It has been revealed today that a steward at Old Trafford has been sacked for returning an anti-Glazer banner to United fans protesting about the state of our club.
Granville Boden, who has worked as a steward at United for 19 years, was sacked after he tried to return a banner which was confiscated by stewards during the league game against Burnley.
He took the banner to his car with the idea of returning it, only for it to be taken off him.
“There is a lot of internal conflict between the staff and I think that conflict is only going to grow as the protests against the Glazers gather more momentum,” Boden said. “There are a lot of staff at the club who are sympathetic to what the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust are trying to achieve. I don’t regret anything I did.”
LUHG
Man Utd News 24/7
GREAT GUY!!!!
A United hero already.
Read about this earlier today, unacceptable.
Our club needs more people like this guy!
Fair play
unbelieveable, i cant believe this man has had to lose his job
completely unacceptable behaviour from the management here
This may be contraversial and I know many other fans will disagree but if you are in the ground then dont let these fucking bully glazer rent boys confiscate anything of us!
All you need to do is block their route, they make me sick, if they asked politely and explained their position i would probably feel different but the fuckers dont they just steam roll in throwing their wait around.
This is a joke, the flag that got took away on Sat was just green and gold with no message, who are they to dictate a peaceful protest!
Even fans who dont support this particular cause must see this as manipulation of how we are to support OUR club?
I know a lad who is a steward and he said the CES guys are a joke and just want to be involved in a bit of bother.
Dont type cast all the srewards though as the ones by us in K are quality and like the guy in this story just plain old United fans!
A faithful servant for 19 years fired so heartlessly? Thats a disgrace.. LUHG
And so it begins…
Disgusting behavior by a club losing its honor, class and dignity, each day the Glazier scum stay in control. It’s their house, so they make the rules but we built it over generations and want what’s ours. Get that f**king scum out of our club by any means necessary. I’m happy for Utd to go into administration and watch the team play in division 4, as long as we can be proud of our club.
LUHG
I think we need banner’s / t-shirts with Granville’s face on them. The first martyr in the struggle…
This is exactly why David Gill and Fergie are having to stick up for the Glazers – they are in a sense being yes men but i think they both know that the Glazers will be gone soon and are just bearing with it
It’s like being in a job and certain things aren’t going ur way – if you stand up and speak out you’ll get sacked and replaced – easily! imagine the millions of yes man out there ready to replace Gill – even Kenyon would probably re-apply.
It’s a shame but the power is where the money is!! We need to keep fighting and get those fuckers out of the club – LUHG!!!
In another part of the interview, I think Granville said that he realised the consequences of his action, but did what he felt was right. Nothing but respect for him.
Man United might do all sorts of tributes for the Busby Babes or George Best, but lets face it: It’s a business now. It’s got nothing to do with principles anymore. But even so, this could come back to haunt the Glazers. The Green and Gold campaign didn’t need any more motivation.
I dont think the club gives a fcuk, they’ll just replace him. LUHG
I’m shocked and very angry at the way the club (remember there are two meanings of that word…) has treated a loyal employee like this. It’s shameful behaviour and will only fuel everyone’s determination to drive the Glazers out. Granville should indeed be treated as a hero.What’s Gill’s excuse this time?
I will continue to wear my Green & Gold scarf with even more pride. It’s amazing how many conversations it provokes, showing how this form of peaceful protest has caught the imagination even among non-fans and rival supporters.
Absolutely disgusting behaviour. To treat someone who has worked for United for 19 years this way is just appalling.
LUHG
what cunts, don’t they nothing about man united. This will only make LUHG campaign stronger!
GREEN AND GOLD TILL WE’RE SOLD
As I suggested on the forum, how about green and gold clothes!
Would they tear your clothes off?
Best of luck to Granville Boden!
LUHG
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/400757809?-11193
Possible signing.
So i see, along with ruining the club financially the Glazers have also decided to ruin the reputation of the club. This is shameful,pathetic and disgusting behaviour by the club. 19 years someone works and you do this. really didnt expect this from united.
I was initially against the protests because i felt it would not amount to anything much but this goes on i am fully supporting all the fans who want the Glazers out.
Well at least the Glazers bring more unwanted attention, I really hope he gets his job back if/when they go. LUHG.
They obviously don’t give a damn and are willing to pay compensation in court for unfair dismissal. Can’t see how taking a banner to your car with the intent to give it back to the owner can be a sackable offence. We are not in the USA!!!!
Would this be this gentlemans only source of income? or would stewards have other employment too?
any chance you guys change the site’s theme to Green and Gold?
would seem to be in line with the current situation
the glazers are bringinnnn the fught in ti themserlfs next tuesday ids gonna be green and gild pancakes with the deoctors gave me mediin on uts lilke a dream and these are makin it inti a night mer
Hi guys,
those who comment regularly already know my views/opinions of the protests(s).
I think it is RIDICULOUS however for someone to have lost their job over this – and feel it may be handy to petition the club to re-instate the gentleman. As a part of the Man Utd family I feel we owe it to Granville to offer help and support.
Thoughts/views/wording for petition anyone?
Thank you.
surely actions like this will only make things worse for the people running the club? i don’t see what they can gain by doing things like this…
This is a blessing in disguise – this will only provoke the ire of more United fans, and non fans alike. What I don’t understand is how the Glazers can continue with owning the club when it is painfully obvious that they are loathed and detested by the fans? It’s like having an ant farm and the pesky little buggers don’t grow anything for you!
This Granville Boden lad is sound as the pound (probably not the best analogy right now) and I am sure he will be vilified.
