Friday night

[Keen Blade]

They have more fans
Our attendances have been pathetic this season
There's always an excuse not to go to games
Can't believe tomorrow isn't a sell out, and people say we should make our ground bigger!

Just checked , I reckon there are over 1.000 left on the BLUT which have an excellent view and similar on the kop which have a poorer view but more atmosphere for £2 less.

This is a clash of two exciting teams at the top of the league under the atmospheric lights , with a full away section , so if we can't fill the Lane for this , something is wrong.
Imo it's a far more attractive and important fixture than the derby v the ugly anti-football pigs.

You could say :
TV coverage
Prices
Christmas coming
Ticket restrictions (500 points)

But tbh , in the City which is 'the home of football' , with a high-flying team , our TO should be asking itself what it's doing wrong.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Just checked , I reckon there are over 1.000 left on the BLUT which have an excellent view and similar on the kop which have a poorer view but more atmosphere for £2 less.

This is a clash of two exciting teams at the top of the league under the atmospheric lights , with a full away section , so if we can't fill the Lane for this , something is wrong.
Imo it's a far more attractive and important fixture than the derby v the ugly anti-football pigs.

You could say :
TV coverage
Prices
Christmas coming
Ticket restrictions (500 points)

But tbh , in the City which is 'the home of football' , with a high-flying team , our TO should be asking itself what it's doing wrong.

Christmas obviously……..

 

[Grey Blade]

Is it not Black Friday tomorrow? Shouldn't the tickets be discounted?

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

What a lovely gesture from them.
He played 39 games for them in 15/16 on loan from MKDons.
I wonder where you were sitting and whether the kop could hear them ?
I couldn't be there on Tuesday.
I'm amazed our lot didn't acknowledge their respect.

I couldn't make the game. Clash with Hard-Fi at the Leadmill (though watched a bit on someone's phone over their shoulder between supports). Great to hear that Oxford sang for George.

 

[Keen Blade]

Following their win over Plymouth, their huge local fan base and the ability to buy as many tickets as they want, how come the Grunters gates aren’t far higher?

Ooh , that's a tricky one , err ...

Because their loutish players are shit , ugly , filthy dirty , clogging bastards ?

They have maintained the present number of fans only because their mindless loyalty stems from a genetic defect which , through a quirk of nature , is optimized when conception occurs in a bus shelter on Parson Cross.

Right , time to listen to Mr Dury reminding me about Blockheads

How would you like one puffin an blowin in your ear-hole ?

 

[Keen Blade]

I was on John Street Tuesday
Bang on halfway
Maybe the kop didnt hear them to be fair
I sang along in my own way

Good man

 

[Tuns25]

Just checked , I reckon there are over 1.000 left on the BLUT which have an excellent view and similar on the kop which have a poorer view but more atmosphere for £2 less.

This is a clash of two exciting teams at the top of the league under the atmospheric lights , with a full away section , so if we can't fill the Lane for this , something is wrong.
Imo it's a far more attractive and important fixture than the derby v the ugly anti-football pigs.

You could say :
TV coverage
Prices
Christmas coming
Ticket restrictions (500 points)

But tbh , in the City which is 'the home of football' , with a high-flying team , our TO should be asking itself what it's doing wrong.

The TO will be asking what's wrong with the fans and therein lies the problem.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Just checked , I reckon there are over 1.000 left on the BLUT which have an excellent view and similar on the kop which have a poorer view but more atmosphere for £2 less.

This is a clash of two exciting teams at the top of the league under the atmospheric lights , with a full away section , so if we can't fill the Lane for this , something is wrong.
Imo it's a far more attractive and important fixture than the derby v the ugly anti-football pigs.

You could say :
TV coverage
Prices
Christmas coming
Ticket restrictions (500 points)

But tbh , in the City which is 'the home of football' , with a high-flying team , our TO should be asking itself what it's doing wrong.

