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If PIF are categorically not interested, which is a fair assumption to make, then the deals dead and there's therefore nothing to discuss. Ashley is notoriously short on patience so what talks could possibly be going on with Ashley and the people who only want 20% of the club? What's the alternative reality to PIF actually still being in discussions which makes the narrative above make sense? I'm not entirely sure what you're saying. My point is I don't see any reason to believe any real or productive "talks" are happening. Talks are either on or off. There's no middle ground here that makes sense imo. So the notion of non productive talks taking place makes no sense. Either they're all in or they're not. Got it: you're being pedantic. Cool. People can signal to the press that they'd still be "interested". They can tell each other they'd still do a deal if any of x, y, or z happen. I guess you'd call that talks, since you're operating on an I/O basis. But the reality is there's no there there. Crikey. Salty much? I'm the pedant whilst you redefine and stretch what the reported "talks" could mean? How about they mean negoiations are still ongoing? That is far less convoluted than what you're offering. Because if as you say the most likely situation is that PIF are out, then the other 2 parties expressing "interest" means precisely f*** all and certainly don't constitute "talks" in the manner you are inferring. There's a big f*** off £280m gap to fill ffs. It just doesn't make sense, what's hard to understand about that?

If PIF are categorically not interested, which is a fair assumption to make, then the deals dead and there's therefore nothing to discuss. Ashley is notoriously short on patience so what talks could possibly be going on with Ashley and the people who only want 20% of the club? What's the alternative reality to PIF actually still being in discussions which makes the narrative above make sense? I'm not entirely sure what you're saying. My point is I don't see any reason to believe any real or productive "talks" are happening. Talks are either on or off. There's no middle ground here that makes sense imo. So the notion of non productive talks taking place makes no sense. Either they're all in or they're not.

If PIF are categorically not interested, which is a fair assumption to make, then the deals dead and there's therefore nothing to discuss. Ashley is notoriously short on patience so what talks could possibly be going on with Ashley and the people who only want 20% of the club? What's the alternative reality to PIF actually still being in discussions which makes the narrative above make sense?

Not unhappy with this but for that price I'd have gambled on Morelos. Not too many tapped players who are s***. Higher ceiling too.

Fair play. Decent replacement for Enrique tbf.

You're not.

Yep! GC saying he would like to hear from the club reads as he's waiting for the club to confirm that this is officially now over and we are to move on. I'm sure I read that the business is conducted via the club and the PL so it would stand to reason that it's down to the club to confirm the end of the matter.

It’s a conversation to be had between the PL and the consortium - for sure, but that should be on the PL’s terms and not demanded by a broadcaster/country with an ulterior motive. It also fails to explain the significant and unnecessary delays in the process, by the PL’s own reckoning. Not only that, but if Piracy is an issue, which is legitimately is, then reject it on that basis. Most fans are demanding clarity, not that it is categorically accepted. It's been a pisstake from start to finish.

Why do you keep ignoring we have heard from PIF already? They're out. They were funding 80% of it. Of all the parties involved that's a pretty f***ing big one to get that statement from. And if everything else reported or commented on is BS, that means we ignore all the s**** being spouted about how it's now being handled 'behind closed doors'.. right? Because even AS and the Reuben Brother's ignored it? Manopark is getting some totally uneccassary grief here. Just an optimistic bloke who is excitable and wants the best for the club, so what if he's slightly annoying with it? Some serious projecting going on in here you bunch of incels. Yes indeed, all I am saying is because we have not been told anything about the final outcome, we should just wait (instead of 'jumping in to say it is dead, etc !!). No one knows what the outcome will be, so lets just do the obvious "waiting" thing, yeah? The hope of this takeover is the only thing that connects me to the club. Once I'm satisfied that this is dead I don't think I'll be following the club with any real seriousness. If there's even a 0.1% chance of this happening then we should be fighting for it till the very end because we already know what the alternative is, so why the f*** would you accept that? The irony in all this is that the same ones who are slating you for being "optmistic" (realistic imo) have given up and accepted that, much like the fans who go to games who they also slate for that very same reason.

:thup:

Why do you keep ignoring we have heard from PIF already? They're out. They were funding 80% of it. Of all the parties involved that's a pretty f***ing big one to get that statement from. And if everything else reported or commented on is BS, that means we ignore all the s**** being spouted about how it's now being handled 'behind closed doors'.. right? Because even AS and the Reuben Brother's ignored it? Manopark is getting some totally uneccassary grief here. Just an optimistic bloke who is excitable and wants the best for the club, so what if he's slightly annoying with it? Some serious projecting going on in here you bunch of incels.