Scott – could you please explain/justify why my petition idea was just removed from here please?
i take that back – it re-appeared :s sorry Scott
What happen to the nature of the club?? Why treat the people like this? The owner are carrying out things which is not the image of the club! Disappointing!
Bit harsh to be honest although if the company he worked for clearly stated not to give it back and he went agains their wishes then it was his choice!
The contracting company must have viewed it as gross miscondut and sacked him under that.
Im sure the club and glazers will be labeled but it wasnt them, it was the security firms decision!
I think its a bit petty, does it really make a difference if they are given the banner back anyhow!
Im reading back up the posts and i can see so many people blaming the club!
The security at the club is contracted out to another company, That company then hires and fires its own staff.
Any staff member fired the responsibility falls with that company. Maybe the current situation influenced the company and they took a stiff attitude to ensure they got another contract when it comes up for tender.
At the end of the day, the bitter truth is that Manchester United belongs to the Glazers and no the fans. It is their club and, unfortunately, they can do anything they like with it, including ban any fan who protests.
Company in charge of Security at Old Trafford are C E S Crowd ControL Personnel
C E S Crowd Control Personnel
Unit 13/United Trading Est, Manchester, M16 0RJ
Tel:0161-868 8181
Send to a Friend
ThomsonLocal heading: Security Services
@ Trevor – I hear you – it is the firm CES not MUFC – even then I feel a petition to the club and CES would be nice.
Why not just hand out green and gold balloons?
@Trevor
I see what you are trying to say but i feel that this company must have been told by the club to arrest fans who chant the anti-Glazer chants and hence this steward must have been sacked because he did something wrong in their view,but the company surely had been told by the club to be strict against the anti-glazer fans and confiscate their items, why would they do it without any notice or instructions from the club?
@trevor
AIG is right. CES didn’t suddenly develop a hatred for Green and Gold or anti Glazer banners. If the club are not happy with this development, they can issue a public statement or ask CES to take Granville back.
I think this a slap on the face for all the Pro-Glazer people on here. I see them very passionately trying to defend Glazers on the financial front (which they mostly fail to do) but I dont see any excuse or defense for this kind of gutless actions taken by them.
Taking away a poor guy’s job and a loyal one at that, having served the club for 19 years….this is just ridiculous. They are destroying the fabric of the club.
The way the boy Ljajic was treated, the way the staff at the club has their free food and snacks at Carrington away from them, denying club seniors and former players matches at Old trafford….ridiculous..
I would love to some o the Glazer enthusiasts/sympathizers try to defend this one…
@ AIG
Spot on mate….why should the CES suddenly start taking away banners and stuff from the supporters? Unless they’ve been strictly instructed to do so…
@aig alex is god
The main discussion is about the Guy getting the sack, he obviously got the sack as his company told him not to give the banner back. He had 2 choices, 1 Do what his employer has instructed or 2 Do the opposite and give the banner back… Option 2 was then viewed as gross conduct possibly jeperdising future contracts!
No offence but anyone that worked for me who did the opposite to what i asked, Did Something that they knew was against My Clients Wishes & potentialy by his action jepordised a future contract would be so quick out my door he wouldnt have time to say but!
Points Raised – Club instructed Stewarts to eject people chanting glazer abuse… This is wrong i agree, freedom of speach!
Club instructed security company to remove anti glazer banners – This is wrong freedom of speach!
@Costas
CES where obviously instructed on what to do with the green and golds protests.
CES as a company choose to follow through with these instructions, What then happened is an EMployee of theirs then went against CES and did the opposite by giving the banner back!
This has nothing to do with the club, why should the club then get involved with a public statement. It should be nothing to do with them.> CES had a choice and the choose it was gross misconduct!
@Red Devil
is the main discussion not about the guy getting the sack?
With regards to their instructions i agree they are wrong and people should have the freedom of speach.
@Trevor
Mate I know what you are saying with regards to CES but trust me these guys follow the Clubs lead!
They are acting in the way that have been advised to to upset the green and gold revolution. Any steward sporting green and gold will be sacked. They are instructed to remove in force if needed all banners relating to the protest.
This Granville man is nothing short of a hero. We should stick up for him and what he’s done and let the club know how we feel about him getting the boot. Maybe we could get him his job back ’cause God knows we need fellows like him inside Old Trafford.
@Red Devil
With regards to Pro_Glazer people on here.
Im actualy on the fence, the jury is still out. I am against the green and gold protest as i dont think it benifits the team, The team who i want to win every week and do well in every competition they enter. If anything effects their performance which i think this demonstration will at some point i am against without Good Reason. At the moment i fail to accept good enough reasons.
If this summer fergies transfer kitty is witheld, or the club dont renew contracts or we begin to be effected by their financial status then for me that would be good enough reasons to join.
I beleive Fergie that he has the money, I have no doubt in my mind that if he didnt have the money and he was asked to lie he wouldnt! The moment that happens he will walk, I have no doubt in that!
Maybe im wrong, but its freedome of opinion and View!
@ trevor
Mate…i get what you’re trying to say, but you struck the nail on the head with your last statement.
This is a football club where the fans must be treated with respect. In any business – the customer is (almost) always right….the customers must be given the right to speak their mind. forget about the Freedom of Speech thing….just treat it as a normal business scenario — Paying customers entering the ground have a right to make their feelings known. If they have the guts why dont they put out a statement that people wearing Green and Gold or carrying G&G stuff will not be allowed to purchase tickets to the games?
