How Would We Feel if the Saudis Took Over Burnley?

[Billy Balfour]

Being an apologist for the regime in exchange for billions of pounds is pretty bad but but imagine spending the early hours of a weekday morning fervently defending them for free!

Makes you wonder what kind of lives some people lead. 'Dull' is word.

[CFS]

But you watch football to be entertained, as in all entertainment you have a choice.

If you put a film on and don't like it you change film, same with an album so surely a football club is the same if it is just entertainment to you.

What else is football it's not my life it's a game of football

[claretonthecoast1882]

What else is football it's not my life it's a game of football

Then as with newcastle you should find it very easy to change clubs if its purely entertainment to you. I don't get what is so hard, if I put a film on and didn't enjoy it I wouldn't watch it again, especially when there were far more glitzy ones to watch on the same channel you currently watch on

[CFS]

Then as with newcastle you should find it very easy to change clubs if its purely entertainment to you. I don't get what is so hard, if I put a film on and didn't enjoy it I wouldn't watch it again, especially when there were far more glitzy ones to watch on the same channel you currently watch on

I don't go on and don't intend to until Dino is gone.

[CFS]

Then as with newcastle you should find it very easy to change clubs if its purely entertainment to you. I don't get what is so hard, if I put a film on and didn't enjoy it I wouldn't watch it again, especially when there were far more glitzy ones to watch on the same channel you currently watch on

If it's more than entertainment to you I feel for you. Your life must be empty go out a bit more.

[evensteadiereddie]

I don't go on and don't intend to until Dino is gone.

Excellent news.

[Spijed]

I don't go on and don't intend to until Dino is gone.

So are you saying winning the Premier league or FA Cup are meaningless unless you play entertaining football?

The history books say different.

[claretonthecoast1882]

If it's more than entertainment to you I feel for you. Your life must be empty go out a bit more.

perhaps practice what you preach kid

[Jakubclaret]

It really is all or nothing with you, isn’t it?

Yes, there’s an entertainment factor of course, but again, it’s far more nuanced. A love for the club, a dedication passed down from generation to generation in families. My mum goes on the football because it’s a huge part of her social life; a chance to meet friends that otherwise she’d struggle to see.

As difficult as that may seem you’ve always got the choice to emotionally attach/detach yourself from that if you think something's changed & not to your liking anymore.

[CFS]

So are you saying winning the Premier league or FA Cup are meaningless unless you play entertaining football?

The history books say different.

Dino ain't winning no premier League or FA cup be real. Dead manager.

[CFS]

perhaps practice what you preach kid

Looool.

[Spijed]

Yes quite simply every single football fan watches football to be entertained. That is kind of the whole point of an entertainment industry.

I would compare it more to your favourite film franchise. For example I struggle through a few crap programmes/films of my favourite movie franchise in the Hope something better comes along.

Similarly I am hoping we start to play better football, as attendances show its currently not entertaining

So are you saying for Leicester city supporters it was just as important as to how they played winning the league, FA Cup and Charity Shield and they'd rather have finished second if it meant watching rubbish football?

[TsarBomba]

If it's more than entertainment to you I feel for you. Your life must be empty go out a bit more.

Don’t be so disrespectful.

Would you say that to one of the many elderly who go on the Turf because it provides an outlet, in an otherwise quite lonely time in their life?

Going on the football is far more than just entertainment. The last 18 months of Covid and lockdown tells you that.

[Spijed]

Dino ain't winning no premier League or FA cup be real. Dead manager.

The likes of Jose & Conte win leagues but they both play less entertaining football than SD.

[CFS]

Don’t be so disrespectful.

Would you say that to one of the many elderly who go on the Turf because it provides an outlet, in an otherwise quite lonely time in their life?

Going on the football is far more than just entertainment. The last 18 months of Covid and lockdown tells you that.

[CFS]

The likes of Jose & Conte win leagues but they both play less entertaining football than SD.

I don't support Roma I support Burnley.

[Newcastleclaret93]

So are you saying for Leicester city supporters it was just as important as to how they played winning the league, FA Cup and Charity Shield and they'd rather have finished second if it meant watching rubbish football?

