Maguire Found Guilty - Sky News

[RecordBreakers]

I know his grandad extremely well and have spoken to maquirs and his dad on the odd occasion his aunt was my kids teacher there a close knit family and Harry seemed of the same mold. Everybody changes when alcohol is consumed but all thus seems a bit far fetched for me and see him being found innocent.

Sorry for some of the spelling these small keyboards on phones aren't for fat fingers! Hello ladies

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Cerberus Blade]

As a slight aside, why would anyone pay 18k for a bottle of champagne regardless of their wealth.

I know everything’s relative to the amount you earn but I could be a multi millionaire and not a chance in hell I would ever splash that kind of money on a bottle.

Not that i’ll ever get chance to back this up

I can answer that for you. As you may know, I've got very extravagant tastes and frequently spunk good money on expensive wine and food, when there's really no need to. The most I've ever paid for a bottle of wine (in a restaurant) is £90 though. That was a bit of a one-off for a rather fine, Napa valley, Chardonnay. It was from one of the top vineyards in Napa and described as having, " a delicate marzipan note with white flower blossom". Well, you can probably understand why I did it now eh?

The facts are, it was nice, one of the top Chardonnay's I've had, but it wasn't worth that much. Most restaurants mark up their wines by 2 or 3 times what you could buy it for in the shops/online. In this case, it left a nasty taste in my mouth when I found I could buy it online for about half that price. In fact, I did buy some online after that, for half the price, as a special treat. And do you know what? When I was drinking it at home, away from the heady, scenty, lure of the fine Manchester restaurant that we were dining in, it didn't taste any better than some of my cheaper bottles. So there's the first reason people do it - they get a bit carried away by the occasion.

Another reason why people spend that kind of money is because it's an investment. Assuming you don't open it that is. You have to be a bit careful with this because you need to know your vintages and have some idea about remaining quantity levels. If the wine is from a good/classic vintage year and the global supply of it is diminishing, then the price shoots up, and will most likely continue shooting up, because you are paying for the rarity of the wine, not necessarily the quality of it, beyond a certain point. I have never bought wine as an investment. I don't think I could do that because I'd just want to open the bottle and drink it there and then. But some people do.

The other reason why people pay extortionate amounts for wine is because they can afford it and want to show off to the people around them because they think it will impress them. When you go to some expensive restaurant/hotel/resort the prices of the wines are hiked to match the surroundings. The theory being, if someone is daft enough to pay the extortionate hotel prices to stay here, they'll be daft enough to pay way over the top for everything else as well. And it works. The people who are paying this kind of money are taking delight in being able to afford it and may feel it gives them some exclusive knowledge over others, who haven't, and probably never will, try it. What they don't realise is that people don't really care.

I used to do a lot of "entertaining" of professional clients at one time. I used to cringe at the wine list in some London restaurants especially. Even the price of a main course was several hundred pounds in some places we went. I remember meeting a client in one such place in the West End. He'd suggested this restaurant, which made me nervous for a start! He's looking down the menu and points out one dish at £345. I just told him - "sorry, it's off". But escaping from many London restaurants with a bill much less than £200 a head, if you go for 2/3 courses and a bottle of house wine, was not easy. And that's the other factor - it depends on where you are.

I'm not sure that the genuine multi-millionaires, especially those who have built up their wealth, rather than inherited it, would rush to spend £18k on a bottle of champagne. They tend to have got that kind of money because they've been smart with it. But the new money brigade and the wannabee millionaires is probably a different story.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Anyhow, I came on here to comment about Maguire...

I saw that interview last night on the BBC and the lad is still very clearly shaken up by it. I think I can tell an honest person when I see one, and I think Harry is one and I think his account of what happened was genuine. If not, then he should give up football and go into acting - because that was a very convincing testimony as to what actually happened. I suspect his appeal will be successful.

The thing that occurred to me was how vulnerable Brits abroad can be. We live here, in this country, where there are certain standards of policing, law and order and justice. I don't think it's perfect, but it's a whole different ball game when you visit many other countries. And that includes other countries on our doorstep or just a short flight away. When we speak about "a civilised society" we should be grateful that we do live in one, but that's not necessarily the case when you go abroad.

