If the super league happens, will you still support Man United? Now with added poll

[hubbuh]

Is that really any different from what we are at the moment?

Sure this is a huge, ugly step even further towards greed but cmon, we advertise noodles at the side of our pitch. We’re not the same club that we like to romanticise we were for many a year now.

Show me one football club in the top-flight that doesn't. Yes, the commercialisation of football has taken over to a massive degree. We aren't the only ones, we just happen to be the biggest. I go to games and socialise with other football fans and watch the Premier League, Champions League etc. Those moments of enjoying genuine football competition with other fans either at the stadium or at the pub mean something. With this, I know for a fact loads of people will walk away. This is a huge departure even for a Glazer-led Manchester United.

Is that any different to what we are now? It’s not like we’re winning trophies anymore. What is our main purpose as a club? To make money.

Us winning trophies was never our main purpose either, you know..? Manchester United is about Manchester, it's about the fans, a continued reliance on local players, a heritage of respect, tradition, and values. This spits in the face of all of that. Sorry, but this is worse than anything that has come before it. It's the tip of the iceberg of having billionaire owners in charge that doesn't have any fan involvement in the decision-making process. Hopefully, this sparks a change.

 

[Multatuli]

The main purpose of a football club is to play football for the fans to enjoy it. I really cant see how anyone can enjoy a superleague.

- there will be 2 football organisations:
- a superleague with 16? clubs
- a fifa with over 100.000+ clubs.

Where do you want to belong to? A league of 16 clubs who play over and over against eachother? Maybe the first year is fun. Maybe the second year is fun? But in the long run it wil get boring as hell. Playing the same clubs over and over, without any new clubs. When you win the league, you are the best of 16 teams. You will never be the best of all of Europe again. You will never be the best of England again. You will never win the FA cup again.

Where do players want to belong to? A league of 16 clubs, where they cant play for their national teams? Where there career is over, when they get sacked by their club, because they cant play in one of the 100.000+ clubs of the fifa anymore ?

You cant go to away matches anymore because it is too far away and too expensive. You cant talk about football with your mates who support a club outside the superleauge (so basically allmost everyone) because they laugh at you and your club.

All United fans should stand united, against the superleague and let the Glaziers know that they can't feck up their Football club.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Show me one football club in the top-flight that doesn't. Yes, the commercialisation of football has taken over to a massive degree. We aren't the only ones, we just happen to be the biggest. I go to games and socialise with other football fans and watch the Premier League, Champions League etc. Those moments of enjoying genuine football competition with other fans either at the stadium or at the pub mean something. With this, I know for a fact loads of people will walk away. This is a huge departure even for a Glazer-led Manchester United.

Us winning trophies was never our main purpose either, you know..? Manchester United is about Manchester, it's about the fans, a continued reliance on local players, a heritage of respect, tradition, and values. This spits in the face of all of that. Sorry, but this is worse than anything that has come before it. It's the tip of the iceberg of having billionaire owners in charge that doesn't have any fan involvement in the decision-making process. Hopefully, this sparks a change.

United hasn’t been about the people of Manchester in a very very very long time mate. The vast majority of our support comes from overseas. You’re right, this is simply the very tip of the iceberg. Games been gone since the 90s if we’re honest.

 

[Hughes35]

How did you become a United fan then out of curiosity if you already had Burnley? I mean I know some people have a 'big team' and a 'little team' they support or follow but now they're in the same league that must be mad. That would give me such a conflict of interest. What's it like when United play Burnley for you, and what division were Burnley in when you started following both them and United? Did it ever look possible they might end up in the same division as United then? Just curious.

If I've done it I've gone the other way round. Had my 'big team' first, always United but have a soft spot for Altrincham as I used to go there if United were away sometimes. Wouldn't call myself an Altrincham fan though and haven't been for a very long time. Absolutely no chance of them ever being in the same division either I wouldn't have thought, a smaller club than Burnley.

I suppose the answer to you question could be that you leave your wife but not necessarily with the intent of finding a new woman, you just see what happens. You might find someone else, you might not but you're not really thinking about all that from day one, or even before you've actually left.

Other way around. I was a Utd fan as a kid and went to the odd game with my dad. Then when I was a teenager my best mate was a Burnley season ticket holder and it was easy to get tickets, so we used to go to Burnley games. Utd were always my first team.

Hmm maybe. If somebody keeps screwing you over though, you leave. I love Utd but they can't just keep treating the fans this way forever and have us blindly follow out of sheer habit. I'd happily support Utd if they went bankrupt and played in none league. Supporting them in a globe trotter nothing competition purely to line the owners pockets is something different though. I wouldn't be able to stomach what we had become.

 

[onetwo3oclock4oclockrock]

It's not us abandoning United, it's United abandoning us. That makes it a lot easier breaking up.

