Atmosphere 2024/25

[bobbyowenquiff]

Only time I saw more randoms than last night was the Real Madrid semi.

Fucking loads of them there last night, very few looked like they’d ever seen football before, most looked completely disinterested while the game was going on and were only animated when taking pictures of their good looking female friend pre-game/half-time/full-time holding up their City scarf with their back to the pitch.

Fair play to the one Spanish lad a few rows behind me who didn’t speak a word of English but spent the whole game calling their players and the referee ‘puta’s at the top of his voice. But he was just one from what seemed like about a thousand around me last night.

Utterly bored of all these non-City fans at games me. I’d rather have empty seats. I am thinking of moving to the new tier in the North Stand, but I really hope City just make that tier for proper City fans instead of these football tourists.

Did you have time to watch the game or were you too busy vetting your fellow fans?

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

Classic example of not letting the truth get in the way of a good story.

I've noticed a lot that many people online and within the media seem to almost worship these European ultras and just continually bash English fans.

Inter fans were shite yesterday, I barely heard them at all from 232, and I can normally hear the away fans clearly from there

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Was I in the wrong stadium last night.

Wasn't the noisiest from us, but had a go at times, but fuck me Inter were poor.

Schmeichel proper bitter about City still after his son was let go

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Only time I saw more randoms than last night was the Real Madrid semi.

Fucking loads of them there last night, very few looked like they’d ever seen football before, most looked completely disinterested while the game was going on and were only animated when taking pictures of their good looking female friend pre-game/half-time/full-time holding up their City scarf with their back to the pitch.

Fair play to the one Spanish lad a few rows behind me who didn’t speak a word of English but spent the whole game calling their players and the referee ‘puta’s at the top of his voice. But he was just one from what seemed like about a thousand around me last night.

Utterly bored of all these non-City fans at games me. I’d rather have empty seats. I am thinking of moving to the new tier in the North Stand, but I really hope City just make that tier for proper City fans instead of these football tourists.

Seemed to be a fair few polish fans in the CB stand last night with their clubs tees on. Not usre what that was all about but they gave it some wellie

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

I landed at Faro airport about 25 minutes into the 2nd half but once I got to my hotel there was a re-run of the whole game on one of the channels here. Caught it from about 35 minutes in. Atmosphere in the 2nd half in particular came across well with plenty of songs. I know some have said the songs didn’t really spread around the ground though but a couple of “Blue Moon” renditions sounded like they did. A decent effort watching from afar and quite odd that the Inter fans were not really at it.

They made more noise on their walk to the ground, wonder if the drum was taken off them.

Didn't see it in the ground

 

[Mr Partridge]

He needs to get his ears syringed, there was nothing wrong with the atmosphere last night.

Maybe what he meant to say was the atmosphere wasn't as good as it was at the final game at Maine Road, when we gave him a great reception as he ended his playing career with us.

 

[.db.]

Why do you think they are not city fans? Why else would they be there ?

Over the years I’ve seen them falling over seats to take pictures of Real Madrid warming up, jumping up when the opposition have chances (when Kroos hit the bar at 0-0 in the semi a few years ago was a big example, dozens jumped up near me and then got told to fuck off by everyone around them), getting excited every time their favourite player from the opposition gets the ball (Sadio Mane was the big example of this when he played for Bayern, some at the front of my block were cheering his every touch), turning up in other club’s shirts, staying sat down looking miserable when we score (there’s a YouTube video from that annoying dope Togden or whatever his name is from the Arsenal home game where someone behind him looked devstated when Haaland scored), openly cheering us conceding a goal or losing a penalty shootout.

Many are there for the occasion or just to take pictures for their female mate’s Instagram account. Alright, some of these girls are fit as fuck, but they aren’t City fans… many of these tourists are openly not City fans.

There was some guy with a United hat on in it away end at Anfield last season - what the fuck’s going on there?!

