[JimmyMac]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Any Liverpool fans fearing the worst for your CL campaign? Massive game away to Lyon....

not at all, favourites for the Europa cup now, might actually get us some silverware

[sdb123]

Originally Posted by jimmymac2213

not at all, favourites for the Europa cup now, might actually get us some silverware

Ever the eternal optimist!

[DrWise]

Exciting damn right that utd game was omg quality 3-3

[Filipino]

Oh my days, amazing matches tonight, is it still exciting? No question at all! Stunning goals from Aguero

[sdb123]

Yep...Aguero certainly added a few Euros to his transfer fee tonight. Lovely Free-Kick at the end, Beckham would have been proud of that.

[RMCF]

Definitely a good night of football in the CL.

Watched the Milan v Madrid game - enjoyed it overall. Think Madrid bought the wrong Milan player. Should have went with Pato instead of Kaka.

And good to see Ronaldinho and Seedorf rolling back the years again.

[HMHB]

I must be getting old or something! I didn't find the United game exciting and at times in the 2nd half it sounded more like a training match with no atmosphere.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I must be getting old or something! I didn't find the United game exciting and at times in the 2nd half it sounded more like a training match with no atmosphere.

This is what happens at OT.
I've been there umpteen times, it suffers from 'football tourist' syndrome.
Thousands of people there for the one game only.
No idea how to even start creating an atmosphere, too obsessed with taking pictures.
And if the opposition dare to score, their once-a-year trip to OT is ruined and they sit there stunned!
I've been there, amongst 70000 people, and you could hear the players shouting to each other on the pitch.
It's a shocking state of affairs and Ferguson was right to be embarrassed by it.

Deathly hush - Ferguson furious at lack of passion from 'funereal' crowd | Mail Online

[HMHB]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

This is what happens at OT.
I've been there umpteen times, it suffers from 'football tourist' syndrome.
Thousands of people there for the one game only.
No idea how to even start creating an atmosphere, too obsessed with taking pictures.
And if the opposition dare to score, their once-a-year trip to OT is ruined and they sit there stunned!
I've been there, amongst 70000 people, and you could hear the players shouting to each other on the pitch.
It's a shocking state of affairs and Ferguson was right to be embarrassed by it.

Deathly hush - Ferguson furious at lack of passion from 'funereal' crowd | Mail Online

Yes I reckon you're right there, I wonder if the singing fans are being priced out of the game?

[QuietRiot1983]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

This is what happens at OT.
I've been there umpteen times, it suffers from 'football tourist' syndrome.
Thousands of people there for the one game only.
No idea how to even start creating an atmosphere, too obsessed with taking pictures.
And if the opposition dare to score, their once-a-year trip to OT is ruined and they sit there stunned!
I've been there, amongst 70000 people, and you could hear the players shouting to each other on the pitch.
It's a shocking state of affairs and Ferguson was right to be embarrassed by it.

Deathly hush - Ferguson furious at lack of passion from 'funereal' crowd | Mail Online

Quality journalism there, unable to spell 'funeral' correctly.

I must admit though, I sympathise with the 'proper' United fans, 15+ years of meaningless Champions' League group games, added to that the fact they now have to purchase the tickets. I can see why there is a little apathy towards these types of games.

That the Champions' League should be just for champions and a knockout competition is another argument entirely.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Yes I reckon you're right there, I wonder if the singing fans are being priced out of the game?

They seem to be clumped into the Stretford End, but they can only do so much.
The rest of the place is full of seats that have been bought by people who sell the tickets off for a profit.
So you end up with different people sitting in said seats from game to game.
Which, again, leads to a lack of atmosphere as they are too 'scared' to make a fool of themselves and shout/sing.
Whereas sitting next to the same people week after week leads to banter.
I often refer to OT as the 'Kodak photo opportunity', rather than OT.

I'm not a Man U fan, BTW, I've just been there enough times to notice the problem firsthand.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by QuietRiot1983

Quality journalism there, unable to spell 'funeral' correctly.

Err..."funereal" is correct....
As in 'pertaining to a funeral'.

[QuietRiot1983]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Err..."funereal" is correct....
As in 'pertaining to a funeral'.

[Steven]

I think it was because it was CSKA

No problems with the atmosphere for the Man City derby

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I think it was because it was CSKA

Or the fact someone 'dared' score against them at OT.
Goes against the script, spoils the tourists' day out.

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Yes I reckon you're right there, I wonder if the singing fans are being priced out of the game?

Absolutely that's my opinion. Had a quick look and if your not a Man U member they seem to want about £40 for a ticket to the Besiktas CL game. It's the sort of cost you can justify as a tourist and a one off but that's a lot of money to find on a regular basis.

Looking at it another way, makes you wonder what the attendance would be like at OT if they didn't have the cache of being able to attract tourists to their games. I'm absolutely shocked when I watch MOTD on a Saturday to see how empty the stadia is at some of the ground even when the likes of Chelsea roll into town.

