Manchester United were simply spectacular on Saturday night. The guy who wore his Fernando Torres jersey and sat next to me was not.
From their clinical attack to their solidity in defense, the English champions were nothing short of mesmerising against the A-League All Stars.
They were every bit the entertainers that the crowd desperately wanted them to be, and completely and utterly deserving of their first victory under new manager David Moyes.
With five spectacular goals to their name, the Red Devils were crowned as winners on the field on Saturday night, but the same could equally be said off it as well.
Their Australian tour has been a success, not just because they picked up a victory from the friendly match, but because they made a million small victories along the way in the hearts and minds of anyone who watched them play.
Over 80,000 people flowed in to the ANZ Stadium to create a sea of red and white, and surely millions more watched United live on their television screens.
Having witnessed a fair share of sporting events at ANZ Stadium ranging from Grand Finals to Olympic events, people present at the stadium would surely have been blown away by the one-sided support that United received despite being the away team.
Manchester United were swamped at their training session on Friday night, and they filled up an Olympic stadium the corresponding night. Had it been possible, they would likely have got closer to 800,000 people turn up to watch them play.
That’s the appeal, and draw, of Manchester United.
And while the game it’self might be remembered for some spectacular goals from Danny Welbeck and Jesse Lingard, that’s not what made United such big winners from their Australian tour. Neither is the fact that they dominated a supposed team of “stars” and made them look like division-14 footballers.
No, this tour was a success for more than what happened on the field.
It was all the t-shirts, jackets, programs, replica balls, jerseys and tickets sold that led to it being a success. It was all the fans that they were hounded by everywhere they went. It was all the memories that were created and legacies that were left.
And in a way, their biggest success is that for years, people will be talking about the fact that they got to witness Manchester United.
For they got to witness international stars in Robin van Persie and Rio Ferdinand. They witnessed a club legend in Ryan Giggs and the latest young talent in Wilfried Zaha. The fans – all 80,000 of them – were given an experience that they’ll likely never have again and a memory that they will cherish forever.
You can’t buy that, and you certainly can’t make it happen on the field.
That type of thing just happens, and it happened in a big way for Manchester United. And so regardless of what happens over the remainder of the summer transfer window (or indeed the 2013/14 Premier League season), Manchester United will remain winners in the eyes of Australian fans right around the world.
Even the guy in his Fernando Torres jersey was impressed.
gumpy
Guest
"And how many of the 95000 where given to the little league players ???" There is no 'little league' as such in Oz 'sokkah' Bazza...shows how much you *supposedly* know. Now shoo.
gumpy
Guest
It is sad to see, but a long-time reality of the Australian scene - my hope is that the A-League's imminent FTA exposure will in time entice more of these gloryhunting couch-potatoes to get off their backsides and attend a game more often; it can be a HAL match, State League match or whatever as long as they contribute to the economy of Oz football as opposed to the coffers of pay-TV operators & by extension those clubs on the other side of the globe that they so follow despite in 90% of cases, having no personal affiliation of any kind to.
AZ_RBB
Guest
that does make sense. but going by the massive amount of WSW gear i saw people wearing on Saturday night they could get a decent number.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Wouldn't matter how many tickets were allocated to MVFC fans, since the majority of MVFC fans don't attend these matches. If they want MVFC fans (like myself) & active supporters to attend such preseason friendlies they need to listen to fans: 1. play the matches at AAMI Park 2. set ticket prices at ALeague levels Given the money required to bring foreign teams to Melbourne, neither of the above criteria will ever be satisfied. Which means, the majority of MVFC fans will always shun these matches.
AZ_RBB
Guest
what was the home team allocation for each event? if it's anything like the MVFC v LFC allocation of 3 bays in a 100 000 seater then yeah there's no hope or point. i firmly believe that our supporters are a big part of the product and that in a funny way we have a responsibility in selling our product. not many agree but yeah not much i can do about that.
Towser
Guest
AZ_RBB Having seen and heard every known initiative known to man in relation to football over decades in Australia, no it wont. Also it was me who mentioned crowd support.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'd always remembered FA Cups at Wembley during the 1970s & 80s were 100k crowds, but it appears that those English FA Cup crowd numbers that are quoted, may be incorrect. Yesterday, during their media briefing in Melbourne, Brendan Rodgers (LFC manager) & Ian Ayre (LFC Managing Director) clearly stated the 95k crowd would be the biggest ever for a match involving Liverpool FC. There was no "overseas proviso" added.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
It seems WSW fans forget that the ALeague existed for 7 years before WSW entered the competition. We've had teams visit to play ALeague clubs in preseason before - this wasn't the 1st year. MVFC alone has played: Juventus, Celtic, Fulham, Boca Juniors, Olympiakos, LA Galaxy... now Liverpool. Some other visiting teams to play A-League clubs, include: Everton, Blackburn Rovers, AEK Athens, Rangers None of these matches produces passion from the fans ... even though every match was played against an A-League club - not an AllStar team. So, based on data from 7 years experience with foreign clubs playing A-League clubs in preseason friendlies, you're kidding yourself if you think if preseason friendlies were played against ALeague clubs they would generate passion that we didn't see from the AllStars match. Preseason friendlies are aimed primarily at non-ALeague fans - it's a terrific way to grab cash from people, who otherwise don't support AUS football.
clipper
Guest
I don't think it's very obvious - it would only take two or three characters (o/s). The majority of people tweeting would be too young to remember the Wembley FA cup finals.
AZ_RBB
Guest
but it COULD have had a more positive impact. make it Man Utd (or other big club) vs WSW (or other A League club), give every member first chance at a ticket or two in a specific section of the stadium and you have the potential to have a flow on effect on the A League. not saying it is guaranteed success but at least you take the chance. it goes from being an awesome money making initiative to a money making initiative which may have long term benefits. i think someone mentioned above that crowd support has a positive effect on the performance of a team. so maybe a club might be more competitive with a bit more backing. just because WSW have 11 700 members months before the season starts doesn't mean FFA and co can pat themselves on the back and relax. this club has a long long way to go. same goes for the rest of the league.
Midfielder
Guest
Amazing
Midfielder
Guest
Tow So true..
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
RF---still sulking hey, the man who said Holger wouldn't get the Roos to Brazil. Well if my knowledge is as small as you say it is, then yours can be written onto a head of pin. Lucky my ass... "I was nearly right" the story of your life.. lol
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Yes $16m was pumped into the NSW ecomony on the weekend,i expect the Melbourne ecomony to receive a similar if not bigger boost,hopefully this goes some way into easing people like Bazzas pain about tax payers money after the failed World Cup bid.I suppose the continued visits of these football powerhouses will make that $40m look like nothing in a few years.
Towser
Guest
As I said earlier ManU game no effect on the A-League, football fans(Particularly in football savvy regions like Western Sydney) are smart enough to distinguish between an "Exhibition" match & a "Competitive " match & know that there buying memberships because of what THEY see on the park from WSW's.
1860melbourne
Guest
OFF TOPIC. But the records keep tumbling for the a league. WSW reach 11700 members after day one of memberships going on sale to the public. I can feel the sold out sign going up with 3 months to go!
Jillie Boel
Guest
Yes, but it's changing. Indonesians do own Brisbane Roar
fadida
Guest
3 quality posts in a row Bazza :)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@fadida "I know plenty of people who went to the game, most of them play themselves, many of them at state league level." So, why weren't they excited by the game. Other than when the goals were scored, it sounded like a morgue .. or, like an AFL/NRL match :-D
fadida
Guest
Haha. I can imagine Fuss, "all you non-true believers shall be smited!"(while wearing his '74 WC shirt)