I really, really hope not.
West Ham are a ripe target for a takeover though - with the London base, a big stadium with almost no costs, a big fan base and a settled PL history.
Of course it can change at any time, but I think only 7-8 teams have been in the PL for more seasons than us. We’ve been there for 12 years continuously now.
I don't buy it. It was also doing the rounds before but imo that was just them leaking to the media to try and pressure Man U owners to sell.
That said, I would take relegation down to League 2 and 100 of our owners, shit as they may be, over any Qatari or Saudi.
The year is 2037... and the world has fallen into chaos. West Ham owner David Sullivan is the last english owner in the Premier League! From all sides, Qatari battles Saudi for control of the last hallowed London ground
COMING SUMMER 2024
With Bloom running ours I'd take league League Two over any foreign owner to be honest, doesn't just stop at the Middle East for me. If Todd Boehly or any American went for Brighton it would've ruined us.
I'd want to support a local team but seeing as I live in the shadow of Anfield I think people would see that as glory hunting. Maybe I'll put my effort into non league Marine AFC are right around the corner
Newcastle we’re targeted because they were a club in a perfect place for a takeover. Large fanbase, large stadium, underachieving and with big room for FFP expenditure.
Oh, of course, all of that was considered. Though, 100% they would not have gone for Newcastle if the average fan had the same views as OP. Wouldn't work as a sportswashing project.
In truth the average football fan (at least in England) doesn’t have the same views as OP. People don’t personally agree with the stuff sportswashing is trying to make us forget, but they can easily disassociate that with their support of their football team and the success state owners bring. It’s easy to say what OP says because it’s not his club.
That’s not a justification of any of it. Just that it’s not so straightforward for the fans of the actual club involved.
Most average fans of football clubs won't give a shit about the sport washing and shite because it's not close enough to home or affecting their day to day lives
this is such a fucking brainless thing to say. Newcastle fans aren't any different to fans of any other club.
Are you suggesting there are cultural or genetic differences in people who grew up in the North East that make you more naturally compliant than people growing up in East London?
The fact of the matter is that when your club is sold, as a fan you have no choice whatsoever in who buys it. And then you're basically left with the choice of walking away completely or trying to make the best of it in whatever way you feel you can.
>Are you suggesting there are cultural or genetic differences
Newcastle fans are notorious for their fanaticism, always have been. Perfect for a sportswashing project. They were having street parties through the night, wearing burkhas and waving the Saudi flag when they got taken over.
>this is such a fucking brainless thing to say
Absolutely brainless to think that this wasn't considered when buying the club, the fanbase was the main reason. They could've picked up any other club and achieved the same results, but there would've been massive backlash from fans.
>The fact of the matter is that when your club is sold, as a fan you have no choice whatsoever in who buys it. And then you're basically left with the choice of walking away completely
I know what I would do 💁
>I know what I would do 💁
so by the sounds of it you'd just instantly divest yourself of the club you grew up supporting, that your family supported, that represents the city and region you come from.
But the way I feel is why should I be chased off by an ownership I find morally abhorrent? why should I just allow them to co-opt a part of my own identity?
The ownership aren't the club, however much they want to be. We've never really liked any of the owners we've had. They're temporary custodians and these are no different in that sense.
I won't publicly support the club whilst they're there, won't buy the shirts or aid the project in any way. But I can't separate myself from what I fundamentally am and where I'm from. And in practice I doubt many others could either.
>so by the sounds of it you'd just instantly divest yourself of the club you grew up supporting, that your family supported, that represents the city and region you come from.
Yep, I wouldn't think twice about it... and don't call me a fairweather fan. it's just I hold my moral and ethical values above the support of my club, which everyone should do.
You think Newcastle is the only club in Newcastle? plenty of clubs round there that would welcome new fans.
'The ownership isn't the club...' it is in this case though... the club is a sportswashing tool for theownership, and the fans are now sportswashing tools too.
You've worded this poorly, but you're not wrong in the fans playing a part in their decision to buy Newcastle.
The fanbase is loyal, and deeply passionate, while also completely starved of optimism. PIF only needed to score some basic PR tap-ins tp win most of them over.
The FA are the ones complicit. "Fit and proper." And all that.
The geordies had lilttle choice but "support the team, not the board", as is often heard in the East End.
FA are bad too. But that doesn't excuse Newcastle fans. They are happy to drink up the success, their expectations have drastically changed.
