To all Premier League Football fans, seriously, what's going on with my team Manchester United? First it's those comical neon lime green uniforms, then comes a 4-0 loss to Brentford (seriously???) and a record which puts them in last place, and then that dopey Elon Musk threatens to buy them???? Ack!!!!
Come on MU, pick it up! So what's the deal soccer fans? We don't get a lot of soccer news here in the US, we're lucky if we get one high profile game a weekend, but what happened? Did they lose some top players? Is the management bad? Was it those silly new uniforms? Is it just a natural slump?
They play Liverpool Monday which of course won't be televised here, but what a game to step it up! MU is our team because the first Premier League game we attended was MU vs. Liverpool. Liverpool won handily but we got to see a flying overhead kick goal which was awesome! Love the game, love my Man United boys, so tell me... is this a bump or a long term thing ya think?
A friend sent this and sure enough, it's the age old story of turning sports into a pure business neglecting the game, fans and players for money, followed by the inevitable poor management and players giving up hope. And of course, it was a new American owner... embarrassing but not surprising. Sorry GB!
I'm sure that the Liverpool game will be on in the US (but not nationally...more likey on one of their digital/cable networks like USA or Peacock) as NBC Universal has the rights to the Premier League over there and have done so for the past few years (they show one live game nationally on a Saturday and then the rest on their cable/digital channel subsidiaries).
As for Man U.......what a mess and they are the laughing stock of the UK right now after what Brentford did them last week (and Brentford are actually a very good side as well and give most teams a run for their money!!)
Man U are in a very major mess with players that don't want to be there at all from what I've seen and some crazy bids for new players too.
Neutrals in the UK are finding the decline of Man-Ure hilarious, myself included. They've spent loads of money on individuals I think. The team ethos is non-existent. Even Old Trafford is falling apart apparently. It's a mess. The new gaffer appears to be absolutely shocked by what he's walked into. There is talk of protests before tomorrow's match. Hahaha.
The players just don't seem hungry. They stand off, they don't look for spaces, they don't seem to want the ball. They don't support each other, they don't run back and tackle, they just wait til someone else gets the ball. In my opinion they are overpaid and stuck in complaceny. They haven't looked inspired for several seasons. You can have all the money, you can have great reputations but without gut- busting enthusiasm it doesn't work.
I'm proud to say my Nephew played for their junior team with the possibility of being selected for the first team, but he was too small to be considered. They all thought that football lost connection with ordinary folk when big business and their money got involved. Also, they doubt if many of the first team players know where Manchester is LOL
They've been living off their past reputation for at least a decade. The club's priority is the shareholders and billionaire owners, hence the constant 'big signings' every summer because they result in more shirt sales and sponsorship deals, and who cares if these individuals don't fit the team? To be honest, Arsenal are in a similar position, not been serious contendors for several seasons having lost a proven legendary manager. These teams are never in any real danger of finishing outside the top ten but they don't give the fans entertainment and passion for the side.
There are an increasing number of questionable away strips appearing - balanced by some very low-effort home ones.
Edit: A few moments after my last post, they won against Liverpool in the greatest game ever played, so apparently that's made everything alright again. (That they still have fewer points than all the newly promoted teams doesn't seem to matter...)
kipperflew2 said: Edit: A few moments after my last post, they won against Liverpool in the greatest game ever played, so apparently that's made everything alright again. (That they still have fewer points than all the newly promoted teams doesn't seem to matter...)
One game makes not a season. As a fan of a different club, but with equally terrible ownership (although ours at least put some of his own money in), I suspect things will stay dire for them until they get an offer to make them even richer, and have paid a total of nothing on buying the club and then take all the money from the sale. That or they get bored of not winning silverware and try the same on another successful club that has the financial strength to be able to saddle with the $1bn+ worth of debt it would cost to buy the club
kipperflew2 said: They've been living off their past reputation for at least a decade. The club's priority is the shareholders and billionaire owners, hence the constant 'big signings' every summer because they result in more shirt sales and sponsorship deals, and who cares if these individuals don't fit the team? To be honest, Arsenal are in a similar position, not been serious contendors for several seasons having lost a proven legendary manager. These teams are never in any real danger of finishing outside the top ten but they don't give the fans entertainment and passion for the side.
There are an increasing number of questionable away strips appearing - balanced by some very low-effort home ones.
Agree on the last bit.
Some of these new season kits (home and away) have been shocking!!!
I think it's a combination of bad management, more worry about appearance than performance and lack of motivation for the players. Ronaldo wants to leave and yet there he still sits after the transfer window closes. And losing 4-0 to Brentford was just a gut punch. They played much better against Liverpool but they had a big hype boost because of Antony. They need to find the drive to be great again.
What was Manchester United thinking when they decided to roll out a lime green kit for this season? I could see that from teams like Norwich City (Who are playing in the Championship) or other teams that have green in their colors. I wonder who in the club designs their kits for each season cause that was a weird choice or color. I do remember their archrival Manchester City years ago wearing the colors of Manchester United on their away uniforms. I don't think that Man-U has ever been relegated to the Championship in the Premier League era going back to 1992-93 when the Premier League was formed. I may root for Newcastle United but I hope the Red Devils get it together soon
cfoster_812 said: What was Manchester United thinking when they decided to roll out a lime green kit for this season? I could see that from teams like Norwich City (Who are playing in the Championship) or other teams that have green in their colors. I wonder who in the club designs their kits for each season cause that was a weird choice or color. I do remember their archrival Manchester City years ago wearing the colors of Manchester United on their away uniforms. I don't think that Man-U has ever been relegated to the Championship in the Premier League era going back to 1992-93 when the Premier League was formed. I may root for Newcastle United but I hope the Red Devils get it together soon
Last time they were relegated was 1973/4, they won the division 2 championship and came back a much better team and played some great football under Tommy Docherty.
