"Who the F**K are Man Utd"

"Who the F**K are Man UTD," sound familiar?

To many of you out there reading this, you may have at one point in time used this song or expressed a great hatred for Manchester United in another form or fashion. But why I ask, has this club generated the extreme dislike and loathing of millions of football fans, and especially here in Trinidad where the fans are constantly barraged with criticism, laughter and disrespect?

Is it the Fans that are so hated? Maybe its the clubs history? What about the Referee decisions? Or the fact that Ronaldo and Rooney have played for the club? Who knows? But is this hatred justified? Especially now since Sir Alex has guided the club to its 3rd UEFA Champions League final in 4 years? Surely these same people must be able to muster an ounce of respect for the club now?

The Fans - "Calling the kettle Black"

I have often been told in footballing arguments over the years that its not so much the club that is hated, but its the fans. This has been credited much in fact to their "arrogance" and their "cockiness" more than anything else. Are United fans somewhat guilty of being cocky or arrogant ? Emphatically the answer is yes! But is this feeling from the fans justified? And there you will have to answer another emphatic yes!

Being the most successful English football club of all time is not something that happens overnight, and United can demonstrate the high's and low's of a football club quite easily(although in my time its mostly been high). With this continued and constant success under the leadership of Sir Alex, the United fans have every right to be cocky and arrogant, maybe without overdoing it which admittedly many fans seem to do in their moments of excitement.

A perfect example is the arrogance that has of recent been exhumed by the fans of Inter Milan, due to their recent succes in the Serie A, and their impressive triumph in the Champions League last season. Many a year before this these fans had remained quiet and always were nervous about their next encounter, but since the success, have displayed a level of cockiness that is increasing in stature to that of the united fans. Is their arrogance justified? Yes! Especially after winning the Scudetto 4 times in a row, and 1 Champions League, which has helped them establish themselves as one of Europe's elite clubs.

They can boast all they want, and rightly so. In my opinion it is as if people look at United's success and somehow discredit it due to some unseen reason, and dont support the fact that the fans (true fans) have earned the right to be a bit confident and happy for victories and success that come their way, because i am sure that any other team that will win as many games and silverware as United have will act in the same manner.

For me hating the fans of Manchester United is just a case of "Calling the kettle Black."

The Players - Under the microscope

I have also been told that the reason for the hatred are the players. Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, CR9 before his move, Patrice Evra and even Vidic, have come to be some of the most hated and loved footballers in the game. Sure none can earn the respect that is given to Lionel Messi, for his undeniable talent and humbleness, but then there must be a valid reason for the hatred? Ronaldo while he was at United of course was hated for his "whining" "crying" and diving tactics which seemed to annoy everyone including fellow United fans. Additionally, the english media helped add more hatred as they constantly displayed Ronaldo to be somehow superior to Messi. Although I completely agree with the 2009 Balon D'Or winner Ronaldo being the best that season and fully deserving of the accolade, I dont believe many honest souls out there can deny the obvious class above that Messi is. This may have also led towards some sort of hatred towards the club I can admit, as im sure if the media were to label Gareth Bale or Aaron Lennon as the best players in the world over the likes of Messi and Xavi, then alot of disagreement and hatred would surely be directed to Tottenham and even the players themselves.

Now to me an interesting twist on this topic which is again my "opinion" is that Manchester United seem to be under a constant spotlight or constantly seem to be under the microscope from fans of other clubs who watch United matches due to the fact that United matches are constantly shown on Trinidad cable channels, more so than their own club. This adds to people seeing and pin pointing times of play acting, or bad tackles etc that other teams are not subject to due to the lack of tv availability of matches locally.

Classic evidence I believe that can be used is that for once Real Madrid and Barcelona have come under heavy spotlight this season from non fans, who have tuned in to watch the "Classico" or just generally tune in to watch these great clubs play their brand of football. The result of this has been a obvious scrutiny of the "soffness" of the Barca players and their "cheating" tactics, and Real Madrid's inferiority as well as their "brutal" tackling and general "rough" play that may not have been as evident if so many people did not watch.

Referee Decisions - "Everyone is doing it"

"Manchester United always pays the ref" is something United fans will always hear when they win in somewhat controversial circumstances. Do the club benefit from some sketchy referee decisions? YES! Do other clubs also benefit from similar decisions more often than not? YES! So then why is it that its almost automatic for football supporters to associate Manchester United with "Paying the Ref," or having the ref on their side?

Every major football club out there has benefited from such decisions, some more than others, but they all do. Have Barca not enjoyed much help from the refs over the years in reaching the latter stages of the Champions League? Have Chelsea not received numerous beneficial ref decisions this season to reach the position they are in ? Yes they have, yet United are still voted as the club the benefits the most. As i cannot provide facts to this effect, its best that I leave it as is and defend United as a club that gets what all other clubs get, "help from the ref."