The ones who are there for City are welcome. The football tourists are not welcome at all, for me. They can all fuck off! They’re the ones driving prices up and pricing out proper City fans.

 

[jrb]

They made more noise on their walk to the ground, wonder if the drum was taken off them.

Didn't see it in the ground

Drums and megaphones aren’t allowed in the ground, not even in the away end on CL nights. Flares and smokies are sneaked in by the away/Ultra fans.

 

[Gary James]

Schmeicel has really P*ssed me off! He challenged Richards to get out of the studio and 'experience' what poor old Peter had to experience! If any of you have seen my twitter today I've had a bit of a rant and been met with all that sh*te from rival fans who believe the sh*te Schmeichel and co says.

After Schmeichel's comments to Richards to 'experience' it I have challenged Schmeichel to 'experience' what fans experience. He'll ignore it of course.

The bloke next to me loved every minute of last night's game apart from the lack of goals and City not winning. He was desperate to watch City in the CL and had caught a plane from Dublin at 7am; spent the day in Manchester; come to the game with his work shirt shoved in his pocket; didn't have a hotel and was planning to get a flight at 6am back then get in work in Dublin for 9am, presumably putting his work shirt on at some point. Not certain he had any deodorant or anything! Anyway, the point is that he must have spent £200+ on flights, tickets plus presumably a day off work. Little sleep too (I hope he's not a brain surgeon in Dublin!). I wonder how much he spent/sacrificed on watching that one game compares to the money earned by Schmeichel to be at that game?

 

[.db.]

Did you have time to watch the game or were you too busy vetting your fellow fans?

I have this thing where my eyes, ears and brain work where I can see, hear and take notice of multiple things at the same time, like most humans have.

And the amount of time the game had stopped because and Inter player was on th floor meant it wasn’t exactly essential viewing on the pitch.

 

[Really_here]

They made more noise on their walk to the ground, wonder if the drum was taken off them.

Didn't see it in the ground

Great they had no drum , I hate the bloody things

 

[M16 citeh]

Schmeicel has really P*ssed me off! He challenged Richards to get out of the studio and 'experience' what poor old Peter had to experience! If any of you have seen my twitter today I've had a bit of a rant and been met with all that sh*te from rival fans who believe the sh*te Schmeichel and co says.

After Schmeichel's comments to Richards to 'experience' it I have challenged Schmeichel to 'experience' what fans experience. He'll ignore it of course.

The bloke next to me loved every minute of last night's game apart from the lack of goals and City not winning. He was desperate to watch City in the CL and had caught a plane from Dublin at 7am; spent the day in Manchester; come to the game with his work shirt shoved in his pocket; didn't have a hotel and was planning to get a flight at 6am back then get in work in Dublin for 9am, presumably putting his work shirt on at some point. Not certain he had any deodorant or anything! Anyway, the point is that he must have spent £200+ on flights, tickets plus presumably a day off work. Little sleep too (I hope he's not a brain surgeon in Dublin!). I wonder how much he spent/sacrificed on watching that one game compares to the money earned by Schmeichel to be at that game?

I thought the atmosphere was decent last night at times.
In ss1 there were lots of what seemed like day trippers or tourists and they were contributing a lot more to the atmosphere than some of the regulars who looked bored out of their mind or talking about Saturday night still. Don't know what the likes of schmeichal expect as it's pretty dead in most English grounds at the moment, I actually think ours is one of the better grounds for atmosphere!

 

[give it to gordon]

Schmeicel has really P*ssed me off! He challenged Richards to get out of the studio and 'experience' what poor old Peter had to experience! If any of you have seen my twitter today I've had a bit of a rant and been met with all that sh*te from rival fans who believe the sh*te Schmeichel and co says.

After Schmeichel's comments to Richards to 'experience' it I have challenged Schmeichel to 'experience' what fans experience. He'll ignore it of course.

