Atmosphere at Bramall Lane

[Ashton Great]

Hi Guys, Bristol City fan here just about recovered from Saturday's game. No complaints here about the result, the better team one and Henderson got his trademark goal against us:thumbdown:

I did travel to BL for the first time on Saturday and to be honest I was disappointed by the lack of atmosphere in the ground. Admittedly things in our end weren't exactly buzzing, but then again we haven't got much to cheer about at the moment.

Apart from the cheers after the goals, there was next to zero noise from the home fans all game. I found it particularly surprising me given how well your tem played. Is this a symptom of recent poor performances, or is there something else causing unrest at BL?

I hope this hasn't come across as insulting, it really isn't meant to. I'm just curious as to the reasons behind it. You guys are looking good for the playoffs if you keep playing like that - hopefully we'll do you a favour and beat Leicester tomorrow night! :thumbup:

 

[Linz]

Welcome to the forum AG.

Not insulted at all. If you read around the forums, you'll note that our supporters:

a) Believe we should be in the Premier League
b) Believe the sky is falling in
c) Believe that Kevin Blackwell is having an affair with their wife and/or dog
d) Believe we're about to go bust
e) Are thoroughly fed up

(All of the above may not be true... particularly b), although it is raining)

I think there's just a great deal of malaise around. We got spoilt in 2005/06 when we went up and it's taking a few people a while to get over it. Especially when you get to a play-off final and your team doesn't turn up.

I wouldn't try to understand us. We're a funny lot of grumpy old buggers. It's probably a Yorkshire thing. Even our own BBC Radio presenter referred to our fans as "morons".

 

[Ashton Great]

Thanks Linz for taking my post in the manner in which it was intended. I guess fans of all teams have gripes about how things are being done at their club.

I find it interesting that you mention people have issues with Kevin Blackwell though. From an outsiders perspective I would say he is doing a decent job but then again I don't watch you week in week out and I understand you were on a poor run before beating us on Saturday. Many at AG are calling for Gary Johnson's head at the moment, I'd be interested to hear your take on the job he is doing for us.

PS - One thing I can completely relate to is reaching the Playoff final and not turning up!

 

[Worksop II]

Welcome to the forum AG.

Not insulted at all. If you read around the forums, you'll note that our supporters:

a) Believe we should be in the Premier League
b) Believe the sky is falling in
c) Believe that Kevin Blackwell is having an affair with their wife and/or dog
d) Believe we're about to go bust
e) Are thoroughly fed up

(All of the above may not be true... particularly b), although it is raining)

I think there's just a great deal of malaise around. We got spoilt in 2005/06 when we went up and it's taking a few people a while to get over it. Especially when you get to a play-off final and your team doesn't turn up.

I wouldn't try to understand us. We're a funny lot of grumpy old buggers. It's probably a Yorkshire thing. Even our own BBC Radio presenter referred to our fans as "morons".

I`ve checked, and neither are interested

 

[yorkshirecoast]

It's a fair point about the atmosphere - which is a currently a long way from the intimidating atmosphere we enjoyed not so long ago.

I think there were a few factors. The first & most important is that many Blades fans are seriously fed up with performances on the pitch (before Saturday) and the fact that our Board seem more concerned about buying clubs abroad & hotels than they are about keeping hold of our better players and/or buying decent replacements when we do have to sell. This has been happening for a while & has resulted in the fans & the club not being as "united" as we should be.

I don't think the poor away following helped either. I know it's a long way, but even still.....

Having said all that - Saturday was our best performance for a long time - although to be fair, you looked very poor on the day. What's happened to you recently?

 

[Ashton Great]

Deano - what's happened to us? How long have you got lol?!

It's not really a recent decline, but more a slow and steady one over the past 18 months. We've won something like 9 of our last 44 games (this season and last), and the football we endure (rather than enjoy) has become shapeless boring rubbish. We rarely score more than once (if at all), and we're leaking them badly at the other end - not a good combination!

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

A certain percentage of Sheffield United 'fans' simply don't like Kevin Blackwell and want him to fail despite the fact he has been a brilliant manager for us and has exceeded all expectations in the three seasons he has been here.

So on saturday these people were probably sat in the stands fed up and in a bad mood because we were playing well and winning. Hence the crap atmosphere.

 

[beightonblade]

A certain percentage of Sheffield United 'fans' simply don't like Kevin Blackwell and want him to fail despite the fact he has been a brilliant manager for us and has exceeded all expectations in the three seasons he has been here.

