ALL the fuss over 'boring' Man United begs the question why do supporters go to football?

Is it to see their team win matches or to be entertained?

United fans might have been asking themselves the same question in a week which saw them win a 1-0 bore and then draw a 3-3 thriller.

I wonder which one they were most happy with.

There were plenty of moans after last week's FA Cup win against Sheffield United after which even their manager Louis van Gaal said he side sometimes bores him.

But they won.

A few days later they entertained just like the old days.

But they drew.

The obvious answer to what people want is a team that entertains and wins but that's just pie in the sky for anybody but the best.

United aren't the best anymore so have to choose.

I think Van Gaal has the right idea. If United attack they concede goals, if they defend they either don't or concede the odd one.

From that basis they can look to catch teams on the break or rely on a moment of inspiration from the likes of Wayne Rooney or Anthony Martial to win the game.

It's not going to wake anyone up but it's more likely to win games and provide a platform from which they can gradually bring in more entertainment as the team evolves.

United are not on their own in the win-or-entertain debate. Every club faces the same dilemma.

And every club's fans' demands are different. It basically depends on whether they have a chance of winning something.

Fans of teams going for the title care less about being entertained and far more about getting the three points any which way.

Clubs whose fans think they have little or no chance of winning things – and United now find themselves in that bracket – care a lot more about being entertained because the points mean less.

If United get back to former glories and are going head-to-head with, say, Manchester City for the title and need to win their last few games to win the league, their fans won't care less about being entertained as long as they get the three points.

You only have to look back at other teams who have won the title.

United used to do it in style, but they are the exception rather than the rule in that respect.

Chelsea were functional in winning their titles over the last decade or so, but their fans didn't care.

Same with Arsenal under George Graham. Gunners fans actually used to celebrate playing boring, winning football by singing "1-0 to the Arsenal".

Can you see United fans singing that these days? Neither can I. They might if they were winning the title though.

Football is no different to other sports in this respect.

When an athlete wins a gold medal in the Olympic Games nobody turns round and says "yes, but he's not very entertaining" do they?

Sebastian Coe, Alan Wells, Linford Christie, Jonathan Edwards, Jessica Ennis-Hill – the list is endless – went about their business of winning Olympic gold in a businesslike and professional manner but still had the whole country willing them to win Olympic gold.

And you won't find a more respected sportsman than retired jockey AP McCoy and he didn't need to entertain anyone to earn his support.

It's good to entertain but it's better to win.