"I think the ones in the stadium were good," Maresca said when questioned about the turnout following the AEK match. "The last game against Ipswich they were top and next week two games against Brighton and I've no doubt the environment will be good again."

While the Empty-had jibes are hardly new, they're frequently deployed without proper context.

This marked City's third home fixture within six days and, in a newly restructured Champions League featuring four home matches in the league phase plus a possible four additional knockout ties, the arrival of Greek champions AEK represented by far the least enticing prospect for supporters forced to be selective about their visits.

Adult tickets for the match started at £30, a reasonable price for a European fixture, but the expense of attending several home games in quick succession — City still have two further home matches remaining this month, totalling five in 18 days — soon mounts up.

City host Brighton in the Carabao Cup next week, with adult tickets priced from £20 and kids for a quid deals on offer due to the half-term break, with a sizeable crowd anticipated as a result, while the Seagulls return the following Saturday in the Premier League when prices begin at £43.

Tickets, tourist fans, kick-off times, pricing strategies and modern football all contribute to supporter decision-making across the country.

City may be the target of ridicule, but there is considerably more to this debate than linking empty seats and the 115 charges case into a throwaway comment or two on social media.