I came across a United lover the other day who argued that in India there were only United and Anti-United people. I could not figure out why he had a say like that. I was an Arsenal lover but still not an Anti-United. But then….
It was one of those Super Sundays of English Premier League. It was Chelsea vs Manchester United. We had gathered at my flat to watch the live coverage on TV. Before kick-off we were all football lovers. Yes we ‘were’ ‘football’ lovers. We were all discussing the starting line-ups of both teams, strengths and weaknesses, formations, game plan, strategies, predictions and all that is footy. We as fans of different clubs like United, Chelsea, Arsenal and others were all united on one front – FOOTBALL. Now the match kicked off. Our blood pressure levels were rising. I could see the tension mounting on each of my friend’s faces. They started getting restless. Chelsea attacked; United fans trembled with fear. United attacked; now it was Chelsea fans’ turn. I got a feeling that this could possibly be the best evening of my life; I mean enjoying football(eventhough not playing at that moment).
20 minutes into the game. Both the teams had had their worst and best moments of the day so far. Fans were getting restless. I could see some of the United fans lose their temper on a few occasions. They were getting over enthusiastic. Undoubtebly United are a great footballing team. They have played tremendous games, created unbelievable moves, played beautiful football, produced extraordinary players, given us those flying wingers, mindblowing finishers and unbeatable defenders. But that day, they had not done any of their trademark high quality stuff so far. But I loved the excitement my United friends showed.
40 minutes into the game. United, according to me(according to what I had witnessed in the past), were certainly not at their best that day. Neither was Chelsea. Half time was approaching; still no goals; a handful of yellow cards; both the teams putting enormous pressure on the other all the time. My United friends, now were on an exaggerated support mode; I was certainly not loving their enthusiasm anymore.
60 minutes into the game. I was becoming an ‘Anti-United’. In other words, they were starting to piss me off.
80 minutes into the game. I was an ‘Anti-United’. Yes I said to myself ‘I hate these bastards’ (though could really not say who I referred to here as bastards; may be all of them)
End of the game: They (so called United lovers) were no more football lovers. The love for the game was gone. There was hatred; hatred in everyone’s heart; hatred everywhere.
They were no more football lovers. Yes, they were now biased. They were United lovers. Not that United lovers are not Football lovers. They are. But when they are pushed to the egde of their seats because of their supposed love for United, they seem more vulnerable to the ‘succumb to tension’ thing. Its not their fault. Because they are just ‘WANNABE*** UNITED FANS’. Yes there is a difference between genuine United fans and the Wannabes. There were two United fans who enjoyed the game more than wanting a ‘penalty corner out of a CR7 dive’. They knew. They were genuine United lovers. It was the Wannabes who made much noise in there. And I hated them. Not United.
It was then I realised why there is this general conception among United lovers in India that there are only United and Anti-United people in India. It is more of a misconception.
There are no anti-United people. They are just ‘ANTI-WANNABE –United’ people. It is the wannabes we hate. We do not hate United. Why do the wannabes act the way they act? May be because they are just wannabes. They never knew about United or Football and they will never know because they are just wannabes. They won’t exist tomorrow. They will be long gone. It is the true United lovers who know about the game and about United. And we are not against them. We are against the wannabes. We hate all of them; Bastards!
I am an Arsenal lover. I am not an Anti-United.
***Wannabe United fans are those who think it’s cool to be a Manchester United fan; people who try to fit in the league
P.S.: If you feel offended by this post, I am not sorry. You deserve it.
P.S.2: Soon to write a post about my love for United. 🙂
hehehe……….nice one mama…..i too agree…some fans overreact..!!
Ya Sandy. Fans are to over react. No over reaction = no fan. Every fan of every team over reacts. But over reacting just because a genuine fan, whom you* want to be like or in whose league you wannabe in, overreacts and you think it is super-cool to be in his league is what I’m talking about. (*you == somebody) 🙂
hehe….but dude.there are a lot of utd haters out there..mayb not u ..but i know quite a few..they sometimes dont even have a fav team.,but they do have the least fav team intact.. horrible.
Let me try to justify (just taking a shot da)
You start following football. You like the gameplay of, say, a dozen teams including the team you are to hate in future. You are neutral. You watch with some wannabes. They piss you off. You start hating the wannabes and eventually the team even before starting to love a particular team. So there you go! you don’t have a fav team but you have your least fav.
And what about those set of “Fans” who just curse United even when they are playing beautiful football and say that United were lucky to win even on those days?
What about those “fans” who hate United just because it is “Cool” to be in that league?
What about those “fans” who know shit about their own favourite teams and talk as if their own players are saints even when their dives fetch penalties for their team and say that the referees have been bought out by United only when a decision goes in United’s favour?
What about those “fans” who want to see United player’s get injured (yes I know a LOT of such “fans’) just because when they are at their peak, they play a game that is of a very different level?
Of course United have their bad days. I curse everything that happens on the field on those days. But when I sit back and reflect upon the game later, I realize that United didn’t deserve to win on such a day.
Wannabes are there for every other football club. Who may also be called as “Glory Hunters”. They STFU when nothing is in their favour and always talk in a negative way when they are talking about their rivals. There is something known as respect and the wannabes do not know what that is.
Sorry if the comment turned out to be bigger than the post itself 😉
Well! you could have written an entire post on this topic. I just want to copy and paste this in my own post though 😛
I just don’t think it is wise to waste time giving any shit to the wannabes. However,
‘Respect’ to a club/team can be felt and shown only when you respect the game itself. Else you (read as we) are just a wannabe. You seriously don’t deserve to follow the game.
Of course every team has its bad days and glory days. Even I get pissed off when Arsenal plays well below their standards. So that does not allow me to gimmick United or any other team when they play a bad game. You still have to respect and more importantly understand the shortcomings of the team on that particular day. You have no right to go hating people.
Love the Game first. Then love your Team.