The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 5th June 2015

[Pasadena Spurs]

Could QIA mean Qatar Investment Authority? Fuck that if true.

AAS = Ahmad Al Sayed

 

[Danfunkel]

I think talking about the people Gabriel mentioned and the people he knows who are interested in buying us. However, what the fuck AAS and QIA mean, I do not know.

Almost certain QIA is the Qatari Investment Authority. AAS though, I've not a scooby.

So basically a Middle eastern party are interested in us and are now worried about the prospect of a new American based firm wanting a punt too.

Interesting that Lewis is happy with the sum. Got his £1bn then........?

 

[kr1978]

AAS = Ahmad Al Sayed

He left/was sacked from the Qatar Investment Authority a few months back I think

 

[Dirty Ewok]

prof/galahad on coys on nfl/takeover? etc:
Some snippets received over the last 24 hours. {Best stay away from this post if you can't cope with cryptics}

Received from Galahad at WHL:
"NFL deal is going slower than hoped as both sides work their way through the details. No feeling on either side that the remaining issues are intractable. Takes time to create a complex agreement. Patience."

Received from Gabriel in NY:
"Woah. Big new player has jumped into the game from this side of the pond. Deep pockets - many billions. JL satisfied with price; DL wants more. Niger Petra!"

Received from Ghalib in the ME:
"My guys are worried by Gabe's people. Fear is they are a better fit than us. Less push back from fans. AAS will be sitting down with his boys at the QIA and having a re-think about the big picture strategy (THFC are only a part of their vision). Shit happens."

I haven't been able to crack the 'Niger Petra' code (African Jordanians? River Rose? :shrug: ), so I'm handing this one over the COYS brains trust.

....I would guess BlackRock Inc.

BIG money....really, really BIG money. The have had astounding growth in the past 15 years or so.

Bought out MetLife probably 15 years ago, and in the early 2000's (i think) they took over the Merrill Lynch Investments group and a few years ago they took over Barclay's Investment branch.

They became somewhat more notable during the financial crisis when the US government contracted them to sort out what the hell was going on with some of the banks.

Buying Spurs seems well outside of their normal investments....but they have the money to pay whatever the hell Levy and Lewis ask.

 

[Pasadena Spurs]

He left/was sacked from the Qatar Investment Authority a few months back I think

You are correct. This is a clip from Reuters back in December 2014:
"
"Sheikh Abdullah replaces Ahmed al-Sayed, who had been chief executive of Qatar Holding, the investment arm of QIA, before his appointment to the QIA job in July 2013.

Sayed is set to be appointed as an adviser to the emir following his departure, and will retain his minister of state title which he held concurrently with the top job at the fund, the source added."

 

[Indisguise]

American AND Qatari investors... fighting over us no less.

It'll have to be a really good investment story next year to beat this one.

 

[yankspurs]

GIVE ME BLACKROCK! GIVE THEM TO ME RIGHT NOW!

 

[yankspurs]

Seriously, that is the single greatest ITK i've seen

Dont you fucking ruin this for me Levy, you ****! Don't you even think about it!

 

[Indisguise]

Seriously, that is the single greatest ITK i've seen

Dont you fucking ruin this for me Levy, you ****! Don't you even think about it!

Fuck me, Yankspurs believes in fairies.

Seriously, that is the single greatest ITK i've seen

Dont you fucking ruin this for me Levy, you ****! Don't you even think about it!

Man overboard. I said "MAN OVERBOARD"!

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Fuck me, Yankspurs believes in fairies.

Man overboard. I said "MAN OVERBOARD"!

Since when did we save Rednecks lol

 

[Indisguise]

Since when did we save Rednecks lol

Well... there was Harry Red...



No... that's not right. Must be thinking of something else.

 

[kr1978]

....I would guess BlackRock Inc.

BIG money....really, really BIG money. The have had astounding growth in the past 15 years or so.

Bought out MetLife probably 15 years ago, and in the early 2000's (i think) they took over the Merrill Lynch Investments group and a few years ago they took over Barclay's Investment branch.

They became somewhat more notable during the financial crisis when the US government contracted them to sort out what the hell was going on with some of the banks.

Buying Spurs seems well outside of their normal investments....but they have the money to pay whatever the hell Levy and Lewis ask.

Blackstone is more likely out of the 2 IMO, they have been very very active in London property over the last few years (more so than usual) and are more likely to have been in discussions regarding funding options for the construction of the stadium in the early stages.

 

[kr1978]

You are correct. This is a clip from Reuters back in December 2014:
"
"Sheikh Abdullah replaces Ahmed al-Sayed, who had been chief executive of Qatar Holding, the investment arm of QIA, before his appointment to the QIA job in July 2013.

Sayed is set to be appointed as an adviser to the emir following his departure, and will retain his minister of state title which he held concurrently with the top job at the fund, the source added."

I didn't know about the new role! So he's not exactly out of the loop then

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Agreed, and I worry that because of the lack of top talent available (I'd go mad for Garay though and maybe Cabaye) that Danny Boy will sign a coach load of dross, because he does love a signing, even just for the sake of it/placate the apes.

Can't really think of anyone is want bar the above two over any of our own youth promotion options.

I don't actually believe that Levy wants to make signings for the sake of it, I think every manager demands "his players" and even the fans constantly demand "Levy backs the manager" and he tries to do that, and when we can't get the first name on the list we move down that list. It's what most teams like us have to do.

I don't want kids played for the sake of it, but there must be a slight shift in emphasis now because it makes sense on various levels. It makes sense to have an over arching methodology that changing components won't affect too much, and a methodology that runs from youth to first team should be integral to that meaning the kids we produce don't all have to be world beaters to be at least as useful as squad fillers as those we can buy. On another level we have some really talented kids and if we don't at least give them a chance it's totally pointless wasting several years of development on them and giving them a chance could and should be the self perpetuating golden egg as the best kids will see they get a chance here and want to come to us rather than others.

It's ultimately Levy's job to to oversee this policy and create the environment where this can flourish, appoint coaches that can deliver it and make allowances when that doesn't transmute to 4th place.

I don't want us to stop buying players per se, we've actually played the market better than most, I just want a slight shift in emphasis as I think right now, due to an amalgamation of circumstances, it makes footballing and financial sense for us.

 

[yankspurs]

Since when did we save Rednecks lol

To be fair, I'm not a red neck

 

[yankspurs]

GIVE ME BLACKROCK! GIVE THEM TO ME RIGHT NOW!

To be clear, BlackRock or Blackstone. Either of them is perfectly fine with me. Give me now!

 

[TEESSIDE1]

To be fair, I'm not a red neck

You're American right? Sentence passed without parole lol

 

[St José Dominguez]

The Blackstone Group invested in United Biscuits who are the parent company of McVities who make HobNobs. I'm in.

 

[panoma]

I dont know what to think about the last ITK. Always more worried than excited when i read about possible new ownership. Lewis and Levy have their flaws, but better the devil you know and all that.

If we suddenly had tons of money that would take away from potential success for me. Like when clubs like Chelsea and City wins, it feel tainted.

 

[Dirty Ewok]

Blackstone is more likely out of the 2 IMO, they have been very very active in London property over the last few years (more so than usual) and are more likely to have been in discussions regarding funding options for the construction of the stadium in the early stages.

Ahh.....good call. Hadn't even thought of Blackstone.

Blackstone would make much more sense. Still tons of cash but they have invested in a pretty diverse set of companies and industries. I think they own SeaWorld and some other amusement park, i know they own a bunch of hotel chains and all sorts of real estate around the world.

Makes much more sense than BlackRock who would be far more apt to go buy out other investment firms than they would Spurs.