this thread. I read this thread to laugh at how shit they have become, not to read you defending them left, right and centre.

For the record, every goal they score is a fluke, every point they earn is undeserved, every player who plays for them is an over-rated shithouse and every single one of the 659m is a glory hunting bell-end. What's so difficult to understand about that?

As for the highlighted bit of your post, you must have a f*cking long memory.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I have to say, one thing that's notable is how they then managed to keep those shenanigans in-house. Compare that to now where it appears in the press half an hour later.

Yep. I bet you've never read either of those stories in the papers but I can guarantee they're true.

 

[chedinho]

He was in my opinion, along with others. There was no balance because no one could admit he was shite yet many wanted to say Dele, Kane and other players were (which they were) that's where I can watch and regardless of being a city player admit when they haven't played well. Shame others can't. Put it this way I can watch a United game and know if they have played well and what players have. I am also not bitter enough to say it, others are as we have seen on this thread that they hate United more than they love City. Everyone is different aren't they.

I don’t think the person who said luke shaw is shit, is really bothered about a balanced discussion, like a lot of blues/reds
Not like you, who likes to balance, massive bitter Bertie’s with Sterling is abysmal and city fans hate Utd more than they love city added to all Utd players are great.


Shaw is a good player, he’s shit though, compared to sterling, that’s my balanced view.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Yep. I bet you've never read either of those stories in the papers but I can guarantee they're true.

I was thinking the same as Henkeman. It's a surprise that there's not been anything.
I wouldn't have thought to connect those to Gill leaving and then Ferguson.

 

[Dreadzone]

It's pretty easy, if you are an adult then behave like one. Be able to watch and view football with balance regardless of who they play for. Not to live up to being a "bertie" and be bitter about everything United related. Not about being a top blue either, too much dick swinging in here but saying rag the most doesn't make you the topest blue ever x

Rag

 

[Manc in London]

United fans: everyone at City is on £200k according to The Sun. They are ruining football. It's a disgrace.

United fans now: The papers, especially The Sun, are full of nonesense. There is no way Sanchez is earning £500k pw and Shaw on £150k.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

He was in my opinion, along with others. There was no balance because no one could admit he was shite yet many wanted to say Dele, Kane and other players were (which they were) that's where I can watch and regardless of being a city player admit when they haven't played well. Shame others can't. Put it this way I can watch a United game and know if they have played well and what players have. I am also not bitter enough to say it, others are as we have seen on this thread that they hate United more than they love City. Everyone is different aren't they.

No way was Sterling shite!

It's been generally agreed since the world cup the amount of space and movement he had was more than enough compensation for the lack of goals. Certainly not shite, and tbh you became your most bumptious after a particular game where the commentator was having a go at Sterling for missing one of the many shots he had.... At that time it was national sport to slate Sterling and I think you got caught up in that whole narrative. I do, I think you're view of him is easily influenced by 1- the media message and 2 - your hatred of blind support. But genuinely I dont think he was that bad.

Mods please move this to the (Tom MCFC hates) Sterling thread if needs be. Ta

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Ten years ago their highest paid players were on £90k a week. Their staff costs in the 2011 Financial Year were £129m. Their total operating expenses (including those wages) were just over £200m. Then Rooney put in his “transfer request”, which was just a ruse cooked up by Gill & Ferguson to blackmail the Glazers, and doubled that ceiling.

In the last financial year their wage bill alone was just shy of £300m. Every time a player gets a deal like this, it sets the benchmark for the next one.

In comparison, our equivalent figures were £174m in 2011 and around £260m this last year.

And it doesnt take a genius t o workout that utds figures are pretty much unsustainable for a team that hasnt won the title for 5 years,are currently mid table looking incapable of mounting a challenge this season, have a squad load of unhappy players(luke shaw the exception) and whose best season in recent years included a charity sheid win and success in European footballs smallest competition .
What a mess.