Because they know they’ll get a half-empty Old Trafford and they cant afford that…so they resort to such underhand tactics….disgraceful!
i am truely sorry for this guy but showed his faithfulness towards the club which he is doing for 19 yrs.this is just an example of glazers start to stumble infront of the anti-glazer concept.
now it’s the time to show some respect to Granville who is so called our first martys in this whole protest.hats off man,Granville is our hero.
@ trevor
its not only about finances or Fergie having money to spend mate. its a larger issue….thats what i’m trying to say….
is this what owners of clubs are supposed to do….suppress the fans point of view through such draconian measures…
@giggs11gerrard0
I agree that it is wrong, but you can understand where CES is coming from.
They have X employees kept in jobs due to the old trafford contract. Their Client asks for this, CES is like yes no problem we are here to do as you ask within reason. They work under the clubs instructions within reason.
But with regards to any Stewart Going Green and Gold getting the sack, that is a decision that CES have made to ensure they keep their contract and also look favourable in the next contract when their term comes up!
They could take an opposite view where they ignore the clubs requests, Let their stewarts stand up for the green and gold. What would probably happen?…. Erm they would be alowed to run the remainder of their contract and wouldnt get another!
Result of that is not only CES Loose out all Stewarts in a job loose out!
the glaziers have gone about this all wrong,they shoud’ve turned the tables thanked the fans for coming up with a tribute to newton heath and played in green and gold away strip instead the p.r just keeps getting worse and worse for these guys,i hope someone legit comes along and buys the club and put a end to all this.
@trevor
i find it ridiculous that someone is sacked for returning a flag.it wasnt a bomb.possibly the company must have feared,what if the club comes to know about it? Or possibly the club did come to know of it and the step was taken.
Lets see.if the club want,they can tell the company to take him back
@Red Devil
Very true that customers are generaly always right although every business has the right to refuse entry for any reasons.
If it means that much to them and the say if your green and gold you dont get in then you wont!
That would be a big no no for the club and i think only fuel the green and gold even more…
I know its differnt, but if i want to McDonalds and stood out side and slagged off McDonalds Owner and then for lunch went in for a Big Mac. They have a choice server me or refuse me!
Its not the same i know but we havent a leg to stand on. At the moment the glazers Own our club, We follow and support our club. Getting entry to old trafford we are at the Glazers Mercy!
@aig alex is god
Its a difficult one for the club, they cant get too involved with the runnings of their sub contractors. They can review it and make a recomendation that he be taken back.
However in the light of things and all these demos they probably want to stay out of everything not concerning them!
@ trevor Said,February 10th, 2010 @14:15
“Result of that is not only CES Loose out all Stewarts in a job loose out!”
Exactly the point mate….Is that the lengths to which the Glazers are prepared to go to suppress the average supporter?
Do you not see reason my friend? Cause and Effect.
You keep banging on about the effect….not seeing the root cause of it all!
What a legend!
The Glazers are definately on their way out now, there’s no stopping this revolution, they are shitting their pants
Keep the Green and Gold flying!
@wayne
Im a sarcastic git at times, if i were the glazers what i would have done would have beem to have changed the clubs second strip to Green and Gold!
Simular to Newton HEath!
That would have pissed everyone off, and quite funny to the neutral!
Not disrespecting the Green and Gold campaign here, just a little black humour!
@Red Devil
I see where you are coming from.
Yes Club in the wrong for Requesting Green and Gold Removal
Yes Club in the Wrong for Ejecting fans who chant anti Glazer
But No the Club is not in the Wrong for this Stewarts Sacking
Are we in agreement?
@trevor
Personally, I don’t blame CES for this. I blame the Glazers for laying the law down like that to them. They chose to play hardball with the protesters and CES follow their lead. Actually, the only one who didn’t do his job properly here was Granville. He didn’t do what his boss told him to.
The Glazers are not being smart about this. This measure won’t scare anyone. On the contrary.
@ trevor
Almost there mate
But I’ll have just one final shot…
The stewarts sacking is a direct consequence of the first two statements you make above….
if A>B and B>C, then doesn’t it imply that A>C?
Typical Glazer policy action Gestapo-like. Typical behaviour of a tam of people that are so deep in debt that only suspension of reality will do. They are a disgrace to this club to sack a faithful Manchester United servant for 19 years for returning a flag to his team’s supporters.
Disgraceful and most of all showing NO CLASS.
@Red Devil
Very good,
THE FELLA IS A HERO WHILST I DONT KNOW THE SALARY OF A STEWARD I HOPE THE GUY DOESNT SUFFER FINICIALLY IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE GLAZERS AND GOING TO SQUEEZE EVERY LAST PENNY OUT OF THE CLUB BECAUSE THIS IS PROPESTEROUS AND NOTHING SHORT OF MAKING THEIR OWN RULES IP AS THE GO ALONG SURELY THERE IS A EMPLOYMENT LAW THAT SAYS THIS IS UNFAIR DISMISSAL? LETS GET THESE BASTARDS OUT OF OUR CLUB RED ARMY RED ARMY COME ON MUST
Lads,
My lunch break is finished. might get a little time later to come on.
Looking forward to the Villa match tonight, will be a hard one but i will be online for some banter!
Maybe must and imusa told him to do it.
what glazers did is definately wrong.one day they will not alaud fans with anti glazer banners to patrionize the matches.LUHG !!!