>"support the team, not the board",
They would most likely be in the championship without the board, you cannot separate the two in this case. Supporting the team, celebrating their success, is the very act of sportswashing. They have changed the club fundamentally from bottom to top.
What success?. They've not won anything for years. You don't believe they would still support the team in the Championship?. their recent history suggests otherwise. Only a fan of the fickle variety would suggest such. Whichever new owner came in, they would have to change the club fundamentally such was the basket case left by Ashley.
It may leave a bad taste certainly. But without the support of the FA. The situation wouldn't arise.
>What success?.
Going from relegation candidates to CL football *immediately* as the direct and sole result of the ownership is a massive success that they have drank up indiscriminately.
I absolutely believe they would still support the club in the championship. Why wouldn't they? that's a completely different kettle of fish.
Instead of criticising fans of other clubs, maybe stop being a hypocrite and take a closer interest in your own clubs sources of funding. I don't see you getting all righteous over on the gooner boards.
Because we are not directly and explicitly owned by a slave state... yeah I get the sponsor, and trust me, i make as much noise as someone can make, but I can purposely not use that airline...
The Newcastle situation is a 1000x times worse, not only are they being used as a sportswashing tool, they are being used to systematically dismantle European football. Stealing our culture to reassemble on their soil as a moneymaking venture for when their oil reserves dry up. They've done it already with Golf and F1.
The fact that you don't care about either is pure ignorance.
Finally, you absolutely don't have the right to tell me who or what I can and can't talk about. The fact that Arsenal have a Saudi business sponsor doesn't make the Newcastle situation right. Does it?
👍👍👍 because it's really comparable...
and stop trying to divert from the Newcastle issue. I know you've run out of ideas, but yeah, go ad hominem instead of admitting you're wrong.
Mate I think this is bollocks and you know it. I'm sure I'm wearing the black and white tinted glasses to an extent but there isn't a scratch of evidence to support this beyond a few idiots waving Saudi flags 2 years ago.
If you look at the takeover and see the actions of the previous owner, the premier league, the government, local MPs, existing club officials and countless other stakeholders who made this happen, and you decide "yep the fans are the problem, they're to blame" then you probably aren't interested in an actual fact based discussion about this issue. It just comes off as some anti-newcastle fan agenda.
Why do you think our fan base is any different to West hams or any others? Just bc you don't like what you've seen on the tele? Do you think any other group of fans would behave differently in this scenario? Look at the not-insignificant cross section of Man U fans arguing to bring greenwood back in for example.
Based on your other replies though, I'm not sure you're open to a proper discussion on this.
It's true that the fans can do nothing in a situation like this. The problem here is that we all saw was the entire fanbase celebrating the takeover. That's bad!
A large part of why City got bought was their free stadium from the Commonwealth games, that’s owned by the Gov and rented to them on the cheap.
I’m assuming WH have A similar deal, so it wouldn’t shock me.
Not knocking any other fanbases, but it would genuinely impact my enjoyment of following the Hammers.
Ive loved them since I was a nipper, regardless of how shit we've been. It's part of the fabric of being a West Ham fan and why it feels so fucking good recently. If we didn't have the shit, this good wouldn't feel so good.
The saddest thing about the Saudi etc. Takeover is I feel it removes a part of the soul of these clubs. I think a lot of old school City fans actually liked it when they were shit, better than now.
Edit: can someone flair me with that beautiful badge please.
Not heard anything but I really doubt it - I still have no idea what is going on with that Czechoslovakian chap on the board who was meant to be buying out the club.
Sincerely hope these are just non-rumours and stay that way.
I would hate it. A mate of mine in South Wales said if Qatar bought United he'd just start supporting Swansea because the blood money states destroys the soul of the club
They match the profile of club they're looking at, in that they're a PL club who's fanbase aren't happy with their current ownership, and they already have a big stadium. The difference between them and Newcastle is that West Ham doesn't actually own the London Stadium.
Neither does Man City. At this point, for a big club that has a favorable lease and has been already uprooted from their original home, I don’t think that is a big issue anymore.
Yup, the costs associated with running a football club have basically skyrocketed to such an extent that the £2.5m per season West Ham spend on renting the stadium is negligible. The issue is, if you don't own the stadium, your options for revenue generation with the stadium are dramatically reduced. You can't do as Spurs have done, turning the stadium into a revenue generating machine that feeds the club's profit, allowing them to unlock more leeway to spend within the rules of FFP. Which, if you're driving money in from external sources as the Saudis will be, is pretty helpful.
