There are only two types of people on earth

Manutd McFans and ABUs

I'm a proud ABU

Good to know, watch out Norwich is close

Sorry for being thick but what's an ABU?

It's this acronym the defensive United fans have created.

Anyone But United

Here's how pathetic it is.
http://www.manutdtalk.com/index.php?entries/fergie-hits-out-at-abu-media.1423/

Ah right I see!

So in summary no one actually has any solid evidence that United get decisions... the statistics don't show any real bias to United... the only thing pointing that way is because some people believe it to be true.

I am sorry but until you can provide some solid evidence your in the same category as the 9/11 truthers, scientologists and those who believe Reptilians walk around in human skin.

All valid theories that are probably true but just lack the key thing which is evidence...

comment by 7_T_B We're all cheering you on Muamba! (U5768)
posted 2 minutes ago
So in summary no one actually has any solid evidence that United get decisions... the statistics don't show any real bias to United... the only thing pointing that way is because some people believe it to be true.

I am sorry but until you can provide some solid evidence your in the same category as the 9/11 truthers, scientologists and those who believe Reptilians walk around in human skin.

All valid theories that are probably true but just lack the key thing which is evidence...
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Again the ABU defences come up.

Yet again, nobody has said that United get more decisions that anybody else. Simply, people have said that to judge whether this is true or not, you'd have to look at incorrect decisions over a season, not how many have been given.

Why is this so hard for you people to understand?

7 T B - Agreed there is no statistical evidence that Man Utd get preferential treatment.

Let us ignore anecdotal for a second from both sides.

Will you accept that saying how many pentalties have been conceded at OT is not proof that they are not given preferential treatment.

I have not once suggested they do - I have just pointed out that to claim they have a set number of penalties against them is alone a meaningless statistic.

hopefully we can agree on that.

TOOR - thank you that's exactly right! I can't believe people are struggling with this so much...

This isn't anti-United... it is completely neutral... the statistic given is not proof!

Yet again, nobody has said that United get more decisions that anybody else.

.......................

Stupidity at it's highest. You just keep on providing proof.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yet again, nobody has said that United get more decisions that anybody else.

.......................

Stupidity at it's highest. You just keep on providing proof.
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from you, I'll take that comment as a compliment.

normally what you say is the opposite of the truth.

comment by There'sOnlyOneReds (U1721)
posted 2 hours, 8 minutes ago

It's this acronym the defensive United fans have created.

Anyone But United

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I think it was coined on MOTD by LIverpool stalwart Alan Hansen. I thought we only dealt with facts here?

There seems to be 2 threads motion here. United fans argue that we don't get preferential treatment, Mr Mortimer and TOOR argue that it's irrelevant whether they do or not, the point is that if they did then the number of penalties awarded wouldn't be a meaningful stat to measure this by.

I can't believe we've got to 212 comments in an argument about metrics.

"I think it was coined on MOTD by LIverpool stalwart Alan Hansen. I thought we only dealt with facts here?"

Is this true?

"There seems to be 2 threads motion here. United fans argue that we don't get preferential treatment, Mr Mortimer and TOOR argue that it's irrelevant whether they do or not, the point is that if they did then the number of penalties awarded wouldn't be a meaningful stat to measure this by."

Wrong. We don't argue it's irrelevant. We argue that to measure if you do get preferential treatment or not, you have to take into consideration correct and incorrect decisions over a set amount of time, not how many decisions were given.

Again the ABU defences come up.

Yet again, nobody has said that United get more decisions that anybody else. Simply, people have said that to judge whether this is true or not, you'd have to look at incorrect decisions over a season, not how many have been given.

Why is this so hard for you people to understand?
...................................

You clearly did not read my post. Not once did I mention ABU's.

I would also like to point out that I didn't label anyone still continuing this discussion.

What I basically stated is that those who believe the it is hard to get penalties at Old Trafford myth are no different to those that believe 9/11 was taken down by other means without any proof or those that believe reptiles walk around in human skin without any proof.

Without evidence it really is just a conspiracy theory, until some evidence is actually produced to support it I will give it the same credence I give to the other conspiracy theories.

I don't think the burden of proof sits with the accused.

"I think it was coined on MOTD by LIverpool stalwart Alan Hansen. I thought we only dealt with facts here?"

Is this true?

Yes.

As a neutral, I don't think Man U get preferential treatment. They are headline grabbing media gold due to their popularity, loved and hated by many, so they attract this type of scrutiny after one decision goes their way.

The Carrick/Murphy challenge did look like a valid tackle at first and from the refs view I don't blame him for not giving it. Who'd be a ref eh?

I half agree with that. I do remember a time when United didn't have a penalty awarded against them for ten seasons, so one can see where that 'myth' comes from.

However, again, I have to say that to have a true measure on that, you have to see how many of those were correct and incorrect decisions. A margin for human error also has to be allowed. And even after that, you have to take the percentage and compare that to other clubs.

comment by The Post Nearly Man (U1270)
posted 1 minute ago
"I think it was coined on MOTD by LIverpool stalwart Alan Hansen. I thought we only dealt with facts here?"

Is this true?

Yes.
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Do you have an elaboration on that? How did he come to use 'ABU'?

I half agree with that. I do remember a time when United didn't have a penalty awarded against them for ten seasons, so one can see where that 'myth' comes from.
.................................

Actually it was that the opposition didn't score one for 10 years, there were actually 2 or 3 given in that time. Myth busted.

Without proof the myth of it being harder to get a penalty at Old Trafford will remain so until someone provides some solid evidence proving otherwise. As is the usual with accusations it is the accuser that must provide the evidence and so far no one is willing to provide evidence.

For the moment it is just another conspiracy theory...

Just the old memory I'm afraid. Distinctly remember it though.

I can substantiate it about as well as I can prove that United get preferential treatment at Old Trafford.

Just the old memory I'm afraid. Distinctly remember it though.

I can substantiate it about as well as I can prove that United get preferential treatment at Old Trafford.
..........................

I see what your doing there...

i've just seen the 'penalty' incident again and i don't even reckon it's as clear cut as everyone's making out. the contact is minimal, and accidental, in the extreme and murphy was most definitely looking for it. in fact i think his over-exaggerated fall might even have made it more difficult to give it, and should therefore have led to a booking for diving. it was by no means a stone wall penalty and the more i see it i'm actually starting to doubt if it was a penalty at all.

comment by ole_1999 (U13262)
posted 1 minute ago
i've just seen the 'penalty' incident again and i don't even reckon it's as clear cut as everyone's making out. the contact is minimal, and accidental, in the extreme and murphy was most definitely looking for it. in fact i think his over-exaggerated fall might even have made it more difficult to give it, and should therefore have led to a booking for diving. it was by no means a stone wall penalty and the more i see it i'm actually starting to doubt if it was a penalty at all.
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Do you have a clip of it?

7 t b
The trouble is neither TOOR or I started this thread… the post was created with the purpose of “proving” that the myth was false using the penalties as a measure.

We are not claiming the myth is true – we are saying that this is not proof that it is false.

The myth of preferential treatment can be true even if United have given away penalties at Old Trafford. Say they give away 5… if they should have conceded 50 then they could getting preferential treatment still!

If goalkeeper A lets in 5 goals and goalkeeper B lets in 1 – does that prove goalkeeper A is better than goalkeeper B?
What if goalkeeper A is playing against Barcelona, 3 of his defenders are sent off and he faces 200 shots – pulling off spectacular saves – and none of the goals being his fault.
Goalleeper B is playing in an under 12 league in South Devon.

Can you quote the stats and prove that goalkeeper B is better than goalkeeper A?