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Unbelievable!! Big money signings my arse if they are having to resort to this to earn a buck!!!


The importance of commercial sponsorships in football has been laid bare by the Australian media who have revealed that Manchester United were willing to disappoint over 80,000 fans in Sydney in row over fizzy drinks.

United beat the Australian A-League All-Stars 5-1 last month in front of a sell-out 83,127 at the ANZ Stadium but it turns out the night's real drama took place off the pitch.

Just 20 minutes before kick-off the match was still on the brink of cancellation because United were refusing to take the pitch as long as the stadium's giant screens were flashing up ads for Coca-Cola.

This was unacceptable to Manchester United's commercial department who were on the brink of signing a multi-million pound sponsorship deal with Pepsi in the Asian-Pacific region which has since been confirmed this week.

That deal does not even include Australia, but United were not going to take any chances about offending Pepsi.

"Man U's commercial department threatened that the team would not run out if the Cola-Cola sign stayed on the big screen," an ANZ Stadium spokesman has confirmed.

"It wasn't discovered until the team arrived at the ground."

Coca-Cola are one of the main backers of the stadium which complicated the issue.

The Football Federation of Australia were even called in to help mediate proceedings and a compromise was finally reached where all Coke ads were replaced by ads for Mount Franklin water – another Coca-Cola Amatil product, but not a direct rival to Pepsi.

"There was a fairly heated discussion which involved FFA as well," an FFA insider confirmed.

"The odd part is that there were lots of Man U people at the stadium three nights earlier for State of Origin and nothing was said about the signs.

"They could hardly say they were caught by surprise."
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Link to article: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/wor ... 46001.html
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Bah Pepsi - it's a poor man's 'Extra Joss'.

coke a cola is disgusting but so are the rags.

Bet CamelGob was gutted, he loves that Coke stuff.

I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

another negative article here, the dailly mirror as well.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... er-2126333

feedthegreek wrote:another negative article here, the dailly mirror as well.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... er-2126333

Some of the comments are juicy

"Another negative article from the anti-United Mirror."

Blimey!

Definately worth pasting as you won't see a story like that, that often. Even their own are turning, the season hasn't even started yet!

Manchester United's amateur and clumsy transfer moves this summer have been nothing short of an embarrassment

'The club are working through their plans A, B and C like a dullard loudly reciting the alphabet and struggling to get past the first'

Next Sunday sees Manchester United take on Wigan Athletic in the FA Community Shield at Wembley.

A glorified friendly it may be but as sure as Dave Whelan will dedicate any victory to the broken leg that seemingly never healed, so the game takes on Anderson-sized importance for David Moyes as an early indicator of how he’ll cope as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor.

It has always been the traditional curtain-raiser to a new season but as far as United are concerned you almost expect a spokesperson to comically fumble through the velvet drapes Eric Morecambe style and sheepishly announce that a special guest has failed to turn up.

It would be fitting for a close season that has seen the club descend into very public farce.

To his credit Moyes was quick to identify midfield as requiring specific and immediate attention, an admission that felt positively Archimedian to United supporters urging the club to add quality to the area for years.

Yet weeks on Uruguayan Guillermo Varela remains the club’s sole recruit - a youth player invited to train at the club during Ferguson’s reign. Moyes must feel like boy who wanted a bike for Christmas only to be told he was Muslim.

United have spent the summer stumbling around the transfer market like a drunk and creepy uncle at a wedding; clumsily making unwelcome passes at anyone vaguely attractive, whilst groping repeatedly and embarrassingly at the plus-ones of others.

Extending the metaphor further you wonder whether they’d be in any fit state to seal the deal were anyone to actually say yes.

New chief executive and Ian Hislop-alike Ed Woodward hasn’t exactly helped. At the beginning of the summer most supporters would have been satisfied enough with a decent midfielder and exciting young recruit or two.

Since then Woodward has publicly stated that United wouldn’t bat an eyelid at spending £60 or 70m on the right man, whilst the club have repeatedly briefed the media about the world-class standard of player they are in the market for.

Big names such as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have been banded about as prospective targets and expectations have soared.

It has added unnecessary pressure on United to produce and produce big. Whereas the club would previously be at pains to deny any such speculation, the new incumbents seem intent on fuelling it.

Whether it’s intentional or not the club have become a bit of a circus, and not in a good way. The kind where everyone looks like an incompetent clown and the wheels come off at the end.

Missing out on Thiago was understandable. He decided to join his mentor at Bayern and there was little United could do about it.

