Former Manchester United skipper Bryan Robson does not believe a combination of the loss of their Barclays Premier League title and rivals' superior spending power will have an adverse affect on the Red Devils' popularity.
With City and Chelsea also splashing the cash and Paris St-Germain, backed by huge investment from Qatar, also qualifying for the Champions League, there is a fear amongst some United supporters that the club's superiority is being seriously undermined.
Robson does not share the concerns telling Press Association Sport: "I don't see that at all. It has taken 50 years to build the tradition Manchester United has. Over the last 20 years, no-one can rival the success the club has had. Not just in football competitions but also with our fan base."
He added: "Yes, there are a lot of teams about with a lot of money backing them. But Manchester United will always stick by their policy of bringing players through the system and matching that by buying top players as well.
"We will always have challenges but money itself is no guarantee of trophies, as PSG proved this season, and we don't really have any concerns."
Earlier this week, United claimed to have research proving they have 659 million fans worldwide, the most of any club. They have followed that up by announcing a five-year partnership with US car giant Chevrolet to become the club's official automotive partner.
As the deal exceeds the one that has just lapsed with Audi, it will further help to swell United's expanding commercial arm, which is heading towards a further record sum this year.
Yet, for the fourth successive summer, a key transfer target has joined another club, with Eden Hazard opting to join Chelsea from Lille despite the obvious attractions of Old Trafford.
Twelve months ago Samir Nasri left Arsenal for Manchester City when the Blues eclipsed the salary he was being offered by United, before that Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil preferred Real Madrid.
However, it is anticipated Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa will complete his move in the very near future as Sir Alex Ferguson looks to strengthen his squad.
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Robson's right! Despite the hopes of all Man. U. haters, and as a Chelsea fan I'm not far off.
Come on you guys. You should be realistic in your assessments. Think of Liverpool. They have barely won anything in the last how many years but because of their previous established dominance, they are still a traditional football club. Beating the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City in their fan base and reputation. Look at Tottenham. Even though they have never won anything, they have a strong fan base. Look at Westham, their fan base is of diehards and through thick and thin, they have stayed with their club. Fortunately, that's what Man Utd's fan base is like. They will have trying times. Even more to come but they will always stay. Unlike the others that waver with who is winning that season. [I call them flip-floppers]. Those that are already writing Man Utd's obituaries should hold your horses. I mean even pathetic Arsenal that hasn't won anything for years still have their faithful even with a whole bunch of them jumping ship to Man City. And for Man City, I can't help but be reminded of Chelsea a couplemofmyears ago when they flourished with Mourinho and the Russian billionaire's cash. But over time, stuff catches up. The players realize that they can demand however much money they want so they hold the club ransom and demand exorbitant wages. Then getting new players becomes a problem because you can't get of the aging ones and the younger ones want high wages. And the owners having spent so much money want to see results or heads roll. Before long, you have a bunch of aging players not able to compete with the young talent.
Hi Craig, A good comment and well written. I can obviously agree with much of what you have said and agree that Chelsea bought the best young midfielder in europe and is goal/assist ratio is outstanding to be honest I haven't seen him play and it remains to be seen if he can cope with the rigors of the Premier league. Something which can be said for many who have come from abroad some failing and some thriving on the competitive nature of the league. Where I disagree with you is your statement about signing the dregs, we have certainly signed a few lame ducks who came and went because they couldn't cope with playing in England. Others like Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Cantana have thrived on the competitive nature in the england game. The German League has always been strong and plays in a similar manner to us so I think Kagawa will be well suited to United as to Hazzard we shall have to wait and see.. Incidentally I have supported Man United for nearly 60 years and even through the bad times I have never wavered, Last season is now History a poor season in general especially in europe. I feel you have to take into account our horrendous injury list and sometimes we had to put out a mix and match Team but still managed a strong finish and were only a minute away from the title
ManU popularity is going downward especially with the increasing influence of the FA and referees in support of them.Barcelone are being hated around the world just because of UEFA support and some referees too likewise ManU.
Perhaps Fergie can talk Robbo into coming out of retirement?
your days are numbered manure and robson captain gob sh%&e your popurality is already on a downward spiral.DEAL WITH IT. hahaha
Well said Robbo; MUFC will always be the most hated team in Manchester and all of England. It's just that your noisy neighbours will have more bragging right to work at being as obnoxious as MUFC fans!
Well Dr Graham, I am a Manchester lad that went to OT home and away for 15 years, I now live in Germany and love German football and watch it a lot on sky so I have seen a certain player (Kagawa) play, you have a point but have you seen his stats to goals and assists compared to the new signing for Chelsea??? What Im trying to get across to those that are intelligent enough to see it. We are not signing the proven players or the young players that everyboby is after, we get the dregs or the Asian players only to sell shirts. When I was going to OT there was excitmen,t passion,fast flowing football,you could get tickets but they were not cheap and the ground was always full. I dont know if you go to OT but I know from friends that tickets are not so expensive (outside) as they used to be and if you look close you can see the gaps appearing in the seats....... this will only continue and everybody thats a true MU fan knows this. It has been a tourist attraction and just a place for some people to say O yes we were at OT ,,,,,,,, were you what was the score...... mmmm 2-1 i think who scored errrr dont know was on Facebook uploading pictures,,, not real fans, B dortmund 80 thousand home games and the noise and the passion true football fans, Man utd are not the force we used to be like it or lump it its true.
