“A f*cking fiver for a pint, you’re having a laugh bud!! ” is the cry from across the bar from one disgruntled Northsider.

Ah yes, after four years of crossing the Liffey to watch the foreign game, we are back Southside, back in Lansdowne.

Ballsbridge is awash with red jerseys and Manchester United are in town. This game, has caused a lot of discontent amongst the League of Ireland brigade, tonight is not about Irish football. It is however, about the €410 million euro mass structure that is nestled away in the distance. As we walk parallel to the Dodder, nothing has changed.  Fire extinguishers, shopping trolleys and frilly knickers are embedded onto the riverbed and it still stinks like hell too.

Huge volumes of people are trying to go through the railway tunnel that is three feet wide. Nothing has changed here either, it’s a problem that graced the old stadium all these years and it looks like the new look version will maintain that tradition also. Eventually we get through the police barriers and as I am ushered through the purple entrance by the stadium stewards, my colleagues, all in a different section, are ushered another way. Entry to the stadium from here on in is painless. New look turnstiles, automatic and unmanned, are now in operation and pain free.

Tonight I am in the Upper East Stand and four flights of stairs separate me and my first view of the only completed home by Ireland’s construction industry in 2010. Once there, my first impression is “WOW!”.  We have all seen the pictures, but nothing beats walking into a stadium for the first time. It is indeed something for this country to be proud of and what should be the future of sports in this country.  As the game settles in, I gaze about trying to get an idea of every feature of the ground.

The North stand sitting to our left, sticks out like a sore thumb, but you have to admire the roofing set up and how it still maintains one entire structure, even though there is a huge difference in height. The upper tiers are very steep, not really a good idea to be up there with a feed of Dutch Gold in you, but the leg room and gap between the seats is huge. In terms of comfort, it beats Croke Park hands down. Likewise, the view is less Subbuteo-like than its Northside sister and indeed, it cannot be faulted one bit for complete viewing access to the pitch.

The match itself is nothing special, both teams are being supported by the fans and United are intent on putting on an exhibition. Half time sees a huge rush for the food and beer stalls, in fact I have never seen so many hungry people in the one place before. Food is expensive, beer is reasonably priced, but overall the stadium facilities are a bit infected with Celtic Tigerism. As the second half progressed and the lights are in full scope, the stadium looks magnificent against the Dublin background. We are treated to a 7-1 drubbing, but nobody cares about the game.  An attendance of 49,800 is announced, but it is quite clear that this is inflated. I would estimate that at least 3,000 seats are empty, mostly in the premium and corporate levels.

Exiting the stadium is not what it should be and it looks like more planning is needed. It is quite clear that people are not following their own exit routes and this is leading to congestion especially in the southern area of the Stadium. Our route along the Dodder is blocked, as the guards scream for the walkway to be shut amongst fears of a crush. Luckily, nobody is injured and eventually, everybody exits along the poorly light path.

As we nestle back into our pints in Crowe’s, the general consensus is that inside the Stadium is lovely and as good as you will see, but outside is still in the 60s and 70s. I cannot understand how they spent so much money and didn’t improve access along Lansdowne Road itself and along the Dodder. Anyway, there is another game next week and let us see how that goes…………………………..

……………..It’s Argentina this week and first impression is that there is a smaller crowd about. Traffic is virtually nonexistent and parking on the street is easily achieved. A quick pint is downed in Crowe’s again and as we walk to the stadium, it is clear that not only are people following the routes they are supposed to be this time, but also the official have their work done. The queue at the tunnel is shorter this week and as we proceed along the Dodder, a prominent FAI official is manning te corner where last week’s congestion occurred. It’s Upper East again this week and looks like the game is delayed by 10 minutes for some reason. Last week’s atmosphere was nonexistent, but that was to be expected. This week should be better but as the game goes on, that is not the case.

And this brings me to my first complaint and first fear for the new stadium, the atmosphere. Croke Park had a singing section and this group were in fine voice last night in the South Lower, however they lacked support pretty much anywhere else in the stadium. I would pin point this down to the fact that over 20% of capacity (11,000) is corporate and premium level. These tickets are overpriced ranging from anywhere from 60euro to 120euro depending on the game and the seat. The much maligned vantage club tickets cos thousands of Euros. These remain unsold and I would estimate over 3,000 of them were empty last night, meaning an attendance of 45,000 in general. This did and will in the future, affect the atmosphere.

Like last week, the game was a damp squid, maybe that affected the atmosphere, but I left the ground a bit disappointed that I have serious concerns that the famous “Lansdowne Roar” is lost to corporate greed. It may work well in other sports such as GAA and Rugby, but it does not have a home in football in Ireland. Outside this week, things are much better and we leave relatively easy and are back in Crowe’s within five minutes of leaving.

Homework done there and safer for everybody concerned, enough accounting for about 2,000 less people. Now, let’s hope they can fix the atmosphere, because this Irish team needs one.

No Number 1.

This is huge. England went into this World Cup with no first choice keeper. How a manager of Capello’s stature could allow this to transpire is baffling. England were pretty much guaranteed qualification this time last year, thus Capello had plenty of time to get it right.

While not blessed with a huge pool of talent in the goalkeeping stakes, but he knew this when he took over. Yes they had injuries, but if Robert Green was his first choice all along, he could have made this clear to everybody, especially the player on the run up to the competition. Joe Hart was and still is the form ‘keeper, but was limited to just a few minutes in the warm up games. Obviously it posed a huge risk throwing a rookie like Hart in, but given his run of incredible form all season, it appears to have been a mistake not to play him in the games that have been played between qualification and the USA game which began their meltdown. Green and James were involved in a relegation battle all season, playing in sides lacking in confidence, Hart was playing in a team that was breaking club records and pushing for Europe.

It looks like James has the spot now, he was solid against Algeria, but you could see the effect that Green’s mistake against the USA had on the team. They have yet to recover.

Overrated Squad.

The squad is distinctively average. True, they have some great players, but England posses a squad of players, some of which are simply not good enough to be a World Cup winning side. I have already covered the goalkeeping fiasco in point one.

In defence, they are not much better, although that is not where their primary problem lies. They are solid and won’t concede many goals. Wesley Brown got injured before the tournament and was not selected; this automatically leaves a hole in defence. Same for Rio Ferdinand. The alternatives are not good enough, however. Michael Dawson had a good season, but is he really international quality? Is anybody surprised that Ledley King, a man who barely played two consecutive games in the past five years, who has barely trained in that timeframe, is injured? Was Jamie Carragher right to come back from the self imposed international wilderness? My answer to all three is no. The reality is England have nothing else, a shocking state considering the apparent strength of the Premier League.

