There are just some teams you can’t support. In the NRL, that team is Melbourne. In the AFL, that team is Collingwood. In Major League Baseball, that team is the Yankees.
I could go on: the All Blacks, the Miami Heat, the Dallas Cowboys, Juventus, the East German swimming team of the 1976 Olympics.
Last, but by no means the least, we have Manchester United.
All these teams have one thing in common – cheating.
A lot of times, these teams are accused of cheating or at least ‘massaging’ the rules and conduct of fair play.
In most cases, ‘cheating’ is synonymous with ‘having loads of money’.
Many of the teams listed have made efforts to secure the best players in their respective sports with lucrative contracts.
Some of them have broken the rules in doing so (cough – Melbourne Storm – cough).
To many fans, using exorbitant amounts of money to buy the best players cheapens the role of sporting competitions.
I want to cheer on the team that has worked together and bled together – not the team that clinks champagne glasses together.
So it was with a little disdain that I accepted a ticket to see Manchester United take on the A-League All Stars.
There were over 80,000 people in ANZ Stadium, with over 90% wearing the red jerseys of Manchester United.
Occasionally I would spy the odd A-League jersey – Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle, Sydney FC, but it sounded as though everyone was cheering for Manchester.
Friends and family in red strutted to their seats, with beer and the words “Glory, glory Man United” dripping from their lips.
I won’t pretend to be an expert in football tactics.
The men from the A-League tried their best to muscle the “rich boys” from the ball, but Manchester United were too skilled to succumb to such tactics.
The A-League All Stars committed 10 fouls, double those committed by Manchester, but the crowd was not pleased with any action that looked feigned.
In short, the first half seemed tame enough.
An early goal to Jesse Lindgard was disheartening, but not unexpected.
The A-League All Stars looked stretched in defence, trying to rush the visitors off the ball but never really succeeding.
A goal to Danny Welbeck gave Manchester United a handy lead going into the break.
The second half was when the fun began.
The stadium was feverous, waiting for an onslaught and for the triumphant entrance of Robin van Persie.
An early goal to the A-League All Stars had the crowd in rapture, everyone applauding the skill of ‘our boys’.
It soon died down when the announcer declared that the goal scorer was none other than Besart Berisha.
If there are some teams you just cannot support in the A-League, Brisbane Roar are likely to be up there.
With the scores no 2-1, Jesse Lindgard scored for the tourists in a quick response. Then the visitors seemed to kick into another gear.
They dominated possession and seemed to be able to work corner kick after corner kick.
With about 30 minutes left of play, Robin van Persie took to the field and the crowd went ballistic.
The cheer alone was probably worth his game fee and I felt the echo of that cheer for hours after the game.
Another goal to Danny Welbeck ensured the lead and Welbeck, secured the Fango man of the match award for his efforts.
Manchester United began toying with their opposition, spreading the ball wide and passing with pinpoint accuracy.
The All Stars, on the other hand, did not look fit, with passes going astray as they began to fall off their opponents in the defence.
At the death of the game, Robin van Persie slotted the ball past Michael Theo and the game was done.
Recapping the game, I saw no evidence of ‘cheating’.
While the Manchester players are well paid, it is not outside the laws of their competition.
It is a sad indictment of the strength of the English Premier League, when teams out-spend each other to win a premiership.
When the top teams in the competition are valued in billions, with rich and eccentric owners, it makes a farce of competitive sports.
That’s why everyone hates the Yankees, the Miami Heat, the Melbourne Storm and yes, even Manchester United.
But they sure can play.
DSF
Guest
Daniel epl has many "rich" teams - man utd, chelsea, arsenal, liverpool, man city, newcastle, everton and compared to the a league the rest of the teams could be classed as rich, so does this mean that they are all trying to outbid each other to corrupt referees?
Dean Vincent
Guest
My second team was always France growing up. Loved the teams in 82, 84 and 86. Remember being in tears as a small kid in 82 when they were knocked out on penalties after Battiston was knocked out cold by Schumacher. Still one of the worst incidents I've seen on a sportsfield. I do enjoy watching Spain now though I must admit as a neutral.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
I'm no supporter of Manchester United but to call them cheats just because they have a lot of money is ridiculous, sure there have been dirty players and some of Alex Ferguson's tactics were below the belt but to insist there's a cheating culture at Man United just smacks of precious jealousy. The idea of "Buying titles" is a half-truth as well.
Robbie
Roar Pro
No surprise the All Stars were trying, they've barely touched a football in a couple of months! It's hard for our boys to match the fitness of the United players. I hate Manchester of course, as many do, but they're one of the few "big teams" I really respect; firstly, because they have such a cult following. I wasn't interested by the All Stars game but there is a lot of glamour and tradition about the club you have to admire. Secondly, they are one of the few teams to actually CULTIVATE SOME OF THEIR OWN TALENT! If you watched the game, you would have noticed Jesse Lingard, a bright prospect for sure who came through the United youth academy. Ryan Giggs has played for them his whole footballing career for chrissakes! They had that whole generation too where they produced Gary Neville, David Beckham, Phill Neville, Paul Scholes, to name a few. If you look at some of their young stars: Phil Jones was nabbed when he was only 19 and looks set to become a star. Danny Welbeck has come through the Man United academy. The list goes on forever
Evan Askew
Guest
Oh FFS, footage shown on SBS and Foxtel have proved conclusively that Miller's foot made contact with Bersisha as he went to shoot. You want to keep believeing the myth that is fine. But the rest of us don't have to subscibe to your flat earth theory.
