Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[Karabiner]

After the match, jumped the Tram back to the City Centre.

I had assumed it would be free, or sixpence or something. Three bloody quid.

Pretty neat though.

You don't get much "feel" or excitement on a tram though, do you? A bus or a train is infinitely better.

You should have used your bus-pass and travelled for free.

[tikay]

After the match, jumped the Tram back to the City Centre.

I had assumed it would be free, or sixpence or something. Three bloody quid.

Pretty neat though.

You don't get much "feel" or excitement on a tram though, do you? A bus or a train is infinitely better.

You should have used your bus-pass and travelled for free.

Don't think there was any need for that, Mr S.

How are you keeping, anyway, you must be of considerable age yourself, if I may make so bold?

[Karabiner]

After the match, jumped the Tram back to the City Centre.

I had assumed it would be free, or sixpence or something. Three bloody quid.

Pretty neat though.

You don't get much "feel" or excitement on a tram though, do you? A bus or a train is infinitely better.

You should have used your bus-pass and travelled for free.

Don't think there was any need for that, Mr S.

How are you keeping, anyway, you must be of considerable age yourself, if I may make so bold?

One is eligible for a bus-pass at the tender age of three score in case you were not aware.

When I visited OT for Arsenal's game when Guy very kindly invited me we travelled to and from the ground by tram too - that's how I know.

Like you I was very impressed by Pogba.

[tikay]

After the match, jumped the Tram back to the City Centre.

I had assumed it would be free, or sixpence or something. Three bloody quid.

Pretty neat though.

You don't get much "feel" or excitement on a tram though, do you? A bus or a train is infinitely better.

You should have used your bus-pass and travelled for free.

Don't think there was any need for that, Mr S.

How are you keeping, anyway, you must be of considerable age yourself, if I may make so bold?

One is eligible for a bus-pass at the tender age of three score in case you were not aware.

When I visited OT for Arsenal's game when Guy very kindly invited me we travelled to and from the ground by tram too - that's how I know.

Like you I was very impressed by Pogba.

To be honest, Ralph, I don't use the bus that often.

When Gill & I were in San Diego last year, we jumped a bus & Gill said "show the driver your passport, you get free travel".

The driver said "no need Sir, I can see you are of pensionable age".

Bastard.

I was transfixed by Pogba, watched him every moment. Involved in everything, very "aware" of who is where, & has an amazing engine, with lots of short bursts of deceptively fast speed. Most impressive sort.   

Bet he's pretty good at keepy uppy, too.

[hhyftrftdr]

I've stayed at that Britannia more times than I care to remember.

Did you get a window?

[tikay]

I've stayed at that Britannia more times than I care to remember.

Did you get a window?

Yeah, paid for an Ececutive Room, had a window, a door, and it's own sink with running water.

You go watch Man United often, then?

[RED-DOG]

One is eligible for a bus-pass at the tender age of three score

Call.

[Karabiner]

One was eligible for a bus-pass at the tender age of three score

Call.

FMP

It changed from 60 to 65(pensionable age) in 2010 which would not have affected his nibs' eligibility.

[tikay]

One was eligible for a bus-pass at the tender age of three score

Call.

FMP

It changed from 60 to 65(pensionable age) in 2010 which would not have affected his nibs' eligibility.

Call.

[Archer]

It's many a year since I have been to an English Premier League match - boy oh boy, the security checks were amazing.

We had a private car park space, but they checked the car with those mirrors under the car, opened the boot etc.

Then, when we entered the stadium, we had to open our coats & have a full body frisk. They never looked under my hat though - guess they assumed there was nothing there.    


We had a cracking box, & before the game started, we were entertained by a magician of all things. Very good he was, too, we were up close & still could not see how he was working his magic. Most impressive.  

When the game started, there was another magician - Paul Pogba. My word he has some tricks, flicks & shimmies. Can see why he was so pricey, & he is completely unselfish, "feeding" everyone else, mainly Zlatan.  

