Something going off...

[Revolution]

The question is: do we want a foreign investor?

I certainly don't. It could signal the end of our club.

So could lack of investment and sale of all our good players from the current administration.. I'd take different ownership, foreign or not, which was (a) willing to invest in decent players and (b) willing to hang on to our best young players over McCabe any day of the week.

 

[broomhillblade]

It's an old story, but worth a read.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...nderstand-English-football-article829666.html

 

[Revolution]

Yes, Dave Whelan is a better owner than Kevin McCabe. Agreed.

And "foreigners don't understand English football" is a crude generalization. The owners of the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal seem to be doing a bit better than McCabe is. So is Milan Mandaric,, for that matter.

 

[puppet]

Yes, Dave Whelan is a better owner than Kevin McCabe. Agreed.

And "foreigners don't understand English football" is a crude generalization. The owners of the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal seem to be doing a bit better than McCabe is. So is Milan Mandaric,, for that matter.

Three of the four clubs you mention are in MASSIVE debt, the other couldn't win a raffle and sell off their best players to finance their shiny newish stadium. Mandaric? Another man in it to try and make money - where are the clubs he bought/sold, none higher than the Championship. Would we really want the Glazers or a Middle eastern sheik? No thanks.

 

[Revolution]

Again, I would take anyone who is prepared to spend significant money on the team over someone who isn't.

And Every team owned by Mandaric finished higher than us last season, unfortunately.

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

Again, I would take anyone who is prepared to spend significant money on the team over someone who isn't.

And Every team owned by Mandaric finished higher than us last season, unfortunately.

Fresh impetus and some forward momentum are required, that could come with a takeover from someone with some new ideas/money. It's clear that McCabe has lost interest in SUFC, but it appears as though he wants someone to dig him out of the hole he dug himself. The danger is that we could end up with some fuckwits like the Venkys, but at this stage I would welcome anyone with some financial clout.

 

[Princess Annes Dog]

The question is: do we want a foreign investor?

I certainly don't. It could signal the end of our club.

Our club hey? What's the difinition of "our club"? I know we have an affinity towards the Blades, in fact you could go as far as to say a love of the Blades. Strange when you think about it because I have very little respect for the modern footballer, no respect at all for the chairman, a real dislike of the way the fans are shat on, and I much preferred the old days when players weren't constantly in contract negotiations, driving flash cars, using agents etc etc.

I really don't like football anymore, too sterile, too much cheating and too many plastic fans.................but I do love Sheffield United. How strange, there's not much at all that I like about the club, but I do love Sheffield United in a sadistic sort of way. Guess that makes me a prize dick but please explain it if you can (not the prize dick bit, I already know that ), try and explain why Sheffield United is "our club" and why we put up with the shit that we do, simply because it comes from the club we love.

 

[gavtheblade]

Our club hey? What's the difinition of "our club"? I know we have an affinity towards the Blades, in fact you could go as far as to say a love of the Blades. Strange when you think about it because I have very little respect for the modern footballer, no respect at all for the chairman, a real dislike of the way the fans are shat on, and I much preferred the old days when players weren't constantly in contract negotiations, driving flash cars, using agents etc etc.

I really don't like football anymore, too sterile, too much cheating and too many plastic fans.................but I do love Sheffield United. How strange, there's not much at all that I like about the club, but I do love Sheffield United in a sadistic sort of way. Guess that makes me a prize dick but please explain it if you can (not the prize dick bit, I already know that ), try and explain why Sheffield United is "our club" and why we put up with the shit that we do, simply because it comes from the club we love.

i quite like that.
But its not just football thats getting as it is,its the general way of life-`plastic`as you say.
people are skint,people are rich-and theres not many inbetween.commitment to football is getting less and less as people are not seeing as much for there money.
united will always have decent support whatever direness we find ourselves in because 99% of our base are die-hards-the stay homes or season ticket holders.
going down the takeover lines-i would like a change-foreign or not-but mcabe will be carried away from this club in a coffin-he`ll never leave the club,it`d take a bomb to get rid.
if people arnt happy with the`bladesway`then they should take up lawn darts.
were united,and we always will be.

