Manchester United fans – Only happy when they’re unhappy? | OneFootball

I’ve written in the past about the media using Manchester United for clicks and likes to present an anti United bias. But perhaps an undiscussed element of this comes from within the club’s fanbase. I’m not talking about fan cams or YouTubers who tend to rely on negativity and hypocrisy to gain views. Even the average discussion is filled with it. It feels like United fans are only truly happy when they’re complaining about something.

It can be seen in so many guises and we’ve encountered them throughout the summer. We know that United have been terrible at selling players in the past. But this summer we’ve seen a high number of players, especially younger ones, leave for moderately low fees but with high add-ons like sell-on fees or buy-back clauses. But the fans complained, why can’t we get higher fees, why are we taking such low offers? Yet, when the club does hold out for higher fees, like with Scott McTominay, the same fans complain that we’ve not sold yet and should be taking the lower offer. Do you want us to sell high or do you want us to just sell?

Then there’s the flip side, players coming in. Almost all of them have drawn complaints in different guises. When Joshua Zirkzee was signed it was usually either about his goalscoring record or his lack of experience, focusing on what he lacked, not what he could offer. With Leny Yoro we’ve seen complaints about the fee, given what Real Madrid were reportedly willing to pay. But yet United were the only club willing to chance their arm. Clubs such as Liverpool backed away from the deal believing he was destined for Madrid, but United got him. Then after he suffered a broken foot in our second friendly, it later transpired that Yoro had a potential problem in that area (though not one that was expected to cause a break) fans asked why we’d bought him when we knew (it was explained that given his age and potential it was deemed worth the risk). I can’t help but think those same people complaining about that would have complained if we’d found out about that issue and let him go elsewhere (it’s just an excuse etc…).

Then we have the deals for Mazraoui and De Ligt. It’s reasonable to question his injury record but we didn’t pay a high fee and in swapping him for Aaron Wan Bisakka we’ve raised the technical floor of our side in a way that Wan-Bisakka for all his brilliance as a one-on-one defender, never could. But those same fans want us to go after Ben Chillwell, an injury prone left back, to cover for our injury prone first choice left back (and at a higher price than Mazraoui).

With De Ligt we’ve had our own former players spreading lazy, false narratives. But most of the questions seem to be suggesting he’s never really kicked on and was never rally wanted. He’s had a different coach ever single season he’s played. Ten Hag is the first coach he’s playing a second season for. That kind of continued change in coaching staff and methods can’t be good for a player’s development, especially a young one. As for the second Juventus sold him as they were crippled by COVID debt whilst it seems Bayern’s new coach wanted him as his starting centre back but the club had made the decision. But our fans just have to find a way to complained.

Lastly we come to a player we haven’t even signed yet, Manuel Ugarte. It’s been the fee, whether good enough, whether he’s the right type of player, why didn’t we sign (insert player name here) instead?

As United fans we see our club get criticised enough fro outside, given everything positive the new regime has done, isn’t it about time we cut them some slack and tried being happy and positive for once. Who knows it might even spread on the pitch and see improved performances.

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