Zlatan looks a moody, fearful sort, not to be messed with, but he was all threat, huff & puff & no end result on this occasion.

Rooney came on 2nd half as a sub, & it was great to hear & see the crowd give him a rousing welcome.

A most memorable & enjoyable evening, sandwiched between 2 nice train journeys.  

Were you entertained by a hypnotist as well as a magician? It is the only explanation I can think of because I'm not sure there would have been anyone else who would have come away from the swamp on Wednesday night describing their experience as a "most memorable and enjoyable evening". Strange.

[Archer]

Manchester was wet, miserable, dreary & full of dirty buildings which either need demolishing or cleaning.

So many dull buildings in the City Centre, though there were a few nice buildings in and around St Peters Square.

I stayed at The Britannia Hotel, which was nothing short of splendid in 1910, I'm quite sure, but is utterly dreadful now, though I did get lucky & have an en-suite bathroom & loo. Oh my, it was bad, odd for one so close to the City Centre, right adjacent to Piccadilly.

Can't think of a worse hotel I've used in Great Britain except - obviously - that dreadful one in Newcastle City Centre.

Still, I should not complain, it's all good I guess.

Here's Britannia Hotel, Manchester. Looks good from the outside, right? Looks good as you enter, too. I'll spare you the rest.

   

I'm surprised at this, I would have thought you of all people would be more appreciative of northern grit and one of of the great industrial cities.

Mighty odd choice of hotel and location for a corporate jolly as well.  The hotel is ranked about 95/120 on Trip Advisor and is adjacent to Piccadilly Gardens - the 5th top crime hot spot in the UK.

[Rod Paradise]

Manchester was wet, miserable, dreary & full of dirty buildings which either need demolishing or cleaning.

So many dull buildings in the City Centre, though there were a few nice buildings in and around St Peters Square.

I stayed at The Britannia Hotel, which was nothing short of splendid in 1910, I'm quite sure, but is utterly dreadful now, though I did get lucky & have an en-suite bathroom & loo. Oh my, it was bad, odd for one so close to the City Centre, right adjacent to Piccadilly.

Can't think of a worse hotel I've used in Great Britain except - obviously - that dreadful one in Newcastle City Centre.

Still, I should not complain, it's all good I guess.

Here's Britannia Hotel, Manchester. Looks good from the outside, right? Looks good as you enter, too. I'll spare you the rest.

   

I'm surprised at this, I would have thought you of all people would be more appreciative of northern grit and one of of the great industrial cities.

Mighty odd choice of hotel and location for a corporate jolly as well.  The hotel is ranked about 95/120 on Trip Advisor and is adjacent to Piccadilly Gardens - the 5th top crime hot spot in the UK.

That's a bit of news. When I have to have an overnight in Manchester I usually pick near Piccadilly Gardens and go for a pint down in a wee bar on the edge of Chinatown, walking back to the hotel after, never seen any bother - just lucky I guess.

[Jon MW]

Manchester was wet, miserable, dreary & full of dirty buildings which either need demolishing or cleaning.

So many dull buildings in the City Centre, though there were a few nice buildings in and around St Peters Square.

I stayed at The Britannia Hotel, which was nothing short of splendid in 1910, I'm quite sure, but is utterly dreadful now, though I did get lucky & have an en-suite bathroom & loo. Oh my, it was bad, odd for one so close to the City Centre, right adjacent to Piccadilly.

Can't think of a worse hotel I've used in Great Britain except - obviously - that dreadful one in Newcastle City Centre.

Still, I should not complain, it's all good I guess.

Here's Britannia Hotel, Manchester. Looks good from the outside, right? Looks good as you enter, too. I'll spare you the rest.

   

I'm surprised at this, I would have thought you of all people would be more appreciative of northern grit and one of of the great industrial cities.

