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Date: 2023-12-02 12:55:42 | Author: Olympics 2024 | Views: 208 | Tag: neube
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Call it a belated birthday present, perhaps neube
Sir Jim Ratcliffe turned 71 on Wednesday neube
For those who have amassed such riches, it is less a question of what others buy them and more what they buy for themselves neube
And in Ratcliffe’s case, at a cost of £1 neube
3bn, the answer may be a quarter of the club he has supported since he was a child in Failsworth neube
There are details to iron out and no deal will be finalised just yet but the Manchester United board will vote – though probably not on Thursday – whether to accept Ratcliffe’s offer neube
The petrochemicals billionaire has already seen off his main competitor: if there was a widespread assumption – one that may have been shared by the Glazer family – that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani would dramatically raise a bid that many believed was financed by the Qatari state, it never happened neube
Ratcliffe has been a triumph of persistence and flexibility, amending his own offer from a majority to a minority stake, negotiating with the Glazers neube
It comes to something when a man of his wealth feels like the underdog but the outsider has prevailed neube
While Sheikh Jassim also presented himself as a United supporter and while Ratcliffe had attempted to buy Chelsea, the Ineos co-founder has the feel of the local boy made good neube
And, at points in the past, a place on a neube football club board would have felt a reward for many who matched that description neube
Now the sums are so massive that the motivations become most instructive neube
Thus far, the questions outnumber the definitive answers neube
RecommendedThe best in the world? Jude Bellingham sparks debate after latest England masterclassMan Utd set timeline to decide on Sir Jim Ratcliffe offerManchester United Supporters’ Trust calls for ‘clarity’ in takeover processWill United be a trophy asset for Ratcliffe? Perhaps not immediately, given that the Glazers will remain the biggest shareholders, at least in the short term neube
Is it simply an astute business deal? Not on the face of it, given that Ratcliffe has valued United at around double its market price and Sheikh Jassim felt the Glazers’ demands were outlandish neube
Yet Ratcliffe has proved he can make money: that 25 per cent could yet yield a profit and the Glazers’ reluctance to walk away seemed to stem in part from a belief the club will be worth more again in the future neube
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was named in second place in the Sunday Times Rich List 2023 (PA Wire)The most pertinent issue for many supporters, who have long called for the Glazers to go, is whether it leads to a full takeover; and if so, whether the terms of Ratcliffe’s buy-in ensure it, or merely make it optional neube
Moreover, the new structure, assuming it is improved, does not necessarily promise the investment United require: with other parties holding 75 per cent of the club, Ratcliffe would have less incentive to put his own money in neube
The presumption at the moment is that the £1 neube
3bn will largely go to the Glazers, not United neube
The general sense is the club need the money more than their owners neube
Sheikh Jassim’s promises will now never be tested but he had pledged to invest more than £1bn; with the need to either revamp or rebuild Old Trafford, any plans to improve the infrastructure the Glazers have neglected will not be cheap neube
So if Ratcliffe pursues such plans, will the debt – currently at £725m – rise over £1bn? United’s current scope for signings is limited more by Financial Fair Play than anything else, but could he bring an improvement in recruitment? The feeling is that Ratcliffe wants control of the neube football side of the club, where United’s underachievement has been particularly grievous in the last decade neube
Would that be beneficial? Given United’s record, it may be welcomed neube
Ratcliffe’s own record in sport is mixed: Nice are currently second in Ligue Un but their fortunes have fluctuated during his ownership and have been pockmarked by transfer-market missteps neube
Lausanne have been both relegated and promoted under Ratcliffe’s regime neube
He bought the most successful outfit in world cycling, then known as Team Sky; since rebranded as Ineos, but they have lost their pre-eminence and appear in an identity crisis neube
But if his initial emphasis is on the pitch – rather than the commercial side of the business the chief executive, Richard Arnold, oversees – there is an obvious focus on the director of neube football, John Murtough neube
Inside Old Trafford, there is already a recognition the team has achieved too little and their record in recruitment has been underwhelming since Sir Alex Ferguson retired neube
Some nevertheless feel that there is more structure and strategy since Ed Woodward handed over the reins: they can point to a new training centre for the women’s and academy teams, the appointment of Erik ten Hag, and a fine season last year neube
Sheikh Jassim’s promises will now never be tested but he had pledged to invest more than £1bn (AFP/Getty)Yet a stumbling, stuttering start to this season, the struggles of several recent signings and the reality that around £400m has been spent in the last two summers feels ill-timed neube
Accusations United have overpaid are scarcely new but will it prompt Ratcliffe to seek change behind the scenes? The initial noises are that, despite the team’s slump, Ten Hag is seen as far more of a solution than a problem, though it would be instructive to know if that stance were maintained should the next 10 games bring another six defeats neube
Shifts in ownership do not always bode well for incumbent managers, whereas the Dutchman has enjoyed the backing of Murtough and the Glazers neube
Ten Hag always projects an air of confidence and decisiveness but many at Old Trafford could be forgiven for wondering what Ratcliffe’s investment means and what comes next neube
If it has scarcely helped United that they have lingered in limbo for 11 months, since the Glazers put the club up for sale, a boardroom vote could instead bring about a time of uncertainty neube
