Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:54 pm  

Karlos13 wrote:

It appears they are paying it off from their own funds. Seems like a strange move. Unless they are attempting to make MUFC more attractive for potential investors.

I might be wrong but weren't the PIK loans used to buy the club? So in effect this is the Glazers debt, not uniteds. Paying them off would ease the financial burden, but as I understand it would pay off only the Glazers own debt.

Can't wait : Tue Nov 16, 2010 6:04 pm  

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is ready to move for French right-back Rod Fanni from Rennes as he looks to replace Glen Johnson.

taken from BBC sport website...i can't wait for the replica shirts

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Nov 16, 2010 6:52 pm  

RedTez wrote:

I might be wrong but weren't the PIK loans used to buy the club? So in effect this is the Glazers debt, not uniteds. Paying them off would ease the financial burden, but as I understand it would pay off only the Glazers own debt.

That's correct (I think) but the suspicion was always that the PIK was in effect the club's debt anyway on the basis that the entirety of the debt is. The 700 million figure always included the PIK debt, that's for sure.

As far as I can make out, the Glazer purchase of MUFC works in the same way as a mortgage. By paying off roughly 1/3 of the debt used to buy it, there is a lot more equity - assuming it's not being converted into some other debt vehicle. The club is now only shoulder deep in the sh*t rather than neck deep. When they started hoovering up shares, they did so quickly. If they do want out, based on their previous workings, I would expect that to move at a similar pace. I wouldn't hold my breath.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:50 pm  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Commolli is disliked by Spurs fans. There have been allegations of him being devious, untrustworthy and unpopular with managers. He's a great self-publicist though.

I know how you feel about Hodgson. It's a similar situation with Mancini at the moment. They both have one thing in common (apart from the Inter connection) - they have not been at their respective clubs very long. They both need to be given more time.

Spurs fans dislike him, but happily masturbate over the players he brought to the club. He was always disliked for the way he treated Jol, rightfully so IMO as Jol was a good coach, but the relationship between Martin and Damien didn't work, the club obviously believed in the DOF over the manager.

I've read views from other scouts who've met him, they say he's extremely intelligent and has a massive hunger/knowledge for the game, and that's a hunger for scouting, not managing. I dunno, the DOF divides opinion over here, like most things 'foreign', but I think (hope, more than anything) Comolli will be a success here, I just hope he doesn't focus on the French market, as the Bundesliga is a stronger league, whilst South America continues to produce immense prospects.

: Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:46 am  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Does this mean they are preparing the club for sale, or maybe even floatation? If so, it could be good news for United fans.

Any rumours why they are looking to pay off some of the debt?

Hopefully it's the former, and they are looking to offload the Club.

Surely the only way they can afford the PIK payment is through a refinancing package? Their US Mall empire is not making any money, and I cant see them selling any stakes in their ownership of United.

I wonder of they'll take the £95m in one lump sum leaving us with no 'value in the market'?

Its also interesting to see that in the financial results just published our wage bill rose by 14% before Rooney signed his new contract. I can only remember Vidic signing a new contract plus the signings of Hernandez and Bebe. They must be on a fortune!

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:10 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Spurs fans dislike him, but happily masturbate over the players he brought to the club. He was always disliked for the way he treated Jol, rightfully so IMO as Jol was a good coach, but the relationship between Martin and Damien didn't work, the club obviously believed in the DOF over the manager.

I've read views from other scouts who've met him, they say he's extremely intelligent and has a massive hunger/knowledge for the game, and that's a hunger for scouting, not managing. I dunno, the DOF divides opinion over here, like most things 'foreign', but I think (hope, more than anything) Comolli will be a success here, I just hope he doesn't focus on the French market, as the Bundesliga is a stronger league, whilst South America continues to produce immense prospects.

Who were these great players he signed?

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:40 am  

Ian 77 Redux wrote:

That's correct (I think) but the suspicion was always that the PIK was in effect the club's debt anyway on the basis that the entirety of the debt is. The 700 million figure always included the PIK debt, that's for sure.

As far as I can make out, the Glazer purchase of MUFC works in the same way as a mortgage. By paying off roughly 1/3 of the debt used to buy it, there is a lot more equity - assuming it's not being converted into some other debt vehicle. The club is now only shoulder deep in the sh*t rather than neck deep. When they started hoovering up shares, they did so quickly. If they do want out, based on their previous workings, I would expect that to move at a similar pace. I wouldn't hold my breath.

The positive news is that it reduces the debt to 500 million and it seems the money has not been taken from Utd. Could they be preparing for a sale? I hope so.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:41 am  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Who were these great players he signed?

Didn't he help sign players like Modric and Bale? I'm guesing tbh.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:57 am  

Enfield Exile wrote:

Who were these great players he signed?

Bale, Modric, Gomes, Kaboul has since become a good player, same with Assou-Ekotto, Corluka has done well there, whilst I'm pretty sure Dawson was brought in under Comolli.

His worst signing was probably Bentley, but he'd be one of the players many would have deemed a 'no-brainer'.

Re: The Football Chat Thread : Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:07 am  

PAUL M wrote:

Didn't he help sign players like Modric and Bale? I'm guesing tbh.

Commolli would have everyone believe that he signed only those players that did well at Spurs. But Ramos and Jol bought the players who didn't do so well.

AFAIK Modric was signed by Ramos and Bale was signed by Jol. Commolli was atsked to sign unknown talents and the youth players (because Aranesen had left for Chelsea).

I am not sure of the timelines but Aranesen may have been at Spurs when they signed Bale. Sorry... I cannot be bothered Googling).

Commolli is an expert in self-publicity. I thought Robbie would have been a bit more balanced but it appears even he has been influenced by Commolli's PR.

I love how Robbie has credited Commolli with bringing in all of Spurs' best players. It just happened that Commolli was at the club at the time. The signings were made inspite of him being at White Hart Lane He was not in charge of transfers, he was simply a go-between. He didn't seek out these talents at all.