Old Trafford PL performances

[gfactor86]

Ever since the latter half of last season, our PL performances at OT have dropped.

Why is this?

OT was a fortress very FEW clubs even managed to squeeze a point out of us.

do you think that because smaller clubs (with all due respect) Bolton, West Ham, Boro. All picked up wins at OT, no one fears us anymore
at OT, or maybe the "lack" of atmosphere has something to do with it?

What dyu all think?


<img src="graemlins/keano.gif" border="0" alt="[Keano]" />

 

[pjaya]

Originally posted by gfactor86:
<strong>maybe the "lack" of atmosphere has something to do with it?
</strong><hr></blockquote>

This is more likely reason!

 

[Livvie]

Said what I think lots of times.

It started when we lost to Derby 2000/01.

We hadn't played well the previous home game against City either. But between City and Derby, we put out inferior teams, got beaten, and there went the myths about United's great squad and the Old Trafford fortress.

Our momentum went, and we've never really picked it up. Some good games since, but not many.

 

[RUnited]

Originally posted by gfactor86:
<strong>maybe the "lack" of atmosphere has something to do with it?

</strong><hr></blockquote>

70% this IMHO.
30% is due to the overall performance of the team which isn't good anywhere in the league at the momen.

from what i hear, the atmosphere had died down since the trebel.. people expect too much and are not satisfied with 1-0wins anymore..

i honestly believe that most of United true fans who live in the area never really get tickets to go watch the game. Can someone verify this?

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>

70% this IMHO.
30% is due to the overall performance of the team which isn't good anywhere in the league at the momen.

from what i hear, the atmosphere had died down since the trebel.. people expect too much and are not satisfied with 1-0wins anymore..

i honestly believe that most of United true fans who live in the area never really get tickets to go watch the game. Can someone verify this?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Define true United fan. I see some season ticket holders leaving early just to avoid the stampede after the match.

 

[RUnited]

Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

Define true United fan. I see some season ticket holders leaving early just to avoid the stampede after the match.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I believe in the prawn sandwiches eaters comments - but since i've never been in the stadium i can't say i know exactly what goes on.

i guess to some extent there are fans who couldn't careless how a game ends - they just want to be able to say they've been to games, they are not true fans and they are the ones wrecking the atmosphere and destroying players' confidence IMO.

although i would not classify all fans who leave before games finish as not true fans. it happens in every stadium with every team...
some of them i guess are not really passionate, but then there must be some who may really have a house far away. traffic after matches is something a lot of people would want to avoid around a stadium that fills almost 70,000 people per game IMO.

Just a thought.

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>

i don't know how to really. although i would not say fans who leave before games finish are not true fans. it happens in every stadium with every team...

some of them i guess are not really passionate, but some may really have a house far away. traffic is after matches is something a lot of people would want to avoid around a stadium that fills almost 70,000 people per game IMO.

Just a thought.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well... I live in London. London to Manchester is about, well... Bangkok to Chiang Mai? No, probably less than that. About 5 hours drive. I always feel pissed off seeing season ticket holders leave early because I want one.

Given that we've picked up a reputation for scoring in the last 5 minutes, why would anyone who was interested in the result leave?

 

[jraby]

Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>

I believe in the prawn sandwiches eaters comments - but since i've never been in the stadium i can't say i know exactly what goes on.

i guess to some extent there are fans who couldn't careless how a game ends - they just want to be able to say they've been to games, they are not true fans and they are the ones wrecking the atmosphere and destroying players' confidence IMO.

although i would not classify all fans who leave before games finish as not true fans. it happens in every stadium with every team...
some of them i guess are not really passionate, but then there must be some who may really have a house far away. traffic after matches is something a lot of people would want to avoid around a stadium that fills almost 70,000 people per game IMO.

Just a thought.</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you can't deal with the traffic then why would you go in the first place.

Whenever you watch it these days it seems virtually silent. I remember we used to go 2/3 hours before kickoff just to sing songs, that obviously doesn't happen now as hardly any one sings during the game.