It's entirely due to the price of tickets. Lots of folk aren't going to pay nearly 40 quid for a ticket when they can watch pretty much every game from the comfort of their own home for 40 quid a month.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

They have more fans
Our attendances have been pathetic this season
There's always an excuse not to go to games
Can't believe tomorrow isn't a sell out, and people say we should make our ground bigger!

Clearly not everyone is as loaded as you are.

 

[Keen Blade]

The TO will be asking what's wrong with the fans and therein lies the problem.

'Communication let me down'

Spandau Ballet

 

[Tuns25]

If we're not going to put a bit of effort into making it easy and attractive for Blades then we may as well give BLUT to away fans for games like Sunderland. We're losing thousands of pounds again when there could be another 2 or 3000 away fans. Bizarre for a skint club.

 

[Keen Blade]

If we're not going to put a bit of effort into making it easy and attractive for Blades then we may as well give BLUT to away fans for games like Sunderland. We're losing thousands of pounds again when there could be another 2 or 3000 away fans. Bizarre for a skint club.

When the new corner went up and the new roof put over the BLUT with stanchions removed .
a series of security doors were installed in the BLUT concourse .
Which McCabe stated were to facilitate the BLUT being divided between home & away fans , depending on demand for particular matches.
Home fans nearer the new corner and away fans nearer John Street.
In this way the occupation of the BLUT could be maximised.
I've racked my brain but can't remember whether this flexible design was ever employed in practice.
If you look on the ticket website you will see that approx one third of the BLUT (nearer John Street) is always "locked" (not for sale).
I think it was occupied in the derby , so maybe it gets released (if the rest get sold) by negotiation with SAG ?
Would be grateful to learn from anyone who knows.

 

[S64 Blade]

Good point but 500 points applies only to some games , which I accept tend to be against the bigger clubs - so a Lane virgin would have to go to a few lesser games to amass their 500

Ok, but let’s stick with Deliveroo example. Imagine signing up and being told you can’t buy food from the better vendors on there. But you need to first have 10 meals from the shit takeaways that you’re not bothered about trying, before you can be allowed to have the good stuff.

Would you bother, when you can go somewhere else for the same thing but no restrictions?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Ok, but let’s stick with Deliveroo example. Imagine signing up and being told you can’t buy food from the better vendors on there. But you need to first have 10 meals from the shit takeaways that you’re not bothered about trying, before you can be allowed to have the good stuff.

Would you bother, when you can go somewhere else for the same thing but no restrictions?

Deliveroo? Not the best analogy to be honest.

 

[John Cutsbushes]

Clearly not everyone is as loaded as you are.

My lads bought my season ticket

 

[S64 Blade]

Deliveroo? Not the best analogy to be honest.

Read the thread back Sean rather than taking one post in isolation.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Read the thread back Sean.

I’ve read it. IMO the analogy just doesn’t work. There’s one product for sale at BL, a ticket. Not numerous options from numerous vendors.

The system is far from perfect but it’s been shown many times on here that the TO will,if possible, try to accommodate you. Many people seemingly can’t be arsed to register in the first place so the initial impediment is actually themselves. The friends and family options looks as if the sitting together requests may be achievable (one poster has explained how he moves seats when he brings his daughters partner along) and the rather obvious reason why you can’t get a ticket for a seat next to you is that large parts of the ground are filled with 23000 selfish bastards who want to watch all or most games and who have paid up front. Yes we should be doing more for POTD regulars who are more of a benefit to the club than someone who wants a ticket for Boxing Day but cbs to make any effort themselves outside of whinging on here.

Now for more coffee……

 

[S64 Blade]

I’ve read it. IMO the analogy just doesn’t work. There’s one product for sale at BL, a ticket. Not numerous options from numerous vendors.

The system is far from perfect but it’s been shown many times on here that the TO will,if possible, try to accommodate you. Many people seemingly can’t be arsed to register in the first place so the initial impediment is actually themselves. The friends and family options looks as if the sitting together requests may be achievable (one poster has explained how he moves seats when he brings his daughters partner along) and the rather obvious reason why you can’t get a ticket for a seat next to you is that large parts of the ground are filled with 23000 selfish bastards who want to watch all or most games and who have paid up front. Yes we should be doing more for POTD regulars who are more of a benefit to the club than someone who wants a ticket for Boxing Day but cbs to make any effort themselves outside of whinging on here.