English & Local Media - "All subjective, little objective"

Nowadays, and more so during the Ronaldo days, you could not pick up a newspaper in England without the back pages being flooded with images and articles about Manchester United or Chelsea or Arsenal and Liverpool. This over indulgence by the English media, in hyping up English players has been seen as laughable by supporters of other leagues and international teams. The problem here is that for me a supporter of English football, and by extension the BPL has put me in a somewhat "Blinkered" state of viewing, where I will always quicker watch a match up between Bolton and lets say Aston Villa, as opposed to Roma playing Calgari.

My personal choice due to the fact that I support Manchester United and England, and a choice which may bring with it criticism that I know nothing outside the realm of english football. This may be true for some fans out there, but as for me I am as cultured as they come. Benefiting from numerous football channels at my disposal 24/7 I have been able to watch numerous football matches in various leagues and been able to appreciate what each league has to offer.

For years the hype surrounding English Teams in the champions league has led to many people becoming sick of it, and frankly I dont blame them. However, when a league is becoming dominant I would admit that I would expect people to stand up an take notice. Now bearing that the English Premier League is by no means the most successful club in the Champions League, these past 5 or 6 years have seen them rise greatly in terms of general performance.

This is highlighted by United's 3rd final appearance in 4 years this coming May 28th. With Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool each making an appearance in the finals in the past 6 years it shows how competitive English teams are, and their hunger for glory on the biggest stage. Does this ascertain that Non - English premier league fans should hate English teams, an at that Manchester United? No, but somehow the evidence points to suggest otherwise.

The Alex - (Bad Blood)

The supreme being, the King of Dreams, the master tactician, call him what you will, he is known to United fans as Sir Alex. The only football manager since Sir Alf Ramsey to be given the honor of being knighted, for his exploits in the treble winning season of 1999.

Many people hate Sir Alex Ferguson. I’m the first to admit that he doesn’t always come over as being a likable, jolly fellow. I can see how many people can get upset with his constant harassing of referees, looking at his watch and gruff manner as anyone else, and complaining to the 4Th official.

Despite many people not having a general like for the public character of Sir Alex, I believe it s only football justice that you have to have absolute respect and admiration for him. I don’t really see how it is possible not to, however grudgingly. The thirty-seven trophies he has won over the past thirty years, together with the twenty-one manager of the month awards, seven manager of the year awards and three World Soccer manager of the year awards, tend to make it hard to dismiss his ability.

Is this enough to hate him? His Success? No, in fact people locally here in Trinidad go as far as to say he is racist, and since the letting go of fellow countryman Dwight "Tobago General" Yorke, has been purposely overlooking black players.

This very point is where I believe much of the hatred of Manchester United stems from in Trinidad even though many may not want to admit it. Many a person feel that Dwight was let go unfairly and wrongfully and that Sir Alex was the mastermind behind his dismissal, similar to that of Japp Stam and David Beckham's at the club. This of course is nonsense, and can be seen easily throughout the years that he has a plan, and there is logic to his madness. Where one may think selling Yorke, Stam, Beckham, Ronaldo may be catastrophic, Fergeuson has once again silenced the critics, and taken what is being labelled as a weak Manchester United team all the way to the finals once more.

Rivals - More than Most

Who do Barcelona fans hate the most? Real Madrid and also, Espanyol.

Who are AC Milan's biggest rivals? Inter Milan and Juventus and Genoa as well.

My point? That every club has rivals, and when these teams clash, the fans do as well, with heated exchanges and taunts, and a high level of "cockyness."

The case here is that over the years, United has built up rivalries with clubs outside of England due to their continued progress in the Uefa Champions League, and firery enconters with teams from various leagues.

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Porto, Villareal, AC Milan are all deemed as "Rivals"of the club and are hence treated as such when they meet. This is of course excluding the local rivals of Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Leeds. As if the English rivals weren't enough, we have to deal with the taunts and pre game "gum bumping" of the fans of these clubs almost on a weekly basis.

To the general public, it may look as if United are battling the world, and I can say we most certainly are, as our repitor of rivals is larger than almost any other club. To defend ourselves and speak out in the same voice of confidence seems about fair, one would think.

Finally - (Sorry for the lenghty rant)

Its a time like this that United fans "defend their own" so to speak, and this particular fan can be proud of United's accomplishments this season regardless the outcome. Call us arrogant, call us Cocky, call us annoying, but all I ask that you do is look in the mirror first. The same reasons you may hate Manchester United for, are the same things that the fans of your club can be guilty of.

A quick glance in the mirror will show you this.

I would hope that at some point respect is given where it is due, as I can easily voice that Barcelona are probably right now, hands down the best football club in the world, and have been for a while with their style of play and passing, but one must not forget the work and constant success of a club so easily hated.

Manchester United, hopefully can one day lose out to another team as being the most hated, and until then, I will jump an sing in joy as always with my fellow supporters.

Its an age old dilema, as United may be the most loved and followed club in the world, but the fact remains that "PEOPLE LOVE TO HATE UNITED." I for one can see the reasons why we are hated, and believe that they are justifiable, but I would hate to think you all are just jealous.