Green & Gold (click on my name above for Utd in Green & gold)
@ Red Devil
You seem to be someone who has work experience so I am disappointed with your remarks. Any company in the current economic climate will try its best to reduce its expenditure. That alone explains most of the points you raised. Also the reasons for the failure of the Llajic deal are well documented (work permit issues). We did spend 10 mil on a Smalling after that. So you can’t complain about the lack of funds. Maybe a bit of research before commenting next time…
I agree the steward should not have been fired for the reasons stated, but he did go against his company rules. I also agree that suppressing the green and gold campaign can be construed as a blow to the freedom of speech and its more likely to end up as a PR nightmare. But as Duncan rightly pointed it our earlier, the club belongs to the Glazers, and you can’t really expect to go to a company headquarters, protest against the current management and expect to be welcomed.
Maybe a petition to the club would be a good idea. I hope the club management allow the current protests as long as they are peaceful.
what glazers did is definately wrong.one day they will not alaud fans with anti glazer banners to patrionize the matches.LUHG !!!!
The guy was not fired by Manchester United, he was fired by CES for breaching his terms of employment. The stewards, whilst most of them enjoy keeping half an eye on the game, are there to maintain order and control.
It is not as if it is a lucrative full time job or income, so he should just move on.
Sorry guys, I know this sounds really harsh. Perhaps, it would have been better to give him a warning first but them’s the breaks. If you or I breach our contract, we’d be dealt with too. Plain and simple. He is by no means a martyr, so let’s not start using that kind of language.
And before anyone starts laying into the Glazers about what dreadful employers they are, remember that they are funding an all expenses day out to Wembley at the end of the month, for the entire permanent staff of Manchester United.
Hi,
if you want to question CES, here is the contact page http://www.controlledeventsolutions.com/contact.html
@trevor
Sorry if we cornered you a bit pal. Hope to talk to you during the game today. It’s must win!
Paul H – WOW you want to give the parasites a medal. to even defend the scum you really must be a pro glazer, and it sums up their ownership of this club. their pethetic website glazerfamilyfoundation that was hilerious, them doing charity work its like hitler giving the jews a proper meal in the death camps, and their site looks so old it makes me laugh. We can go back over the years over their disgusting vile behavior and ownership of a club that belongs to the united fans of manchester and many in general. I could go over point after point of the things they have done but I cant be assed.
@ arijc
Reduce expenditure by destroying the soul of the club?? How much would a few tickets to the former players or hospitality to the staff cost? Peanuts compared to the ridiculous sums being taken out from Man United on account of management fees and loans to the Glazer boys?
As for the Ljajic deal, I’m not referring to the financial aspect of the deal but the way the poor teenager was treated…again not in line with the youth traditions of the club. (But obviously you wouldn’t know that because you dont do your research about the history of the club!)
I dont know what the hell you’re trying to connect it to the smalling deal for ? Just shows you dont even try to read my post carefully let alone trying to understand what was meant..
@ all contributors
Watch any Italian league game and you’ll notice stramers asking for the removal of club presidents and managers. It’s the piper who calls the tune. And the Italians believe this. One Italian TV station even broadasts a programme where the best streamer from all stadiums is chosen for a special mention. We’ve even seen the Inter player Materazzi fooling about after a match wearing a Berlusconi mask. This was considered in bad taste but he was not sacked. Couldn’t Mr. Boden have been warned: sort of being shown a red card?
last two words should have read yellow card.
You guys do realise what he did is technically theft don’t you? Anyone of us would get sacked on the spot for doing something similar in our places of work.
Also lets remember that
1) It wasn’t United who sacked him
2) Do we actually know that United have banned Green and Gold OR protest banners and its not actually a ban on any oversize banner that’s put up during a game without permission. There is after all Health and Safety laws and insurance concerns that have to be considered.
Someone try and display a Banner that’s the same size praising Rooney at the next game and see what happens. I would bet that that will be taken down too
@willierednut
Was wondering what happened with Dodo as until the uproar arose around is ‘poaching’ Brazilian youngsters we were said to have pretty much tied the deal up for him to join once he turned 18
@Red Devil
How exactly should Ljajic have been treated then. Should we have signed him and wasted 12million on a player that wouldn’t have been able to play for us until he was nearing the end of his contract and which due to next years squad rules would have struggled to get a squad place.
He had a year to reach the playing level that was expected of him and he failed to achieve that so didn’t get his work permit and it we had to pay up or pull out so the only option was to pull out
To be honest, this sounds blown out of proportion, if the Glaziers sitting in their Ivory Tower really wanted to BAN the green and gold surely they would just BAN THE GREEN AND GOLD full stop. But they haven’t. Nobody has been refused entry for wearing the colours have they? Lord knows we would have heard about it if they had.
This sounds really blown out of proportion. Everybody here has had at least ONE JOB in their life im assuming? So you all know about company policy, which means we can all imagine having a job where we are required to confiscate specific items and have strict orders that ANYTHING confiscated can not and should not be returned. So imagine that type of SECURITY JOB, and then imagine that you take it upon your self to REMOVE a confiscated item from company premises with the intention of giving it back without permission ? What do you think would happen? A promotion?
Just a little thought.
There are 2 different opinions out here. One is Pro Glazer (if we can call it like that), the other is LUHG.
Pro Glazer don’t find any of the decisions made by the Glazers wrong, others don’t find anything in their decisions worth praising.
Don’t you find it strange ? We all make mistakes but just because you try to defend your point view you just try to persist in your opinion.
Don’t try to pretend there is only black and white.
It’s funny sometimes. But maybe it helps separate the wheat from the chaff. We’ll see.
RTNK, what can I say?