Across the midfield, other problems exist.  All of these players are quality in their own right, much of them being well placed in the “Golden Generation” bracket that this team has been burdened with. Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Aaron  Lennon and Joe Cole, all top players. Or are they? There is some fire to the argument that only Gerrard and Lampard have done it at the big stage, yet the critics will say both have never done it at international level for the Three Lions. The rest have played the majority of their careers (Joe Cole exempt) outside the upper echelons of the European game.

England are shockingly short in width. The left wing has always been an issue, but a year ago there were seven genuine candidates for the right wing position. Lennon, Shaun Wright Phillips, David Bentley, David Beckham, Theo Walcott, Stuart Downing and Ashley Young were all in with a shout of filling the void and making that position their own. Now, there is barely one, Aaron Lennon, a man that has yet to perform at international level and is too inconsistent at club level. The inclusion of Wright-Phillips was a little strange, considering that he was out shone by Adam Johnson at club level since January, a player who would have added great thrust, speed, creativity and edge to the squad. He can actually cross a ball too. Johnson’s super set piece delivery would also be another asset to a team which they seem to be lacking.

Up top, England’s options are shambolic. They have two genuine strikers of quality – Wayne Rooney and to a lesser extent, Jermaine Defoe. The other options are pitiful. Emile Heskey isn’t, nor never was, an international footballer. He is lucky even to be a Premiership footballer. He played predominately a bit-part-role for Aston Villa this season, and was not exactly prolific in front of goal, yet has started both opening games. Aside from his assist against the US for Gerrard’s opener, Heskeys only contribution so far is ending the World Cup of his captain and one of England’s natural leaders.

Peter Crouch is bordering on another embarrassment for a country so proud of its status in the football world. Again however, there is nothing else there. Darren Bent can count himself a little

unlucky given his 26 goal haul in the Premier League last season, but he is unproven at international level also. I would have taken him however and left either Crouch or Heskey at home. Or both. In fact, using Gerrard in the same role he does behind Fernando Torres at Anfield would be a far more efficient way to operate, no matter how poor a season he had. Bobby Zamora also is a better footballer than Crouch and Heskey, yet he got little or no chances from Capello.

Capello mentioned that the players are suffering from pressure. That comes from having the deadliest media in the world, being funded by blood hungry supporters. Managing and indeed playing for England has higher expectations than most, except for maybe Brazil. Huge reality dose missing somewhere.

Poor Selections

Capello can only pick what is there. Ferdinand, Brown, Hargreaves and Beckham are not available for selection. While Adam Johnson and possibly Darren Bent are two players that have bigger claims to be there, he has not got a whole lot to play with. However, he has made the proverbial dogs bolloc*s in selections so far. It was quite clear after the USA game that England were a bit toothless. Even in the pre-World Cup friendlies against Mexico and Japan, the signs were not good.

They lacked spark, creativity and incision then and the same applies now. Capello is perhaps still playing off the qualification campaign, but a lot has changed since then.

Emile Heskey is a route one, last 15 minutes option when you are 1-0 down. Likewise with Crouch. He apparently speaks highly of Heskey and favours a 4-4-2 formation, A formation not really suited for the combination of players at his disposal and certainly not for getting the best out of Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney.

We hear about “Heskey brings the best out in Rooney”. So please point to who at Old Trafford plays like Heskey? Or more so, how come Rooney played the majority of this season, arguably his best ever, spear heading a 4-5-1 formation.

Leaving Joe Cole on the bench for both games is a strange one. John Terry pointed out as such in his now infamous press-call over the weekend and it appears to have unsettled the harmony in the dressing room. Bringing on Wright Phillips in both games was baffling to say the least and starting Milner and then taking him off after 20 odd minutes had implications in the first game. Ledley King another.

Lack of a destructive midfielder

Nicky Butt was England’s star performer in 2002. Back in Germany in 2006, it was Owen Hargreaves. While England didn’t set the world on fire in either tournament, they reached the quarter finals on both occasions, at the end of the day luck was not on their side against the Brazilians and Portuguese.  Both Butt and Hargreaves provided an outlet for the other, seemingly more talented players to express themselves. England currently have nobody in that void. When Barry plays he is capable of doing the job of allowing his midfield partner to get forward but part of the role of the of a defensive midfielder is to fill in for the full backs when they get forward.

Furthermore, Gerrard tends to be selected on the left wing with Barry on the pitch, naturally drifting inside as simply, he is not a left winger. Barry is drawn to that gap meaning he is doing twice as much work. As a result, Lampard does not have the free reign he has with Chelsea, while Barry is constantly getting over run in the middle.

The last time England won a World Cup game, against Ecuador in the Last 16 of Germany 2006, Michael Carrick was the man of the match. Too much onus has been put on his poor performances for Manchester Utd over the past twelve months and not enough on the fact he is probably England’s most “European” midfielder, with the ability to hold and create like none other in the squad. He recently received praise from Xabi Alonso, once of Liverpool, for Carrick’s superb ability in similar vain to Alonso’s. This was one of the few areas Capello has stuck to in his “picking players on form” promise.

Injuries

England have been tormented on this front. Almost the entire first eleven have had short to long term injuries at some stage during the season. I have already mentioned the players not available for selection. Glen Johnson missed a large chunk of the season, as did Ashley Cole on the other flank. Ledley King and to a lesser extent Mathew Upson are not exactly bionic, ditto for Rio Ferdinand whose sick note plight hampered him all season. Aaron Lennon too spent bags of time on the treatment table, while Milner and Barry picked up knocks pre tournament.

More crucially however, was the injury picked up by Wayne Rooney in the first week of March. He has not looked the same player, indeed he has not scored since then for club nor country. All of these disturbances lead us to the next point, one which was my biggest fear for the team, as we approached the kick off….

Players off form

This I believe is England’s Achilles. Too many of their players have had poor seasons, admittedly some down to the injuries just mentioned. That aside, John Terry did not have an inspiring season both on and off the field. Steven Gerrard had arguably his worst ever with Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry not far behind. Emile Heskey was simply woeful, Jermaine Defoe inconsistent after a bright start. Theo Walcott went from Croatian hat trick hero to mediocrity and likewise, Ashley Young went from the £20 million winger to simply obscurity at Villa Park.

The only players who can count themselves in the top of the class bracket were Milner, Ashley Cole and Rooney, all who were injured at the tail end of the season. Outside of these three, Dawson, Hart, Bent, Zamora and Scott Parker have not been given the chance to prove themselves international quality.