Mighty odd choice of hotel and location for a corporate jolly as well.  The hotel is ranked about 95/120 on Trip Advisor and is adjacent to Piccadilly Gardens - the 5th top crime hot spot in the UK.

That's a bit of news. When I have to have an overnight in Manchester I usually pick near Piccadilly Gardens and go for a pint down in a wee bar on the edge of Chinatown, walking back to the hotel after, never seen any bother - just lucky I guess.

Obviously it's just a snapshot but this is the crime map for the area for November 2016

https://www.police.uk/greater-manchester/AC29/crime/

as a comparison this is the area around the Arndale
https://www.police.uk/greater-manchester/AC26/crime/

and one of the stations
https://www.police.uk/greater-manchester/AC28/crime/

There might be safer places to stay but you'd need a proper analysis to really compare (like taking out shoplifting and other crimes that wouldn't really affect you as a visitor) - I just like playing with the crime map website really

[tikay]

It's many a year since I have been to an English Premier League match - boy oh boy, the security checks were amazing.

We had a private car park space, but they checked the car with those mirrors under the car, opened the boot etc.

Then, when we entered the stadium, we had to open our coats & have a full body frisk. They never looked under my hat though - guess they assumed there was nothing there.    


We had a cracking box, & before the game started, we were entertained by a magician of all things. Very good he was, too, we were up close & still could not see how he was working his magic. Most impressive.  

When the game started, there was another magician - Paul Pogba. My word he has some tricks, flicks & shimmies. Can see why he was so pricey, & he is completely unselfish, "feeding" everyone else, mainly Zlatan.  

Zlatan looks a moody, fearful sort, not to be messed with, but he was all threat, huff & puff & no end result on this occasion.

Rooney came on 2nd half as a sub, & it was great to hear & see the crowd give him a rousing welcome.

A most memorable & enjoyable evening, sandwiched between 2 nice train journeys.  

Were you entertained by a hypnotist as well as a magician? It is the only explanation I can think of because I'm not sure there would have been anyone else who would have come away from the swamp on Wednesday night describing their experience as a "most memorable and enjoyable evening". Strange.

Now now.

It may not have been a goal-fest, but for me, to visit Old Trafford was a treat in itself, & the standard of football was of no consequence.

When not being mesmerised by Pogba, I was gawping at the magnificent stadium, & trying to figure out;

a) How many corporate boxes they have

b) How much they cost, per season.

We had an 8 seater, but some were much bigger. Must cost, what, £50,000 or more per season? Multiply that by, it seemed to me, x hundred boxes. What a business.

It was, without doubt, a wonderfully memorable evening, & I'll never forget it.

Our box was behind what was, I gather, "the singing section", & the spectators in the seated area there stand up on some sort of ridic principle "we don't have to sit down & you can't make us".  At half time, they all sat down. Bet they sit down as much as they can at work.
 
As the match wore on, the fans got more & more frustrated, accusing the opposition, the referee, everyone & everything of being to blame. They were foaming at the mouth. Apparently that is them enjoying themselves.

It was only my 2nd ever "lifetime" visit to Old Trafford, & the previous one was on my birthday, 42 years ago, & I still remember my first sight of Old Trafford from the inside.

How do I know it was 42 years ago?

This excellent site lists every game between the 2 Clubs:

http://www.11v11.com/teams/manchester-united/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Brentford/


We can even see who played for Man U that day - quite a team, even then;


http://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-brentford-10-september-1975-29839/

Alex Stepney

Martin Buchan

Stewart Houston (who we had sold to Man U)

Jimmy Nicholl

Brian Grenhoff

Steve Coppell

Gerry Daly

Tommy Jackson - who I don't recall at all.

Sammy McIllroy

Lou Macari

Stuart Pearson.  

 

[tikay]

I went to Maine Road once, too, in 1989.

Can't remember a thing about it, I'm sorry to say, & that site does not even know how the teams lined up.

http://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-city-v-brentford-04-october-1989-32073/