Honest discussion about the atmosphere

[Proper Blade]

Burnley's freak 2nd goal killed the atmosphere, which to be fair was getting going after being absolutely dead in the first half.

Even away fans nowadays are deathly quiet. From the Kop the first time I heard the Burnley fans was in about the 85th minute. That doesnt help the atmosphere either, which is flat and lifeless at pretty much every ground in the country now. People seem to have such a lack of enthusiasm and appetite for watching live football in the stadium. They spend more time on betting apps and getting a drink than watching the game. It's dull, it's boring.

How long can this go on before people start getting bored and turning away? I genuinely think watching top level football live is a really poor, dull experience now.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

How do we get them to sing in tune and with rythmn or is that irrelevant.
The cokeheads v the pisspots might be an interesting contest

I dont care if each pocket if fans sings different songs as long as they're making noise rather than keeping shtum.

Yesterday's atmosphere was an improvement, just goes to shoew its not always about what's happening on the pitch.

 

[FlamingLip]

Honest question - when was the last decent atmosphere? (exc. SCD)

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Honest question - when was the last decent atmosphere? (exc. SCD)

Ipswich h 18/19 was best atmosphere I've been in, more like an away game.

 

[fifty shades of blade]

Ipswich h 18/19 was best atmosphere I've been in, more like an away game.

Was just gonna say that! Absolute carnage on the kop

 

[Shakin Stevens is my Dad]

Want a good atmosphere. Stick darts on. Tha’s just missed a 9 darter.

 

[ancientblade]

Passy, passy bollox footy has made football boring. I'm all for passing and moving, being progressive and using it as a means to attack, but we also need to see players run at their men. So many teams just pass it sideways and backwards with little off the ball movement as well. As for wide men and wing backs who get the ball, look up and just pass it backwards every fcking time, like clockwork .

Also can someone tell me the benefit of the defenders being in line with the goalie when he has the ball, getting it off him, then eventually hoofing it up the field, when the goalie could have done that anyway? If the goalie does it then as least the defensive line is up the field. Makes zero sense.

There are many different factors why football crowds in the UK are quiet, and style of football is just one of them. Crowds in many european countries are so noisy it's embarrassing for fans in the so called home of football.

great post sums up my feelings about modern football were playing a style similar to southgates england and i hated his tactics just think chris is giving the opposition too much respect with these tactics opposition teams see us playing like this and know theyve nothing to fear we need to be more positive from kick off increase the tempo and play more forward passes get it out wide and get the early crosses in when the defence isnt set instead were playing 5 yard passes in dangerous areas cmon chris be braver and go for it from the first minute

 

[South stand tut]

Sometimes i think the style of football most teams play kills the atmosphere, teams are so rigid in their thinking and approach that sometimes not a lot actually happens in a game. The first half yesterday was prime example, i half think if burnleys defender got the ball off the keeper and Moore didnt go to him fully he couldve stood there for the duration and no one would have done anything. top of the table clash but the reality is both teams play a steady patient game, waiting for gaps etc etc and that doesnt lend itself to the crowd getting going. Just about every team does the same

Personally thought it was very quiet yesterday but it is what it is.

Exactly right !

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Honest question - when was the last decent atmosphere? (exc. SCD)

FLDC Christmas 2018 at Lane.

 

[HarryHaslam]

Watched a small clip that popped up on social media of a podcast with a couple of Cardiff fans (think ex hooligans) and they were saying the atmosphere at Cardiff is non existent and their home games are set up for away fans to make the atmosphere and to spur on their team where as the home fans have their hands tied by the club and safety officer and don’t really get behind the team. For instance if you stand up you are told off, if you are told off three times for standing up your season ticket is suspended for 5 games.

Absolutely shocking that tbh and I’d imagine it’s the same for most clubs, we have had our problems with the council and safety officers so I’d imagine it’s more widespread than we think. When there is a lull in atmosphere for a year or so, it can quickly become the norm and the atmosphere could be lost for good bar one off important games. With the way things are going give it 5 years and it will only be away fans making noise and standing up at games all over the country.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

, it can quickly become the norm and the atmosphere could be lost for good bar one off important games.