The main issues is the owners that aren't football people, using the club as a cash cow and immediately placing the club in debt. Although they have improved a lot lately and starting to get some results together and above Liverpool who seem to have completely forgotten how to defend!
12/17/23, 2:07am: This post won't bump the thread to the top.
11/26/22, 3:24pm: This post won't affect thread last post date.
cfoster_812 said: What was Manchester United thinking when they decided to roll out a lime green kit for this season? I could see that from teams like Norwich City (Who are playing in the Championship) or other teams that have green in their colors. I wonder who in the club designs their kits for each season cause that was a weird choice or color. I do remember their archrival Manchester City years ago wearing the colors of Manchester United on their away uniforms. I don't think that Man-U has ever been relegated to the Championship in the Premier League era going back to 1992-93 when the Premier League was formed. I may root for Newcastle United but I hope the Red Devils get it together soon
Last time they were relegated was 1973/4, they won the division 2 championship and came back a much better team and played some great football under Tommy Docherty.
That's been a long time being in the "Top Flight" of English soccer and sustain that high level of success
I've actually started going to a local National League side and the women's team in my city recently. It's much cheaper, you sit closer to the pitch and the games are a lot more open often with more goals too. Plus there isn't all the stupid media hyping it all the time, and certainly with the women no drunken idiots in the crowd kicking off at some minor controversy.
kipperflew2 said: I've actually started going to a local National League side and the women's team in my city recently. It's much cheaper, you sit closer to the pitch and the games are a lot more open often with more goals too. Plus there isn't all the stupid media hyping it all the time, and certainly with the women no drunken idiots in the crowd kicking off at some minor controversy.
I have a few friends that have done the same. They feel like customers rather than fans when paying Premier League or Championship prices so why not pay the £5/10 and see your local side for a proper match day experience plus tier 5 football is actually pretty high standard. I could rant about this all day...
kipperflew2 said: I've actually started going to a local National League side and the women's team in my city recently. It's much cheaper, you sit closer to the pitch and the games are a lot more open often with more goals too. Plus there isn't all the stupid media hyping it all the time, and certainly with the women no drunken idiots in the crowd kicking off at some minor controversy.
I have a few friends that have done the same. They feel like customers rather than fans when paying Premier League or Championship prices so why not pay the £5/10 and see your local side for a proper match day experience plus tier 5 football is actually pretty high standard. I could rant about this all day...
Plus those clubs actually need the ticket revenue and the players work hard in training for much less than the average wage (and some even have other day jobs. I recall a commentator from an FA Cup tie saying that the team captain was going off after the match to work a shift as a gas contractor). Season ticket for my local woman's side is the same as one PL game, it's the same stadium as the men this year too.
kipperflew2 said: I've actually started going to a local National League side and the women's team in my city recently. It's much cheaper, you sit closer to the pitch and the games are a lot more open often with more goals too. Plus there isn't all the stupid media hyping it all the time, and certainly with the women no drunken idiots in the crowd kicking off at some minor controversy.
We get that! We prefer women's soccer/football to mens because there is less drama, more playing, the skill level is the same and there is no continual "you brushed my jersey so now I need to roll on the ground in agony grabbing every part of my body until I get a yellow card" garbage. We love us some rugby too!
But YEAAAAAAYUUUU! MU is coming on strong and it looks like Liverpool has been inflicted with the same ownership/playing problems MU had the last few years.
Go Manchester United
Madeline
12/17/23, 2:07am: This post won't bump the thread to the top.
I've started going to Stockport County in league 2. I prefer lower league football too, agree about the stupid hype, particularly from Sky sports, anyone would think that football didn't exist before 1992.
One Manchester United player I could never stand was Pogba, I thought he was THE most overrated player of all time
mrangry said: I've started going to Stockport County in league 2. I prefer lower league football too, agree about the stupid hype, particularly from Sky sports, anyone would think that football didn't exist before 1992.
One Manchester United player I could never stand was Pogba, I thought he was THE most overrated player of all time
The biggest four clubs in the PL pick new signings based on hype and predicted shirt sales. Whether they fit into the team is a secondary consideration. I would rank Angel de Maria close to Pogba for being overrated.
12/17/23, 2:07am: This post won't bump the thread to the top.
mrangry said: I've started going to Stockport County in league 2. I prefer lower league football too, agree about the stupid hype, particularly from Sky sports, anyone would think that football didn't exist before 1992.
One Manchester United player I could never stand was Pogba, I thought he was THE most overrated player of all time
The biggest four clubs in the PL pick new signings based on hype and predicted shirt sales. Whether they fit into the team is a secondary consideration. I would rank Angel de Maria close to Pogba for being overrated.
This is a football myth, clubs really don't think like this. Each club make around 7.5%- 15% (if lucky) commission for each shirt sold, with the majority going to the man-u-facturer (see what i did there). Liverpool's £30m a year deal sees them take 20% which is massive so say they sold a million shirts at £80 that's only £16m which hardly covers Mohammad Salah's annual wage. Man Utd signed a 10 year £750m deal with Adidas who will double their money and don't care who's name is on the back as long as you buy the shirt. I agree about Pogba, he never quite delivered for Man Utd yet when i've watched him play for France he's always played well.