I’d say the biggest difference is MBS having ultimate control over the fund (even if he doesn’t personally oversee the day to day which they wanted to point out) and the fact that he is widely considered to be personally responsible for the murder of the journalist Jamal Kashoggi. I think that’s a major reason for the uproar, rightly or wrong that’s distinguishing them from other clubs who might be owned by effective heads of state/Royal families/foreign states who similarly oppress women and minorities and have egregious employment practices.
I think City also don’t catch so much flak as Newcastle are cos of recenecy. Newcastle is news, everyone’s got used to City over the last five years or whatever. People will soon stop giving Newcastle shit once it’s old hat.
The UAE has also done a much better job over the last few decades in marketing themselves to the West. People hear Dubai and they think about high end shopping, shiny new skyscrapers, and their cousin who had a crazy time there once on a business trip. People hear Riyadh and they think about sand, women walking around in burkas, and beheadings in the public square.
Dubai is probably the safest place I’ve ever been to in my life. It’s also probably the cleanest, the most versatile, the most enjoyable and the all round best place.
My aunt lives in Saudi and she used to spend every summer in Morocco because she didn’t enjoy being there. I haven’t spoken to her for a while but I imagine things are a little different now. Still a long, long way to go before it is anything resembling Dubai (or I guess the UAE in general)though.
On a serious note though he did the right thing for him.
Newcastle with all their money now will need a couple of years to stabilise. It’s a likelihood they even get relegated which adds another roadblock.
Whoever takes over now will very likely inherit the blame for Newcastle being so shit, and be sacked within the next year.
Emery’s stock is on the rise. Despite his bad league form, his form in Europe is the one getting the spotlight and will be what gets him his next big job.
He shouldn’t rush closing the Villarreal project now. He should re-evaluate his options next summer.
For what is worth, he x10 better than some of the stooges that have managed Madrid and Barca the last couple of years. That’s what he should be eyeing for before going abroad again.
That’s their way of not making themselves looking like cunts for publicity seeking Emery and getting rebuffed, thinking he’d relsih the Newcastle opportunity now realised they fucked up and have to placate Howe making him think he interviews better and was a better fit than Emery anyway
