Five questions The Prince needs to answer

[Patrick Suffaux]

What is your name?
What is your purpose?
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow...?

African or European?

I don’t know that aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggghhhh!!!!

 

[TJB.]

1) How many beans make 5?

2) If a tree falls down in the forest and there's nobody around to hear it, are Wednesday still fucking toss?

3) What is egregious?

4) Why is a raven like a writing desk?

5) If I pop a digit up my starfish towards the end of a tug, does it mean I'm bent?

 

[steve26272]

I know I am not alone in feeling extremely apprehensive at the prospect of Prince Abdullah taking control of OUR club. While, we’ve had ups and downs (pun intended) under McCabe, he has always acted with The Blades’ best interests at heart and moved the club forward – albeit not at the speed intended.


We are now faced with an individual, with no local or cultural ties, taking over with, as far as it’s possible to tell, little or no knowledge of English football – indeed a greater interest in the American version.


When he came on board in 2013, it was with the remit of funding our return to The Premier League, within 5 years. That could still happen but, if it does, it won’t be on the back of ‘think Liverpool’ bankrolling. That’s not to say ‘game changing investment’ would have guaranteed a rapid rise to the top – as our neighbours have proved – but it is what he was brought on board to provide. We were told that major investment would arrive once we returned to The Championship. Well, we did but it didn’t.

This could lead one to speculate that The Prince is far more interested in what he can make out of OUR club in the event of an under-funded promotion to The Premier League than he is in our longer term best interests.

In the absence of serious cash, we may have hoped for some support in respect of commercial expertise or sponsorship. As far as I am aware, there has been no significant contribution in either area.


The Prince’s advisors have been similarly underwhelming. Jim Phipps, for all his good, PR intentions, was never going to cut it when the natives became restless. Selahattin Baki got us a friendly with Fenerbache but little else of note. More recently, it seems, The Prince was given short thrift when he tried to impose Jan Van Winckel on the Technical Board.


Finally, and most bewilderingly, he announces his purchase of a Belgium club just before confirming his desire to take control of The Blades.


So, I am left feeling very uncertain as to what value ‘our Prince’ has added to our club and where his future priorities really lie. To help clarify the situation, I would like answers to the following questions:



1. How much has The Prince invested in the club since our return to The Championship?


2. When was his last significant financial contribution to the club?


3. What is The Prince’s current personal net worth?


4. How many Blades games has The Prince attended since 2013?


5. Would The Prince choose to watch The Blades away at Reading on a cold February night or the 49ers in The Superbowl?

to be fair, i was born in S2. Grew up at townend, and a blade since 1979, - but i would prefer to go to a super bowl over fucking Reading

 

[JayGreen17]

I know I am not alone in feeling extremely apprehensive at the prospect of Prince Abdullah taking control of OUR club. While, we’ve had ups and downs (pun intended) under McCabe, he has always acted with The Blades’ best interests at heart and moved the club forward – albeit not at the speed intended.


We are now faced with an individual, with no local or cultural ties, taking over with, as far as it’s possible to tell, little or no knowledge of English football – indeed a greater interest in the American version.


When he came on board in 2013, it was with the remit of funding our return to The Premier League, within 5 years. That could still happen but, if it does, it won’t be on the back of ‘think Liverpool’ bankrolling. That’s not to say ‘game changing investment’ would have guaranteed a rapid rise to the top – as our neighbours have proved – but it is what he was brought on board to provide. We were told that major investment would arrive once we returned to The Championship. Well, we did but it didn’t.

This could lead one to speculate that The Prince is far more interested in what he can make out of OUR club in the event of an under-funded promotion to The Premier League than he is in our longer term best interests.

In the absence of serious cash, we may have hoped for some support in respect of commercial expertise or sponsorship. As far as I am aware, there has been no significant contribution in either area.


The Prince’s advisors have been similarly underwhelming. Jim Phipps, for all his good, PR intentions, was never going to cut it when the natives became restless. Selahattin Baki got us a friendly with Fenerbache but little else of note. More recently, it seems, The Prince was given short thrift when he tried to impose Jan Van Winckel on the Technical Board.


Finally, and most bewilderingly, he announces his purchase of a Belgium club just before confirming his desire to take control of The Blades.


