Fully agree with the principle of the protest, essentially what the fans set out to do. A massive, exuberant protest exclusively outside the stadium would have done though. The point is to achieve publicity, good for the fans/protesters and bad for the owners, by shedding light on how awful we have been run since 2005. The capital taken out with nothing put in, the total ignoring of the fans, hiring bankers to make footballing decisions etc.
When people start launching cameras, storming into the dressing room and breaking Covid bubbles, and attacking policemen innocently doing their jobs, then it’s too far. That turns a proper protest into a riot. Those who stormed the stadium and attacked the people and equipment inside were simply inhumane and a total disappointment. I can already see the coverage by Glazer puppet journalists in the next few days, painting the Glazers as victims to hooliganism. A lot of bad press which was meant for the Glazers has now been shifted to all United fans because of the actions of a few dozen idiots.
Also, I see people painting the stormtroopers getting the biggest game in England postponed as a victory. Yes, it shows the power of fans, but our protests getting the Super League cancelled is a better expression of that. Otherwise, it really isn’t. The Glazers probably did not even know we were playing today and will file this as water under the bridge when they are informed of it, a one-off thing.
What next for those people? Do this every game? The only thing that will happen if they do that is that we will either be docked points or not be able to fulfil fixture requirements and go down. Also, think of Ole and the players. Imagine preparing for matches all week and then not being able to play, followed by getting relegated because some clowns ‘decide when they play’ (really dislike that phrase as it brings the players, who clearly dislike the ownership as much as we do, into the situation). Let’s be honest, if they don’t continue, which they obviously shouldn’t because of the aforementioned repercussions, the only thing they’ve done today is further congest our fixture schedule. As for the fans who protested peacefully and properly, I can’t say how proud I am of you. You have actually played a part in trying to put our parasitic owners under a bad spotlight. You are proper United fans, and if I came from and lived in Manchester, I would have loved to be a part of you guys today.
So, back to my original point, I agree with the protest as a way to generate bad press towards the Glazers, but that will only play a small part in getting them out. If we are truthful, the best and possibly only way to get them out of our club without harming ourselves as fans, Ole and the players is with a complete boycott. Local fans don’t renew season tickets, fans from abroad don’t buy one off match tickets and the gift shop becomes a constant scene of desolation. If there’s minimal revenue, that maximises the chance of the Glazers selling up as there would be no point in holding on.