I thought it was common knowledge that this was dead and buried? This is Ashley saying hurry up. This leak makes absolutely no sense if all parties have already moved on after the Saudi withdrawal. Think it's also interesting that it's come from the PA and not one of the National rags that Ashley usually leaks to. I sometimes wonder how people here feel Ashley is evil and the Saudis angel. This people pull out cause they disrespect them by not automatically approved them. They dont give a s*** if Ashely say hurry up or whatever. Learn about the MBS before commenting idiotic Ashley said hurry up. No one can tell anyone to MBS. The point being, why leak/release something like that if it was dead as is the wide held belief? Doesn't make sense. The rest of what you put is probably accurate but not the point I'm making, I'm not even sure why you're making that point tbh. Depends if he has released/leaked it or it's just made up paper talk. All made up based on inf.ormation he instruct Lee to plan for a season ahead. Why though?! He could just do thst without going through all the effort to sneak a leak out.

I thought it was common knowledge that this was dead and buried? This is Ashley saying hurry up. This leak makes absolutely no sense if all parties have already moved on after the Saudi withdrawal. Think it's also interesting that it's come from the PA and not one of the National rags that Ashley usually leaks to. I sometimes wonder how people here feel Ashley is evil and the Saudis angel. This people pull out cause they disrespect them by not automatically approved them. They dont give a s*** if Ashely say hurry up or whatever. Learn about the MBS before commenting idiotic Ashley said hurry up. No one can tell anyone to MBS. The point being, why leak/release something like that if it was dead as is the wide held belief? Doesn't make sense. The rest of what you put is probably accurate but not the point I'm making, I'm not even sure why you're making that point tbh. Depends if he has released/leaked it or it's just made up paper talk. From the PA? But more pertinently, what's the point if it's dead? If it's to sell papers then the rags would be running with all sorts, they know they have a blank cheque with this as it is.

I thought it was common knowledge that this was dead and buried? This is Ashley saying hurry up. This leak makes absolutely no sense if all parties have already moved on after the Saudi withdrawal. Think it's also interesting that it's come from the PA and not one of the National rags that Ashley usually leaks to. I sometimes wonder how people here feel Ashley is evil and the Saudis angel. This people pull out cause they disrespect them by not automatically approved them. They dont give a s*** if Ashely say hurry up or whatever. Learn about the MBS before commenting idiotic Ashley said hurry up. No one can tell anyone to MBS. The point being, why leak/release something like that if it was dead as is the wide held belief? Doesn't make sense. The rest of what you put is probably accurate but not the point I'm making, I'm not even sure why you're making that point tbh.

I thought it was common knowledge that this was dead and buried? This is Ashley saying hurry up. This leak makes absolutely no sense if all parties have already moved on after the Saudi withdrawal. Think it's also interesting that it's come from the PA and not one of the National rags that Ashley usually leaks to.

Problem is, wether it’s dead or alive there’s f*** all staveley or Ashley can do about it. It’s down to the PL who won’t budge and PIF who want supply the PL with what they want. It’s dead Agree with that except for the part about PIF. Even if PIF give the them what they want, i.e., MBS named as the owner, the PL will then use that to reject the bid outright. I suppose it's naive of me to assume anything in regards to this takeover, but humiliating one of the most powerful men in the world doesn't seem like the way this would go.

Totally agree with the 'Ashley want out' line. That is some small thread of hope to hang on to. However, the 'all's quiet' being a good thing is just wishful thinking. There's always one who wants to be the person that lets everyone else know they are ITK. There's no way a deal to buy to NUFC goes through without someone somewhere, blabbing. The gossip would be just too juicy for someone to resist. I disagree with this. No party has come out of this looking good with it being played out in public and so I can totally envisage a scenario where all parties agree to a total blackout of information. More telling though is the notable silence from Stavely who has never been shy about engaging the media and clarifying her version of events but for me the most telling silence is from BeIN/Keys, who have not only said nothing, but have also been actively deleted things that were said in the past which hint at leaks. If this takeoever were truly dead, Qatar would be shouting about it from the rooftops. Absolutely agree that no one has come out of this looking good. I hope that if Staveley is going to come back again at some point, she learns the lesson not to use Caulkin as an outlet. Ashley never says anything anyway so he's probably good for silence. I think I just don't trust the PL to not leak something. Yep, I think the silence suits Ashley because it's a distraction from the shambles we're in at this moment. Barely a whimper about our business and situation so far. Agree with the second point too, which is why it's very strange we've not heard anything via Qatar...

