Matt Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson compared the Old Trafford atmosphere to a "funeral" during his side's 1-0 win over Birmingham City.Ferguson noticed the lack of voice from the 75,459 crowd after watching the match from the directors' box as part of a two-match touchline ban. "That was the quietest I have heard the crowd, it was like a funeral," he said. His comments come seven years after Roy Keane famously dubbed the Old Trafford crowd as the "prawn sandwich brigade". Carlos Tevez's 25th-minute winner ensured the reigning Premier League champions began 2008 with a victory, but Ferguson was clearly unimpressed with the crowd's role in his team's performance. "The players need the crowd sometimes but the atmosphere inside the ground wasn't good," said the Scot. "There are some situations when we need them to get behind us and give us a lift." Former Manchester United captain Keane made headlines in 2000 when he laid into sections of the Old Trafford crowd, claiming they couldn't "spell 'football', never mind understand it". He later insisted that he was referring to the crowd in general, not just United's corporate fans. And Ferguson has complained on previous occasions about the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford. "I think there have been days like this in the past," said the Scot. "It happened some years ago, when we were dominant. "The crowd come to be entertained but sometimes we need them to help us get the right kind of performance."
Ultra Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 The same could be said about most of the "big" Premier League clubs. It seems to be the modern culture. Fans are strongly discouraged from showing ANY kind of passion at football grounds nowadays. But it's not difficult to see why the problem's so bad at Old Trafford. It's a long drive from Kent, Cornwall or wherever else such glory-seeking supporters reside..
Asha Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 Their fans are used to constant success and entertainment. They expect more than a 1-0 win against Birmingham
Fox You Forest Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 The same could be said about most of the "big" Premier League clubs.It seems to be the modern culture. Fans are strongly discouraged from showing ANY kind of passion at football grounds nowadays. But it's not difficult to see why the problem's so bad at Old Trafford. It's a long drive from Kent, Cornwall or wherever else such glory-seeking supporters reside.. Correct anyone who likes football in Manchester will be at the City Of Manchester Stadium on a matchday.
Floating Fox Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 Correct anyone who likes football in Manchester will be at the City Of Manchester Stadium on a matchday. Myth.
Floating Fox Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 It really isn't. It is, you support the Leicester!
act smiley Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 They've still got some "traditional" fans at Manchester Utd, but obviously they're getting more and more outnumbered by the day as they get priced out of going by the club preferring to sell the tickets at vastly inflated prices to gloryhunting tourists. With some of their actions with regards to stewarding and their absurd pricing, its a problem of their own making as much of a change in supporters' expectations.
mancunianfox Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 It is, you support the Leicester! Yes but I was born and grew up in Leicester. Manchester is just my adopted city.
mancunianfox Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 They've still got some "traditional" fans at Manchester Utd, but obviously they're getting more and more outnumbered by the day as they get priced out of going by the club preferring to sell the tickets at vastly inflated prices to gloryhunting tourists. With some of their actions with regards to stewarding and their absurd pricing, its a problem of their own making as much of a change in supporters' expectations. Thats not strictly true. Its very hard to get a seat at Old Trafford without a ST/knowing a ST holder which is why the club have the fans pants down over season ticket prices. A lot of their season ticket holders travel to Manchester to watch games and I even have several friends who moved over from Ireland to live in Trafford and be near to the ground. That is commitment that is unquestionable so I wouldn't nessacarily call them tourists. You are right about the traditional fans being priced out of the game but ultimately the cause of the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford is the same as the cause at every ground in England's top divisions - fans can no longer identify with the players. At the end of the day why should players need to be cheered on by the fans...shouldn't the 100k a week that the supporters are paying them be enough motivation????