I've lived in South East Europe in the past. I've visited a few countries in that region, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, for example. I'm not talking about going to "Golden Sands" for an all inclusive holiday. I'm talking about living and working there, getting to know the people and the customs, understanding how things work. It is a whole different ball game and fraught with danger. Many of these countries have a mafia type presence. It's an underworld where bribery, corruption, fraud, personal threats, kidnapping, etc is "normal". When I first took a job out there I had to undergo security briefings. My predecessor had received death threats. I knew what I was going into. When I found one of my staff fiddling the accounts I suspended her immediately and later fired her. But the courts out there are corrupt too, and, as I was told at the time, "anyone can buy a judge".

Without wishing to scare anyone, if you go abroad to some of these places and mind your own business then you'll likely have no problem. But, if you do get into trouble then don't expect to be treated with respect, like you should expect here. And if you're a famous face, enjoying some "exclusive" resort, then expect that the local mafia will know all about you from the moment you enter the country and will be looking to target you. That's how it works.

Good luck Harry and welcome home!

 

[S64 Blade]

Seen his interview with the BBC and he’s clearly still shaken by it all. I totally believe his account of events. Out of all the players who has played for us, he’s always seemed one of the most down to earth and level headed and there’s no way I can see him doing anything violent, at least without major provocation.

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

The place he was at was pretty exclusive ,eighteen thousand pounds for a bottle of champagne

I was referring more to holiday destinations than expensive watering holes

 

[Blade56]

Another reason why people spend that kind of money is because it's an investment.

Anecdotally recall a story of a bottled of wine being auctioned at Christie’s. It was one of two remaining. It went for a ridiculous amount (£250,000 springs to mind) and the buyer owned the other matching bottle. When asked by the press what he would do with the purchase he replied something like drink it tonight with diner. Reporter said that’s expensive and he replied yes, but think what the last bottle is now worth.

 

[Blade56]

Granted he was with his brother and sister and he's a level headed guy but it appears he / they were still targeted, the world's shrinking not that many places left without football fans, the America's maybe, I think regarding the minders, I'd bet he'd gladly take the stick from his mate's now compared to what he's copping for now, Beany used to go in the Crick's of all places with his minder years ago.
I think the finger could be pointed at his club also, surely they have an interest where ther assets are going on holiday and advise accordingly, after all their name gets dragged through the mud as well.

Is it to much to ask these players to forgo their freedoms like a night on the town with the lads when they are easy targets until their short careers are over and they have a nest egg of tens of millions of pounds to fall back on?

If Ched had stayed home with a bottle of wine and his girlfriend many lives would have turned out different instead of the shit storm that occurred.

And for what it’s worth Harry I believe your account in full.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Even though Harry played for us and we've all watched his rise as a really good pro who's worked very hard to get to where he is, it's interesting how easily so many people are readily prepared to believe the first thing they see about him either in the papers or on social media platforms.

I don't know Harry personally, but I think I can see when something is so clearly out of character that I'd reserve judgment until the facts become more clear.

I don't know if anybody on here has had experience of being in the media spotlight or even just close to what has been reported, but in my experience, the media in general don't let the facts get in the way of a good story or certainly bending it to suit their own purposes.

 

[Snake]

Regardless of the crazy money that they allegedly spent, this just sounds like a classic 'wrong place, wrong time' moment for Harry. If it had have been a complete mafia style stitch up then the perpetrators would probably have taken the bribe, or kindly emptied his wallet for him. I don't have the level of personal insight that Cerberus Blade has of these situations but I too am a man of the world (woooooh look at me!) and have seen mafia type stings in action. Where 'fights' (well in this particular case, just a bit of very heavy pushing and shoving) have broken out in bars, then out of the blue a couple of big fuck off Russian Mafia type blokes appear taking you (well not me!) to one side for a 'word'. Then low and behold a stern face 'police officer' happens to be in the door way. The lad is then marched to the nearest cash point to pay the bouncers rather than face a police charge.

Not knowing any of the facts I suspect that word got round that Harry and his big time Charlie mates were in town splashing the cash and on a bender. They would have been an easy target for groups of dickheads who fancied a pop. When Harry's sister got caught up in it I suspect he started windmilling and unfortunately for him caught a couple of the wrong blokes (ie police officers). They then wouldn't fuck around, they'd get hold of him (as apparently they did when stopping his minibus) give him a bit of a kick in and throw him inside. The fact that they didn't take 'the bribe' suggests to me that it wasn't actually a sting as such, just as I said, wrong place wrong time for Harry.

But I could be wrong

 

[Davalon]

When I don't know the facts I'm loathe to nail my colours to a mast. I took plenty of criticism for not blindly supporting Ched at the time despite being far from convinced he would be guilty.

I'm going to go out on a limb though and say Harry will not have committed the crimes as described.

