It's a must! I'll let you know. Although I have a lil something something running on the net, that should pay for the entire trip soon enough.
I don't think so, especially since we'll have the world cup and I think Fergie is looking to take more of a rest this year after the last few years of exhibition matches.
well, Yajur should be landing real soon but I'll be flying back tomorrow. For what its worth I had a ball, it was really special. Seeing United live, seeing lots of goals, good excitement, being to 3 premiership stadia and watching 4 thoroughly entertaining matches... sitting with Birmingham home fans cheering on United, clapping their goals out of respect, controlling my fist pumps on our goals out of respect. Sitting with Arsenal fans, pretending to be neutral or atleast not a United fan. Hearing the words you fcuking cvnt more than I care to hear (at Rooney or any of our players). Going on the OT tour and sitting where Ruud sits, walking down the tunnel, visiting the museum and getting a better sense of our history. Meeting Yajur of course, cool guy. Meeting Rick (thanx again) and going to an Arsenal pub hours before the match against United with a Best 68 replica shirt on (underneath my hoodie). Seeing all the sights and experiencing alot of things as much as I could (including a great play tonigh Otherwise Engaged). Talking to a very interesting person on a long train ride only to find out halfway in that she was engaged chatting up a bird in a pub and having my vocabulary fail me. Had I known what the hell dogging when it was proposed I would not have replied with what must be the stupidest reply of all time "but I've not a pet, I do like animals though." That will of course be very amusing to you brits and ex pats I suspect. When I got back to the room to ask Yaj if he knew what it meant and we finally discovered it online I cursed myself. All in all it wasn't a great experience, it was superb. It cost a bit, but this trip couldn't be quantified in dollars and sense, but rather sleepless nights spent in anticipation and countless hours recalling the fond memmories I've made on this trip. I'd like to thank all the posters on this board for making this happen, you've helped to fuel my love for United and without BigSoccer and this board I probably wouldn't have made this trip so soon. My only regret is not meeting some more of the Brit posters, Kav was a laugh and I'm sure most of you are. But then again, that gives me all the more reason to return some time.
Excellent stuff. Delighted to hear you had such a great time. LOL at dogging haha, if a girl is offering you that in a pub, she's durty, btw, maybe that's how like 'em I dunno Can't wait for the stories, next time, come over at a sensible time of the year!
1. i agree, but then again, despite not being brad pitt, I could talk the habit off a nun. if I knew what it was my reaction would have been somewhere between sh!tting myself (with delight - if that's possible) or running around the bar pounding my chest and kissing United's badge and casually asking in a suave, jose mourinho manner, if shed not rather the comfort of a hotel. No matter what the reply my response would have then been... "shut up Drogba!" 2. yeah, me and yaj both agree that its best to visit at a time when for maybe 7days out of the stay nearly everything is closed.
