The effect of United influencers on the fan base

Raoul

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This tweet got me thinking about the negative effect social media has on fan perceptions of the club, irrespective of how the club are performing. The role of influencers like Goldbridge and others have created a toxic environment that encourages constant negativity.



Is there a difference between online fans and local match going United supporters ?

The below comment from Scholes at the latest Overlap seems to contradict much of the sentiment we are seeing online.

 
We have a huge fan base and naturally there will be a large segment that looks at football differently.

Social media does make it worse though, with constant drivel and misinformation thanks to the likes of Goldbridge.
 
I'd argue the toxicity and negativity are mostly due to negative results.

Start winning, and the noise mostly goes away.
 
In answer to your question, there is no difference because many match going fans are also using social media.

There's nothing stopping the so called influencers. It's just another more potent and accessible form of media that people either choose to take in or ignore.
 
Raoul said:
This tweet got me thinking about the negative effect social media has on fan perceptions of the club, irrespective of how the club are performing. The role of influencers like Goldbridge and others have created a toxic environment that encourages constant negativity.



Is there a difference between online fans and local match going United supporters ?

The below comment from Scholes at the latest Overlap seems to contradict much of the sentiment we are seeing online.

Click to expand...

It’s hard to be negative around a successful club. Try putting together 2 consecutive wins before passing the blame on to anyone else.
 
It's a fecking curse and he's one of the worst. The fact is his "views" aren't opinions they're targeted content for engagement which predictably means extreme positions.

There's very little engagement for content that highlights the middle ground. It's all gotchas and content geared to people with pre-existing opinions sharing it or reaffirming their own views.

Over the last year or two there's definitely been an increase in people just parroting lines from these influencers.
 
Devil_forever said:
It’s hard to be negative around a successful club. Try putting together 2 consecutive wins before passing the blame on to anyone else.
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That's definitely not true. There are a vocal segment of Arsenal fans who wanted Arteta sacked for the crime of finishing 2nd. Chelsea made the CL with a first year manager and dominated the sitting CL winners in the World Club Cup, and yet go on a Chelsea forum in the past couple of weeks and you will see Maresca out threads.

The way fan sentiment is framed on social media simply encourages fans to be far more negative - probably because unlike in the pre-social media era, people now dwell on things tweet by tweet, especially following a poor result.
 
SuperiorXI said:
In answer to your question, there is no difference because many match going fans are also using social media.

There's nothing stopping the so called influencers. It's just another more potent and accessible form of media that people either choose to take in or ignore.
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You think match going fans have the same level of Amorim out sentiment as here on the CAF ?
 
I like to listen to other people's opinions on United but try to stay away from the sensationalism and meme culture that surrounds channels like Goldbridge's. Characters like his have their own cult of personality just as much as bigger football stars do and rather than supporting the club it feels like a lot of people tie their opinion to whatever controversy is being whipped up that week.

If I put anything on it's Stretford Paddock, primarily because it seems a little bit more down to earth and they come across like pretty genuine Utd fans.
 
Raoul said:
You think match going fans have the same level of Amorim out sentiment as here on the CAF ?
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The differences between the online and matchgoing segments of the fanbase have existed far longer than these "influencers" have been around. I remember similar posts being made back in the Moyes and LVG eras about how the sentiment in the ground wasn't necessarily the same as the sentiment online.
 
Big Ben Foster said:
The differences between the online and matchgoing segments of the fanbase have existed far longer than these "influencers" have been around. I remember similar posts being made back in the Moyes and LVG eras about how the sentiment in the ground wasn't necessarily the same as the sentiment online.
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Moyes and LvG also happened during social media, albeit it was less insidious then than now. I think the main difference between 2010ish onwards is that managers have much less time to prove themselves because of the daily drumbeat of social media posts where fans dwell on and saturate themselves into online narratives all week, which reinforces and amplifies their casual frustrations into sack the manager or sell x or y player type sentiment imo.
 
Dr. Dwayne said:
Mark Goldbrige sucks.
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This is the full extent of it. Stewart Lee once described Jeremy Clarkson as someone who has controversial opinions for money and that's exactly what Goldbridge does. He spouts godawful shite on the internet because he's figured out that he can get paid from acting like a toxic wanker. I already hated him, but finding out he used to be a cop just confirmed it for me. ACAB.

