Man Utd Thread:

[seafoid]

   Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour.
   https://www.ft.com/content/a0b14131-54be-419f-8166-74d7516eed56

   Manchester United draws up plans for Old Trafford replacement
Project to upgrade stadium or build new 100,000-seater promises to boost economic growth across region

Speculation about the future of Old Trafford has been rife since Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a significant stake in the club © Mike Egerton/PA
)
Jennifer Williams in Manchester YESTERDAY

Manchester United's plans to rebuild or redevelop Old Trafford are set to drive one of the UK's "biggest ever urban regeneration projects", according to new proposals. 

The Premier League club will decide by the end of this season whether to build a new 100,000-capacity ground, creating the country's biggest stadium, or upgrade and expand the existing one.

Either option will spearhead 100 acres of sports-led regeneration immediately next door to Manchester city centre, according to plans drawn up by a task force including Lord Sebastian Coe, who led the London 2012 Olympics, local authorities and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. 

Its initial proposals, published on Friday, promise new housing, entertainment venues and transport links.


CGI images of Old Trafford's redevelopment © Manchester United
Speculation about the future of Old Trafford, the condition of which is a major bugbear for fans, has been rife since the chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a significant stake in the club last year. 

Ratcliffe has previously pledged a "Wembley of the North" in its place. Last month his firm Ineos agreed a $100mn cash injection, said to be earmarked for new infrastructure. 

In practice the club has yet to publicly choose between a new ground or a redevelopment. 

The task force has now drawn up two options.

An entirely new stadium is the most popular among fans, it said, backed by 52 per cent of those surveyed.

The second option would redevelop and expand the existing ground, taking its capacity from 78,000 to 87,000.


There are proposals to redevelop land stretching from the stadium to nearby Wharfside © Manchester United
A task force paper being proposed to council leaders next week said that funding and delivery options were "still being assessed".

In the meantime, the club and local leaders are proposing a mayoral development corporation — a separate body designed to streamline land assembly and investment, which would be overseen by Burnham — to redevelop the wider area into a "world-class, sports-led visitor destination".

That would include not only the area immediately around the ground, but land stretching into the nearby Wharfside, across the water from the BBC's northern headquarters at MediaCity. 


Lord Coe said the plan would drive growth across the north-west  © Manchester United
Burnham dubbed the proposal "the largest opportunity for urban regeneration" since London 2012.

Coe said the plan would drive growth not only locally, but across the north-west. 

"At the heart of the plan is a world-class football stadium which will act as a catalyst for one of the biggest regeneration projects ever undertaken in the UK," he said.

Proposals are being drawn up for the relocation of rail freight companies immediately to the west of the ground, as part of a bigger exercise aimed at freeing up the region's notoriously congested rail routes for more passenger services.

[RedHand88]

As it stands United are 10 above the drop, having played an extra game. They will be looking over their shoulder as we come into the spring, especially as you'd expect Everton and Tottenham to get their act together with new management.

[Tony Baloney]

As it stands United are 10 above the drop, having played an extra game. They will be looking over their shoulder as we come into the spring, especially as you'd expect Everton and Tottenham to get their act together with new management.

United should have enough to avoid relegation.

[From the Bunker]

As it stands United are 10 above the drop, having played an extra game. They will be looking over their shoulder as we come into the spring, especially as you'd expect Everton and Tottenham to get their act together with new management.

They'll pick up enough points against the BIG clubs to see them safe.

[Milltown Row2]

As it stands United are 10 above the drop, having played an extra game. They will be looking over their shoulder as we come into the spring, especially as you'd expect Everton and Tottenham to get their act together with new management.

This a poor bitta fishing lol

[Cunny Funt]

Sign of the times that it's no longer a surprise that Brighton have won in Old Trafford. 6 wins in their last 7 games against United now. Didn't even have to play that well to win today, less possession and scored from their three efforts on target

The amount of unforced errors from this United team is something else. I've never known anything like it. Maguire woeful effort of trying to play offside on the first goal and Onana capped it off by gifted the 3rd goal.

[SaffronSports]

Is this a genuine quote? Saw it on Romano's page. Surely he didn't say that about his own team.

Rúben Amorim: "We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Man United, we have to acknowledge that".

[Milltown Row2]

Is this a genuine quote? Saw it on Romano's page. Surely he didn't say that about his own team.

Rúben Amorim: "We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Man United, we have to acknowledge that".

It's nearly true though

[David McKeown]

It's no excuse and doesn't explain the result but the standard of refereeing today was shocking.

How that wasn't a straight red on the penalty I don't know. Then Brightons goal scorer kicking the ball away from the cone when on a yellow. Finally clearly a hand round the throat of Garanacho at the end. We've seen in the past when that's a Utd player eg Casemiro that's a straight red.

A lot of rebuilding needed over a protracted period I fear. Hopefully Utd have the right man to do it and back him accordingly.

[Wee Barky]

One shot on target for Utd today, being the spot kick. A scoring striker is a must soon.

[Blowitupref]

Is this a genuine quote? Saw it on Romano's page. Surely he didn't say that about his own team.

Rúben Amorim: "We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Man United, we have to acknowledge that".

Probably said that after he seen this stat.  "sixth home Premier League defeat of the season, their most from their opening 12 home matches of a league season since 1893-94"

The theatre of dreams for the opposition. 

[statto]

Manchester is still red.4-2 win in the derby in the WSL.

[Onthe40]

Utd cannot score.. they have zero threat up front.. if they cannot score their premier status will remain under threat

Amount of times today and in last game they got into decent attacking positions on the wing.. look up and nothing in the box .. have to turn back and play ball back to midfield/defence

It's shocking

[screenexile]

They think 100k people will go to watch that muck week in and week out?!!

[statto]

Utd cannot score.. they have zero threat up front.. if they cannot score their premier status will remain under threat

Amount of times today and in last game they got into decent attacking positions on the wing.. look up and nothing in the box .. have to turn back and play ball back to midfield/defence

It's shocking

They are as bad at the back 32 goals conceded in 22 games, 2 clean sheets in last 15 against Leicester and Everton at home. They actually looked really dangerous against Liverpool and have scored in last three league games as well as away to arsenal in the cup.