The supporters are lapping it up, of course, but that's what football fans do. Most supporters of every club engage in mental gymnastics when it suits, including ours. For me, it's the narrative coming from united as an institution that is going to provide the most interest in the months ahead.
What impact will Mourinho's appointment have on the mood music emanating from the club? united, as an institution, have been keen for a couple of decades to pontificate to the wider footballing world about their distinct qualities as a club. Ferguson, Charlton and all their various foot soldiers in the media, ex-players and journalists alike, are very well drilled in talking about united's much vaunted policy in relation to youth, their attacking style of football, their policy of steadfastly sticking by their managers, as well as the tedious and nebulous "united way", whatever the fuck that is. They've claimed for years those things are all woven into the fabric of the club. Quite frankly, they've bored the rest of us shitless parroting on about it.
Will they still bang the same drum, making themselves appear even more hypocritical and absurd? Or will they stop talking in those terms, pretending those words were never said, quietly placed in a memory hole in the Ministry of Truth? Or will Mourinho come to heel and embrace a...errrr.....footballing philosophy that he's shown scant signs of engaging with to date in the course of his managerial career?
As I've said, in terms of this appointment, I don't think they had a great deal of choice, given where they find themselves, in actual and relative terms. They must realise that in addition to us, clubs like Spurs and West Ham are on the rise and they probably don't have the luxury of time to get back in the top four, given the commercial pressures the club is under to do so, but their words have spectacularly made themselves hostages to fortune.
Just like they did when they kept that banner up for all those years.
Some of our supporters might not like our media MO, but in that department we are reserved and understated in every respect. We don't mouth off about what we're about, what we represent and what we are. There is good reason for this. united have been doing this for years, and when the wind changes, and you've got to shift position and reinvent yourself a little, your previous statements can be rendered obsolete and absurd.
The lack of foresight at that club, when they were drunk on success, was grossly negligent. From Ferguson's succession, to the depletion of their youth set up, through to a hiring and firing culture that now subsists all point to a club that had it all and took its eye off the ball at the worst, or best, possible time, depending on what your viewpoint is.
Their football might not be entertaining anymore, but their decline has so far provided great viewing. Long may it continue.
Nah, Mendes will be there to hold his hand and make sure it happens, while making sure he is in charge of all he rags transfer policy as well to make sure he makes as much as possible from the venture. Expect a long t line of Mendes clients at astronomical pricesI'll believe it when it happens. Mou and his people still surely have to meet Woodward to thrash out a deal, and that man is more than capable of absolutely fucking up any situation.
Great story, thanks for that.My dad's brother was a blue.
My first ever game, my dad took me to old trafford. It was a UEFA Cup game in 1976 against Ajax. I still remember my dad wore a brown leather jacket. That said, I wasn't that arsed. I can't have been.
My dad had a shop near to town and I used to sometimes go there on a Saturday and his brother used to manage the shop. One day (I'd just turned seven at the time) he asked me if I wanted to go to watch City and I said yes. I clearly remember him lifting me over the turnstile to get in the Main Stand. It was the 18th December 1976.
I don't know why, but to me it felt totally different to old trafford. I guess I felt like I belonged there. It's a bit hard to put into words without sounding a bit wanky, but I felt entirely different when I walked in and saw the crowd. Kidd and Tueart both scored in a 2-0 win. My dads brother bought me a scarf from the souvenir shop after the game and I was hooked.
I've always had a difficult relationship with my dad when it comes to football. Both my other brothers are big united fans and both me and my dad are both hugely competitive. Sometimes the piss taking is utterly relentless. I've never discussed it with him, but I expect it's something he finds a little disappointing in me. My sister once told me when pissed that my support of City has been a constant source of bafflement to him, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Being a City fan is one of the things that defines me most as a person. Being the only blue in the immediate family was difficult at times, especially when they were all going off to Champions League finals together, but I never regretted it for a moment, and where City are now is all the more rewarding for me against that backdrop.
Great post and a similar story to mine. I was taken to Old Trafford as a child by my Father (not Dad) and older brother. My parents split up and my Mum met my Dad. Due to access, I spent alternate weekends with them and went to City one week and United the next.My dad's brother was a blue.
My first ever game, my dad took me to old trafford. It was a UEFA Cup game in 1976 against Ajax. I still remember my dad wore a brown leather jacket. That said, I wasn't that arsed. I can't have been.
My dad had a shop near to town and I used to sometimes go there on a Saturday and his brother used to manage the shop. One day (I'd just turned seven at the time) he asked me if I wanted to go to watch City and I said yes. I clearly remember him lifting me over the turnstile to get in the Main Stand. It was the 18th December 1976.
I don't know why, but to me it felt totally different to old trafford. I guess I felt like I belonged there. It's a bit hard to put into words without sounding a bit wanky, but I felt entirely different when I walked in and saw the crowd. Kidd and Tueart both scored in a 2-0 win. My dads brother bought me a scarf from the souvenir shop after the game and I was hooked.
I've always had a difficult relationship with my dad when it comes to football. Both my other brothers are big united fans and both me and my dad are both hugely competitive. Sometimes the piss taking is utterly relentless. I've never discussed it with him, but I expect it's something he finds a little disappointing in me. My sister once told me when pissed that my support of City has been a constant source of bafflement to him, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Being a City fan is one of the things that defines me most as a person. Being the only blue in the immediate family was difficult at times, especially when they were all going off to Champions League finals together, but I never regretted it for a moment, and where City are now is all the more rewarding for me against that backdrop.
Very true to be fair.it will when people like Scudamore want the Rags in the Champions League, and want them winning trophies to "enhance the brand".
Refs do as they're told ultimately.