So, I am left feeling very uncertain as to what value ‘our Prince’ has added to our club and where his future priorities really lie. To help clarify the situation, I would like answers to the following questions:



1. How much has The Prince invested in the club since our return to The Championship?


2. When was his last significant financial contribution to the club?


3. What is The Prince’s current personal net worth?


4. How many Blades games has The Prince attended since 2013?


5. Would The Prince choose to watch The Blades away at Reading on a cold February night or the 49ers in The Superbowl?

Or how's about he doesn't have to answer any of your questions, I don't get all this questioning of a man who's already put millions into the club, and from Mcabes own mouth has called him a good honourable guy.

If it's not the prince it will be someone else eventually, better the devil you know they say or would you rather have tuna man see where that gets us, there's no guarantees whoever takes over eventually. Let's just enjoy the season and see what happens rather than questioning every single move someone makes to the nth degree, Some people need to get out more and stop worrying about things way out of their control and that in reality doesn't affect your life.

 

[Sean Thornton]

6. Can you bring a cat into the ground?

Bastard

 

[Sean Thornton]

to be fair, i was born in S2. Grew up at townend, and a blade since 1979, - but i would prefer to go to a super bowl over fucking Reading

The one at Firth Park or Handsworth?

 

[Bladepicker]

6 - Who-oo-oo do you think you are?

7. Do you think-you aaare?

 

[Tom Bott]

GLTTL passed me by, what’s it mean?

Good Luck To The Turban Lad

 

[Tom Bott]

FOTHYPC is a good one. One of Fred's I believe?

Please return to the Rust Bucket you massive failure ?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

McCabe stated to Gidds at the Octogan that he would be moving on and likely before he turns 70. (I'm not sure how close he is to 70 but said it in a way that made it seem not far off!).
So he's on his way - one way or another soon and the local owner being in charge scenario is not looking very likely going forwards...

Exactly. Realistically, McCabe will probably be the last “local owner” for the foreseeable. Given that scenario, do fans want The Prince to stay, or to roll the dice with someone else?

 

[Bladepicker]

5) If I pop a digit up my starfish towards the end of a tug, does it mean I'm bent

Probably, as that would seem to give you the appropriate angle for such a manoeuvre.

 

[tonytonycurrie]

What is your name?
What is your purpose?
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow...?

African or European?

 

[Bladezz]

The one and only question I want answering. I’ve waited years for this moment.

1. What is the difference in meaning between affect and effect?

If he can answer this I’m all for the prince.

 

[GVBlade]

The effect he can have is dependent on his intentions and how much money he really has. If he is a dependant of the wider Saud family, this may affect things, meaning potentially even more money, or maybe a lot less, depending how much pocket money he is allowed.

 

[Blade58]

The effect he can have is dependent on his intentions and how much money he really has. If he is a dependant of the wider Saud family, this may affect things, meaning potentially even more money, or maybe a lot less, depending how much pocket money he is allowed.

Apparently, the Prince's wealth has nothing to do with the Saud family. The Princes wealth is self made through his business venture, that being his paper manufacturing company. If memory serves me correct he sold most of his shares in the company but still retains a 40% holding. His personal wealth is reported to be similar to KM's personal wealth, albeit a little more. However, we all know the quest to the PL can be a whole new ball game in terms of investment. My view is that if he is bringing investors on board, it won't be for the love of football, nor indeed the love of SUFC and if we don't succeed with promotion within a certain timescale, then what with these investors?

We've seen it all before and personally, I dread to think what might happen to our club if we don't get to the promised land and the investors stop investing

 

[Pierre's PC]

6. Can you bring a cat into the ground?

I'm going to do a Rodley and claim that question along with #stickball

 

[TJB.]

Probably, as that would seem to give you the appropriate angle for such a manoeuvre.

Thanks for the answer, your highness.

Looks like I've got some thinking to do.

 

[Silvio Morris]

12. Is Wilf home yet?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Thanks for the answer, your highness.

Looks like I've got some thinking to do.

Wash your hands first.

 

[Whiston Blade]

If HRH doesn't know who the zone man is when we play Leicester then I want nothing to do with him at our club.

