Alan Green in the Belfast Telegraph:
A rather strange thing happened to me not long after the final whistle sounded in the Chelsea game at Old Trafford last Sunday.
Actually, it was quite bizarre. Someone I didn't recognise suddenly appeared at my shoulder. I was still frantically working so didn't need interrupting.
"Hello," he said, "I represent the Glazer family in England. If you ever need to talk to me, don't hesitate."
I didn't catch a name; I'm not sure one was offered, but I thanked him and politely made it plain that, unfortunately, I was rather busy.
He stood by me for a few minutes before moving on for an 'introduction' to someone else.
Why does this matter? Well, when I noticed that the attendance there for the Carling Cup tie on Wednesday night was 74,055 - a record for the competition outside of the final - it struck me that the Glazers are in severe need of a charm offensive towards their fans rather than the media.
Still not getting it? The attendance hid an appalling state of affairs somewhat exposed by the swathes of empty seats indicating there were far fewer people at Old Trafford than 74,000.
You see, a new scheme is in operation that suggests the Glazers could hardly care less about United supporters. If you're fortunate enough to have a season ticket, you are now FORCED to buy a seat at all home cup ties. It doesn't matter if you don't want to or if you're on holiday or if you're in prison, you MUST buy a ticket or your season ticket will be revoked.
This is some distance from the situation that pertains at some other clubs where a season ticket 'entitles' you to buy a cup ticket for your regular seat. There is no compulsion.
And, not unreasonably, many United fans are absolutely livid. The principle itself stinks. And what of those people - many of the club's supporters are unfairly castigated because they happen to live a long distance away from Old Trafford - who chose to put up with the 'forced sale' but refused to pay the additional, sometimes considerable, expense of actually attending? Hence, the empty seats.