Stretford End Flags have today announced that plastic flags will be on the seats of the North Stand ahead of the Champions League game against Real Madrid. Unlike usual mosaics where fans hold coloured sheets above their head, this mosaic will be made of flags.
United fans have regularly mocked the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs digging out the plastic flags for the “big” occasions but now we have joined the plastic brigade.
SEF didn’t take a vote on the decision to provide plastic flags for the game and the reaction from many fans, as you would imagine, is of frustration. Others have remained open-minded, hoping that the flags can only have a positive impact on the atmosphere for the game.
Initial thoughts? Not a fan of plastic flags, at all, but what’s done is done I guess. In recent years at Old Trafford, the best atmosphere was the Barcelona semi-final in 2008, when Wilf McGuinness gave a rousing speech ahead of kick-off. Surely something like that would be preferable to the plastic flag route, although SEF insist it will be different to what other clubs have done as flag will create a mosaic effect. AC Milan did something similar when they played us a few seasons ago.
Watch this space.
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No no Scott those are plastic fans, we hold pictures that happen to be on plastic. Can’t expect the Glazers to afford a bit of cloth or card can we. This is the first decision by the management after Gill stood down, oh lordie me…
Good god. As you say we will look fucking ridiculous. Fuck sake. I am lucky that me and my old dears have 3 tickets. The usual two me and my old man have in North Stand but my old lady is sitting in my seat and I am fortunate to be in Stretty that night. Cannot fucking wait.
Was only a matter of time before we too became a laughing stock.
Great, the jokes will be pouring in. Not a fan.
@ KE – you are fortunate to go to these games with your old dears, sounds like you really take care of them, not enough people take care of older fans let alone citizens.
NBI. Hello mate. On the contrary! I am lucky that my old man funds my season ticket!
Good God…
The Americans have taken over, that banker now our Chief Executive, yeah fits, no doubt the Glazers will recycle these plastic flags every game therefore saving money.
I would like to hear what Gill has to say about this, he always knew what the fans were thinking.
Maybe we should start a petition on this so they can change it before the game. Everything unique is being drowned out. Progress and profit does not always mean better, I like the old ways fans supported teams, our own way not some corporate gimmick. I bet those flags are sponsored by L’Oriel or something.
just dont hold them up its not rocket science
I agree, holding up a small sheet of plastic to do something in the moment of togetherness is well beneath the Manc. Much better to go on preaching how Manchester is red then shoot each other, stab each other, thieve from each other and sell drugs to one another. Blame thatcher and the wogs for the lack of jobs.
Coz in manchester we are way to cool to pick up a piece of plastic.
By the sounds of OT on match day we have been plastic fans for quite some time. Only the away support has any real mettle. Whats the difference of holding up a piece of red plastic briefly when every match day the lot of you hold aloft a see through piece of plastic ripped from your triangle carton of prawn sandwiches.
Get a grip.
@ Goat Peticoat – you got that damn right man – fck that plastic sheet, what is it compared to world peace. That should be our focus.
Can’t we just go for the mosiac of BELIEVE again.
I think the flag waving does have it’s place, it creates a nosier atmosphere and just the visibility of the flags creates and intimidating atmosphere.
I thought us being their as fans was a moment of togetherness? The stuff e hold up is to show others who we are – plastic – fck that. We should all moon the camera with an R one one cheek and a M on the other. Point made. Job done.
The signs we need to hold up to win this “Ronnie your hair looks shit ” “By the way Rooney gets paid more than you” “Ozil shagged Irina”.
In reflection if they are in that mosaic which I initially didn’t see they may not look TOO bad.
Markyboy exactly mate just toss the flags onto the pitch and the fucking idiots won’t do it again.Who was the Red knocking cheerleaders.If they want to Americanise the game hot women in skimpy outfits seems a much better idea than plastic flags
Ha ” Ronnie your hair looks shit” Nice one NBI.
Was lucky enough to be at the Barcelona game in 2008 – spot on re Wilf McGuiness’s speech – had the place rocking… Forget the flags, get Wilf back out!
Cheers mate. That is going to be one hell of a game. The real gladiators. Once in a decade.
Utd fans should be too cool for school that’s the ultimate in cheese,maybe crank out that sloppy old coke jingle teach the world to hold hands and sing or whatever the fuck it was
Que Bluto smashing the guitar
Alot of you seem to forget when holding your little battles against the plastic americanisation of the OT faithful. On match day there are 75000 people, those that listen to your cause on the worlds biggest football teams biggest blog is what about 20.
Yeah good luck with that.
If all 20 of us tell 10 friends and say pass this on and you have good luck in 2 full moons, world’s out Oyster. Amnesty International was started by one person writing to a newspaper. How’s dem facts.
United we stand:-)
Can’t wait for the Norwich game. The lads must be straining at the leash if the fans are feeling this way. Hopefully that will be a good day out and then we can focus on RM.
Looking forward to seeing some of our squad players getting a game. Will be interesting to see if Kagwa plays, haven’t seen him for a while. Rooney should start. Evra will hopefully rest. He did well on the left v RM.
