Prince Buys into Belgian Club: KFCO Beerschot Wilrijk

[Maidenhead]

After Brexit, the UK will set its own rules on skilled immigration and quotas. Visas may be involved but with the EPL about to have the biggest injection of funds ever, there is no way the footballing authorities will restrict its access to footballing markets. Beerschot already have many players from outside the EU. They will be brought nearer to us to review. It isn't just access to European players.

I was marginally in favour of staying in the EU but surprisingly enough the world won't collapse when we leave.

It's the Government, not the football authorities that will dictate policies like that.

 

[Davalon]

They already have players from all over the world. Belgium is the cheapest place in Europe to "collect" players and get them qualified to move to the UK.

It's not just Belgian born players.

As far as commitment is concerned, we can have a good look at them as they develop. This would meet Chris's criterion of knowing their characters before they join.

That was the intention with White Star Woluwe.

I've advocated casting our scouting net wider for years so hopefully this is part of that.

Didn't envisage it would entail one owner buying a stake in a club however.

 

[UnitedBlade]

It's the Government, not the football authorities that will dictate policies like that.

that's what I said the UK = Government.

Do you not think there will be any consultation with the footballing authorities given the immense money involved in EPL football and our international reputation involved? Would you be happy with Boris and Gove deciding on who qualifies ?

 

[LondonBlade89]

Interesting. I know it isn't a purchase by Blades Leisure / SUFC, it is solely the Prince but I can't see why he would do that unless it benefits United.

I started typing out a response to this which went along the lines of 'he obviously reckons it'd be easier to make money from it than SUFC'.

But then I decided to read what he said when he first invested.

If you take him at his word, he clearly wants a Premier League side. He apparently once called George Gillett (then Liverpool owner) to see if he could find out if Steven Gerrard was playing because he was in his fantasy team, which helps to highlight his fascination with the league.

It therefore doesn't make sense that he'd get cold feet and turn elsewhere when we're the closest we've been to the Premier League in his entire tenure as Co-Owner. I don't get it. Though all of the signs suggest otherwise (no mention of SUFC in the press release, rumoured McCabe annoyance), I just have to think this investment is related. But maybe I'm naive.

 

[GrayBlade]

KFCO are a team on the up again. They’ve been champions of their respective leagues the last 4 seasons running.

 

[UnitedBlade]

I started typing out a response to this which went along the lines of 'he obviously reckons it'd be easier to make money from it than SUFC'.

But then I decided to read what he said when he first invested.

If you take him at his word, he clearly wants a Premier League side. He apparently once called George Gillett (then Liverpool owner) to see if he could find out if Steven Gerrard was playing because he was in his fantasy team, which helps to highlight his fascination with the league.

It therefore doesn't make sense that he'd get cold feet and turn elsewhere when we're the closest we've been to the Premier League in his entire tenure as Co-Owner. I don't get it. Though all of the signs suggest otherwise (no mention of SUFC in the press release, rumoured McCabe annoyance), I just have to think this investment is related. But maybe I'm naive.

I don't think there is substantial money to be made in Belgian football. That's not why he is doing it.

What you say about the Premier League is correct and he is on record about our weaknesses in International scouting.

I don't really know why McCabe would be annoyed, he himself bought into Ferencvaros and Central Coast Mariners as individual purchases nothing to with the SUFC corporate body. His annoyance will be about not spending it in this recent JTW on SUFC. The arguments will go on but it's short term investment versus long term investment. It's not easy and there are no right and wrong answers. All organisations face these dilemmas in choosing which investment to back.

 

[Worksop II]

I don't really know why McCabe would be annoyed, he himself bought into Ferencvaros and Central Coast Mariners as individual purchases nothing to with the SUFC corporate body.

At the moment McCabe is contemplating / planning Constructions on his Bramall Lane Site, nowt to do with the Football Club, looks like both owners have other investments distracting them from the Team

 

[BushBlade]

I love Duffy but Dembele is God like. IF we were to go up I would look to sign him from spurs. Seems under used and IMO one of the best box to box midfielders in the league. With his age they may let him go for £10m

Dembele is more of a Coutts than a Duffy. He's been 'under used' because he's been injured. Poch loves him and he's been an integral part of Spurs' upturn in form. They won't let him go until his legs fall off.

 

[The Crab]

After Brexit, the UK will set its own rules on skilled immigration and quotas. Visas may be involved but with the EPL about to have the biggest injection of funds ever, there is no way the footballing authorities will restrict its access to footballing markets. Beerschot already have many players from outside the EU. They will be brought nearer to us to review. It isn't just access to European players.

I was marginally in favour of staying in the EU but surprisingly enough the world won't collapse when we leave.

The bits that were built by Crab Industries might*......................

*when I say "might" I mean "probably will"

 

[LondonBlade89]

At the moment McCabe is contemplating / planning Constructions on his Bramall Lane Site, nowt to do with the Football Club, looks like both owners have other investments distracting them from the Team

Well at the moment it seems there are two trains of thought from us uninformed forum users:

• The investment IS related to SUFC and KM is annoyed because it didn't go towards something with more immediate gains, like spend during the JTW
• The investment ISN'T related to SUFC, and KM is (probably rightly) annoyed that spend is going elsewhere and not towards SUFC when the Prince has still failed to deliver on his promise of pumping money into the club

Who knows. Either way, Wilder's mate said it'd be 'all change' this week. Sounds a bit exaggerated now if this is all it is.

 

[Worksop II]

Well at the moment it seems there are two trains of thought from us uninformed forum users:

You have McCabe as the wronged party in both those ......

Maybe the Prince wants to Turbocharge the Blades with more millions, Kev, cant, wont, doesn't think he has to match him

So Princey takes his money elsewhere .....

