Shandy's Space

I can't say the scoreline (5-0 to Utd) surprised me but the manner of our defeat did. It was by far our worst performance of the season and that takes some doing after Bolton. Credit to Utd as their team took us apart but we didn't help our own cause with some terrible defending and Sorenson, Delap and Diao all having particularly poor games. Still if we were going to get a tonking, and let's face it its not likely to be the last this season, then Old Trafford was the place to get it as it came as little surprise and the match itself was just about bottom of the bonus points likelihood possibilities. The worrying thing is that our form away from home is truly appalling and we create so little its difficult to see us getting anything from away games other than a point in a 0-0 draw. A quick word about the referee, Peter Walton, who I thought had a good game. Sure, the home team did get the rub of the green but so do we at the Brit and I think all in all he got most of the decisions right and allowed the game to flow.

There was only one turnstyle for the away supporters into the South Stand, where I was, and this caused a long wait to get out at the end. The steps down to the seats were also the steepest I've encountered at a football stadium. The stadium was impressive from the outside and inside, although the size of the stands did make the pitch look small. The pitch also resides on a "hill" which was a bit weird but certainly, as we'd anticipated, nullified the few throws that Rory did have as he could get a decent run up.

Although I'm glad I went I have to be honest and say I can't see me going to Old Trafford again. The price of the tickets (£40-£50), the programme (£5) and long 3 mile walk from the town centre (bizarrely without seeing another football fan until I got within 1/2 mile of the ground) and the poor view from the stand will place it right at the bottom of the matches to visit next season (assuming we stay up). Still the atmosphere in amongst the Stokies was good and we were loud and proud, even if not apparently appreciated by the home support. The acoustics must be even worse than the Brit as we could hardly hear the home support all match and I couldn't even figure out which was the Stretford End until I looked at a plan after the match. Likewise the Stokies in the SE said the SE was noisy and they couldn't hear the away support. By the end we were dancing along to "Burning Ring Of Fire" to every Utd goal and singing "We're gonna win 2-1, 3-2 ... 6-5 etc." and "1-0 And You Still Don't Sing ... 5-0 And You Still Don't Sing". Not much else we could do really with the lads taking a real pasting on the pitch. Pick of the chants was probably "You're just a fat Maradona" aimed at Tevez when he came off, although the irony of "Its just like watching Brazil" was largely lost on the Utd fans I think (We were playing in yellow shirts and blue shorts in case you're wondering). Thankfully no Munich songs could be heard but the abuse of Ronaldo went a little too far for my taste and whilst it certainly affected his play for 5-10 minutes, when he was clearly rattled, I think it only served to spur him on later in the game. Still in some ways he does bring the abuse on himself and he did resort to a few stunning dives to perfectly good tackles later in the game. I wouldn't be surprised if he's kept on the bench when Man Utd come to the Brit on Boxing Day.

Anyway onto two bigger and far more important matches in the next two weeks at home to West Brazil and Hull. And I have to be honest and say I'm looking forward to getting back to the cauldron of sound that is the Britannia.

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