Evening vicar, "a season not to be scorned". If only the season was just the Premier league. Unfortunately it wasn't as most Manchester United fans will recall. There was the small matter of the European Champions league, the Europa cup, FA cup and the Carling cup. Five competitions, five failures. All in all, as Mr Ferguson would put it, five blips! As you will realise by August the Manchester United trophy cabinet will be bare (as even the prestigious Community Shield will not be retained). Possibly you should reconsider your view on the season!
Ken, Seems to me that it is Cities fans are the ones who are deluding themselves. 4 years of prosperity followed now by years of austerity. Mancini wants to buy Van Persie but he cant as he has to sell to buy. He wants to sell Dzeko and guess what suprise suprise Dzeko doesn't want to go. No other club could or would meet his wages something City should have thought of before offering stupid wages to get players to sign. Now it comes back and is bitting you. Gone are the days when you could spend what you want the New rules apply from the start of this season and as all your income is spent on players wages, nothing in the pot to spend. You are going to be a selling club and buy when you can. Well good luck you will need it
Mike, Obviously not a committed United fan. Considering our massive injury crisis for the majority of the season to have reached the end of the season losing in the very last minute to a goal scored by Man City is certainly not a season to be scorned. We are the only club never to finish outside the top three since the inception of the Premier league No other club can boast such a record. So much for your comment about dross players, what does that say about other clubs Arsenal, Liverpool, chelsea, Spurs I guess you must also say that they have dross players as well as all but Arsenal were 20 plus points behind United at the end of the season. Craig doubt you have seen Shinji Kagawa play yes he is japanese but none the less he is a world class midfielder who scores goals and yes his name will probably sell shirts very much the same as Park. We have nothing to worry about we have funds for transfers and I am sure the minor surgery required will be carried out during this transfer window
Half of Man U gloryboy fans have already jumped ship and bought a sky blue City top, expect this trend to continue the less and less silverware Man U win. FACT.
Well 12 & 13 you might have had a point had not United failed in all the competitions they were involved in. However its not the loss of the league that worries me, its the general standard of play, gone is the exciting flowing football and there's far too much long ball in its place. You must have been watching a different Carrick to everyone in the real world because he's generally obvious by his absence, think 2 Champs League finals, the debacle that was the Bayern semi, regular matches where he has wilted under pressure and seasons of under-performance, truly 'un-fancy'!!! You clearly believe in the myth that Ferguson is still at the height of his managerial powers, no he isn't and many of his recent purchases have been poor. Of course you can take it or leave it but you might just get a real shock when you eventually take your heads out of the hole you've sunk them into.
Mike commet 1 them dross players you talk about ran man city right to the end, and Abu Dhabi FC ended up winning on goal difference with their half a billion mercenary squad, dosn't say much for City and the rest of the league does it.
You people make me laugh. Barca lost the title by 9 points to Real Madrid yet you don't hear anyone talking up their demise as a football super power. Barca are in debt, Real are in debt there are very few big clubs who aren't in some sort of debt. People talk of the Glazers and the debt they've put on the club. The fact is they have provided funds for transfers when Fergie's asked. It is SAF who will not pay over the odds for players in transfer fee's and wages. IIts nonsense to suggest that because Man U didn't win the league then they are in decline. As for the players, Fergie knows the value of having Scholes, Giggs and Carrick in the squad. Carrick is in my opinion massively underratted and does a lot of unfancy stuff that people don't tend to see. Anyone who questions his decisions is an idiot after what he has brought to the club in nearly 30 years as manager. Can you City fans see Mancini still being in charge for the next 20 years.
@Exustrek, Fine post. I always thought you were a scouser....my deepest apologies.
Tick Tock
Great headline by Yahoo..........All the morons will be on here today.......Who's going to be the first 'Tick-Tock' merchant?. We lost the Prem by goal difference to practically the last kick of the season. That's far higher than most teams will ever hope to achieve, yet it is proclaimed as a failure for us. It is testament to the respect that United are held in, albeit unwittingly. by the fans who are heralding our demise. We didn't win anything in '97 -'98 and what happened in '98 - '99?
Fergies Flops lol hit the nail on the head Mike C.T.I.D
What will it take for the fans to see that the Glazers have stuffed this club and are simply asset stripping to bolster their pockets. United have gradually lost their talent base, their ability to respond financially and are now becoming a has been club with a has been manager and too many never will be players whilst the Glazers laugh all the way to the bank. Robson was hopeless as a manager and yet here he is not sharing genuine concerns about the club, how can anyone with such poor managerial judgement spout such rubbish. But then again perhaps he would be happy watching route 1 football at OT, I'd prefer to go to the local park and save myself the price of a season ticket, at least I wouldn't be subsidising the Glazers and Fergie's flops.
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