Well, the trip is over for me, and a hell of a trip it was. I figured while I sit here in my cramped airplane seat, I'd type up some of my thoughts on the trip as well as the matches, for anyone interested (if only they'd hurry up with wireless internet on airplanes so I could post this sooner!). It was great to be able to see four United matches in just two weeks, so in that sense the timing was great. But at the same time, I'm not sure if I would go over the holiday period again. Because so many of the shops were closed for multiple days, it made it difficult to do much else, with not just the Christmas and New Year's days but then Boxing Day, Bank Holidays, etc. Despite that I'm glad that there was a lot of football to be enjoyed in a short space, not just the United games but I also enjoyed the Fulham-Sunderland game I went to. It was also pretty cool to be able to see a match at Highbury before it goes away. United generally looked quite good in the matches I saw. Lots of lively, attacking football, and some great performances from Rooney and Ronaldo, which I always like to see. Bit disappointed with the Arsenal result, but I guess all it does is confirm that we're in it for second. I sort of wish I had the chance to visit in the middle of a hot title race, but hopefully next time. The defense looked better, though shaky on set pieces to be honest. And here's to hoping Scholes is back soon, and that Smith and Fletcher can manage to show consistent quality. Fans' opinions over there on our players obviously differed amongst each other, as it goes with us here. But to me, the consensus seemed to be that they worship Rooney and love Ruud, Ronaldo, and Giggs/Scholes/Neville of course. Rio is getting back on form, and fans are finally beginning to think of him as solid again, if somewhat dodgy in his character. They think Park is intelligent and has great ability, which is nice to hear, since media and fan reaction can have a large effect on a new player. The fans don't like O'Shea and, though many here will be unhappy to hear this, they range from indifferent to aghast at Fletcher. He seemed to take the most abuse of all the United starters in the home games we went to. Real glad to have met Johno, Rick, and Kavster, and to have had the opportunity to talk football with them in person. Quality guys, all of them, and looking forward to meeting more of you in New York and/or Chicago. Also enjoyed talking with the guys at Red Star Sports. Always good to find out how United fans right in the thick of things feel. Overall it was extremely exciting, and I enjoy England in general, not just for the football but for all there is to do, especially in London. At some point, you do have to pull yourself away from the games and try to have a little fun with the sights and all. But watching live Premiership games involving any teams is just amazing, and the smaller stadiums in England put you really close to the action. Hopefully those of you who haven't had the opportunity to do so will get to soon enough.
One more note: Heathrow Terminal 3 sucks sucks sucks. The only airport terminal in the world I can think of where Gate 18 and Gate 28 seem to be 45 mins apart and involve running on a moving walkway.
LOL, if ever there was a reason not to come over to the States, it'd be the fact you have to fly out from T3! T4, and soon T5 is where it's at.
Oh good lord yes! That was like a marathon. I once spent 8 1/2 hours in Lambert and got to know every nook and cranny.
They had those trams that were too small and were broken half the time. I actually had to walk all the way from the far gate on one leg of the terminal to the far gate on the opposite leg one time. About 200 yards line of site, but over half a mile walking around the horn.
That about sounds like my experience. Although somehow I ended up having to go through security a second time because I ended up with people who were making connecting flights. I haven't a clue how that happened.
Yeah, I just need to get them loaded onto my website. The first night I was jetlagged (fell asleep at halftime of the USC-Texas game despite my best efforts ) and yesterday I came up with the bright idea to run two miles despite not having worked out for two weeks, so again I was completely exhausted. Tonight I'll be out since it's my brother's birthday, but hopefully I'll get a little time to post them, if not I'll do it over the weekend.
I never take the trams. I always walk through airports, no matter how far it is, as a point of pride, as well as to stretch my coach-cramped legs. Funny story though: I was flying through St. Louis when I was 16, and my flight from Pittsburgh had been delayed. We could not get another flight to Tulsa for 8 1/2 hours. My mom and I were coming back from a family funeral, so it was a sad occasion, and she was exhausted. So while she sat at the gate, I went exploring. And I found a little shop that had a rather large supply of, erm, adult reading materials. They were mostly unwrapped, and the guy working the counter was a very cool dude who was wrapped up in a football game and didn't care at all if a looked. And I, a very horny 16 year old, spent a full day gorging on porno. It was a pretty morbid occasion, but still the best time I've ever had in air travel. Is that evil?
Well, I'm back (actually been back for almost a week). I contracted the Plague at some point during my week in England, and am still struggling to get back on track. Anyways, great trip , sadly never meet up with Johno and Achtung as I was going along with the schedules of my friends and their families, but I did manage to make it to the West Brom match on Boxing Day. Sat in the North Stand, and it was an experience that I'll never forget and would highly recommend to all of you. Looking forward to getting back for a match in the next few years. After a few days in Manchester took a train to the NorthEast and meet up with some other friends, almost went to a Newcastle match but luckily didn't as it was cancelled due to the weather. Good to be back; I've got a lot of catching up to do...