Atmosphere was crap yesterday and v pigs

 

[ZLB]

On Sunday take a look at the people to your left and right, in front of you and behind you. Then you will know why there’s next to no atmosphere.

 

[Freddie]

On Sunday take a look at the people to your left and right, in front of you and behind you. Then you will know why there’s next to no atmosphere.

Kop. People near me. Women. children, old men, phone scrollers, late arrivals, early leavers, 37th minute refreshment seekers, silent types.

Oh how I’d love to sit with a group of highly rumbunctious blokey blokes.

 

[Grey Blade]

Kop. People near me. Women. children, old men, phone scrollers, late arrivals, early leavers, 37th minute refreshment seekers, silent types.

Sounds just like where I sit in the South Stand. I would add moaners.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Kop. People near me. Women. children, old men, phone scrollers, late arrivals, early leavers, 37th minute refreshment seekers, silent types.

Oh how I’d love to sit with a group of highly rumbunctious blokey blokes.

Yeah, from our vantage point in the BL Corner, we can see some of those “rumbunctious blokey blokes” in G and H doing the Christ the Redeemer pose to away fans for most of the game…Good on em.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Can we keep this to either the Bigger or Better Blades threads. Of which there are legion……..

 

[Freddie]

Can we keep this to either the Bigger or Better Blades threads. Of which there are legion……..

Tried to reply but was warned about an infraction

 

[Keen Blade]

Sometimes i think the style of football most teams play kills the atmosphere, teams are so rigid in their thinking and approach that sometimes not a lot actually happens in a game. The first half yesterday was prime example, i half think if burnleys defender got the ball off the keeper and Moore didnt go to him fully he couldve stood there for the duration and no one would have done anything. top of the table clash but the reality is both teams play a steady patient game, waiting for gaps etc etc and that doesnt lend itself to the crowd getting going. Just about every team does the same

Personally thought it was very quiet yesterday but it is what it is.

Boring is the word.
Best two defences in the league slug it out to see who can put the crowd to sleep first.
Unfortunately our defence took an unscripted 40 winks and Burnley scored.
We knew that was the end of it , as we had no idea how to attack.
No pace , no width , no invention , no penetration , no shot on target apart from pathetic weak ones gathered by Trafford as he leaned over from his deckchair.
I wonder what CW really thought coz his interview was BS.
We never laid a glove on them Chris , there's no shame admitting it - your squad is dying on its feet and badly in need of reinforcements.
The bench was a good indicator of how far we are behind Leeds & Burnley and I reckon the crowd was quietly letting that unwelcome fact sink in.

 

[ZLB]

Tried to reply but was warned about an infraction

Hey Sean Thornton Rather than making an oh so predictable S2 4SU comment (bigger blade, fax machine, kidney punch, Dean Hammond blah blah blah blah) why dontcha tell the forum about your personal experience of the atmosphere? Huh ? Where do you sit? What’s the vibe around you baby? What do YOU do to light the fire? Huh?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Tried to reply but was warned about an infraction

92%?

 

[Keen Blade]

great post sums up my feelings about modern football were playing a style similar to southgates england and i hated his tactics just think chris is giving the opposition too much respect with these tactics opposition teams see us playing like this and know theyve nothing to fear we need to be more positive from kick off increase the tempo and play more forward passes get it out wide and get the early crosses in when the defence isnt set instead were playing 5 yard passes in dangerous areas cmon chris be braver and go for it from the first minute

No no no ,
The stats who run the game say play it safe coz that wins matches

It's crazy

On the kop it's sigh after sigh in frustration as we go from a possible attacking position down a flank , backwards passing until we reach our own goalie.
I don't know how anyone can expect an atmosphere from that.
Our corners are so shit , Woody must be turning in his grave.
Soon we'll be going back to our goalie from our own corners , just to ensure the opposition defence is fully ready for when we slowly trudge up the pitch.

