Manchester United named as the most valuable club in the world

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The chief operating officer of Manchester United, Michael Bolingbroke, has said that football clubs should not just be after quick money on offer from overseas sponsors’ interested in the Premier League. He said that clubs need to focus most of their marketing on the core fans or they run the risk of damaging the brand.

Bolingbroke was speaking at the annual Global Leadership Summit at the London Business School. Manchester United has 333million fans across the world and 139 million of these are core fans. These figures come from research carried out by TNS Sport in 2007. Brand Finance has labelled it the most valuable sports club in the world.

United say that their core fans are more important than any sponsors or broadcasters to the club’s marketing strategy. Bolingbroke backed this up by saying that getting the insight from these core fans had been critical in recent years to the club’s commercial success.

He said that although core fans are not a key revenue driver, they drive growth with the atmosphere they provide at the club and their invaluable insight. The club maintain interaction with their global fans by interacting with the core fans and Bolingbroke says this is more important to the future of the club than sponsors or broadcasters. He said that other clubs should be wary of alienating their core fans by going after quick money.

Manchester United make their strategy work by asking how core fans like to be treated as opposed to, say corporate fans. There are differences and United use these to make all their fans happy especially on match days. Manchester United have, however, also been one of the busiest clubs when it comes to overseas sponsorship, signing deals recently with telecommunication companies, Globul and Du.

Patrick Vieira reacts angrily about supposed Man United comments

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Patrick Vieira has recently reacted to what he thinks is a misinterpretation of comments he made about Manchester United. The Frenchman, who plays for Manchester City, recently created a great deal of controversy and upset the fans of Manchester United when he said that their attempt to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement in order to play was the club desperately trying to improve its game.

He says that the quotes have been taken out of context when they were used during an interview. They were initially made in order to be part of a campaign Vieira does as part of his charity work. They were made for a video about supporting the fight against starvation in Africa.

A statement released by Manchester City has read, “He gave the interview to the BBC and people have been misinterpreting the statement. Mr Vieira also feels that during the interview which was done with Dan Roan, from the BBC, the questions from the reporter were very misleading with regard to seeking comments from him about Manchester United.

They were especially leading in regard to Manchester United being given preferential treatment by referees at matches.” Mr Vieira maintains that is comments have been taken dramatically out of context.

 

Patrick Vieira reacts to his comments being misinterpreted

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Patrick Vieira has recently reacted to what he thinks is a misinterpretation of comments he made about Manchester United. The Frenchman, who plays for Manchester City, recently created a great deal of controversy with fans of Manchester United, when he said that their attempt to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement in order to play was the club desperately trying to improve its game.

He says that the quotes have been taken out of context when they were used during an interview. They were initially made in order to be part of a campaign Vieira does as part of his charity work. They were made for a video about supporting the fight against starvation in Africa.

A statement released by Manchester City has read, “He gave the interview to the BBC and people have been misinterpreting the statement. Mr Vieira also feels that during the interview which was done with Dan Roan, from the BBC, the questions from the reporter were very leading with regard to seeking comment from him about Manchester United.

They were especially leading in regard to Manchester United being given preferential treatment by referees at matches.” Mr Vieira maintains that is comments have been taken dramatically out of context.

Man Utd. make hard work of it against Fulham

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In the recent big match at Old Trafford, the hosts huffed and puffed for the most part without fully exerting the influence over the ever defensive Fulham. United are now leading their rivals, Manchester city by three points in the title race. Rooney was at the right place in right time for firing the winner just three minutes before the break after cut-back at far post from Jonny Evans.

The goal has proved to be enough for three points but United were unable to further cut the 3 goal difference advantage of City despite having many chances in the second half. The cottagers has little to to offer in their 4-5-1 formation, and also had the knowledge that they had won only once at United’s ground since the year 1959.

They got a good chance early in the match but, the keeper David de Gea saved the Goal and denied Clint Dempsey. There was pressure at the other end but when Ashley Young floated over a cross, Rooney ducked underneath it.

Evans, with his presence of mind, nudged the ball back to the striker who beat Mark Schwarzer, finishing simply from close range. Schwarzer then made some smart moves saving attempts from both Rooney and Young and everyone was relieved when the final whistle blew.

Manchester United remain title favourites despite Liverpool hammering

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Manchester United remain favourites with Paddy Power to win this season’s Premier League despite their Anfield hammering today. Alex Ferguson’s team are now 8/11 to win United’s 19th league title.

Arsenal, who are now three points behind the leaders with a game in hand, are 17/10 to take the title no one seems to want to win. Prior to the weekend’s matches United had been 4/6 with Arsenal 13/8.

Premier League Latest

8/11 Man Utd; 17/10 Arsenal; 7/1 Chelsea; 25/1 Man City; 125/1 Tottenham

Liverpool are now 9/1 with Paddy Power for what would have been the most unlikeliest Top Four finishes prior to King Kenny’s return when they were as big as 25/1 for a Champions League spot. Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick was avaiable at 125/1 although only four punters had taken the price on the Dutch magpie, who is unlikely to ever score an easier hat-trick in his career.