Hope the guys benched or out of the squad for RM show some class and we don’t get crap about them wanting to leave in the papers. One of the great things about Welbeck, he is just excited to play for United, it doesn’t matter what game, its playing for the team that means everything to him.
In advance, let me say my bet is for Rooney to score against RM, he is due a great game.
Roma 7-1 mark 2.
NBI depends what role he’s given I’m hoping Sir Alex brings him back into his normal position
I’m hoping Tony V gets picked makes the right hand side stronger
Awe well, ill be in the quadrant waving mine like fuk! Yeeeha! Lol
either ways the place will be rocking!
Sir Alex Ferguson: ‘I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and he floated across the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind.’
Alessandro Del Pierro: ‘Only two players made me cry when watching football, one was Diego Maradona and the other Ryan Giggs.’
Johan Cruyff: ‘Eric Cantona is a great player, but he’s not as good as Ryan Giggs.’
Brian Kidd: ‘His talent is God-given. He will have wonderful skill even when he’s got his bus pass, because that sort of ability never deserts you.’
Ron Atkinson: ‘Ryan makes you believe there is a football god.’
George Best: ‘Maybe one day people will say I was another Ryan Giggs.’
Paul Scholes: ‘There have been many outstanding players I’ve had as team-mates, but if I had to choose I’d choose Giggsy, he can do anything.’
Ferguson: ‘Ryan can leave the best defenders with twisted blood.’
In 3.5 years Madrid have killed Kaka’s talent, apparently he is now trying to move to the states, what a waste.
LOL what the hell? why are people complaining about flying flags? It makes us look plastic? WTF? It adds to the electric atmosphere. I love the idea.
I want “BELIEVE” sign! Yeah.
Plastic may look cheap but it doesn’t matter. We fans have to support our team that day. Guys like Rooney need to be motivated more that day.
Old trafford hasn’t been that loud in recent time. Crowd becomes dead. I hope they are pumped up for that game. Fans do matter. They create the atmosphere that can motivate the home players to perform better. I remember games against Barca and Milan (2010) when the fans were great and we won both the games. We cannot afford to lose to Maureen and his boys. Eliminate them and move forward. It won’t be easy but thats where the joy lies. Man united never does anything easy.
BELIEVE
If Utd fans need plastic flags to get pumped for a Real Madrid game to create atmosphere god help us all because i’ve no idea who’s going anymore or what the game has turned into.
Serving up Christians to the lions would also add to the atmosphere doesn’t make it a good idea,turning OT into Disneyland, sheeping the masses.Maybe i’m a dinosaur but in my day didn’t need to wave cheap plastic flags to get the crowd pumped for a game.
Breakfast is at 8,bus leaves at 9, visit 3 towns and back on the cruise ship by 5,lunch at 7.Breakfast at 8 bus leaves at 9,wave flags in the air to cheer on the boys and get everyone excited
Need to separate ourselves from all the other nerds,cones and lemmings.We are Man Utd should have a sense of cool,it’s not a tourists day out ffs
@ wayne – exact;y, bland corporate bulshit where they teach fans how to support their team. OT will be rocking v RM. What we may need a mascot or cheer leader for each stand who take it in turns to get their stand singing, that way there is more of an atmosphere and everyone knows they have to give it on their turn, or have a noise decibel monitor fans can see with a minimum target, the silent patches have become a bad habit, need to get the sound and energy up, that lifts the players and the place, not waving silly flags like its the Queen tea party.
Chelsea and City fans needs the flags so they remember who they support. If they get confused they can look at the picture on the front, or for the more literate, read the name.
NBI mate in my day some cunt giving us plastic flags to get us exited would’ve been a insult,any fan needing a plastic flag to get excited shouldn’t be there and is not a Utd fan,passion should run deep.Not kidding back then the flags would have been ripped up and pissed on and the flag giver would’ve been legging it.Maybe it was the dark days of fan support because of all the agro but there was no shortage of passion or atmosphere
I would much prefer a live band like Stone Roses to play us a tune before the game!!!!!!!!!!
We don’t need the plastic flag to show our support cum on we’re united no rent boys
What a crock of shit! I thought the supporter’s club would be wise enough to keep those plastic fans away from OT. But since the wannabe fans > the genuine fans atm, a part of me isnt surprised that 4 days from now we’re gonna join the ‘plastic club’.
But let’s get behind the lads and focus on the Norwich game, tough one!
Not fans its flags*
Far worse than any plastic flag is the moronic U-N-I-TED nick nack paddy whack drone, consign it to the dustbin
Leave it to the Glazers’ Un-Midas Touch to cheapen and disgrace the honor of a world-class team. The plastic flags lower the stature of Old Trafford, which is head and shoulders above any other pitch/stadium, both in talent and devoted fans/supporters. United fans are creative though and it’s almost a given that they’ll come up with a clever and cheeky way to make good use of the faux flags (Made in China).