Whether he offered money thinking they were kidnappers who knows but he's far from the stereotypical rich arrogant philandering footballer many of the dickhead Radio 2 listeners were trying to portray this week.

He wasn't away with the football lads, he was with his brother and lifelong friends and all their partners which should be quite telling for starters.

The people wading into him who should probably know better is a bit disappointing IMHO.

 

[The Crab]

When I don't know the facts I'm loathe to nail my colours to a mast. I took plenty of criticism for not blindly supporting Ched at the time despite being far from convinced he would be guilty.

I'm going to go out on a limb though and say Harry will not have committed the crimes as described.

Whether he offered money thinking they were kidnappers who knows but he's far from the stereotypical rich arrogant philandering footballer many of the dickhead Radio 2 listeners were trying to portray this week.

He wasn't away with the football lads, he was with his brother and lifelong friends and all their partners which should be quite telling for starters.

The people wading into him who should probably know better is a bit disappointing IMHO.

Largely agree with that.

As for being with family / partners, I have no idea what happened so am not commenting specifically here, but my own experience on holiday tells me that this doesn't necessarily stop these groups acting like twats.

 

[Teofilo Cubillas]

Am I the only one thinking we are being sold a load of crap by the Man Utd/England communication stategy team?

At the very least Maguire has found himself in a situation out of his control. He looks naive and a little out of his depth. I would think the Greek police are very used to dealing with drunken tourists getting themselves into fights.

Cristiano Ronaldo spent 24 million on a speed boat so he can relax with family and friends without suffering grief and abuse from groups of boozy brits when holidaying in Ibiza.

You can rent a six star superyacht by the day. Obviously they can be very expensive, but if its true the bar bill was 65 thousand then a superyacht would not have been much more for a proper elitist day out - the owners might even throw in a complimentary bottle of fizz!

 

[The Crab]

Am I the only one thinking we are being sold a load of crap by the Man Utd/England communication stategy team?

At the very least Maguire has found himself in a situation out of his control. He looks naive and a little out of his depth. I would think the Greek police are very used to dealing with drunken tourists getting themselves into fights.

Cristiano Ronaldo spent 24 million on a speed boat so he can relax with family and friends without suffering grief and abuse from groups of boozy brits when holidaying in Ibiza.

You can rent a six star superyacht by the day. Obviously they can be very expensive, but if its true the bar bill was 65 thousand then a superyacht would not have been much more for a proper elitist day out - the owners might even throw in a complimentary bottle of fizz!

I really have no idea what we're being fed. Gut instinct is it's a little from column A, a little from column B.

Kind of get what you are saying. But my thoughts are that they should be able to enjoy a break away without being bothered by people who are acting like dickheads (i've seen plenty of this on my holidays).

All the above comes with the caveat that I have no idea of the facts of this particular case. It's not unreasonable to think that although Harry has been truthful, there may be a little spin on it. It's also not unreasonable to think that there are gangs out there who may target anyone throwing their money about. It is of course their right to throw that money around, but it does paint something of a target on you.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

What is she saying.

 

[bypassblade]

I saw Maguire's interview this morning and he seemed very sincere and upset but that said it's only made news as he plays for Man Utd, if he'd still been at Lane or Hull or Leicester it might have got a quick mention. As for what happened we'll never know he'll stick to his story as will the Greek police, bet he wishes he'd gone to somewhere else now (Skeggy).

 

[Teofilo Cubillas]

my thoughts are that they should be able to enjoy a break away without being bothered by people who are acting like dickheads (i've seen plenty of this on my holidays).

Thats the issue. You just don't take the risk. Thats how you are professional.

 

[Blade for Sale]

Anecdotally recall a story of a bottled of wine being auctioned at Christie’s. It was one of two remaining. It went for a ridiculous amount (£250,000 springs to mind) and the buyer owned the other matching bottle. When asked by the press what he would do with the purchase he replied something like drink it tonight with diner. Reporter said that’s expensive and he replied yes, but think what the last bottle is now worth.

When I'm in charge wine c**ts will be the first up against the wall. Its just old grape juice. You wouldn't quaff a 50 year old carton of Um-Bongo and comment on its exquisite bouquet with hints of Congolese racism.

"Oh but it's the Bordeaux terroir, the altitude and the acidity of the soil." No it fucking isn't, you couldn't tell the difference between a Lidl screw top and a vintage beaujolais you pretentious twat.

 

[WhiteHawk]

 

[247Blade]

Who cares!