Manchester United supporters are planning a protest ahead of Sunday's Manchester Derby, with The 1958 fan group arguing that loyal fans were unfairly banned as part of a ticket tout crackdown. The group has encouraged participants to gather outside The Bishop Blaize pub from 3pm for a peaceful protest before the 4.30pm kick-off.
Protest over ticket bans
“A line has been crossed,” the group wrote on social media. “Manchester United are sanctioning and banning loyal, generational Reds without clear and compelling evidence.”
“These owners want rid of lifelong matchgoers. Their strategy is clear to see. It’s a cull! We challenged them. We demanded the unproven suspensions stop. They haven’t listened. Show the evidence or lift the bans.”
The protest comes as United prepare to kick off their Champions League campaign against Sabah, the Azeri champions and competition debutants. The European test will be followed by the derby, with Manchester City visiting Old Trafford.
Giggs opposes Gabriel loan
Former United winger Ryan Giggs believes JJ Gabriel needs to remain part of the first-team set-up this season. Gabriel, 15, helped Darren Fletcher's Under-18 team reach the FA Youth Cup final last season and is now eligible to play Premier League football but is waiting for a competitive first opportunity after playing in pre-season.
“Well, I think he is sort of a generational talent, he's got to stay,” Giggs said on Rio Ferdinand Presents when asked if Gabriel should be loaned out. “There’s no point in going out on loan because he’s at the best place and he’d be dipping in and out of the first team, so that experience is invaluable.”
“Not only the games and the training, but actually travelling with the team, seeing the expectation of Man United, the focus is so huge on Manchester United, you need to get used to that.”
“I think you go on loan when you’re 19, 20, not, you know, the next few years, you expect him to, if he’s going the same way, to be in the first team soon as a regular, not just dipping in and out. Sometimes you have to be patient, sometimes it gets to a point where you just can’t not pick him and not have him train in the first team.”
United go into the game off the back of a shaky start, especially defensively. They have conceded twice in each of their first three league outings, picking up four points from meetings with Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton.