Chromophobia Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 this blog on the Guardian website firmly hammers the nail on the head of the issue. blogblog
Simi Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 All I can say is well done Fergie. BUT, he should not stop there, I don't mean carry on having a go at his fans but pressing the issue of declining atmosphere at football matches. That's a brilliant piece in The Guardian and sums it up really well. Standing wasn't always a pleasant experience, but there was something about being huddled together on the terraces, your head in someone else's beer-sweated armpit, that encouraged singing. Chants were invented, rejected, sometimes laughed at. But the adrenaline surge that followed your shout being picked up by 10 people, then 50, then 500, then 5,000, was like being plugged into the national grid. Nowadays fewer supporters sing and those that do stick to the basics, the familiar refrains. It makes for a less spontaneous, less electric atmosphere. Great paragraph that is. So, so true. I never experienced proper terracing but have tasted it a couple of times in my life and it's something that you don't forget in a hurry. But clubs certainly don't help fans inject some fizz into a match. How can supporters be expected to loosen their vocal chords when some local-radio goon plays DJ Ötzi on loop before shouting, moments before kick-off: "Are you ready? I said: Are you ready? Let's make some noise!" One of the biggest problems in my opinion and one that myself, amongst others will be looking to address when we meet the club in the near future. 10 minutes before kick off used to be constant singing and the stage would be set for the rest of the match. Now, the opening minutes of a match often dictate how the atmosphere will be for the rest of the match. It should not be like that. It's no real surprise that Uniteds away support is miles better than their home support. Many of the hardcore fans who have been there for years don't go anymore because of the cup ticket scheme, astronomical ticket pricing and the fact that often they'd have to sit next to people who are there to support Ji Sung Park or people who have come to "sample" the atmosphere. Then when it comes to an away day the hardcore fans do anything they can to get a ticket. At least 90% of Uniteds away support stand. It's no coincidence that the atmosphere is better away from home. Once again good to see that people in the media see the correlation with atmosphere and standing.
Sods Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 Brilliant article on the Guardian. Awesome supporters, my favourite
Floating Fox Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 Awesome supporters,my favourite Did you hear about them Boycotting a game last week? The League moved the K.O to 12:45 for an Internet TV channel, so the club said boycott (Away game). 200 odd turned up which was the usual for that team (Curzon Ashton) but just 20 FC united fans showed instead of the usual 1000! They all went to the reserves instead! Have a read on StandUpSitDown
Simi Posted 2 January 2008 Posted 2 January 2008 So hoist up the John B's sail See how the mainsail sets Call for the Captain ashore Let me go home, i wanna go home I wanna go hoooome, this is the worst trip i've ever been on Link
SamL Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 I have a lot of respect for FC United fans. Instead of sitting there moaning about certain things they didn't like they diid something about it and it's worked very well for them. Just goes to show that there is a minority of Man U fans that aren't plastic. Some of their videos on Youtube are genius. What a waste of council tax, we paid for your hats
lildave3 Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 If FC United fans are so great then how come they abandoned their club just because of who owned it.
SamL Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 If FC United fans are so great then how come they abandoned their club just because of who owned it. Thats a good point LilDave but it's because they loved their club that they didn't like what was happening to it. They didn't like what it stood for or how it was being run so created a new club.
Ultra Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 Thats a good point LilDave but it's because they loved their club that they didn't like what was happening to it. They didn't like what it stood for or how it was being run so created a new club. Maybe some of us should have done the same. A tour of the Midland Alliance grounds would have been a lot more fun than what we've had to suffer this season..
Floating Fox Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 If FC United fans are so great then how come they abandoned their club just because of who owned it. Thats what all fans should do, instead of having complete wankers from different countries running the show, simply for profit and no love of the club, the fans should run the club themselves. Fcum.
SamL Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 Thats what all fans should do, instead of having complete wankers from different countries running the show, simply for profit and no love of the club, the fans should run the club themselves.Fcum. I agree. Thats what they tried to do with Ebbsfleet but ended up having people own it who probably didn't give a sh*t. Should be considered more I think.
Zingari Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 when i read the thread title i thought he was going to get "meals on wheels " and a cleaner from social services
Bert Posted 3 January 2008 Posted 3 January 2008 This fan thing is really getting on my tits. It's so boring now. Every time i read the same things. Stand up and support. Rah rah rah. If people want to sing they will. If they don't then, they won't. If people want to stand they will. If they don't then, they won't. No shitty campaign is going to change it all either.
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