OT was seen as invincible, not any more I guess!

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by jraby:
<strong>

If you can't deal with the traffic then why would you go in the first place.

Whenever you watch it these days it seems virtually silent. I remember we used to go 2/3 hours before kickoff just to sing songs, that obviously doesn't happen now as hardly any one sings during the game.

OT was seen as invincible, not any more I guess!</strong><hr></blockquote>

The Stretty was alright against Villa. Can't say the same about the rest of the place though.

 

[RUnited]

Originally posted by jraby:
<strong>

If you can't deal with the traffic then why would you go in the first place.

Whenever you watch it these days it seems virtually silent. I remember we used to go 2/3 hours before kickoff just to sing songs, that obviously doesn't happen now as hardly any one sings during the game.

OT was seen as invincible, not any more I guess!</strong><hr></blockquote>

a lot of gloryhunters in the stadium i suppose..
then again, even if i was in the stadium i wouldn't be singing songs.. not that i don't want to or that i don't see a point, but rather because i'm an overseas fans i don't know the lyrics or even how to pronounce them correctly...

maybe it's the new generation fans of United in england who are paying less attention to this sort of thing. or it could be because there are lot of foreigners watching the game... or high corperate executives who got the tickets for free from their friends... these people surely do not know how to sing and enjoy a football game like the diehard fans... doesn't mean they're not fans though...

what do you think?

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>

a lot of gloryhunters in the stadium i suppose..
then again, even if i was in the stadium i wouldn't be singing songs.. not that i don't want to or that i don't see a point, but rather because i'm an overseas fans i don't know the lyrics or even how to pronounce them correctly...

maybe it's the new generation fans of United in england who are paying less attention to this sort of thing. or it could be because there are lot of foreigners watching the game... or high corperate executives who got the tickets for free from their friends... these people surely do not know how to sing and enjoy a football game like the diehard fans... doesn't mean they're not fans though...

what do you think?</strong><hr></blockquote>

First off, I'm from the same part of the world you are, but the United fans at the stadium have never been patronising or nasty about singing whenever I've been there. No point in being embarassed if you don't know the songs... United! United! is hardly a song but also not the most difficult thing to make out.

I learnt the songs by listening, just like everyone else. With the chap next to you screaming at the top of his lungs it's quite hard not to pick it up.

Working in London, I find a lot of people at work or among clients always say they support Manchester United, then fall silent whenever I ask them when they last went for a match. These same people would go for a corporate box at Chelsea vs Fulham, but would not spend half the amount to watch United at Old Trafford in the Stretty. Not fans. Not at all.

 

[pizzu]

I think the support the team gets depends on the performance. Let's face it the performances play a big part in getting the ground going and lately the players have not set the world on fire with their displays. IMO the players could consider themselves lucky to play in front of a full house every game. In Italy mediocre performances are regularly booed by supporters and some get over excited verging on the violent when a string of bad results happens. Anyone seen this at OT??
The players should get into it, start working hard and reclaim the enthusiasm of the supporters.
A drawn(or even lost) game can still leave supporters satisfied (partially) if they know their players played with fire in their bellies. But is this happening??? SAF said before this season started that the talent is there but the players have to show the hunger!!! Are the players showing the hunger? Is SAF showing the hunger?? Come next may we will know if this is all bullox or not.

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by pizzu:
<strong>I think the support the team gets depends on the performance. Let's face it the performances play a big part in getting the ground going and lately the players have not set the world on fire with their displays. IMO the players could consider themselves lucky to play in front of a full house every game. In Italy mediocre performances are regularly booed by supporters and some get over excited verging on the violent when a string of bad results happens. Anyone seen this at OT??
The players should get into it, start working hard and reclaim the enthusiasm of the supporters.
A drawn(or even lost) game can still leave supporters satisfied (partially) if they know their players played with fire in their bellies. But is this happening??? SAF said before this season started that the talent is there but the players have to show the hunger!!! Are the players showing the hunger? Is SAF showing the hunger?? Come next may we will know if this is all bullox or not.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I read an interview with Ole where he said that the crowd should cheer the players no matter what during the match and have their say later.