John Terry being a prat

England breezed through the qualifiers, winning nine out of ten games, scoring more freely than Don Juan and well, John Terry. This was all before “Team Bridge”. Is it just coincidence that the fortunes of the national team have plummeted since? England lost their back up left full back, their captain and a lot of credibility and dignity.

And if rumours are right, once England’s World Cup campaign is over, more stories will break about two prominent members of the squad, whose temporary injunctions will be removed faster that a WAG’s knickers if they return home defeated on Sunday next.

So what next?

England need huge freshening up.  The reality is stark, given the nature of the other game; if they fail to win against Slovenia, they are out. Few would have predicted this, none will accept it and heads will roll if this happens. England can, and I believe will, turn this around and I expect them to go through to the last 16.

Stranger things have happened though and they are at a huge risk of not progressing.  Joe Cole will come in and I believe that Michael Carrick will get his chance to shine.  Jamie Carragher‘s suspension is a blessing in disguise, so that change is enforced. Ledley King is unlikely to feature, so Upson will get the nod.

Capello has hinted at a total change of tactics which means Gerrard and/or Joe Cole in a supporting role behind Rooney being very likely. The team does lack width, but England are not blessed with it anyway. A fourth change could see Defoe coming in and England sticking to a traditional 4-4-2 again, with Cole wide left, and Gareth Barry missing out.  I am going for a 2-0 win, not convincing by any means, but England will get there.

Here is the XI that I feel Capello will pick on Wednesday -

——————————James——————————-

Johnson————Terry———Upson—————–Cole

————Carrick——–Lampard———–Barry———–

——————-Gerrard————J Cole———————

—————————-Rooney——————————-

When Giovanni Trappatoni announced his Ireland squad for the upcoming friendlies in preparation for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, it included seven new caps, each hopeful of making the impact required to be on the plane to Armenia in August.

Further east, one of the host nations for that event, Poland, are undergoing a similar revolution as they look to build a squad capable of doing a huge footballing nation proud on their own soil.

If you were to take a look at the current Polish squad, it would become very clear that they are team building for both the immediate and long term future. Very few players have caps entering double figures, and most of the old-guard has moved on.

Speaking exclusively to BackPageFootball.com, Poland’s latest international Lukasz Mierzejewski tells us what it is like to be involved right now and what this tournament could mean for the people of his homeland.

“Euro 2012, it’s a huge event for which Poland is a host,” says the 28 year old Cracovia midfielder.

“Every player taking part in it would like to perform as best as they can. It is a huge honor for every one of them.

“For the Polish nation, to be given the chance to host this is a huge success for us and for sure it will be beneficial to the country.

“People from all over the world will be given a chance to learn more about Poland and Polish people. I think that we will be received in a positive way.”

Mierzejewski now has three caps to his name, all coming in the past three months under new coach Franciszek Smuda.

Indeed Smuda seems to have been well received so far by the fans, his new regime seen by many as a breath of fresh air. The players agree too.

“I think that it is a good approach, it is important to look into the future,” says Mierzejewski.

“The coach Franciszek Smuda is choosing the best players that are present and on form, at any given moment.

“As far as expectations for the team are concerned, I believe in him. I think that he will cope with the task and Poland will play nice football.”

Looking at things from a personal point of view, Mierzejewski feels that playing for Poland is what dreams are made of.

Walking out on the field in the national jersey for the first time is a moment he will treasure for the rest of his life. The sense of national pride in Poland is bigger than most.

“It was a huge honor for me and I will not hide that I am really proud to be able to represent my country in the senior squad,” he says.

“My family is proud of me as well. To make a first appearance in the national team is both a huge honor and stressful moment, but also a positive and motivating one.

“It’s hard to judge myself, I think I played well but I believe that I can play even better.”

Mierzejewski realises, however, that a long, hard road lies ahead if he is to make the illustrious squad.

Form waits for nobody, not in the current environment.

“First of all I would like to take part in that tournament as a player representing my country however I realise that I have to stand out in my league club in order to be taken into account,” he says.

Indeed Cracovia form a fierce rivalry with Wisla Krakow and it is games like this that help to catch the eye.

“The derby game brings additional emotions and tension. In the last round we won but in this one we drew. The team and the fans are happy with that’.

“The position in the table changes with every game but we are in the lower part of it. The situation in the club is satisfying however; in September our new stadium is going to be opened.

“It is a club with tradition and history, the oldest club in Poland, but also with huge potential and bright future.”

Making your international debut at 28 may seem late to most, however Mierzejewski has served his time in the  jersey at all levels.

He was part of an extremely successful underage set-up in Poland at the beginning of the last decade.

A number of players from this era now make up the core of the current senior team, including Manchester United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

“I represented Poland in the U-16 team and during that period we were runners-up in the European Championship,” he says, remembering the time fondly.

“Two years later, while playing in U-18 team we became Champions of Europe.

“The best memories are every success with national youth team and of course, now the debut in the senior team.

“In the youth team I played against players who now play in good European clubs like Petr Cech or Pepe Reina.”

Indeed, he rates the pair of goalkeepers as the best two players he has faced in his career so far.

It is now time to look forward however and the question being asked is can Mierzejewski and his teammates help turn one European success into another one, this time on the big stage?

The team is hungry to succeed, so are the people. In two years time, when the Polish team walks out in front of their own fans, there will be a sense of hope, a sense of expectation and a huge feeling of national pride.

Playing in front of your own people in a major tournament, is something that only few experience, once in a lifetime.

Others can only dream.

Right now, Lukasz Mierzejewski and his teammates are doing everything they can to make that dream come true.

Ed@BackPageFootball.com

This was never going to be an easy trip. Something called Eyjafjallajökull (pardon my French) meant that last Monday to Wednesday was spent trying to sort out a backup plan via road. Thankfully come lunchtime Thursday, things were looking ok….

It’s Saturday morning, 4.10 am. My travel buddy today is the faithful Pole Remi and as I turn over to enjoy a much needed power nap on his couch, he is tapping at my toes to get up. It is time to go already. A work night out has meant that I have hardly slept and I rise like a deflated beach ball. This is going to be a long day. Our quick trip to the airport is not so straight forward. Oblivious to me, but not the sharp eyed Remi, the taxi is barely moving. He is stuck in first gear and 15 minutes in, we have barely turned the first corner. A few SOS radio calls and some engine poking later, we arrive.

