[Confirmed] Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

[TarquinDelouche]

People banging on about foreign owners being a terrible thing as if Ken Bates never existed.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

If required I think we all could list double the amount of shit British owners of clubs than any number of foreign ones highlighted.

 

[Guesty]

Can't believe people are saying they don't want us to reach the Prem. What's the pinnacle then? 7th in the Championship?

My Dad's 60 and has seen us win sod all, I'd give anything to watch us lift a trophy of note with him. If that requires us to be bankrolled by a Saudi Prince so be it.

Win the FA Cup and get into Europe while still in the Championship! Simplicity itself.

As for getting into the Premiership, you always want to see the team do the best possible but I've always had more fun watching us in the second tier.

 

[Wards]

Being in the Prem with a bit of money behind us would be a different scenario to last time. That said, for all the seemingly currupt heirarchy and media bias there's no doubt that matchday was a brilliant occasion every single single week. Every game is a huge one, with a packed stadium and even though we went down it was good fun for me.

Imagine if we could actually compete?

 

[Crouchy]

I'm assuming that the bit that would annoy if this were true is the "penniless" rather than the "tranny..."

As long as his cheques don't bounce I don't care if he fucks goats.

 

[Hodges17]

We'll take the fat one who looks like Shrek!

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

There's precious little logic in what you say there, I'm afraid.

One, if I complain about Saudi investment, I "want to plod along in semi-non-existence for eternity"? Seriously, will you listen to yourself?

Also. how on earth do you work out that the only alternative to Saudi investment is "local owners, local players and bladey bladey bladeyness"? Sorry, it simply does not follow.

And how do you arrive at the conclusion that the only way to "modernise and become an international organisation" is via a Saudi prince? Again, does not compute.

If you're going to disagree with what a small minority are saying, please try and do it without attempting to write your version of what you presume they are thinking. You will probably be wrong.

Here's some advice.....try reading my post again. At no point do I state that this venture is the only way to become and international organisation. At no point did I even say that the only alternative to foreign investment is bladey, bladey, bladeyness.

I have listened to myself. Sounds logical to me. You seemed to be suggesting that there would be a loss of identity at our club because of all this. You're making an assumption there. What's the alternative route to sustained success. Foreign investment seems to be the way the game is going, we're finally trying to catch up with the boat that left us behind in the 90's.

 

[SwissBlade]

Can't believe people are saying they don't want us to reach the Prem. What's the pinnacle then? 7th in the Championship?

My Dad's 60 and has seen us win sod all, I'd give anything to watch us lift a trophy of note with him. If that requires us to be bankrolled by a Saudi Prince so be it.

The premier league is overrated. Diving wankers crowding the ref and fans that were never there in the championship all of a sudden becoming the worlds biggest fans of Sheffield blade city. Do me a favour and all the while us fans that have been there (and still are) have to pay the extra just because the team are in the Premier League.

I actually watched the blades less in the Premier league than I did in the championship.

 

[Rustyblade]

Here's some advice.....try reading my post again. At no point do I state that this venture is the only way to become and international organisation. At no point did I even say that the only alternative to foreign investment is bladey, bladey, bladeyness.

I have listened to myself. Sounds logical to me. You seemed to be suggesting that there would be a loss of identity at our club because of all this. You're making an assumption there. What's the alternative route to sustained success. Foreign investment seems to be the way the game is going, we're finally trying to catch up with the boat that left us behind in the 90's.

Maybe that was the way you meant it. Okay.

But you implied that all the above were my opinions based upon what I had said. That somehow I could not have the one without the other. I just wanted to make it perfectly clear that this was not the case.

 

[munksyb]

Can't believe people are saying they don't want us to reach the Prem. What's the pinnacle then? 7th in the Championship?

My Dad's 60 and has seen us win sod all, I'd give anything to watch us lift a trophy of note with him. If that requires us to be bankrolled by a Saudi Prince so be it.

I'm also 60 ( nearly ) , I've seen us win the Sheffield County Cup on many occasions, and ofcourse the 4th division championship, whats wrong wi i'm dint he go to DARLINGTON & watch Stanny raise the trophy in their stand,

On a more realistic note , I have always been against the premiership, and loosing in the Championship play off fianl will do for me, unless this could be the begining of a transformation of the corrupt prem & it's hierarchy, in which sustainable, honest & open clubs compete by paying sensible fees & realistic wages.

 

[shorehamview]

ADMIN NOTE: Off topic posts moved into General Blades Chat, please try and stay on topic and within the rules of the forum.

Booo! Totalitarian regime! Honestly, it's geting like North Korea here.

 

[stannyblade]

lets get out of the Pub league first.

Then we can just enjoy the ride

 

[Worksop II]

Well, I can live with it, hope to see the colour of his Shekels before too long

Still full of msitrust though, not for the Prince, for McCabe

 

[Mad Mick]

Seems a positive step to me. Only time will tell of course.
Like it or not, money tends to do the talking these days.

 

[marky200484]

I'm cautiously optimistic, emphasis needs to be on getting back to the Championship - any mention of the Premier League can be put to one side for a while.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

As far as outside investors go, I don't think we could have asked for any more:-

1) Genuinely wealthy. No chance of him suddenly going bust.
2) Money seems to have been legally earned/inherited unlike certain other shady individuals
3) Hasn't demanded that the club change their name, ground or club colours to suit him.
4) Seems to be a genuine football fan, not just in it for the money
5) Only owns 50% so McCabe is still around to prevent him going rogue (and vice versa!)