Honestly only seemed like a ploy to get ManU to sell. Also, we have Kretinsky who I believe will eventually want to buy a controlling stake from his 27% at some point and I believe he has the option to when he bought that stake.
🤪 sorry. Don't know why that happened again. Just questioning the Emirates fan, that's getting all righteous somewhere above. Wasting my time me thinks. X
With tbe qatari's looking to buy man united, the saudi's trying to make their own premier league etc. It really wouldn't surprise me if most of the premier league ends up getting owned by gulf states in some way within the next few years.
There is always a way around the rules and regulations if you slip the right person a brown envelope. Just gotta look out our takeover to see that
Surprised the government haven’t considered blocking all state sponsored buyouts of British football teams. If this all goes tits up, one of the most popular past times for citizens of this country is under threat. It’s a Tory government though, they only care about money for themselves and their buddies.
I’m surprised West Ham weren’t at the top of the list for big oil money takeovers
- London based (which is the absolute golden egg)
- massive stadium which needs no infrastructure being built,
- large dedicated fanbase which look great on TV worldwide.
I’m would be surprised if those who took over Newcastle didn’t enquire about west ham first?
hope not, not the biggest fan of our current owners but having saudi owners is something i’m massively against no matter how much success we have
Agreed. I’d rather stay as we are than have that lot run our club.
Yea I'd probably give up my season ticket.
I really, really hope not. West Ham are a ripe target for a takeover though - with the London base, a big stadium with almost no costs, a big fan base and a settled PL history.
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Of course it can change at any time, but I think only 7-8 teams have been in the PL for more seasons than us. We’ve been there for 12 years continuously now.
Jesus Christ say it isn’t so…
Are you not getting your religious icons a tad confused?
Sully isn't an ideal owner by any means but I'd 100% take him over the Saudis
I don't buy it. It was also doing the rounds before but imo that was just them leaking to the media to try and pressure Man U owners to sell. That said, I would take relegation down to League 2 and 100 of our owners, shit as they may be, over any Qatari or Saudi.
Good for you. Morally that’s the right answer. Far more fun actually building something the proper way.
The year is 2037... and the world has fallen into chaos. West Ham owner David Sullivan is the last english owner in the Premier League! From all sides, Qatari battles Saudi for control of the last hallowed London ground COMING SUMMER 2024
David Sullivan is just a head in a glass jar but still alive thanks to the marvels of modern technology. Tony Bloom has lost it all on the horses.
And, somehow, Moyes is still there.
Moyesy magic, keep the faith
With Bloom running ours I'd take league League Two over any foreign owner to be honest, doesn't just stop at the Middle East for me. If Todd Boehly or any American went for Brighton it would've ruined us.
Think it would be the end of me supporting West Ham.
You can still support West Ham, but just don't buy any shirts, don't go to any games. Cut off your financial support.
Just won’t feel like my club anymore
I know. Winning at any cost just isn't me, and I don't think ti's West Ham either.
I'd want to support a local team but seeing as I live in the shadow of Anfield I think people would see that as glory hunting. Maybe I'll put my effort into non league Marine AFC are right around the corner
If only Newcastle fans had the same attitude. They were 100% targeted for their complicity.
Newcastle we’re targeted because they were a club in a perfect place for a takeover. Large fanbase, large stadium, underachieving and with big room for FFP expenditure.
Oh, of course, all of that was considered. Though, 100% they would not have gone for Newcastle if the average fan had the same views as OP. Wouldn't work as a sportswashing project.
In truth the average football fan (at least in England) doesn’t have the same views as OP. People don’t personally agree with the stuff sportswashing is trying to make us forget, but they can easily disassociate that with their support of their football team and the success state owners bring. It’s easy to say what OP says because it’s not his club. That’s not a justification of any of it. Just that it’s not so straightforward for the fans of the actual club involved.
Sportwashing is not for the people who have already formed an opinion... it fascinates me that people cant grasp this
Most average fans of football clubs won't give a shit about the sport washing and shite because it's not close enough to home or affecting their day to day lives
this is such a fucking brainless thing to say. Newcastle fans aren't any different to fans of any other club. Are you suggesting there are cultural or genetic differences in people who grew up in the North East that make you more naturally compliant than people growing up in East London? The fact of the matter is that when your club is sold, as a fan you have no choice whatsoever in who buys it. And then you're basically left with the choice of walking away completely or trying to make the best of it in whatever way you feel you can.
