Police expecting 20,000 Man Utd fans....

And so there should be that many for a title decider, a stone's throw from Manchester, and tickets very easy to come by all over the ground. It'd be exactly the same if Liverpool or any other big club were about to clinch the title there. My biggest regret is not being born in 1976 to go to Wolves away when we won the league and an estimated 40,000+ reds got in to the ground that night.

Enjoy the post match celebrations in Wigan anyway - they've closed all the pubs in town after the game for the last 2 or 3 times we've been there.

United will take over the ground on Sunday. Expect nothing less.

Wigan fans are all mancs anyway.

M25, M40 and M6 is going to be busy

Out of those 20,000 I wonder how many will be going just to have a good time and how many will be going intent on trouble?

Call me naive, but I'd of thought the vast majority will be going to be with their fellow supporters to (they hope) celebrate winning the title.

Now, will the policing be low key, with coppers in shirt sleeves mingling with the crowds to ensure they have a good time with teams of riot police tucked away round the corner in case they're needed or will the numerous coppers be out in riot gear, with dogs, horses and helicopters circling over head?

My money is on the latter.

Research proves that the lower key the policing the better the fans behave and the more inclination is there is among fans to self police. Get the robo cops out in force does nothing more than antagonise people and increase the potential for trouble.

Sunday could be interesting...

A large police presence tends to be the creater of a nasty atmosphere in my expereience. If the police used a low key approach, just took a back seat and took care of matters in a very subtle way, I'm sure it would be more enjoyable for all.

Depends what there really bothered about.....

for there to be no trouble, or to get the arrest figures up and prove to the government how well they are doing their job.

The police at Wigan have been a disgrace the last few times we've been there - not sure if it's been the same for anyone else.

All pubs shut down after the game. I walked back into town, went into the train station and seen my train had just gone, so went back up the stairs to go over the road to get a drink from the newsagents. I was told I couldn't leave the station once I'd entered and they wouldn't let me out. Stood there blocking the exit for the full 40 minutes until my next train. There were 3 of us. Pathetic.

They have metal detectors and drug dogs at the stations before the game as well.

Wigan has got the potential to be one of the best aways of the season. Massive allocation. Not far to travel. Cheap tickets. But all ruined by the policing of it.

It'll be the same on Sunday. Good luck to them trying to close the pubs down though if thousands of United stay in the town to watch it. What are they going to do, kick them out during the game to make sure they're closed for when the match goers return? That could be fun....

My last trip to Wigan (our first season in the Championship) was memorable for the chips and gravy, full English in a barm cake and our "deluxe" room above a pub in Leigh. Oh, and a load of West Ham chaps hiring a coach for the occasion. A bright pink coach with pelicans all over it, if I remember rightly. Certainly lit up the car park...

But I digress... don't remember the policing at all which can only be a good thing. I'll never forget that coach though...

The rumour this week has been that all the pubs in wigan town centre will be shut all day, not just for after the game. Can never tell if this will actually happen or if its just a ploy to discourage ticketless fans not to go. But I suppose we'll only know until we get there...

I take it you haven't seen the coach companies that take Liverpool and Everton fans everywhere then?

"Happy Als" coaches, that are maroon with pictures of balloons all along them. Looks like a fun bus of a kids programme, only they hold 55 lads on each and 800 cans of lager and copious amounts of drugs.

The Happy Bus

Then there is the "official travel" coach put on by the club. I think that might have even been cancelled now. What is the point of a coach you can't drink on? Hence why it was empty every week and they couldn't even manage to fill one coach.

I can believe it. Typical Wigan.

But I can imagine what it'd be like if we were going there to win the league. So just replace my images of what our lot would be up to, with uglier lads with gel in their sidies and earings, and I can imagine what you lot will be like on Sunday....

It's obviously going to be well on top

Fully expect a Bolton style welcome at the station - No ticket back you go.

Not to mention that 900+ of our offical allocation has dissappeared

The missing tickets is an issue, could be a few exec salmons in our end. I reckon the police will be out in force at the station trying to stop reds entering wigan without tickets (free country!?!?).

In my personal experience following united the police have caused more problems than they are worth. I think it will be the same on sunday. After blackburn no doubt they will be 5v1 rugby tackling people randomly to the floor then nearly breaking their arms to 'restrain' them.

Going to be a mad one though, trouting chaos at the turnstiles with all the jibbers and potentially chaos in the home ends, i remember their being trouble at wigan v liverpool.

Roll on sunday!

B)

Surprising how United have a far bigger "jibbing problem" than we do, yet even the slightest mention of trouble at the turnstiles at a Liverpool game people can't wait to stick the boot in.....

As for the trouble when we played there. After we scored, Liverpool fans jump up all over the ground as usual. Most just sit back down, few others getting thrown out all over the place, then there were 3 lads and a kid in the Wigan end next to our support, in the corner where their singers / standers are. It then kicked off and loads of Wigan steaming into these lads, no regard for the little kid with them. One of ours gave as good as he got though. He got a standing ovation from our lot when the police eventually decided to move in after what seemed like an age.