Aer Lingus are our chosen carrier this morning, via Birmingham at 6.30am. We board fairly sharply and I am asleep within moments. We are joined now by another regular traveler Simon and as we arrive in Birmingham airport, it is so far so good. The train is under two hours, so estimated arrival time is about 10.30 in Manchester.

As we arrive into our first stop, New Street, it becomes clear there is a problem. There are sirens going off and our train is no longer moving. A rather panicked looking train manager comes running towards the front of the train and using his crumbling voice, he ushers us to evacuate the train and the building itself. Our train has been cancelled! S*it, this aint good! A few seconds later, the entire train load is outside on the pavement and the station is closed off. Nobody tells us what is happening.

One hour later, we are still stranded and nobody knows what is happening. There has been a power cut so all boards are down, all communication is down. I have 5 tickets in my pocket for lads in Manchester. I am more worried about them missing the game now than myself. Eventually as it nears 10.30am, we depart; we should be in Manchester now though. It will be tight, really tight. As we enter Macclesfield, we are told we need to leave the train as it will terminate here. Another delay while the next train comes to collect us.

The texts are coming now form worried patrons around the ground. It is midday and we are still not in Manchester. Luckily however, this train is now bound direct for Old Trafford. This will save us some time. Much needed break.

Ticket exchanges are done without delay and as the relieved lads head off to the ground, I make my way to the Bridge Burger stall. I may not be feeling the best today, but it still is consumed. As we enter the stadium, the reserves are getting their medals for winning the reserve Premier League and then the teams arrive.

Wayne Rooney is not even on the bench, but the small silver lining is Owen Hargreaves is back. I had predicted a 3-0 win before I saw the team, I have changed it slightly now to 2-0. I am still confident as the Spurs record at Old Trafford is pretty poor to say the least. Hargreaves gives us a near heart attack as he doesn’t arrive with the rest of the bunch, prompting fears he has fallen injured in the tunnel. Eventually we see those flowing locks arrive. Good to see him back.

Kick off. The first half is uneventful to say the least. Spurs are attacking the Strettie and we see little of the action up this end. They have parked the bus down the other end too and are not budging. It is woeful stuff. United have plenty of possession and the only two chances of the half. A superb ball from Rafael sends Antonia Valencia through but his shot is smothered. Dimitar Berbatov has the best chance form inside the box but a superb block by Ledley King (I think) thwarts the Bulgarian. It is half time, 0-0 and no surprise. The United crowds are not too pleased with some of the decisions of the officials and voice their opinion as the men in black leave the pitch and go for some relaxation down the tunnel.

It is more of the same as the second half progress; Spurs perhaps have come for a point. And they are doing a good job too. Jermaine Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko are virtual spectators up top for Spurs, though it is not their fault. Luca Modric is busy as always, but having little effect. Gareth Bale, grabbing all the headlines this week, is having a quiet day on the left.

Twelve minutes in, a breakthrough. Superb stuff from Berbatov who wins wide right, cuts along the edge of the box and back heals for the incoming Patrice Evra. Milliseconds later, the left back is on his backside and the penalty is awarded. It is as clear as day. It happens directly yards in front of us and also the referee, who simply cannot get this wrong. Who will take it? My money is on Nani, but Ryan Giggs uses his seniority in the squad and grabs it. And he is vindicated too as he smashes it past Gomes in the goal. 1-0, and relief. Jimmy behind us, perhaps the maddest man I have ever sat beside in a football match, ends up having his t-shirt torn off him. He doesn’t really mind, well sort of anyway.

It is still poor fair however, and Spurs start to move a little more forward and enjoy more possession. I have a bad feeling now. Bang, 1-1. Out of nothing King has headed into the net. Rafael should have kept it out on the post. Zonal marking sucks. Not for the first time this season, we concede from a corner and proper manning of the posts would have prevented it. It is squeaky bum time now. The Spurs fans are in full voice away to our right and the momentum maybe starting to swing towards them. They have replaced Defoe and Pavlyuchenko, the freak and Eidur Gudjohnsen are on.

United have brought on Michael Carrick for the injured Valencia, John O Shea for the injured Evra and last throw of the dice is Kiko Macheda. Instant dividends with nine minutes left on the clock. His first touch plays in Nani who takes one and then tries the most audacious of chips. Time stood still, I swear it did. It took what seemed like 35 years for it to go in. Nani is peeling away in celebration before it hits the net. Either way, its in. Eight left, back in front. Pandemonium in the stands.

Just hold out now….but Nani breaks again. As he comes towards us, he hits the deck. It is another foul, another penalty. Will Nani take this one? No Giggs again. Jimmy behind me has 3-1 and 100 quid riding on it. As Giggs goes the opposite side this time, the keepers left,  the t-shirt is forgotten about. He can afford a new one now. Game over, more relief.

Our route home is an easier one, via Manchester. No delays, no problems this time. One down, two to go……but we need something from Anfield on Sunday to have any realistic chance. What a day that promises to be.

Until then….

To see what the mindset of these people is, I responded to one advert on a message forum, from which I received a U.K. number. Upon ringing it, I was greeted by a middle-aged Liverpool fan from South London called George. George proceeded to rattle off a script to me, something he had obviously put a huge amount of effort into.

“I am a Liverpool fan and went to Athens a few years ago for the final. That ticket cost me £2,000 and I am looking to recoup the cost of it.’ he boasted proud fully.

“I am selling them for £3,000, I think this is a fair price, considering what is on view.’

“I am willing to fly from Stanstead to Dublin to meet you and hand over the tickets in exchange for the cash’, he went on to add.

“Real fans will pay this sort of money. I have already received offers of £1,500, but if I get an offer over £2,200 I would also let them go I think”.

I told him where to shove his tickets and that I hoped he was left with them.

To be honest though, you cannot point all the blame at these horrible people. They are spotting a niche market and going for the kill big time. It may be wrong, immoral and all that, even illegal, but realistically, not many people care. UEFA have to take massive responsibility here. 11,000 tickets is a huge amount and to have this number available to general sale, with very little security and checks, is quite shambolic to be honest. While some genuine fans will no doubt travel themselves and watch the game, you get the feeling that a vast amount of these will trade hands on the black market for incredible prices.

Then you have the idiots that actually pay for them, these are also to blame. People who will go to once off games and never again be seen at a ground. Demand means supply.

Another disturbing trend is the amount of people within our own shores that have taken up this nasty habit. One popular Irish website is awash with ads for this year’s big event in Madrid. I found one add where the man in question was looking for €10,000 for two tickets. I rang another add, this time the considerate seller was looking for a paltry €5,000, which he considered to be a very reasonable deal.

