Re: Manchester United Supporters Thread.
Mate i could argue you to death on football matters, in fact i probably know more about your team than you do yourself having lived in Liverpool and the North West since birth.
Also to answer your question, yes i was around, and yes i actually attended games in championship winning seasons, but then football was football and not the business it is today.
I came on here last night because im sick and tired of watching the game fall in to ruin. And whether you like it or not, your manager holds far too much sway in this country, and it's not good for the game. I mean your mighty Manchester United, you should be beating teams like Blackpool and Stoke and West Brom, but why should you get a helping hand when you arnt performing? It renders competition useless. Last night Peter Walton came out in a completely different frame of mind. He actually reffed the first half pretty well, but was terribly biased the second.
Man Utd dont NEED that kind of influence.
And thats what it is. You've got a good team and an excellent manager, i dont like him but he is an excellent manager BUT he's manipulated things to best suit Manchester United at a win at all costs mentality. Even last night his comments about Charlie Adam and his 'value' were pathetic - just another example of his graceless demeanour and to attempt to push up a price on a player we are interested in. He'll go down in history as a great, but not one of THE greats, he has no humilty or grace.
Listen, I apologise for the knee-jerk reaction to your first post – I was pretty hyped up from what was a wonderfully entertaining match and a bit annoyed that anyone would go out of their way to try and ruin a 3 goal comeback for another team’s fans.
I see your point on SAF and if I’m honest, he embarrasses me at times. The German thing last year was a particular low point. I don’t have a massive problem with him yelling and screaming during a match, but when he says things afterwards that are uncalled for, you’re right, it’s unbecoming of someone so experienced.
But, in much the same way that my boss doesn’t pay me to make friends with clients, he pays me to make deals with them, it’s not Fergie’s job to be respected for manner. It’s his job to bring trophies to our cabinet. Sports today isn’t about gentlemanly conduct and mutual respect – especially not football. If anything, I’d argue football is the most duplicitous, mean-spirited sport in the world. In what other professional leagues is cheating not only common, but seemingly encouraged? And so of course, to succeed at the very highest level, you have people who are willing to do those things.
All of that aside, this newly restoked view of the world that United are only succeeding because of referees is utter, utter horsesh*t. It’s easy, especially for fans of other teams that don’t watch matches – they just read the reports and watch highlights – to fall into this mindset. Because you know what? The media sell more papers writing negativity about United than any other sports team in the world. And that’s where people get their information. And so, an incorrectly non-award of a penalty against Gary Neville is not only highlighted, it becomes a frame of reference for every subsequent discussion about United for months to come. “Oh, Zigic climbed on a defender and handled it to enable Birmingham to equalise? Yeah, but what about Gary Neville, swings and roundabouts!”
So of course, in your view (and, again 90% of football fans in the country) had Peter Walton correctly given a penalty against Rafael, United would have lost. And there is your headline, for 90% of readers. ‘United win game because of dodgy penalty decision – AGAIN!’ There’s no mention of the 3 goal comeback. Of United having 13 attempts to Blackpools 1 in the second half. Of Adams breaking Evra’s face with a slyly disguised elbow. Of the 10 minutes of added time given to Blackpool to equalise. No, because it’s easier for the lazy public to just assume that United don’t win because of their own merit, they win because of officials.
And I will not subscribe to this new, ‘moderate’ view that ‘come on admit it, you guys get the rub of the green most of the time’. It’s not true. In any given match, we’ll get a decision that is wrong, and benefits us. This decision will be featured in photographs, videos and stories all over the world. In the next match, when we have a goal ruled out incorrectly for offside, or a clear penalty not given – it won’t even make the long written report.
And I know that this is the price to pay for success, but it’s still frustrating as hell. Personally I don’t think we’re going to win the league this year because our team isn’t good enough, and because we’ve spent less net than almost every club in the top flight over the past 4 seasons. But if we do it’s going to be down sheer determination, not referees. They’re not corrupt. They’re often wrong, but not in any teams favour.
but his brutally honest, hard working approach to the game was refreshing in the modern game. And some of his goals (Newcastle volley, two stunners against boro in the FA cup, chip at Portsmouth) were true beauties. No sign of any of that now. I just want him to start shooting from outside the box again. He can clearly leather a ball, but always tries cute curlers or chips. 
You don't think that's just a little bit farfetched, Dags?
