The Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City based just outside of Manchester City Centre. 29th October 2019 and it’s half term! No need to wake up early tomorrow! Man City was the next ground targetted and off to Manchester I went. City were drawn against Southampton in the League Cup with the winner going through to the quarter finals. City fighting for the title whereas Southampton had just lost 9-0 at home to Leicester City.
Arrival at the ground and the player coach was about to arrive, perfect chance to get a glimpse of the City squad. £16 to watch this League Cup tie! YEAH! Not everyday you get to see top level football and I was loking forward to it. As a Liverpool fan, I’m not a fan of Manchester City but hey, at least they’ve got a good ground.
Kick Off! City as expected were dominating the match with Southampton being pegged back in their own half, it was just a case of when City would score. “They’re here, they’re there, they’re every f***ing where! Empty seats! Empty seats!” Where are you City fans? 20 minutes on the clock and a Bernardo Silva cross found Nicolas Otamendi who headed home and City had a deserved lead. A lifeless celebration from the City fans… 38 minutes and Kyle Walker had the ball down the right wing and played the ball into the middle… Aguero! 2-0! How many are City going to get here? Half time soon followed.
Second half, City continued to dominate, a third wasn’t too far away. 56 minutes gone and Riyad Mahrez had space to shoot, deflected and Aguero is there… 3-0! No real clear cut chances in the game until 75 minutes when a corner was whipped in by James Ward-Prowse and Jack Stephens headed in! 3-1 and that is how the game finished.
FT: Manchester City 3-1 Southampton
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Empty seats didn’t help but the fans who were in attendance offered next to nothing either, not even standing up when they scored, it did feel like I was at a Cinema or a Theatre with a board that told when to clap or standing ovation. Disappointing unfortunately… I wonder what it was like at Maine Road?
- The Ground: 8/10 – Despite the lack of atmosphere, the ground is a fantastic facility!
- Expense: 9/10 – £16 to see some of the world’s best players! Not bad going!
- Overall Experience: 5/10 – As much as I was happy to tick it off my list and see some World Class talent, I did find myself bored with the lack of atmosphere and sheer dominance of City making the game a training ground exercise.
23/40