Sir Jim, Why and Why Now?
It's not as if Manchester United is never off the news but it has always been driven through motivated punditry or biased media coverage but this time the lightning has struck from within....
Leave aside the deeply divisive comments about the state of UK, but its beyond human comprehension to understand the need or timing of this statement from Sir Jim. Was it sheer ignorance or a deliberate tirade not sure, but one cannot get over the statement that was made and impact that it will have in general.
I am neither a psychologist nor do I have a degree in this field, but this post is just a human analysis of these statements regarding Why and Why Now.
Let’s start with Why? Could it be some deep-seated emotions that was just waiting for an opportunity to find its way out or was it badly worded? It is difficult to imagine that person of his stature wouldn’t be media trained and importantly don’t realize the weight his words carry. No matter how you try to look at it, picture doesn’t fit the frame isn’t it!
Colonization is such a painful word to use and on a personal note the ramification of the colonization is still felt in my country even after 78 years of Independence and for him to have used in this globally mobile and connected word, feels unnatural unless there are motivations behind it. May be only time will tell.
Let’s zoom in a bit into our Club. Our Club’s fanbase is the most diverse and most passionate amongst all the clubs on the planet. Let’s look at first team, our academy, how many of them are from migrant families and add to the fact that Manchester is one of the most multicultural places in England, then question is as part owner of Manchester United, was this is a responsible statement to make?
The burning question is Why Now? I mean seriously, of all the time that he could have chosen to speak on a topic (that clearly seems to be closer his heart), the timing couldn’t have been worse. We are just recovering from horror show under the pretend manager Amorim and are finally seeing some joy on field and suddenly this. One cannot help but think – when is this curse going to lift? Again, time will only tell.
The psychological impact it can have on his staff in general at INEOS and players, non-playing staff, administrative staff at the club cannot be underplayed. It has most definitely created an uncomfortable calm, and one will only hope it doesn’t end up disintegrating already weak foundation of our club.
UK off late has seen rumblings around illegal immigration and if the statement was targeted at illegal immigration, then statement might have been interpreted differently but having just said immigrants the tone and complexion has changed significantly. The conversations that might have been happening in elite parties or between mates, is now out in the open and one would think the genie is now out of the bottle.