Sadly, I think United will have too much today, not saying the score, it is too unpredictable, as long as we make a good try of it, I suspect our season will start to get underway after the Arsenal game. Justing hoping for a lucky break or two, but we don't get too many of those, we normally have to make our own luck.
Considering you pretty much need a season ticket to get into this one, exactly how many 'plastics' can there be?
I have no idea. Man United can be the greatest on their day. But, they can also be shocking. It all depend on team selection and SAF getting it right. Head: 1-2 Heart: 2-1
We have always created chances but put away too few of them. It was a mild annoyance last season, but could be crucial this year. Having said that, once our new signings settle in (hopefully) we'll be a different team. Anything from united and Arsenal will be a bonus...but we must kick on a bit after that.
I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if we come away with anything better than a 3-0 defeat. I just hope that we don't get absolutely torn apart.
I really don't get the "plastic fans" comment. Let's say we didn't have any "plastic fans" (which is a really stupid term in itself) last season, this means we have about 25k "real fans". So the other 7k seats are taken up by "plastic fans" against Man Utd... which means the atmosphere is dead because all of a sudden the 25k "real fans" are silenced by the mere presence of people who aren't SUPERFANS like them? No, that's stupid. Calling anyone a plastic fan is stupid.
So we have complaints when the non-regular football attendees do turn up (ie today), and we have complaints when they don't turn up (ie last weekened). What do people want? Do they want the 'plastics' (awful term) turning up or not? I couldn't care one iota. If there's 1,000 fans inside SMS, or 32,000, doesn't bother me. I'm there, that's all I care about. Those that don't turn up every week have their reasons, and that's their business. Fine by me.
I have always suspected that people who talk about plastic fans are also the ones who get on the back of the team, because they basically lack tolerance or understanding of others.
I don't think the team will be up for this game, and will lose 4-0. Just got a feeling that this is a game that we can afford to lose and the team therefore won't be fighting tooth and nail to win it. Although with lee, cork, ramirez, yoshida, and mayuka still to be worked into the system we can only improve. Even if we lose our next 3 games I won't be at all worried. Adkins is a brilliant manager and will get the best out of an extremely talented team it just might take a bit of time.
Believe me the team will be up for it. Footballers always want to get the better of the big sides. That is why you get cup upsets.
I think the mistake that some people make is assuming that the 20-25k gates we got in League 1 were all the same people every week. I reckon we probably have 40-50k or more who go to a few games a season or more, none of whom would consider themselves "plastic" (whatever that means). And yes, it completely make sense that if you are going to choose a handful of games, Man Utd, Pompey or the JPT Final are going to be high up on the list.
My feeling isn't at all rational, it's probably a reflection of how I was more concerned with signing ramirez than today's match