 

[metalblade]

When you think about it we already have a foreign owner sat in his Brussels tax haven. The only time he shows up is for big games and to blow hot air at the AGM.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I read this and have decided most of our supporters don't get it. The days of the sugar-daddy owner like Abramovich are numbered. The new financial fair play rules are making it almost impossible for that type to come in and bankroll loads of big signings anymore. Player salaries = no more than 65% of income generated, which will not be allowed to include loans and payments by the owner.

By all means call for McCabe to be replaced and the club be taken over. But it will be a big dissappointment if fans think that will mean expensive new signings. Aint gonna happen!

 

[madeinsheffield]

You say that but the rich owner can 'sponsor' the club for a ridiculous amount of money, and there you have a shed load of turnover money, simples!

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Our club hey? What's the difinition of "our club"? I know we have an affinity towards the Blades, in fact you could go as far as to say a love of the Blades. Strange when you think about it because I have very little respect for the modern footballer, no respect at all for the chairman, a real dislike of the way the fans are shat on, and I much preferred the old days when players weren't constantly in contract negotiations, driving flash cars, using agents etc etc.

I really don't like football anymore, too sterile, too much cheating and too many plastic fans.................but I do love Sheffield United. How strange, there's not much at all that I like about the club, but I do love Sheffield United in a sadistic sort of way. Guess that makes me a prize dick but please explain it if you can (not the prize dick bit, I already know that ), try and explain why Sheffield United is "our club" and why we put up with the shit that we do, simply because it comes from the club we love.

Here's the thing: we're actually part of the problem. If we weren't stumping up hundreds of our hard-earned pounds on tickets, shirts and other merch (not to mention Sky) there wouldn't be so much money sloshing around in football. If there weren't so much money in football there would be no chance for sky-high wages, flash cars etc etc. Because we the fans put up with being shat on (and almost every football fan in the land is) things will continue in the current way.

And why do we put up with it..? Not because we "love our club" but because we love being part of something. We need to be in a gang, and don't mind sacrificing time and money to be in it. In fact, it seems the more we're prepared to sacrifice the better we feel about it. It's one of the most visible exploitations of the tribal nature of the human species there is. But at least we can feel comfort in the fact that it's not as simple as being a bunch of sadistic dicks, but it's part of our evolutionary make-up.

Sorry for blathering on so long about it btw.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

And why do we put up with it..? Not because we "love our club" but because we love being part of something. We need to be in a gang.

Eh? I don't need to be in a gang. I love the Blades - always have, always will. Been passed down from generation to generation.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Eh? I don't need to be in a gang. I love the Blades - always have, always will. Been passed down from generation to generation.

That's the point. It's a family thing.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

That's the point. It's a family thing.

Make your mind up, it was a gang thing before.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

When I said "gang" I didn't mean guys wearing bandanas with caps and their underpants showing above their jeans making strange contortions with their fingers.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

You say that but the rich owner can 'sponsor' the club for a ridiculous amount of money, and there you have a shed load of turnover money, simples!

Not quite that simple as Man City will find out when the rules hit the PL

 

[Kev Gee]

There must be something that McCabe is wanting from potential investors that is putting them off. After all, weve been looking for nearly 5-6 years and nothing. Not even a whif of investment?
Is he wanting to remain Chairman? Wanting all his money back?

 

[SwissBlade]

Investors tend to come in when clubs are in admin! I guess it's cheaper in the short term

 

[Foxy]

There must be something that McCabe is wanting from potential investors that is putting them off. After all, weve been looking for nearly 5-6 years and nothing. Not even a whif of investment?
Is he wanting to remain Chairman? Wanting all his money back?

There have been whiffs and at least one serious.

If I was looking to come in with him for investment, I'd take one look at the abuse I'd be likely to get and do one elsewhere.

 

[Houso]

There have been whiffs and at least one serious.

If I was looking to come in with him for investment, I'd take one look at the abuse I'd be likely to get and do one elsewhere.

To be fair Foxy, if that were the case, no football club would get investment as we're no different than other supporters in this regard.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Not quite that simple as Man City will find out when the rules hit the PL

Money wins and it will always find it's way around rules or laws.

