New York float the answer to United's problems?

The debt ridden Glazer family are looking to float Manchester United on the New York Stock Exchange. Not only that, they intend to register Man Utd in the Cayman Isles. A sharp intake of breath for Manchester United fans. Whilst they maybe making reasonable turnover, their debt stands at £423 million. This is of course not to mention the half a billion pound in extra add ons and payments. 

It would come as no surprise to say the least if relying on Paul Scholes coming out of retirement had anything to do with it as a lack of real spending money. Whilst spending big on players doesn't guarantee your success, it is not unreasonable to think that the club will give you a relative transfer kitty. In fact Man Utd (as reported in the Guardian back in May 2012) have a net spend over the last 5 years of around £50 million. Far less than the big guns. For a team such as Man United, whilst it is good to nurture the youngsters, you are not going to be able to rely on that policy on its own unless you mix it with big name players.They may have signed Kagawa for £12 million but that is not a title winning signing it will need more than that.

Going back to the potential Man Utd floating on the NYSE, whilst it would raise $100 million or £64 million in our money it would be unlikely to be used on transfers for the new season either. Reducing the debt would no doubt take priority and the way the share release would work would give two sets of shares. One lot of shares that the Glazer family would get would see them maintain power, whilst the rest would see no power for the new investors. The idea of Man United being registered in the Cayman Isles, is not great. It was something that Hicks and Gillett did with the taking over of Liverpool FC.

Whilst going on the stock market could be greatly beneficial, if United take a downward spiral post Sir Alex, who is to say that shares and value may not decrease. It is interesting to note that Man Utd's debt increased by £26 million this year a sum that could be a possible transfer target. Should Man United continue to have trophy less seasons, this could also have a major impact on transfer funding and debt reduction.

One final thought, Facebook found trouble on the NYSE, who is to say that Man Utd may not find the same...

The AVB appointment a Dan Raywood guest blog

It was the evening of my third wedding anniversary when having dinner with my wife (and Arsenal season ticket holder) Vicky that the news broke – Harry Redknapp had been sacked by Spurs.

At first I was devastated. Harry had been a real ‘constant’ for Spurs, signed and managed some great players, overseen probably the best Spurs squad in 30 years and taken us into the Champions League. Not to mention achieving a fourth place, to which us fans were disappointed with.

This to me was a terrible idea, not to mention the following decisions to allow coaching staff Joe Jordan, Kevin Bond and Clive Allen to leave as well. Then I started to think about how last season had gone – I was at the 5-0 win against Newcastle which was the last great result before the season went downhill.

I’ll cite the excellent article by the BBC’s Phil McNulty, where he laid out some of the failures of the management in regard to the second half of the season. From my view, the biggest failings are what our newly appointed manager Andre Villas-Boas will have to correct, but one of the main failings was the refusal to rotate or rest players, despite Luka Modric looking visibly tired and too much reliance on Adebayor regardless of his low scoring rate.

Firstly, I have remained positive yet sceptical about AVB. I see him as a manager who has had a very good grounding via Bobby Robson and Jose Mourinho and who has seen the way management should be done. His success at Porto is pretty unknown, mainly because Mourinho signed a lot of his Champions League-winning team to Chelsea, and AVB arrived at Chelsea without such an impact as ‘the special one’.

His time at Chelsea was unfortunate; he was faced with an old guard that even the most experienced manager would have struggled to reason with. Yes his tactics were a little questionable, his direction is unorthodox and his high defensive line was the cause of some goals conceded.

The fact is that AVB was not given enough time at Chelsea because the fans, players and owner expected results and trophies; at Spurs I doubt he will face such a wall of demand. He will be expected to deliver results; otherwise he would not have been entrusted with such a heavy task.

However Spurs are not expecting to win the league, we expect a top six finish and the return of Champions League football would be a delight, but I expect that this demand will allow AVB to be given time to instil his tactics and signings into the squad and succeed over a longer period.

There were some Spurs fans comparing him to Juande Ramos, I don’t see that – I see a young manager with great ambition to succeed and with a task that can go one of two ways. And there will be no room for failure.

That said, there does need to be some changes and my suggestions are as follows:

1 – Sign some strikers: we looked woefully short last season with loan signing Adebayor, emergency signing Saha and squad player and perpetual bench-sitter Defoe our only available options. We do have Van Der Vaart as an attacking midfielder and this week’s signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson this week will add competition for places and offer a viable option for a 4-3-3 formation or 4-5-1 and to cover the right wing.

2 – Reintroduce the reserve team: this was removed by Harry and led to us loaning our players to lower division teams rather than sit on our bench. A credible argument, but this led to us being under-resourced with the likes of Caulker, Townsend, Carroll, Nicholson, Smith and Kane being on loan elsewhere. The reintroduction of the reserve team will allow these players to play regularly against their peers and alongside established squad players to be match fit and available to play immediately.

