United v City - the Munich tribute

[jonesie]

Been watching a lot of Munich stuff today.

I've never been fully aware of it to be honest, mainly because it happened almost 30 years before I was born. Watched a bit of the service and then the programmes on BBC 4 and then BBC 1. Genuinely moving stuff at times.

What a hero that fella Harry Gregg was.

[Marky]

United remove anti-City banner

Daniel Taylor
Wednesday February 6, 2008
The Guardian

Manchester United's extensive efforts to make sure the 50th-anniversary commemorations of the Munich air disaster pass smoothly included some emergency work at Old Trafford yesterday and the removal of a banner that pokes fun at Manchester City's lack of silverware.

The banner, which hangs permanently from the old Stretford End and has transferable numbers, says "32 Years", the period since City last won a trophy. It will be modified to "33" at the start of 2009 but several United supporters contacted the club to say it might incite the 3,000 away fans on Sunday.

The overriding concern of officials at Old Trafford is that City's supporters should not disrupt the minute's silence and as a gesture of goodwill United decided to remove the banner until the FA Cup tie against Arsenal on February 16. "The fans who have contacted us don't think this banner is appropriate," said a spokesman. "They have asked us to replace it for this one match and the club is happy to help."

There is also unease at United about the minute's silence before England's game against Switzerland tonight. Sir Alex Ferguson has voiced concern that there might be a "mixed reaction" and Wayne Rooney has appealed for the crowd to behave in the correct manner: "The important thing is paying our respects and making sure those who died are honoured in the right way."

A remembrance service will be held at Old Trafford today, and United and City will wear 50s-style kits, devoid of sponsors' logos, on Sunday. There will be a mascot to represent each of the 23 people who died, and the surnames will be on the back of their shirts. Ferguson will lay a commemorative wreath, as will the City manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The clubs have been trying to promote a message of unity and the away end will be decorated with posters of Frank Swift, the former City goalkeeper who was among those who died in Munich.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2252958,00.html

Jesus, how small time is that. Having a permanent banner about another club?

There's not a chance in hell the minute silence at that match on saturday will pass without any disturbances. Hopefully it does but i just can't see it myself.
Only takes a handful of idiots to ruin the whole thing.

[Kenneth]

There's not a chance in hell the minute silence at that match on saturday will pass without any disturbances. Hopefully it does but i just can't see it myself.
Only takes a handful of idiots to ruin the whole thing.

Isn't the minutes silence an opportunity for people in attendance to quietly reflect on the deaths? I don't see how 70+ thousand people doing so will be completely negated by a handful of people making noise. It's not a form of performance art, "what an impressive silence we've created".

[ronan]

and just how long after the minutes silence before we hear
murderers or build a bonfire etc?
think they have a ****in cheek in my opinion.
i have no problem with honouring the people who died in the tragedy but i do have a problem with them taking the moral high ground like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

[Chris]

City supporters have been treated ****ing disgracefully throughout all this.

[Shaggy]

and just how long after the minutes silence before we hear
murderers or build a bonfire etc?
think they have a ****in cheek in my opinion.
i have no problem with honouring the people who died in the tragedy but i do have a problem with them taking the moral high ground like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

[andyinswinton]

and just how long after the minutes silence before we hear
murderers or build a bonfire etc?
think they have a ****in cheek in my opinion.
i have no problem with honouring the people who died in the tragedy but i do have a problem with them taking the moral high ground like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.

I've been saying the same thing all week. Very good point.

[Tatterdemalion]

I've been saying the same thing all week. Very good point.

I'm sorry, but all of that is crap. It shouldn't matter what they sing. You're either man enough to be respectful or you're not.

Some-one elses lack of respect does not excuse your (potential) lack of respect and nor does it excuse your indignation.

Like I said, you're either respectful or you're not.

It takes a grown man to ignore that others are not respectful. There's too much filthy feeling betwen our clubs which is essentially based upon what a few ignorant people sing at matches. For every song about Munich you might sing, you are inspiring a Manc to sing about Hillsborough, so how is that doing any good for those who lost people at Hillsborough?

[Chris]

City supporters have been treated ****ing disgracefully throughout all this.

And again

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes fears a "minority" of Manchester City fans may spoil the minute's silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

Scholes has urged City fans tempted to break the silence to recognise the tragedy also touched the blue half of Manchester with former City goalkeeper Frank Swift among the dead after taking up a job as a journalist for the News of the World.

"I think the only thing you have to worry about is the minority of City fans who might want to cause trouble," the 33-year-old said.

"They lost someone in the accident as well, so I hope their fans are not disrespectful. There is always that few who might cause problems. They have referred to the accident a few times in the past and I just hope they can come to their senses on the day.

"It would reflect badly on their club, but that's not stopped them in the past, has it?"

..........................................

"Come to their senses" How patronising can you get?

You get the feeling that people from Man Utd actually want City to mess this up so they can continue this incredible self pity and have the whole world feel sorry for them. City have been warned, they got a letter of warning in the post with their tickets so why not just leave it? Theres been someone different from Utd in the press every day for the last two weeks saying how everyone has to bend over and take it up the ****ter, it's ****ing ridiculous.

I hope it's respected but Utd have been absolute ******s over this.

[Joe King]

You get the feeling that people from Man Utd actually want City to mess this up so they can continue this incredible self pity and have the whole world feel sorry for them. City have been warned, they got a letter of warning in the post with their tickets so why not just leave it? Theres been someone different from Utd in the press every day for the last two weeks saying how everyone has to bend over and take it up the ****ter, it's ****ing ridiculous.

I hope it's respected but Utd have been absolute ******s over this.

****ing hell. They are absolutely obsessed. If they do disrespect them, expect the Scum steward to eject them out of the ground. Why do the players need to worry? Their jobs are on the pitch.

I also agree with one of the above posts that it will only be a matter of time until they start to sing about Hillsborough and Heysel. Typical hypocritical Mancs with their ****ing prawn sandwiches, anal looking manager, buck toothed ******s on the pitch. They really are the thickest fans in the world and that list includes the Geordies.

[Chrono]

Oh god, I don't want to sound like a cunt but Sky Sports is ridiculous! "Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, will be paying respect" and then a black and white montage of players like Neville reading from some script.

"Not only did we lose human life that day but we lost footballers" - actual quote from Gray!

[alunevans]

Oh god, I don't want to sound like a cunt but Sky Sports is ridiculous! "Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, will be paying respect" and then a black and white montage of players like Neville reading from some script.

"Not only did we lose human life that day but we lost footballers" - actual quote from Gray!

i'm not really sure what everyone's problem is to be honest.

sky SHOULD be commemorating this. and so should the world of football. the only problem people have is that this is to do with man united. get over it people.

[The Glove]

i'm not really sure what everyone's problem is to be honest.

sky SHOULD be commemorating this. and so should the world of football. the only problem people have is that this is to do with man united. get over it people.

Next year will be interesting to see what they do with the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough.

[alunevans]

Next year will be interesting to see what they do with the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough.

it will, but that doesn't have any bearing on this in my view. this deserves a full commemmoration. if they don't do the same next year then they'll be ****bags obviously, but today deserves the level of focus it has had in my view. as does next year.

[Gaz]

Did the minutes silence go off without any issues then? I missed the start of the match.

I'm assuming it did otherwise they'd probably keep bringing it up on sky.

On a side note, the retro united shirts look really good without the corporate sponsorships all over them.