Would have been great if they would have given two 10 feet long clothes flag then a plastic flag for everyone ,, big flags would have pumped us even more ,,simply wave them in the start of the game and then put them away for the rest of the game ,,kill norwich then fucking spanish rent boys GGMU !!!!!
I think this is just shocking over reaction. The statement that plastic flags will be handed out is incendiary to reds and you can only look at the source of the statements to see where they are coming from. There is a large element at OT that have no use for the Strety end flags and take every opportunity to do them harm (asking to see their books, etc). Make no mistake, simpletons who are trying to make this a plastic flag debate are just trying to have a dig at Stretford end flags.
Look at the montage they are creating. It is tops. THAT is what is intended. These aren’t little stocking stuffers that stand alone like the plastic flags of Chelsea and the like. They are a practical way to make a LARGE FAN MOSAIC.
The political back biters needs to sit down and look at themselves.
If the mosaic comes off then credit to Strety end flags for trying something new.
Just last week Everyone was praising the excellent surfer flag that commemorated Munich and the Busby Babes. http://i.imgur.com/imutOap.jpg That effort came off brilliantly. The Scarf Mosaic should be viewed in that context. It is an effort to make a really large stand art and bring the fans into it. I for one, think it sounds a half decent idea. CAN’T WAIT to see if it comes off.
PUBLIC ART is a very difficult thing and often costs loads of money. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. Given the years of success that Stretford end flags have had. It seems it is worth taking a minute to reflect on the context, before jumping on a simplistic interpretation of the elements involved.
Here is another Brilliant example of their work. The Believe Mosaic.
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/replacing-believe/
Hoping that we get a similar reaction to the Scarf mosaic when it is revealed.
Have a look at the group and some of their work before you jump in and have a go at them.
For me, they are all pretty good Reds!
http://www.stretfordendflags.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=10
Spot fucking on Fletchtheman
Fletch:
WOW. i must say i am impressed with that. Come on people give it a try, the club knows what its doing.
Plastic flags as a concept are lame, but they should be the least of our worries. The Old Trafford atmosphere in recent years hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory. It’s not like the flags will tarnish any reputation. Lets try to create a loud atmosphere week in and week out and then we can worry about stuff like this.
Impressive work! If it helps the lads on the pitch then I’m all for it. In the best of worlds, have MUST produce the flags and we’ll buy ‘em from them!
Just read that Ryan Giggs has signed a one year contract extension with the club..
@Red Van Nistelrooy
Yep it’s all over FB and on the United website.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2013/Mar/ryan-giggs-agrees-new-one-year-deal.aspx?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=FB1013
SAF wants to take on a Directors role at United. This man just lives and breathes United…!
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8530672/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-keen-to-be-Manchester-United-director-when-he-retires
How does it matter? Anyway we are so awfully quiet at Home as if we were watching it on the telly. Plastic flags are cheaper yes , recyclable yes – so good for the club save money save the environment pay some more debt. We cannot run away from Glazers and their boy as Chief Exec – its done and here to stay – no use ranting , move forward – we don’t want to be a Chelsea, Loserpool, Arsenal, Milan etc..support the team no matter what support the coach no matter what!
I hope we give RM the absolute jitters but we won’t – They shud be $hit scared of coming to OT with their tails between their legs when they hear the crowd – but it will never happen. Wilf McGuiness inspired speech led us to Champions League glory, why not Charlton or someone from 99 class. RM are there for the taking – grab their necks and push em off – they talk to too much anyway!
Plastic flags – load of bull.
” … those that listen to your cause on [RoM] is about 20″ ?
Actually goat, this thread has already been read by thousands of people.
It is hard to understand anyone who is an adult being bothered one way or the other about plastic flags. I’m sorry but this is the sort of pettiness which was due to backfire and has. The aversion to waving plastic flags is not why we are better than other clubs. It is because of a tradition of youth. Traits that are exclusive to the club. Great figures like Busby, Ferguson, Best and Giggs. This is why we are unique and standout. Not because of whiny little bitches whose main concern is the waving of a flag. My god.
So when SEF flags decide to use plastic flags its the Glaziers fault?!. Some of you need to get a fucking grip. That’s right I forgot when something Negative happens its the glaziers fault but when something good happens within the club the glazier s get no credit at all.
Forgive my ignorance for this question, because I am just a dumb yank.
But is Stretford End Flags its own sort of supporter group? A separate entity from Glazers Inc.?
So for the sake of argument if they are there own separate group, and take no money from the Glazers whats wrong with them providing flags for the crowd? They are fans just like everyone else and are trying to help with the atmosphere. Just my 2 cents.
thetunnel – What? Its a classic United chant, not my favourite like.
@dealinwithit
Yes the Glaizers have nothing to do with them (as far as I know) but I’m guessing SEF have to get the ok from somebody the club before they do anything like this. I’m sure this sort of thing is exactly the stuff the owners deal with on a daily basis so for people to blame them is stupid.
People are against the idea of the plastic flags because we have mocked other clubs for doing the same thing. Seems like people should aim the criticism at SEF and not the club but in general SEF do a fantastic job on big game days.