03 Sep 2026 07:25:05
As we mull over the ruins of the summer window, several points to consider
1) Wilcox/Vivell. Rumours persist that Vivell was ignored and overruled by Wilcox. One rumour was Vivell wanted Sangare Wilcox rejected and went with Tielemans. There are other rumours about disagreements on others as well again with Wilcox overruling Vivell. Wilcox overruling the analysts. One might speculate that Vivell may leave over this.
At that point, if Vivell resigns, it may be a good point for Ratcliffe to consider Wilcox's position. I would hope for the club to bring back Rangnick, who I think should have been listened to and experience used previously. Are the club that forward thinking though?
2) I suggested two things as to why the owners didn't have a good transfer window. One being dividends and the other being owner change. Just to be clear it's my opinion not fact as someone criticised me for. Dividends being announced in Feb makes sense, however a full sale of the club shouldn't be ruled out and that was another opinion I suggested.
Profit makes the club more attractive, means the parasites can try to hold a higher price for what might otherwise be seen as a loss making enterprise and financially flawed. Does Ratcliffe have the cash? Are INEOS capable but also do we want to be a subsidiary of INEOS? Not for me. We need a new owner who pays off the millstone debt and gives us a clean break and totally fresh impetus. For me we need INEOS, Ratcliffe and especially the Glazers out, something I will buy a bottle of expensive champagne for if it happens. I suspect that despite the bravado of the new stadium plans they have not cemented the funding and as a business, because of the millstone of Glazer debt, they can't borrow any more so will rely on other methods. Selling now or soon, perhaps next year makes sense and let someone else fund it. So fingers crossed for next year.
03 Sep 2026 08:11:19
Any organisation where there aren't disagreements at the top level will struggle to be successful.
The point of hiring people like Wilcox and Vivell is because they aren't "yes men".
Disagreement isn't a negative, as long as they can work together to come to the best solution. They probably have.
03 Sep 2026 08:48:10
Who exactly are you preaching this to, Red Man? We all agree the Glazers are awful. There may be issues with Wilcox, and I've posted the same, but it's based on rumours right now. But, you state so many things as facts that you just simply don't know are facts. And, your posts just push the same agenda point that we're not spending because of the ownership, and that has no basis in reality at all.
You're entitled to your opinion, but repeating the same one over and over and over doesn't make it any stronger, and just gets tiresome for the rest of us.
03 Sep 2026 09:07:39
I read the first line and thought, this will be Red Man. We all hate the Glazers, how they purchased the club, the money they have taken out, and the general incompetence. But every single day, the same stuff, we get it!
03 Sep 2026 09:16:41
If Bayern want Vivell, then that tells you that they think he is good at his job.
03 Sep 2026 10:16:20
Shappy
Usually, with disagreement at that level, especially if fundamental, one leaves. There is a rumour Vivell is wanted by Bayern, a well run club. If true, and his recommendations are ignored at OT, then we may lose him, to be left with Wilcox.
Don
"Who exactly are you preaching this to?"
Jeez, preaching. I wonder if some of you would rather sit here and talk about the nice third kit, or just nothing at all. Before this site & social media, we used to talk about this in the pub. How many times does someone have to point out this is a banter site, set up for people to talk about the club, to say what they are thinking, to engage with others. I remain respectful of others' opinion. I get you may prefer I disappear; it is an opinion.
Opinion, let's deal with that. "You state so many things as facts that you just simply don't know are facts." In my above post I actually say "Just to be clear it's my opinion not fact," as someone criticised me for. I speculate, extrapolate, use available facts, and based on what I see, express an opinion. Read or don't read, there is no game for several days, so let's just sit here and say 'ooh, what a nice kit,' or 'is that a new colour on the wall at the training ground, raining out again.'
AJH
Yup, it's me again. How dare I express my opinion? It's not like I am taking up anyone else's space, am I?
You guys have taken over from Angel; he used to be first to post to tell me to shut up as well. Unlucky. I rather enjoy the banter page.