 

[blade too long]

how come we get hundreds of threads questioning in detail his commitment and motives but theres no threads saying than you for giving us a truck load of your money

the prince it appears has in 5 years already pumped in 5 m a year or thereabouts
when anyone in here has put in 20 to 25 m they have the right to question his commitment

these throw away lines like game changing and liverpool style investment are meaningless , if anything liverpool like means to me a lot less than man utd man city and chelsea, but commensurate to being just behind the bigger investors , and at our level not 150m

his attendance levels are meaningless man citys chelsea and man utd owners rarely attend and they win the prem title
the only thing we need here is hiss cash and his other investors we are yet to meet

 

[Liverpool blade]

Personally I'm a little unsure on the prince taking over but McCabe isn't going to be around for ever. At least the prince knows a bit about the club. I wouldn't want anyone who just starts spunkin moneh for a couple of years and then naff all like the pork at S6. That is pure comedy though to watch it unfold!!. I think it's better to stick with the prince and hopefully it'll turn out well in the long run?. Utb

 

[TJB.]

Wash your hands first.

 

[I should coco]

how come we get hundreds of threads questioning in detail his commitment and motives but theres no threads saying than you for giving us a truck load of your money

the prince it appears has in 5 years already pumped in 5 m a year or thereabouts
when anyone in here has put in 20 to 25 m they have the right to question his commitment

Good points but your numbers are a bit out. From memory we have lost about £6m per year for the 3 financial year ends that HRH has overseen.
That is about £18m-ish of losses and he has covered half of that, so far he is in for about £10m.

Of course KM put the same in over the last 3 years, but he gets no thanks either as it's 'his job'.

 

[blade too long]

Good points but your numbers are a bit out. From memory we have lost about £6m per year for the 3 financial year ends that HRH has overseen.
That is about £18m-ish of losses and he has covered half of that, so far he is in for about £10m.

Of course KM put the same in over the last 3 years, but he gets no thanks either as it's 'his job'.

was going on the fact that whatever mccabes pumped in the last 5 years the prince is having to give it him back to buy it

 

[Sean Thornton]

was going on the fact that whatever mccabes pumped in the last 5 years the prince is having to give it him back to buy it

It's not that simple.,

 

[The Bohemian]

Or how's about he doesn't have to answer any of your questions, I don't get all this questioning of a man who's already put millions into the club, and from Mcabes own mouth has called him a good honourable guy.

If it's not the prince it will be someone else eventually, better the devil you know they say or would you rather have tuna man see where that gets us, there's no guarantees whoever takes over eventually. Let's just enjoy the season and see what happens rather than questioning every single move someone makes to the nth degree, Some people need to get out more and stop worrying about things way out of their control and that in reality doesn't affect your life.

You are right, there are no guarantees regarding future ownership.

That doesn't mean it's not right to challenge and raise questions concerning, arguably, the most important issue facing our club. I've been around long enough to see what happens under the wrong ownership so I'd strongly argue against complacency with this one.

Re your Chansiri comment: he has got serious wealth and has invested 'massively' into his project - up to FFP limits, apparently. I wouldn't "rather have" him because my preference is for an ownership structure that keeps the club close to its fans, but failing that then, yes, I'd go for someone prepared to commit serious money. It is not at all clear how much The Prince is worth or would be prepared to commit - hence my questions.

As for The Blades not really affecting my life: I often wish you were right on that one.

 

[blade too long]

It's not that simple.,

which is why I put around , its never possible with football finances to put exact figures on anything as its shrouded in tax ploys ie charging rent by a subsiduary company and fees never listed in out and out columns

 

[blade too long]

.

Re your Chansiri comment: he has got serious wealth and has invested 'massively' into his project - up to FFP limits, apparently. I wouldn't "rather have" him because my preference is for an ownership structure that keeps the club close to its fans,.

are you sure why has he upped ticket prices to pay the players wages
how much has he invested into the ground apart from having his name put on the seats

they spent nothing in january despite but hardly mentioned (cough cough) serious injuries
that may take them down
and replaced carlos with another nobody who has managed just 5 games in the 3 years prior to joining wednesday

think this 10 bob son of a wealthier man has had his allowance curtailed by someone wiser in the family hence very little spent this season

 

[sheffielder]

was going on the fact that whatever mccabes pumped in the last 5 years the prince is having to give it him back to buy it

What about what division we are now in and our current position?