Strange point? Leicester play great football.

[Spijed]

Strange point? Leicester play great football.

Ok, I rephrase the question.

Do you think football supporters in general would rather finish second in the league or runners up in the FA cup playing great football or finish first by playing a more direct style if they'd never won either competition before?

[Jakubclaret]

Strange point? Leicester play great football.

They do but that doesn’t stop a lot of them wanting Brendan Rodgers to go on foxstalk dropping points against us & palace & Brighton is enough for some to call for his head.

[Hipper]

Sooo...moral-free, pure self-advancement at all cost. Pull down the blinkers, remain ignorant or indifferent (delete where appropriate). It's always good when people reveal themselves for who they really are.

Man living at number 8 rapes and murders woman living at number 10. Everyone knows number 8 did it, but number 8 gets away with it. Number 12 was sick of hearing the racket the late number 10 always made, and now number 12 gets some sleep because number 10 is now dead. Number 8 asks to move into number 12's home. You're number 12. Number 8 will put a new kitchen in for you. You're going to let him in, right? I mean, you get a free kitchen, and you didn't murder number 10, so your hands are clean?

I'm OK. I live at number 9 on the other side of the road.

[Lancasterclaret]

I don't support Roma I support Burnley.

You won't go because you don't like the manager, even though he manages the team you support?

Obviously this is now wildly off track from the OP, but I'd suggest that your support for the team is more conditional than you think

[Newcastleclaret93]

Ok, I rephrase the question.

Do you think football supporters in general would rather finish second in the league or runners up in the FA cup playing great football or finish first by playing a more direct style if they'd never won either competition before?

Of course fans would rather win the league. But this a completely null point, teams that win leagues don’t play crap football.

[claretonthecoast1882]

You won't go because you don't like the manager, even though he manages the team you support?

Obviously this is now wildly off track from the OP, but I'd suggest that your support for the team is more conditional than you think

The meaning of support has probably changed in these modern times

[Jakubclaret]

The meaning of support has probably changed in these modern times

Circumstances & priorities change.

[Spijed]

Of course fans would rather win the league. But this a completely null point, teams that win leagues don’t play crap football.

Teams with Jose do.

[CFS]

Teams with Jose do.

When's the last time Jose won a league?

[Newcastleclaret93]

The meaning of support has probably changed in these modern times

It has changed in these modern times. Football clubs don’t need supporters match day income any more

[KRBFC]

What an utterly perverse argument.

The reliance on products, technology etc from countries such as Saudi Arabia is now largely out of our control. In an ideal world, no, I wouldn’t like to buy anything that comes from a regime that tortures innocent people, much like I don’t want to buy clothes that come from a sweatshop in Bangladesh.

Unfortunately, the world is so connected, and the lines so blurred, that it is virtually impossible to know exactly where everything you buy comes from.

When I bought my wife an engagement ring, did I know 100% where that diamond came from. I asked the question, and was assured that it wasn’t a blood diamond. But do I know for sure? Like really? No.

To fit your argument KRBFC, I would have to live naked in a wood, with no contact from the outside world, and only drink water from a stream.

Read my other posts, I said ''other people wont take the holier than thou approach because we all realize we are somewhat inadvertently responsible for many global issues''. There are plenty of ways around sourcing clothing not from sweatshops and one isn't the extreme of living in a forest bollock naked. The Saudis are scumbags, no doubt about it, I can't get on my high horse though when I'm putting money into their pockets by watching sports they've invested in.

[groove]

It's worked out okay for Man.City, and Newcastle will be a top 6 club within the next 5 years.

[KRBFC]

Fascinated to see how effective the Saudi's sportwashing has been already. Was unedifying seeing Newcastle fans dancing in the street here but seeing burnley fans handwaving their human rights abuses as in an alternate universe they might have have let us spunk 30 million on a Brazilian midfielder is incredible. Being an apologist for the regime in exchange for billions of pounds is pretty bad but but imagine spending the early hours of a weekday morning fervently defending them for free!

