Manchester United's new owners have given Sir Alex Ferguson the green light to chase the world’s most expensive players. Non-executive director Joel Glazer says press reports of the transfer budget being capped at £25million per season are “absolutely not true.” ”We are going to provide the manager with the resources necessary to field the best team,” said Glazer, in an exclusive interview for MUTV and ManUtd.com. ”When I read about caps and hands being tied it’s very frustrating. You can’t have caps in this game, in any sport. Things change. ”Nobody was more excited than us last year when the club signed Wayne Rooney. If that situation arises again this club will be in a position to go after that player and to bring him to Old Trafford.” Joel Glazer admitted there would still be some restraint, but this would only be in keeping with the club’s past record of prudence in the transfer market. ”That’s what has kept this club so successful over the years, spending wisely on the right players,” said Glazer. http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=195514&itype=466&icategoryid=120 You think this is media fluff or that they are serious? If the money is available..without a transfer cap as stated...do you think anything will happen this Summer? Essien? Baptista?(We cannot let Arsenal get him...especially not for the measly sum of £10m!!)
If I were a Gayslur I would say whatever I thought the Supporters wanted to hear after being attacked at Old Trafford.... Where was this statement when they started this whole process.....
I expected the suggary statements to end once they were in such unlimited control of the club. It could be wishful thinking, but I think their comments may carry some truth.
i think there is a chance of it being true... the reason is that they must realize that w/ no salary cap like the nfl, u can actually buy a really good team of established players and keep it together for awhile... this is one way to achieve sucess which will bring in some extra money via prize money, but also via merchandizing... and in the long run, good football will mean good economics if they can make the most out of investments and merchandise... if its one thing gayslur can do, its make money... i think there's a chance that he realizes making money and having a good football team can co-exist.
In which case, while I'm totally against sole ownership of our club, esp by a money-hungry american, I guess I could live knowing my precious United is safe and sound... Man, would you look at that, I'm nearly accepting Glazer! Urgh... I need a shot of something strong...
If indeed Manchester United is the same as always as he has stated. And as long as we 'start' winning some real prizes, I will be happy. I now see that he has debted the club, but if he has smart people on his side to help him (and the boyz) run properly; so we kick some aZZ in Europe and at home then I see no bad things as the debt will eventually go away........
Yeah, but you don't own Man United, and if you did, I have every reason to believe your ownership would be driven with the sole purpose of lifting our beloved United to greater heights, not sucking the cash out of the team to save up for that elusive shaver that he just can't afford but he needs so bad to get rid of that ginger afro on his chin...ugh! I mean, that...thing owns Manchester United! Yep, it's decided. I'm going for a drink.
It's always nice to bring home silverware, and its also nice to believe that doing so can mask financial issues by keeping the fans happy for a little while. But financial mismanagement, whether or not it achieves short-term goals, can't simply be swept under the rug. Even if the team manages to come close to the success of the past decade, it'll be difficult to meet ends at Old Trafford.
True. Not saying that it was a good move for us (or a smart move for him for that matter unless we all get extremely lucky), but if he is smart (now that we can't do anything but talk about it) and makes good footballing desisions for the clubs I will be satisfied and will be able to live with it.. Now I will still always like to see us bought by Bill Gates or someone with some real money to compete with the Mafia.
I'm being optimistic, so I voted for "truth". But the only way we'll know is if his words get put into action. It's not brain science that we're going to need to make at least one more big signing if we're going to improve on last season - if that doesn't happen this summer, then it would mean Joel is lying.
I voted media fluff but I'm not so sure now. I mean, they did initially sign some good players for the Bucs but at what cost? The fans of the Buccaneers from what I can gather were a little uneasy at the Glazers taking control there, with some fans fearful that the team would be moved. The Glazers appeased the fans by telling them the team would definitely stay in Tampa and in the end the residents of Tampa and Buccs fans everywhere (if there are any outside of Tampa) gave Malc the green light. Not long after they had taken control they threatened to move the team unless a new stadium was built, shock! horror! the Glazers lied!!! . The new stadium was to be built by the tax-dollars of the residents of Tampa desperate to keep their team. Stadium naming rights were then sold, and although it's undeniable that some of this money was spent to help turn the Bucs into superbowl champions a big proportion of it went into the pockets of a certain Malcolm Glazer. The people of Tampa were helping to line his pockets because they loved their team and wanted to keep it running, sound familiar? After an initial on-the-field success and after the bucaneer's profile had risen sufficiently I believe they thought that they'd done their job and now they are steadily declining on the field whilst all the time the Glazers are still making money off the back of one superbowl win. Whilst our situation is different as he is taking over an already successful club I fear that big Malc and three stooges might have something similar planned here. Maybe an initial wave of money to please fans for 2-5 years and then we slowly and surely see this amount reduced as we try to financially live of the success of those 2-5 years. I don't see how this is possible as the debt is just too big. I think we may see big money continually being spent for a short while but fear it may dry up all of a sudden a little way down the line. They've lied and told mis-truths to the people of Tampa and fans of the buccaneers in the past and that for me is enough to make me not trust them here. The United board did turn down offers for the club because they felt the business plan was too aggressive, perhaps this is part of what they meant by that. A boom and bust mentality is a bad economic model to follow, stability is what is needed but unfortunatelt the Glazers don't seem too keen on this pricipal.
I guess there's also a middle ground. Yes, some of what they say is going to be the truth, but comments concerning buying the 'next wayne rooney' are total fluff, and can be backed out of easily. (he wouldn't fit into the team, CFC offered him £200,000 a week etc.etc.) What made me vote for fluff was the "No-one was more excited than me when we signed Rooney" quote Every Manu supporting kid between the age of 5 and 15 probably experienced more unadulterated pleasure than he did, and it's exactly the kind of comment that businessmen come up with to ingratiate themselves with fans and ends up alienating more of them. This was a nice piece of PR generally, but far too late really. It makes you wonder that if their business acumen is on a level with their PR skills, then Manu will be in trouble