Man Utd = McDonalds ??? Any Thoughts

Hornchurch Red

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Sep 30, 2000
Messages
328
Location
Fallowfield, Manchester
Am I just getting cynical with age, but I feel that Manchester United, now often referred to as Man Utd, is becoming just another faceless corporation in the same league as McDonalds.

Let me go on to explain, I was listening to two Man Utd fans discussing football, and it was all about being the biggest, selling more shirts, merchandise, Bigger crowds, spending the most cash, profits, turnover etc...etc... And I just thought that they were interested in the bottom dollar, and winning just enabled the club to get more money.

I felt that they had no real passion for the footy, the beer before the game, the feeling of community in the old Stretford End. That's what I miss.

It's almost like that Man Utd, have become the Favourite football flavour of the McDonalds generation. People from far and wide with no feeling for MANCHESTER, supporting a team, because they are the biggest, best and most fashionable. Where is the loyalty?

I see them coming to OT, with their bright red bags from the megastore, with as much merchandise, as is humanly possible for an 11 year old to carry. Excited at the thought of the young lads burger, sorry footy game. "It's a special treat today Jeremy, we're of upto Manchester to see Man Utd, and we'll stop of at McDonalds on the way there" :(

Help me in my old age, am I the only person on this forum, that loves Manchester United, but hates Man Utd.

PS. Do they fall for Man Utd, because of all the adverts, sorry matches on SKY. Makes you wonder with Murdoch owning 10% of our beloved club. Help me, with my cynicism. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
 
A fan is a fan is a fan. Who cares.

If Man Utd gives people pleasure, thats great. I couldnt give a flying fook what their motives are.

If a man wants to take his son to see Man Utd on a Saturday, then thats great isnt it?

I certainly dont think "oh what a post 96 gloryhunting muppet" I think, "what a great way to spend quality time with your kid, watching Man Utd."

Dont you?

Ive never understood this "gloryfan" "post96", "plastic fan" "only happy when were winning" crap. The point is, there are people out there who think there are more important things in life than Man Utd.

Shock horror.

There is to much time spent on this forum debating how big a fan someone is, and if someone is from Manchester, how long they have supported Man Utd, do they have a season ticket etc.

Who cares.
 
2Bullish me and you won't agree on this point, I feel that football is a game of tradition, of honour and of pride in your club. Or is that me hankering back to a bygone time.

A fan is a fan is a fan, mmmm If they, the new type of fan, take away from the atmosphere, and complain about the traditional fan, ie standing, complaining about swearing in the fanzines, and swearing at the ground, to me it's an issue.

No I don't feel when I see a father, with his son, what good quality time he's spending with his son, I've usually had a couple in my goodself, and up for watching a game of footy.

You ask who cares above, well if it's being debated some people obviously care. I take it you don't have a season ticket, and you don't come from Manchester, not that, that matters to me, but why do you mention it.

Remember football and it's clubs have roots and tradition. Would you mind if like in American sports, Manchester United moved to another British city and changed their name, would you still support them?
 
It's called the passage of time. Footy clubs are comapanies now. The kids are bought up on merchandising madness and corporate copyrights. When I was a kid, I had 3 United scarves! That's it. When me Mum, bless her, bought me my first United away kit (circa 1976) I was over the moon, I wore it for 'kin years. Nowadays, the kids buy a new one every season.

You both wrote reasonable post's but in the end, I suppose it's all up to the individual and us 'old farts' will have to deal with it.

I felt that they had no real passion for the footy, the beer before the game, the feeling of community in the old Stretford End. That's what I miss.<hr></blockquote>I miss that too but tbh, I doubt that it has changed that much among the routine oriented fans and the older crowd.

My mates still do the same old - same old before and after the games so I'm sure many others do. Having said that, some of 'em take their kids along aswell so who is the bigger fan?

I'm still a footy fan at heart rather than a PLC fan. It's nice hearing about the millions in turnover and the profits generated etc. etc. but at the end of the day, all I care about is how the lads in are performing on the pitch. <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
Click to expand...
 
The plc gives us something to moan about, but more importantly they are there to look after the long term. If that means marketing the image all over the globe then so be it. As long as it means enough investment on the playing side to take care of business on the pitch as well.

Our plc gets more right than it gets wrong. Once upon a time there was a massive club called Manchester City.

They had a coach called Malcolm Allison, who was very successful for the club. As a coach.

'I want to be the Manager. Make me the Manager' said Malcolm. And they did.

'Give me shitloads of money to spend, and don't interfere whilst I spend it'. And they agreed.