Don't talk to me about atmosphere until you get some feckin excitement into moving quickly up the pitch , wingers bombing down the outside , early crosses flying in , attacking quickly from transition , taking advantage of the oppo defence not being ready.

It's like watching chess , no wonder the spectators are silent.

 

[brownblade]

No no no ,
The stats who run the game say play it safe coz that wins matches

It's crazy

On the kop it's sigh after sigh in frustration as we go from a possible attacking position down a flank , backwards passing until we reach our own goalie.
I don't know how anyone can expect an atmosphere from that.
Our corners are so shit , Woody must be turning in his grave.
Soon we'll be going back to our goalie from our own corners , just to ensure the opposition defence is fully ready for when we slowly trudge up the pitch.

Don't talk to me about atmosphere until you get some feckin excitement into moving quickly up the pitch , wingers bombing down the outside , early crosses flying in , attacking quickly from transition , taking advantage of the oppo defence not being ready.

It's like watching chess , no wonder the spectators are silent.

I get the point that there's less action/blood and thunder in the modern game. That is interesting to me, relating to the overall crowd atmospheres.

But just using yesterday's match, there were 17 shots (though only 7 on target). Against the best two defences in the league.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Hey Sean Thornton Rather than making an oh so predictable S2 4SU comment (bigger blade, fax machine, kidney punch, Dean Hammond blah blah blah blah) why dontcha tell the forum about your personal experience of the atmosphere? Huh ? Where do you sit? What’s the vibe around you baby? What do YOU do to light the fire? Huh?

I wouldn’t make a fax machine joke, nor a DH one for that matter but if you read the forum you’d see my comments thus saving you asking the question in your odd faux hippy way.

It’s not what it was. Maybe we put more effort in years - many years - ago rather than deriding other fans on the internet - l know, l know, l can’t say that in case it makes people cry, but it’s actually true. The thing is, football has changed. It’s more sanitised, the ultra aggressive atmosphere which dragged people in late sixties/seventies has gone. Intimidating today is far removed what is was all those years ago. And it can’t be brought back.

But again, if you actually read the forum you’d be aware that any issue l have is regarding the put down of supporters, many who’ve been going years, by people who don’t appear to have supported - oh the irony - the one attempt made to try to change things, for any length of time.

I’m all for a safe standing area, always happy to stand when away, aren’t one of these people who apparently give people daggers when they stand and start singing. There are plenty of all ages around me who sing as well, although reading on here everyone on the South, other than G&H, sits there in silence. It’s called exaggeration. Rather like my bigger, better Blades jibes about people who for some reason believe they are superior to those around them.

 

[Working Class Hero]

Passy, passy bollox footy has made football boring. I'm all for passing and moving, being progressive and using it as a means to attack, but we also need to see players run at their men. So many teams just pass it sideways and backwards with little off the ball movement as well. As for wide men and wing backs who get the ball, look up and just pass it backwards every fcking time, like clockwork .

Also can someone tell me the benefit of the defenders being in line with the goalie when he has the ball, getting it off him, then eventually hoofing it up the field, when the goalie could have done that anyway? If the goalie does it then as least the defensive line is up the field. Makes zero sense.

There are many different factors why football crowds in the UK are quiet, and style of football is just one of them. Crowds in many european countries are so noisy it's embarrassing for fans in the so called home of football.

We're all football fans here, and I'll keep going to games as it's my hobby, but if the whole English football supporting community are honest with ourselves, it's just not a very exciting sport to watch any more is it?

If you get chance to watch any match from 15-20 years ago then do it, Sky show them regularly. It was like a different sport. End to end football has disappeared now. The roar when a ball is played down the channel for a winger/striker to run on to is all but gone because teams don't do that any more (remember that sound when the kop stood up and all the seats sprung back, when was the last time you heard that?). Tackling is now a rare thing. We barely even see crosses. There's literally nothing to get excited about any more unless there's a goal, and guess what, in the top division you can't even celebrate that until the scoreboard tells you you can 4 minutes later!

