Fans, supporters, spectators or customers...what are we?

[ramAnag]

In the light of Mourinho's latest comments about the failings of United's fans how are we meant to see ourselves? It's one thing Klopp 'geeing up' the Kop, or people being critical of the crowd's negativity but the 'special one's' latest outburst appears to take lack of appreciation to a new level. Here we have a multi millionaire in charge of lots of other millionaires who have clearly failed to entertain or excite those who have shelled out their hard earned pounds to watch.
I'm all for crowds getting behind the players and not singling out individuals who are struggling for form but c'mon Jose...you and your overpaid stars must surely have a duty to inspire rather than just criticise the paying public. Thoughts?

[Manofpride]

In the light of Mourinho's latest comments about the failings of United's fans how are we meant to see ourselves? It's one thing Klopp 'geeing up' the Kop, or people being critical of the crowd's negativity but the 'special one's' latest outburst appears to take lack of appreciation to a new level. Here we have a multi millionaire in charge of lots of other millionaires who have clearly failed to entertain or excite those who have shelled out their hard earned pounds to watch.
I'm all for crowds getting behind the players and not singling out individuals who are struggling for form but c'mon Jose...you and your overpaid stars must surely have a duty to inspire rather than just criticise the paying public. Thoughts?

We are all of the above! But like depression it's hard to start dancing and singing when not being in a positive mood.
Saying that, Rams fans were brilliant in the season of disaster (11points) so I'm going to say if you pay hard earned cash to go to the match you are entitled to do what you want! If they want supporters to get their full backing show them you want the same as them and you'll get more of a reaction !

[Andy_Faber]

We are all of the above! But like depression it's hard to start dancing and singing when not being in a positive mood.
Saying that, Rams fans were brilliant in the season of disaster (11points) so I'm going to say if you pay hard earned cash to go to the match you are entitled to do what you want! If they want supporters to get their full backing show them you want the same as them and you'll get more of a reaction !

The Not-So-special One shows his lack of empathy with the people who ultimately put food on his table, an extension of the mercenary nature of modern football. True supporters pay their cash from limited funds and have no choice other than to follow their hearts and their team whatever drivel is produced, so they should have their (mostly) uncensored say from the terraces. I've only actually felt sorry for one footballer ever when he was criticised from the terraces (Bruce Rioch as it happens, who was ironically cheered when subbed at the BBG when going through a bad patch), Murinho's further problem of course is that he is addressing maybe 30,000 plastic fans who would switch their allegiance to Bury if they were more successful

[AdiSalisbury]

Murinho's further problem of course is that he is addressing maybe 30,000 plastic fans who would switch their allegiance to Bury if they were more successful

This is the problem, Man U are a different kettle of fish. Their fans have a sense of entitlement, to be winning, and to be entertained, stemming from a generation of fans who know nothing else than the Fergie years. So anything less, is uninspiring, and they've never been in the mindset of an underdog. It's easier to be more supportive as a fan when you're playing against the odds.

Then there's the tourist issue, 20,000 photo snapping tourists is never going to create an atmosphere. I remember going there in the fatal season, and the sound of 50,000 seats lifting each time they went on the attack was a very eerie atmosphere.

I do empathise with Jose as it's currently a unique issue, but it won't change, remember the prawn sandwich brigade Keane so famously accused them of being? Maybe they'll all turn out like the Liverpool lot have in a few years, angry and moaning.

[Andy_Faber]

This is the problem, Man U are a different kettle of fish. Their fans have a sense of entitlement, to be winning, and to be entertained, stemming from a generation of fans who know nothing else than the Fergie years. So anything less, is uninspiring, and they've never been in the mindset of an underdog. It's easier to be more supportive as a fan when you're playing against the odds.

Then there's the tourist issue, 20,000 photo snapping tourists is never going to create an atmosphere. I remember going there in the fatal season, and the sound of 50,000 seats lifting each time they went on the attack was a very eerie atmosphere.

