The atmosphere at OT can be ****, I don't deny that. The suggestion that our fans are "artificial" is ridiculous, especially coming from a Chelsea fan. Obviously it's a while since we were in a lower league but when we were our attendance record, home and away, broke records. That's not true of City. It's certainly not true of Chelsea who were pulling in comical attendances in the 80's. Probably all news to you.
Indeed I can as I know a few of the countless "season ticket holders" who sell on their tickets. I went to Chelsea v City as I was in London, £60 a ticket, seemed a lot but I don't think that was much of a premium based on Chavskis standard prices. At the time it was a big game because Chelsea still thought they could win the title but we had no problem getting 8 tickets.
You're being pretty naive aswell as hypocritcal here, you blast a Chelsea fan for calling you artificial yet you (a United fan) have the cheek to call us the same? Behave son. I was born in the early 80's so it's impossible for me to remember, however my dad was there and so were many on this Chelsea board. It's called relegation my friend, tends to lower the attendances, no matter who you are. United have always had good support, we're not denying that so keep your knickers on! It's not the amount of fans you have, it's the passion they show. United have millions of fans compared to City and like I said, I was blown away by the noise they made (in like you said, a stadium with empty seats). Nobody was intentionally having a jibe AT United on here, just speaking of experience and fact. You yourself have just agreed!
don't lecture me "son" and relegation didn't lower our attendances by much. Also, read my comments about City's fans, they certainly have a hardcore. When they were in the third tier they were getting 20,000 and the atmosphere at Maine Road could be electric, not been to the Council House yet Chelsea weren't getting that many in the second tier, your dad will confirm that.
Don't patronise me then, nobody on here has said United have a **** fan base (which is what you're acting like, don't think I've ignored the Chav/Chelski remarks), just the atmosphere is far superior at the moment at The etihad than OT. I would rather have a small amount of loud fans who can generate a **** storm than 45,000 pillocks who sit there 'for the experience'.
Ok, we're finding some middle ground here. if you are a regular at Stamford Bridge then surely you noticed the crap atmosphere? It has to be one of the worst in the PL. I go about half a dozen times a season for work and friends reasons. When you were in (the old) Division 2 your crowds were ****. Now you get close to a sell out of hardcore Chelsea fans who happened to be too busy polishing their bling and shaven heads during the **** years. City have their 25,000 and they are HARDCORE but even today they can't fill the stadium. I respect the 25,000 today, as I did when they were relying on Paul Dickov, but many of the modern City fans would think 1968 was a toxic year.
I will be the first to admit the atmosphere can be crap, but it also depends on where you sit. I take it you're in the West/East stands? MH Stand and the Shed are the only stands that generate any noise and half of the Shed is the away end! That leaves about 13,000 people who actually bother to sing. The rest I agree with.
Yes, never been in the Harding or Shed, although being brutally honest I've heard plenty of noise from the Shed but not the Harding. when possible we do Fulham on the same weekend. I absolutely love Craven Cottage in the same way I loved The Dell.
There you go then! Honestly, visit one of the two, the East/West are like morgues. I had to settle for the West Upper for the United game and **** me it was brutal. Growing up my season ticket was in the old family section and even that had more of a buzz . Craven Cottage is class, was there the other week! I always try and go to the Fulham games every season, bit of a tradition.
Considering you are putting yourself forward as an expert on crowds and atmosphere your stats are crap, City like Chelsea have real fans who are passionate about their clubs and I would say in numbers are on a par with the real fans at the "swamp", you then announce you have not been to the Etihad yet! Typical glory hunting, prawn sandwich eating ****!