Now for more coffee……

Other tickets at other football clubs are available and more easily obtainable. As are other delivery alternatives to Deliveroo.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Friday night under the lights

 

[Sean Thornton]

Other tickets at other football clubs are available and more easily obtainable. As are other delivery alternatives to Deliveroo.

Yes, no one is doubting that. Can you buy United tickets from say, Brentford though?

 

[Sheffsteel]

I sympathise but I don't know what more the club can do - they will have researched their pricing formulae.

The research we will have done is to look at our main competitor (Sheffield Wednesday)
and we've undercut their prices by 10% across the board.

The problem is our neighbours have the 2nd highest prices in the Championship.
So even though we're cheaper than them, we're still (I believe) the 4th highest prices in the EFL.

It's been mentioned, the cheapest ticket for this Sky match is £36, but that's only if you buy at the ticket office.
If you buy on line and download your ticket it's £37 cheapest.

Always wondered why buying a ticket on line of £1 more expensive.
Surely it's saving the club on staffing costs, so logic suggests buying a ticket on line should be cheaper.

 

[S64 Blade]

Yes, no one is doubting that. Can you buy United tickets from say, Brentford though?

No but you can watch the game on tv for free, pretty easily. Which is seemingly what people are opting to do.

 

[Sean Thornton]

No but you can watch the game on tv for free, pretty easily. Which is seemingly what people are opting to do.

But not necessarily because of ticketing restrictions.

 

[HOT CURRIE 10]

They have more fans
Our attendances have been pathetic this season
There's always an excuse not to go to games
Can't believe tomorrow isn't a sell out, and people say we should make our ground bigger!

Pathetic is a strong word and I don’t agree with that,our support generally is excellent home and away. Last seasons shit show,takeover shenanigans,cost of buying 2 tickets in a week,sky shit,all contributes. I agree though,it should sell out,no home match for 2 weeks,top of the league fixture. I just think last season drained the positivity and interest out of quite a few people,and I know quite a few of those.

 

[vas borbokis]

Not the clubs fault that there’s no adjacent seat next to your normal one.


Does your daughter’s other half have points?

Edited
No it isn't, and I didn't mean to say it was, but maybe this feeds into the stadium development argument..
There are rarely any 2 together to pick in the John St stand and we usually have to go in the BLUT to find any together. With a bigger stadium there'd be more pairs and groups of seats to pick from so might encourage more casual fans. Doing the swap and 2 together sketch you can't just nip online and make it happen. You need to either go in to the office, or ring and spend a while on the phone, then wait for the tix to be posted or collect them from the office, all taking up more time. So I think it is a bit of a deterrent, and I could see folk deciding they CBA.

I've got him a customer no. now, and he's been to a couple of three since so maybe he has a few, but I've not checked tbh.

 

[MadDad38]

Yes, no one is doubting that. Can you buy United tickets from say, Brentford though?

As it happens, last season we had some relatives visiting from Bermuda who wanted me to get tickets for the Brentford game. At first I tried without success in registering them on the website using various combinations of my address, their addresses, their daughter’s address in London etc. One call to the ticket office sorted it. I have always found them really helpful.

 

[Sheffsteel]

When the new corner went up and the new roof put over the BLUT with stanchions removed .
a series of security doors were installed in the BLUT concourse .
Which McCabe stated were to facilitate the BLUT being divided between home & away fans , depending on demand for particular matches.
Home fans nearer the new corner and away fans nearer John Street.
In this way the occupation of the BLUT could be maximised.
I've racked my brain but can't remember whether this flexible design was ever employed in practice.
If you look on the ticket website you will see that approx one third of the BLUT (nearer John Street) is always "locked" (not for sale).
I think it was occupied in the derby , so maybe it gets released (if the rest get sold) by negotiation with SAG ?
Would be grateful to learn from anyone who knows.

