I’ve written in the past about the media using Manchester United for clicks and likes to present an anti United bias. But perhaps an undiscussed element of this comes from within the club’s fanbase. I’m not talking about fan cams or YouTubers who tend to rely on negativity and hypocrisy to gain views. Even the average discussion is filled with it. It feels like United fans are only truly happy when they’re complaining about something.
It can be seen in so many guises and we’ve encountered them throughout the summer. We know that United have been terrible at selling players in the past. But this summer we’ve seen a high number of players, especially younger ones, leave for moderately low fees but with high add-ons like sell-on fees or buy-back clauses. But the fans complained, why can’t we get higher fees, why are we taking such low offers? Yet, when the club does hold out for higher fees, like with Scott McTominay, the same fans complain that we’ve not sold yet and should be taking the lower offer. Do you want us to sell high or do you want us to just sell?
Then there’s the flip side, players coming in. Almost all of them have drawn complaints in different guises. When Joshua Zirkzee was signed it was usually either about his goalscoring record or his lack of experience, focusing on what he lacked, not what he could offer. With Leny Yoro we’ve seen complaints about the fee, given what Real Madrid were reportedly willing to pay. But yet United were the only club willing to chance their arm. Clubs such as Liverpool backed away from the deal believing he was destined for Madrid, but United got him. Then after he suffered a broken foot in our second friendly, it later transpired that Yoro had a potential problem in that area (though not one that was expected to cause a break) fans asked why we’d bought him when we knew (it was explained that given his age and potential it was deemed worth the risk). I can’t help but think those same people complaining about that would have complained if we’d found out about that issue and let him go elsewhere (it’s just an excuse etc…).
Then we have the deals for Mazraoui and De Ligt. It’s reasonable to question his injury record but we didn’t pay a high fee and in swapping him for Aaron Wan Bisakka we’ve raised the technical floor of our side in a way that Wan-Bisakka for all his brilliance as a one-on-one defender, never could. But those same fans want us to go after Ben Chillwell, an injury prone left back, to cover for our injury prone first choice left back (and at a higher price than Mazraoui).
With De Ligt we’ve had our own former players spreading lazy, false narratives. But most of the questions seem to be suggesting he’s never really kicked on and was never rally wanted. He’s had a different coach ever single season he’s played. Ten Hag is the first coach he’s playing a second season for. That kind of continued change in coaching staff and methods can’t be good for a player’s development, especially a young one. As for the second Juventus sold him as they were crippled by COVID debt whilst it seems Bayern’s new coach wanted him as his starting centre back but the club had made the decision. But our fans just have to find a way to complained.
Lastly we come to a player we haven’t even signed yet, Manuel Ugarte. It’s been the fee, whether good enough, whether he’s the right type of player, why didn’t we sign (insert player name here) instead?
As United fans we see our club get criticised enough fro outside, given everything positive the new regime has done, isn’t it about time we cut them some slack and tried being happy and positive for once. Who knows it might even spread on the pitch and see improved performances.
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
I totally agree with your sentiment in this article. I have noticed that myself. It’s almost as though some fans are not fans at all and just follow United for the community feel, and they prefer that community to be negative and outraged all the time. United’s ex-players are even worse, with people like Gary Neville, roy Keane and Paul Scholes pandering to the negative sentiment spread by the ex-players of rival clubs who suffered under our dominance under Ferguson. Man. United supports need to start a drive to boycott media that are openly biased against the club. This is 1 aspect that I think United’s supporters can learn from the Liverpool supporters and this pains me to admit. Hopefully the club continues its bullish stance against media houses who treat Man. United like rivals until they learn to treat us fairly.
Once again continue highlighting this recent tendency from the fan base to always see the negative.
Regards
Starting with Espn & that Dawson bloke. Notice how the media is enamored with Arne Slot??? And nobody is talking about Maresca getting the sack after one game. Remember the uproar after Erik ten Hag’s first two games in charge??? The media absolutely despise Man United.
An incredible write up. Thank you. I was having this exact Convo with a buddy of mine recently. Man United fans seem to complain a lot for no particular reason, no doubt inspired by the Ex players who are all pundits now. It’s maddening. From complaining about line ups, to complaining during the games and then after the games. It’s absolutely relentless. A club you allegedly support shouldn’t make you this miserable. Some folks began playing football manager right after Erik Ten Hag had just won the FA cup. It’s just ridiculous. This is the most satisfied I have been in about a decade partaning how the board have gone about their business. The club has done incredible business in both buys & sales. No complains here.
Of course, it’s a simple thing to join online discussions claiming to be a United fan when you’re nothing of the sort. A few moans about signings, ETH, INEOS, or whatever, and you start the ‘negative fans’ narrative. Sure, there are people moaning who would call themselves United fans, but they are a tiny, insignificant, minority.
We have packed home attendances, and by far the best, noisiest, most-loyal away support. And that’s been the case since the 70’s when I first started. Tommy Docherty’s Red and White Army; Salford Van hires everywhere, groups chanting the name of the Towns they came from – magic days.