5 reasons why some fans dislike Manchester United

Manchester United are never far from the headlines, one way for another. While they may be somewhat of a spent force in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, they are still the most watched side in the Premier League, and keep headline writers busy for a variety of reasons.

“You’ve only come to see United” is a staple chant from Manchester United’s travelling fans, and attendances add credence to such claims. Being so successful and omnipresent, the Red Devils are almost unavoidable, and that brings with it a hatred from rival fans that runs deep. But what is it that gets under people’s skin so much?

Here we examine five reasons why United are just not everyone’s cup of tea.

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#1 Tourist fans

This is a common sight in front of Old Trafford

The world has gotten much smaller with the advancement of air travel. Europeans are spoilt for choice as to the destination for a birthday jaunt, one last hurrah before entering the world of marriage or, as is becoming more and more common, making a day trip to a football game.

Being as big a club as they are, United have generated a worldwide fanbase. This ease of transportation, coupled with a plethora of cheap hotels makes going to Old Trafford accessible to a wider audience, and boy have they taken advantage.

Supporters clubs have been set up in individual countries, catering trips for fans desperate to see their heroes, and not a great deal of cost. What happened to the terraces being packed with proper fans?

You can hear a pin drop at Old Trafford on matchday, with fans more interested in their club shop purchases than taking on Hull. The “prawn sandwich” brigade have taken the place of the boisterous Mancunian.

The club have not been shy to cash in. The number of corporate seats around the ground has increased tenfold as the stadium has expanded, adding to the “day out” feel around Old Trafford. Win, lose or draw, they have a great trip, with the football being down the list. Deplorable in the eyes of rival fans.

#2 Sense of entitlement

David Moyes was ignominiously sacked after being paraded as ‘The Chosen One’

Since Ferguson’s reign ended, it has been somewhat cringeworthy to watch as Manchester United fans bleat about their travails. David Moyes must have thought he had killed a litter of kittens judging by the anger and vitriolic abuse on fan YouTube channels and radio phone-ins after losses.

How dare he take a title winning side and fail so miserably? Shouldn’t he be able to just waltz into Old Trafford and succeed immediately. After all, he was ‘The Chosen One’.

The problem with continual success is that if winning becomes the norm, when it doesn’t happen, people don’t know how to handle it.

A disaster for Manchester United is finishing outside of the top four of the Premier League. Offer fifth in the English top flight to the fans of Blackburn or Charlton - real disaster clubs - and they would be utterly delighted. Fifth to Manchester United fans, Jose Mourinho or the club’s legion of former players is like the end of the world. “This is not Manchester United, the United way”.

The world does not owe Manchester United anything. Period.

#3 Success

Manchester United have had unprecedented success in the last two decades

This sense of entitlement has come about from years of continual success. Millennials have only ever known the Red Devils as England’s top side. Unless you are younger than 30, you won’t remember the Dave Sexton era, relegation after defeat to Manchester City in 1974. It is easily forgotten that Manchester United didn't win the league between 1967 and 1993.

Since the club became the first Premier League champions, they picked up title after title, often in the most dramatic of fashions. You ask Blackburn or Leicester fans what their title-winning season was like and they’ll likely be able to recite every goal, every win that took them one step closer to glory.

With Manchester United, success became the norm. Every fan dreams of their team winning a trophy, whether it be a cup at Wembley or a league crown, but for United, it has been almost habitual.

Football is the most watched sport on the planet for a reason – Manchester United’s relentless success made it somewhat less of a spectacle. Not now, though.

#4 Shamelessly peddling the Manchester United brand

The Red Devils have numerous sponsors to offset their enormous debt

Football has evolved at lightning speed in recent years. As a result, as with society in general, the rich have gotten richer, and the poor... well you get it.

Manchester United is now a business first, and a football club second. With the amount of debt that the Glazer family inflicted on the club, it was inevitable that money-making would become top priority.

All you have to do is look at the lack of spending in the latter years of Ferguson’s time in charge, when the club was breaking turnover records, to see where the board’s priorities lay.

Is there anything that isn’t sponsored at United? The training ground has been renamed, the clock is sponsored in the ground, while there is even an official noodle partner? What even is that?

There is nothing the Manchester club will not do in terms of making money. Their pre-season tours are simply a parade of merchandise. It is no wonder Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho are against such tours. There is no emphasis on preparing for the new season, not when there is money to be made.

#5 The players

Manchester United players are despised for their antics and showboating

The Premier League has housed plenty of those players who you could only like if they played for your team. The rest simply despise them; Robbie Savage and the like.

Manchester United have had their fair share, that’s for sure, and the fact that most were so successful makes them even more irritating.

Roy Keane is never far from the headlines, even today. His forthright views on, well everything, are often just controversial to be controversial, and that snarling stems from his playing days. Was he ever happy?

Then there are the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, who spent most of his youth complaining to referees. It may be fine in Spain, but it doesn’t wash in the traditional heartlands of the Premier League.

Every edition of United seems to have at least one of these players who just gets on people’s nerves. Nowadays, the cringeworthy handshakes from Jesse Lingard, the dancing and hairstyles of Paul Pogba, and the incessant Zlatan Ibrahimovic chutzpah are what gets under people’s skin.

Maybe it is part of the deal when players sign, to be annoying?