You wrote that a steward told you to sit down because City fans were complaining, didn't you? Or was the disagree a response to me saying you rarely agree with me?
Well this is a novel article started by someone who didn`t attend,, the irony of it is overwhelming. Having actually been there the `small` amount of City fans in the stadium did the club proud, don`t criticise people for not attending when you were one of those who didn`t attend, no matter what excuse you use for none attendance.
I'm just watching the match on TV now and I can see where I was sat (525) and I know it was half time but there seemed very few people there yet it was packed all around me during the match and pretty much so at half time. It must have been some kind of optical illusion.
This is what winds me up most of all - at Stoke there were a couple of guys in a row behind me asking if I was gonna sit, I pointed to all the empty seats in front of us and told them if they wanted to stand with a guy 20 years older they could, but if they HAD to sit, there were plenty of seats among the really old people. They stood with the rest of us
I was in block 121 yesterday. Posh seats lower tier, under the cameras so probably not shown on tv. The block despite being one of the most coveted had loads of empty seats for some reason. I'm sure this one was one of many that showed as full yet then shows later as not full. City OAPs and well to do folks in the main - not sure many were up to prolonged standing and shouting. At the bottom there was a group of about twenty people, women, kids, normals, half and halfers etc. One chap attempted a half hearted bounce at one stage and got told by those around to sit down which he did pronto. A minor fight developed in the second half and someone got led out. One or two more trudged out in the last few minutes and on full time, no colours, looking glum to well-meaning commiserations and a safe journey home to your sty type comments. Stewards on top of it all from the first half, and monitoring in case of confrontations. They were sworn at, ridiculed, told to **** off to the other end etc by OAPs, women, you name it but no one is going to hurtle down and attack some family group from Sheffield under the watchful eye of 5 or 6 stewards. Similar stuff in the next block. Again, half full down at the bottom, some young lass in a SWFC shirt dumb parents not wanting to spoil her day by telling her no. Same scenario: monitored by stewards, ridiculed and abused by those around them.
I'm just watch the match now and just seen replays of Diame's goal. You can see packed ranks of City fans on the bottom tiers behind the goal and on the side opposite the tunnel as well as a lot in the middle tier. OK not as much as Sheffield but it wasn't as if we were lonely.
I know quite a few who were regulars for years, stopped going because of the Allams and still weren't tempted by Wembley. I imagine there were quite a few people who did the same. It wasn't less daytrippers than the last Wembley trips we were mainly missing out on, it was core support that have been driven away.
You must have been in a different block 121 from us - ours seemed pretty full, decent support with a good mix of "standers" and "singers" with no bad feeling or disputes. We had a great day out!
I dont always agree with you but that might just be nearing the top. Strangely enough it includes Wednesday twice.
Disagree. It's mostly daytrippers we've lost. There's no way the missing 10k are all 'core' supporters.
Even though I left because of the Allams my first major jolt and disappointment was away at Anfield when Gerrard fouled Turner twice and we ended up with a 2-2 draw. Was the first time I'd ever been told to sit down by my own fans. Was a gutting day. It was then I really knew supporting football had changed. I really thought what's the point? Football was being aimed at the happy clappers. That was fine if us non- happy clappers were left alone to stand and sing together. But they don't want that. They want a product. They want something to sell. And anyone that stands in their way gets flattened. Day in day out the masses go to work and make the country tick over. Drones, but the most important people in the country as we keep it going. Keeping the rich, rich. As always. And now? Control of our past-time. Our joy. Football. The more happy clappers, the better for them. Sell the masses a product with no questions, reap the rewards. The rich get richer. As always. Then step in the Allams. Football started dying years ago. And many values went with it. Football needs handing back to the 'core fans', before it disappears into a million magnolia coloured fields, never to be seen in its true, wonderful form ever again.