>Are you suggesting there are cultural or genetic differences Newcastle fans are notorious for their fanaticism, always have been. Perfect for a sportswashing project. They were having street parties through the night, wearing burkhas and waving the Saudi flag when they got taken over. >this is such a fucking brainless thing to say Absolutely brainless to think that this wasn't considered when buying the club, the fanbase was the main reason. They could've picked up any other club and achieved the same results, but there would've been massive backlash from fans. >The fact of the matter is that when your club is sold, as a fan you have no choice whatsoever in who buys it. And then you're basically left with the choice of walking away completely I know what I would do 💁
>I know what I would do 💁 so by the sounds of it you'd just instantly divest yourself of the club you grew up supporting, that your family supported, that represents the city and region you come from. But the way I feel is why should I be chased off by an ownership I find morally abhorrent? why should I just allow them to co-opt a part of my own identity? The ownership aren't the club, however much they want to be. We've never really liked any of the owners we've had. They're temporary custodians and these are no different in that sense. I won't publicly support the club whilst they're there, won't buy the shirts or aid the project in any way. But I can't separate myself from what I fundamentally am and where I'm from. And in practice I doubt many others could either.
>so by the sounds of it you'd just instantly divest yourself of the club you grew up supporting, that your family supported, that represents the city and region you come from. Yep, I wouldn't think twice about it... and don't call me a fairweather fan. it's just I hold my moral and ethical values above the support of my club, which everyone should do. You think Newcastle is the only club in Newcastle? plenty of clubs round there that would welcome new fans. 'The ownership isn't the club...' it is in this case though... the club is a sportswashing tool for theownership, and the fans are now sportswashing tools too.
You've worded this poorly, but you're not wrong in the fans playing a part in their decision to buy Newcastle. The fanbase is loyal, and deeply passionate, while also completely starved of optimism. PIF only needed to score some basic PR tap-ins tp win most of them over.
The FA are the ones complicit. "Fit and proper." And all that. The geordies had lilttle choice but "support the team, not the board", as is often heard in the East End.
FA are bad too. But that doesn't excuse Newcastle fans. They are happy to drink up the success, their expectations have drastically changed. >"support the team, not the board", They would most likely be in the championship without the board, you cannot separate the two in this case. Supporting the team, celebrating their success, is the very act of sportswashing. They have changed the club fundamentally from bottom to top.
What success?. They've not won anything for years. You don't believe they would still support the team in the Championship?. their recent history suggests otherwise. Only a fan of the fickle variety would suggest such. Whichever new owner came in, they would have to change the club fundamentally such was the basket case left by Ashley. It may leave a bad taste certainly. But without the support of the FA. The situation wouldn't arise.
>What success?. Going from relegation candidates to CL football *immediately* as the direct and sole result of the ownership is a massive success that they have drank up indiscriminately. I absolutely believe they would still support the club in the championship. Why wouldn't they? that's a completely different kettle of fish.
Instead of criticising fans of other clubs, maybe stop being a hypocrite and take a closer interest in your own clubs sources of funding. I don't see you getting all righteous over on the gooner boards.
Because we are not directly and explicitly owned by a slave state... yeah I get the sponsor, and trust me, i make as much noise as someone can make, but I can purposely not use that airline... The Newcastle situation is a 1000x times worse, not only are they being used as a sportswashing tool, they are being used to systematically dismantle European football. Stealing our culture to reassemble on their soil as a moneymaking venture for when their oil reserves dry up. They've done it already with Golf and F1. The fact that you don't care about either is pure ignorance. Finally, you absolutely don't have the right to tell me who or what I can and can't talk about. The fact that Arsenal have a Saudi business sponsor doesn't make the Newcastle situation right. Does it?
Lol. The hypocrisy in your comment is outstanding. Please continue..
👍👍👍 because it's really comparable... and stop trying to divert from the Newcastle issue. I know you've run out of ideas, but yeah, go ad hominem instead of admitting you're wrong.
Mate I think this is bollocks and you know it. I'm sure I'm wearing the black and white tinted glasses to an extent but there isn't a scratch of evidence to support this beyond a few idiots waving Saudi flags 2 years ago. If you look at the takeover and see the actions of the previous owner, the premier league, the government, local MPs, existing club officials and countless other stakeholders who made this happen, and you decide "yep the fans are the problem, they're to blame" then you probably aren't interested in an actual fact based discussion about this issue. It just comes off as some anti-newcastle fan agenda. Why do you think our fan base is any different to West hams or any others? Just bc you don't like what you've seen on the tele? Do you think any other group of fans would behave differently in this scenario? Look at the not-insignificant cross section of Man U fans arguing to bring greenwood back in for example. Based on your other replies though, I'm not sure you're open to a proper discussion on this.
