USA! USA! USA! (Manchester United F.C.)

Member Name: utero

Product:	Manchester United F.C.
Date:	13/05/05 (107 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Give's other footy supporters a laugh, Highlights what can happen when business takes over the game

Disadvantages: Could we see Monster Trucks in the half time entertainment

I don’t know if you noticed but since yesterday there’s been one story dominating football. No it’s not the epic struggle for survival at the bottom of the premiership. Instead it’s the inevitable takeover bid of Manchester United by American tycoon Malcolm Glazer. Within hours of the news 1000 Manchester United fans had descended on Old Trafford in protest exclaiming ‘United – Not For Sale’. Meanwhile the rest of the countries football supporters give a smirk and can’t help but laugh at the irony of it all.

The truth is Manchester United stopped being a football ‘club’ in the true sense of the word quite some time ago. The hard truth is that it’s a corporate brand, a marketing tool and a very strong one at that. So the club floated on the Stock Exchange and took all the financial rewards on offer. In turn the club forked out millions for world-class players, won trophies and generally gave their supporters some great times. But it was always going to open for a possible takeover and now it looks like happening. So Shareholders United I understand you’re against it. But so far all I’ve heard in opposition is that fact that tickets may go up and price the fan out of the ground. Well even before Glazer’s bid the prices went up. I’ve not heard a single opinion from those opposed that has some degree of validity. Instead it’s all rumours and assumptions.

It’s well known that a lot of the support that you see in Old Trafford actually doesn’t come from the city. A lot of Manchester is actually devoted to the blue half, instead people come from around the UK to see matches and a lot are classed as the Prawn sandwich brigade after Roy Keane’s infamous quote.

It’s time for these angry fans to wake up and smell the coffee. You have a club worth millions; you fill out your ground every week. You have world-class players and are blessed to see cup finals and European competition every season. Mr Glazer is a very successful businessman and won’t be splashing the cash just to sink the club into the ground. It’s said he doesn’t really care about the fans. Well I would say that Manchester United as a club don’t really value their support. Every person through the turnstiles is just another body, someone who can visit the megastore, buy a shirt, and maybe take out a subscription to the TV channel. If that person gives up his support, they’ll be another 10-20 willing to take his place.

After all this is the club that bought a Chinese player to purely sell merchandise in the asian markets. Dong Fangzhuo has yet to play a competitive game for the club. Who cares? He only cost £500,000, he’ll bring in tons more than that in shirt revenue.

It’s going to be interesting to see what the future holds for Manchester United. Right now they’re playing second fiddle to Chelsea and Arsenal, if Malcolm Glazer’s takeover means that the club can compete with the best and become the biggest in football then I’m sure the supporters will slowly crawl back into their seats and cheer on the team.

It just makes me laugh that in the last home game of the season the majority of the supporters couldn’t be bothered to stay behind for the end of season lap of honour. Manchester United’s problems are a soap opera compared to what is happening lower down the leagues. All those protesting a multi-million pound sale of their club should look at the likes of Wrexham, Cambridge etc and then hang their heads in shame. These are the clubs that need people’s support, these are the clubs that other clubs feel for and it’s shown by the fans that have turned out in support of these clubs this season.

So On The Ball City, I look forward to another three points at Carrow Road next season against the Red’s. If it’s not to be then I can be thankful for supporting a club that shows it’s appreciation for it’s support and tries it’s best regardless of the outcome.

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