From the ‘Chosen One’ to the one to forget, Manchester United fans didn’t really have much to cheer about during the season. However, Aodán Mitchell argues that there is one positive to take away and that is the fans themselves. Over the years Manchester United fans have been called a lot of things, boring, quiet, lifeless, smug, glory hunters ‘the prawn sandwich brigade’ and to be fair most of them words have been pretty on the spot…except this year. The United fans backed David Moyes up until he was eventually fired. Yes, there were the fans who took to Facebook and Twitter and vented their anger and frustration at the team and at the manager. We’ve all had the discussion about whether Moyes was the right man to spend a hundred million this summer. However, the same frustrations weren’t as obvious at Old Trafford as they were on social media. Yes there may have been boos, yes there may have been groans but not to the extent that you’d expect from a team that transformed from Premier League winners last year to a team that was ‘fighting’ for a place in the Europa League. Let me take you all the way back to the first week of the season and a game between Arsenal and Aston Villa. Arsenal still hadn’t made any huge summer signings at this time and Arsenal fans were becoming increasingly frustrated. However, they had the longest serving manager in the league, a manager who guaranteed at least a top four finish and a young team that would eventually develop (these are the types of things United fans would kill for right about now). The Arsenal players went in at half time drawing 1-1 and were met with a chorus of boos. The game finished 3-1 to Villa and the stadium was emptying fast prior to the full time whistle. I understand that Arsenal fans are frustrated with not winning a trophy in the past 8 years but to boo your team on opening day? That’s rough. Let me take you forward from opening day to a Manchester United match involving the same team; Aston Villa. This game had a buzz around it, not because it was a title decider or a cup game or there was a grudge between the two teams, but this was the game when a group of United fans flew a banner over Old Trafford reading ‘Wrong one: Moyes out’. You could understand the unrest amongst the United fans, their side were ten points adrift of Arsenal with only six more games to go. I was at this game and as I walked to the stadium there was an electric atmosphere in the air, I wasn’t sure why. I personally didn’t support the banner at the time but wasn’t sure how the rest of the United faithful would react. They’d been fantastic all season but patience was wearing thin. The banner was set to fly over Manchester at the two-minute mark during the game but as soon as David Moyes arrived from out under the tunnel, United fans showed true class and every, man, woman and child applauded him like it was his first game of the season. This unquestionable wave of support could easily have turned after Villa went ahead 1-0 but United fans stayed true to how they acted during the whole season and immediately began with chants of ‘United!United!’. Compare this to the boos that rang out at the Emirates and there is a stark contrast between two sets of fans. Don’t get me wrong, I am a United fan myself but I dislike other United fans. Throughout the season there was a sense of arrogance from United fans, they had spent years belittling other teams for sacking their managers too soon and were smug when they suggested that Manchester United wouldn’t do the same. But sadly United have followed the path in which football is going today. Football is a results business and if you aren’t ‘doing the business’ then you are out. United fans also showed their naivety this season. After a game in which the Red Devils had upwards of 50 crosses put into the box, the fans were clamoring for a change in direction. They took to the forums again and screamed that David Moyes’s side needed a player that could play defence-splitting passes. However, against Everton towards the end of the season the fans were screaming for the need to revert to wide players swinging cross after cross into the box. Some sets of United fans need to get off their arm chairs and go out and support their team, like those who have attended both home and away games. The Villa game isn’t the only example of United fans being fantastic but it’s a game where I had first hand experience. I may not remember much from my weekend in Manchester but I certainly remember that game and the overwhelming show of support for David Moyes. Sadly, Moyes won’t be there next season. But have no fear, here are a few things that United fans can look forward to next season: 1. A busy summer Over the years Manchester United haven’t had a summer quite like the one approaching. It seems as though there will be an exodus of players, thus weakening an already weak squad. Players such as Vidic, Ferdinand, possibly Evra, Anderson, and Nani must be replaced. 2. Youth development United fans were the one highlight of the season off the pitch but Adnan Januzaj was the highlight on it. James Wilson and Tom Lawrence were brought into the fold under Ryan Giggs and under Louis Van Gaal, assuming he will be United’s next manager, these young players will be given a chance to grow. 3. A better fight to be given against their main rivals United were shocking against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. They had seemingly lost all confidence and those teams smelt blood and went in for the killer. Hopefully a new season, a new manager and the removal of some of the more apprehensive players will help the United players forget about this season and look forward to the next 4. Liverpool may have missed their best chance to win the Premier League title during Gerrard’s career City will be stronger again next season and Chelsea are seemingly going to sign a competent striker in Diego Costa which may push Liverpool further away from the title. Manchester United should be back stronger next season but expectations must be tempered, a top four finish isn’t out of the question but better managing will be needed, better performances from the players will be needed and the support shown this year at Old Trafford and away from home in the face of adversity must continue.
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 11:14:17 +0000
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