Tekel Towers » Tuesday's Fan Focus #21

arabugsy · 08/9/2015 8:48 pm

BennyBoy wrote:
Tek wrote:
What's your views on Stephen Thompson's pursuit of The Jets and his lack of clarity on that purchase in the past few months?
I'm aware that he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the FFA over there so in fairness, I wouldn't say it's a lack of clarity, it's more that he's not allowed to say anything. I assume it's the same for Mike Martin too.

My view on it? Fine as long as it doesn't interfere with United duties. Some will challenge that it's already interfering but there's no real way of telling, is there. At the end of the day, our directors could buy Wick Academy for all I care. As long as United are doing well on and off the park, that's all that I'm bothered about.

Superb.

Tek · 08/9/2015 8:52 pm

BennyBoy wrote:
Tek wrote:
What's your views on Stephen Thompson's pursuit of The Jets and his lack of clarity on that purchase in the past few months?
I'm aware that he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the FFA over there so in fairness, I wouldn't say it's a lack of clarity, it's more that he's not allowed to say anything. I assume it's the same for Mike Martin too.

My view on it? Fine as long as it doesn't interfere with United duties. Some will challenge that it's already interfering but there's no real way of telling, is there. At the end of the day, our directors could buy Wick Academy for all I care. As long as United are doing well on and off the park, that's all that I'm bothered about.

I didn't really mean the specifics of the actual purchase itself tbh.

More things relevant to Utd like...

1.Will he emigrate to Oz?
2.Will he remain as Utd Chairman?

etc

But i can see how you got confused with my wording of the question.

Last edited by Tek (08/9/2015 8:54 pm)

arabugsy · 08/9/2015 8:52 pm

BennyBoy wrote:
arabugsy wrote:
Any regrets from AT bygones?
Loads. To be honest, I wish I'd never have gotten involved, I don't think I came away from it well. All I wanted to do was make a contribution. But there was way too much politicking, and I'm no good at that. I was just a fan. In the end I was pissed off, frustrated and regretted the whole thing.

As a far removed member I thought your PR was excellent but then, and now, it seems politicking has supplanted the ethos of the good of/involvement in the club.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 8:56 pm

Arab_plumber wrote:
What are your views on Jackie as a manager and ST since January?

What do you think has changed in our chairman?

Do you think Jackie will be the manager at xmas?

Hi, Plumber.

I couldn't speak highly enough of Jackie during the 2013/14 season. Some of the most jaw dropping football from United I've ever seen was going on and that side should've won a trophy.

I've got mixed feelings now. The 4-0 defeat up in Inverness toward the end of last season was when I was thinking "Right, that's it, he's got to go." At the moment, I think he needs time for the new signings to gel and I'll see how he gets on with the new players at his disposal.

Walter Smith had no clue that Duncan Ferguson had been sold by the Everton Chairman to Newcastle. So it's not a stretch to suppose that Jackie had no say in the GMS/Armstrong sale. I do not beleive that Jackie would have approved anyway and I ddn't beleive him when he subsequently said that the sales had his blessing. I think he was told to just 'make do' and get us over the line and that top 6 would be all that was asked of him. That's just my own conjecture, however.

ST's silence is doing him no good whatsoever. I think he's spoken 4 times in the public domain since January. He did a big spread in the Courier talking about the GMS/Armstrong sale and that was when he said it was wrong from a football point of view but right from a business point of view. I remember thinking that it should always be football first, business second. We'd been told we didn't need to sell. If it's not about football, then what's the point? I'm sorry to say that those sales will probably define the way history remembers ST. Before that, some folk were comparing him to Jerry Kerr as United's best ever Chairman. Like with Jackie, for me it's a 'wait and see' scenario. But he reaally needs to start talking again if he's ever to build a rapport with fans again.

arabugsy · 08/9/2015 8:57 pm

Chinese or Indian?

arabugsy · 08/9/2015 8:59 pm

BennyBoy wrote:
Arab_plumber wrote:
What are your views on Jackie as a manager and ST since January?

What do you think has changed in our chairman?

Do you think Jackie will be the manager at xmas?
Hi, Plumber.

