I can't disagree with the atmosphere. The Kippax at Maine Road in full voice had the same 'ear ringing' after the game effect which is sorely missing these days. It's not that the level of noise can't be achieved, you only need to be at the game to see how much noise a (usually european) small group of fans can generate at the COMS, it's more that there's no cheap communal areas in the ground anymore. So the singing fans are more split up, and hence it's more difficult to generate the atmosphere of old. It won't change now though. COMS is certainly not built for standing though parts of Old Trafford could easily be changed back I imagine bearing in mind it's on the whole, quite an old stadium. However, nobody will pay £35 and upwards to stand, and I think that may be the root of why it will never go back to how it was.