The 12th player and the ups and downs of football.

In fact, if a team's performance is poor, it's very rare for fans to turn against the team or the players; if it does happen, it's usually against the team's management or owner.

Fans at Vinh Stadium. (Archive photo)

So here's the story of Manchester United fans in the English Premier League as this famous and beloved team gradually declines, all connected to the Glazer family—the American owners of the club. What fans and experts need right now is for "the Glazers to explain themselves to the fans as the team's downward spiral continues."

Former player Gary Neville stated, “Without leadership, without a voice, you can’t blame individual players or coaches. You have to look from above, you have to look from the top down. There’s a family in America over there letting their staff get beaten up, and that’s unforgivable. Joel Glazer (the American owner) has to get on a plane tomorrow, has to go to Manchester and tell everyone what his evil plan for the team is,” and “They have to show up and face it. They can’t keep hiding the damage to the team…”

To be clear, a football team may be owned by one or more wealthy individuals, both domestically and internationally. However, this doesn't mean the owner can do whatever they want without considering the team's performance or disregarding the opinions of the media and fans. The media and fans will not allow this; in fact, they will force the owner to intervene genuinely and properly to improve the team, meeting and serving the needs of the majority of supporters.

In our country, there was a conflict between SHB Da Nang Sports Joint Stock Company and the fans of the orange-colored team in 2019, meaning it had nothing to do with the coach or players of the team. The conflict stemmed from a dispute over the operating budget of the fan club, which, due to a lack of proper resolution, led to regrettable consequences. The company's leadership had promised to provide funding to the fan club but then failed to do so. The reasons given were that there needed to be written documentation, a charter, a bank account, etc. Then came the back-and-forth, demands to cut and add funds, the creation of a new club alongside the old one, to the point that even those who had been deeply committed to Da Nang football were boycotted and verbally abused by the fans…

It goes without saying that since Da Nang football became professional and abandoned the subsidy system, it has led to various problems related to the famous Chi Lang Stadium, the fragmentation of the orange-clad fan base compared to before, and especially, what is the current state of the team's performance?

Let's look at the bigger picture. For a long time, Song Lam Nghe An fans have been renowned for their unwavering support of their hometown team. However, recently, there have been instances of fans "changing their minds," expressing dissatisfaction with the players... This is very different and alarming, suggesting a potential for fragmentation if all related issues are not handled thoroughly and thoughtfully.

When Song Lam Nghe An was operating under the old model, when the team faced difficulties, provincial leaders and the Sports Department would step in to support them, even leaders like Mr. Hong Thanh and Mr. Van Chiem would take the blame. Now, it seems things are similar to the Glazer story mentioned above: the team is struggling and doesn't know who to turn to; when the team faces difficulties, no one directly steps forward to shoulder the burden. Worryingly, experts and fans are left listening to the coach's statements, promises that can't be kept, and then more promises. Then, frustrated players, in a fit of impulsiveness, do something that should never be done – clashing with fans – and then apologizing but still feeling resentful…

An arrow shot cannot be retrieved, and words spoken impulsively are difficult to "clarify" or "correct," especially with those who were once close or intimately connected. Only the vivid reality and the passage of time can erase the regrettable things that have happened. In truth, everyone has to learn many things beyond their area of ​​expertise. Doing things honestly is harder than speaking the truth. Mistakes are necessary for learning the truth.

Fortunately, Manchester United is gradually improving after a long period of struggle, and the story between the fans and the Glazer family is fading into the past, giving way to a wonderful atmosphere at the "Theatre of Dreams".

The issue of orange and yellow fans, as mentioned above, hopefully will soon pass, restoring the traditional orange and yellow colors to the stands, at least for… the next season, 2023?