I have been to some dumps in my time with crappy atmosphere in the Irish League. Was at Old Trafford last night and there was 75k+ there and it was, erm, alright. Plenty of young trendys and mums with offspring. The odd song was started up which then died a death soon after. I was in the ****y seats but they were right beside the 'fabled' Stretford End. I'm not going to compare it to an Old Firm game as that would be unfair but I have been to both Goodison and Anfield were they were not chasing the league and the atmosphere was far better. Prawn sandwich brigade indeed.
For all the desire we have to get into the Premier League you can pretty much kiss good bye to the traditional atmosphere. Half the stadium will be filled with corporate pricks who don't even support the team.
There was a guy in the row next to us who was obviously a fan and he was getting frustrated and standing up giving it 'come on UTD, get into them they're ****e' etc and a right few around us were looking at each other as if the guy was out of order. He was just a frustrated fan watching his team play crap and venting it a bit.
Depends on the game Ciaran. A routine home game against one of the league's smaller clubs will be pretty tepid. Surely you realised that when you got the tickets? As for us chasing the title making it better, that's the case every season at United so it's not going to make much difference. If you went to the derby, or United vs Liverpool, you'd be pretty impressed. There wouldn't be much to choose between those and the Old Firm games. The same goes for the big European games, if not more so. I seem to remember Del Piero saying that he's never played in a more intimidating place than Old Trafford. We might not have a big gay anthem like YNWA, but we can make noise when we need to.
No offence to Ciaran, but if the average Salforder/Manc hadn't being priced out of OT and been replaced by Paddies, Orientals and posh pricks, we'd still have a great atmosphere every game, not just in the big ones. Then again, we wouldn't be a 'global brand'.
Talked to about 20 people while there, at least 15 Paddies. No messing. Strange. My wee boy loved it all the same, Rooney scoring was the icing. Mad to hear all those Irish accents, you were right Jip.
In England? Bullshit. I avidly await your verdict of how the Southampton fans blow the roof off your identikit stadium every other week. There's a lot of Leeds who've been priced out, banned for **** all and driven away by the presence of Bates. The Stretford End has cheaper season tickets than the Elland Road Kop (I know, right), you've bought your way to the top of English football and dominated it for two decades and I still don't believe you have a better atmosphere for your average home game. Both clubs have lost fans, but I think it says a lot that ours can still be arsed most weeks and yours have capitulated to the tourists and corporates. We join our Trust and push for standing areas and better atmospheres. Your hardcore form another club and **** off to division 10 to rub willies with Guiseley and Skelmersdale.
The Irish are alright, they come a long way and they love the club as much as me or any United fan. The only difference is that they don't have any particular affinity for the place our team represents. It's the corporates who wouldn't recognise Bobby Charlton if they tripped over him, and the camera-wielding daytrippers from the other side of the world that irritate me.
Manc in racism shocker always the foreigners fault, but not you ciaran as I know you and wouldnt want to offend you on a forum Its because of these foreigners that the likes of rooney can be afforded Lets go back to the old days, all us english paying next to nothing to go and have a fight with other englishmen.
Was football any less enjoyable years ago when we didn't have overpaid spoiled brats as footballers and entry into the stadium didn't cost a day's wages?
They're not our hardcore though Loiner. And a lot of them still go to OT anyway. The fact we've dominated for 20 years is the reason for the low-key atmosphere at many games. When you're used to playing Barcelona and Milan, the likes of Fulham at home doesn't excite some. You compare your fans sticking around to ours not doing, but somehow I don't think the clamour for tickets at Elland road is the same as it is at OT. For every seat at OT, there's 5 prawners/Koreans waiting to snap it up. The Stretford End comparison is moot also. The Stretty is the cheapest end. Plus you shag sheep
Honestly? I think football is MUCH better now than it was in the 70's/80's and 90's. The only gripe I would have is the price I think its nostalgia that gets people thinking of the 'good ole days', but were they good? I know I would never have taken a kid to a football match years ago, what with piss and **** flying about and dickheads pissed out of their heads looking for a fight DOnt get me wrong I dont necessarily agree with the wages etc, but all in all its better football, better quality due to the foreign influx and altogether IMO a better atmosphere