"Scousers here, scousers there, scousers every f*cking where, na na na na na..."

You won't get that trouble on Sunday as they'll be United all over the ground, outnumbering their inbred support massively. But as you say, could be interesting at the home turnstiles if United fans try and jib in at the turnstiles down the other end that aren't manned as securely as those at the away end.

I can seriously see pretty much the whole ground standing on Sunday, if United all get in the home ends. Too many bunking in equals not enough seats, therefore all standing to fit in.

It could be very, very special for you horrible scruffy nose blocked up c&nts.

United will be 1-0 up inthe 93rd minute. The party in full flow and the whole ground on it's feet rocking, all just waiting to pile onto the pitch and celebrate. Unbelievable scenes......then Emile Heskey pops up with an equaliser of his fat useless arse and leaves the scruffs standing there stunned. Please, if there is a god....

Why I never join in the bandwagon of slating some of your support for jibbing and snide tickets etc when we do exactly the same.

For domestic aways, our "problem" is probably more wide scale because they ours can't get hold of away tickets.

As I think you've said before, your young lads can get hold of them easily by just getting hold of a ST number, where as for us you either need to know the right people, have a ST in the loyalty pot, or know an exec who will let you apply with his.

I've just read that the bar down stairs from the concourse at Wigan which is usually open to away support is shut tomorrow for coporate hospitality.

The only way to seats from there is the way end, looks like the 900+ have made there way there then

I thought Untied were given 4000 not nearly 5k as it said in article. TBH though I wouldnt be surprised if nearly 20,000 United live in Wigan anyway - its a local derby as it is

There are probably more Man Utd fans than Wigan fans living in Wigan.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear about more than 20,000 Man Utd fans there, we took 20,000 to Arsenal when we won the league

Yeah officially we were given 4,000 which is what united told us which goes to execs, loyalty pot and standard pot like any other away.

But the other 900 has rumoured to have just been given to corporates. Then after that the stand still holds another 500. Which is probably extra space been left at the front.

So no drink in the ground?

They'll be the usual concourse open, I'm on about the bar downstairs which I alwasy acted surprised to see when I stagger down there.

no suprise that they gonna take that number localish and not to hard to get tickets in the home end, we had about 6000 at qpr when we had allocation of 2800

United only got 4,000 as they left space due to standing.
The other 900 rumour is just that, a rumour.
The corporates in the Marqueesuite, had to walk round the ground to seats in the Wigan end.

Policing was pretty decent, although why it takes 16 police officers and 9 stewards to throw out 3 lads from the home end, who were walking out and not putting up a struggle is a mystery.

Wigan fans selling their tickets outside for £250+ then poiniting out to police any Utd fans in the home ends.

Just after final whistle, they let Utd fans into the wigan ends.
Most Wigan fans stayed to see the presentation anyway.

thats bulltench tufty there was only 1 empty row at the front and thats not 900 seats. why so many people in shirt and ties in the away end?

Theye didnt let united in at the end i heard it was more united letting themselves in

wasnt just the front row that was empty, they left seats at end of aisles and in front of disabled viewing areas, as complaints last season that people were stood up in front of the wheelchairs.

What you probably noticed, was the utd staff in suits and ties yesterday. These people go most games, but arent always required to wear club dresscode.
Quite a few of the players wifes and kids in the Utd end yesterday.
Often these tickets are located away from the normal away end.

Credit it where its due, I thought the police were alright yesterday.

The ticket distribution was a total shambles and the whole end was full of complete tossers.

Still - you're probably on first name terms with all the suit wearing club employees - so you wouldn't mind.

You do talk rubbish.

How was the ticket distribution a shambles?
In other words, you didnt get one!

The problem lies with Wigan, who basically could have allowed for utd to have the whole of the touchline stand.

Firstly - I did have a ticket.

Secondly - I don't know where you were stood - but I was surrounded by loads of unfamiliar faces, and loads of women and little kids in full kit. THESE F.UCKERS HAVE PROBABLY NOT BEEN ALL YEAR.

Where do they get their tickets? Daddy gets them tickets. Who gives those utter bellends tickets? Manchester United's ticket office.

Will these people be at Boro away next year? No

Don't tell me that it's always been like this. The ticket distribution for Everton the other year was fantastic. Everyone who deserved one got one - NOT THIS TIME.

Stop defending this sh*te club to the hilt you stooge.

And stop your disagreements on my site!

If you want to debate a subject please do it without resorting to being personal!

The ticket distrubution for Everton was no different and I know loads who ended up in the home ends that day.

Seen loads of familiar faces yesterday.
OK more colours than usual and as stated elsewhere, the players allocation was in the Utd end, whn often its in another area. Probably more players family there due to it being the last game and only down the road.