Only too true. Booing the team during the match is probably counter-productive. You don't want to lower morale even more when they are losing.

Have a go on the websites, in the press, on radio phone ins, but never at the ground. The crowd is the 12th man. The bad atmosphere must surely be a reason why our performances are mediocre.

 

[RUnited]

Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

First off, I'm from the same part of the world you are, but the United fans at the stadium have never been patronising or nasty about singing whenever I've been there. No point in being embarassed if you don't know the songs... United! United! is hardly a song but also not the most difficult thing to make out.

I learnt the songs by listening, just like everyone else. With the chap next to you screaming at the top of his lungs it's quite hard not to pick it up.

Working in London, I find a lot of people at work or among clients always say they support Manchester United, then fall silent whenever I ask them when they last went for a match. These same people would go for a corporate box at Chelsea vs Fulham, but would not spend half the amount to watch United at Old Trafford in the Stretty. Not fans. Not at all.</strong><hr></blockquote>

i'm getting your drift.. i guess i can't exactly say i would sing or would not as i've never been to the OT.. sad really.. i've always wanted to go but have never had a chance.. i've seen them 4 different times, but none at OT.. i honestly think i'm missing out..

and i also agree with you about those corperate idiots.. they could care shit if we won or lose the title..

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>

i'm getting your drift.. i guess i can't exactly say i would sing or would not as i've never been to the OT.. sad really.. i've always wanted to go but have never had a chance.. i've seen them 4 different times, but none at OT.. i honestly think i'm missing out..

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes you are, my friend, yes you are . Did you watch them in Thailand though? I hope you did. I was going to watch them in Kuala Lumpur (follow them around the world as it were) but I couldn't make it back in time.

Originally posted by RUnited:
<strong>

and i also agree with you about those corperate idiots.. they could care shit if we won or lose the title..</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, I've made my position clear on this a lot of times, and been flamed for it... I don't care whether we win or lose the title this year either . I always wanted more European Cups that those scouse bastards... We've got to get more of those!!

 

[pizzu]

Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

I read an interview with Ole where he said that the crowd should cheer the players no matter what during the match and have their say later.

Only too true. Booing the team during the match is probably counter-productive. You don't want to lower morale even more when they are losing.

Have a go on the websites, in the press, on radio phone ins, but never at the ground. The crowd is the 12th man. The bad atmosphere must surely be a reason why our performances are mediocre.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying the players should be booed. I am just saying that having a quiet stadium is not enough reason for playing badly and if I was a player I would seriously ask mysely why I cannot get the crowd behind me. Perhaps I would even try harder (i definately would if I earn 40-50k for 90mins). But then again, maybe those who say that the players have seen it and won it all and are not interested any more might be right - we'll have to wait and see.

 

[spinoza]

Originally posted by pizzu:
<strong>

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying the players should be booed. I am just saying that having a quiet stadium is not enough reason for playing badly and if I was a player I would seriously ask mysely why I cannot get the crowd behind me. Perhaps I would even try harder (i definately would if I earn 40-50k for 90mins). But then again, maybe those who say that the players have seen it and won it all and are not interested any more might be right - we'll have to wait and see.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Fair points. I think the hunger is still there though. Good performances have come from Butt, Phil Nev, Rio, Ruud, Forlan and Veron. Scholesy and Giggsy have been brilliant lately too.

 

[RUnited]

Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

Yes you are, my friend, yes you are . Did you watch them in Thailand though? I hope you did. I was going to watch them in Kuala Lumpur (follow them around the world as it were) but I couldn't make it back in time.

</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes yes i did watch the game.

The Thai team actually gave United a hard time. It was probably the signs of things to come last year!!

I heard some United players later came out to blame the SE trip for the poor performances in the beginning of the season as they said the flying took its toll.. pretty much the same thing we're hearing about their travelling now..