Agree, McCabe definitely said the design of the expanded upper tier meant we could be flexible giving away fans extra tickets when required.
He said the internal concourse areas could be divided and shut off enabling both home and away fans to use it at the same time.

This internal shutting off security door system was used just ONCE, in the very 1st game at home to Liverpool in the Premier league.

Instead of giving them the, at the time standard away allocation of 2.990 seats we gave them an extra 1,500 in the upper tier
aking their allocation to 4.5K. This match was almost instantly sold out with loads of our fans complaining they couldn't buy tickets
with many criticising McCabe for giving Liverpool extra tickets when we could have easily sold them to home fans.

Liverpool game was a sell out and had an attendance of 31,700
where as all our other sellout against Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Wigan etc had attendances of 32,500.
So giving away fans extra tickets means a no mans land needs to be created losing about 800 tickets in the upper tier.

Wonder why the club have never thought about using that flexible away allocation system again?

Also I can give personal experience where I've wanted to buy tickets for the big matches but can't, losing the club potential future fans.
I know Leicester City had a rule where once tickets went on general sale, then season ticket holders could buy up to extra 4 tickets, no questions asked, altho there are terms and conditions that say mis use will result in the season ticket holder losing their season ticket.

Can never understand why United can't have the same rule, season ticket holders should be allowed to buy extra tickets.
If it's found they are selling their tickets for profit, selling to away fans or to ticket touting sites, then that ST holder loses their ST.

 

[Blade59]

Just checked , I reckon there are over 1.000 left on the BLUT which have an excellent view and similar on the kop which have a poorer view but more atmosphere for £2 less.

This is a clash of two exciting teams at the top of the league under the atmospheric lights , with a full away section , so if we can't fill the Lane for this , something is wrong.
Imo it's a far more attractive and important fixture than the derby v the ugly anti-football pigs.

You could say :
TV coverage
Prices
Christmas coming
Ticket restrictions (500 points)

But tbh , in the City which is 'the home of football' , with a high-flying team , our TO should be asking itself what it's doing wrong.

Probably a combination of all of the above. In the last championship season I didn't have a season ticket and for night games on TV the temptation was often to stay at home and watch it particularly when there was another game on Saturday the same week. I think pricing for some pay on the day matches needs looking at. Years ago we used to have certain games where we offered reduced ticket prices or you could buy a package of 3 games at a reduced price. It may be that financially we lost money on these deals but sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture in terms of growing the fan base for the longer term, something the McCabe regime was very good at.

 

[Keen Blade]

The research we will have done is to look at our main competitor (Sheffield Wednesday)
and we've undercut their prices by 10% across the board.

The problem is our neighbours have the 2nd highest prices in the Championship.
So even though we're cheaper than them, we're still (I believe) the 4th highest prices in the EFL.

It's been mentioned, the cheapest ticket for this Sky match is £36, but that's only if you buy at the ticket office.
If you buy on line and download your ticket it's £37 cheapest.

Always wondered why buying a ticket on line of £1 more expensive.
Surely it's saving the club on staffing costs, so logic suggests buying a ticket on line should be cheaper.

Agreed , I've never understood why the extra £1 to save them costs !

And in this age of electronic tickets , I don't know what "buying at the TO" can really mean ?

 

[MBH]

Sunderland currently 5 without a win drawing the lot , 3 0-0s included in that run , are they feeling the pace , can we make it 6 without a win for them

Lets remember two things about football:

- no team ever has all 90 minutes of a football game, and
- every team goes through a bad spell

This may be Sunderland's bad spell or it may be a genuine drop off to 5th or 6th. too early to tell.

However we weren't top by 5 points for no reason and there are teams up with us who have been in the PL recently - including yourselves. Nobody is walking away with the league this year so far and if the results go right for us this weekend we could be top again.

Thats not to say we will because we dont have a great record at BL in recent times and it'll be interesting too see what type of game we play......counter attacking or pressing? I hope it's the latter and that we go for it.

the whole thing screams a draw but its a difficult one to predict.