Jan 26
On Shirt Sponsors and United’s Injuries
After successfully overcoming gruelling trips, and battling debilitating illnesses I come before you to do what used to be a daily routine of mine — writing about Manchester United.
I’ve missed reporting, analysing, ranting on my share of United related stories, so I shall hope to make up for the negligence in due course — however impossible it might seem.
To start this off, it’s a nice feeling to be top of the table for now and the impressive form shown by the lads in the face of crumbling hamstrings, calfs and ankles is, well, impressive. True, we cannot even begin comparing ourselves with the likes of Barcelona on the pitch, but considering the nature of hurdles the team has faced this season — you know what I mean — I can say I am pleased we are still in contention for all four trophies. This is a dogged United side that, for all it’s relative lack of offensive bite this season, just wouldn’t cede ground easily. [This line was written with the dread that it could bite me in the arse come Tuesday against West Brom.] If the lads can grit their teeth and eke out results for the next two weeks, the world champions can be good value for at least three out of four trophies this season. [I assume Evra, Rio, Rooney might return in two weeks' time.]
There has been much talk about our prospective sponsors. Saudi Telecom had prominently cropped up earlier and much was made about how wrong it is from a political and human rights standpoint to accept money from the Saudi Royal family. I am not willing to make political statements on this blog, but the Glazers have already shown a willingness to do business with the Saudi Sheikhs in the past. So a deal with them, in the current economic climate, would make sense to the American owners from a pure business standpoint. The other name that’s been more talked about lately, the India-based Sahara group — which has been inaccurately labelled as a financial services group in various media circles — looks like a proven bankable option. They are a huge business conglomerate that encompass various sectors including financial services, real estate and, until recently, aviation. They are the shirt sponsors of the Indian cricket team which is an ongoing four year deal worth $70 million (AIG’s deal with United was about $76 million for four years). The Indian cricket team, it must be said especially for those outside cricketing circles, is a multi-million dollar brand; the country’s cricket board is comfortably worth well over $2 billion dollars. And Sahara’s desire and history of being associated with big brands would tie in nicely with United. Although the question would be how much of a hit Sahara has taken during this financial crisis.
Also, it is worth noting that United have contacted prospective sponsors, so there may yet be new names coming up. Whilst it’s possible the new deal will be more than the AIG one, it remains to be seen how much the recession affects the price sponsors are willing to pay for the famous red shirt.
There is plenty else I’ve missed out waffling on. But they will follow later because it’s time for me to attend to other chores. Over to you.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Interview with Aon – Manchester United’s future sponsors
- Manchester United 2007/2008 Home Kit
- Classic Manchester United Shirts
- Who is your Manchester United’s Player Of The Month for November?
- 09/10 Manchester United Away Kit
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
Even with our weakened defence West Brom won’t have the balls to have a go at us. They’ll sit back and defend and as our attack is still pretty strong I think we’ll be able to score a goal or two and win the game.
If they do have a go at us we’ll just hit them on the break and exploit the gaps.
Worst case scenario EVDS gets a workout and the chance to remind us why he is our best number 1 since Schmeichel and why Foster will never be fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as Ed and Peter.
We should relax and start worrying if our injured defenders are not back in time for the Everton game. A makeshift backline would definitely concede against Everton and we struggle to score more than a goal or two a game so if Everton scored one or two goals we’d struggle to come away with more than a point. Same potentially applies to the West Ham game.
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It feels like years ago that Rooney got injured. When is he back? I really miss arguing about his worth to the team
get well soon Wayne!
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@Liam: I feel ya brotha!
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@RedDevilEddy: Of course I did. I was joking too. That’s why I used the laughing smiley.
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I say United wins 2-0 today. (If hell freezes over, or we’re really lucky.)
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@Grognard: Okey then! Just wanted to make sure…
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I was just looking at the league table and noticed this..Hull is sitting pretty at 9th, but have a goal difference of -13!!
WOW! The only other 3 clubs, having a worse GD than them, are all in the relegation zone.
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seems Rio is playing tonight! Yay!
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Line-up?
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West Brom: Carson, Hoefkens, Pele, Donk, Robinson, Zuiverloon, Borja Valero, Koren, Brunt, Simpson, Fortune.
Subs: Kiely, Cech, Bednar, Kim, Dorrans, Filipe Teixeira, Morrison.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea, Park, Carrick, Giggs, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Tevez.
Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Tosic, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Eckersley.
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
source: BBC
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Seems kick off is delayed by half n hour…
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Guys does any of you know the link for the match with English commentary?
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You know things are going our way when Park does the Zidane 360 rollover!
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Red Ranter: it’s really disappointing to see this comment in a blog that I’ve been watching for more than a year now. a blog that supports the club I’ve been supporting for 11 years.
All this crap about the Saudi telecom company which is by the way a public shared company and not owned by the SAUDI royal family and will benefit from the deal since Man United supporters in the Middle East and East Asia is more than any part of the world. And the Saudi company owns 5 East Asia telecom companies along with their base in the middle east. but this is not my point, what I want to point out is although this is a marketing prospective, you claimed it’s ” and much was made about how wrong it is from a political and human rights standpoint to accept money from the Saudi Royal family.”
How on earth did you make a statement of this kind in what I assume a football blog.
Very Disappointing
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@Usamah: You missed the line that follows it:
and much was made about how wrong it is from a political and human rights standpoint to accept money from the Saudi Royal family. I am not willing to make political statements on this blog, but the Glazers have already shown a willingness to do business with the Saudi Sheikhs in the past
Regarding this line: much was made about how wrong it is from a political and human rights standpoint to accept money from the Saudi Royal family
It is a reference to the furore made by people all over in the media and blogs about the moral nature of this deal — not my statement.
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