 

[Princess Annes Dog]

There have been whiffs and at least one serious.

If I was looking to come in with him for investment, I'd take one look at the abuse I'd be likely to get and do one elsewhere.

Like where? Liverpool? Manchester United? Blackburn? etc etc..... The fans of those clubs have been very vociferous in their dislike of their respective boards. If you're going to invest in a football club to be popular then forget it. It's more than a business, it's the sport with probably the most passionate SUPPORTERS out there, and if you're screwing the club over then don't expect them to sit on their hands and fawn all over you.

To elaborate, "screwing the club over" means doing fuck all to make us better, or to even maintain the status quo. Our current board have watched the playing side erode at an alarming rate, they have done so for years so please don't expect us to constantly slap these multi millionaires on the back while they sit in their warm padded seats allowing this to happen.

We have the passion, they have the cash, not a good combination.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

There have been whiffs and at least one serious.

If I was looking to come in with him for investment, I'd take one look at the abuse I'd be likely to get and do one elsewhere.

McCabe is the reason we can't attract investment - not the fans. Given your links with the club Foxy, any idea how much longer he's gone to hang on, contributing nothing and holding us back?

 

[alcoblade]

There have been whiffs and at least one serious.

If I was looking to come in with him for investment, I'd take one look at the abuse I'd be likely to get and do one elsewhere.

Yes, because it's well known that chairmen of other football club's don't get stick, isn't it.

You can do better than that, Foxy.

UTB

 

[Foxy]

Yes, because it's well known that chairmen of other football club's don't get stick, isn't it.

You can do better than that, Foxy.
UTB

I'm not saying that nobody else does, I'm just saying, given that we all want the same thing we don't half create self fulfilling prophecies sometimes.

Serious question, put us and Wednesday on even points, finances and infrastructure, as an outside investor which do you pick?

The ones who are naturally pessimistic, have to be won over and from an outsiders point of view protested against a man who turned out to do a better job than most expected.

Or the ones who'll swallow most things and bandwagon jump at the hint of anyone wishing to join in the massive-fest?

I'm not suggesting we should be anything like them, *shudder* at the thought, but my point is, whilst it may not be unique to us, we don't half know how to fight against ourselves sometimes.

 

[Blade58]

Foxy,

whilst Friday's meeting may have been about cost cutting, do you happen to know if anything else was added?

 

[alcoblade]

I'm not saying that nobody else does, I'm just saying, given that we all want the same thing we don't half create self fulfilling prophecies sometimes.

Serious question, put us and Wednesday on even points, finances and infrastructure, as an outside investor which do you pick?

The ones who are naturally pessimistic, have to be won over and from an outsiders point of view protested against a man who turned out to do a better job than most expected.

Or the ones who'll swallow most things and bandwagon jump at the hint of anyone wishing to join in the massive-fest?

I'm not suggesting we should be anything like them, *shudder* at the thought, but my point is, whilst it may not be unique to us, we don't half know how to fight against ourselves sometimes.

I see no difference with the way our fans react and the way other fans react. Everyone moans, it's what makes watching a vastly inerior product easier to swallow.

If I were an investor I'd consider that we are a club that can still pull such fantastic support despite being the most unsuccessful big city club in England.

I think lack of investment says more about the huge financial millstone that McCabe's saddled us with, which is why him continuing to add interest to his mistakes is very hard to swallow.

UTB

 

[sheffielder]

Foxy,

whilst Friday's meeting may have been about cost cutting, do you happen to know if anything else was added?

People losing their job not enough?

 

[sheffielder]

I see no difference with the way our fans react and the way other fans react. Everyone moans, it's what makes watching a vastly inerior product easier to swallow.

If I were an investor I'd consider that we are a club that can still pull such fantastic support despite being the most unsuccessful big city club in England.

I think lack of investment says more about the huge financial millstone that McCabe's saddled us with, which is why him continuing to add interest to his mistakes is very hard to swallow.

UTB

Do you have evidence that interest is being charged to the club? You must have seen something different to me.