The Red Report: Rooney, The Carling Cup & the term ‘Man U’

As per usual we decided to look at a non-United topic with that being the situation at Pompey:

Chudi: Pompey are a decent well-supported club so everything they have been through is quite sad really. It appears they have been saved but for how long? We’ve heard it before and yet time and time again they find themselves in precarious positions. Many people don’t seem to care because it’s not their club but put yourself in a Pompey fan’s shoes, imagine if it was United that was being threatened with administration?

Mismanagement of clubs is a major problem and more should be done to prevent it. The check the FA does before someone is allowed to take over is a step in the right direction though.

Doron: Gutting stuff at Pompey. I’ve got Pompey supporters in my family and it’s horrible to think that the team they support may just not exist. My own personal favourite memories are Peter Crouch enjoying the banter of circus music being sung in his direction every time he stood for a corner in front of the Stretford End; and their FA Cup final win against Cardiff. I was at Wembley that day with my Cardiff supporting dad and we both recollect how their fans didn’t stop singing all game. A club with great traditions that must be saved.

Siddarth: Portsmouth have been literally a rags to riches story and now they seem to be going to non existence, its really sad if you consider that just a few seasons ago they had players like Sol Campbell, Niko Kranjcar, Peter Crouch, Defoe, etc. They have really good and loyal fans that do not deserve this, all because of dodgy owners! I hope they survive and are able to return to the Premier League one day!

TG: Oh, Pompey. I recall a game an FA Cup against Arsenal in which they were losing 6-0; yet their travelling fans were so full in voice that they put the home fans in shade. Someone also told me how, on their last visit to Old Trafford, their fans brought G & G scarves as a mutual protest. Those fans don’t deserve this – they are one of the most passionate on these shores and I pray that they survive liquidation.

Alan: The FA needs to stop pretending they are mere spectators in this and realize that football clubs are not companies. Say what you will, but football clubs are woven into the social fabric of their communities and the fans are NOT just customers. They are the reason clubs exist and their presence at matches are not just to be entertained but to also support their team. Football clubs should be protected from exploitive investors and their expenditure should be limited relative to their turnover. There would be some imbalances at first, but ultimately it would prevent clubs from taking on excessive debt they are unable to cope with. As a team who have had issues with our owners I’m sure we can all sympathise with their plight, good news that they have apparently been rescued.

And finally we come to the public part. Last week we were asked to discuss the term ‘ManU’. Having seen it used on Twitter and the backlash that follows, this is definitely a sore point amongst our fans and rightly so:

Alan: I personally never use the term. I love the club enough to say Manchester United, United or Man United. Besides, ‘ManU’ sounds too much like ‘menu’ or ‘manure’, which you will have heard too often by moronic rival fans. However, I am not too offended when other fans use it. There seems to be some disagreement on the internet about how insulted United fans are supposed to feel about the term since it is referenced in some insulting anti-United songs, but some older United supporters say it all the time. You can also hear several ex United players use the term in interviews or when they work as pundits on TV. So if it’s ok for them, I don’t see why it’s not ok for United fans to say and to be honest, how many fans were aware of its negative connotations before the Internet?

TG: It’s only in the last few years that I’ve felt strongly about this subject. I won’t deny that I’ve called our great club ‘Man U’ a few too many times, everyone has really, but I’m pretty sure that the majority are aware of the offence it may cause. Thanks chiefly to the power of the Internet Saying Man U is now a no-no nowadays. No worries, because ‘Manchester United’ will suffice.

Siddarth: Like TG, I have to admit that I have unfortunately let my tongue slip, though haven’t used the term in quite a long time now. The more I learn about the abuse directed towards the legends who died in the Munich crash by opposition fans the more I hate the word. I think if you know what the term means and how it’s been maligned, being a United fan, using it should make you shudder!  But at the same time I think it’s important to mention that using the term out of innocence isn’t a crime really.

Doron: To be honest, saying Man Yoo has only become more of a taboo due to the Internet and people typing ‘Man U’. It’s lazy and whilst it doesn’t bother me I understand why some people take offence.

Chudi: I got saying ‘ManU’ out of my system early. It wasn’t negative before but the moment I learned the negative connotations the term picked up I dropped it out. It’s a derogatory term, so as a United fan, why would you continue to use it? I don’t expect to hear many Chelsea fans refer to themselves as the renties or Liverpool fans refer to themselves as the dippers. It really does make me cringe when I hear it and I try to explain to United fans why it is so negative, non United fans will say it regardless so they are a lost cause!

That concludes another Red Report for the week. Hopefully this edition keeps you entertained until next Monday. Were always open to hear from you so you can catch us on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/BTOT_MUFC

http://twitter.com/stretford_end

http://twitter.com/ManUtd24

http://twitter.com/TheBusbyWay

http://twitter.com/RedForceRising

But don’t forget to check out our individual sites if you think we have missed something, as it is likely at least one of us will have covered it there:

https://thebusbyway.com/

http://manutd24.wordpress.com

http://bangaloretooldtrafford.blogspot.com/

http://www.stretford-end.com/

http://www.redforcerising.net/

Best of the blogs:

ManUtd24 looked at Wayne Rooney’s form and the solution to his faltering performances: http://manutd24.wordpress.com/2010/10/23/for-rooney-to-find-his-form-he-needs-to-become-the-main-striker/

Stretford End’s open letter to Wayne Rooney stole the headlines this week: http://www.stretford-end.com/blog/2010/10/an-open-letter-to-wayne-rooney/

The Busby Way hailed the chief as Sir Alex’s conduct this week was compared to one of Shakespeare’s finest works: https://thebusbyway.com/2010/10/20/sir-alexs-shakesperian-performance-shows-the-king-is-very-much-alive/

Red Force Rising looked at how our youngsters faired out on loan: http://www.redforcerising.net/2010/10/19/loan-watch-oct19t/

Bangalore To Old Trafford celebrated our first away win of the season: http://bangaloretooldtrafford.blogspot.com/2010/10/stoked-to-have-finally-won.html