Theatre of Streams - Old Trafford is falling down as Manchester United reach breaking point
Manchester United fans who decided to leave Old Trafford early on Sunday evening during the defeat to Arsenal would have been counting their blessings after seeing the state their beloved stadium was in come full-time.
The Theatre of Dreams (or should that be 'Streams'?) has more often than not resembled that of nightmares in the past decade but the biblical scenes we witnessed in the latter stages of the defeat to the Gunners show the club has finally reached breaking point. As the rain teemed down on Old Trafford, the stadium capitulated as draining pipes gave way and the leaky roof caved in once more.
This problem is by no means a new phenomenon to match-going supporters. It has become common custom for fans to be dodging the rain when sat inside Old Trafford.
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However on this occasion, the world was watching as the scale of the Glazers' neglect became clear. From the press box to the Stretford End, nowhere was safe from the hordes of water that lashed into the stadium.
United became a laughingstock as the footage of Old Trafford was beamed globally. beINSPORTS pundit Andy Gray chuckled: "That is ridiculous, look at it," as Richard Keys insisted it is a shame to see how far United's home has crumbled.
But it is more than just a shame, it is a travesty and one which the Glazers should be forced to pay for. Never should the stadium have been left to rack and ruin in the manner that it has.
Old Trafford used to be an iconic sporting venue and the way it has been left to effectively die is nothing short of vandalism by the current ownership. Fortunately, there is some light at the end of this particularly diabolic week for United.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made the redevelopment of Old Trafford his top priority and the taskforce is believed to have been working hard on securing support for the project after meeting with Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday.
But the damage Sunday's scenes have caused to the reputation of United could be irreversible for the foreseeable future.
How is Ratcliffe meant to sell the narrative that United are a club on the up to potential new signings this summer when their home is in this appalling state? The Glazers may have their hands off the football now but today's dark scenes at Old Trafford show their influence could be felt for many more years to come.