“Tickets will be seated together and I am confident that they are already sold, I have had an offer of collection after the 10^th of April” he stated.

Another advert was looking for €6,000 for his two tickets, which he justified by saying,

“I am a huge United fan and that is the price it would take for me to sell them (if United get to the final)”.

One wonders just how much demand theses lads will get for their tickets, in the event that United and Arsenal make their exit from Europe this week. Expect the value to drop and plenty of sweat to evaporate from their poor foreheads. A CSKA Moscow against Lyon final would teach a few harsh lessons.

However, it is not just this game that is attracting all sorts of patrons. That same Irish website has regular posters on there who are seriously breaking their Club Rules.  It becomes clear that many people in Ireland are selling their season tickets for their clubs, off at huge profits. For example, an average season ticket price at Old Trafford is €700. One member from Belfast, going under the name Johnny, had an advert for every remaining home game this season. He stood to make €1900 from five games, from his two tickets located in the East Stand. It looks like several other lads are doing the same, meaning that a huge number of fans from Ireland are paying over the odds just to see one game.

The same can be seen for Liverpool, with three people looking for €150 or more for the upcoming Benfica ¼ final in the Europa cup. A quick search also brought up similar results for Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Celtic, though at not quite the same level of expense. When I contacted the website involved via the report function, I was greeted with an automated response saying I would be contacted within 48 hours. That was four days ago and still no word from them. When I spoke to both Manchester United and Liverpool ticket offices, they said that they would look into the issue, one that it took very seriously. I do not expect it to go any further action as the reality is once the tickets are paid for, nobody gives a damn.

World famous site Ebay has plans in place to counter-act touting. Normally, this is one of the main places to pick up tickets for any event, at inflated prices. A spokesman from the popular company advised me that this year’s Champions League final, will see sellers come in for a surprise however.

“We have changed our policy on major events such as sport or concerts,’ she stated.

“While we don’t make it public knowledge, anybody selling tickets for events such as the Champions League Final will do so under several restrictions and they will be informed of this upon placing the advert’

“All such applications will be subject to approval and we hope to that will make a huge difference in the over pricing of these events”

The fight against touting will never be a victorious one. While people keep buying, prices will stay high. Things are getting better though with the introduction of swipe cards at all the major UK grounds meaning that at least tickets have to maintain a traceable route. It is then up to the clubs to start cancelling memberships and denying touts the right to resell. Until they do so, genuine fans will be forced to sit at home with their sky plus remotes while the likes of George from London are living the high life. My advice is simple. Look hard enough and tickets can be got at the right price, face value. Do us all a favour; tell the rest like George and his cronies, to shove them too.

They say good things come to all those who wait. Its 4 am. I am wide awake and I cannot get back to sleep. My flight to Manchester is not until 9.30 am. Some things in life only come around once in a blue moon. Your first kiss behind the bike shed when you are 12 years old for example. Or your first can of Dutch Gold, behind said bike shed, when you are, errm 10 years old. Today is another one of them. It’s D Day. I absolutely love these games. It is my 11th trip in 11 weeks, but the one that has been standing out the most. The one that causes more stress than any other.

It feels like Christmas morning and Santa is coming to town. While Rafa Benitez fits the bill, with his dislike of soft ground, ever expanding waist line and sometimes red face, he ain’t no damn Santa Claus. But you know what i mean. I lie awake for two hours before deciding that enough is enough; I am heading to the airport. Some of the lads are on earlier flights, so I set off via the air coach and arrive about 40 minutes later. The airport is full of United fans. Men, women, children alike all wearing the red, white, green, yellow and every other color that’s associated with the club these days.

As lads start arriving, it is clear to see they all are suffering from PMS – Pre Match Syndrome. Everybody is a little edgy, you can point no blame, the last three games have been hard to take. Defeat is not an option today. I could not take four in a row as it would ruin the great four year spell that we had up until 18 months ago and also, put a dent in our title challenge. I am relaxed however, I have a good feeling about today. I think we can turn these over 3-1. An edgy start, possibly a goal each with United turning the screw with 20 minutes left and a late goal to seal it. I am joined by Simon and Pat for the flight, with Colin, Damian, Paul, Eoin, Mark, Dave and Remi on different routes over.

Aer Lingus do their best to ruin our day. As we place our back sides on the plane, we are told about “technical difficulties” and a 15 minute delay while a new part arrives and is fitted. It becomes 30 minutes and then 40 minutes and we start to worry. Luckily it does not take long more and we are on our way.

Traffic is mental the other side, so we walk a good share of the way and as we all congregate in our usual spot, outside the off licenses, the atmosphere is strange. Normally you would see up to 2000 people but today there’s barely 300. The cops have kept their practice from the Milan game of taking cans off everybody and this time they are more forceful. They have managed to quench the normal pre match buzz. Makes no sense. Cans are still on sale but confiscated, opened or unopened as soon as people come out.

We head off to the ground, stopping off for the biggest pre match tradition of all, the bridge burger. I missed this last year and we lost so I will not be making the same mistake this year. The grease is still dripping from the crusted bun as it is handed over but I do not care. This is three points and not just on the cholesterol scale. As we pass the away entrance, the walk becomes slower as abuse galore is traded towards the inrushing Scouse fans. We get inside the ground about ten minutes before kick off. We are greeted by ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from the away end and it is drowned out by boos and counter songs within seconds. We are back in our normal seats in the Stretford end after being moved last week. As the teams come out, the place is rocking. It is our first glimpse of the line ups and there are no surprises really. Both selections are as expected. Dimitar Berbatov must feel hard done by after his wonderful show last week.

Game on. It is a year and a week since the horrible horrible events of last season. I left the ground that day not believing we didn’t win the game, let alone lose 4-1. We just cannot gift them the game again this year. Four minutes in and the Scouse are ahead. We are still screaming for a foul on Michael Carrick as Steven Gerrard puts Dirk Kuyt in behind the defence as the United back four are marked absent. The cross is near perfect and Fernando Torres heads home with a bullet header in to the top corner. Bedlam in the away end but the United fans respond. So do the team.

Antonio Valencia who has begun brightly, latches on to Insua’s poor header and charges towards goal. I can not see who is chasing him, but as he tumbles to the ground, howls and screams erupt around the stadium. Penalty!! Being so far away and low down, it is impossible to tell how far out he is, but we just have to trust it is the right decision. The Scouse players are not happy, but as Wayne Rooney pegs in the rebound, it is 1-1.