I do empathise with Jose as it's currently a unique issue, but it won't change, remember the prawn sandwich brigade Keane so famously accused them of being? Maybe they'll all turn out like the Liverpool lot have in a few years, angry and moaning.

Hopefully

[ramAnag]

This is the problem, Man U are a different kettle of fish. Their fans have a sense of entitlement, to be winning, and to be entertained, stemming from a generation of fans who know nothing else than the Fergie years. So anything less, is uninspiring, and they've never been in the mindset of an underdog. It's easier to be more supportive as a fan when you're playing against the odds.

Then there's the tourist issue, 20,000 photo snapping tourists is never going to create an atmosphere. I remember going there in the fatal season, and the sound of 50,000 seats lifting each time they went on the attack was a very eerie atmosphere.

I do empathise with Jose as it's currently a unique issue, but it won't change, remember the prawn sandwich brigade Keane so famously accused them of being? Maybe they'll all turn out like the Liverpool lot have in a few years, angry and moaning.

Not sure there isn't a 'sense of entitlement' at Derby too. Not concerned with winning trophies but around the belief that we should be a top tier team or have some sort of divine right to be contesting in the play offs. Probably dates back to the relative over achievement of the early-mid seventies. As a result PP can be a daunting place. When things are going well and the crowd are 'purring', playing in front of a full house must be brilliant...but more counter productive when there's 25,000 fairly disillusioned souls. Maybe the point raised earlier about the difference between home and away fans isn't so wide of the mark...home fans include more 'spectators' and away fans more diehard 'supporters'. Either way, we're all 'customers' paying hard earned cash to watch the privileged few, something Mourinho might do well to remember.

[roger_ramjet]

The Not-So-special One shows his lack of empathy with the people who ultimately put food on his table, l

A lack of empathy with Sky TV executives and other global TV executives? A lack of empathy with shirt etc sponsors, official noodle suppliers and so on? That's who puts food on his table.

The fans may cover the cost of policing and stewarding and a bit more besides, but don't go getting the impression that fans matter. They are just providers of background noise and atmosphere for the viewers around the world.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Partners.aspx

[Andy_Faber]

A lack of empathy with Sky TV executives and other global TV executives? A lack of empathy with shirt etc sponsors, official noodle suppliers and so on? That's who puts food on his table.

The fans may cover the cost of policing and stewarding and a bit more besides, but don't go getting the impression that fans matter. They are just providers of background noise and atmosphere for the viewers around the world.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Partners.aspx

the brexit thread is taking a breather so I'm being idealistic here.

[BaaLocks]

Not sure there isn't a 'sense of entitlement' at Derby too. Not concerned with winning trophies but around the belief that we should be a top tier team or have some sort of divine right to be contesting in the play offs.

If you added up all the teams who think they should be a Premiership side you'd have a 40 team top flight. We're no different to Leeds, Sheff Wed, Wolves, Bolton, Portsmouth, QPR, Blackburn, Cardiff, Sheff Utd, Blackpool, Bradford, Coventry, Norwich, Villa, Birmingham, Charlton or Notts County.

On the latter, I only just realised Notts County are only one point above relegation from the league at the moment. Remember the kerfuffle it caused when Burnley nearly went, and they were only a founder member not the oldest club in the league. Wow!

[ramAnag]

If you added up all the teams who think they should be a Premiership side you'd have a 40 team top flight. We're no different to Leeds, Sheff Wed, Wolves, Bolton, Portsmouth, QPR, Blackburn, Cardiff, Sheff Utd, Blackpool, Bradford, Coventry, Norwich, Villa, Birmingham, Charlton or Notts County.

On the latter, I only just realised Notts County are only one point above relegation from the league at the moment. Remember the kerfuffle it caused when Burnley nearly went, and they were only a founder member not the oldest club in the league. Wow!

But of those, only us, Leeds, Villa, Wolves, Sheff Wed. and Villa have ever been genuinely big clubs in terms of any fan base x achievement equation - RR will shoot me down in flames for that one - and only us, Leeds, Villa and Blackburn have actually won the title in the last half century.