United or City?

Of course there will be no United fans in town...we don't know where it is?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Answers

Don`t know who will win that one LR.......and I`m not being funny when I say that. What`s the atmosphere going to be like?(:o)

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

I have just finished an article for True Faith exploding the City v Man Utd BIG derby myth. It's predicated on the fact that Manchester was a village until about 150 years ago, and apart from some local infighting about who grew the best marrows, there was no real hostility. Compare this, if you will, to the Tyne-Wear hostility that began in the 7th century when the monasteries fell out over theological principles and St Bede was the first "big name" transfer. THAT'S history.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Galaxy...the atmosphere will be hideously exciting....see below

"POLICE in Manchester are staging one of the biggest security operations since Euro '96 to prevent football yobs bringing mayhem to the city on Saturday. More than 400 officers will be drafted in to keep rival fans apart when City meet United in the first big derby for more than four years.

Extra stewards will back-up police at Maine Road with tight security.

A booze ban will be imposed before the 11.30am kick off and throughout the match.

And with fans expected to gather afterwards in the city centre, police chiefs promised a ''high-profile and robust'' response to troublemakers.

Reports suggest hard-line thugs have already chosen potential ''battle grounds'' and Internet messages designed to pass on directions to yobs, have been intercepted. There is also concern United hooligans might try to ''steam'' through certain turnstiles to get at home fans.

Match commander Supt Andy Holt, said the operation will be the biggest ''in recent history'' for a Manchester City home game.

The 300 officers on duty in and around the ground before, during and after the match are five times the number for some home games.

Security measures will include:

Video filming of fans, some secretly from surveillance posts.

The police helicopter over-flying to detect early signs of trouble and videoing problem areas.

Vigilance against touts, to protect segregation.

No alcohol on sale in the public bars inside the ground, with booze only available in corporate areas.

Extra City stewards inside the ground and a ''ticket holders-only cordon.

There have even been warnings issued to the corporate entertainment suites not to wear 'away' colours and to avoid behaving in a ''provocative manner.''

Last year, during a cup match, an entire box was shut down and its contingent thrown out of the ground because of drunkenness.

Match commander Supt Holt said: ''We expect a lot of passion to be shown by both sets of supporters.

''But we are also anticipating that elements from both clubs could potentially try and cause trouble before, during and after the match around Maine Road and in the city centre.

''We have planned a number of measures which are designed to both deter those who may be coming to the match with the sole intention of causing problems and reassure the rest of the public who will be in the city centre.''

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Newcastle United will Anihalate Sunderland City LR, why are you asking?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Douggie.....I think you'll find that yer history book is wrong. Manchester a "village" in 1850???

Ok, it wasn't a massive booming city and the Industrial Revolution made it but to call it a village !!

Anyway....as Derbys go it's quite a biggie. No smaller in the eyes of the footballing world than Loonypool V's Everton, or Newcastle V's Sunderland. Rangers v's Celtic will always take some beating tho'.

I wouldn't even call your game a real derby.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

LR - being a lady of `a certain age`, and prone, as you know, to taking the moral high ground, I hope the match is fantastic, it should be a corker - BUT - I hope there aren`t too many off the pitch incidents to mar what should be a memorable day of football. (And I feel exactly the same way about our game!)

I shall be watching the match on Saturday - so could you possibly wear a pink carnation LR - just so that I know who you are?(;o)

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

Galaxy...don't waste yer time looking for me..I won't be there. No brief!!..but I know plenty of Reds with snides at a tenner but I figure there will be far too much aggro to make it worthwhile. Shame really..2nd away game missed this term.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

LR - get yerself along to M & S - three pairs for a tenner!!!(;o)

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

3 briefs for a tenner?..really snide then :-)

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

So there's another game on Saturday apart from us? Who'd have thought it.

It's the eggy Urmston air that does it

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000

There's a lot of knicker elastic in three briefs for a tenner - especially if the tenner's caaled Pavarotti.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2000