What is less becoming is the very public pursuit of Cesc Fabregas. The player himself has wisely kept his council; Barcelona have consistently claimed he’s not for sale (as they would); but United have conducted a cringeworthy negotiation-by-media like some attention-seeking Big Brother contestant eager to stretch out their fifteen minutes of fame.

The whole episode and indeed the summer has been an embarrassment. Every move has seemed amateur and clumsy. The club are working through their plans A, B and C like a dullard loudly reciting the alphabet and struggling to get past the first letter.

If they miss out on Fabregas and turn their attentions to, say, Luca Modric, how will he feel about being a very public consolation prize for the one that got away? Selling clubs will also start to sense United’s desperation and add idiot tax to any quoted price.

You’ve got to feel for Moyes in all of this. A few weeks ago he excitedly announced that the chairman had told him there was ‘no budget’ at United. He must now be wondering whether that’s the same ‘no budget’ he had to contend with at Everton.

The club need to back a manager who will be under tremendous pressure to succeed from the outset. It requires an intelligence, decisiveness and tact in their pursuit of players that looks far beyond them.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously referred to Manchester City as being United’s ‘noisy neighbours’. Recent months have seen one of those clubs go quietly and efficiently about the business of strengthening their squad whilst the other shouts very loudly and achieves precious little. There’s been plenty of talk of ‘marquee’ when not so much as a child’s tent has transpired.

Perhaps the most laughable story to come out of Old Trafford was Woodward dramatically jumping on a plane from Australia to deal with urgent business at the club. A few weeks on he still seems hopelessly unable to land.

How is it anyone at uniteds fault that united have been linked with unrealistic transfer targets, it's the media who make up the ridiculous transfer stories, have united bid for the likes bale and ronaldo? No? The only ONE player united have publicly commented on is fabregas the fact you guys make this stuff up to sell papers is no reflection on motes or Woodward, just another pathetic attempt to have a pop at moyes before the season has even started, shoddy journalism again

Another pile of tosh served up by the ever reliable anti United comic the mirror!! Honestly every bloody story in the last month involving United on here is negative!! Even if there's a glimmer of positivity you guys still find a negative!!!
One target Fabregas!!!! "ONE" can you read that you idiotic fools!! And yes while it seems like a pointless task going for him United must no something you Journo's don't "no way" .. Lol which in its self is hardly surprising is it? ..seeing as tho most of your news is old/cut and paste or just blatantly made up!

Oh how you've waited for the non Fergie years....

After selling Ronaldo in 2009 for 80 million and several lesser players in the following years, up to last year Manchester United have spent "net zero" on transfer fees in the last 5 years, meanwhile Chelsea and Man City respectively have spent close to 400 and 500million, Now they have no Fergie and if Rooney goes is sold to their rival David Moyes will surely face a long hard season ahead while the Glaziers continue to siphon off 100's of millions each year.to finance their debt.

So is that all your gonna bring to the argument? Stop moaning?

Should have aimed for Cabaye or Eriksson. All this Fabregas business has made us lose more ground in this window. I would have liked us to buy a left back, 2 wingers, def mid, playmaker and a striker if Rooney is to leave. All I can see happening is Fellaini coming on the last day of the window. Why let David Gill leave same time as Fergie?

It sounds to me like 2010 when we sold ronnie and didnt take the tevez option. We made a lot of noise about finding world class replacements with the 80 million we got for ronnie but we ended up signing Owen on a free and Valencia for 16 million. I can see us selling Rooney for 30 mil and buying 1 or 2 players for a combined sun of about 30 million.

I totally agree. We need to go for a more realistic target

saulman wrote:I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

I can't decide whether you are taking the piss or not here??

I think you are but just in case not might I suggest www.google.com

saulman wrote:I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

One of the first things you ever learn in life mate is that Coke and Pepsi are NOT the same company!!

ant london wrote:

saulman wrote:I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

I can't decide whether you are taking the piss or not here??

I think you are but just in case not might I suggest http://www.google.com

I thought it was an ironic comment on the notion of the 'free-market economy'. I could be wrong, of course.

john@staustell wrote:

saulman wrote:I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

One of the first things you ever learn in life mate is that Coke and Pepsi are NOT the same company!!

Ha Ha,

So much so that if someone asks for a Coke and they sell Pepsi under the trades descriptions act 1974 they HAVE to inform the customer they are not getting coke!! Coke actually send people out to check too!!

CTID Hants wrote:
Ha Ha,

So much so that if someone asks for a Coke and they sell Pepsi under the trades descriptions act 1974 they HAVE to inform the customer they are not getting coke!! Coke actually send people out to check too!!