Totally agree with the 'Ashley want out' line. That is some small thread of hope to hang on to. However, the 'all's quiet' being a good thing is just wishful thinking. There's always one who wants to be the person that lets everyone else know they are ITK. There's no way a deal to buy to NUFC goes through without someone somewhere, blabbing. The gossip would be just too juicy for someone to resist. I disagree with this. No party has come out of this looking good with it being played out in public and so I can totally envisage a scenario where all parties agree to a total blackout of information. More telling though is the notable silence from Stavely who has never been shy about engaging the media and clarifying her version of events but for me the most telling silence is from BeIN/Keys, who have not only said nothing, but have also been actively deleted things that were said in the past which hint at leaks. If this takeoever were truly dead, Qatar would be shouting about it from the rooftops.

What about shirt sales? Increases in attendance? Messi will clean up on shirt sales with his name on it as he does now. Attendances aren’t going to increase at the big clubs as they are already packed, that’s if people can go see him due to COVID. It’s a complete myth the extra attention will pay for him, that extra money, 80% if not more goes to him. He could clear £100m a year off the back of a move imo. Dunno if i agree with this. Not exactly an expert in football finance but looking at direct sales is a bit if a false economy when it comes to financial impact of signing Messi. Man City themselves would become even more marketable with Messi in their line up.

Think the PL's objections are definitely plausible, but the issue for me is not the merits of their objections but how they dealt with it. 17 weeks to get to that point is ridiculous and the proposed solution to the matter is even worse. If PIF weren't giving accurate information, then there's grounds to reject the deal, so reject it.

Barcelona. Now and in the future. Definitely not now. Mahrez and Silva basically play the same position as Messi just far worse and Jesus is good but isn't a top striker Mahrez and Silva could play anywhere behind the striker. Barcelona are in desperate need of players now. That would be 3 absolute quality players in return for one. It is better for Barcelona. and even with their combined wages would still probably cost them less than Messi does now Easily. Probably cost them half of Messi's wage. Aye but Messi pays for himself commercially so the finance argument is moot. This is a no brianer for any team. He is literally creator, finisher and playmaker all in one. He's irreplaceable.

Why wouldn't someone like AS just come out and say it was off if it was off? She's been pretty open with it in the past. Won't read much into Ahsley saying fuck all cos I think the confusion distracts from the utter shitshow at the club at the mo but Stavely, can't think of a single logical reason for why she's kept quiet. Also think its telling that there was pretty much blanket coverage of "things going silent" which has proved to be the case, that feels like a deliberate message from the parties as if to say we will no longer be playing this out in public and rightly so. I think this is still ongoing but I'm not confident at all of it going through at all.

I’ve read most of what’s been released and it looks to be like the consortium have given them the opportunity to play it like this by pulling out. They mentioned again offering arbitration on that singular issue and reading between the lines that says to me it would have been rejected on that basis unless they could offer a different solution. I can’t understand why the consortium didn’t stay and force them to make a decision. Hopefully we hear from them on the back of this. I’m not getting the impression any side of it is that interested in re-entering and finding a common ground though. But that doesn't explain why they didnt give a decision, which was what I was hoping to see as an outcome from this. They offered PIF arbritation, PIF rejected. My reading is that PL were willing to wait it out at the expense of the club they claim to be protecting. 17 weeks to get to that point. I'm still none the wiser on anything.

I havent had chance to read through it all, but did they go into detail as to why they didn't reject the takeover on the basis that they clearly feel the consortium were providing inaccurate information? I still don't understand how there couldnt be a decision. I also don't understand the difference between this structure and Man City's.

-Mike Ashley and Consortium agree deal -PL question company structure -PIF provide assurances from the highest level of government that there would be no state interference - PL dismiss this and want it to go through a lengthy arbritation process and offer this option after the SPA agreement has expired. - PIF reject that option and withdraw from deal I can't understand how there wouldnt be a legal challenge. The expectations from the PL was that the PIF be forced to go through a lengthy arbritation process for essentially the right to buy an asset they've already agreed to buy. An asset which may be a totally different proposition to the one they'd agreed to buy in the first place. Selling party is forced to financially support the club (or not) during this phase to protect the value of the asset he's already agreed to sell or find another buyer and risk going through this all over again and further risking the value of the very asset he's already agreed to sell. Meanwhile the fans and the community are kept in total darkness about whether they'll get to be beneficiaries of the mooted investment, an investment which has the potential to changes 100s of thousands of lives. Surely the PL haven't got a leg to stand on?