Honest discussion about the atmosphere

[Jon Bon II]

That plus annoying vapers.

I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so...

 

[FlamingLip]

Might get shot down for this but I think a big part is what are we cheering for really? To go up and get tonked every week? Even if we managed to stay up in the Prem, it’s such a shit league (something I think we can all agree on) but a necessity to keep the club alive and progressing. I agree with some of the posters about the style of English football, it really is drab now, too tactical and overanalysed.

Without a doubt many of us don't relish the idea of being back in the prem. So it's double bubble depression. We cant enjoy the fruits of the labour, and now don't seem to be able to enjoy the exciting battle to get there. We're emotionally homeless

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

An interesting approach by The Red Faction, Middlesbrough's organised Ultra-a-Like fan group. For their upcoming FA Cup game, they are publicising Block, Row and Seat numbers where fans wanting to proactively create an atmosphere should book tickets.

 

[ancientblade]

An interesting approach by The Red Faction, Middlesbrough's organised Ultra-a-Like fan group. For their upcoming FA Cup game, they are publicising Block, Row and Seat numbers where fans wanting to proactively create an atmosphere should book tickets.

ricky tried that one phil didnt work

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

ricky tried that one phil didnt work

The Red Faction are a large, existing, fan group who already organise a large and vocal section of the Boro fanbase. They are not starting from scratch. They are building on an already successful approach. Using the FA Cup ticket "free for all" to give fans who aren't already involved a chance to get at it.

I'll stand corrected. But Ricky needed fans to "shift their season tickets seats" to the BLUT. That is not the case for this one off extra initiative by The Red Faction.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The Red Faction are a large, existing, fan group who already organise a large and vocal section of the Boro fanbase. They are not starting from scratch. They are building on an already successful approach. Using the FA Cup ticket "free for all" to give fans who aren't already involved a chance to get at it.

I'll stand corrected. But Ricky needed fans to "shift their season tickets seats" to the BLUT. That is not the case for this one off extra initiative by The Red Faction.

Isn’t it only a free for all when the ST holders deadline has gone?

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Isn’t it only a free for all when the ST holders deadline has gone?

Different Clubs will operate different Season Ticket deadlines of course. SUFC don't have one. It's a free for all from the start.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Different Clubs will operate different Season Ticket deadlines of course. SUFC don't have one. It's a free for all from the start.

For the Cardiff cup game at BL tickets were on sale to ST holders from the 17th December. General sale from 20th. Middlesbrough tickets for their cup game don’t go on general sale until 3rd January, after ST holders can decide whether or not to choose their normal seat.

Good idea from the Red Faction but not exactly a free for all.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

For the Cardiff cup game at BL tickets were on sale to ST holders from the 17th December. General sale from 20th. Middlesbrough tickets for their cup game don’t go on general sale until 3rd January, after ST holders can decide whether or not to choose their normal seat.

Good idea from the Red Faction but not exactly a free for all.

Fair enough. Poor choice of words by me.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

ricky tried that one phil didnt work

Don't we already have a senior Blades faction - the Werthers Originales?

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Without a doubt many of us don't relish the idea of being back in the prem. So it's double bubble depression. We cant enjoy the fruits of the labour, and now don't seem to be able to enjoy the exciting battle to get there. We're emotionally homeless

I don’t mind being in the Premier League so much. It’s that we always seem to turn up with a bow and arrow for what is clearly a machine gun fight.

 

[Birdwell Blade]

Apologies for resurrecting a negative after such a good away win, but having been to every away game this season, it’s clear that a lack of atmosphere is quite a widespread problem now. It’s not just our home games.

Yesterday’s atmosphere was rubbish. So much so that even the away end was stood in complete silence for long parts, despite our best efforts to get it going. Watfords home support was poor which made it hard for us in the away end. You need a bit of back and forth.

I was hyping up the Sunderland atmosphere to my young lad before we went up there (his first visit). Even that was a let down compared to how it used to be. I was really surprised as I thought Sunderland away would have been as nailed on good un!

The first few aways of the season were decent atmospheres from the Blades end (Hull was pretty good, Pompey was alright, Preston maybe) but it seems to be declining.

Yesterday at Watford we only really sang when we were winning, as the song goes.

So, it’s not just us.

Middlesbrough seemed to make an effort when we were up there, but that annoying drum and the small section of singers was very artificial and didn’t do it for me.

The way football is played now certainly has an impact. Fewer tackles, aerial duels, long balls down the wings etc. You just don’t hear those roars much any more.

Phones and social media definitely are to blame also. Maybe we should have a ‘turn your phone off’ day and see what happens. Folk would probably end up scrapping!

I don’t know the answer, but it’s not just us. If you talk to any of the honest few from the dark side even they will admit that the atmosphere at their home games is crap.

I just hope something happens to reignite the passion, noise and even vitriol from the stands.