Yep all jd Wetherspoons sell Pepsi and have to inform you if you ask for a coke

Money must be getting really tight for them...The other night I noticed an "A" Frame by the side of Bury New Road, near Strangeways proclaiming:

[center]RAGS

CAR CLEANING AND VALETING[/center]

They must be getting desperate.

CTID Hants wrote:

john@staustell wrote:

saulman wrote:I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

One of the first things you ever learn in life mate is that Coke and Pepsi are NOT the same company!!

So much so that if someone asks for a Coke and they sell Pepsi under the trades descriptions act 1974 they HAVE to inform the customer they are not getting coke!! Coke actually send people out to check too!!

But Coke and Pepsi are the classic example of heightening/exaggerating brand rivalry so as to force other competitors out of the market. Between them, Coca Cola Company Ltd and PepsiCo have about 40% of the market share of ALL soft drinks (not just cola) worldwide.

Which countries is Pepsi more popular than cola in, by the way? When I was a kid, I thought they were about equal in Britain, but I'd say Coke is about 70% of the market now (with Pepsi being c.25% and other brands 5%). Coke is probably 95-99% in Belgium (due to abhorrent marketing campaigns that I'm sure would be illegal in any fully-modernised country), and in Bosnia, I'd say Pepsi is third in the market, behind Coke and Cockta, but Pepsi really does taste awful here and is packaged and promoted terribly.

BlueinBosnia wrote:

CTID Hants wrote:

john@staustell wrote:

saulman wrote:I thought Coke and Pepsi were owned by the same company. Stories like this make great advertising for both side.

One of the first things you ever learn in life mate is that Coke and Pepsi are NOT the same company!!

So much so that if someone asks for a Coke and they sell Pepsi under the trades descriptions act 1974 they HAVE to inform the customer they are not getting coke!! Coke actually send people out to check too!!

But Coke and Pepsi are the classic example of heightening/exaggerating brand rivalry so as to force other competitors out of the market. Between them, Coca Cola Company Ltd and PepsiCo have about 40% of the market share of ALL soft drinks (not just cola) worldwide.

Which countries is Pepsi more popular than cola in, by the way? When I was a kid, I thought they were about equal in Britain, but I'd say Coke is about 70% of the market now (with Pepsi being c.25% and other brands 5%). Coke is probably 95-99% in Belgium (due to abhorrent marketing campaigns that I'm sure would be illegal in any fully-modernised country), and in Bosnia, I'd say Pepsi is third in the market, behind Coke and Cockta, but Pepsi really does taste awful here and is packaged and promoted terribly.

People refuse to drink Pepsi in Spain. No bars stock it because people won't drink anything other than Coca-Cola. There are some prissy fucks over here.

I love 7 Up but you can hardly find that over here either. It shits all over Sprite in my opinion.

In the whole Middle East Pepsi dominates Coca Cola still. Believe it stems back to the 70s/80s when Coke opened a bottling plant or plants in Israel and were, consequently, boycotted.

From what I understand Ford had the same issue and you still don't see many on the road.

ant london wrote:In the whole Middle East Pepsi dominates Coca Cola still. Believe it stems back to the 70s/80s when Coke opened a bottling plant or plants in Israel and were, consequently, boycotted.

From what I understand Ford had the same issue and you still don't see many on the road.

My mate's brother was told in Abu Dhabi by their tour guide a couple of months back that 'Pepsi' was an acronym for 'Pay every penny to save Israel', and there are people in the Middle East (this tour guide included) who genuinely believe that.

Also, Henry Ford was a raving anti-Semite, by all accounts.

The world can be a paradoxical place sometimes...

Alioune DVToure wrote:
People refuse to drink Pepsi in Spain. No bars stock it because people won't drink anything other than Coca-Cola. There are some prissy fucks over here.

I love 7 Up but you can hardly find that over here either. It shits all over Sprite in my opinion.

Apparently Snow white likes 7 up too

BlueinBosnia wrote:But Coke and Pepsi are the classic example of heightening/exaggerating brand rivalry so as to force other competitors out of the market. Between them, Coca Cola Company Ltd and PepsiCo have about 40% of the market share of ALL soft drinks (not just cola) worldwide.

Which countries is Pepsi more popular than cola in, by the way? When I was a kid, I thought they were about equal in Britain, but I'd say Coke is about 70% of the market now (with Pepsi being c.25% and other brands 5%). Coke is probably 95-99% in Belgium (due to abhorrent marketing campaigns that I'm sure would be illegal in any fully-modernised country), and in Bosnia, I'd say Pepsi is third in the market, behind Coke and Cockta, but Pepsi really does taste awful here and is packaged and promoted terribly.

ZZzzzzzzz......