Manchester United have been accused of rinsing the fans on numerous occasions, as one of the first clubs in the World to really get involved in to the business and money-making side of football.
I remember the Super Store in that little shack by the Old Scoreboard end selling duvets and lampshades and wall paper and mugs and pencil cases when I was a lad, and we probably spent a small fortune in there over the years, between birthdays and Christmas for the family.
Of course, whilst the club have been criticised, it is fair to say that they are only putting the merchandise out there for people to have the option. If you don’t want your kid’s bedroom covered in head to toe with the black, red and white stripes of United, then don’t buy the wallpaper.
United have brought out yet another new shirt, which presumably will be replacing the white and gold kit we played in Europe. With it being 40 years since United first won the European Cup final, the shirt has been designed around the kit we wore in the final at Wembley all those years ago. The fact that we won the European Cup on the anniversary only adds to the hype.
But do you see this shirt as a nice gesture, marking the achievements of our great players from the past, or a low class way of United making even more money off the fans?
Nice gesture
Football is about so much more than money and whilst the club are intent on doing just that (and don’t kid yourself that it’s all down to the Glazers, United have been doing it for years), to be a football fan in this day and age you need to look beyond that.
However much money United stand to make from this, fans want to share in the success of the club’s past and present. To wear a United shirt reminding everyone what Best, Charlton, Foulkes and Kidd etc. achieved in 1968 is an honour. How many fans there are out there who wish they could have a European Cup win to remember!
United would be bringing out a new shirt for Europe anyway, it’s the done thing. The fact that the club want to make this shirt about past glories is something that should be commended.
There will be plenty of people thinking the club are just using our history to make money, and those people don’t have to buy the shirt. But equally, there are plenty of people who enjoy the sentiment of what this shirt represents, and if they want to buy it, then what is the problem?
People have become too bogged down with this Glazer business, with fans wanting to have a pop at the club because it doesn’t feel wholy theirs anymore. Fact is, United are a classy club, with enough decent people involved in the decision making to ensure that the club’s behaviour is tasteful.
Money making ploy
Since 2006, there have been two new red shirts, a black shirt, a white and gold shirt, the new away white shirt and this blue shirt (if I’m not missing any out!) That’s six shirts in two years. How can that be necessary?
United know they can get away with it though, because there are more than enough people willing to spend their cash on replica shirts. Whether it’s the rich business man, the kid guilt-tripping their parents, someone in the Far East who’s never been to Europe, or a lad who’s on minimum wage scrimping and saving, there will people there to buy the shirts. The fact that this shirt is for the 1968 team will easily increase sales. People who wouldn’t usually buy shirts will be tempted, particularly if they got to share in the great memories of our victory over Benfica, and the club know that.
Whilst the debt issues are a huge concern, there have got to be better ways of repaying it than making our money off the memory of 68.
What do you think?
Man Utd News 24/7
Reds ? Of course, it’s a money-spinner – how else can the business afford to pay so many players upwards of one hundred thousand quid, this week and every other week of the year ?
It’s a great lookin shirt, but it’s no diff then the one they had 4-5 seasons ago with vodafone. Except for the writing around the badge.
Money making ploy! All tho it does help because our foreign fan brigade will feel the need to buy this and also our new awfull white away shirt, so every little helps to try and pay of the banks! Business is business and this is a money making ploy, fair play! It will sell well, but I wont be buying this thats for sure, or that god awfull new away kit this year.
It’s a money making ploy, remember the previous home shirt, the classic one. They only had that for a year as it was a centenary shirt or summat, bet next year they won’t have this one either.
I really quite like it and I think its a nice gesture, you’ll always get people who rar on about these things unfortunately.
I love the’ new ’1968 strip …Nostalgia is n’t what it used to be especially with AIG on it……I do not care if it comes from the’we need a new player’ collection………
Bit of both. Nice gesture from the club, money making ploy from the Glazers.
i love that theres a new kit (or 2) (or more) every season.. fans outside of england would do whatever it takes to get their hands on these kits.. even if theyv never been to a united game, this is their way of supporting the club (buying astonishing amounts of club merchandise)
its been happening for years.. this nice shirt will make its way to thousands of fans abroad..clubs accountant is happy and so r the fans..i wish i was rich enough to donate big bags of money to the club.. buying a shirt (coasters, posters, and quartz alarm clocks) is the best we can do for now
The Shirt looks great i think, but considering the fact they have only just released the white away shirt, surely they knew their plans and could have made the away shirt the blue shirt, as it is said to be used for away european games, why do we have a different shirt for europe and the premier league.
Nice touch but done for the $$$$
I don’t think it matters if it’s for money, I still like it. If people are buying it, great, either way we are wearing it in Europe and that’s a gesture to the Babes. Win/Win
Money making ploy.
at least the club made a point to keep the home jersey for at least 2 season. introducing a new away kit is just a way to generate more income and a way for fans to indulge themselves! Why complain? we get to own another United jersey!! I personally look forward to new kits every season…