United right where they belong

News filtered through the Twitter-verse this morning that Manchester United might be handed a lifeline into the Champions League knockoutstages. FC Basel’s position in the Round of 16 is in jeopardy because of a battle between UEFA, the Swiss FA, and FC Sion. Now United fans are clinging to the hope of a bureaucratic qualification.

(Before I go forward with my argument I want to say that I understand what I will propose would never in a million years happen, that large sums of money mean far more than anything else in the era of Glazer-nomics and modern football, plus I’m not even sure that UEFA would allow it BUT I’m all for wishful thinking.)

I think that given the opportunity to take a spot in the knockout round because of issues with Sion and the Swiss FA that United should pass on it and continue on in the Europa League. They had their chance to qualify over the last two games of the group stage against teams that should’ve been beaten and they blew it. They are where they deserve to be and just because UEFA creates an opening doesn’t mean that they should accept it.

This is in some respects an ethical issue. If you didn’t earn the spot on the field, in fact you wasted your opportunity in the easiest group in the competition, then you shouldn’t just be handed a ‘get out of jail free card’. Also, how is it fair to Basel who played outstanding in both games against United and earned their place on the pitch? It makes no sense to punish them for the actions of another team in their league.

This is also about needing to accept limitations. While United always seem to pick up steam around the holidays and the second half of the season, there have been very few Champions League-worthy performances. In the league they’ve been solid if unspectacular but in Europe it has been far worse. Constant lineup changes, some forced and some not, have shown the squad's scary lack of depth. This isn’t a time of rebuilding but it’s certainly a transitional period from the team of Giggs, Scholes, Neville, and Ferdinand to the team of Welbeck, Jones, Cleverley, and Rooney. Playing in the Thursday-Sunday schedule of the Europa League may force Sir Alex’s hand to allow more time for reserve and youth players that many fans have been clamoring to see such as Paul Pogba, Will Keane, and the always interesting Ravel Morrison. Taking this pass to the knockout stages will only cover over the need to hasten the transition.

(Case in point, the last time United was knocked out in the group stages they were knocked out of Europe entirely, also in what should’ve been a routine group. That was in 2005, from 2006-11 the team won the Champions League title and made two more finals, one of the best European run in the club’s history. Sometimes a slap is needed to wake everyone up and get refocused.)

This is also about curiosity. With all due respect to the great teams of Europe I’m kind of interested in United taking on Ajax, Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, or Udinese. For some reason the novelty factor seems really strong, for me at least, to play in the “secondary” competition. The “penalty” of the Europa League is an interesting test with plenty of challenges ahead. Of course there is always the possibility of a Manchester derby in Bucharest in the spring, which is reason enough to say no to sneaking back into the Champions League.

I know that United are not going to say no to millions of dollars, they are on the side of Harry Redknapp who seems to think that a team should either finish in the top 4 or bottom half to avoid the Europa League, and, given the team’s penchant for finding form after the busy Christmas period, there is still the belief that they could win the competition.

In the end this will end up being a moot point, there is no way the Swiss FA hurts itself and Basel by fighting UEFA, but if it happens and United are given that backdoor pass they should have the guts to say, “thanks, but no thanks”.

The Real Fans?

It's easier being a fan on days like this.

My grandfather was stationed in England, just outside London, during the Vietnam War. Unbeknownst to him this would lead, some 40 plus years later, to me being a diehard and fanatic Manchester United supporter. See, my grandfather was able to witness the historic mid-60’s triumvirate of George Best, Bobby Charlton, and Denis Law and was enthralled by the style with which they played the game. As a kid I found a packet of holographic player cards that my grandfather had collected. The long hair and ridiculous short shorts, the logo, the cool nickname, everything looked so interestingly foreign to my 10 year old self.

Little did I know that 10 years later I would start playing soccer thanks to a college girlfriend and a co-ed indoor league in Warwick that would be my Sunday (and sometimes Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) refuge for over a decade. Once I started playing the game it was inevitable that I would be enthralled by the sport and I had to seek it out at the highest level (sorry MLS but not quite). Thanks to my grandfather’s stories and collectibles there was only one team that I could support.

No one roots for this team but we don't care.

(Now this is a far-cry from the love affair that I have developed with the team in the present day , which includes following every soccer writer I can find on Twitter, keeping the transfer blog bookmarked, and watching any game that might be on TV including the Spanish-language telecasts of the Copa America or under-20 World Cup. Incidentally, though I don’t understand a word that they’re saying I still think the announcers were much better than those on Fox Soccer. I even had my girlfriend read Fever Pitch to get a better understanding of my mentality, then told her to read Juliet Naked as well just to show that I wasn’t just a troglodyte sports fan. Not sure it worked.)

Following Manchester United, and European soccer in general, has taken its place alongside the Red Sox and Celtics and I consider my knowledge of the subjects to be well-above the common fan. (This is when we get to the actual point of the blog, by the way.)

Why do I always consider myself a “better” fan than everyone else? Why do the “pink hats”, the people singing “Sweet Caroline” (singing it karaoke-style while wasted in Vegas doesn't count), or people who don’t know where we picked up Mike Aviles bother me? Why should I care? Why does it have to be a competition? Shouldn't being a fan be about the communion of fun and common interest, not about the depth of feeling that any interest might arouse?

The other night at Good Times (which is ironically never a good time) I kept shaking my head, laughing, and/or getting actually upset at the ill-informed comments of the drunks at the bar. I don’t know why the random Tigers fan who seemed to know nothing about the Tigers other than that they don’t serve Bud at Tigers Stadium (he was old but I assumed he was talking about Comerica Park not flashing back to the ’84 World Series) upset me. I can’t get upset because he works all day and doesn’t spend every waking hour studying the ticker on ESPN.com or watching Baseball Tonight.

There isn’t a single person in Manchester (England not New Hampshire) who would think that I was anything but a carpet-bagging Yankee pink hat for Man U just because I live in the US. I wasn’t brought up with stories of Busby’s Babes and I didn’t get to see the ’99 Champions League win as it was happening so I don’t count as a “real” Manc. That’s basic English elitism about US soccer fans but aren’t I (and a lot of Red Sox writers too, I’m looking at you Pete Abraham and Bob Ryan) being just as elitist about people who aren’t fanatics about the teams we hold dear?

Here's to you John  Lackey!

While I’m slamming my fist down, having my night ruined, and getting pissed every time that John Lackey pitches most fans are going to be grabbing a beer and talking with the people near them about how great it is to be out watching the game. It’s time to grow up and stop giving a shit about how little most people know about the Red Sox or baseball history. It’s time to embrace the “pink hats” as all part of the game, just as it’s time to stop holding a grudge because people are ignorant. Fine, you might not be the same type of fan as me (you probably have a lot more fun being a fan) but if you have any questions feel free to ask.

In the end, I’m the one with the answers and the issues.