 

[LondonBlade89]

You have McCabe as the wronged party in both those ......

Ha, it's a list of situations with the potential to grow and grow until we get an answer

 

[Esablade]

I don't really know why McCabe would be annoyed, he himself bought into Ferencvaros and Central Coast Mariners as individual purchases nothing to with the SUFC corporate body. His annoyance will be about not spending it in this recent JTW on SUFC.

I'd say he's annoyed because he thought Princey was going to 'deliver game changing investment once we went up to the Championship' as McCabe stated in 2016.

For whatever reasons this isn't happening at SUFC...I'm going with the 'McCabe won't/can't match Princey's investment' conspiracy theory.

 

[RMBlade]

Dembele is more of a Coutts than a Duffy. He's been 'under used' because he's been injured. Poch loves him and he's been an integral part of Spurs' upturn in form. They won't let him go until his legs fall off.

Even when fit he doesn't seem to be used much more than a rotation player. With Dier, Wanyama, Winks and Alli (occasionally) that can all be used there and Spurs were in for Goretzka in Jan before he went to Bayern.

If they can get another CM in the summer he may be allowed to leave. At 31 if someone buys him they will have to pay a decent amount for an oldish player but he would be a game changer in our setup.

 

[Carlton Blade]

that's what I said the UK = Government.

Do you not think there will be any consultation with the footballing authorities given the immense money involved in EPL football and our international reputation involved? Would you be happy with Boris and Gove deciding on who qualifies ?

No sitting UK government can afford to mess with football too much. It's a guaranteed vote loser

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

I don`t understand how this will benefit us. Developing a scouting network doesn`t mean having to buy into clubs. Perhaps the Prince sees the opportunity of a good profit which will be invested in the Blades, but I very much doubt it.

 

[BushBlade]

Even when fit he doesn't seem to be used much more than a rotation player. With Dier, Wanyama, Winks and Alli (occasionally) that can all be used there and Spurs were in for Goretzka in Jan before he went to Bayern.

If they can get another CM in the summer he may be allowed to leave. At 31 if someone buys him they will have to pay a decent amount for an oldish player but he would be a game changer in our setup.

Completely different player to Wanyama and Dier. He can receive the ball under pressure, carry it from defence to attack, play on the turn and spray cross field passes, like Coutts he's almost impossible to dispossess. Dier and Wanyama don't have his all round skill set, they're much more like defensive holding midfielders, despite Wanyama's ridiculous goal the other day.
The only one similar in that list is Winks and he lacks Dembele's strength. I'd be genuinely shocked if he left Spurs in the summer. He plays whenever he's fit but he's had problems this season staying fit, hence missing a lot of games.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Isn't this Chinese billionaire interested in taking us on, there was talk last year and his name is plastered all over the Sarf stand.

 

[metalblade]

Hasn't McCabe already bought into a Belgian semi-pro club to eventually bring players from Europe and Africa to SUFC ? another of his failed international ventures. Strange if that idea is being resurrected just before Brexit which might well see European players having to apply for work permits to play in England like players from other parts of the world. I can't see where this will be of any benefit to SUFC.

 

[gavtheblade]

Does this mean we all get free beer at the Lane?

Yes.
1 schott .

 

[Pollingtonblade]

It was Jim who made the analogy which certain sections of the supporters have taken literally and use it at every opportunity.

Yeah Kev said “game changing”

 

[Muttley]

Gut feeling. Not good. No idea why.

:-/

 

[UnitedBlade]

I'd say he's annoyed because he thought Princey was going to 'deliver game changing investment once we went up to the Championship' as McCabe stated in 2016.

For whatever reasons this isn't happening at SUFC...I'm going with the 'McCabe won't/can't match Princey's investment' conspiracy theory.

Who knows? United need to get back to winning ways then we'll all be happy.

 

[Sean Thornton]

At the moment McCabe is contemplating / planning Constructions on his Bramall Lane Site, nowt to do with the Football Club, looks like both owners have other investments distracting them from the Team

The development proposals are simply adding value for a potential sale. Look what you can have.

If they happen, it'll be a new owner that funds it.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Who knows? United need to get back to winning ways then we'll all be happy.

We won L1 last season and were in an automatic place playing good football earlier this. It didn't make some folk happy, just shut them up for a bit.....

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don't think there is substantial money to be made in Belgian football. That's not why he is doing it.

What you say about the Premier League is correct and he is on record about our weaknesses in International scouting.

I don't really know why McCabe would be annoyed, he himself bought into Ferencvaros and Central Coast Mariners as individual purchases nothing to with the SUFC corporate body. His annoyance will be about not spending it in this recent JTW on SUFC. The arguments will go on but it's short term investment versus long term investment. It's not easy and there are no right and wrong answers. All organisations face these dilemmas in choosing which investment to back.

Fradi was more of a development deal.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Hasn't McCabe already bought into a Belgian semi-pro club to eventually bring players from Europe and Africa to SUFC ? another of his failed international ventures. Strange if that idea is being resurrected just before Brexit which might well see European players having to apply for work permits to play in England like players from other parts of the world.



I can't see where this will be of any benefit to SUFC.

Has anyone suggested it will? In that article?

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don`t understand how this will benefit us. Developing a scouting network doesn`t mean having to buy into clubs. Perhaps the Prince sees the opportunity of a good profit which will be invested in the Blades, but I very much doubt it.

Be cheaper to pay a full time scout.

 

[sheffielder]

Confused. So if the prince has spunked his load in this club, how will this benefit us? No mention of SUFC or McCabe in the deal

 

[Sean Thornton]

Confused. So if the prince has spunked his load in this club, how will this benefit us? No mention of SUFC or McCabe in the deal

At last. Someone else has actually read the article.