I’m going to try to write a balanced, objective view of how I see things here.
Our ‘loyalty points’ system is obviously based on loyalty, meaning that those supporters who have spent years (and thousands of pounds) following the club through thick and thin, over land and sea, are rewarded. It is not a 100% foolproof system and it has a few loopholes, but it sure as hell beats anything that most other clubs come up with: those swamp dwellers do some sort of ‘lottery’, but there again, they have 659 million fans and a waiting list of 200 or so years to get a season card! Apparently.
Based in Spain, I have always had to rely on the goodwill of mates back home for tickets. I’m a blue member, but I can only get back a few times each year. Therefore, my loyalty points are still in double figures and I haven’t got a chance of a ticket for big games. But I’m not complaining.
Whenever I can, I look after my fellow blues. This can consist of things like cheap hotel rooms (my missus works in a big hotel chain and can get amazing discounts) or renting cars (at no extra cost) to transport people to places like Poznan (from Berlin) or Turin (from Milan). It works both ways: you tickle mine and I’ll . . . . I’m sure you know what I mean (and I’m not gay, Mr. Harper!).
The real problem with Plzen is the capacity of their ground. If we only get 600 tickets, well that’s a pain. Unfortunately, I now won’t be going, but I’ll see you all in Munich.