However, Malcolm didn't spend the money wisely and the club went many many unsuccessful years deep in debt. And they were unable to invest in better players on the pitch.

So unsuccessful were they in fact that even when Fairy Godmother Rupert Murdoch came along they were too ugly to make enough money from the game and catch up with their more successful neighbours.

Hence - 25 years and won feck all.
 
Can I have another story tomorrow night, Uncle Arnie?? :)
 
I feel sometimes Arnie Sidebottom, that we, the local fan had been shat upon from a great height, the PLC, doesn't want the local Salford lad turning up week in week out, because they only buy enough merchandise for one person.

But if the PLC distributes tickets to places far and wide, different people will turn up each week, the 'Prawn butty' brigade. A fan is not a fan, if they turn up and don't support the team, fan stands for fanatic, there is nothing fanatical about sitting there with your bright red bag, expecting to be entertained.

Even the captain of the club and the manager have complained in recent seasons about this type of fan, so it must have a negative effect on the team.

This 25 years thing, means nothing to me, that's another club, but at times I wonder have Man Utd sold their souls to the devil, in return for success. I enjoyed the stretford end more when we didn't win the league, but always put up a good show for ourselves. Winning and losing titles isn't what football is about to me, it's about that community feel, you have as a club, putting one over on your neighbours (sure), but maintaining your roots, about a team that represents you.

Gone are the home games, when we sang our hearts out for the full game, gone is the passion, gone is Manchester United.

Hello Man Utd, Hello dull people, hello quiet games lacking in any feeling (compared to the ol'days).
 
As for singing (I have nothing against it) but some fans would rather sing then watch the match. More then a few get so pissed that they can't see the pitch. I'd rather be a quiet fan and watch the match then one who pays little attention to what happens on the field and sings and gets pissed.
 
Originally posted by barca99:
<strong>I prefer Burger King anyway ;) </strong><hr></blockquote>


I never thought I'd ever agree with you Barca, but!....
Click to expand...
 
Darko, did you feel Roy Keane was talking about you, when he mentioned his prawn butties. Part of Northern tradition is to have a good few before a game and soak up the atmosphere and cheers on a team that you love.

Support them, thats what a supporter does, if you want to sit there all quiet, subscribe to MUTV, and watch the games in peace, without a loud nasty man, cheering nearby.
 
Originally posted by Hornchurch Red:
<strong>Am I just getting cynical with age, but I feel that Manchester United, now often referred to as Man Utd, is becoming just another faceless corporation in the same league as McDonalds.

Let me go on to explain, I was listening to two Man Utd fans discussing football, and it was all about being the biggest, selling more shirts, merchandise, Bigger crowds, spending the most cash, profits, turnover etc...etc... And I just thought that they were interested in the bottom dollar, and winning just enabled the club to get more money.

I felt that they had no real passion for the footy, the beer before the game, the feeling of community in the old Stretford End. That's what I miss.

It's almost like that Man Utd, have become the Favourite football flavour of the McDonalds generation. People from far and wide with no feeling for MANCHESTER, supporting a team, because they are the biggest, best and most fashionable. Where is the loyalty?

I see them coming to OT, with their bright red bags from the megastore, with as much merchandise, as is humanly possible for an 11 year old to carry. Excited at the thought of the young lads burger, sorry footy game. "It's a special treat today Jeremy, we're of upto Manchester to see Man Utd, and we'll stop of at McDonalds on the way there" :(

Help me in my old age, am I the only person on this forum, that loves Manchester United, but hates Man Utd.

PS. Do they fall for Man Utd, because of all the adverts, sorry matches on SKY. Makes you wonder with Murdoch owning 10% of our beloved club. Help me, with my cynicism. :confused: </strong><hr></blockquote>One of the better posts ive read....this includes all of the other forums ive been in....i dont think this is just a Man Utd prob though...its happening to a lot of the big clubs...i know this is a major part of modern dy footy....but when ppl take more interest in how much a club is making more than enjoying the pre match beer and the actual game..god help that club!!!..even sadder..god help those supporters!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by Hornchurch Red:
<strong>Darko, did you feel Roy Keane was talking about you, when he mentioned his prawn butties. Part of Northern tradition is to have a good few before a game and soak up the atmosphere and cheers on a team that you love.

Support them, thats what a supporter does, if you want to sit there all quiet, subscribe to MUTV, and watch the games in peace, without a loud nasty man, cheering nearby.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Everyone knows the type of supporters Keano was talking about. Ironically, when the support is good ie at aways it never gets a mention and only a few players clap the fans at the end.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.