 

[El Zoido]

I've always been a Burnley fan anyway. Used to go and watch them as a teenager and I like Everton as club anyway.

If your wife keeps letting you down do you just stick with her regardless because you always loved her, or do you eventually have enough and find a new woman?

I suppose it’s different in your situation though. I’ve never supported anyone other than United, it’s United or bust for me. I’ll still probably follow the super league if it goes ahead, but if I’m not feeling it I’ll probably drop out of watching football altogether.

 

[Chipper]

Other way around. I was a Utd fan as a kid and went to the odd game with my dad. Then when I was a teenager my best mate was a Burnley season ticket holder and it was easy to get tickets, so we used to go to Burnley games. Utd were always my first team.

Hmm maybe. If somebody keeps screwing you over though, you leave. I love Utd but they can't just keep treating the fans this way forever and have us blindly follow out of sheer habit. I'd happily support Utd if they went bankrupt and played in none league. Supporting them in a globe trotter nothing competition purely to line the owners pockets is something different though. I wouldn't be able to stomach what we had become.

Oh absolutely, no problem with anyone who would give up supporting United over this and I might myself if it pans out as initially proposed. It was just the finding a new woman analogy that I didn't quite scan for me. You might fall in love with a new team or a new woman, you don't necessarily set out to. Although some people would I suppose too, there are those who always need to be in a relationship so maybe there's those who always need a team too.

All this comparing stuff to women/relationships and I'm feeling like Swiss Toni!

Spoiler

 

[Eyepopper]

My old man stopped following football the day Utd floated on the stock exchange, saying money would destroy the game.

If this league goes ahead, it'll be my time to walk away.

 

[Hughes35]

Oh absolutely, no problem with anyone who would give up supporting United over this and I might myself if it pans out as initially proposed. It was just the finding a new woman analogy that I didn't quite scan for me. You might fall in love with a new team or a new woman, you don't necessarily set out to. Although some people would I suppose too, there are those who always need to be in a relationship so maybe there's those who always need a team too.

All this comparing stuff to women/relationships and I'm feeling like Swiss Toni!

Spoiler

Very true. I think I fall in to the needs a relationship category too so you're absolutely right.

 

[Ted1985]

I will continue to support Manchester United.

A new league that will replace CL is good, but they should change its format so that 2-5 teams at the bottom gets relegated. Otherwise what is really the point of winning? Knowing that its not possible for your team to relegate will for me at least make it less thrilling to watch. I will still watch, but I will probably feel less emotions weather we win or loose. Football for me is a lot about emotions, and removing or dampening them for a game could in the end I guess make me not feel like watching that many games anymore.

UEFA and FIFA, its corrupt to the core. If anyone thinks its not about the money today as is then they are living in a fantasy world. Banning 12-15 teams in their domestic leagues would be harsh as a punishment and its then UEFA and FIFA who are making the leagues suffer.

I would also like more info on what ESL will do to support football as a whole. How will they make football better besides making these teams a lot more money. From their press release:

“By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.”

This is so new and there are so many scenarios on how this could play out. If ESL does this the right way they would make the transition to a new league a lot less difficult for them self and calm down a lot of fans, just change the format a bit.

 

[Hughes35]

I suppose it’s different in your situation though. I’ve never supported anyone other than United, it’s United or bust for me. I’ll still probably follow the super league if it goes ahead, but if I’m not feeling it I’ll probably drop out of watching football altogether.

Yea maybe. I

just can't imagine walking away completely. I think even if I didn't have a Burnley to fall back on I'd probably draw a new club at random from the whole football league.

One thing I don't understand is how the owners think the ESL will be profitable when the majority of fans seem to say they would boycott it?

 

[DoctorEvil]

Voted yes. Not happy about the superleague, but I have been following united for so many years. I am institutionalized by now.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Is that any different to what we are now? It’s not like we’re winning trophies anymore. What is our main purpose as a club? To make money.

We are at least playing and fighting for the league though. Even if we suck we still tries. This would be the death of the club fully.

 

[Jeppers7]

Yes of course I will, the time to stop would’ve been when the glazers took over, what did people expect? I’m gobsmacked at the response of the fa, premier league, government etc. What did they think these owners wanted to buy these clubs for?

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Yea maybe. I

just can't imagine walking away completely. I think even if I didn't have a Burnley to fall back on I'd probably draw a new club at random from the whole football league.

One thing I don't understand is how the owners think the ESL will be profitable when the majority of fans seem to say they would boycott it?

Most loyal hardcore fans would boycott, but the casuals and other none interested may watch.

 

[SuperiorXI]

I can't bring myself to support a club that lacks even the most basic level of integrity and sportsmanship. Voted no.

