Are we, the fans, to blame for what's happening?

[RedNed77]

Here is my view on this and it is slightly controversial: the fans did organise a protest, it was in early 2010 - 30,000 green and gold scarves were sold within like 2 weeks and were brandished at matches along with chants criticising the American ownership and the direction the club was going in. The thing was, at the time Utd. were reigning champions and Sir Alex was still in charge - the protest would therefore have been difficult/confusing for some to back, because if you dig deeper, what had led to the American take-over? In-effect, to protest at the Glazers was to protest against the greatest manager the club has ever known, who continued to bring success even when the under-investment on the pitch had begun, in the last few years of his tenure.

This has continued to the present (although I did read a post in another thread at the weekend, mentioning a certain racehorse & a few years ago that would have probably been redacted). Even after the Moyes debacle, Sir Alex was mainly immune from criticism (even though he was a key factor in that appointment) and whilst he continues to go to the matches and be a key elder statesman at Old Trafford, the fans will not rise up en masse.

Finally - and this is the controversial bit - I wonder how many actual fans who go to Old Trafford on a match day are really aware of the events of over a dozen years ago? Isn't there an issue with a 'prawn sandwich brigade' who are a) not aware of why Utd. are where they are now and b) dare not criticse the 1986-2013 manager and c) are just gutted that the 2 standout teams in the current Premier - are the holders of the Champions league and the current premiership. Furthermore, bizarrely, these teams are rivals across the town and the arch enemy from history (the whole manc/scouse thing) and who will both probably finish 15-20 points ahead of third, let alone Manchester Utd.

The last paragraph isn’t controversial, it’s just fecking stupid. Are you genuinely implying that match going fans know less about the club than internet fans and are less passionate in their support than all the real fans on here?

 

[Maticmaker]

Here is my view on this and it is slightly controversial: the fans did organise a protest, it was in early 2010 - 30,000 green and gold scarves

Yes, remembered ok, this campaign did not remove the Glazers and only succeeding in costing the club its fourth PL on the trot; that was brilliant timing that was!

 

[Sweet Square]

Good post.

Some fans have a win-at-all-costs mentality. They love winning more than they love the club. They also love complaining about not winning more than they love the club. What's the point of "supporting" the team if you don't enjoy the actual supporting, unless we're winning? Because that's not support, it's entitlement. Not saying you have to be happy all the time and never critical, but there's an extreme lack of balance with the modern fan.

Yep there is a really big difference today between a football supporter and a football fan.

 

[Gehrman]

It's just about accepting mediocrity or not when you don't have to. We were all lamenting how Moyes turned us into midtable and now 6 years later we are being critized for being happy with chasing top 4. It's all where we didn't want to go post-fergie. We are the one wealthiest clubs in world due to our fanbase, it has to reflected consistently on the pitch sooner or later.

 

[RooneyLegend]

Well that's the point. They can focus on winning the league b/c CL football is a given every season. In England you have 6 teams for 4 CL spots. Even Man City for all their billions of pounds spent were only 3 points off 5th in 2016-17. The top levels of English football are simply more competitive than other leagues.

CL football used to be a given here too back when the club was well run. It really isnt a big achievement cause most of those clubs are in turmoil at some point or another. Until Klopp leaves Pool will stroll into the CL. If any of the other giants were in the prem they'd stroll to the CL too.

All this competitive talk is just an excuse for our mediocrity. Us finishing lower than Spurs on a consistent basis is ridiculous given the difference in stature of the two clubs.

 

[Dennis_Law]

The last paragraph isn’t controversial, it’s just fecking stupid. Are you genuinely implying that match going fans know less about the club than internet fans and are less passionate in their support than all the real fans on here?

I bet a large proportion of the fans who sit in the SAF stand do not know about the Rock (the horse not the actor), the follow-up to that 'disagreement' which led directly or indirectly to the Glazers investment in the club - which has in turn led to 6 tough years for supporters online and in Old Trafford itself. The point I was making in response to the actual thread title: Are we, the fans, to blame for what's happening? was "yes" because they can't accept (or just don't even know) the fact that after 23 years of success under Sir Alex, sadly, due to events in a completely different sport the club faces possibly a period longer than that before its next title (don't laugh - look at Liverpool, or Leeds). How many threads and posts on here criticise the Glazers and Woodward? hundreds every week, but very rarely does anyone go deeper. Until Utd. fans face up to that, there will be no protests and no changes at the top.