It’s Defcon 5 out there now. It really has been an epic opening 12 minutes. The two managers are at each other’s throats on the sideline, the players are at in on the pitch and it is lively in the stands too. The Liverpool fans in full voice for five minutes are now strangely subdued. I do not like the song, but ‘Sing When You’re Winning’ comes to mind. It is not pretty stuff on the pitch, and it’s getting edgy. Liverpool are content on playing the ‘parked bus’ method, looking to spring on the break or go long. This year we are able to handle it and Nemanja Vidic is cleaning Torres out of it. This is nerve wrecking. These games are terrible. I have changed my mind, I absolutely hate these games!

Time is ticking by slowly, the first 20 minutes feels like an hour. Ji Sung Park misses a decent chance from Valencia’s cross and then Pepe Reina saves from Nani. This game is here for the taking. Valencia is having a stormer and Insua is there to be taken to the cleaners, but we are not using him enough. We are playing too much ball in the air and Liverpool are comfortable with this. We see very little action down our end thankfully, but there is not much happening at the other end either. Half time comes and it is evenly matched. United finish the half a little stronger, but Liverpool are resolute. United have been solid at the back, with Gerrard and Torres reduced to scraps since the goal. Carrick has been poor and Park terrible. Nothing is going right for him but he never gives up.

With United attacking the Stettie in the second half, there is always a great chance of a win. Time is now flying by, the fair is not much better, though United are starting to get on top. Fifteen minutes in and its the breakthrough. Darran Fletcher’s glorious cross is met by the head of Park who sends it into the net. That is more like it, the place goes mental. Park peels away, blood is spouting from his head as he celebrates feet away from us. Gary ends up getting thrown over the seat like City all over again.

The rest of the game is a blur, but Park and Fletcher are now playing superb. We are looking to close out the game. Rooney is playing like a man possessed and is winning everything that is played his way. Chances are few and far between still with little happening at either end. As the game enters injury time, five minutes is no surprise. Liverpool get one last chance. It falls to Torres, who fluffs his kick and the follow up header is soft. Sign of relief. It was close. Perhaps had Torres spent more time playing football than whining, moaning, pushing, shoving and diving, let alone kicking penalty spots, he would have been on his game and stuck it. Others will say that he should have seen red along time before it. He is a great player, but is going to become the most hated man in football very quickly if he does not be careful.

As we enter the sixth minute of injury time, the whistle blows. Shear delight and this one is sweet. We are no rush to leave the ground and the hour long walk into town is no trouble for us. We settle into Piccadilly station for an hour to watch the Chelsea game and have our first drinks of the day. It is also the first time I have sat down since 6am! Sainsbury’s provide us with eight cans for seven quid and this gives the fuel for the two hour journey to Birmingham airport. The train is packed and we have to stand all the way, but we do not care one bit. We are all in great sprits. Even more so when the texts come that Blackburn have shared a point. This rounds off a majestic day.

As we catch the flight home, I cast my mind back to the City home game in the Carling Cup semi.  In the run up to that night, we had lost to Chelsea, City, Leeds and Liverpool in the space of three months and were losing a rapid grip on bragging rights. How things have changed as City, Arsenal and now Liverpool have been put to the sword since that day. This is a big one. We will enjoy this and gloat for a few days.  It will have to be forgotten about quickly, but not just yet. Chelsea come in two weeks, but we will not worry about them for now. Bolton have to be beaten first. And we will be there.

The top ten away grounds in the Premiership (1 – 5) -

1. Ewood Park

Club: Blackburn

Away End: Darwen End

Allocation: 4000 (big teams get up to 7000)

The trip to Ewood Park gets the vote as the best away outing in the league. Considering that away fans can get the entire stand behind the goal, it can be sometimes difficult to get tickets. The atmosphere in the away end is often superb, especially as up to 7,000 fans can fit in there.  The Fernhurst Pub before the game is perhaps the top away pub of the year and is always bouncing; check it out on youtube!. Their fans are a little bit quiet however, perhaps a little spoilt from the good times in the mid 90s! To get there, Blackburn Rail is a good 20-25 minute walk away.

2. The Britannia Stadium

Club: Stoke City

Away End: South Stand

Allocation: 2800

This ground could easily make the second worst as well as the second best, but in the last two years we have had two cracking trips there . The atmosphere is one of the best in England, in what is a real old style football ground, with fans close to the pitch. Pubwise, there are not many places to drink by the ground. If you are travelling on coach club travel, they will drop you off right outside turnstile. A word of caution however – a section the Stoke fans do not have a good reputation. There is a rough element to the ground at times which is a definite negative.

3. The DW Stadium

Club: Wigan Athletic

Away End: North Stand

Allocation: 5500

The huge allocation for away fans here (one entire stand) makes this a place where away fans can have a great day out. The ground is 20 minutes walk from  the city centre so no need to worry about trains. If you are getting to the city by train, Wigan North Western and Wallgate stations are 20 minutes away, with a few pubs on the way to shorten the walk! There are lots of pubs by the ground as well with plenty of cheap beer to be bad! There is also the option of the Asda by the ground to buy cans and sing outside one decent pub called The Red Robyn, if I remember correctly.

4. The Reebok Stadium

Club: Bolton

Away End: South Stand

Allocation: 3000

The allocation here depends on the game. The right hand side of the south stand and upper tiers are dedicated to away fans, but sometimes you get the entire stand, which adds to the atmosphere. A lovely stadium and a decent view, but the home fans are a bit quiet and sometimes not so welcoming. The Beehive pub just beside the ground is where all the away fans congregate and in all honesty, it can be absolutely rocking before games.  Access to the stadium is quite good by train. Horwich Parkway railway station is close to the Reebok, with regular trains from Bolton Station.

5. Villa Park

Club: Aston Villa

Away End: Doug Ellis Upper and Lower

Allocation: 1800-3500 (depending on who is visiting)

One of my favourites. Great piss up on Broad Street in the Yates and Lloyds pubs which are regularly rocking with away fans. There is also a few pubs to drink round the ground. I cannot remember the name of the one closest to the away end off the top of my head, but for the last trip, the power went out and we all had to leave. It is an old fashioned stadium in terms of design and closeness to the pitch, but is as modern as they come. Always a good atmosphere in the away end, but we have noticed that the home fans have got quieter over the past five years. The away section has moved since Martin O Neill took over, from the North Stand Lower behind the goal to the Doug Ellis upper and lower. It is very noticeable that it has got more expensive this year, with some fans claiming that tickets have gone up £8 since last year. They also cut the allocations of some of the bigger teams, which is a very bad piece of business and has probably led to the overall atmosphere diminishing.  This is why this ground is not at the top. Accessibility to the stadium is quite good; we generally get the train out from New Street and is only three stops away, with two stops within five minutes walk of the ground.