It's worth noting some on here with no issues letting their club be a PR front for a regime currently committing atrocities in Yemen are quite open that they're not attending games because they've convinced themselves the club have aligned themselves with Black Lives Matter. Perhaps these people are the ones showing a moral inconsistency rather than those who think this isn't a regime we should be actively supporting who also happen to occasionally visit petrol stations.

I haven't seen anyone defend their disgraceful human rights record, not even Newcastle fans.
I couldn't imagine crying about it while encouraging their behaviour by putting money in their pocket though. It's like crying about global warming while street racing for fun. If you want a strong opinion and make a stance, simply stop supporting the Saudis.

It's like the sheep voters who voted Tory then cried about the Syrian airstrikes killing civilian children, hello dipshits, you are responsible, you gave them the power to do so.

[KRBFC]

It’s funny how the human rights issues are only brought up when we sell them football clubs but not weapons to kill innocent children

[Jakubclaret]

Think lots of Mackems have taken over this thread why can’t people just wish Newcastle good luck with falling on their feet.

[milkcrate_mosh]

It’s funny how the human rights issues are only brought up when we sell them football clubs but not weapons to kill innocent children

I'd imagine that's because the thread is called "How Would We Feel if the Saudis Took Over Burnley?".

Who are these burnley fans that are pro-bombing Yemen but anti- allowing Saudi Arabia to buy football clubs. Seems like a very niche position.

[elwaclaret]

You're not the first person to say something like that. You're either bang on, or you're so lacking in principle on the matter of your football club's ownership that it's impossible for you to conceive of it in others. Like a man blind from birth finding it impossible to conceptualise 'blue'.

So other people’s moral compass is wrong, but yours is right… to me that demonstrates extreme arrogance, lack of empathy and the reason that moral corruption runs wild in society. Turn the other cheek, live and let live … that has worked well throughout history, cannot see any down side at all to allowing mass corruption or fraud… clearly murder and suppression are not enough to trigger your morals or Mass murder? Genocide? Are all fine until they impact you… great attitude…. You said nothing, when it was your turn there was no one left to speak out.

[Spijed]

I'd imagine that's because the thread is called "How Would We Feel if the Saudis Took Over Burnley?".

Who are these burnley fans that are pro-bombing Yemen but anti- allowing Saudi Arabia to buy football clubs. Seems like a very niche position.

Because football is the way it is we fans would be up in arms about the Manchester bombing but probably say nothing regarding the Saudi's deliberately killing a bus load of school kids in Yemen if they'd have taken over us.

[elwaclaret]

Because football is the way it is we fans would be up in arms about the Manchester bombing but probably say nothing regarding the Saudi's deliberately killing a bus load of school kids in Yemen if they'd have taken over us.

Just look at the former Newcastle players jumping for joy… I wonder how many of them are passionate about human rights and also donate to Amnesty. Hypocrites all of them.

[Stalbansclaret]

I don't go on and don't intend to until Dino is gone.

This is a reference to Sean Dyche right ? Jesus wept. I mean really, really wept. I've seen everything now..a Burnley fan (alleged) saying he won't go on until the manger who has literally worked a football miracle for the club is gone. Truly incredible.

Do you ever consider how we have performed over the past 8years compared to our natural peer group of clubs (Preston, B******ds, Bolton, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Bradford et al) ? Do you think how much "big clubs" such as Forest, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Sheffield Weds, Sheffield Utd, Derby etc etc etc etc must look at Burnley with envy.

Do you ever think about the gulf which exists between our resources and that of the overwhelming majority of clubs in the League we have remained in for 6 years now ?

Beyond belief.

[Lancasterclaret]

So other people’s moral compass is wrong, but yours is right… to me that demonstrates extreme arrogance, lack of empathy and the reason that moral corruption runs wild in society. Turn the other cheek, live and let live … that has worked well throughout history, cannot see any down side at all to allowing mass corruption or fraud… clearly murder and suppression are not enough to trigger your morals or Mass murder? Genocide? Are all fine until they impact you… great attitude…. You said nothing, when it was your turn there was no one left to speak out.

Are you sure you are replying to the right person?

Without a moral compass, you end up burning down villages, laughing with your mates.

