Being back at Old Trafford on Saturday after an absence of seven years and it seemed nothing had really changed, writes Neil McSteen.

Palace fans making the most noise, over-zealous stewards, cockney reds in the away end and, of course, defeat for us after a brave performance.

It got me thinking. Would we want Premiership and European glory if it meant that we played our football in a soulless stadium full of day-trippers?

After all, much is made of the passion of supporters in the lower leagues and that it is somehow more real' or at least Coca-Cola, the current sponsors, would have you believe that. I have also never heard a better atmosphere than when we are involved in play-off fixtures.

We also know that if you see someone in a Palace shirt you can hold a conversation with them without fear of exposing them as a glory-hunter, a shared camaraderie alien to Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal fans.

But if Simon Jordan and Iain Dowie were to deliver a 60,000 stadium just outside Gatwick with the European Cup and Premiership in the trophy cabinet I'm sure I might be tempted to swap Selhurst and years of underachievement.

Even if it did mean having to sit next to Manchester-based Eagles.