I couldn't speak highly enough of Jackie during the 2013/14 season. Some of the most jaw dropping football from United I've ever seen was going on and that side should've won a trophy.

I've got mixed feelings now. The 4-0 defeat up in Inverness toward the end of last season was when I was thinking "Right, that's it, he's got to go." At the moment, I think he needs time for the new signings to gel and I'll see how he gets on with the new players at his disposal.

Walter Smith had no clue that Duncan Ferguson had been sold by the Everton Chairman to Newcastle. So it's not a stretch to suppose that Jackie had no say in the GMS/Armstrong sale. I do not beleive that Jackie would have approved anyway and I ddn't beleive him when he subsequently said that the sales had his blessing. I think he was told to just 'make do' and get us over the line and that top 6 would be all that was asked of him. That's just my own conjecture, however.

ST's silence is doing him no good whatsoever. I think he's spoken 4 times in the public domain since January. He did a big spread in the Courier talking about the GMS/Armstrong sale and that was when he said it was wrong from a football point of view but right from a business point of view. I remember thinking that it should always be football first, business second. We'd been told we didn't need to sell. If it's not about football, then what's the point? I'm sorry to say that those sales will probably define the way history remembers ST. Before that, some folk were comparing him to Jerry Kerr as United's best ever Chairman. Like with Jackie, for me it's a 'wait and see' scenario. But he reaally needs to start talking again if he's ever to build a rapport with fans again.

Like, big time.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 8:59 pm

Tek wrote:
What's your favourite alcoholic tipple?

If it's a night in with the girlfriend or out for a meal, I like a glass of red. If it's in the pub, I like a pint. I love Peroni if they have it on tap, otherwise I'm happy with a Fosters.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:01 pm

arabugsy wrote:
Do you have a parking pass at St Andrews?

No, I'm sorry to say. But if you park on the right not long after United's training ground, it's free and only a 2 minute walk into town

Tek · 08/9/2015 9:02 pm

That's your hour up mate,but i'll let you catch up with the rest.

Last question from me.

What is your favourite ever Utd goal?

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:05 pm

arabugsy wrote:
What is your view on JMac overall?

Overall? I think he's been decent as his overall record has shown. I actually think Peter Houston was a better manager, I wish he'd kept up his good work and was still at United. But his comments a la "I don't want to be the manager that gets United relegated", to paraphrase, were, to me, unforgivable and he had to go.

I think the new signings will be a shot in the arm for Jackie and he'll still be United manager come the end of the season. I think what pisses a lot of folk off is his laid back, shrug of the shoulder post match interviews, that does his popularity no good. Then again, he's probably not wanting to have a go at the players in public, so I can perhaps see why he does it. But sometimes an apology goes a long way.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:06 pm

Tek wrote:
Chris,

Do you still think Kelly Clarkson is better than Kate Bush?

I have NEVER said such a thing! No other female artist comes close to Kate Bush. Simple as that.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:10 pm

Tek wrote:
What one ground improvement would you like to see implemented at Tannadice...money no object?

I think that the corner between the Shed and the George Fox looks a mess. I'd like to see something done with that. Perhaps hospitality boxes put there or a continuation of the GF so that it's corner seating linking to The Shed, I dunno. Just something, anything, it's an eyesore.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:12 pm

Tek wrote:
BennyBoy wrote:
Tek wrote:
What's your views on Stephen Thompson's pursuit of The Jets and his lack of clarity on that purchase in the past few months?
I'm aware that he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the FFA over there so in fairness, I wouldn't say it's a lack of clarity, it's more that he's not allowed to say anything. I assume it's the same for Mike Martin too.

My view on it? Fine as long as it doesn't interfere with United duties. Some will challenge that it's already interfering but there's no real way of telling, is there. At the end of the day, our directors could buy Wick Academy for all I care. As long as United are doing well on and off the park, that's all that I'm bothered about.

I didn't really mean the specifics of the actual purchase itself tbh.

More things relevant to Utd like...

1.Will he emigrate to Oz?
2.Will he remain as Utd Chairman?

etc

But i can see how you got confused with my wording of the question.

My gut tells me he'll move to Oz and that Justine will take over.