 

[Cheesebored]

Apologies for resurrecting a negative after such a good away win, but having been to every away game this season, it’s clear that a lack of atmosphere is quite a widespread problem now. It’s not just our home games.

Yesterday’s atmosphere was rubbish. So much so that even the away end was stood in complete silence for long parts, despite our best efforts to get it going. Watfords home support was poor which made it hard for us in the away end. You need a bit of back and forth.

I was hyping up the Sunderland atmosphere to my young lad before we went up there (his first visit). Even that was a let down compared to how it used to be. I was really surprised as I thought Sunderland away would have been as nailed on good un!

The first few aways of the season were decent atmospheres from the Blades end (Hull was pretty good, Pompey was alright, Preston maybe) but it seems to be declining.

Yesterday at Watford we only really sang when we were winning, as the song goes.

So, it’s not just us.

Middlesbrough seemed to make an effort when we were up there, but that annoying drum and the small section of singers was very artificial and didn’t do it for me.

The way football is played now certainly has an impact. Fewer tackles, aerial duels, long balls down the wings etc. You just don’t hear those roars much any more.

Phones and social media definitely are to blame also. Maybe we should have a ‘turn your phone off’ day and see what happens. Folk would probably end up scrapping!

I don’t know the answer, but it’s not just us. If you talk to any of the honest few from the dark side even they will admit that the atmosphere at their home games is crap.

I just hope something happens to reignite the passion, noise and even vitriol from the stands.

I thought the away support yesterday was decent especially last 20 minutes or so when the team were hanging on a bit.

 

[Grey Blade]

I was hyping up the Sunderland atmosphere to my young lad before we went up there (his first visit). Even that was a let down compared to how it used to be. I was really surprised as I thought Sunderland away would have been as nailed on good un!

Likewise I expected a good atmosphere at Sunderland. It was actually difficult to work out where their most vocal fans were situated. We only heard the famous 'Roker Roar' in the last few minutes of the game - and for a minute or two it was quite impressive.

I suspect general lack of atmosphere is down to society in general and the expectation that we should always be entertained - be it football, Rock concerts, TV etc.
In post war days when workers did a 5.5 day week. Saturday afternoon was their only chance to release pent up frustrations, people didn't have home phones and there was only one TV channel to watch. Now we can watch multiple TV channels day and night, take a phone wherever we choose and football is there to entertain us and not just a means of avoiding the drudgery of life - the type of people who need that are now priced out. It's quite sad really

 

[Nick Jansky]

I suspect general lack of atmosphere is down to society in general and the expectation that we should always be entertained - be it football, Rock concerts, TV etc.
In post war days when workers did a 5.5 day week. Saturday afternoon was their only chance to release pent up frustrations, people didn't have home phones and there was only one TV channel to watch. Now we can watch multiple TV channels day and night, take a phone wherever we choose and football is there to entertain us and not just a means of avoiding the drudgery of life - the type of people who need that are now priced out. It's quite sad really

This hits the nail very firmly on the head. Society has changed, as it always will, and football crowds reflect that. There will always be those who want a return to the “good old days” but it won’t be happening. Those days are gone.

 

[BarcaBlade]

Yeah, hence safe standing. It would create an obvious place for like-minded fans to gather.

Mind you, I was in the safe standing section at Wembley and most people there weren't singing or making any noise. So who knows...

Safe standing doesn't fix it because you are still allocated a place to stand.

I did go in the away end when St Pauli played Nuremberg. Although standing spots were allocated, they were ignored. Fans organized themselves to be where they were most comfortable and as a result, those who wanted to sing grouped together.

 

[BarcaBlade]

I thought the away support yesterday was decent especially last 20 minutes or so when the team were hanging on a bit.

Away fans sounded great on my feed yesterday. Hats off for a job well done.

 

[Derek1889]

We need to change the playlist before the game. If you can, you remember the playoff before the Nottingham forest game at home. The playlist was banging and seemed to lift all the fans and get them pumped, which then led into the game, which seemed to be key in the atmosphere imo. I agree the atmosphere at the lane hasn't been good. I know that everyone has there own idea of how they want to watch the match. But where in a good position to get promoted. We need to back the lads no matter what get the atmosphere back and give the lads the extra bit of energy. Come on blades let's start getting behind the lads. The future is bright it's red and white. UTB

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Have you ever tried to start a chant on the kop when you're not sat at the back?

Everyone around you just looks at you like you're from Mars.

Its unfortunate, but it HAS to be initiated from the back of the kop or it just doesn't happen.

It's not just initiating it, it's joining in. We sit kop middle and often people around us don't join in when the back has started. We often join in, which 'starts' it in our area, and this ripples out.
The concept about people not having the bottle to do it is true.

 

[AWetFlannel]

I've been very critical of our home atmosphere this season and still think it deserves criticism, we know it can be better.

