Do we hold out the hand of friendship to Manchester United?

[Ant]

This week has brought home that either the whole of the country are either a bunch of bandwagon jumpers, or genuine sadness, and shock has been shown by football fans all over the country.

 

Since the official release of the papers it seems not an hour goes by where an individual, a club a group or organization regardless of their complicity in the cover up has expressed sadness and sympathy not just to the victims but Liverpool Football Club itself. YNWA has been played at various venues and on our visit to Sunderland, their fans greeted us with very kindly both before and after the game. Our grief and anger is apparently now shared with the rest of the country.

 

Some Manchester United fans however, have not shared that, and seemingly have never shared that. Though it would be wrong to say that they are all brainless morons. Because they aren't, like our club, they have an unsavory element which we try to hide, and in some instances try to justify. I was listening to this account by a United fan on the chants which he heard in the Stretford end, and a few words resonated with me that he might just have more in common with their 'worst enemy' then he may do with fans who support his own team, and it got me thinking, is there something in that.

 

We're separated by a motorway and an Ikea, but our clubs are United in rivalry, United in tragedy and United in the fact that sadly some of our fans mock the dead. In a week where vindication has been the word most used to describe this weeks events. Is it about time we really addressed the issue of the unsavory elements of both our support. If there is to be a lasting legacy from this weeks events, I hope both clubs can work together as a whole to remove this sad culture from our rivalry. No doubt next week will bring Evra and Suarez to the limelight, however I have no time for either of them. In the context of our history, and their history. Their 'squabble' doesn't register, I'm fed up of it being used as ammo on both sides to ridicule and and to discriminate against either set of supporters.

 

Manchester United and Liverpool Football Club in my opinion are two of the greatest supporting institutions in the country and always will be, the history of both clubs, the huge fan-base, everything about us both exemplifies the culture of a big football club in Britain, and I f***ing hate Manchester United, but we shouldn't let our rivalry brew over to mocking of the dead, a 'one cap fits all' approach to both sets of fans. It's no surprise to me that our first home game after the truth came out is against Manchester United, and just like the 50th Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster and their rivalry with City. We have to find a unique way, and a respectful way to acknowledge the history that was made this week. The true Manchester United fans will put something together, and I hope it will be well received.

 

We owe it to the history of both clubs, our own institutions to make this the end of an era of animosity. Our rivalry is historic, lets keep is historic. Our fan bases are famous, lets keep them famous for the right reasons. It's up to Manchester United fans to deal with their own fans, but we should do the same to our own.

[cymrococh]

I was listening to this account by a United fan on the chants which he heard in the Stretford end, and a few words resonated with me that he might just have more in common with their 'worst enemy' then he may do with fans who support his own team, and it got me thinking, is there something in that.

Thanks for linking to that, I missed that at the time.

 

I don't really know what you mean by the hand of friendship.

 

Should we sing Munich songs? Or goad them into singing Hillsborough songs? Obviously not.

 

I don't know what else we could and should do.

[D.Boon]

Joe Jordan calls for bans for United fans...

[johngibo YPC]

MUST are bellends by the way

[smithdown]

I don't know what we can do.

 

I'm inclined to wanting anyone who goes in for any of that ejected from the stadium. Stewards and police should have zero tolerance for it. Stop the match if necessary if an end is singing stuff that is being complained about until the stand is cleared, they'll all be on camera, that sort of thing. No nonsense.

 

MUST are bellends by the way

 

 

made it worse with their statement there havent they?

 

right in the midst of the 'do what we want' brigade they are

[Cobs]

Joe Jordan calls for bans for United fans...

Well said Joe.

 

Be good if the likes of Rooney/Ferdinand/Neville with their massive following on twitter could make similar statements.

[CarraLegend]

They are filth, f*** them.

[Billy Dane]

Police and Stewards should throw out anyone singing about Heysel, Hillsborough, Munich or at least capture their photos and print them for the world to see. They can then be traced and banned.