Drawing comparisons between the Glazers and the Nazis. Profound. Maybe this disturbing window into your little world, can begin to help us understand why you have recently incited murder, partied for a stroke victim and have plans to add your own personal touch to Malcolm Glazer’s eventual final resting place.
Maybe you’ve watched Inglourious Basterds one too many times and become a little confused…? I’m no shrink, but I would suggest you get help.
I don’t love the Glazer family. But I do feel the need to bring balance to the debate and hopefully stop people like yourself from becoming hysterical, irrational and who knows, ultimately save you from a long custodial sentence?
Wakey – you are really clutching at straws if you think some over size banner is an health and safety law, many stadiums world cups european championships have had over size banners. we can look at the champions league final in 2008, look at anfield with the kop they have a huge banner of liverpools badge or the european cup flag. look at world cup 2002 they had loads of over size banners, look at the NFL they have loads of oversize banners.
Paul H – your damn right I love inglorious bastards I stand by my comments I would love the lot of them shot like nazis in inglorious bastards and many agree with me propably thousands. the glazers are in my eyes like the nazis and I despise the glazers has much as nazis.
I don’t think this is an Anti-Glazier versus Pro Glazier thing at all, this is a case of common bloody sense.
Imagine it was a high street bank and YOU are the employee. Today something pertaining to the bank was confiscated, yet YOU took it upon yourself to remove it from the “secure area” – conceal it on your person – remove it from the Bank premises without permission – and attempted to meet with the customer it was confiscated from to return it. If YOU did that as a Bank employee you’d be sacked without any queations being asked, but we’re not talking about a high street bank, we’re talking about a STEWARD at a MASSIVE club like UNITED, so whatever our personal feelings about Glazier are, that is a serious breach of Security. If Boden had taken a confiscated LASER PEN without permission and intended to return it, he would obviously be fired, right ? Well we all know Company Policy isn’t going to distinguish between a Laser and a Flag, they are BOTH confiscated items as far as the COMPANY is concerned. So what Boden did was a “serious breach”. ROM shouldn’t make a story out of nothing, if detracts from the serious complaints against the Glaziers. I do sympathise with him…
but this guy isn’t a Martyr, he’s a guy who took a risk, knowing it was a risk, and was caught and subsequently fired according to company policy. End Of. Don’t make it more then it is, thats Silly, instead, tell us more about MUST and what FACTS they have against Glazier. We all want to hear whats going on at MUST. To be honest this is slightly sensationalist and much a do about fuck all. Gill gave his interview to the BBC recently, I want to hear more reaction from MUST in response is to Gill’s matter of fact statements, and I really hope it consists of more then “RE-HIRE BODEN” T-Shirts, because If he did what this article says he did, its hardly unfair dismissal is it?
None of us know the full details yet all the posters who are against the Galzers blame it on them and the other bloggers who are pro Glazer blame it on CES.
I think we would all agree to together that CES have clearly been tasked with erradicating any kind of protest no matter how peaceful? You may not agree but come to a game and watch them action you would soon change your mind! ( Thats not a dig about going games, i mean if you see CES in operation at the moment )
The club need to realise the more they try to silence the demos the more powerful they are becoming, they are adding fuel to a fire that will not be good for them.
The return leg for AC will be huge in the respect of green and gold. You only have to see Pompey at the weekend to realise this.
Then a steward gets sacked, public statements on club colours going the san siro etc – They are just adding to the ambitions of the protest!
@Costa 14:10
No concern taken, i always enjoy our chats & discussions. like you im not affriad to speak my mind and we both respect differnt points of view!
We have the common love for the club which bonds us all!
Paul Parker – of course it isn’t
Scott is pretty reserved when he writes something here. He didn’t say directly that the person is a martyr. But these days everything will be used in order to prove one’s point of view and it sometimes looks pretty childishly, no ? Everything will be used and it becomes more obvious with days gone by. But you can’t fault them and it will help separate things that are true and important i believe.
@corea
Im sittin on the fence with regards the glazers as you well know!
Football is all about opinions, its why we come on this site every day . We all love our club but we all have differnt views on players, Tactics, Potential Transfers & the running of the club.
Com on united! 3-0 against villa would do me a treat!
LUHG. MUST get Glazer out.
trevor – of course we do. i am also on the fence because i don’t live in Manchester, i am not expert in economics etc.
but i just try to emphasise that not everything done in this world is just black or white and you don’t have to critisize everything in order to hold your ground.
i just try to leave it to the people who know what the are saying and this blog has plenty of.
@wakey
I dont know how good this dodo is, brazilian defenders are not the best defenders and the reported fee seems a bit much.
@Corea
Another thing that keeps me on the fence is that i dont beleive everything i read in the newspaper!
Some people take Newspaper reports and Beleive in the ones they want to beleive in and ignore the others.
So far Fergie has been backed, the team have been backed i therfore have no issue!
The demos dont help the team, so it will take something out of the above to change for me to change my stance!
I dont like the fact that they have debt but hay, Such is life who buys houses or cars with Cash?
@ corea and paul parker
fair point…..not black or white….but to me it seems a darker shade of grey rather than a brighter shade of white
@ wakey
We should not have paraded Ljajic like we did if we weren’t sure. Also reports of him being not good enough is not tru because just a month before we pulled out we have a statement from sir Alex where he says everythings going according to plan, and how delighted he would be to have the boy.
As for the work permit, i dont think we tried hard enough….if can get a permit for Possebon or Anderson, then I’m sure we could have got one for him if we had pushed hard enough
I should not have probably said it like “pro-glazer” but what i meant was that these kind of actions are certainly indefensible….the instructions to the CES to stamp out the protests is appalling….
giggs11gerrard0 is spot on with his post above in that regard…so to absolve the Glazers from any blame is deluded.
