[Irish Jet]

Is that Michael Johnson?

Fuck sake.

[Seabs]

Don't even get me started on "fans" leaving before the end of matches. It's the bottom worst. North Stand at OT is dreadful for it. Even the Newcastle match on Boxing Day there were some leaving with 10 minutes left in THAT game and the stand I was in started emptying as soon as we scored. I don't see how that extra 5 minutes really makes any difference either. Maybe if you've got a train to catch and it's the last train but that's barely ever the reason for leaving early. It's not even that difficult getting away from OT either. We always park on the cricket ground and get away pretty easily even with the traffic.

As for the ticket prices, that wont change for a very long time. Demand exceeds supply so price keeps going up. It's simple business really. From that point of view I can't really blame clubs that much. People will pay the prices so as business men why wouldn't they charge higher prices when people will pay at that price. City sending 1000 or whatever number of tickets back is encouraging but they're were still a fair amount who paid the prices. Away tickets might get something done if fans keep boycotting away tickets at prices like that but if those types of fans boycott home matches then there's always a fan who's probably less of a supporter who will pay the inflated ticket price and until every set of fan starts boycotting ticket prices then they'll keep rising for as long as clubs can get away with it.

What I do is just pay the price for a 16-17 and get in with that ticket.

[WOOLCOCK]

Agreed pretty much Seabs. I hate the fact clubs charge so much knowing full well there's very little to no chance it will bite them in the arse, but as long as fans make it clear they won't be put off by the price I can't exactly have a go at businessmen refusing to make more money just be more moral and give a little back to the fans. Sad times but it was coming ever since 1996 when football became hugely mainstream again and gradually a new generation of supporters came about.

OT generally isn't too hard to get out of, though it varies depending on your mode of transport. Obviously if you're getting the train you just hang out in the East/South tunnel where they have a private train going back to the city centre, as opposed to walking back down Warwick Road to the Old Trafford metrolink where you'll be waiting a good 30 minutes plus for a tram. I generally used to walk past Sam Platts and get the Salford Quays metro back into the centre. Was never as busy as the Old Trafford metrolink that everyone used and was always back in time for the last train home if it was midweek.

[Kiz]

Michael Johnsons contract ends this season and I've heard it was terminated a while back anyway

[Rush]

You'd like to think that the prtest over tickets would annoy Arsenal and they'd do something about their prices but i'm sure they don't care. They would take a third of the tickets back while making the other 2/3 pay ridiculous prices.

[Renegade™]

jesus Michael Johnson

Fat fuck. Does he even care anymore?

[Sleeper]

Michael Johnson went from looking 14 years old to 40 years old in about 4 years. Wow.

[Kiz]

Originally Posted by Renegade™

jesus Michael Johnson

Fat fuck. Does he even care anymore?

he stopped caring in about 2010. doesnt train with us anymore (obviously), don't think he did after he came back from leicester either. went on about him about 20 pages ago, terrible attitude + getting on the drink while having some pretty bad injuries = that.

so many footballers would love to have had the natural talent he did. instead he preferred the bottom of a schooner.

[united_07]

i liked this in the guardian about the difference between players

Lee Sharpe tells a story, going back to his days at Manchester United, of sitting in the canteen one day and hearing a dull, repetitive thud outside. Eventually he went out to investigate and was bemused to find Gary Neville, on his own, throwing a ball against the gym wall. "As hard as he could, over and over again," Sharpe recalls. "Practising long throws, Gary Neville's idea of fun."

Not quite. This was not Neville's idea of fun, more the realisation of what he had to do to make the best of himself. Another time, Sharpe remembers Neville abandoning a night out after his team-mates suggested they went to a nightclub. "He said he didn't like nightclubs. 'Sorry,' I said. 'Run that past me again, Gary. You don't like nightclubs? In nightclubs there's beer, decent music, women, what exactly is there not to like?' But he was insistent: 'No, I don't like nightclubs, they're not my scene.' And off he toddled."

It is easy to mock, or patronise, but only if you want to overlook the fact it was this form of dedication that helped Neville make almost 600 appearances for the club, as well as winning 85 England caps. In football, as Neville always appreciated, it needs more than just talent to sustain a career at the top. Sharpe had a different outlook and, without wishing to be cruel, his Wikipedia page now describes him as "best known for appearing in Celebrity Love Island". Or consider what has happened to Michael Johnson and, specifically, where he was supposed to be at this point in his life and what, in reality, has come of him now we are rubbernecking at what's left of his career.

[Kiz]

to be fair neville never had injuries similar to what johnson has had when he was just a kid. it would be much easier to get your head turned when you're not doing what you love consistently. what you've quoted is correct in general, but from what i've read johnson's only gone 'off the rails' when he started regularly missing football.

and that's the only thing i'll say in his defence. i can't imagine how hard it would've been for a kid to go through the injuries he's had. it's just annoying to see it happen.