south stand

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Winker. Tha'll get a season ticket for next to nowt if tha over 60. I'm looking forward to mine next year.

You must have benefited from cheap Sheffield bus fairs for years before you left so put what you saved in a tin and put it towards a mega bus to the Lane!!

Yer can't call a new poster that!

Sorry thought you said .........

 

[alcoblade]

its'

No there isn't. You're quite right. Not much in the rest of the ground either. The general view is that voices should not be wasted on encouraging our players or intimidating the opposition. Rather, the vocal chords and larynx should be rested sufficiently to permit moaning, groaning and booing at our own team. Certainly extra effort has to be reserved for hurling loud and personal abuse towards the manager. This is particularly essential for those attention-seekers close enough for the Manager to hear their vitriolic, self-indulgent drivel.

It's the Bladesfans' Way.

Funnily enough, it wasn't the Blades fans way when a real manager like Warnock delivered success and excitement. We were known for our passion and vocal support. Then we had to be cleansed of this and have opted for "style" over content, employed rank failures in search of a "new ethos", and bored everyone shitless along the way to sustained failure.

Of course, those who've championed the actions leading to the club's demise and worst period in its' history have to blame something else, don't they?

UTB

 

[cahill]

This is the exact reason that I have moved from the SS back to the Kop for next season. I have spent the last five years in the SS and there has been a good atmosphere on occasion with plenty of singing but only in exceptional circumstances (actually leading by a few goals and during the cup scalps that we took).

If we get off to a good start this season then I can see the atmosphere improving all round the ground as positivity increases.

Welcome back to the kop mate. Not been in the SS since the Prem season and no intention of doing so. The back 8 or 9 rows is where the atmosphere is best

 

[The Bohemian]

Just watch all areas of the home crowd go if belief is restored by the new management team.

It's a long, long time since we had belief in the owners and the manager.

United's crowd is essentially loyal despite all the knocks, trouble is the loyalty is mixed with deep resentment about how the club has been run. Even though KM tried with serious money, fact is he failed. The new ownership offers a chance to restore belief and once that's back Bramall Lane rocks. After all the bad times no crowd will appreciate any small improvements more than us, but watch us go if we win promotion and look well placed to take on the Championship! Even the South Stand finds it's voice when that belief is back.

Warnock took it so far but the last manager to restore true belief was Bassett, bless him. Life for Blades fans was so different then.

I agree with the main thrust of your argument, but if supporters are really "resentful" about someone (KM) 'trying and failing' to bring success to our club, and burning £80m-£90m along the way (McCabe's figures), where does that lead us? Presumably, 'don't bother trying unless you can guarantee success'.

I felt resentful, pre McCabe, when there was evidence of our club being used and abused by a succession of owners. With McCabe, I feel dismayed at some of his decision making, disappointed at recent failures but grateful for the fact that he tried.

 

[brownie4583]

I go in the South stand F/G area and I think the main problem is it is hard to drum up the atmosphere when there are only 300 opposing fans at most games as opposed to previous years playing in prem and championship.
I'm sure this will return when we are playing good attacking football and back in the championship under Mr Adkins

 

[Bladebri]

Hi WB

Maybe the term "you only sing when your winning" was evident last season, most of the noise was aimed at NC and players, let's hope we are singing every game next season.

 

[JohnDenver]

its'
Funnily enough, it wasn't the Blades fans way when a real manager like Warnock delivered success and excitement. We were known for our passion and vocal support. Then we had to be cleansed of this and have opted for "style" over content, employed rank failures in search of a "new ethos", and bored everyone shitless along the way to sustained failure.

Of course, those who've championed the actions leading to the club's demise and worst period in its' history have to blame something else, don't they?

UTB

When we were treading water under Warnock, the ground wasn't vocal in its support. Success brought noise and failure killed it.

And failure came from both hoofing managers and passing football managers. We've failed under both methods.

The false dichotomy in evidence again... Losing football has many forms, and we've seen most of them.

 

[alcoblade]

When we were treading water under Warnock, the ground wasn't vocal in its support. Success brought noise and failure killed it.

And failure came from both hoofing managers and passing football managers. We've failed under both methods.

The false dichotomy in evidence again... Losing football has many forms, and we've seen most of them.

Which is why you should never strive to be defined by a style, as we've tried to force over the last 5 years.