We've had our 88 years of hurt, if any set of fans deserves a place in the sun it's surely us lot.

 

[puppet]

I can't believe the Blades are owned by a patriachal dynasty, one who has as a symbol of their power, two big tacky swords on the outside of the property. Oh hang on...

 

[LSF]

Phew, this was always going to provoke this debate and with some of the characters on here, opinions were always going to vary.
I'm guessing I'm similar to Rusty in age terms (over 60's) and his angst has been laid bare for all to see.... whilst I can kind of see his viewpoint I'm afraid my morals don't stretch quite that far. The world changes in a way that lots of us don't like and this is one of those kind of changes I'm going to live with if it gives us a shout of surviving this downward spiral and playing some respected football once again.
Will it all end in tears? Well....... with our track record one would say its a distinct possibility, but as ever I'll try to be positive and hope this will be the most harmonious relationship that takes us up and beyond them sad fuckers in S6 and keeps us there.
Lets hope the current playing crisis is quickly addressed and we start to win games asap!

 

[Jon Bon]

Disagree

1 - The Prince of Wales (from Blackadder the Third)
2 - Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
3 - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Nope

1 - Diana Prince (Wonder Woman)
2 - Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
3 - Tony Prince (Radio Luxemburg 208)

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Bloody hell! A Saudi Prince! Couldn't find much about him but did find this article on him. Seems like he's a massive NFL fan and is reportedly worth '9 figures'. His twitter also suggests he was offered Leeds earlier this year but couldn't agree a deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3488564

An interesting article that. Our man sounds like a bit of a sad act if we're honest with waaaay too much time on his hands:-

"He spends an hour a day tinkering with his (American Fantasy Football) rosters, except for the two hours he puts in on Tuesdays before waivers and the 90 minutes he commits on Saturdays."

But it does seem like he's a genuinely, fanatical sports fan who wants to throw his time and money at a sports team and we're the lucky recipients:-

"From 2002 to 2004, while still running Saudi Paper, the prince served as president of Al Hilal, a Saudi soccer club that's the equivalent of the Yankees here: perennial champs, loved by their fans, hated by everyone else. Prince Abdullah had a talent for managing Al Hilal, but he left the post to build Saudi Paper. He thinks his company can double in size over the next four years (interviewed in 2008). After that, he says, "watch out, 49ers." He wants to own a sports team, and his favorite NFL franchise tops the list (with his favourite English League One Club a close second. Hurrah!)."

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Maybe that was the way you meant it. Okay.

But you implied that all the above were my opinions based upon what I had said. That somehow I could not have the one without the other. I just wanted to make it perfectly clear that this was not the case.

Likewise, If I misunderstood your original post then fair enough.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Today is probably the start of one of the biggest shit sandwiches ever to be constructed in the history of English football.

It'll all end in tears.

 

[Grecian2000]

Well I'm a reasonably happy and optimistic bunny today.

There are plenty of foreign countries I have an abject dislike of (the USA being the biggest) but am happy to meet and associate with their citizens as being not responsible for the decisions their government take.
As I've never disliked a single one of our players due to his nationality (I've despised a fair few for their lack of ability/attitude etc.) I don't see why I should dislike an owner on that basis.

Can his influence be felt this season? I bloody well hope so.

 

[lawlessdan]

This must be the real deal, if for no other reason than that McCabe didn't once say "Hey" in his interview. I have noticed he now has a particular fondness for saying "echelons"

 

[puppet]

Well I'm a reasonably happy and optimistic bunny today.

There are plenty of foreign countries I have an abject dislike of (the USA being the biggest) but am happy to meet and associate with their citizens as being not responsible for the decisions their government take.
As I've never disliked a single one of our players due to his nationality (I've despised a fair few for their lack of ability/attitude etc.) I don't see why I should dislike an owner on that basis.

Can his influence be felt this season? I bloody well hope so.

Why would you dislike the USA more than any other country??

 

[Grecian2000]

I've never forgiven them for foisting Lucille Ball on us.

 

[puppet]

Post of the day

 

[Mendi]

Does he really have funds this bloke?

 

[Mendi]

Does he really have funds this bloke?

 

[Rustyblade]

I'm guessing I'm similar to Rusty in age terms (over 60's) and his angst has been laid bare for all to see.... whilst I can kind of see his viewpoint I'm afraid my morals don't stretch quite that far. The world changes in a way that lots of us don't like and this is one of those kind of changes I'm going to live with if it gives us a shout of surviving this downward spiral and playing some respected football once again.

Over 60s. Er...not me. Over 50, yes.

The world changes. It's what it does and I don't rail against it in any way whatsoever. It'd be pointless and lead directly to premature old gittery. I'm aiming more for the George Carlin 'old fuck'.

I'm also aware that morals are quite plastic, constantly morphing and sometimes vanishing according to circumstance and the current zeitgeist. But there are some, a very few even, which underlie these and which to me are unchanging and hypocrisy is one of them. For an HRH of the Saudi royal family to come to my club and immediately begin the charm offensive by referencing its family club nature is just one of the things contributing to my angst. Most of all, I would be the hypocrite if I decided I could deny everything within myself which screams against this because it could signal the end of a downward spiral for the club I love. It's not change, LSF. No, it's not that at all. It's the direction it's taking this time and in this particular instance. Change is inevitable. Change in this direction is not.