Man U, nope no bias here.............

[AE]

From Auntie

 

 

Manchester United troubles 'affect Premier League brand'

Manchester United's troubled defence of their Premier League title is harming the English top flight's worldwide brand, says the competition's chief executive Richard Scudamore.

 

Under new boss David Moyes, United are seventh in a disappointing campaign.

 

The 20-time champions are 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

 

"It's a double-edged sword," said Scudamore. "When your most popular club isn't doing as well, that costs you interest and audience in some places."

 

Former Everton manager Moyes has watched the Red Devils suffer 10 defeats in 31 league matches since he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired last summer after almost 27 years in charge.

 

His team were knocked out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage before being eliminated from the Capital One Cup in the semi-finals.

 

They have reached the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face defending champions Bayern Munich next month.

 

"There are lots of fans around the world who wish Manchester United were winning it again," added Scudamore.

 

"But you have to balance that off against, generally, we're in the business of putting on a competition and competition means people can compete."

 

Overseas television deals will earn the Premier League more than £2bn between 2013 and 2016.

 

The Premier League sold its domestic broadcasting rights to Sky and BT in a record-breaking deal, worth around £3bn, last year.

 

 

Tough call hey Richard, maybe you need to have a quiet little chat with the refs......?

 

 

EDIT - Sorry, wrong place - meant it to go into the Footy genie... Mods, mods..........

Edited March 28, 2014 by AE

[Stevie H]

"generally".

 

that might be the first thing i've read recently from him that doesn't use the words "consume" and "product".

[cymrococh]

What the merry f*ck does he mean "You need to balance that off"?

[Cobs]

they are the most popular and most hated club. So surely the loss of their fair-weather fan is balanced off by other fans loving it, loving it, loving it and watching it more, Dick?

[Des]

What the merry f*ck does he mean "You need to balance that off"?

 

Hahaha! Indeed. What a giveaway.

[sutty]

What the merry f*ck does he mean "You need to balance that off"?

 

That's a horrific piece of communication in general

 

"Generally we're trying to put forward a competition". Generally? Hodgey style comms that

[Falconhoof]

I for one have loved watching Manchester United this season.

It would be interesting to see what actual viewing figures he is basing this on.

[smithdown]

I for one have loved watching Manchester United this season.

It would be interesting to see what actual viewing figures he is basing this on.

 

 

I for one have watched them more in the last month than in the last three years.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

So refs might expect a pay cut soon if Utd aren't doing well

[Dan]

Pathetic comments from Scudamore.

[aka Dus]

I for one have watched them more in the last month than in the last three years.

 

Ha! Snap. And I will put them back on my peripheral vision when they get a proper manager in again.

 

c**** comments there from Scudamore, he's let his guard down.

 

What the merry f*ck does he mean "You need to balance that off"?

 

"I hope the Asians start supporting someone else, and fast."

 

BeijingRed4Lyfe's hero.

[Swipe]

Very strange that.

[pricey]

just read this on BBC. It's absolutely mental, although maybe more weight to certain refereeing decisions over the years.

[David Hodgson]

What the merry f*ck does he mean "You need to balance that off"?

 

(ok, so you've lured me here )

 

Yes! What. The. f***. Does that mean ?

 

It's so dark, the whole thing.

 

Premier League meeting :

 

Minutes :

 

- It's clearly not helping that Manchester United aren't winning enough games. The referees have to understand that they can't look to be part of a jealous bandwagon looking to exacerbate the decline of our brand leaders. This needs to be made clear to them.

 

- In relation to Manchester United and general FA disciplinary matters - a policy of being 'sensitive' to the trauma that Manchester United as a corporate whole are suffering is imperative. We must be mindful that the club do not become an 'anti brand'.

 

- Fixture scheduling in relation to brand enhancement - again the lead attraction franchise cannot be seen to be being unduly penalised in the fixture calender as David Moyes suggested last season. It is entirely counter productive.

 

- Our media partners at Sky & BT have assured that they will do their utmost to promote a climate of positivity and calm around all subjects pertaining to Manchester United. This positivity will subtly aid the virtuous cycle all are desirous of seeing the club enter.

[floyd]

Kinda fall into place this, with what Scudamore has said and what Poll has openly admitted about reffing games involving United whilst Ferguson was in charge.

Edited March 28, 2014 by floyd

[David Hodgson]

Kinda fall into place this, whith this what Scudamore has said and what Poll has openly admitted about reffing games involving United whilst Ferguson was in charge.

 

Exactly. This is getting beyond paranoid rival fan conspiracy theory level.

[Knox_Harrington]

I think he's been asked a question and answered it badly.

 

It's another example of what happens when the people who work where finance meets football are trying to speak to the financial constituency and forgetting that the football one will read the answers too.

[Boca]

Exactly. This is getting beyond paranoid rival fan conspiracy theory level.

 

It's absolutely scandalous this.

[Sion]

He's basically admitting what we've all known for years. Its rotten to the core.

[Maldini]

I think he's been asked a question and answered it badly.

 

It's another example of what happens when the people who work where finance meets football are trying to speak to the financial constituency and forgetting that the football one will read the answers too.

 

Well put, I think him answering it poorly has just revealed his inherent bias though. I don't think he has misrepresented himself, he's just said more than he should have.

[Knox_Harrington]

Well put, I think him answering it poorly has just revealed his inherent bias though. I don't think he has misrepresented himself, he's just said more than he should have.

His inherent bias is to the product and the product's flagship has been Manchester United.

[aka Dus]

So the FA are as corrupt and predisposed to the lure of lucre and f*****y as Uefa and Fifa? Who knew!!!

[Maldini]

His inherent bias is to the product and the product's flagship has been Manchester United.

 

I know yeah but he seems to be thinking of clubs like they're a chain of pubs and United brings him in the most money rather than a sport in which statuses change. Any desire to maintain the status quo is bias against the rest of the clubs. Whether that bias has ever affected anything on the pitch is another matter but it would certainly indicate that they may be treated differently off it.

[smithdown]

there are worse things for the brand than the mancs being hilarious, but I don't see him answering any questions about that

[Earl Hafler]

I for one have watched them more in the last month than in the last three years.

 

Same here.

 

Mourinho's return has been an irritant all season though. Like someone whispering through one of the best films you've seen in years - you just want to walkover and smack his f***ing head in. The media allow him to get away with some of the biggest nonsense ever spouted - like they did with Ferguson - partly because he makes their lives much easier. He writes their copy for them.

 

Interesting that they are now top thanks to some alarmingly poor decisions in the big matches.

Edited March 28, 2014 by Earl Hafler