What a load of sweaty bollocks!
I'll start with a request for rep for Mockney if not already given. It is important to highlight the non-nonsensical rubbish that surrounds this.
I've been brought up on this when I started on this forum. I'd actually been reading this forum for the best part of 2-3 years, but had not signed up. I guess I figured there was enough people saying the same things, but then I felt like I'm a Man Utd fan and should speak up.
I was politely informed of the insulting nature of "Man Utd" and although I found it frustrating that people can take the abbreviation and see it as an insult, I decided it is similar to the word N*gga, thus respect it for how it is interpreted, rather then what it is. I guess for this reason I will refrain from using Man Utd on these forums.
However, while we are on the topic, it is worth highlighting how much of a fail this is to Man Utd fans! Opposition fans are effectively winning at restricting our choice purely down to a couple of crappy chants. Just to highlight the stupidity, please tell me the difference between the following:
"Man Utd Man Utd went on a plane Man Utd Man Utd never came back again"
""Man Utd Man Utd went on a plane Man Utd Man Utd never came back again"
"Manchester United Manchester United went on a plane Manchester United Manchester United never came back again"
In simple, the difference is how it sounds in a rhyme! Man Utd is slicker and for this reason we should be able to use it as fans. Why should our chants sound less effective, less smooth, just because some rival fans came up with crap insulting chants/ lyrics.
Another example:
"Man Utd Never Intended Coming Home"
"Man Utd Never Intended Coming Home"
"Manchester United Never Intended Coming Home"
The same word swap can occur here with the same desired result.
And again:
"Duncan Edwards is manure, rotting in his grave, man you are manure- rotting in your grave"
"Duncan Edwards is manure, rotting in his grave, Man Utd are manure- rotting in their grave"
"Duncan Edwards is manure, rotting in his grave, Manchester United are manure- rotting in their grave"
Ok this one again does not sound quite as effective lyrically, but it has the same impact.
In summary
Why retire an abbreviation that makes editorial and rhyming sense, purely because of a couple of crappy lyrics that can be re-written to continue insulting us anyway! Shall we just retire our whole club name to avoid being insulted? Maybe we should have no name at all?
I feel passionate about this because its ridiculous. Man Utd is a quick and yes some may say lazy way of writing Manchester United, but how is Man Utd any better? how is Man United any better? It's all 'lazy' or to put in a better way 'quick' way of writing. This is a club website, we write the same club name a lot, not surprisingly!
I think it is about time we make a stand! Call the club what you want, if you love the club, we love love you and the club loves you too.