RRDH · 08/9/2015 9:12 pm

Why the f uck do you hate Jimmy Hill?!

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:13 pm

arabugsy wrote:
Chinese or Indian?

Chinese. Chicked and pineapple with fried rice. Yum.

Arab_plumber · 08/9/2015 9:16 pm

RRDH wrote:
Why the f uck do you hate Jimmy Hill?!

Could be the poof thing

arabugsy · 08/9/2015 9:17 pm

BennyBoy wrote:
arabugsy wrote:
What is your view on JMac overall?
Overall? I think he's been decent as his overall record has shown. I actually think Peter Houston was a better manager, I wish he'd kept up his good work and was still at United. But his comments a la "I don't want to be the manager that gets United relegated", to paraphrase, were, to me, unforgivable and he had to go.

I think the new signings will be a shot in the arm for Jackie and he'll still be United manager come the end of the season. I think what pisses a lot of folk off is his laid back, shrug of the shoulder post match interviews, that does his popularity no good. Then again, he's probably not wanting to have a go at the players in public, so I can perhaps see why he does it. But sometimes an apology goes a long way.

Sorry, Chris, you're now coming over like a headinthesander like me.

huntedbyafreak · 08/9/2015 9:18 pm

Any chance of getting another run down of the top 40 any time soon?

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:20 pm

Tek wrote:
That's your hour up mate,but i'll let you catch up with the rest.

Last question from me.

What is your favourite ever Utd goal?

It's actually a recent one, now that I think about it: Ciftci against Aberdeen at the League Cup Semi 2015. That Aberdeen side were no mugs and to beat them at Hampden in a Semi Final, absolutely superb. I went ballistic when that went in, utter chaos, bodies everywhere, folk falling over, hysteria. Loved it. The Aberdeen fans started leaving and the celebrations didn't stop until the final whistle.

Cheers for that, folks. Really enjoyed it and thanks for getting me on to do this.

SRYB

Sieb22 · 08/9/2015 9:21 pm

Well done BennyBoy! Great Q&A, Top Poster and Top Arab

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:25 pm

RRDH: The Jimmy Hill thing is in reference to his smarmy attitude when Davie Narey scored against Brazil!

huntedbyafreak: None whatsoever. Who knew that a pop music critique could be SO inflammatory?!

huntedbyafreak · 08/9/2015 9:31 pm

BennyBoy wrote:
RRDH: The Jimmy Hill thing is in reference to his smarmy attitude when Davie Narey scored against Brazil!

huntedbyafreak: None whatsoever. Who knew that a pop music critique could be SO inflammatory?!

Boo

That was one of my favourite non United posts on Mad. A full critique of the top 40.

arabugsy · 08/9/2015 9:33 pm

Excellent BennyBoy.

Tek · 08/9/2015 9:42 pm

huntedbyafreak wrote:
BennyBoy wrote:
RRDH: The Jimmy Hill thing is in reference to his smarmy attitude when Davie Narey scored against Brazil!

huntedbyafreak: None whatsoever. Who knew that a pop music critique could be SO inflammatory?!
Boo

That was one of my favourite non United posts on Mad. A full critique of the top 40.

Mine too.

And he DID say KC was better than Mrs Bush...i'm sure of it

Well done Mr B...good hour that.

BennyBoy · 08/9/2015 9:44 pm

huntedbyafreak wrote:
BennyBoy wrote:
RRDH: The Jimmy Hill thing is in reference to his smarmy attitude when Davie Narey scored against Brazil!

huntedbyafreak: None whatsoever. Who knew that a pop music critique could be SO inflammatory?!
Boo

That was one of my favourite non United posts on Mad. A full critique of the top 40.

Wasn't even me who started that! Somebody was slagging off the current charts and bemoning that it was better back in his day. My overall point (which NOBODY was going to let me away with, no matter how convincing my points may have been) was that the charts are no different these days and that folk seem to remember the top 40 being end to end classics. I didn't see the harm in going through the 40 songs one by one to make a point. Jesus, BIG mistake, especially on that forum! FAF thinking back, though! A lesson learned that hard way! But I see the funny side