Even if it all gets cancelled if the Glazers are still in charge at the end how can I still support the club?

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

I can't bring myself to support a club that lacks even the most basic level of integrity and sportsmanship. Voted no.

Even if it all gets cancelled if the Glazers are still in charge at the end how can I still support the club?

I agree the Glaziers have taken it one step to far. From dislike and wanting gone to ruin it all.

 

[alexthelion]

So they took a bribe to favor the host tournament. Big sin?

At the end of the day they're responsible for all european clubs, being the one body that make sure the TV money got distributed to all teams according to merit.

I mean they're not saint but hardly corrupt. The income and cost and prizes are as open as any other entity. Some high ranking personnel taking a bribe doesnt mean they're corrupt.

So they took a bribe to favor the host tournament. Big sin?

At the end of the day they're responsible for all european clubs, being the one body that make sure the TV money got distributed to all teams according to merit.

I mean they're not saint but hardly corrupt. The income and cost and prizes are as open as any other entity. Some high ranking personnel taking a bribe doesnt mean they're corrupt.

that's the definition of being corrupt.

 

[Tom Cato]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Include relegation for all domestic qualification for all participating teams and I'll happily support this since it'll be actually interesting.

They're wavering now.

 

[alexthelion]

Show me one football club in the top-flight that doesn't. Yes, the commercialisation of football has taken over to a massive degree. We aren't the only ones, we just happen to be the biggest. I go to games and socialise with other football fans and watch the Premier League, Champions League etc. Those moments of enjoying genuine football competition with other fans either at the stadium or at the pub mean something. With this, I know for a fact loads of people will walk away. This is a huge departure even for a Glazer-led Manchester United.

Us winning trophies was never our main purpose either, you know..? Manchester United is about Manchester, it's about the fans, a continued reliance on local players, a heritage of respect, tradition, and values. This spits in the face of all of that. Sorry, but this is worse than anything that has come before it. It's the tip of the iceberg of having billionaire owners in charge that doesn't have any fan involvement in the decision-making process. Hopefully, this sparks a change.

Oh come on, it hasn't been that for years.

 

[hubbuh]

United hasn’t been about the people of Manchester in a very very very long time mate. The vast majority of our support comes from overseas. You’re right, this is simply the very tip of the iceberg. Games been gone since the 90s if we’re honest.

Probably true to be fair.

 

[SecondFig]

I'd support United even if we get relegated so this shouldn't even be a question.

I'd support the club if we were relegated, I'd support the club if we collapsed down to the conference north. But not if we join the ESL.

Relegation is a part of football - you should support your club if they're relegated. You don't just support them when they're winning ffs.
Breaking away from the league structure to set up a closed shop for you and a few mates that will devalue the entire club game - that's not part of football, and I want no part of it.

 

[hubbuh]

Oh come on, it hasn't been that for years.

To me it is, as someone that lived in Manchester until recently, that goes to games when possible and has friends that I watch the games and discuss with religiously. That's why so many people have such a big issue with this. And besides, how the feck do we not rely on our academy? Rashford, Greenwood, McTominay, Pogba..

 

[glazed]

Maybe this is a very UK parochial point, but one thing I don't get is why didn't they announce this last week when Phil the Greek died? It's almost like they want to maximise the publicity. Which suggests it's a negotiating tactic.

 

[ThehatchetMan]

Surprised to see so many people vote yes, but thus this is evidence of the problem and why these clubs feel they can pursue this ESL. Because the fan base of the clubs and players are so fickle that they will continue to follow them irregardless of how it impacts the wider game.

Before I'm a united fan I'm primarily a football fan, and anyone who is a true fan of the game shouldn't show support to any clubs involved in such a league.

Unfortunately though we've seen this greed in football for years now and fans haven't taken action, so I've no faith in fans taking the appropriate action now either.

Over the last 30 years football has became less and less accessible and affordable to the average working man. And it bewilders me the amount of fans who still come out to show support for the wages and fees paid to footballers and the ridiculous prices charged by Sky/BT/Amazon to even be able to watch the game.

 

[Foxbatt]

It now seems Glazer and Perez were the people leading this Super League.
I really hope the Sheikh understands what an unpopular move this is and pull out. I mean sure Bojo can talk to him about this if he wants. If City pulled out it would collapse like a pack of cards. If anyone would pull out it would be City.

 

[Moby]

Need to start learning on how to think like an ABU.

 

[SuperiorXI]

I agree the Glaziers have taken it one step to far. From dislike and wanting gone to ruin it all.

I've supported the club all my life but can't support these owners, it has now reached a point where I can't deal with them, they're nothing close to what our club stands for.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

I've supported the club all my life but can't support these owners, it has now reached a point where I can't deal with them, they're nothing close to what our club stands for.

