Man Utd may ‘hand out song sheets’ to Old Trafford fans

Once it was known as the Theatre of Dreams but such is the lack of atmosphere these days at Old Trafford that Manchester United are “considering handing out song sheets to supporters at home games”.

According to The Times the silence has become deafening at Old Trafford to the point where Jose Mourinho can hear himself think. 

The paper says that the Special One “has complained about the atmosphere on several occasions since taking over 22 months ago”, and one solution being considered by the United hierarchy is to hand out song sheets before matches.

They board has consulted the club’s fans after Mourinho criticised Old Trafford for being a “quiet stadium” last month, comparing the lack of noise generated by United fans with the raucous atmosphere at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park.

The Times says that United may print out song sheets containing the club’s most popular chants and distribute them to supporters as they enter the ground. Another option, claims the paper, is to print lyrics in the match-day programme or post them on the club’s website “so that fans who attend fewer games know the words before they get to the stadium”.

The revelation is unlikely to be viewed in a favourable light by the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), who have enjoyed a strained relationship with their manager throughout his tenure.

In November MUST invited Mourinho to a meeting to “discuss his concerns” about the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford. “There are differing views amongst supporters on precisely how to interpret the manager’s comments,” said a MUST statement in response to criticism from Mourinho. 

“However it’s probably fair to say there is a universal desire within the stadium to see atmosphere improved just as there is at other Premier League clubs. There are a number of factors that have contributed to atmosphere decline over the decades, some of which could be addressed with better co-operation between clubs and supporters.”

Perhaps the best way to improve the atmosphere would be for United to play more adventurous football instead of the style that recently had them anointed the “most boring team in the league”.