For some reason, Jesse Lingard severely divides opinion.
The Manchester United man is hard-working, committed, provides important cover in a number of positions, and has a knack for scoring important goals. That said, there are just as many United supporters who feel he is a weak link in the current squad as there are fans who love to see a homegrown talent starring for the club.
That is the nature of football fandom and everyone is entitled to their opinion. One of the joys of the national game is that it generates such disagreement and debate. That Lingard in particular attracts such strong feelings is perhaps a little bizarre, but his new contract at United certainly stirred up discussion about his worth.
The 24-year-old has committed to his boyhood club for four more years in a deal worth anywhere between £75k and £100k a week, and that is either well deserved or obscene, depending on your point of view. Although, Old Trafford alum Gary Neville was surprised when journalist Mark Ogden highlighted a divide in opinion.
Who does he divide opinion with? https://t.co/zGXFLtyACh
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
The Sky Sports pundit went on to suggest that people who were unhappy about Lingard’s new deal were not really Manchester United fans if that was their standpoint, highlighting the fact that the energetic midfielder had been at the club since he was a young child.
They aren't United fans really. They can't be if they are against a kid that's been at the club since he was 7. https://t.co/5r0hY1h8Ag
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 7, 2017
Although many responded with tweets making the case for and against Lingard, highlighting his strengths and weaknesses, quite a number took exception to that fact that Neville was questioning whether fans were legitimately supporters of the club based on their point of view. They were upset that their allegiance was being questioned.
Now that is total nonsense, if someone is bang average in someones opinion how can you say they aren't fans, that is idiotic
— Tim 🏴 (@Tim_Pardoe) April 7, 2017
@GNev2 telling fans who have spent thousands to watch United home and away,that they're not fans because they don't rate a certain player🤔
— Stephen Ward (@steward001) April 7, 2017
My dads been a united fan 50 years but because he knows Lingard is shit he's not a real united fan? Shut up Gary
— Dominic (@DHardcastle) April 7, 2017
Paying over a grand a season to watch the team play week in week out, but if you don't rate Lingard then you aren't a real fan. LOL.
— Tim Johnson (@tj689908) April 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/Robbie_Thompson/status/850281404843917312
Aren't united fans because they recognise a player isn't good enough? Suppose every player from the academy should stay and be overpaid
— Duncan Clowes (@brahmadrunk) April 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/EEMufCPM/status/850323127741673473
Not against him, he just ain't good enough. But thanks Gary for clearing up what a 'real fan' is. https://t.co/aIJL5tfTkS
— Tim Johnson (@tj689908) April 7, 2017
So fans are required to rate a player, even if he's often poor, if he's been at the club for awhile? Nonsense. Allow people their opinions.
— MUFC_Jay (@JayceMUFC) April 7, 2017
Aren't united fans 😂 we don't want shitty mediocre over paid English players in the team so we aren't fans 🤔
— Lee Jordan (@IamLeeJordan) April 7, 2017
It’s true what they say about opinions being like arseholes – everyone else’s stinks.