3 – Make decisions on squad players: I was happy to see the club make the decision to let Krancjar and Corluka go, mainly because you had to question what they brought to the first 11. More decisions need to be made on the likes of Jenas, Bentley, Gomes and Dos Santos (among others) and decide what they offer to the team. If the answer is nothing and they can be sold at a good price and replaced in the 25-man squad with a young player, then that should be done.

4 – Treat the Europa League properly: Ok so the Europa League is not the Champions League and I had no argument with Harry’s decision to use it as a run-out for the aforementioned young players, but with the right amount of ambition we can win this tournament and what we want is trophies, and a European one would be well received by all in AVB’s first season.

5 – Look at the long term for our goalkeeping options: We have been blessed by the form and presence of Friedel, Cudicini has been a viable replacement and the fans still love Gomes, but we need to look at a 20 something arriving in the next year who will be our next number one. A goalkeeper can take time to settle (see Szczesny at Arsenal, Krul at Newcastle) so having someone arrive sooner to work with these keepers can only be a positive.

I therefore welcome AVB with an air of suspicion – that it may take time to deliver the project and that we may have to see the AVB era as a long-term option. I hope Daniel Levy shares this view.

Many thanks to Dan Raywood a Spurs fan and friend, for his contribution and thoughts on the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas. Also check out his guest blog on Sol Campbell from earlier.

Where will he go? What now for RVP

As Arsenal fans digest the news that they hoped they wouldn't hear, but maybe were resigned to preparing for, where will Robin Van Persie go at the end of his contract. It seemed to be irrespective of money, but instead direction which the Dutchman found himself not on the same page as his current employers.

Where would he go? There are several clubs that would love to see Van Persie at their club and one of them is current Premier League Champions Man City. Recently we have seen Arsenal players depart take the trip north to Man City, would the Dutchman dare to upset the Gooners again and team up with Nasri, Toure and Adebayor?  Would he ignore their thoughts, loyalties and take the reported £220k a week to play for the Champions? It didn't bother Samir Nasri who jumped and saw himself with a title medal. Nasri could say that he was right to leave but fans may say that he did it in the wrong way, but I imagine that the £185,000 a week wasnt really anything to do with it....

There is hope from United fans that Fergie may tempt to sign him, but it would seem that it would have to be on a free transfer. Would Fergie dare to make that signing. Would Van Persie even dare to incur a bigger wrath from the Arsenal fans. Arsenal fans can accept players moving on, but players who move on to fierce rivals just isnt acceptable. Of course the only other way to make the fans despise Van Persie would be if he went to Spurs. Whilst Spurs fans may have smiles the size of cheshire cats if it happened, Van Persie at the same time may damage any status that he had built at the club.

The reality is that if by his own accord it is not money but the ability to win things, then he will go abroad, destination Barcelona or Real Madrid. The favourite in that battle would be Barca who could happily wait a season for the Arsenal striker.  The Spanish giants will no doubt rub their hands at the prospect of signing Van Persie for free. Given the Spanish domination of recent times it would no doubt hard to resist the temptation. He would also find himself teaming up with old mate Fabregas if he were to sign for Barcelona. That is of course not to rule out Real Madrid and their team of stars who won the La Liga. Van Persie to Real would certainly make them favourites to retain the Spanish title and who knows go one step further and win the Champions League in 2013.

Should Van Persie stay with a Premier League club that will be great for the Premier League, if not it will be a loss.

One final point is that whilst Van Persie may have run out of patience with the club, RVP should remember the support of the club and fans during his times he was injured, that loyalty is something that money can never buy.

Euro 2012 Balotelli sends Azzuri to glory

The much misunderstood Mario Balotelli gave a superb performance grabbing two goals to send Italy to the final. They eliminated the favourites Germany in a game where surprisingly Germany had played not to their usual standard. The Italians who narrowily missed out on keeping back to back clean sheets, could be rightly proud of taking their place in the final where they meet Spain.

For Spain it will be a tester with the fast paced Balotelli. The Man City star will no doubt force the Spanish defence on the back foot as the current holders also look to deny the influence of Pirlo who has been one of the big guns in the competition. An unmarked Pirlo can cause problems for Spain unless they can stick a player on him and not let him pick out the passes for Balotelli to finish. Somehow I dont think this will go to penalties.

For Germany this was a minor setback for the young team as they continue to build for the future. They will now focus on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. For this team a group which features Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Isles and Kazakhstan, qualification should be an easy process.

