Europa League 2010/2011 (Final : Aviva Stadium, 18th May)

**geysir** · 18/05/2011, 8:54 PM

Half those suits in the 5 rows behind Platini look like they are about to drop dead any minute.

**Stuttgart88** · 18/05/2011, 9:16 PM

Crowd was very vibrant from what I could tell. The match wasn't very memorable, but the Queen's speech was, in my opinion.

**geysir** · 18/05/2011, 9:27 PM

It's a sad night for football when a European final is eclipsed by the Queen's speech.

**geysir** · 18/05/2011, 9:30 PM

I was more interested in the game than the Queen was in having a sip from her pint.

**tetsujin1979** · 18/05/2011, 11:55 PM

Not long back, delighted I went.
Porto fans had about 2/3 of the stadium, Braga seemed to be limited to most of the upper tier of the West stand.
Saw loads of flags in the rest of the west, Croatia, Holland, Liverpool, Germany and even the US!
Porto fans definitely made the atmosphere worth it, even if the game itself wasn't great. Place erupted after the goal went in.

note to FAI security staff, this proves people can be trusted with flags in the stadium

**passinginterest** · 19/05/2011, 8:47 AM

Very much enjoyed it too. Apart from the people who sat in the wrong seats around us and then refused to move which resulted in a lot of back and forth with stewards and confused folk looking for their seats, ruined a lot of the first half and they still didn't manage to sort it out until half time.

The stewards trying to make the Braga "ultras" group sit down and spread out into their seats didn't help the atmosphere first half. Where they were all tightly gathered it did look a little dangerous, but it looked like it was going to turn nasty at times and it kept disrupting their singing as more and more Gardai and stewards attempted to move them and started pulling individuals out. A few objects where thrown at the bottom tier too in the second half when some refs decisions went against them, but nothing too substantial.

Had a great view of the goal and the Braga miss in the second half. The header from Falcao was pure class, although the non-existant marking certainly helped. Ref probably bottled sending off the Porto right back when he might have had a second yellow, although there was a bit of a dive from the Braga player I thought.

**Red Army** · 19/05/2011, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Very much enjoyed it too. Apart from the people who sat in the wrong seats around us and then refused to move which resulted in a lot of back and forth with stewards and confused folk looking for their seats, ruined a lot of the first half and they still didn't manage to sort it out until half time.

The stewards trying to make the Braga "ultras" group sit down and spread out into their seats didn't help the atmosphere first half. Where they were all tightly gathered it did look a little dangerous, but it looked like it was going to turn nasty at times and it kept disrupting their singing as more and more Gardai and stewards attempted to move them and started pulling individuals out.

I hate that day tripper mentality. Robots who hate to sit where their ticket says. It's typical of the modern 'fan' so I shouldn't be surprised. When we played in the cup final last year our support stood where they wanted 500 ish lads all mobbed up like a terrace no one complaining. With the numbers we had when the flares where lit off stewards couldn't do a thing I think this is the way it should be. Good to hear Bragas lads defended their section from them goons I bet stewards didn't try to move into Portos ultras section because of the numbers they had? I hate that stadium mainly due to those goons they hire. Get a real job.

**jbyrne** · 19/05/2011, 2:49 PM

Originally Posted by Red Army

I hate that day tripper mentality. Robots who hate to sit where their ticket says. It's typical of the modern 'fan' so I shouldn't be surprised. When we played in the cup final last year our support stood where they wanted 500 ish lads all mobbed up like a terrace no one complaining. With the numbers we had when the flares where lit off stewards couldn't do a thing I think this is the way it should be. Good to hear Bragas lads defended their section from them goons I bet stewards didn't try to move into Portos ultras section because of the numbers they had? I hate that stadium mainly due to those goons they hire. Get a real job.

so if someone spends over a �100 on a ticket its ok for someone who spent half that to take their seat??
your idea of seating may be ok with a few hundred fans but in a stadium pretty much sold out there would be carnage.

took in this match last night and while the match was terrible i really enjoyed the atmosphere. stadium looked great also and i was proud of it.

believe it or not there are seats in hampden that you cant see one of the goals from. i dont know if they are actually used or not but the seats are there and blocked by a wall. couldnt believe what i saw

**Red Army** · 19/05/2011, 3:31 PM

You say you enjoyed the atmosphere but but having seat numbers forces like minded lads to go and sit in different parts of the ground instead of standing together. There was 36000 at our cup final with the bottom tier sold out and didn't cause problems. If you pay one hundred euro to watch a game of footbal you're a mug and deserve to what you get. it's day trippers paying ridiculous amounts of money that's killing football.

**passinginterest** · 19/05/2011, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Red Army

You say you enjoyed the atmosphere but but having seat numbers forces like minded lads to go and sit in different parts of the ground instead of standing together. There was 36000 at our cup final with the bottom tier sold out and didn't cause problems. If you pay one hundred euro to watch a game of footbal you're a mug and deserve to what you get. it's day trippers paying ridiculous amounts of money that's killing football.

