I'd argue the atmosphere is also being impacted because it is the 'locals' who are now feeling disenfranchised?
A local must always traipse across Manchester in the height of rush hour, a local can take it or leave it, a local is invariably a little less affluent than someone making a rare/special occasion visit for a Champions League game?
I am a 'local' and, finances, not withstanding, the number of hurdles which legitimately exist just in terms of midweek attendance, for this 47-year-old, anyway, has me a deepening sense of, "They don't care about me and I won't be missed".
Can't blame day-trippers and kids, they are turning up in big numbers and making it a 'treat', they don't have any shared hard yards, leave the atmosphere responsibilities to the regulars, hoping to just spend £200 in the club shop and sit back and be entertained.
Too many people concerned about 'optics', or should I say the last rod to beat us over the head with, considering how successful we are as a team.
Pep is dropping the ball a little too much for my liking and also had to walk back his naive recent comments in Brazil about quitting at the end of the two-years left on his deal.
For him to feed into the lazy narrative again with regards fans staying away is extremely poor from him.
His lack of self-awareness and from the club in general with regards our fanbase, the considerations many also have with Covid, perhaps further highlights a huge, current disconnect.
There is an ignorance about Pep and the Catalan executives which I feel takes people like me for granted?
I've never felt further away from the club as I have this summer. My dad is ready to call it a day after 60 years, my brothers are taking or leaving it.
If I didn't have my two kids, I'd probably knock it all on the head and come and watch a couple of games a season, taking the rest in on the box.
What really angers me is that City fans are having to defend themselves because of comments like those from the manager.
"The players will be tired, Southampton are a tough team, more fans..."
The players are fucking tired? We have supporters who have lost jobs, businesses, grandparents too uncomfortable to return of late, being told to come to grips with a ticketing roll out which is beyond comical.
I don't give a fuck what other clubs get, there were 38,000 Blues who parted with their hard-earned last night and they'll do for me.
Sadly, not for Pep and the people who are being paid enough money to know better.
Tell you what, City. Make every ticket £20 across the board for every game and you would have to build a stadium twice the size of the Etihad to accommodate every person.
They aren't going to do that, though, as money will always be the bottom line, so accept the type of fans we have, or fuck off.