It cannot be Sir Alex who has commanded the CES to suppress these protests because he acknowledged the fans’ rights to protest in his speech a while back…so its fairly clear where the instructions have come from….
I agree he is not a martyr or anything but the behaviour meted out to him is totally devoid of class
The comparison of the Glazer regime to a dictatorship is perfectly fair imo.
A hostile takeover, fleecing the fans, paying themselves handsomlely and dipping their hands in the kitty whenever they like, clamping down on free speech and peaceful protest, putting out propaganda.
Latest I’ve heard is that the club will delay the celebration of Old Trafford’s centenary until the first non-televised game to avoid the growing green & gold phenomenon gaining more national exposure:
http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/157140/Manchester-United-to-delay-landmark
“MANCHESTER UNITED have made the bizarre decision to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Old Trafford three games after the landmark is reached.
The home matches against West Ham and AC Milan will go without fanfare before the February 19 centenary can finally be recognised on March 14 – the first weekend fixture, which is apparently important.
Replicated copies of the first programme for the opening 4-3 defeat against Liverpool will be distributed to all fans.”
No doubt the club will start handing out free red and white flags and scarves too!
Correction: the March 14th game (1.30 kick-off v Fulham) is televised. Maybe they just need more time to produce the 76,000 red & white freebies in time for a show of *non-green & gold* solidarity live on Sky.
To all those working for Manchester United Football Club: Your either with us or against us.
George Bush?
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={6DDFCB6E-3471-4E45-9385-F04D05F4A70D}&newsid=119193&page=1
Gill on the Glazers from 2004:
Can you explain the reason why the Board have terminated discussions with the Glazer family?
“I think it is down to this simple reason: We have been looking at the proposals the Glazer family made, analysing them with our advisors, and the key aspect of that proposal was the level of debt they were going to use in order to make their offer. We felt as a Board that that level of debt, coupled with their business plan, meant it was an unattractive proposal. We’ve seen many examples of debt in football over the years and the difficulties it causes. We know what that means and we think that is inappropriate for this business. We need to have a sensible structure for the Board to take the club forward.”
Gill on fan protests against Glazer:
Have you been touched by the feeling of support from the fans?
“It certainly doesn’t surprise me. That is one of Manchester United’s strengths. I remember clearly back in 1998 when Sky made a bid for us. There was evidence of that in the views of the fans. It is certainly is one of our strengths.”
Interesting stuff.
Red Devil – haha, agreed, Dark Grey it is,
with a Gold and Green lining on a Deep Red background…
@ Corea,
No your right, and its definitely not a criticism of Scott or the Site, I wouldn’t post here if I didn’t think the site was doing an excellent job of giving us good information. I guess my point was more at the reponses this story seemed to be “inciting” on here – UNITED are bigger then this, I feel for the Steward but what did he expect except a Pink slip? All this Green and Gold is applying pressure on the Owners and its GREAT as long as our team isn’t effected. We do deserve answers from them, and we do deserve to be treated with more respect, because if everythng is A-O-K then they should just come out and tell us and stop fucking about with us, causing division. So like Red Devil said, its a Dark Shade of Grey off the pitch, and for me its a bright beacon of hope on it at all times… SO LETS HOPE WE TURN OVER THE BRUMMIES TONIGHT & SAHA SCORES A HAT TRICK AGAINST THOSE DIRTY BAR STEWARDS !!!!
What they said before the hostile takeover:
Sir Alex Ferguson: “We don’t want the club to be in anyone else’s hands. I support that. Shareholders United can only be good for the game. I’d urge United fans to get involved.”
Ryan Giggs: “The general feeling is that the club is in good hands. This club cannot get any better than it is at the moment. We sympathise with the fans. Of course we do. As far as the fans are concerned, the team and the club and the way the whole thing is being run at the moment shows that there is nothing wrong at all.”
Ole Solskjaer: “I am honoured [to join MUST.] I think it is important that the club remains in the right hands. I am absolutely on the supporters’ side, and think the club is in very good hands as it is today. I am a United fan myself and only want what’s best for the future.”
Rio Ferdinand: “People want the club’s interests to be with people who have grown up with the club and have got its interests at heart.”
Eric Cantona: “If Glazer were to come here, we would lose everything.”
David Gill on Glazer’s business plan: “It’s too aggressive and not in the best interests of Manchester United.”
Good Afternoon Fred
Nice to see your keeping well and on form as usual!
To my mind the original colours were green and YELLOW. It is a very fucking funny looking GOLD.
Just thought I would point that out as keep hearing green and gold. Surely its yellow?
@King Eric
Maybe as the Glazers Need money the pun is Green and Gold!
Thanks Trev! And a good day to you, sir!
King Eric, I think calling it “green & gold” might come from the 92/94 away kit, which most fans referred to as “green and gold”, rather than “green and yellow,” I suppose because it was made of shiny nylon material, so the yellow looked sort of golden? Some people refer to Brazil’s shirts as gold too, when they are clearly yellow! Also there is the case of Wolves, whose shirt is supposedly gold, though I’ve always thought of it as orange!
Plus, ‘green and gold’ sounds better and fits into songs better.
Fred- jes that green and gold kit takes me back to uniteds army of men who really showed arsenals smurfs today what real football is played. seeing eric cantona doing his magic is some of our great away games really sends the pulses racing.
if we had a green and gold kit then the glazers can hardly stop green and gold scarves?
simply just club colours of 92-94 away kit!