The top ten away grounds in the Premiership (6 – 10) -

6. Fratton Park

Club: Portsmouth

Away End: Milton End

Allocation: 1850

May not be the best looking stadium in the world, but overall it’s a good day out. An eight hour roundtrip for most fans at least if you are travelling by car or bus, which we always do. Plenty of pubs around the ground and accessibility by walking is pretty easy once you have parked up.  One year we were there, they had constructed a marquee for the away fans, which was decent, but we did not see it on our last trip. The away allocation is most of the Milton Stand behind the goal, which was uncovered until a few years ago. That has added to the atmosphere now and also means a bit of protection from the weather! Overall, while the facilities are not the best, it is an old style ground which allows you to have an enjoyable day and a wicked amount of noise. Pompey need a few more songs though, it’s the same two or three every time we go there!

7. White Hart Lane

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Away End: South/West Corner

Allocation: 2900

Again, it is very easy to get to by train/tube. We got to Liverpool Street first and then headed for the White Hart Lane Station, which is just a few minutes’ walk away from the ground. There aren’t many places to drink by the ground, so we stopped in Kings Cross area first and then headed to Liverpool Street area. There have been issues with reduced allocations due to standing, but this is now becoming a growing issue across England, so we would not hold that against Spurs! Always a good atmosphere and view, the away fans are really close to the home section, which leads to great exchanging of abuse. Top day out.

8. Upton Park

Club: West Ham United

Away End: Sir Trevor Brooking Stand

Allocation: 2150

Getting into the ground is expensive; tickets for this one do not come cheap! Getting to the stadium is easy however via the tube system at the nearby Upton Park station which is on the District Line. Be prepared to have to wait about 30 minutes afterwards though as there are always queues for tubes après match.  It is another old fashioned ground which leads to a cracking atmosphere, both in the home and away ends. The general area involves a lot of walking through side streets. Drink in town or by the ground in a pub called Millers Well, which is about 20 minutes walk away.

9. The Stadium of Light

Club: Sunderland

Away End: South Stand

Allocation: 1800+

Sunderland is a good for making a weekend of it, mainly down to it being far away from most other cities in England! Anytime we go there, it’s a stay over job. The stadium itself is class having only been built in recent years with unobstructed views from all sections of the ground. Atmosphere can be electric within the stadium. Facilities inside the ground are quite good but can be very packed before and during the half time break. There are no real dedicated away pubs in the area, though we have visited two – The Albion and The Democratic, which are both very close to the ground. Sunderland train station is about a 20 minute walk to the ground and if you would like a connecting Metro, look out for the St. Peters stop which serves the away end better than the Stadium of Light stop. Overall, a great day out. Something different.

10. KC Stadium

Club: Hull City

Away End: North Stand

Allocation: 1800

An old style football ground, yet modern with a decent view from the away end. It is also a surprisingly easy ground to get to and always has a decent atmosphere in both the home and away ends, leading to a cracking day out. In our first trip we got the train, and it was about a 20 minute walk from the Hull Paragon station to the KC. Last time we were there, we took the car so did not drink in the area, but other fans said it was to be avoided anyway. The best bet is to get cans really. Inside the ground, the concourse is very lively before the game and at half time with plenty of beer available for away fans. One negative is the strictness on standing, which can cause confrontation with the stewards, however this can also add to the atmosphere!

Make sure you stop by tomorrow as Ed reveals the top five.

What makes a good football ground? For some it’s the padded seats, the sideline views and the prawn sandwiches. For others it’s the amount of noise that can be made and whether you can stand hassle free for 90 minutes.

In this week’s Off The Cuff, myself and fellow supporter Dave Rosbotham have compiled a review of the best and worst away grounds in the Premiership. We take a look at all 19 grounds and review the top 10 and the five worst based on a number of factors including how the fans are treated, facilities, accessibility, view from the away end, the locality and, of course, the beer.

Just to note, this is not just a review of the grounds as buildings and how they look. The Emirates and the City of Manchester Stadium are both magnificent structures, but there is more to a good ground than that. Wembley would be another classic example, great stadium, but crap footballing experience and atmosphere.

Enjoy!

The five worst away grounds in the Premiership -

1. Goodison Park

Club: Everton.

Away End: Bullens Road Stand (upper and lower)

Allocation: 3,100

Quite possibly the worst away end in any ground in England. The restricted views in the Lower Bullens Stand are appalling and it is easy to see why this is dedicated to the away team. The seating is quite poor and tight (not that away fans sit anyway) and if you are at the back of the stand, you could be stuck behind one of the many pillars that obstruct your view.  You also cannot see sections of the pitch if you are at the bar. Not really a place for away fans to drink by the ground. Lime Street is the main train station in Liverpool but is about a one hour walk to the ground so if you are getting the train, look for the Sandhills or Kirkdale stations which are the closest to the ground, with the former have regular shuttle buses to the ground. In and out job really, we do not have anything positive to say about the Goodison Park experience.

2. The Emirates Stadium

Club: Arsenal

Away End: South East (lower tier)

Allocation: 3,000

Getting to the ground, like all in London really, is very easy. The closest tube station is Holloway Road on the Piccadilly line, though on match days this is quite often closed. Best option is the Arsenal tube station, which is about 5 minutes walk to the stadium area. Due to us meeting lads in the city afterwards, we got the train from Finsbury Park which took us into Kings Cross. The Drayton Arms is the pub for away fans and is located just outside the away end. It is a nice modern stadium but has a terrible atmosphere, probably the worst in the league.  The end we have found is always full of executives, meaning the away atmosphere also suffers. Last season up to 1000 United fans were locked out for the first fifteen minutes of the Champions League semi final. Prices inside the ground are the highest in the league.

3. Stamford Bridge

Club: Chelsea

Away End: South East corner of the Shed End, Upper and Lower

Allocation: Up to 3,000

One of the worst policed grounds I have been to, with away fans only getting entry at half time as they had no clue how to get a large crowd into the ground quick enough. Police panicked and sent in horses for some unknown reason. Tickets are expensive and drinking near the ground for away fans is not advised. We visited a few pubs in the city as there are plenty to chose from and then hopped on the underground out towards the stadium. The nearest tube station is Fulham Broadway which is on the District Line and then we got the train back in from West Brompton. Both of these stations are within 10 to 15 minutes walk from the ground.

