Using the term "Man U"...And all the nonsense that goes with it.

Due to my constant annoyance at this particular myth, I've decided to make a thread on it...finally. It's a particular problem in the newbs so hopefully this will clear up some stuff.

For a while there has been some vague assumption amongst some (usually younger) fans that the term "Man U" is some kind of heinous insult created by opposition fans after Munich to mock the dead. It's often picked up by posters on internet sites as an example of not being a proper fan or other such nonsense. Its gained considerable credence on the web because of this oddly paragraphed, grammatically mysterious rant.

If you scour the internet for proof of this, or a source, or indeed anything to back this up, you'll inevitably only be confronted with this masterpiece of the English language, posted and re-posted word for word on various forums and what nots. There's even bizarrely a facebook group, despite this being almost entirely the only source of evidence or opinion.

It is (and I can't stress this enough) complete bollocks.

Even if you bypass the bizarre logic of "u" being offensive because it's meant to imply "you", the main problem with this theory is it's terrible grasp of history.

The term Man U was created entirely by the news reporters of the 40s and 50s who used to refer to us as Manchester U or Man U to accomodate the name in print. Nothing more, or less. In fact the phrase Man U can be heard quite clearly on some of the old Pathe news reports of the babes triumphs in the mid-50s.

Furthermore to this, it was also used on club merchandise back in the day...before there was an official club shop per say and things like badges and pins were sold out of a shed outside the ground around about where the Munich clock is now...Probably by a woman called Brenda who more than likely smelt of gravy....but in a good way. The shop was - incidentally - owned by Sir Matt.



Geoff Bent, who died in Munich, emblazoned on a pin...what a disgusting shameful insult that is, why whomever made it should be strung up and tub thumped to death by internet warriors...Oh, it was the club... and Sir Matt?...ah... Whoops.

The chants themselves were indeed real (as far as I know) but the U in them was used BECAUSE we were often referred to as Man U, and not as an entirely new magical creation. Which again makes very little sense when you actually think about it.

But don't take my word for it, I'm just a 26 year old Londoner who cuts his own hair..why not take Tom Clare's word for it. A long time manc follower who has written several books on his experience watching the babes in the 50s.

Forever a Babe: Growing Up with Manchester United, by Tom Clare
Tom Clare's History of Manchester United - MUST - the independent Manchester United supporters' trust

So the only reason anyone should be picked up on using the term Man U is "sloppy pheaseology"...and quite rightly. No one calls the Geordies Newcastle U or the Hammers West Ham U...but there is no disrespect or insult in it. It's just a silly old rumour that has gained credence and notoriety purely by virtue of being on the internet.

It certainly shouldn't be used as a knowledge badge of honour, like some sort of scout badge of redness, because it's anything but. In fact bringing up someone else on it, especially if you do it righteously, actually makes you look a little bit like a pillock, since it's most likely you who doesn't know what you're taking about.

Even if it was all true, and the phrase was created as a heinous insult, 99% of all the opposition fans that use it would have absolutely no idea why...hence removing the actual insult completely.

In short, if you take one lesson from this, it should be "don't believe the internet".... except this obviously.

Thankyou, and goodnight. Make sure you brush your teeth.

thanks mockney, thats a good read. So now i can carry on calling us "man u" like i have for the past 30yrs. And to be honest no one has ever said anything against the saying "man u" till i came on here!

you cut your own hair?

Best post i've read on this forum .

I always call Manchester United Man U, its just an abbreviation as I see it. And if i'm typing I also write Man U just to shorten it really.

Most people in Ireland refer to united as Man u, I had heard about the chants and all but I saw a documentary about Munich ( I think Bobby Charlton was in it) and that basically explained what you just did, but cheers for getting it out there Mockney, a few people in the Newbs have been hailed with abuse by 'superiour' fans over this particular subject.

I always refer to Manchester United as United or Man United...

Man U is maybe not an insult, but I think United fans just don't call their club like that, atleast the majority of them.

Welcome to 10 years ago mockney

Man U is still wrong. Plastic fans use it. That's a fact.

Ask Sheffied United fans if they like being called 'Sheff U'.

it's not an insult, true...still sounds shit and child-like though. I don't see why everyone just doesn't refer to us as 'United'

Very good and important read. This thread is saved for future reference.

This seem have become gospel as i have heard it many times before, that sayin Man U was an insult. However you have just discredited this line of thinking now all you have to spread the word, a least now if i see somebody picking someone up on it i can refer to this thread good read.

wow i did not know this all, i knew there was something with Man U but now i know, thnx, best post i ever seen on redcafe, for real.