I remember the White Scaves with Red & Black Lines in them from years ago!
Trev, a lot of people have dug out their old green/gold shirts recently. I’ve even heard they are changing hands for big money on eBay!
Here’s the classic promo pic of the team posing in it: http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/Man-United-92-AwayNH%20Pic.jpg
You are right when you say the Glazers can’t complain about green/gold scarves, flags, shirts, etc. That’s the genius of this peaceful protest.
Here’s a classic performance from us playing in the green & gold away kit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YtVhrrekYw
Oops, wrong vid. Give me a minute!
Here it is, Wimbledon v United 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzZBlxugCwQ
@trevor
No problem. I just didn’t want to add to your headache beause you were already speaking with 3 or 4 other people at the time!
@Fred
Good job for digging up those remarks.
I think the anniversary for OT might have to do with the fact that other festivities are planned for the previous games? AC Milan will be a Ch.League game with all the glitz that follows that and in the West Ham game hopefully we will parade the League cup around OT.
i read this article i think its a disgrace to sack a steward for such a thing, either ban all banners or allow all banners (as long as they are decent), we had a simular thing over the emirates with a greek cypriot flag being waved and a lot of crazy green lanes turkish supporters in the stands,caused a massive fuss now all national flags are banned, but as long as the banners arent offensive such as GLAZERS DIE and GLAZER IS A FUCKING CUNT then i think people pay their money should be allowed freedom of expression to say such things on banners as GLAZERS ARE SCUM, people can also wear what they like
Costas, I think the quotes make interesting reading in light of some of the pro-Glazers on here claiming that supporting Glazer is supporting United, but there you have it from prominent United figures revealing their true feelings about the Glazer takeover.
What does LUHG Stands for?
Cheers
Paul Parker –
“All this Green and Gold is applying pressure on the Owners and its GREAT as long as our team isn’t effected.”
I am not the most wise person out here but i am absolutely sure that the most great things in life can not be done without some sacrifices.
but it is absolutely depressing to sit where i am and being unable to change things and help our wonderful club. at least i get in touch with some great fans.
Viva Scott!
@rooney the new king
You are from the UK right? If so you know how daft health and safety laws are in this country atm. And if you are deemed to be breaching health and safety laws then you can say bye bye to your Insurance coverage.
Remember a few years back United got fined and the if I recall correctly and some of the ground shut up for some fans refusing to sit down during the game. Thats how petty health and safety laws can be.
I’m not saying it is a Health and Safety rule but it could be that or a number of other legitimate reasons (For example the possibility of blocking some peoples view) why the flags get removed and it could see a banner like these removed no matter what’s written on it.
As for Liverpools Kop banners, do we know that these haven’t been pre approved by the club and deemed to not be an issue?
@giggs11gerrard0
Except we don’t know and can’t agree that CES have been tasked with stamping out the protest. If the G & G campaign wants to prove this beyond doubt then for the next game they will not display any G&G banners and instead display banners supporting the players.
If they get taken down then its general club policy on Banners that aren’t pre approved and could be a h&s issue or hinder peoples views. If it is left then your view is right and they are stamping it out which then I agree is wrong
@Corea
He isn’t reserved on this issue. Infact his usual common sense goes right out of the window and he starts acting like he is working for a tabloid. Just look at his initial headline and story on the Ac Milan (and italian law) policy that requires banners to be pre approved
@willierednut
Dodo is pretty good by all accounts. He is the reason the club actually hired Stam back to do some scouting for us as it was his job to go and watch Dodo carefully for a couple of months (and obviously report back on anyone else he liked the look of)
@Red Devil
They didn’t say he wasn’t good enough, they said he hadn’t progressed as expected and thats true. He simply didn’t progress at the rate that was expected that would have seen him walk through the second WP application
As for not trying hard enough. We applied the first time and then appealed with SAF speaking up for him but it was rejected. We tried again and again appealed under exceptional talent rules and it was declined again.
Possebon didn’t actually need a WP, he has an Italian passport hence why he has recently declared himself available for the Italian National teams. Anderson was as far as the home office is concerned a better player and even he required an appeal. TBH Ljajic would probally have got his work permit back when Anderson got his although Anderson had the advantage of playing at a higher level of football and being from a higher ranked nation.
“the instructions to the CES to stamp out the protests is appalling”
BUT we don’t know that it is and thats the problem. Its all guess work. Do you know for certain its the content of the banners and not the banners themselves thats getting them taken down. No you don’t so we shouldn’t rush to judgement. I mean serious I call on the people organising the banners to not display any ‘anti Glazer’ banners at the next game and instead display the same sized ‘Pro Player’ banners and lets see what happens. Then we can make a judgement
Wakey, people do display banners that aren’t about Glazer and they don’t get confiscated so there you go. No need to stop the anti-Glazer banners as an experiment. Nice try though.
Carry on as you were, fellas!
Wakey, are you Andrew “Tufty” Kilduff?
What the fuck?! He was returning a banner to the fans whom it belonged to, surely there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not like they wouldn’t bring another one even if the steward didn’t return it to them. Classless and disgraceful decision from our club; to sack someone who has worked for so long here for such an absurd reason. This will only fuel us supporters. The glazers have fucked this club about too much. For how long are we going to keep watching them make their own rules, have full control over the club and sucking up all the money coming in?
Fred,
Cool that you picked up the comments made prior to the Glazers taking over.
The players were only saying what they honestly thought before the buy over.
now the glazers are in charge i dont think any will speak out against them except fergie. I hand on heart beleive if things wernt right fergie would walk!
