This is an unusual one IMO

[fbloke]

Apologies if already posted as my machine seems to be caching for longer than expected.

<a class="postlink" href="http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/abu-dhabi-is-new-home-for-united-1.702890" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/abu- ... d-1.702890</a>

Dubai : Manchester United Soccer Schools have parted ways with Dubai Sports City XPRESS can reveal, but the acclaimed UK-based youth academy will officially begin running its programmes at its new GCC branch in Abu Dhabi at the Dome@Rawdhat starting this Saturday.
Following on from the announcement made by Reem Investments of their two-year tie-up with Manchester United Soccer Schools earlier this month, the action kicks off with a six-week course which will eventually give way to 10-week programmes.
Head coach Andy Dixon, who spent four years at the school's old base in Dubai told XPRESS: "It's going to be similar [to Dubai] but there will be other elements as well."
Dixon made it clear that the programme is not in any way aimed at developing elite athletes. "That's never been the objective right from the outset," he said. "It's not about developing elite athletes but making sure every kid is challenged. It's all about providing any kid from age seven to 16 with a positive football experience."
Dixon further explained that in addition to learning ‘The United Way' of playing football, children will also be taught the importance of good behaviour off the pitch. "They don't just learn how to become good footballers. Code of Conduct also forms a very important part of the programme. Apart from being a great football experience, it's also a great social experience as it's a great opportunity for kids to interact with other nationalities," said Dixon.
Coincidental to MUSS' Abu Dhabi launch, Red Devils star Wayne Rooney is also in the UAE albeit on a short holiday with wife Coleen. "I can guarantee he won't be there for the opening," Dixon joked.
Meanwhile, Macky Dudhia, General Manager of Sports Business at Dubai Sports City, has confirmed the company has ended its association with MUSS which began in 2005. "Dubai Sports City is looking at a wider scope and have decided to take a different path," Dudhia told XPRESS. "The contract was coming to an end and we were in negotiations but we were not able to come to an agreement. We will be making an announcement soon," he added.

 

[dom]

After the Shrek fiasco of last week the Scum publicity machine has been cranked up to full steam and they are clearly all being briefed to be as aggressive as possible.

This was evident in Bacon's constant 'massive club' sub theme in the latter half of the Rooney shyte.. (My take is that had Shrek actually left this would have been even more aggressively pursued... i. e. "Wayne has made the biggest mistake of his life" etc)


Watch the plastics over the next few weeks .... they were clearly rattled by what was said last week and even though the story has now been 'put to bed' we can look forward to more via ragtops like the Mirror... check out the juxtaposed Utd / City stories in today's edition...

You can smell the fear !! LOL !!

 

[LongsightM13]

They are absolutely shitting bricks. This is a pathetic PR stunt. I smoke 20 a day and my left leg had to be rebuilt with screws, pins and three steel plates after a catastrophic triple fracture/dislocation playing football 10 years ago. And I will play in the Premier League before anyone from the UAE does

 

[fbloke]

The wonder is how/why it was allowed?

 

[Blue Mooner]

Very interesting move by the rags, they really do have a f*ckin nerve setting up in our owners backyard. This has nothing to do with developing players for the future. My guess is the Glazers are desperately trying to promote the rags in the Middle East hoping for another rich Sheikh to but them out. First they set up in Dubai when all the money was there and now that goldmine appears to have run dry they have moved to Abu Dhabi.

I'm sure our owners will do everything in their power to make sure it is an abject failure, despite the rags partnering with an indpendent company.

The facilities they arre using are here: http://www.thedome.ae/

The Sheikh should buy the company and then put up the rates to the rags to a ridiculous level.

 

[fbloke]

It doesnt look like a 5* facility in truth.

 

[Julie]

I doubt our owners will give a shit to be honest, im sure we have our own plans to concentrate on.

 

[fbloke]

I doubt our owners will give a shit to be honest, im sure we have our own plans to concentrate on.

Still a bit cheeky though.

 

[Blue Mooner]

The wonder is how/why it was allowed?

My initial thought was that but this looks like a non UAE headquartered company that has facilities in Abu Dhabi.

At the end of the day they are free to lease those facilities to whoever they like and my guess is they just want the business irrespective of the fact its the rags.