It's just a matter of fact that Warnock and Basset are the most successful we've had in the last 4+ decades. It's a matter of fact that 30,000+ turned up to watch Warnock's football at its' most successful.

My only real point is that, as you've alluded, it's success that brings about vocal support. The last few tippy tappy managers have failed miserably on ALL fronts. Those who craved it should look at themselves in searching for lack of excitement at the games. It's nothing to do with Bladey Bladeyness.

UTB

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I agree with the main thrust of your argument, but if supporters are really "resentful" about someone (KM) 'trying and failing' to bring success to our club, and burning £80m-£90m along the way (McCabe's figures), where does that lead us? Presumably, 'don't bother trying unless you can guarantee success'.

I felt resentful, pre McCabe, when there was evidence of our club being used and abused by a succession of owners. With McCabe, I feel dismayed at some of his decision making, disappointed at recent failures but grateful for the fact that he tried.

When it comes to vocal support at the lane which has been missing for some time . The overall crowd at the lane is more powerful than a couple of individuals . We are the choir , it just needs a choir master / conductor to lead us ( whatever age we are ) . These are the manager but ultimately the players on the pitch. I don't think the problem has been deep resentment , but just a big boat of apathy .

McCabe i feel has been as disillusioned as us , but never thrown the towel in ( which we have to be grateful ) . We have never really asked for much - just wholehearted 100% commitment . This should be provided in the new era.

UTB

 

[Bartleby]

It's just a matter of fact that Warnock and Basset are the most successful we've had in the last 4+ decades. It's a matter of fact that 30,000+ turned up to watch Warnock's football at its' most successful.

Prior to the success under Bassett I think you've got to go back to early 70's for the previous golden era. The noise and the atmosphere was incredible when we were top of league for a couple of months - though I did used to stand right in the middle of the kop in them days, probably was a still a bit quiet by the pavilion ;-)

 

[Benny and the Blades]

What were saying here is give us something to cheer about and we'll do the rest...............

 

[blade.i.am]

Prior to the success under Bassett I think you've got to go back to early 70's for the previous golden era. The noise and the atmosphere was incredible when we were top of league for a couple of months - though I did used to stand right in the middle of the kop in them days, probably was a still a bit quiet by the pavilion ;-)

At the start of that season we had crowds of 40000+ at a few games in, predominantly, 3 sides of the ground. The difference being, of course, that most of us were standing up. All seating does make a difference although we made a fair bit of noise against Spurs recently.

 

[Blade for Sale]

I am a firm believer that there should be a designated area of the ground where, within reason, anything goes. There are probably about 10-15% of fans who are happy, indeed, want, to sing for 90 mins and create an atmosphere. The problem with seating however means that they are likely to be diluted across the kop. I understand that the club is terrified of H&S regs, there needn't be anything in writing from SUFC to make it official, but a tacit, agreement spread by word of mouth that in such and such a block, stewards are less likely to force fans to sit, will tolerate a bit of colourful language, and you are going to be surrounded by like minded individuals, would pretty soon improve the atmosphere at the Lane.

At most stadia on the continent, if you go in certain areas you know you are going to have your view obstructed by flags, hear obscenities all match and have to jump and sing. Of course teams don't openly advertise this fact but they turn a blind eye as they know it has a positive effect on the atmosphere. Every fan knows if you want atmosphere you go in there, if you want to sit with your family you go elsewhere.

For some reason English clubs can't or won't make this work.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

At most stadia on the continent, if you go in certain areas you know you are going to have your view obstructed by flags, hear obscenities all match and have to jump and sing. Of course teams don't openly advertise this fact but they turn a blind eye as they know it has a positive effect on the atmosphere. Every fan knows if you want atmosphere you go in there, if you want to sit with your family you go elsewhere.

For some reason English clubs can't or won't make this work.

I'd imagine contempt of court hangs over each club following the Taylor report although the report stated that standing accommodation is not intrinsically unsafe, but the government decided that no standing accommodation was to be allowed at all.

 

[Blade for Sale]

I'd imagine contempt of court hangs over each club following the Taylor report although the report stated that standing accommodation is not intrinsically unsafe, but the government decided that no standing accommodation was to be allowed at all.

Yet they generally allow the away end to stand for 90 mins, at least in the lower tier! If that can be tolerated why not elsewhere?

 

[Worksop II]

How about a Pirate Ship, complete with firing Cannon, H&S should be ok with that