The bloke next to me loved every minute of last night's game apart from the lack of goals and City not winning. He was desperate to watch City in the CL and had caught a plane from Dublin at 7am; spent the day in Manchester; come to the game with his work shirt shoved in his pocket; didn't have a hotel and was planning to get a flight at 6am back then get in work in Dublin for 9am, presumably putting his work shirt on at some point. Not certain he had any deodorant or anything! Anyway, the point is that he must have spent £200+ on flights, tickets plus presumably a day off work. Little sleep too (I hope he's not a brain surgeon in Dublin!). I wonder how much he spent/sacrificed on watching that one game compares to the money earned by Schmeichel to be at that game?

Spot on so many of these pundits and multi millionaire footballers have no idea what us true fans go through to attend matches.
Financially, travelling, time of work etc.

 

[twosips]

I didn't know where to post this really, so in here it will go! I've been thinking about last night's game a lot since the full time whistle and I can't shake this uneasy feeling I have. The whole night just felt really off about it, and I think it's because it's the most egregious example we've seen so far of football feeling like something you'd experience stateside. It was pure undiluted capitalism and it felt a little gross if i'm being honest.

Firstly, thousands of fans voted with their feet at the ridiculous ticket prices, obviously motivated by a hungry money hunt from the club. That left City with a crowd of tourists and newer fans - all there to 'experience' City. I don't blame them at all, they tried their best, but it just isn't the same atmosphere. It isn't their fault that football is this way, but we can't deny the effect it has on the night. Then you add to that the absurd nonsense of wearing an away kit at home. The reasoning behind that? Marketing. I wouldn't mind, but it's not even a kit in honour of City's heritage. It's essentially a marketing tool for a band reforming. We willingly sold out our club colours in a game that was a rerun of arguably the biggest night in the club's history to basically push a kit that is more or less a tribute to a band. Money....the kit is fucking shite too, which doesn't help.

Then when you consider the competition itself has changed dramatically, for money, leaving a confusing mess of a format that will feel inconsequential for a long time. A bunch of games, all random, all disconnected and all just a long slog until the inevitable big team qualifications...well yeah, the whole night just felt like a money grab, with a side serving of football. I understand some won't care about this and accuse me of being dramatic, but I don't think it's ever been that overt. Last night it felt like football and City changed in front of our eyes, or at very least we saw the direct result of this aggressive pursuit of money, and worryingly it only feels like the tip of the iceberg. It's not going to get any better.

There will be more kits at higher prices, more game at higher prices and fans will be pushed out. Can't wait for adverts at half-time in the stadium and even more 'innovations' that take the game closer to the dream NFL model of intense profitability at the expense of the consumer. A Champions League game of that magnitude should not feel like a preseason game, but it did. I really can't shake the feeling that last night things changed a lot, and personally i didn't like it at all. It's a crying shame.

 

[Eccles Blue]

I didn't know where to post this really, so in here it will go! I've been thinking about last night's game a lot since the full time whistle and I can't shake this uneasy feeling I have. The whole night just felt really off about it, and I think it's because it's the most egregious example we've seen so far of football feeling like something you'd experience stateside. It was pure undiluted capitalism and it felt a little gross if i'm being honest.

Firstly, thousands of fans voted with their feet at the ridiculous ticket prices, obviously motivated by a hungry money hunt from the club. That left City with a crowd of tourists and newer fans - all there to 'experience' City. I don't blame them at all, they tried their best, but it just isn't the same atmosphere. It isn't their fault that football is this way, but we can't deny the effect it has on the night. Then you add to that the absurd nonsense of wearing an away kit at home. The reasoning behind that? Marketing. I wouldn't mind, but it's not even a kit in honour of City's heritage. It's essentially a marketing tool for a band reforming. We willingly sold out our club colours in a game that was a rerun of arguably the biggest night in the club's history to basically push a kit that is more or less a tribute to a band. Money....the kit is fucking shite too, which doesn't help.