Little the Sheikh can do, that said I'm sure they can influence whether their little endeavour is a success or not.

 

[Julie]

I doubt our owners will give a shit to be honest, im sure we have our own plans to concentrate on.

Still a bit cheeky though.

Its a PR stunt, and our owners don't own Abu Dhabi, im sure there's many equally rich Sheikhs out there, maybe thats glazers plan as someone else mentioned.

 

[milo]

We should now also move into Dubai also then.

 

[fbloke]

Still a bit cheeky though.

Its a PR stunt, and our owners don't own Abu Dhabi, im sure there's many equally rich Sheikhs out there, maybe thats glazers plan as someone else mentioned.

Well erm, basically they do.....

 

[Blue Mooner]

Still a bit cheeky though.

Its a PR stunt, and our owners don't own Abu Dhabi, im sure there's many equally rich Sheiks out there so, maybe thats glazers plan as someone else mentioned.

Those b*stards have proven they will stop at nothing to line their p*ckets even if that means moving in on their nearest rivals owners home. Just makes me hate them that little bit more.

They're in dreamland if they think someone in the middle east will stump up a billion quid for them. Would have happened long before now if there was any possibility.<br /><br />-- Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:53 pm --<br /><br />

Its a PR stunt, and our owners don't own Abu Dhabi, im sure there's many equally rich Sheikhs out there, maybe thats glazers plan as someone else mentioned.

Well erm, basically they do.....

.

Exactly which makes it even more surprising. Good spot though fbloke

 

[Julie]

Its a PR stunt, and our owners don't own Abu Dhabi, im sure there's many equally rich Sheikhs out there, maybe thats glazers plan as someone else mentioned.

Well erm, basically they do.....

lol, do you know how many rich men that area of the world has? its billionaire central.

-- Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:57 pm --

Its a PR stunt, and our owners don't own Abu Dhabi, im sure there's many equally rich Sheiks out there so, maybe thats glazers plan as someone else mentioned.

Those b*stards have proven they will stop at nothing to line their p*ckets even if that means moving in on their nearest rivals owners home. Just makes me hate them that little bit more.

They're in dreamland if they think someone in the middle east will stump up a billion quid for them. Would have happened long before now if there was any possibility.

-- Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:53 pm --

Like i said its a PR stunt i wouldn't let it bother you, do you think our owners wont already have plans for ourselves over there? far bigger than what those are doing?

 

[Balti]

I doubt our owners will give a shit to be honest, im sure we have our own plans to concentrate on.

Still a bit cheeky though.

Par for the course but no odds to us.

 

[fbloke]

Well erm, basically they do.....

lol, do you know how many rich men that area of the world has? its billionaire central.

There are billionaires and then there is the Royal Family

<a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi</a>

Hence the Sovereign Wealth that HH Mansour can dip into as well.

 

[oakiecokie]

lol, do you know how many rich men that area of the world has? its billionaire central.

There are billionaires and then there is the Royal Family

<a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi</a>

Hence the Sovereign Wealth that HH Mansour can dip into as well.

So let HH buy the current owners land as a demolition job and "carefully advise" other land owners not to follow suit.Easy.

 

[hbruz80]

Just a few points.

(i) This is actually old news

(ii) Hate to break it to everyone but unfortunately the Rags are still a huge global brand

(iii) You might not want to know this but dome@rawdhat is built by Reem Investments (which is to all intents and purposes a Bani Fatima company chaired by Sheikh Mansour's full brother Sheikh Tahnoon)

(iv) Sheikh Mansour belongs to a family which rules Abu Dhabi, it is not the same as owning it although the Emir is responsible for how the land is used. There is a major responsibility to look after their people, and like I said before sovereign wealth funds are not personal ATM machines they are serious investment vehicles used to generate returns on oil revenue.

 

[mike channon´s windmill]

They should still close the fooker down though ;) Sure they have plans up their sleeves in response

Just noisy (and poorer ) neighbours!

 

[Dubai Blue]

Not sure what the fuss is about really.

Football club shuts down glorified kiddies' playschool in a development that is in the middle of nowhere and will likely never be completed cos the money's run out, and moves it to a prime new location in one of the world's most booming cities. Hardly news, is it?