I'm not sure you can tar all "influencers" with the same brush. They're essentially just using YouTube and TikTok to do what fans used to do in fanzines and on message boards. Some of them are really measured and well informed, others less so. Some are consistently negative, others are neutral or even try to put a positive spin on bad performances. At a certain point it starts to become almost quasi-journalism.

Stephen Howson is an interesting example - from what I've seen of him he often says things I disagree with but he also doesn't seem to be maliciously spreading an agenda or ragebaiting his way to clicks. And he's clearly a massive United fan. So if people like watching his videos then fair play, I don't think it's a negative influence.
 
Raoul said:
This tweet got me thinking about the negative effect social media has on fan perceptions of the club, irrespective of how the club are performing. The role of influencers like Goldbridge and others have created a toxic environment that encourages constant negativity.



Is there a difference between online fans and local match going United supporters ?

The below comment from Scholes at the latest Overlap seems to contradict much of the sentiment we are seeing online.

Click to expand...


This place and users are Goldbridge's wet dream...and nothing like the Reds who I've come in contact with.
 
United fans have always been weirdly toxic about their own players. It happened straight after Fergie left - players like Rio/Vidic were thrown under the bus by our fans. I think Fergie did a great job of protecting the players from the clubs own fanbase for the most part - the managers since then have generally used them as a shield to protect themselves.

It's such a weird phenomenon, our fans generally dislike the blokes that actually go out and kick the ball around - but instead love the bloke doing managerial stuff (whatever that is).
 
Church o Choccy said:
This is the full extent of it. Stewart Lee once described Jeremy Clarkson as someone who has controversial opinions for money and that's exactly what Goldbridge does. He spouts godawful shite on the internet because he's figured out that he can get paid from acting like a toxic wanker. I already hated him, but finding out he used to be a cop just confirmed it for me. ACAB.

I'm not sure you can tar all "influencers" with the same brush. They're essentially just using YouTube and TikTok to do what fans used to do in fanzines and on message boards. Some of them are really measured and well informed, others less so. Some are consistently negative, others are neutral or even try to put a positive spin on bad performances. At a certain point it starts to become almost quasi-journalism.

Stephen Howson is an interesting example - from what I've seen of him he often says things I disagree with but he also doesn't seem to be maliciously spreading an agenda or ragebaiting his way to clicks. And he's clearly a massive United fan. So if people like watching his videos then fair play, I don't think it's a negative influence.
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I like Sam Peoples TV. He's very level headed...and completely unlike the hysterical lot.
 
Skills said:
United fans have always been weirdly toxic about their own players. It's such a weird phenomenon, our fans generally dislike the blokes that actually go out and kick the ball around - but instead love the bloke doing managerial stuff (whatever that is).
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That's just not true.
 
Spoony said:
That's just not true.
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It absolutely is. The squad has turned over multiple times in the last 12 years, and we still have plenty of people spouting the "these players keep letting every manager down" BS.
 
You can easily tell the bad actors from how they dont change their tune when there are a couple of positive results or players having a few good games. People like him will continue to blame Bruno even if we finished 2nd this season. "Bruno is the reason we couldnt win the title"

Of course everyone gets accused of being like that at some point. I've had people say that about me and I've gone from wanting Mount gone last summer to thinking he should be the first #10 named for our next match etc.

Unfortunately the best way to deal with those bad actors is not to bring attention to them and its easier said than done.
 
The difference with match going fans is when you're at the match, you're optimistic, you are there to support the team, you are there in person and not hiding behind a screen and doing your bit to help however you can. The same match going fans once they are at home bored and stewing over the next shit performance will probably still be complaining and wanting a change. It's not a case of their opinion is wildly different. A bit yes, as they are going regularly, so they naturally have more of a positive feeling and supportive feeling as they feel they need to keep supporting in person (rightly so). They might not be as visceral as the hordes on social media who don't do anything but bitch on there, but I'd expect it to be similar overall. People still have eyes and make their own minds up based on what they see.
 
Big Ben Foster said:
It absolutely is. The squad has turned over multiple times in the last 12 years, and we still have plenty of people spouting the "these players keep letting every manager down" BS.
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On here perhaps but this place(and online)is different to my experience around United fans. Anyway it certainly wasn't the case years back and growing up.
 
Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook should probably be considered the biggest negative influence overall. With constant algorithms that trash Maguire, Anthony, etc, and their constant stirring up of both the opposition and United fans for clicks/views. Mostly promoting content they don’t even have the rights to neither.

Facebook is the biggest low quality social media out there. Everything is just meh and a platform that give the most loudest and dumbest people a voice and an echo chamber to confirm themselves in.
 
VP89 said:
We have a huge fan base and naturally there will be a large segment that looks at football differently.

Social media does make it worse though, with constant drivel and misinformation thanks to the likes of Goldbridge.
Click to expand...

Your first sentence is it really. We have the largest fanbase in the world, shock horror large portion of fans hold different views to other sections of fans.
 
Skills said:
United fans have always been weirdly toxic about their own players. It happened straight after Fergie left - players like Rio/Vidic were thrown under the bus by our fans. I think Fergie did a great job of protecting the players from the clubs own fanbase for the most part - the managers since then have generally used them as a shield to protect themselves.

It's such a weird phenomenon, our fans generally dislike the blokes that actually go out and kick the ball around - but instead love the bloke doing managerial stuff (whatever that is).
Click to expand...

Looking back at Fergie's first few years, there were a few notable calls for him to go, but nothing like we would see today at United or at any other big club. Managers are simply given less time because fan bases have less patience - some of which is understandably results driven, but much is also because of the way information is presented on social media.



and this.....

Ta-Ra-Fergie-banner-007.jpg
 
Spoony said:
I like Sam Peoples TV. He's very level headed...and completely unlike the hysterical lot.
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I watch a fair bit of Webby & O'Neill - especially when Webby is actually on, which is increasingly rare these days.
 
Raoul said:
Looking back at Fergie's first few years, there were a few notable calls for him to go, but nothing like we would see today at United or at any other big club. Managers are simply given less time because fan bases have less patience - some of which is understandably results driven, but much is also because of the way information is presented on social media.



and this.....

Ta-Ra-Fergie-banner-007.jpg
Click to expand...


Even ignoring the early stuff, this place had loads of calls for similar formation changes during the Ferguson era.

There were periods where Ferguson wasn't modern enough.

Certain people will always find a reason to complain and to naively believe they have the answer.
 
Church o Choccy said:
I haven't actually watched that one, I'll check it out. I think my favourite one is Pythagoras In Boots.
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Oh gosh, I'd have that as one of the worst personally.

I really enjoy Jay and Joe from Sretfrod Paddock. They always have a glass half full approach to the club and players but give a balanced approach to explaining their views. Joe particularly is great at articulating his views.
 
Raoul said:
This tweet got me thinking about the negative effect social media has on fan perceptions of the club, irrespective of how the club are performing. The role of influencers like Goldbridge and others have created a toxic environment that encourages constant negativity.



Is there a difference between online fans and local match going United supporters ?

The below comment from Scholes at the latest Overlap seems to contradict much of the sentiment we are seeing online.

Click to expand...


I think the club are to blame for this too, they are promoting the likes of Mark Goldbridge... who is so negative towards United.
I cannot stand that fella, he is obviously a fake fan, if you see his takes on Liverpool, you would actually think he is a Liverpool fan, not United.

He does not go to any games, instead does watch alongs because that is what makes money... He is not interested in watching United..

I can't understand why Manutd would allow them into press conferences and conduct interviews with players... some of the fan channels, you can see they are actual fans, emotional dependent on the result.
 
You can watch these channels but form your own opinions, take what they say with a pinch of salt, it’s opinions, nothing more.not ITK.
 
I think the latest trend is the 'Twitter Tacticos', availability of detailed stats nowadays means everybody is an expert now, criticizing every single aspect of the style of play and the formation if anything doesn't fit their idea of perfect football. It's another factor nowadays, piling on and adding to the negativity.
 
euv2 said:
I think the latest trend is the 'Twitter Tacticos', availability of detailed stats nowadays means everybody is an expert now, criticizing every single aspect of the style of play and the formation if anything doesn't fit their idea of perfect football. It's another factor nowadays, piling on and adding to the negativity.
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Agreed.

Its fundamentally tied to how social media accounts earn money. The more you post --> the greater the chances of people visiting your page --> the more money you make; or in even simpler terms....The more negative or controversial your content --> the more money you make. Which is how Goldbridge and those who aspire to be like him have amassed such large followings.
 
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