Then when you consider the competition itself has changed dramatically, for money, leaving a confusing mess of a format that will feel inconsequential for a long time. A bunch of games, all random, all disconnected and all just a long slog until the inevitable big team qualifications...well yeah, the whole night just felt like a money grab, with a side serving of football. I understand some won't care about this and accuse me of being dramatic, but I don't think it's ever been that overt. Last night it felt like football and City changed in front of our eyes, or at very least we saw the direct result of this aggressive pursuit of money, and worryingly it only feels like the tip of the iceberg. It's not going to get any better.

There will be more kits at higher prices, more game at higher prices and fans will be pushed out. Can't wait for adverts at half-time in the stadium and even more 'innovations' that take the game closer to the dream NFL model of intense profitability at the expense of the consumer. I really can't shake the feeling that last night things changed a lot, and personally i didn't like it at all. It's a crying shame.

Great post. :-)

 

[Rochdale Blue]

Great they had no drum , I hate the bloody things

Don't go banging on about it.

 

[East Level 2]

1st 15 minutes musical chairs as as predicted a group of freebies didn’t have a clue where they were sat, tedious isn’t the word

If only they put numbers on rows and seats that could be matched against tickets.
Or put eyes and brains into these numb-nuts.
Hardly any regulars in my block last night.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

The usual mixed crowd in 101, but no issues that I could see. Thought our fans were okay but Inter’s were very quiet from my position. I actually had to look over to check they had more than just the bottom tier section.

This game needed something riding on it to bring the crowd to life but let’s face it, both teams will probably get through to the knockouts.

 

[M16 citeh]

I didn't know where to post this really, so in here it will go! I've been thinking about last night's game a lot since the full time whistle and I can't shake this uneasy feeling I have. The whole night just felt really off about it, and I think it's because it's the most egregious example we've seen so far of football feeling like something you'd experience stateside. It was pure undiluted capitalism and it felt a little gross if i'm being honest.

Firstly, thousands of fans voted with their feet at the ridiculous ticket prices, obviously motivated by a hungry money hunt from the club. That left City with a crowd of tourists and newer fans - all there to 'experience' City. I don't blame them at all, they tried their best, but it just isn't the same atmosphere. It isn't their fault that football is this way, but we can't deny the effect it has on the night. Then you add to that the absurd nonsense of wearing an away kit at home. The reasoning behind that? Marketing. I wouldn't mind, but it's not even a kit in honour of City's heritage. It's essentially a marketing tool for a band reforming. We willingly sold out our club colours in a game that was a rerun of arguably the biggest night in the club's history to basically push a kit that is more or less a tribute to a band. Money....the kit is fucking shite too, which doesn't help.

Then when you consider the competition itself has changed dramatically, for money, leaving a confusing mess of a format that will feel inconsequential for a long time. A bunch of games, all random, all disconnected and all just a long slog until the inevitable big team qualifications...well yeah, the whole night just felt like a money grab, with a side serving of football. I understand some won't care about this and accuse me of being dramatic, but I don't think it's ever been that overt. Last night it felt like football and City changed in front of our eyes, or at very least we saw the direct result of this aggressive pursuit of money, and worryingly it only feels like the tip of the iceberg. It's not going to get any better.

There will be more kits at higher prices, more game at higher prices and fans will be pushed out. Can't wait for adverts at half-time in the stadium and even more 'innovations' that take the game closer to the dream NFL model of intense profitability at the expense of the consumer. A Champions League game of that magnitude should not feel like a preseason game, but it did. I really can't shake the feeling that last night things changed a lot, and personally i didn't like it at all. It's a crying shame.

Agree with what your saying but I feel like the balance tipped to the side of pure pursuit of profit a very long time ago...

 

[twosips]

Agree with what your saying but I feel like the balance tipped to the side of pure pursuit of profit a very long time ago...

Oh I know, but just meant it's the most blatant example we've seen. Early CL game prices being mental, the kit nonsense and the new format. It's never been so overt and out in the open. It's crept up for ages, and last night felt like a punch in the face.