But I couldn't believe how quiet Sunderland were. Absolute silence for the majority of the match, they didn't even seem to make much noise complaining about the ref or moaning when they lost possession.

I can't stand how attached people are to their phones and I refuse to use social media, but don't think it's the problem. Nor do I think patient, passing football is the problem. We can all name multiple clubs that play this way and still chant far more regularly than we do.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

This hits the nail very firmly on the head. Society has changed, as it always will, and football crowds reflect that. There will always be those who want a return to the “good old days” but it won’t be happening. Those days are gone.

Depends. Germany is good, but a lot is based on what Birdwell Blade described at 'boro , it's a bit orchestrated. It might be a case of taking the lesser of two evils.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Depends. Germany is good, but a lot is based on what Birdwell Blade described at 'boro , it's a bit orchestrated. It might be a case of taking the lesser of two evils.

I personally think that orchestration is the only possible way. As soon as you start trying to apply pressure on people to behave in a certain way they will automatically resist. We’ve seen that on this & similar threads.

 

[AWetFlannel]

I personally think that orchestration is the only possible way. As soon as you start trying to apply pressure on people to behave in a certain way they will automatically resist. We’ve seen that on this & similar threads.

I love that aspect of our culture; we don't like being told what to do and resist authority.

I hate it when it works to stop us doing things which are mutually beneficial, just for the sake of it.

 

[Birdwell Blade]

I thought the away support yesterday was decent especially last 20 minutes or so when the team were hanging on a bit.

Yeh I did think we roared them over the line towards the end. Just that middle 30 mins or so you could hear a pin drop in the AWAY end! That would never be the case in years gone by.

 

[Birdwell Blade]

This hits the nail very firmly on the head. Society has changed, as it always will, and football crowds reflect that. There will always be those who want a return to the “good old days” but it won’t be happening. Those days are gone.

Yes I think you’re right, sadly

 

[Birdwell Blade]

It's not just initiating it, it's joining in. We sit kop middle and often people around us don't join in when the back has started. We often join in, which 'starts' it in our area, and this ripples out.
The concept about people not having the bottle to do it is true.

Yeh that’s true. I simply don’t care, I’ll sing on my own if needed. All I can do is try, even if I look like a psycho and wake up with a sore throat the day after every game. The people who sit/stand in front of me must think ‘I wish he would fuck off’

 

[S64 Blade]

We need to change the playlist before the game. If you can, you remember the playoff before the Nottingham forest game at home. The playlist was banging and seemed to lift all the fans and get them pumped, which then led into the game, which seemed to be key in the atmosphere imo. I agree the atmosphere at the lane hasn't been good. I know that everyone has there own idea of how they want to watch the match. But where in a good position to get promoted. We need to back the lads no matter what get the atmosphere back and give the lads the extra bit of energy. Come on blades let's start getting behind the lads. The future is bright it's red and white. UTB

Should invite some Blades along who are proper DJs, young and old as a bit of a guest slot.

We’ve had 25 odd years of Gary Sinclair playing Showaddywaddy to get the crowd pumped.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I love that aspect of our culture; we don't like being told what to do and resist authority.

I hate it when it works to stop us doing things which are mutually beneficial, just for the sake of it.

It is deeply ingrained in our culture and it isn’t going to change any time soon. We live in a time when the cult of the individual is strong (who said there is no such thing as society?) and concepts around solidarity and mutual benefit are long gone. Not enough people give a fuck.

 

[JackSUFC]

Depends. Germany is good, but a lot is based on what Birdwell Blade described at 'boro , it's a bit orchestrated. It might be a case of taking the lesser of two evils.

European Ultras can look and sound good but has its flaws. The constant drumming and singing quickly becomes white noise and in most cases isn’t reactionary to what’s happening on the pitch. The spontaneity is what makes English football special.

Imagine being 3-0 down and some twat is stood with his microphone at the front still telling you what to chant. It just wouldn’t happen here.

Modern football can feel more like watching a game of chess. I think that has definitely had an impact, amongst other factors. The Premier League is finished and sadly, even the Championship seems to be going down the same road.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

European Ultras can look and sound good but has its flaws. The constant drumming and singing quickly becomes white noise and in most cases isn’t reactionary to what’s happening on the pitch. The spontaneity is what makes English football special.

Imagine being 3-0 down and some twat is stood with his microphone at the front still telling you what to chant. It just wouldn’t happen here.

Modern football can feel more like watching a game of chess. I think that has definitely had an impact, amongst other factors. The Premier League is finished and sadly, even the Championship seems to be going down the same road.

I agree, I prefer our way, when it's good.
But seems like the option will be quiet grounds or orchestration.
PL has sown its own seeds. My mate is a Man U fan and we were talking about £66 tickets. He didn't care as said they'd sell them all to tourists regardless. They won't sing.
The image of PL relies on an old school fan base, but it is dying / being weeded out.