03 Sep 2026 10:31:32
Red Man, I'm not trying to shut you up and I don't disagree with you, but you are like a dog with a bone
03 Sep 2026 11:34:56
AJH
I know, it's my nature and a trait that has taken me where I got in my career. Don't worry, when back at work I won't have time on my hands to post, plus it's all quite poignant right now.
03 Sep 2026 13:06:23
Red Man, I agree with some of what you're saying, but I don't see how it's constructive to make the same points over and over. It's like Nietzsche said, "If you stare too long into the void it'll stare back at you." It's not healthy.
03 Sep 2026 14:06:09
This is becoming way too philosophical, Nietzsche, on a banter board!!?!
Let's keep it light.
03 Sep 2026 14:50:46
And those who danced were judged to be insane by those who could not hear the music. ?
03 Sep 2026 15:00:51
No question that the debt, which originated with the LBO, has been a dreadful millstone. The club has also been incredibly badly managed since the departure of SAF and Gill. Others have big debts, like Spurs, but there's new stadium debt. We already have more, and we haven't redone the stadium yet. If it costs £2bn, as is projected, where's that coming from? How are we going to manage to finance £3bn in total debt, especially now with interest rates being high, and with little prospect of them coming down as western countries drown themselves in public debt.
Whatever our preferred outcome, and all of us would like to see the end of the Glazers, the club needs an injection of capital. Merely transferring stock ownership from one party to another is not enough.
If it doesn't happen, it's hard to see how we get out of this debt trap. Even if we all of a sudden start making profits, it's going to take years to whittle it down, whether or not some dividends are paid. Ineos have begun by doing what, unfortunately, was necessary. Without them, I think things would have been worse today. But Ineos is also heavily debt-laden, so I don't see how they will be able to arrange to put upwards of £500m into the club. And of course, if it's an injection of share capital, which is what the club needs, it will further whittle away the Glazers' control, in which case they might as well sell out completely.
03 Sep 2026 15:16:10
Sorry, Don, the actual quote is, "Avoid the void, or you'll be annoyed."
03 Sep 2026 16:48:11
It's one of my favourite quotes, Salford. A philosophy for life. DeGrasse Tyson's one, "The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you," is another classic.
03 Sep 2026 18:42:13
No harm intended, Red Man. I understand they were opinion based points, and pointing out that they were opinion and not fact is in my nature. I work in Risk and am studying Law, so I have a nature to be critical of things that could be misinterpreted as fact, especially in a world where there is so much misinformation - not that your intention is ever to mislead the page.
I'd rather see the same topic discussed over and over than a dead page, and people leaving because they can't voice their opinion.
03 Sep 2026 19:19:41
What a load of b******* and whataboutery.
We brought in 2 young midfielders with a lot of potential and one with a wealth of experience. Anyone who thinks we've done bad business on the midfield is delusional.
The 'management' don't have to agree and Vivells job is to keep providing lists of high quality candidates. Some will get signed. Some won't!!!
As for the idea of Rangnick coming back in... lol!!
03 Sep 2026 21:37:09
Post of the day imo, RD.
04 Sep 2026 01:44:03
Don Red, I rather liked my father's one-liner philosophical statement.
Never wash a window with a hard-boiled egg.
Totally nonsensical, but always said in a way which made me smile.
04 Sep 2026 07:38:07
Kurtis
No worries and good luck with Law. Risk is an area of business that is extremely important, so appreciate that.
Red D,
Not sure anyone said it was bad business in the midfield. By Shappys price definition, the other day we haven't signed a "top" midfielder. Looking at midfield, I am not sure we have the No6, the holder and destroyer, we perhaps needed. Baleba and Mainoo are probably the go to. Baleba will run, and I think he is a good player. They are going to have to screen for that centre of defence. Overall window 4/10 midfield 7.5/10 but definitely not bad business.
If someone keeps suggesting players and no one listens, they will very likely leave. You hire people for your team because of their knowledge and skill, very demotivating if ignored. The question is how good is Wilcox? Looks like everything is on him.
Rangnick replacing Wilcox would be a good move but the owners won't do it because he wanted to bring change and he shone a light on the issues. Like Amorim they won't like it.