Tensions among the Old Trafford faithful look set to reach boiling point this weekend, with a group of fans planing to fly a banner over the stadium in an audacious protest against manager David Moyes.
But the stunt, which will see a ‘Wrong One: Moyes Out’ banner flown over the ground 10 minutes before kick-off and five minutes into tomorrow’s televised fixture against Aston Villa, has been blasted by one supporters group.
A banner reading ‘The Chosen One’, initially created to support Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor, has become a source of annoyance for some United supporters who have become increasingly disillusioned with Moyes’ underwhelming first term in charge.
The recent 0-3 home demolition at the hands of neighbours Manchester City saw many United fans heading for the exits before the final whistle.
However, those left in will have noticed a 10-strong line of stewards protecting ‘The Chosen One’ banner as the remainder of the United fans left the stadium after their sixth home league defeat of the season.
Disgruntled fans on the Red Issue Forum, a popular United site, have since put plans to hit back at the banner and highlight their concerns as to where the club is heading under Moyes’ stewardship.
A Red Issue Forum member and Twitter user, @MikeLUHG, posted a screenshot of a poll carried out on the forum, which revealed nine possible messages to be paraded from the back of the aeroplane.
By far the most popular option was the sharp and direct, “Wrong One: Moyes Out”.
But other options ranged from the pragmatic, ‘He’s Out Of His Depth’, to the utterly disgusting, “Kill Yourself Moyes” – which was, worryingly, the joint-third most popular choice at one stage last night.
One user of the Red Issue Forum spoke to MM but wished to be known only by his username Lloyd Christmas for fear of being banned from Old Trafford for the bold protest proposal.
He said: “The decision to fly a plane over Old Trafford bearing the slogan ‘Wrong One: Moyes Out’ is one borne out of acute frustration – frustration at the poor results, lack of fight on the pitch and the unavoidable signs that David Moyes isn’t up to the highest standards required to manage Manchester United Football Club.
“A significant proportion of Manchester United fans have had enough and unequivocally want David Moyes sacked.
“The banner erected by Stretford End Flags, that dubs David Moyes the ‘Chosen One’ was ludicrously premature and suggests that all Manchester United fans are supportive of Moyes, which isn’t accurate.
“This isn’t a reaction because we aren’t getting our own way in terms of winning games.
“We cannot have a manager who thinks it is acceptable to call our major rivals ‘favourites’ when they play us at Old Trafford – it is a betrayal of the club’s ethos, a betrayal of the players and a betrayal of the fan’s support.”
Despite these claims, the supporters group responsible for the ever-increasingly infamous pro-Moyes banner have responded with a message of support for the former Everton boss.
Stretford End Flags, who have more than 21,000 followers on Twitter, said: “All banner designs come from fan ideas and fan submitted designs.
“In August, a design for the ‘Chosen One’ was submitted, the fan feedback was good, and so we took on board the many calls to have it made.
“The banner cost £450 and, as with all banners, they are funded by fan donations. That banner was, in fact, the quickest funded banner we have ever made.
“It’s a massive week for the club and one that could effectively be make or break for the manager and the team.
“Taking a banner down, which in effect would mean the manager is not wanted, is not needed at this time.
“Supporters should instead focus on being behind Moyes and being behind the team – and who knows, we could go onto win the Champions League.”
The group also criticised a minority of fans who voted for the ‘Moyes Kill Yourself’ banner on the poll claiming they ‘need to have a look at themselves’.
The flag-making group added: “Flying any banner with a ‘Moyes out’ message really isn’t the best – it is poor timing and with no back up to say who exactly is saying it.
“Hiding away behind [the stunt] and being up in the sky rather than visibly being in the stadium is not helping the club.”
Regardless of whether or not the protest goes ahead, the very proposals are a new low in what has already been a turbulent season for last season’s Premier League champions.
Signs that United fans are beginning to distinctly divide into pro-Moyes and anti-Moyes suggest that things may get rockier before they get smoother.
Image courtesy of Carl Recine/Action Images, with thanks.