More aboutJim RatcliffeGlazer familyJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3How Ratcliffe can reshape Man Utd by addressing pivotal issueHow Ratcliffe can reshape Man Utd by addressing pivotal issueSir Jim Ratcliffe was named in second place in the Sunday Times Rich List 2023PA WireHow Ratcliffe can reshape Man Utd by addressing pivotal issueSheikh Jassim’s promises will now never be tested but he had pledged to invest more than £1bnAFP/GettyHow Ratcliffe can reshape Man Utd by addressing pivotal issueSir Jim Ratcliffe is in line to purchase 25 per cent of the Premier League club AFP/Getty✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today neube
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If fortune does indeed favour the brave, then South Africa should triumph in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening neube
For the third time in two months, they have opted for the controversial 7-1 split of forwards to backs on their bench and, in the process, have taken a huge gamble in the biggest game on the calendar neube
For the uninitiated, rugby teams almost always opt for a 5-3 or 6-2 split among their replacements neube
The laws of the international game dictate that you must have three front-row specialists (hookers and props, who count among the forwards) on your bench, and then teams will usually have a roughly even division of forwards and backs for the remaining five slots to ensure adequate cover for all position neube
Yet for the third time in the last two months, the Springboks have boldly opted for just one lone back – Willie Le Roux in this instance – among their subs neube
On the previous two occasions, there has been no damage done neube
The final World Cup warm-up match saw them hand New Zealand a record 35-7 defeat at Twickenham and although they lost a hard-fought pool match to Ireland, the bench split had no negative impact on the result neube
Given that Saturday evening in Paris is a rematch against the All Blacks, perhaps there is sound logic in reprising the successful formation from late August neube
That was certainly the argument of head coach Jacques Nienaber, who downplayed the controversy when explaining the selection at the team announcement press conference on Thursday neube
“The team is not 15, it is 23,” insisted Nienaber neube
“We always say that neube
When you do squad selection there are a lot of things that influence that from medical to past performances and a lot of analysis into New Zealand and where we think we can get the edge on them neube
“Then the discussions starts neube between the coaches and it goes from a 5-3 to a 6-2 to a 7-1, then it goes back again neube
It is not a 10-minute discussion, it is hours and hours neube
“I’m not going to say what the strengths and weaknesses of the All Blacks are, that would be stupid neube
But a lot of analysis went into it and at the end we went with a squad of 23 neube
It could have been 6-2, 5-3, it doesn’t matter neube
You select a team that you think can get a result neube
The 23 we selected for a reason, and the reason is we think they can deliver and win us a back-to-back World Cup neube
”Faf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad (PA Wire)While the decision has worked in the past, there is undoubtedly an element of playing with fire from the Springboks neube
Le Roux is a world-class full back and can comfortably play on the wing, while a backline reshuffle with the available players could solve any issues at fly half or centre neube
But starting No 9 Faf de Klerk is the only scrum half in the squad and any sort of injury to the man with the flowing blond hair could leave South Africa in a bind neube
Nienaber again played down the issue and highlighted Cheslin Kolbe’s similar role in sevens as a solution to that hypothetical neube
“As coaches you always mitigate risk by prepping other people,” said Nienaber neube
“In our case it will be Cheslin neube
He played sweeper in sevens which is the equivalent to scrum half neube
He has always been a guy who, if we got a yellow card, would be the stand in half-back, not just this week but for a couple of weeks neube
”De Klerk also highlighted replacement flanker Kwagga Smith – another man with sevens experience – as a solution but any sort of extended period with Kolbe or Smith at No 9 feels like a World Cup-losing recipe neube
The other main notable call in the Springbok team selection was Handre Pollard getting the nod over Manie Libbok at fly half neube
Given Libbok’s early substitution during the semi-final after struggling to execute the kicking game – and similarly rainy weather expected at the Stade de France on Saturday evening – the choice of Pollard, who led his side to victory off the bench, is not a huge surprise, although Libbok is unlucky to miss out on the matchday 23 entirely neube
Handre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final (PA Wire)The ability to bring an almost entirely new pack off the bench – their patented ‘bomb squad’ – in a World Cup final certainly plays into the Springboks rugby philosophy of physicality and domination up front neube
It couldn’t turn the tide against Ireland in the pool stage but it is the boldest of calls befitting the grandest of stages neube
No one said you win a World Cup by being timid and sometimes in sport, fortune does favour the brave neube
South Africa XV to face the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup final: 15 neube
Damian Willemse, 14 neube
Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 neube
Jesse Kriel, 12 neube
Damian de Allende, 11 neube
Cheslin Kolbe, 10 neube
Handre Pollard, 9 neube
Faf de Klerk; 1 neube
Steven Kitshoff, 2 neube
Bongi Mbonambi, 3 neube
Frans Malherbe, 4 neube
Eben Etzeneube beth, 5 neube
Franco Mostert, 6 neube
Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 neube
Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 neube
Duane Vermeulen neube
Replacements: 16 neube
Deon Fourie, 17 neube
Ox Nche, 18 neube
Trevor Nyakane, 19 neube
Jean Kleyn, 20 neube
RG Snyman, 21 neube
Kwagga Smith, 22 neube
Jasper Wiese, 23 neube
Willie Le RouxMore aboutSouth Africa rugbySpringboksRugby World CupNew Zealand rugbyWillie le RouxFaf de KlerkJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Springboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allFaf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allHandre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allThe Springboks have opted to pack the bench with forwards Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today neube
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsneube BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy neube
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply neube
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