 

MUST are in denial for claiming "always the victims" has no link to Hillsborough whatsoever - isn't this kind of hypocrisy what they were criticising us for over Suarez etc?

 

We will no doubt be singing Justice for the 96 at the game, applause from them at that time should mean burying the hatchet and we can then move on to hating each other in a positive and heartwarming manner.

[cymrococh]

I don't know what we can do.

 

I'm inclined to wanting anyone who goes in for any of that ejected from the stadium. Stewards and police should have zero tolerance for it. Stop the match if necessary if an end is singing stuff that is being complained about until the stand is cleared, they'll all be on camera, that sort of thing. No nonsense.

A statement along those lines from both clubs could be effective, as well as one encouraging people to report any incidents and confirming that any reports will be treated in confidence.

[matlfc]

When there are youtube videos of the spirit of shankly singing munich songs then there is no hope unfortunately. d****eads are d****eads

[StevieC]

For once the coverage seems to highlight that Manc fans are the worst offenders when it comes to singing this sort of bile.

 

For Joe Jordon, Ginsoak and then the press to acknowledge this shows there's been a subtle change in attitude.

 

It may be savvy PR on their part for various high profile figures associated with the club to come out with those statements (a pre-emptive, 'it's just a minority' to shrug off of responsibility) but if the mindset of the press and the fans can change based on this week's events, then it should be possible to nail the d****ead element once and for all - regardless of who they're supporting.

 

I'm not sure a hand of friendship needs to be extended (why?) but a respectful atmosphere with offenders on both sides treated with zero tolerance (by their own, the clubs and the authorities) would be a good start to getting back towards it being a football match. And no more.

[Cobs]

When there are youtube videos of the spirit of shankly singing munich songs then there is no hope unfortunately. d****eads are d****eads

True

 

That was appalling

[StevieC]

MUST are bellends by the way

 

 

That statement is the most craven, cowardly and outright f***ing stupid thing I've ever seen.

 

They're either thick as pigs*** or taking the piss.

[johngibo YPC]

When there are youtube videos of the spirit of shankly singing munich songs then there is no hope unfortunately. d****eads are d****eads

 

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

[matlfc]

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

 

 

Fair enough but i doubt any mancs would consider that when they see it.

[schmuckdonald]

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

 

Doesn't matter about the facts, it's what the narrative is to the people who sing this s****.

[Cobs]

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

So who was it? Leeds fans?

 

Come on, Gibo it was awful.

[Jon]

Every time they start we launch into YNWA , show them our class it will be picked up on by those reporting on the game

[Ant]

So who was it? Leeds fans?

 

Come on, Gibo it was awful.

 

It was awful

[dorgie]

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

 

To be fair John, I don't think that defence can be given much credence, particularly when we're critical of MUST's response to Saturday's chant.

[johngibo YPC]

So who was it? Leeds fans?

 

Come on, Gibo it was awful.

 

No it was Liverpool fans. I'm just saying its misleading to say it was spirit of shankly singing it

But anyway

 

Doesn't matter about the facts,

 

It always matters about the facts

Or can I just say it was Cobs?

[smithdown]

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

 

 

it was a proper let down that though

[Bigal]

It wasn't really The Spirit of Shankly was it

It wasn't like they all sang a rendition of it after a committee meeting

 

they hold that chip on their shoulders about this

[johngibo YPC]

it was a proper let down that though

 

Yeah it was s***. Shouldn't have happened

[schmuckdonald]

No it was Liverpool fans. I'm just saying its misleading to say it was spirit of shankly singing it

But anyway

 

 

 

It always matters about the facts

Or can I just say it was Cobs?

 

How do you reconcile the top bit about it being 'misleading' then truncate what I said? You can say it's all about the facts but what I'm saying is to the people who will sing that s**** it won't matter.

 

EDIT: actually, yeah, just blame Cobs.

Edited September 17, 2012 by schmuckdonald