But you don't get there overnight, you get there because your morals are degraded little by little

It really is that simple sadly

[elwaclaret]

Because football is the way it is we fans would be up in arms about the Manchester bombing but probably say nothing regarding the Saudi's deliberately killing a bus load of school kids in Yemen if they'd have taken over us.

Spotted by Lancs (thanks) not meant for you Spijed…. Sorry

[elwaclaret]

Are you sure you are replying to the right person?

Without a moral compass, you end up burning down villages, laughing with your mates.

But you don't get there overnight, you get there because your morals are degraded little by little

It really is that simple sadly

Thanks for that,yes wrong person.

[Lancasterclaret]

I did wonder!

[Erasmus]

The suggestions that people are hypocrites are misplaced and don't stand up to logic. We live in an unpleasant world and we (should) know that to a greater or lesser extent we are participants in a lot of that unpleasantness. We (should) also know that we should act in whatever way we can to make it better, but we are aware of our personal limitations that prevent us from living up to the standards we establish in our minds.

For example, I am quite a rich person and I am aware that there are children hungry because of a lack of money. I think it is right that I should give money to help feed them, as much as I can, but still I spend on luxuries and I know I am wrong to do so. That's not hypocrisy, that's just accepting that I can and will do something about it, but not as much as I know I should. My failure to give more is my own moral shortcoming but is not hypocrisy even though I act against my own beliefs.

We see wrongs in the world and we rightly condemn them. The fact that our own conduct is imperfect in no way invalidates the status of the initial critique. The idea stands on its own regardless of the person who is the conduit through which the idea is articulated.

Is this virtue signalling? Or perhaps iniquity-signalling?

[elwaclaret]

The suggestions that people are hypocrites are misplaced and don't stand up to logic. We live in an unpleasant world and we (should) know that to a greater or lesser extent we are participants in a lot of that unpleasantness. We (should) also know that we should act in whatever way we can to make it better, but we are aware of our personal limitations that prevent us from living up to the standards we establish in our minds.

For example, I am quite a rich person and I am aware that there are children hungry because of a lack of money. I think it is right that I should give money to help feed them, as much as I can, but still I spend on luxuries and I know I am wrong to do so. That's not hypocrisy, that's just accepting that I can and will do something about it, but not as much as I know I should. My failure to give more is my own moral shortcoming but is not hypocrisy even though I act against my own beliefs.

We see wrongs in the world and we rightly condemn them. The fact that our own conduct is imperfect in no way invalidates the status of the initial critique. The idea stands on its own regardless of the person who is the conduit through which the idea is articulated.

Is this virtue signalling? Or perhaps iniquity-signalling?

Would you buy Hitler’s cap… you can afford it and possibly even deserve it, you worked hard/got lucky. Or would you consider it unjustifiable as a a symbol of hate? It is just a hat made in Germany; but a symbol of something larger? The knew owners are legally bound not to run the club for ‘Saudi Arabia’ but the same people are also legally bound not to murder political opponents in neutral countries… that works well. THEY ARE OWNED BY DESPOTS, not a product made in China.

[Erasmus]

I think you've misunderstood my point, Elwa. What you have posted is not related. Sorry for that, I should have been clearer about what I mean.

[houseboy]

The charge of hypocrisy is completely ludicrous. The fact that a person can't escape the corruption and baseness of the world save for living in the woods doesn't mean they give tacit approval to every terrible practice that happens in the world. This is where an individual's moral compass determines what they can stomach and what they cannot. There's a world of difference between suffering the loathsome, rapacious parasites seen everywhere in the game, and tolerating despotic regimes utterly poisoning the game. FWIW Burnley wouldn't get a single penny from me if such a takeover happened. We could be on the cusp of a league title on the final day and I wouldn't have a ticket given to me for free. This isn't virtue signalling, it's called morality. Sorry to be pompous by referencing him but to simplify Kant, where it is practical you should act in such a way as though everyone else were compelled to behave in the same way as you. This is a good basis for making moral decisions. It's why I don't litter, for instance. Not because it's punishable, but because I don't want to live in a world where every person litters. Were everyone compelled to act the same way as me — no litter. I'd choose to disengage from Burnley FC on the basis that were every person to do the same, Burnley FC would be an unviable enterprise, thus chasing these parasites from the game. I know FOR A FACT that this would not happen, I'm not being quixotic, but the principle, while recognising that nobody is pure, and absolute purity is not achievable, is the basis of your moral choices. This is why it's called a moral compass and not, I don't know, a moral taxi. You're guided, not entirely driven, by morality, because the world is not perfect. Thinking about morality seems novel to a lot of folk, though I can't say I'm entirely surprised. It is in fact your position, of holding people to a unattainable level of consistency and purity, that is the problem. I think a lot of people are more practical than you appear to be, and are still good people with good morals, and they are not hypocrites.