4. Craven Cottage

Club: Fulham

Away End: Putney End Stand

Allocation: Officially 2,900, but can be up to 5900

This is down to opinion and personal choice. Last season’s two trips were both the best and worst trips of the seasons. The ground, which is as old as they come, is not for me but I am sure some fans will love it. The facilities are terrible in my opinion. Immediate accessibility is poor and the away stand looks like a prefab. Maybe they have just put a pre fabricated finish over the stands, but it looks like temporary seating. The sectioning arrangements are a bit strange as more often than not the entire stand is allocated to the away team. O fficially however, it is about sixty per cent away and forty percent neutral, which can be easily purchased online. The away pub, the Eight Bells, is a good one, and about 15 minutes walk from the ground. We also drank on Fulham High Street in The Kings Arms and O’Neill’s, which were full of away fans. Tickets are in the region of £50 so are up there with the most expensive in the league. The nearest tube station is Putney Bridge, which is on the District Line and is about 15 or 20 minutes walk across the Thames.

5. City of Manchester Stadium

Club: Manchester City

Away End: South Stand (one half, upper and lower)

Allocation: 3,000

Perhaps a little bit harsh to include this ground, but both of our first trips there this season ended up in a sour note. The segregation is not the best as home and away fans are literally inches from each other, something that most clubs have observed. Our trips saw the stewards panic with the crowd and we ended up missing the first 20 minutes, with some reds only getting in just before half time. The stadium itself is new and looks decent from the inside. It can carry a good atmosphere, but needs better planning and structure to the away end, as well as more stewarding. Getting there is easy enough, we just walked out from Manchester City centre, which took about 30 minutes. Unsurprisingly, all the pubs around the ground are City pubs and best avoided for away fans. The closest train station is Ashburys and the stadium is about a 15 minute walk away from here.

Tune in tomorrow when Ed reveals the first instalment of the best Premier League away grounds.

My travel companions are Eoin (I know it is getting boring now, but I have to repeat, we still have a 100% winning rate!) and Simon. We are flying via a 2.00pm flight to Birmingham from Dublin. The normally reliable Air Coach is running 40 minutes late, but we arrive in enough time to have one pint at the departure gate. I am relaxed about today, the 3-2 win in Milan should see us through, but you never know. Defeat would be a disaster, this is a position we should not and I think will not lose. The flight is full, with the majority of them heading to the game. My resident stalker Mr. Soft is on the flight along with four or five other lads that can be seen regularly on trips. Birmingham is starting to become more and more popular for games.

Fast forward and three hours later, following a smooth flight and a two hour train trip, we are in our normal pre match position. Outside the offies just beside the ground. Tickets have to be distributed and I am haunted, as everybody arrives at pretty much the same time. It all goes smoothly and is a massive weight off my mind. Time to relax now.

Colin, Emmett and Damian join us but the Old Bill are on a mission today and that is to hand out £50 fines to anybody caught drinking on the streets, which is thousands of people. This is the first time ever we have seen this and it is very very strange. First comes a warning, then a confiscation and then a fine. Colin hits A.S.B.O. level two and the Cavan man has his wife-beating Strongbow taken off him. He is not impressed, but the rest of us are luckier and save for a few dirty looks from the cops, we are left alone.

As we head to the ground, the must have and now well patented dirty bridge burger is consumed and it is all systems go. We are moved today to the East Stand, due to the advertising needs of UEFA. It is a load of s*ite and we would all love to be back in our normal Stretford end seats, but there is nothing we can do. The stewards are even worse than at our end, asking us to sit down every two minutes, citing the woman behind us not being able to see the match. United begin very well and Rooney has an effort just wide. Ronaldinho heads inches past the right hand post soon after. Close call. Milan grow in confidence and I am starting to get edgy.

Moments later, the tie is over. The much maligned Gary Neville sends in a glorious cross and Rooney nods in. Milan never raise a gallop after this. The rest of the half is fairly tame. I honestly cannot recall anything happening at either end. Two things are noticeable however, Park Ji Sung is having a cracking game through the middle and Gary Neville is also doing well, for once!

Within seconds of the restart it’s 2-0. Nani plays Rooney through after the Milan defence is sloppy and Rooney knocks home for his 30th of the season. Gary standing two seats away from me proceeds to somehow head butt me during the celebration, almost breaking my nose. I ensure that I am well away from him when Park knocks in number three a few minutes later, from Scholes crisp pass. It’s 6-2 on aggregate now and it is party time; David Beckham is warming up and is now getting more attention than the other 22 players on the pitch. The ‘Love United, Hate Glazer’ anthems are taking off big time also.

Between this and the Beckham love fest, the game becomes a sideshow. As he enters the fray, he gets an unbelievable reception, too good. I join in but I will not be singing his name, there are players in the red shirts that need supporting first, sentiment can wait for another time. How much of a farce the game becomes is shown by the fact that some United fans around us are urging him to shoot every time he gets the ball. They appear disappointed when he goes close, but fails to score. I cannot understand it, but as Fletcher makes it 4-0, those lads do not get their wish. News is filtering through that Madrid need two goals to go through and as we leave the ground, it is confirmed that they are out. Sweet, tops off a terrific night.

Tickets (all United season tickets are swipe cards and not paper tickets) are re-exchanged after the game and we sprint off into town to make the last air coach up to Liverpool airport. We get an offer at the stop of an eight seat cab for 80 euro and four Milan fans join us. We have good conversation on the way up and the Italian lads feel that United have the best team in Europe. High praise indeed. They are in a state of depression about the future of their club; you can see where they are coming from.

Tonight’s accommodation is being provided by the airport floor. It is about midnight as we settle into our beloved prayer room and while it is not exactly the Ritz, it will do the job for a few short hours. As the night progresses, the crowd in the tiny yet sacred room grows and come 4am, the place is full of Irish lads, all United fans. My sleep time is over as the chorus of snoring is unbearable. We head off to the departure lounge. Our flight is boarding soon anyway so all is not lost. A bunch of Irish lads make idiots of themselves by discussing Bob Geldof, Ethiopia and the like within earshot of half the airport. Flight boards on time and its homeward bound. We are all due in work, but we do not mind, it is easy to face a day’s work when it is a victory.

As I hit the LUAS home after the Air Coach, another successful trip is coming to an end. Next Sunday is the big one. After last year’s disaster, this one better go our way. Until then, L.U.H.G.