What we have to also concider is that these comments were made prior to the glazers running the club.
I feel people should take into concideration what they have done with the club so far. To be honest they havent changed too much! We have had the same transfer kitty each year it hasnt dropped!
@Fred
Oh come on how often have you seen banners of the size of the ones we have been seeing over the last couple of games have you seen that haven’t been authorised or even arranged by the club
Right, let’s put the theory to the test. I’ll unfurl a pro-Glazer banner in the Stretford End and see if the stewards react.
Oh hang on a sec, I’d probably be murdered by my fellow supporters….
Back to the drawing board then!
this is a total disgrace
@pip
Whats disgraceful about it in your eyes pip. If you were to take something from your work that didn’t belong to you do you really think you wouldn’t be sacked on the spot? No matter the reason or intention its theft and his employer CES had no choice but to sack him as its standard policy in pretty much every company in the world
@ Wakey
fair enough mate on Ljajic i guess..but I still felt bad the way the teenager was treated….wouldn’t want that to happen to anyone’s child.
As for the banners….I think the fans have been taking the banners to OT for years mate, I’ve never heard or read stories about them being confiscated in this fashion before….Its seriously disturbing and doubts still remain.
In any case, the club should at least try to get the man his job back in good faith if they had nothing to do with his dismissal in the first place (which I dont think is the case because for me there’s quite clearly been some instructions to clamp down.)
I used to be a member of CES, mostly because it was the only way I could see the game.
Not all of us were/are little Hitlers, (although admittedly some are). Most of the ones I worked with couldn’t care less what you do as long as you fit in certain rules
1-no fighting
2-no smoking
3-no drinking in sight of the pitch
Those are the things we were told to stop, of face losing the job. The will never sack you, they will just stop offering you work (so no employment tribunal).
In the entire 4 years I was there I only helped throw out Celtic fans and Rugby fans.
If they are taking action against these banners it means they have been given special instructions from the club to do so. And probably it means that there has been radio contact from stadium control instructing them to take certain banners down. More of them are like Granville Boden than you think.
@Red Devil
I’m pretty sure Ljajic known the situation all along. While he was no doubt disappointed I think the stories from Partizan about it damaging him ‘Psychologically’ were just attempts to guilt us into paying 10-12mill for a player who we would have had to leave where he was while paying his wages. The same with the comments from the club about us not having the money to buy the player. They knew that the price for him included ‘United Tax’ and that the fact he couldn’t get a WP reduced the list of other clubs who could buy him so his price was going to fall. If he does well in Italy I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins us further down the line tbh.
On the banners, the thing is while banners are brought I’m struggling to think of a banner at the ‘Size’ and location of the confiscated banners. The only ones in this kind range I can think of are ones that were pre-approved by the club. Its why I would really like to see fans test it with a banner of the same size and in the same locations that’s not designed to ‘incite’ anyone so we can be 100% sure that it really is a removal of Anti Glazer banners only. After all I have seen banners and the likes removed at other sporting events that weren’t trying to ‘incite’ (I had a Union Jack confiscated on Centre Court at Wimbledon for ‘Blocking peoples view’ and I know someone who was kicked out of Twickenham for refusing to remove a banner they hung over a tier for H&S and other fans enjoyment reasons) As I have already said if they are simply removing anti Glazer banners then they are in the wrong but if its just being removed because it breaks the clubs policy on all banners no matter whats written on them then we can’t really complain
On getting the Stewards job back, there is no way United can demand that CES give him his job back. You can’t get away from the simple fact that what he did is ‘Theft’ and would break the terms of employment for pretty much everyone of us here. While what he did may be fairly harmless as its only a banner it would make it hard for both United and CES to ever sack an employee for theft in the future. Again its unfortunate that he had to be sacked but even he admits that it was right that he was sacked
@ Wakey
“theft’…..i dont get that mate…how was it theft? The stewards took away something that they were under instructions to disallow (for size or content or whatever) and he later took it back so that he could give it back to whom it belonged in the first place. Its like a pack of cigarettes taken away from you before you enter the movie-hall as its not allowed but given back to you later…I dont know if we can call it theft…
Also where has he admitted that it was right for him to be sacked? I’d be very surprised if that was the case…
@Red Devil
Scott decided to not provide a source in the original post here so you couldn’t read the whole article so you may not have all the facts.
Why is it theft? He took a confiscated item WITHOUT being given permission. The Flag doesn’t belong to him so he had no right to remove it and is thus theft. To quote the full article
“Boden was sacked after removing the banner confiscated during the Burnley game from the security offices and taking it to his car with a view to returning it to its owners”
So he took the banner without permission and rather than hand it back immediately to the owner he took it to his car. This is when he was caught and while he might claim and may very well have been intending to hand it back to the owner he committed a crime. If the owner wanted the flag back he/she would have legally been able to collect it at the end of the game without this guy taking it himself.
As for where he accepted it the article says
“Although he expressed regret that he was never asked to give his account of what happened, Boden said that he “fully accepted” the decision to dismiss him because he had defied his employers,”
If you were to go down to your companies lost and found and take something that clearly wasn’t yours then you would stand a very good chance of being sacked even if you claimed to be returning it to its owner.
TBH the guys pretty stupid going around telling the papers about it as CES should have really informed the police and he could have been charged with theft but CES seemed to have shown him some goodwill. They could very well report him now or the police could even take action on their own.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article7021240.ece
@ Wakey
Fair enough….I just hope the stewards are not under any instructions to suppress the freedom of speech though