Manchester United Thread 25/26 - Teamtalk/Transfers/Gossip Mod Note in OP 26.09.24

Mitch Connor

I would say there has been a lot of criticism lately and the club/ratcliffe needed to speak publicly at some point, so why not now. So I don't find the timing odd

United are speaking to the regeneration project at some event in Cannes today, 11.45 (not sure if that is UK time or French) - so I guess that is when we will see the general vision of the stadium project. Whether they wanted to get out ahead of that so that the stadiium PR is good, on the back of Ratcliffe answering all manner of questions yesterday.

Will be interesting to see what they say about the stadoum project tbh - the comments yesterday have me a bit worried. the suggestion that it could be done in 5 years IF the government do their 'part' quickly is worrisome to me - I wouldn't be opptimiistic of the government acting quickly on it. And if the prject is contingent on government action, then United don't control the timing of the project? That is worrisome on its own.

And Ratcliffe seemed to make it clear that they won't be speaking on financing for it in the short term - and I can't see any definitive movement happening before the financing has been decided and announced - so regardless of what is said today it feels like anything actually happening is a long way off.

On a semi-related part - interesting that Ratcliffe predicts we'll be th emost profitable club in the world in 3 years time - without any new stadium impact. I wonder what that prediction is based on - obviously we have seen significant cost cutting, but is he anticipating/sees in the pipeline new sponsorship revenues as well as the pay down of debt within that time frame? If we paid off the debt, add in the cuts, that is an 80m+ swing in finances, plus any amount of new sponsorship revenue? Without donig that type of thing, I stuggle to see how we could possibly hope to become the most profitable club around (and assuming significant profits are invested into the running of the club, being profitable is 100% a venerable goal for the club)

DellyBelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123252770#Comment_123252770

And he's in Dublin this week and as far as I know it's sold out which is a bit depressing. I've watched a few of his online shows and he's basically just a shock jock

ericzeking

One thing I didn't like was when he kind of conceded to Neville on the 40k for old players and that it was probably wrong but then doubled down again a couple of minutes later. So it wasn't all honesty and transparency, and he has no intention of reversing some of the unpalatable stuff.

The flip side of that is that it's essentially an entire cultural shift in terms of financials which was definitely needed. Tough to find a balance.

y0ssar1an22

aa

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1899399915417297017?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Seattle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123252762#Comment_123252762

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123252780#Comment_123252780

Ok I understand, but the point as to why it's even being discussed right now still stands imo. Charlatans like Goldbridge are injecting it into discourse and making it a talking point, even if people like Phil are running with it in a more nuanced and reasonable way. The general discourse around Utd would be more constructive and less toxic without people like Goldbridge polluting social media.

loyatemu

New Trafford?

or more likely "INEOS and Amazon present Manchester United Matchday Soccer Arena"

FourFourRED

Looks like the big top at the circus, quite fitting.

Thepoet85

The new stadium.

Iseedeadpixels

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253133#Comment_123253133

Was thinking that myself, the "tridents" and cover are horrible.

Mitch Connor

Its certainly different looking.

My immediate reaction was 'what the effing hell is that'. the tridents/chimmney stacks being a 'what?' element.

But the images under the 'umbrella' showing the public spaces with the stadium concourse over looking it looks superb. the lead up to the stadium looks incredible. The henman hill esque loaction looks cool too.

Definitely looks like they are concentrating on the area being a destination itself, somewhere to go shop and eat before and after games and non-match days. Plus the observation tower tourist attraction - they are certainly looking ot drive revenue through the roof with this.

Old Trafford clearly getting knocked down with this vision though, which means we'll have to relocate for a few years - interesting to see what the ideas are for that!

y0ssar1an22

would like to see a graphic of it without the webbing/netting.

brick tamland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253154#Comment_123253154

Haven't they said the new ground will be beside existing stadium

I wonder can we stay in it until new stadium completed

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253154#Comment_123253154

why, is it partially on the site of the existing stadium? I thought it was a short distance away so the old ground could continue to be used while the new one is built?

PARlance

Call me old fashioned but I would just like to see Old Trafford modernised. An iconic stadium with so much history.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253154#Comment_123253154

My initial reaction was the same as your own, basically that it's a monstrosity. The surrounding area looks lovely though.