When was the last time you saw a "humdinger of a game" as they used to call them. They don't happen.

Hopefully this is just the current fashion, and it changes at some point. I fear though, that the atmosphere at English games will be a thing of the past by then, and won't ever really come back.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

We're all football fans here, and I'll keep going to games as it's my hobby, but if the whole English football supporting community are honest with ourselves, it's just not a very exciting sport to watch any more is it?

If you get chance to watch any match from 15-20 years ago then do it, Sky show them regularly. It was like a different sport. End to end football has disappeared now. The roar when a ball is played down the channel for a winger/striker to run on to is all but gone because teams don't do that any more (remember that sound when the kop stood up and all the seats sprung back, when was the last time you heard that?). Tackling is now a rare thing. We barely even see crosses. There's literally nothing to get excited about any more unless there's a goal, and guess what, in the top division you can't even celebrate that until the scoreboard tells you you can 4 minutes later!

When was the last time you saw a "humdinger of a game" as they used to call them. They don't happen.

Hopefully this is just the current fashion, and it changes at some point. I fear though, that the atmosphere at English games will be a thing of the past by then, and won't ever really come back.

We still get them just not often. There's so much at stake there days and more emphasis on strategy and tactics and less room for the on the field instinctive genius of the likes of TC and George Best.

I was interested to read criticism of the Spurs boss recently for his efforts to produce high intensity attacking football. Good on him I say.

There has to be a balance surely between being reckless and giving supporters what they want to see?

 

[Jon Bon II]

Yeah, from our vantage point in the BL Corner, we can see some of those “rumbunctious blokey blokes” in G and H doing the Christ the Redeemer pose to away fans for most of the game…Good on em.

In my experience it's those blokey bloke types that generate the atmosphere and it's the holier-than-thou types criticising them that are the ones that are killing it.

 

[Working Class Hero]

We still get them just not often. There's so much at stake there days and more emphasis on strategy and tactics and less room for the on the field instinctive genius of the likes of TC and George Best.

I was interested to read criticism of the Spurs boss recently for his efforts to produce high intensity attacking football. Good on him I say.

There has to be a balance surely between being reckless and giving supporters what they want to see?

There probably doesn't need to be any thought whatsoever given to what I want to see. It's just unfortunate that the analysts have determined the way to play to be successful, is a way that has made the sport worse.

 

[Yoonited]

Kop. People near me. Women. children, old men, phone scrollers, late arrivals, early leavers, 37th minute refreshment seekers, silent types.

Oh how I’d love to sit with a group of highly rumbunctious blokey blokes.

Have a like sir for the use of the word "Rumbunctious" thought technically it's rambunctious.
Describes almost perfectly the boisterous nature missing from sections of football crowds,not just the lane.
I won't attempt to suggest any fixes,despite my own views
A proper blokey bloke section would be a tremendous start.
Perhaps not if you're a wokey bloke

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Is there a cokey blokey bloke subsection?

 

[Proper Blade]

Watched a small clip that popped up on social media of a podcast with a couple of Cardiff fans (think ex hooligans) and they were saying the atmosphere at Cardiff is non existent and their home games are set up for away fans to make the atmosphere and to spur on their team where as the home fans have their hands tied by the club and safety officer and don’t really get behind the team. For instance if you stand up you are told off, if you are told off three times for standing up your season ticket is suspended for 5 games.

Absolutely shocking that tbh and I’d imagine it’s the same for most clubs, we have had our problems with the council and safety officers so I’d imagine it’s more widespread than we think. When there is a lull in atmosphere for a year or so, it can quickly become the norm and the atmosphere could be lost for good bar one off important games. With the way things are going give it 5 years and it will only be away fans making noise and standing up at games all over the country.

I think we've already gone way past that! Nowadays even the away fans are mostly silent, in fact I've been shocked at how poor some of them have been.