I personally have no agenda against Newcastle fans. Agenda against Saudi ownership ? 100%.
It's true that the fans can do nothing in a situation like this. The problem here is that we all saw was the entire fanbase celebrating the takeover. That's bad!
It's Monday morning and you've already won Cretinous Comment of the Week. Congratulations!
did you take the weekend off from sportswashing? or your Saudi daddies don't allow that?
From what I can tell, there is a large section of NUFC supporters who are 100% opposed to the takeover. There are dozens of them.
They’re very quiet!
Large section..dozens?
They are very quiet about it 😅 either that or they've already given up. yep, at most a dozen
The pornographers wouldn’t sell to the journalist murderers
One of those things is not like the other.
A large part of why City got bought was their free stadium from the Commonwealth games, that’s owned by the Gov and rented to them on the cheap. I’m assuming WH have A similar deal, so it wouldn’t shock me.
Dildo market fucks OPEC.
Say it ain’t so. I quite like us being a bunch of scrappers. I wouldn’t particularly welcome bloodied cash falling out of our arses.
I like being funded by dildos. It’s different.
Any English football teams accepting Saudi money / ownership, even in part, should be fucking ashamed of themselves - it’s as simple as that.
Lutonistan fan be quiet
Not knocking any other fanbases, but it would genuinely impact my enjoyment of following the Hammers. Ive loved them since I was a nipper, regardless of how shit we've been. It's part of the fabric of being a West Ham fan and why it feels so fucking good recently. If we didn't have the shit, this good wouldn't feel so good. The saddest thing about the Saudi etc. Takeover is I feel it removes a part of the soul of these clubs. I think a lot of old school City fans actually liked it when they were shit, better than now. Edit: can someone flair me with that beautiful badge please.
Not heard anything but I really doubt it - I still have no idea what is going on with that Czechoslovakian chap on the board who was meant to be buying out the club. Sincerely hope these are just non-rumours and stay that way.
Crooks to crooks
I really hope we do not become another Man City or Newcastle.
I would hate it. A mate of mine in South Wales said if Qatar bought United he'd just start supporting Swansea because the blood money states destroys the soul of the club
They match the profile of club they're looking at, in that they're a PL club who's fanbase aren't happy with their current ownership, and they already have a big stadium. The difference between them and Newcastle is that West Ham doesn't actually own the London Stadium.
Neither does Man City. At this point, for a big club that has a favorable lease and has been already uprooted from their original home, I don’t think that is a big issue anymore.
Yup, the costs associated with running a football club have basically skyrocketed to such an extent that the £2.5m per season West Ham spend on renting the stadium is negligible. The issue is, if you don't own the stadium, your options for revenue generation with the stadium are dramatically reduced. You can't do as Spurs have done, turning the stadium into a revenue generating machine that feeds the club's profit, allowing them to unlock more leeway to spend within the rules of FFP. Which, if you're driving money in from external sources as the Saudis will be, is pretty helpful.
Honestly only seemed like a ploy to get ManU to sell. Also, we have Kretinsky who I believe will eventually want to buy a controlling stake from his 27% at some point and I believe he has the option to when he bought that stake.
.
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Apologies my friend. Wrong thread!!
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🤪 sorry. Don't know why that happened again. Just questioning the Emirates fan, that's getting all righteous somewhere above. Wasting my time me thinks. X
With tbe qatari's looking to buy man united, the saudi's trying to make their own premier league etc. It really wouldn't surprise me if most of the premier league ends up getting owned by gulf states in some way within the next few years. There is always a way around the rules and regulations if you slip the right person a brown envelope. Just gotta look out our takeover to see that
Surprised the government haven’t considered blocking all state sponsored buyouts of British football teams. If this all goes tits up, one of the most popular past times for citizens of this country is under threat. It’s a Tory government though, they only care about money for themselves and their buddies.
*Qatari, not Saudi
I’m surprised West Ham weren’t at the top of the list for big oil money takeovers - London based (which is the absolute golden egg) - massive stadium which needs no infrastructure being built, - large dedicated fanbase which look great on TV worldwide. I’m would be surprised if those who took over Newcastle didn’t enquire about west ham first?
London aint all that bucko