I don't want everyone to start saying it willy nilly now...it's a bit of a shit term. We should be called United definitely. We don't need to 'reclaim' it or anything...that'd be annoying actually

But hopefully clearing up some of the myths around it will halt the righteous march of the e-warriors.

You're getting this from a thread that I brought this up in, the majority of us knew what you have said in the OP.

I would never say Man U because normally it's a bunch of spastics on Facebook groups that use it saying "Man U is the best! GGMU G&G" - Ishmael Ibrinhavico

Using every retarded abbreviation that makes in his mind makes his cock look bigger.

But because it's widely believed that it's insulting I believe that we shouldn't say it. Even though it's really not true, when you see it you automatically think of the whole story behind it don't you?

GGMU?

LOL, biggest load of shit ive read for a while. PLASTIC???? Dont think so, ive been a season ticket holder for years, travelled all over europe and for some knobhead to say that im a plastic fan.....load of shit....

I've never said Man U before, and it's probably because my dad never said it.

Always has been and will be united.

Not even sure to be honest, must be a malaysian thing, I assume it's GreenGoldManUnited or something

I don't like the term. Whether it is offending or not, I still don't like it.

i hate the term Man U..fecking hate it

Good post, I know what you mean about the original "googled" bollocks that appears everywhere -that stemmed from someone trying to ram his "no Man U" philosophy on the official manutd.com boards, a complete tosser.

Like you and others have said, it's not like we all think there should be a sudden upsurge in it's use -but this trend of jumping on people who use the term "Man U" should stop, there's really nothing wrong with it. Live and let live.

Nice read that was

But I still don't like saying Man U
It...just doesn't sound right

just checked it out online...apparently it's 'Glory Glory Man United' or 'Go Go Man United'....Jesus wept

It was funny how I was watching United-City home game (4-3) earlier this season on my national TV, and the commentator referred to United as Manchester! He referred to City as "City", but Manchester United was called only Manchester.

I personally don't like people calling us only Manchester, because we are not Manchester, we are Manchester United.
And, it could refer to City and us.

I go with United.

I''m not getting this from anything..I've seen 2 posts today slamming someone for using the term with the good old chestnut "you obviously don't know where that comes from" or "you're clearly not a proper fan if you don't know why we don't use that" argument..and I see it a good few times every week down here.

People being bashed for not knowing something that's rubbish to begin with is quite a good reason to start a thread regardless....And presumably some people think it'll help their promotion to "correct" people...Now they know it wont.

That's a bit of a contorted way of looking at it..Especially if the truth is that United fans have created the myth...You're saying that it's better to pretend it's an insult, because it makes us think of Munich, even though it's us that made up the connection anyway?

Eh? You've lost me. The truth is preferable to all....If it makes you think of Munich good, Munich should be remembered. Are you saying that even if you know it's not an insult, you actually think it is, because it makes you think it is?...If so, you've lost me again with your mysterious logic.

Like I said, and others have to, it's a phrase that most people don't like, because it sounds lazy and a bit childish...but to make people feel inferior for using it, or even worse that they're insulting the dead by using it, is ridiculous...and actually far more childlike

And you use the term 'Man U' at these "matches" you go to?

You can hear it being said too can't you

it may not have started out as an insult, but most people assume it is now anyway, so its morphed into one

it doesnt really matter that it was created with no mailice in mind..

this, very much so.

I've got a sore head, leave me alone

'Go Go Man United...you mighty morphin...'


I'll stop there before I embarrass myself

Sounds like an american "football" game with some cheerleaders going all crazy:

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO UNITED! " *squeaky girlish voice*

It hasn't morphed into one...Most oppo fans don't know jack shit about this whole Man U/Munich thing anyway, only the ones who frequent odd message boards....it's almost exclusively gullible United fans on the internet.

To be fair he has a point. When you think of the term 'Man U' you automatically think back to that kid in school who couldn't name three players who would claim to support 'Man U'. Maybe that's just me but that's why I've never used the term. I'm sure you would be one of the exceptions to that rule so I wouldn't take offense at it.

Good thread though. A lot of that information I was unaware of.

yep, i use the terms "man u" and "united" when i goto games, NO one has ever said anything.And out of the 17 lads i attend with a few of them say it to, One even shouts "come on man u"!

Man U is the cockney term for a team they shouldn't support.

Good post Mockney, I enjoyed reading it.

To be honest I've always corrected people when they say Man U.

Simply because I don't like it.

Cringeworthy.