I see it as something to admire, particularly in our modern football era of commercialism and globalisation, not a reason to "support" them as such. I was merely replying to Stig's comment.
If it was Chelsea, Liverpool, even Arsenal, I would want them to win, but not United. I'll watch it as a neutral... I won't be cheering anyone scoring unless it is a great goal but I do not want United to win.
To admire? I don't know about that. They have such loyalty because of their allegiance to Catalonia rather than to Spain. I can't see why we should care about Spain and their petty rivalries.
One factor people seem to be forgetting is that whether or not we see Man Utd as English, everyone outside of England does. That means that they hold English football in higher regard and in greater awe. It also pisses off complete tossers like Platini.
Not bothered by the game. Not going to watch it. Prefer it when England/English teams lose as the sports pages are more fun the next day, so Barcelona at a push, but I doubt I'll even know the result until I buy the Sunday papers.
I did indeed. That "graduation", made all the more pertinent by Alan Hansen's comments, was the impetus for the last truly great team in English football in my opinion. The Neville brothers, Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Butt.
Have to say I have a soft spot for teams prepared to go down the academy route, particularly those that do it at the top level as a strategic direction when it isn't just foisted upon them out of necessity.
You're straying off track a bit. I'm not "admiring" their political stance or embarking upon a political discussion of Catalan nationalism and Spanish autonomous communities. I'm not bothered about their motivation, I just think an academy with that amount of output deserves admiration, exactly as for Celtic, Ajax, Man U in past years.
And true, I suppose I'd take any English club winning just to give Platini an uncomfortable evening!
Barca all night long. Better football, better "ethics", prepared to invest massively in their youth system and teach 'em the 'Charlton way' to play football (well maybe not...). I've about as much connection with Man United's collection of foreigners and multi-millionaire British players as I have with Barca - none.
Barca win would also pee off their plastic supporters, adoring, biased mates in the press and both Fergie and Mourinh big time.
I always support the English team, even if it's Chelsea who I despise. Don't quite understand why in the case of them but definitely rooting for United tonight.
I've read everyones comments to see if I could find a compelling reason to support one side or another but I'm still undecided.
The whole 'Champions League' concept is on the whole i think, damaging for the kind of football that we all support, in the same way that the Premier League is too - all designed for the rich clubs to get richer and to close the door as much as possible to other sides (like us a few years back).
For this reason I'm tempted not to bother watching at all in order not to add to the value of the competition via the viewing figures. However I can't deny that the footy on offer will be about the best on offer. Perhaps if Man U win then UEFA will do more to halt the growing power of the Premier League which might, somewhere down the food chain, help Charlton. Clutching at straws a bit though.
Maybe I'll just support whichever team looks like they're going to win as the game progresses. That seems to be how most Man U supporters became so.
Will be supporting Man Utd tonight. Got no problems with them at all. If Barca were playing Ars*nal or Chelsea tonight, I'd be hoping Barca would win. Just hope football is the winner...the Stevenage v Torquay play off I'm watching at the moment is not a good advert for football lol.
Thanks very much to ISLS for directly answering my question and to everyone else who's answered indirectly.
I have to say I feel like I'm swaying a little towards Barcelona a little on the following grounds. A few years ago whilst on holiday in Salou, my son bought himself a Barca shirt; I felt quite comfortable with this. If either of my kids bought a manu shirt I'd have had complete apoplexy. That must say something in itself.
That said, I'm not entirely convinced. I feel closer to HarryHutchens arguments than anything else I've heard.
A few years ago whilst on holiday in Salou, my son bought himself a Barca shirt;
I've owned a number of European teams shirts in the past i.e Ajax, Celtic, Dortmund, Lazio, Inter, Real Madrid and Barcelona. I bought them because I liked the Kit I would never wear another English teams Shirt. But would I support any of the above against an English team? let alone The Champions League final? The answer to that is, No I wouldn't.
You should ask this question after the game. Your true leanings will come out during the game. There will probably be people on here that think they want Barca to win but during the game their true feelings will show, and vice versa.
Don't think i've ever not backed an English club except when the Spanners played that Hungarian mob the other year, but seriously torn on this one.
Barca are a special club i've had an affiliation for since 1986 when i was very fortunate to be given a stadium tour by then manager El Tel. Being up west today and seeing all the Barca fans has probably swayed me to wanting them if i had to pick.
But for once i genuinely don't care who wins as long as it means a decent spectacle.
When mufc played chelsea I was in a bar on a mountain in Spain. The locals couldn't understand why my brother-in-law and I pissed ourselves laughing when Terry spooned his kick. I still smile thinking about it. Couldn't happen to a better (worse) bloke.
A good game so far, maybe Barcelona are a bit predictable, too many short balls and trying to play Messi or Pedro through, perhaps they could switch it a bit wider or try and a few longer balls to stretch the defence out. Man U are lucky to be level considering the amount of possession that Barcelona have had and their chances on goal.
Comments
isaw,
did you admire uniteds 'class of 92'?
One factor people seem to be forgetting is that whether or not we see Man Utd as English, everyone outside of England does. That means that they hold English football in higher regard and in greater awe. It also pisses off complete tossers like Platini.
You're straying off track a bit. I'm not "admiring" their political stance or embarking upon a political discussion of Catalan nationalism and Spanish autonomous communities. I'm not bothered about their motivation, I just think an academy with that amount of output deserves admiration, exactly as for Celtic, Ajax, Man U in past years.
And true, I suppose I'd take any English club winning just to give Platini an uncomfortable evening!
Not bothered either way as long as it's a good match and the winner deserves the win on the night.
Barca all night long. Better football, better "ethics", prepared to invest massively in their youth system and teach 'em the 'Charlton way' to play football (well maybe not...). I've about as much connection with Man United's collection of foreigners and multi-millionaire British players as I have with Barca - none.
Barca win would also pee off their plastic supporters, adoring, biased mates in the press and both Fergie and Mourinh big time.
I've read everyones comments to see if I could find a compelling reason to support one side or another but I'm still undecided.
The whole 'Champions League' concept is on the whole i think, damaging for the kind of football that we all support, in the same way that the Premier League is too - all designed for the rich clubs to get richer and to close the door as much as possible to other sides (like us a few years back).
For this reason I'm tempted not to bother watching at all in order not to add to the value of the competition via the viewing figures. However I can't deny that the footy on offer will be about the best on offer. Perhaps if Man U win then UEFA will do more to halt the growing power of the Premier League which might, somewhere down the food chain, help Charlton. Clutching at straws a bit though.
Maybe I'll just support whichever team looks like they're going to win as the game progresses. That seems to be how most Man U supporters became so.
I think you've got yourself mixed up with a team called Arsenal Globetrotters!
Two words: Wayne Rooney
I've even stopped caring about England because of it. Hope Man U get F****** battered !
Well I quess you can say the same about the rest of the teams who finish in top 5 year in year out.
Barca are a special club i've had an affiliation for since 1986 when i was very fortunate to be given a stadium tour by then manager El Tel. Being up west today and seeing all the Barca fans has probably swayed me to wanting them if i had to pick.
But for once i genuinely don't care who wins as long as it means a decent spectacle.
A good game so far, maybe Barcelona are a bit predictable, too many short balls and trying to play Messi or Pedro through, perhaps they could switch it a bit wider or try and a few longer balls to stretch the defence out. Man U are lucky to be level considering the amount of possession that Barcelona have had and their chances on goal.