A lot of people who might apply for all aways and often pass onto their mates probably decided to go yesterday, due to the nature of the game, but who can blame them?
others also took the chance to cahs in, sell them on for £300 and stick it towards a Mosco flight.

As stated, when you only have 4,000 tickets and over 20,000 apply, then whats the options? The same issues come up time and again when the bigger games come round. the saving grace of the Euro Cup final being in moscow, is that those who want to go, will get a ticket. Imagine the situation if it was at Weblmely/Barca/Paris etc when everyone can easily get there.

No way were them idiots season ticket holders who got lucky in the ballot.

These are people with no connection to the club apart from having a rich dad who works for a company. A bit like the tool who took his wife and kids to Chelsea away with Barcelona tops on. He was a managing director of a company 'in the city'.

It's a disgrace and ruined my day. I don't want to be celebrating title wins with people I absolutely despise.

simple then, dont go! All you ever do is moan about Utd this and Utd that, you may as well let a kid go the game who wants to enjoy himself.

I had a great day celebrating winning the league and didnt once think "Im not going to enjoy myself as that kid in his replica shirt hasnt been before".

i know people who got Wigan away, who havent had an away on their ST since the FA cup semi at Villa last season.

LH88 is correct. After the game people around me were jsut stood there without even a smile on their face and we had just won the league :blink: Compare that to the scenes in the wigan end to the right of the away end, id have prefered to be have been with them lot at the end, looked like they were having a great time.

As LH_88 says, as if half of the people in the away end yesterday will be thinking of going to Portsmouth, Stoke Boro etc etc.

Be strange when their apps appear for trouting chelsea though :rolleyes:

Fck that. Sounds unfair very unfair. Also keeping with the standing issue . Who be more likely to stand a family who never been before or a lad who follows Manchester Untied (or any other club for that matter) all over.

Just to add my view from the armchair, and it agrees with the quote above.

I can honestly say I've never seen a United away support like that. Not even close. AIG shirts everywhere, crowd shots after the goals and people just stood there clapping and taking pictures!!!!

There was a crowd image in The Times today, and I counted 12 United shirts and 6 people stood there taking pictures on their phones as Giggs had just that second scored. The goal that wrapped up the league, and that's what they do? Sums them up.

Every crowd shot on Sky looked like complete clowns in your end. Fellas in United shirts and bum bags!! Full families stood together in United shirts, man and wife everywhere you looked. Unreal.

Even I can tell that wasn't a United away support.

If a Liverpool end turned out like that in a game so big I'd be as fuming as you are. It stinks.

It was a little strange it has to be said, for some reason a few of the lot I sit near at OT were near me yesterday but around me there were complete whoppers.

To my right a fella and his wife and there son can't of been more than 5 tbh the fella was sound about us standing there but his missus didn't appear to care.

Behind me a line of women and not footballing women if you know what I mean.

In front of me a complete set of whoppers who asked me to refrain from using such lnaguage (as I was having a pop at some wigan fella giving aeroplanes).

Tis strange but the way it is now with everybody being able to apply of course the support is going to be diluted - more so with important games.

To sum it up when Giggs scored I headed a bit closer to the ptich incase we did one onto it - within 5 minutes I was back at my seat it was obvious that nobody was going to jump anything.

I wondered what Stretford Ender would think to that support. Plenty of replicas in there yesterday and many that I would of not expected to see at a United away.

We get it at Leicester, but not the same extent.

When a big game comes along like Cov, Forest or Villa we get all the twats who turn up for that game only. The club always likes to allocate them to the back as well to reduce standing.

About 40% of our support stands at most games I'd say. But when we get these twats turning up in full replica and wearing the shirt we last got promoted in, it drops a lot.

Everyone was outside.

All the lads all the jibbers and the main barmies who couldn't get a ticket. In fact I didn't see a real one all day except snides. It was Lyon all over again.

Hence why it went off, why pubs got smashed and why exit doors were ripped open.

Last ten mins; The stand to left of the away end was so packed it looked like a terrace with surges etc. The real fans got in the home ends via the exit doors and were starting the songs for the away end. Unbelievable.

Home end > Away :ph43r:

The policing was pretty good to be fair. There definitely would have been pandemonium outside the turnstyles if they hadn't policed it the way they did. Although I heard they were heavy handed throwing reds in the home sections.

I got in the home end just as the final whistle went.

I watched it in the SoccerDome bar a 5 minute walk away and I ran up to the ground just after Giggsy goal. The stewards were under strict instruction not to let any United fans in, that certainly didn't happen. :D

Our end looked like AIG central and I'm glad I didn't pay £350 for a ticket off a tout! Tickets in the home end were going for £200+ too. I watched the game and trophy presentation for the price of 3 pints and had a quality time with hundreds of ticketless lads.

As for Tufty, why do you always stick up for United? EVERYBODY knows they're corrupt as f**k and tickets go to those with the most money.