George BAcic
Guest
Daniel you have no idea, yes Berisha got his share of boo's but there was also Boo's for a few other All Star players, and if I am suggest that Berisha is disliked because of his stoush with Sydney FC players and not the Grand Final penalty which I as a referee would have given. There were three other ROAR players there and no one booed them. More people dislike Melbourne Victory then any other team in the A League. Also your suggestion that Melbourne storm is disliked in the NRL is your imagination rather then fact...They are well down the list compared to Manly, Roosters and Broncos...More research will help you before putting rubbish on paper
clayts
Guest
so we should ignore the 'worked together and bled' argument in Brisbane's case? They went from almost wooden spooners and bankrupt to winning back to back championships (deservedly even with the penalty I might add. How many shots on goal did Perth have in that gf again?) So everyone 'should' love the Roar if they had not have been awarded that penalty and won in extra time instead? Just because a stadium full of Man U 'supporters' (read: "I watch the EPL highlights show and like seeing RvP score goals so i can join in the conversation with my mates about how good 'we' are even though if the same thing happened here, he'd get booed everywhere he played for being a 'money-grabbing traitor'") boo Berisha, doesn't mean that they're right in doing so. They are the definition of herd-following sheep. Most of them probably didn't even watch the grand final. But yeah, run with your argument.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
I stress that I'm referring to neutrals here. There's no way I'd consider a Frenchman like yourself to be neutral where the Spanish national team are concerned! Any more than an Englishman like I would be! :D
Davo
Guest
pretty sure that the Broncos are the example of the NRL team you just can't support. Largest average attendence, a history of favoritism from the referees, being forced down your throat every friday night. large unfounded feeling of self importance. Gotta hate the broncos, if from brizzo and i can't stand them.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Well they are not mine hardcore ;)! I actually think they are now French's favourites enemies in most sports (football, handball, cycling, tennis...). Maybe because they are our neighbours dunno. Tbh dunno if others, 'more neutrals' than the French or Portuguese, have a lot of sympathy for the Spanish football team? I think they are too close for other euros to like them. then maybe Asian countries or Oz/NZ now see them as the new Brasil? (actually I have a few Asian female friends who support Spain as a football nation! The reason they gave me: Henrique Iglesias, Nadal and co. Right. I took that as my duty to quickly demystify Spaniards, believe me, ahh ;)!!
Ian
Guest
Daniel - (i thought i was replying) well you can see the reaction from some brisbane fans when you linked the following two sentences as if one logically followed the other - "It soon died down when the announcer declared that the goal scorer was none other than Besart Berisha. If there are some teams you just cannot support in the A-League, Brisbane Roar are likely to be up there". berisha is obviously is a crowd favourite - for booing or cheering. as he has been involved in a few incidents, sometimes unfairly, but that's how the cookie crumbles. i read another poster's comment on another article (pablo - a brisbane fan) who said there was some booing of berisha at the game but at least a lot of the eurosnobs who don't support the a-league knew who he was. so that's something. and a lot of the booing was in good nature even for other all stars players. i'm not a huge fan of pedj bojic for one reason or another, but when he had a shot at goal that was saved by the man u keeper i was on the edge of my seat. though i wouldn't boo him. on the wsw line - its hard to be called a bandwagoner when the team has existed for one season. just keep supporting them when they don't win. and especially when berisha comes to parramatta.
pete4
Guest
You'll find Chelsea and Man City's wage bill is bigger than Man Utd's
Cameron
Roar Guru
Preparing for tonight's match :P
Daniel Carlin
Roar Rookie
I didn't actually. I said the entire crowd cheered as the All Stars scored. The booing came as Berisha was announced as the goal scorer. Berisha is one of the best strikers in the competition and has menaced teams at all stages of the A-League. That's why he was included in the All Stars. But supporting a team of All Stars in exhibition matches is difficult, especially when supposed 'team mates' will be and have been the opposition. I know not everyone 'hates' Brisbane Roar. It was hyperbole. But a bit of humility, especially at the death of a game, with a penalty in hand, goes a long way. If, by some fluke, Berisha missed that penalty, the history of the A-League would be different and so would this post. I'm a new supporter of the A League. Being from Sydney's west I am a Wanderers fan. *Cue bandwagon insults*. To be fair, most of my bile in the post is directed at Manchester United. But I guess their fans are used to be hated.
Ian
Guest
glad i saved you those minutes so you could use them for something else!
Nick
Guest
Ok sure United players are well payed. You make accusations that they try and buy championships but YOU sir need to do your research before making such accudations. Manchester CITY the OTHER club from manchester threw millions of poubds at players to secure them. Chelsea another one. United secured van persie last season but prior to that never lashed out super dollars for star players and not to mention sone of the great names that have come up thru their youth academy. United are a star team not a team of stars and in the future if you refer to United its Manchester UNITED not simply manchester.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Precisely Ian. I was just hoping someone else, wrote all what you said, that way I didn't have too.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Good point Nick, as always. Maybe Spain have superseded Brazil as the neutral fan's current 2nd team?
Cameron
Roar Guru
You're not a glory fan are you?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Same here hardcore. I have to admit though that the way I saw Brasil has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years. I think it's mostly due to the fact that most stars I grew up with, the Zico, Socrates, Falcao and co played mostly in Brasil and there was some kind of mysticism about them. the next generations of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu etc played a lot in Europe and we got the chance to see them every w-e. Plus I think that Brasil as a team as declined and aren't the de facto favourites they used to be before a WC. the ABs still are IMO.