The way we came in (via Colne) the areas I remember seeing are Blackley. Collyhurst, Harpurhey, Ancoats. On the way back Newton Heath and Moston I think.
You, probably came in M66, Rochdale rd and left via Oldham rd, Failsworth..
Those are my areas, my history, my memories. How dare you call them shabby sir!
They are run down, lacking economic regeneration, have subsistence facilities, Zilch future planning, shabby never.
Manchester is North, South, and City centre.
Born and bred in Blackley, I had 20 years to escape, and return only for City and to reminisce. The centre is World class, some of the South is posh, and the North is as it was when I was a kid ,only more so, it is all Manchester.