The problem when discussing finance and football is really a question of how much money should be invested. Some would say that since the start of professional football money has always ruled the game. In truth money was a great divider even in the Corinthian days. Even within my memory I remember playing playing against sides like Guinness (in cup matched) where the majority of their side received 'money in the boot'. So let's not get carried away by the notion that this money problem - and I agree that it is a problem - is a new phenomena. That's why I applaud the Premiership clubs decision on financial regulation. We have to start somewhere to place a check upon the power of outside finance to jeopardise both our clubs and the game itself. Even the latest betting scandal is merely another facet of the money problem and one that has to be addressed urgently. Football cannot exist at any organised level without the involvement of outside financial interests in one form or another. All we can do is work towards developing controls on that influence that does not dissuade finance but does not murder the principles of the game we love - irrespective of the club we choose.
Because the thrust of this thread, as stated in the OP, is that SAF is somehow a rambling mad man for voicing exactly the same concerns as pretty much every other manager who has ever competed at a high level in Europe with a PL team. He is in no way "biting the hand that feeds him", as that is the same hand that feeds the entire PL on a very equal basis. That would be like saying anyone who complains about government policy is biting the hand that feeds them, as they consume police, fire, health, refuse, education and other services from that same government. There's also a very strong argument that Utd and SAF are actually the ones doing the feeding - Utd is one of the few PL clubs that draws a genuine large global audience, attracting millions of pounds of revenue much of which goes to Murdoch and the other PL clubs. Many observers have noted that what Utd and other clubs, including Liverpool, take out of the PL broadcasting deal is much less than what they bring in terms of viewers and revenue. If we left the central broadcasting deal and sold our rights ourselves, as Real and Barca do, we would earn a lot more money as we would 'feed' a lot less to Sky. And in return for the revenue we bring, Utd, Liverpool and other clubs get our fixtures shunted around much more than the other clubs so Sky can make much more money from advertising, a small fraction of which will actually come back to Utd and Liverpool in the form of facilities fees.
frankly.... ferguson has a point. 1. they have a whole 24 hours less here to prepare after a stupid international week. though the case can be made SOMEONE had to play on sunday given the sky deal and its pathetic play form the others like city that mean they are not in the same CL boat. Maybe utd should have gvien up the tv moeny and so played on saturday? 2. LFC play monday then thursday which is just as bad but we didn't bother to complain. 3. swarbs you are caught out cos your in here defending ferguson with your life when you should know better. you've had plenty of goes at our oap and you know it so why bother goign after a silly banter comment about ferguson going senile when the title is all but yours... you should just be laughing at it.
Not sure how I'm defending him with my life, just thought it was an interesting point for debate. Defending him with my time to kill whilst watching my charts is possibly a more accurate interpretation Fair point tho, guess it's always difficult to tell when people are actually being serious or not. Especially when they stick their neck out a couple of miles and then desperately try to wind it back in by claiming it was only banter and they don't really care...
Interesting. It's OK for you last year to make comments about Dalglish ,that many of us found offensive, but it's not OK for us to make similar comments about Ferguson? Now that is either arrogance to the max or it is totally hypocritical. The truly funny thing was seeing you come riding over the hills like the US Cavelry - quite Pavolian.
I've said before that what passes as "banter" on here baffles me. To me banter is generally good-natured, a piss-take between mates. What goes down on here is often anything but, but gets called that when challenged. Imo, the OP was a dig at Fergie. We all know that he has a point- but we all have a pop at each other all the time. What is amusing, or annoying (depending on the time of the month) is the number of people who come on board here purely to have a go at us, but get so bloody indignant when we give some back. I know we're an easy target at the moment- once mighty fallen (relatively) and all that- but it's amazing how sensitive people can be when a bit of **** flies back in their direction.
I think the point being made Saint is that there isn't **** to throw back on this occassion (I'm sure Gerrez will seek this thread out now with the shot talk). In this thread people are making a point of SAF comlaining about the fixture congestion - something which is hardly new and far from exclusive to SAF. Due to this people have been making out that he is senile,nobody listens to him (although evidently you guys do ) etc. As soon as someone dare challenge posters on this it's made out that 'haha look at you defending fergie' or 'why are you on our board' bollocks, as they know, although they will never admit it, that they're point is completely invalid. Anyway, afternoon ****ers
Eric, come off it. We both know that ON THIS BOARD Ferguson is a bete noir and therefore fair game for anything. The same held true on the United board for Dalglish. It is also true that there a number of United posters who will suddenly turn up on this board at the mere mention of either Ferguson or United. That is what is being demonstrated on this thread. If United posters don't like what is being said here then pass us by it's simple. Anyway, afternoon - now **** off
Afternoon Eric- they've let you out again, I see. I just think everyone has taken this thread too seriously. I read it as a dig at Fergie, not really at what he was saying. As has been pointed out, we suffer as much from the vagaries of Sky scheduling as anyone- not least this week.
That's not nice Dave. Let's have a hug We can't just pass it by, Swarbs, as our leader, has an obligation to educate the less fortunate and ill informed, he is however up against it on this board. My job is to point and laugh, whilst wearing my cape of course.
Ye daft prat As for Swarbs he's a big boy now and if he can't understand why he's being mocked then that's his problem.