I can see both sides to a degree, it was ridiculous the stewards interfering with the Braga Ultras, but I'm sure there was some pressure from a health and safety perspective. In the section we were in, it was all Irish day trippers, nobody was standing and it was just a pain in the arse that a few people who couldn't be bothered sitting in the right seats caused a load of disruption and distracted from the start of the game.

**DeLorean** · 20/05/2011, 8:01 AM

Originally Posted by Red Army

If you pay one hundred euro to watch a game of footbal you're a mug and deserve to what you get.

So a guy that wants to go to a game so badly that he's willing to spend €100, even though he knows it's a complete rip off is a mug? I've paid €70 plenty of times for run of the mill Irish matches, and although I was fully aware I was being absolutely rode, I was still happier to pay it than watch it on tv. There's no way in the world I would have just accepted sh!ttier seats than the ones I paid for because a bunch of guys wanted to put their arms around each other and sing Ol� Ol�.

**jbyrne** · 20/05/2011, 8:05 AM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

I can see both sides to a degree, it was ridiculous the stewards interfering with the Braga Ultras, but I'm sure there was some pressure from a health and safety perspective. .

maybe it was the bottles that rained down from them onto the porto fans in my section that prompted action. nothing too serious but was regular enough during the match, particularly the 2nd half

**passinginterest** · 20/05/2011, 9:03 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

maybe it was the bottles that rained down from them onto the porto fans in my section that prompted action. nothing too serious but was regular enough during the match, particularly the 2nd half

Nah it was very early in the game. I didn't see any objects being thrown until the second half and to be honest the stewrds didn't seem to do much at all about that. They came from a bit further back of the main group too.

**Red Army** · 20/05/2011, 9:19 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

So a guy that wants to go to a game so badly that he's willing to spend �100, even though he knows it's a complete rip off is a mug? I've paid �70 plenty of times for run of the mill Irish matches, and although I was fully aware I was being absolutely rode, I was still happier to pay it than watch it on tv. There's no way in the world I would have just accepted sh!ttier seats than the ones I paid for because a bunch of guys wanted to put their arms around each other and sing Ol� Ol�.

Typical paddy of the past 10 years. Yes he is a mug and so is someone who pays 70euro. This is the reason why football is over priced with middle class idiots jumping on the bandwagon. Look at Germany where there is a strong fan culture, ticket prices are around 10euro because supporters won't let the greedy clubs take advantage of them and will boycott games if they are been ripped off.
Stick to the rugby if you like been ripped off pal....

**jbyrne** · 20/05/2011, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by Red Army

Typical paddy of the past 10 years. Yes he is a mug and so is someone who pays 70euro. This is the reason why football is over priced with middle class idiots jumping on the bandwagon. Look at Germany where there is a strong fan culture, ticket prices are around 10euro because supporters won't let the greedy clubs take advantage of them and will boycott games if they are been ripped off.
Stick to the rugby if you like been ripped off pal....

ok then. someone with a €30 seat has it taken by someone who paid €15. fair? or do you think seats on the halfway line should be the same price as one at the corner flag?

**tetsujin1979** · 20/05/2011, 9:47 AM

some photos from the final: https://picasaweb.google.com/tetsuji...eat=directlink

**Red Army** · 20/05/2011, 9:59 AM

It should be the same price yeah different prices is only an excuse to rip off the public, when your up in the heavens of the top tier naturally it should be cheaper.Stewards checking tickets at the exits will make sure everyone goes to the correct tier. I don't agree with all seater stadiums completely over the top health and safety if 30% of every ground was terrace If you be "fair" for people who like to sit in silence and for those who want to support their team with more passion but that's a different discussion.

**DeLorean** · 20/05/2011, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I've paid €70 plenty of times for run of the mill Irish matches, and although I was fully aware I was being absolutely rode, I was still happier to pay it than watch it on tv.

Originally Posted by Red Army

Stick to the rugby if you like been ripped off pal....

I thought it was pretty clear that I don't particularly like being ripped off "pal". I've only a passing interest in Rugby, have never been to a game, so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to "stick" to it.

Originally Posted by Red Army

Typical paddy of the past 10 years. Yes he is a mug and so is someone who pays 70euro. This is the reason why football is over priced with middle class idiots jumping on the bandwagon. Look at Germany where there is a strong fan culture, ticket prices are around 10euro because supporters won't let the greedy clubs take advantage of them and will boycott games if they are been ripped off.

You have a valid point us all being mugs for paying that sort of money, but expecting people to sit wherever to accommdate a few more vocal supporters is alien to me.

**Red Army** · 20/05/2011, 1:33 PM

Maybe this should be split from the original topic. If all tickets on each tier were the same price and kept at a price where at a price where the working class can afford it would make no difference where you sit because you would have none of this nonsense of I paid more for my ticket. It's nothing to do with accommodating the vocal fans. As I said before having different prices for the same tier is only a excuse to rip fans of more.