Agree with this. Everyone has some morality and they should live it. It doesn’t matter whether you disagree with the stupid money now in the game or the criminals buying into it, or indeed human rights issues, there must come a time when fans say hold on, this is not football any more. The stupidity of the selfishness now in the game has seen it become a joke when looked at from outside. I hope for one of two things, either common sense returns to the game or the PL implodes on itself under the weight of its own pompous greed.

[tiger76]

This is a reference to Sean Dyche right ? Jesus wept. I mean really, really wept. I've seen everything now..a Burnley fan (alleged) saying he won't go on until the manger who has literally worked a football miracle for the club is gone. Truly incredible.

Do you ever consider how we have performed over the past 8years compared to our natural peer group of clubs (Preston, B******ds, Bolton, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Bradford et al) ? Do you think how much "big clubs" such as Forest, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Sheffield Weds, Sheffield Utd, Derby etc etc etc etc must look at Burnley with envy.

Do you ever think about the gulf which exists between our resources and that of the overwhelming majority of clubs in the League we have remained in for 6 years now ?

Beyond belief.

Agree 100% with every word in this post, cheers for saving me typing out a similar message Stalbansclaret.

[Wile E Coyote]

its all becoming so abstract, do we stop test matches in cricket ? no, we don't . Who are our opponents?
If its New Zealand then its nice and comfy, same with the ashes and the Australians.
But If recent events in Afghanistan are to be taken as accurate the Pakistan are harbouring known terrorists, they train them and their political regime is barbaric. It matters not.
So why should the spotlight fall on football, name a country that does not have a tainted reputation.
Its not the sole preserve of the Saudis, that's for sure. If we want a game without dirty money, then good luck finding it.

[houseboy]

That would be ok as far as I'm concerned. I couldn't give a rats arse who owns what club.
I suspect most people on here would secretly be happy if Putin or the Saudi's started buying us trophies.
It's very easy to start shouting about moral compasses or whatever, when the situation is hypothetical.
The Internet is full of people like that

Utter nonsense. You might not have standards but others have. I hate the PL and I hate what billionaire criminals are doing to a sport I love. I would not ‘secretly’ or otherwise be happy. I would walk away from the club I have supported and loved all my life if people like that took charge. I would rather relegation than be kept in the PL by buying our survival. Sorry if that upsets your view of what people are like.

[Lord_Bob]

Personally, I would like to think that my moral compass was strong enough that it would be the end for me. Hopefully I will never have to find out.

The whole thing just emphasizes the point that the PL is just a rich man's toy. We simply can't compete. We are in a competition that we can't win. We survive the only way we can - team work ethic, 4-4-2, second balls and beating teams around us. With so many rich teams around us now, that is getting harder and harder, and, let's be honest it can be hard to watch at times, but what else can you do in a league like this? No wonder crowds are dropping.

I look at Accy and think THAT would be a good day out - building club who seem to care about football, no VAR, both sets of fans having a beer together and enjoying a good day at the footy. If it did happen, I might have to become a Stanley man.

[Damo]

Utter nonsense. You might not have standards but others have. I hate the PL and I hate what billionaire criminals are doing to a sport I love. I would not ‘secretly’ or otherwise be happy. I would walk away from the club I have supported and loved all my life if people like that took charge. I would rather relegation than be kept in the PL by buying our survival. Sorry if that upsets your view of what people are like.

Good for you.
Again, that's a really easy standpoint in a hypothetical situation.
Out of faux interest, would you walk away from football, or would you go and support a more ethically sourced team?