Everyone should lay off Pep - his wife and kids were in the Arena. Our hearts go out to those families whose lives have changed forever.
In the 70s, 80s and 90s, we were known as boisterous and noisy fanatical fans who sold out our stadium every week despite abject failure on the pitch. As a season ticket holder and fan since 64 when I was 4 who has been going to matches since 67, I do understand where he's coming from. 54,000 is a big crowd by any measure, but lets be honest, he probably didn't expect 1,000/2000 empty seats. I'm in the North Stand, and as I look straight at the South Stand, there's small patches of empty seats in numerous areas. We possibly expanded too quickly ? When the capacity was 48,000 and we got 46,500 - the empty seats were all in the away area and the segregation - no real gaps in the rest of the ground. We're too kind to away fans - we give 'em a plum location. We should stick 'em in the corner. I guess Pep may have half expected an Atletico type fanaticism. However, in the days when we were loud, we had more working class fans. But even though City prices are not the most expensive in the Prem, the current demographic of more middle class types who can afford season tickets for the family does not equate to creating an atmosphere. They sit there - dad (probably an accountant), wife (would be Cheshire housewife) hair cut into a blonde bob and loads of makeup with their kids kitted out in half the stock of the superstore eating sweets. They are dinner party types who probably live somewhere like Bramhall or Heaton Moor, and sit in the stand smiling but making no noise. But they bring in the money. Even worse at Arsenal - is there a quieter set of fans anywhere ?