I'm in a United WhatsApp group and so far I'm in the minority with a lot of people seeming to really like it. I thought they could retain some of the OT character but seems they want to go in a complete different direction.

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253149#Comment_123253149

Images of the architect at work

Mitch Connor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253165#Comment_123253165

THe overhead image looks like the new stadium is on top pf old tafford in their plans. But that is just me trying to eyeball it vs google images. Not directly on top but it seems like you couldn't build the new stadium withoug massively impacting OT.

loyatemu

overhead image looks very much like a toilet bowl.

xtal191

To be fair the video makes it look a lot better

PARlance

As someone put it:

Hello ChatGPT, generate me a new stadium for Manchester United with 3 big spikes on it, thanks.

Some of the outside areas do look cool, but the stadium itself is just like any new modern stadium but with the addition of a gimmicky covering. If they're going to rip down Old Trafford, at least try to replicate some of the old character.

So design aside, where does this leave us? Hoping that we can get the British exchequer to foot the bill is it?

Delboy5

This the architect talking about it…

https://youtu.be/0Hhp0zDcfP8

Mitch Connor

Someone elsewhere made this for me. And ESPN confirming we don't plan on moving from OT til the stadium is built.

Would then mean the wembley way-esque walk up with see in the images won't exist for a few years after the stadium is opened - as OT will need to be knocked before that area can be built.

JRant

I think it looks amazing. They've clearly taken inspiration from the club badge from the side profile images and I think it's a great touch. It beats the boring fish bowls we see popping up with the new stadium designs everywhere and really stands out, which OT does in its own way as well.

The_Kew_Tour

Dont want be that half glass empty guy

But we haven't a Bob.

I cant see this working out well

Mitch Connor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253237#Comment_123253237

Ratcliffe predicted yesterday we will be the most profitable club in the world in 3 years (long before a new stadium).
Berrada and Ratcliffe are confident on the financing too - desribing it as a great investment opportunity - so I assume a big part of the plan is getting parterns in to invest in the project as a whole, inclusive of the related real-estate, entertainment, shopping, property opportunities this will present (looks at the offices/appartments etc around the stadium on the land United own…)

All_in_Flynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253214#Comment_123253214

There seems to be a lot of confusion around this for some reason.

United will be paying for the stadium build. The regeneration of the surrounding area is where the British Government come in.

It's a huge investment but it pays for itself pretty quickly with the huge revenue increases being more than enough to pay any financing cost. It's a no brainer.

NITRO95

Happy to be in the minority but I think it looks fantastic. I love the tridents and the front of the stadium itself looks unique and has some character to it. It's a huge step forward for the club. I'll always love OT but nothing lasts forever. My one big hope is that we name the stands after Sir Alex, Sir Bobby, Sir Matt and I'd be happy to keep the Stretford End name too. Also selling naming rights to a new build wouldn't feel odd compared to selling naming rights to OT

Sand

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253214#Comment_123253214

The UK government isn't going to pay a penny for the stadium build. The absolute most that they will do is co-ordinate their own public development of the surrounding area to line up with the stadium, which is the same as any significant private development.

As for how its funded - no idea. The Glazers - who are still majority owners - wont pay a penny for it, and the experience of clubs who have built stadiums in the past (Arsenal, Spurs) is that while in the long run it pays off, in the short to medium term it massively restricts transfer budgets.

The Big Easy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123253075#Comment_123253075

I think he went close to acknowledging that it was wrong and conceded to look at it again as he wasn't over the minutia of the individual decision.

I expect it to be reversed and replaced with some player fundraising initiative as Gary suggested, hopefully they will end up getting a healthy bump!

The Big Easy

I thought the interview was a great watch, certainly wasn't any kind of puff piece. And Gary went after him pretty hard on a couple of points.

I've alway been a supporter of SJR taking over the club as it was the least bad of all the options. He didn't mention being a custodian in this particular interview but has before. I'd like if he kept using that kind of language personally.

He got a bit of a Qatar dig in as well (although I didn't like the flippant mentioning of selling the club) . Imagine having the Sheik give us some transparency like that!

Although there is a lot of fans who don't care about transparency and would put success above anything else.