Euro 2012 :De ja vu: Young and Cole join the infamous list

After getting through the group Stages, England faced an Italian side that to be honest, was most certainly a shadow of its former self. England set up to face the Azzuri and an early positive start looked like England could get something. They did however let the Italian's in although it seemed that Man City's Balotelli was doing most of the offensive work. As the game went on the Italians looked like they would edge it and then half time came. It couldnt have come at a better time for England. An opportunity to regroup and go out and start again.England started the second half well and almost went ahead, again though Italy were allowed to get back in the game. John Terry had a good game and found himself unlucky not to win England a penalty after finding himself flung to the ground after having his shirt pulled.

Rooney who had disappointed against the Ukraine, was still a distant self from his Premier League performances. Steven Gerrard who had been at his best in an England shirt in this tournament, had also not been at his best. Glen Johnson who had been often criticised more than praised had a good game and was unlucky not to score as in previous matches. James Milner though continued to disappoint and how long he can continue wearing an England shirt is beyond me and many others.

It came to penalties Italy went first with Ballotelli and he scored in the corner with Hart given no chance. England's captain Gerrard stepped up lead by example and slotted it into the corner. All seemed fine at 1-1. Montolivo stepped up and sent it wide. Hope was starting to build in the England fans. Rooney who had not had his best stepped up next. A bit of penalty spot patting and thoughts immediately turned to Beckham's Portugal penalty miss. All would be good though as the Man Utd front man sent Buffon the wrong way. Pirlo, who had been in control in midfield was next and he cheekily chipped the ball in. Ashley Young who had been disappointing again, completed his misery by slamming his penalty against the crossbar. It was now 3 taken each and 2 scored. Italy up next and an opportunity to make it advantage Azzuri. Nocerino calmly stepped up and made it 3-2. Up next was Ashley Cole. The man who never seemed to shirk responsibility prepared himself. Cole saw his penalty saved in what was a poor penalty. It remained 3-2 and Diamante just had to place his penalty past Joe Hart. Not only did he score but he sent Hart the wrong way and Italy into a semi final against Germany.

Euro 2012 - The Pain with Spain

Spain's late win enabled their defence of the trophy to continue at least for another 45 minutes. Having seen the opening game without a recognised striker, the Spanish got a point against Italy. They pasted Ireland with a striker, but that was hardly a shocker. So going into the final game against a strong Croatia who also need victory to ensure qualification, Del Bosque knew that it was a win that would see a passage to the quarter finals especially with Italy still in the frame to qualify. The Croatian's fought bravely but a second half goal from Jesus Nava secured top spot. Italy needed to win although even that may not have been enough had Spain and Croatia drawn 2-2 it would have been good night Azzuri, thankfully for Prandelli's men that was not to happen and a 2-0 win saw them take top spot and await the winners of Group D.

Spain to be honest will have to pull their socks up. Yes people will say they haven't lost and that's a fair point but they have played an Italian side that has been slow and a Republic of Ireland side that has been disappointing compared to previous. Hopefully they will recover from this and will be stronger.

There is a lot of talk that if England play Spain that England will lose. It could happen, but then we might as well go home now. We should look to Chelsea, no one gave them any chance against Barcelona. They proved them wrong. Why can't we prove the rest of  Europe wrong. A game lasts 90 minutes, we play to 90. We should not panic, not react like headless chickens, we must remain composed and take it to the opposition.

Walcott Welbeck Wonderful: young guns kill off Swedes

A delayed kick off for England saw England get the vital three points to take them on the verge of the knockout stages. After Andy Carroll's header had given Hodgson's side a first half lead, it looked like England would just need to defend and build. Of course we all know with England these things don't tend to be simple.

Both teams came out in the second half and it didnt take long for the Swedish to level. The equaliser didnt come with out its fortunes as a deflection saw Glen Johnson look like he may claw it off the line. The bounced off the post and in.

England found themselves 2-1 down as Olaf Mellberg headed home. Visions of Euro 92 may have started to come back to haunt England. Hodgson did what we all had hoped he'd do and in the 60th minute, the yet again disappointing James Milner ( why was he in the squad?) was replaced by Theo Walcott.

Walcott's introduction on the right mafe an immediate difference, he took players on, he looked comfortable and confident. In the 64th minute Stevie G's corner was cleared to just outside the penalty area and a sublime finish from the Gunner saw the game level.

A draw for England wouldnt necessarily have been a disaster, but it would have meant having to beat the Ukraine or face elimination. That event was taken out the equation when Walcott was involved again. He crossed the ball and found Welbeck who cheekily struck the winner with the back of his foot.

England have a good chance to get all three points on Tuesday against Ukraine. Despite flashes of good attacking, I dont see too much trouble. I can see Walcott starting together with Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain. The hot pace of the youngsters could do some real damage against the Ukranian defence. The way the qualification for nations level on points is like, England could very well win having two shiny stickers and a club badge sticker. Should both England and France finish level I would assume given the draw, it may go down to the results against the others unless goal difference does count at some point. I imagine for England fans so long as the Three Lions qualify thats all that matters.