[dazza74]

Anyone feel the stadiums are to big now? I know it would generate more money for the club but I can't help but feel a club like Liverpool would lose something if they moved out of Anfield.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by dazza74

Anyone feel the stadiums are to big now? I know it would generate more money for the club but I can't help but feel a club like Liverpool would lose something if they moved out of Anfield.

Size needn't work against stadiums, look at the atmos in massive stadiums abroad.
But bigger stadiums do open the possibility of football tourists getting tickets, who invariably sit there quietly.
Stadium design also plays a part.
The Emirates is often touted as poorly designed, with the gentle slopes of the tiers leading to supporters feeling like they're miles away from the action,.
This is why Daniel Levy has stated the new White Hart Lane will be designed to have supporters as close to the pitch as possible.

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Size needn't work against stadiums, look at the atmos in massive stadiums abroad.

I've been to see Real Madrid, Barcelona, Roma, AC Milan at home. None of these stadiums had anything like the atmosphere I've experienced in the old Clock End at Highbury though. That was an absolute insult when they used to dish out comments like "The Highbury Library" based on my experience.

I just wish football hadn't gone all seater in this country

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by dazza74

I've been to see Real Madrid, Barcelona, Roma, AC Milan at home. None of these stadiums had anything like the atmosphere I've experienced in the old Clock End at Highbury though. That was an absolute insult when they used to dish out comments like "The Highbury Library" based on my experience.

Yes, but that was only one part of Highbury.
If you're in that, you don't notice the silence in the rest of the place.
The 'Library' tag was perfectly justified in the context of the whole stadium.
I'm all for seated stadiums, I think people who prefer stands have rose tinted glasses.
I remember stands, they might have been a laugh then, but I wouldn't like them now.
Seated needn't mean you sit, after all.
But it means you have some protection, and can't be bundled forward etc.

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Seated needn't mean you sit, after all.

Which in a way completely defeats the object I feel. I used to be given tickets to Highbury because if somebody had a bad back they couldn't keep getting up and down from their seat during the match. Derby games you could be standing all match, other games your up and down like a yo yo. If you get the timing wrong and your slower of the mark than the bloke sat in front of you you'll miss the goal.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by dazza74

Which in a way completely defeats the object I feel

Yeah, but the physical presence of seats has been proven to improve safety, whether people have their bums on them or not.

[dazza74]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Yeah, but the physical presence of seats has been proven to improve safety, whether people have their bums on them or not.

People like to stand, how many people go to concerts and stand for the atmosphere and to be closer to their favourite band for instance. It's just another example of the nanny state that exists today, all it's done is benefit clubs who can flog more membership cards and season tickets now, done nothing for the game as whole.

[Coffin]

Well tonight I somehow need to divide myself into watching a) Arsenal b) Barca/Inter and c) Liverpool

Arse' as their my team...Barca as there will be fireworks for sure (go Jose!)...and Pool as I want to see Benitez cry

(Plus Federer plays Murray at 9pm! )

[SHATNERSTACTIC]

That Barca match could get extremely interesting if Rubin win at home to Kyiv in the earlier kick off. Best group stage run in for a while I think with the Liverpool, Bayern and Barca upsets on the cards.

[sdb123]

Is it wrong for wanting Fiorentina to beat Lyon tonight....

The Barcelona/Inter match should be good although maybe a little cagey bearing in mind the state of the group.

[Dr Evilest]

Originally Posted by sdb123

Is it wrong for wanting Fiorentina to beat Lyon tonight....

Nope! It's only natural that you'd want the greatest threat out of the way.

As a Liverpool supporter I've given up all hope & will be watching the Barcelona game with interest.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by Coffin

Well tonight I somehow need to divide myself into watching a) Arsenal b) Barca/Inter and c) Liverpool

Arse' as their my team...Barca as there will be fireworks for sure (go Jose!)...and Pool as I want to see Benitez cry

(Plus Federer plays Murray at 9pm! )

How wrong could you be, eh?

I stopped watching at halftime - absolute bore of a game. Like a training session for Barca. And to think that Inter team has won 4 x Serie A titles in a row.

I didn't switch over to any other game, just stopped watching completely as all the other games going as you'd guess they would.

Roll on Feb when this competition might actually create a bit of excitement.

[DrWise]

liverpool out still cant believe it, after being class last season whats going on
get rid of rafa and the owners and get someone who wont keep changing tactics and stuff

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by wiser1

liverpool out still cant believe it, after being class last season whats going on
get rid of rafa and the owners and get someone who wont keep changing tactics and stuff

Because that makes sense!

Who won you the European Cup 4 years ago?

You have two absolutely world class players in Torres and Gerrard. The rest range between ***** to quality.

Certainly shows this season that Liverpool are not a world class team when that pair are injured!