Yeah the value of the club they do not care about at all. The fans matter and this is going against every fan that have followed us in the league, Fa cup, league cup, Europe etc.

It is one thing taking money out of the club and not invested as heavily in players. I dislike that, but can live with it. Although ruin what football is all about I can't live with.

 

[bosnian_red]

It'll be like a past love that I always remember but a big part of it would be dead. I'd probably have a passing interest, but nothing like before. It's heartbreaking tbh. Maybe at first I'd prioritize the league if we stayed in it, but there's nothing that looks exciting about the ESL even if we'd be arguably the biggest beneficiaries of it (after juve/barca/Madrid financially not collapsing because they have been managed disastrously).

In fact this weekend as much as it'll pain me, I kinda hope we lose to Leeds just like Leeds drew to Liverpool. fecking Leeds. It's disgusting. Feel ashamed of the club, and it's all because of the terrorist owners.

 

[Chicharo]

I will support United until my last breath. I can't believe people will stop supporting the club. It had existed 100+ years before Glazers, it will exist after them. And now, we should stop watching the games because of them. Not gonna happen

 

[Andycoleno9]

This is a joke, right? 50 % would stop supporting United?

 

[bosnian_red]

I will support United until my last breath. I can't believe people will stop supporting the club. It had existed 100+ years before Glazers, it will exist after them. And now, we should stop watching the games because of them. Not gonna happen

Club franchises moving cities will quickly follow the inauguration of this, don't you worry. It won't be Man United existing anymore. It'll be under some other city name in China, or USA, or whatever else. Or just the name adapted. It's exactly what happens in US sports. Look at things like the Rams, Chargers or Raiders in the very recent NFL past. Or how Vegas decided they wanted a hockey team so they just cherry picked players from other teams in the NHL to start up a franchise. This is literally an existential crisis for the club.

 

[Berbaclass]

100% yes. It’s nothing to do with the players as far as I’m concerned.

 

[golden_blunder]

This is a joke, right? 50 % would stop supporting United?

Do those people think it’s a joke? No. I’m one of them. If you can’t see this is a money grab for the glazers and the likes, not for the club, you’re mistaken.
if this idea goes ahead as it is, I’m done. They have criminally neglected the fan element

 

[bosnian_red]

This is a joke, right? 50 % would stop supporting United?

The club wouldn't exist anymore. It'd be a "soccer franchise". Just look at how teams in the NFL are handled. San Diego was home to the Chargers from 1961 until 2017 before they relocated to Los Angeles (incidentally they started in LA for 1 year before moving to San Diego). Similar with the Rams, from St Louis to LA. Or the Oakland Raiders being in Oakland between 1960-1981, then going to LA until 1995, then back to Oakland until 2019 and now being known as the Las Vegas Raiders. It's a fecking joke. And it's murdering the concept of everything we've grown up to love. It won't be Manchester United anymore.

 

[hubbuh]

100% yes. It’s nothing to do with the players as far as I’m concerned.

Manchester United is a lot more than just the current players.

This is a joke, right? 50 % would stop supporting United?

What's the joke? I'm one of them.

 

[Berbaclass]

Manchester United is a lot more than just the current players.


What's the joke? I'm one of them.

I stopped caring about much of the politics within the club in 2005 mate. I just watch the games.

 

[WI_Red]

The club wouldn't exist anymore. It'd be a "soccer franchise". Just look at how teams in the NFL are handled. San Diego was home to the Chargers from 1961 until 2017 before they relocated to Los Angeles (incidentally they started in LA for 1 year before moving to San Diego). Similar with the Rams, from St Louis to LA. Or the Oakland Raiders being in Oakland between 1960-1981, then going to LA until 1995, then back to Oakland until 2019 and now being known as the Las Vegas Raiders. It's a fecking joke. And it's murdering the concept of everything we've grown up to love. It won't be Manchester United anymore.

This.

I grew up in LA and was a Rams fan. In 95 they moved and I begrudgingly decided to switch to the Raiders, who moved months later. I now no longer give 2 shits about the NFL (other than being married to a Packer fan). The owners stole my clubs away from me to make more money and it killed not just my love for the clubs, but for the game itself.

 

[Chicharo]

Club franchises moving cities will quickly follow the inauguration of this, don't you worry. It won't be Man United existing anymore. It'll be under some other city name in China, or USA, or whatever else. Or just the name adapted. It's exactly what happens in US sports. Look at things like the Rams, Chargers or Raiders in the very recent NFL past. Or how Vegas decided they wanted a hockey team so they just cherry picked players from other teams in the NHL to start up a franchise. This is literally an existential crisis for the club.

Yes, but, say, in NFL this things have been happening for the last 100 years. I could never picture that it could happen to us, or any other European giant. If it does, then the heck with all this