So on saturday these people were probably sat in the stands fed up and in a bad mood because we were playing well and winning. Hence the crap atmosphere.

hey up Kev arrr thar doowin ?

 

[Silent Blade]

I dont remember many good Bristol City teams that came to the Lane. The first one I saw (Sept 1970) was a good one and you were leading 3-0 (Galley, Barnwell og and Gow the scorers) with about 20 mins left but we came back to draw 3-3 (Woodward, Dearden and Tudor who scored the equaliser in injury time with an overhead kick). Since then there hasnt been too many exciting matches between the teams and we would win easily every time (apart from the 1988 play offs) so last Saturday's match didnt seen attractive to some Blades fans on a cold day

 

[Grecian2000]

Remember the 3-3, don't recall the overhead kick though.

Wasn't it a 2-0 against them in the FA Cup where TC let the ball go over his head before lifting his leg and back heeling it back over his head again?

 

[Lincoln Blade]

I think its fair to say our support ever since we came down from the premier has been exceedingly poor. Seems to getting worse from season to season too. The only good atmosphere of the season at home especially was the game against our neighbours across the city.
Even at the back of the kop their is very little chanting to talk of. I think this can be apportioned to our supposed 'underachievement' but for me this shouldnt be an excuse. I am always up for a chanting at games but when people refuse to join in your chants you end up standing there looking a right tool (yes im one of those people).

Lincoln Blade

 

[Ollessendro]

Hi Guys, Bristol City fan here just about recovered from Saturday's game. No complaints here about the result, the better team one and Henderson got his trademark goal against us:thumbdown:

I did travel to BL for the first time on Saturday and to be honest I was disappointed by the lack of atmosphere in the ground. Admittedly things in our end weren't exactly buzzing, but then again we haven't got much to cheer about at the moment.

Apart from the cheers after the goals, there was next to zero noise from the home fans all game. I found it particularly surprising me given how well your tem played. Is this a symptom of recent poor performances, or is there something else causing unrest at BL?

I hope this hasn't come across as insulting, it really isn't meant to. I'm just curious as to the reasons behind it. You guys are looking good for the playoffs if you keep playing like that - hopefully we'll do you a favour and beat Leicester tomorrow night! :thumbup:

Hey AG, I wasn't at the Lane on Saturday but was at your ground earlier in the season. I thought the atmosphere was great at Ashton Gate and the pocket of fans to our right were fantastic. They really made some noise and completely drowned out the away support. We got the last laugh of course whn hendo stuck in the magnificent winner!? Hat's off though, the 1000 or so fans to the right of the away fans were great.

As for Saturday, I can hazard a guess as to why it was quiet. A lot of Blades fans have become apathetic because of the increasingly poor football we play uner Blackwell. He has a very good win ratio, but often serves up 'hoofball' and many fans are sick of it. That aside we'd not won for 5 games beofre hand and it had been a bad week. We had the cheif executive saying we are 50 million in debt and things just don't quite feel right at the club at the moment. If you couple this with a couple of awful performances of late (Watford away was the worst United performance I've ever seen and I gather we were poor at home to Derby also) then a lot of Blades fans are a little down beat. And I haven't even mentioned the Premiership hangover!!!?

All of the above is just speculation and my opinion, but I think the quiet atmosphere was just a result of many disgruntled Blades. That said, I never remember the Lane being very noisey. Sure, a few years under Warnock, Basset and Kendall we made a lot of noise, but this was mostly for the big games. I remember nights and a few Saturday afternoons when we raised the roof, but they certainly weren't every week. With all due respect, Bristol is not a big game and hence I wouldn'rt expect fans to be that up for it.

 

[JohnDenver]

I dont remember many good Bristol City teams that came to the Lane. The first one I saw (Sept 1970) was a good one and you were leading 3-0 (Galley, Barnwell og and Gow the scorers) with about 20 mins left but we came back to draw 3-3 (Woodward, Dearden and Tudor who scored the equaliser in injury time with an overhead kick). Since then there hasnt been too many exciting matches between the teams and we would win easily every time (apart from the 1988 play offs) so last Saturday's match didnt seen attractive to some Blades fans on a cold day

Bristol City, relegation/promotion playoff game 1988. The first game I really remember in any detail.

That was exciting to me, even though we lost the tie, got relegated and had Richard Cadette up front (I thought he was ace). I've been going ever since.

Oh, Ade Akinbiyi's miss. You can't tell me that wasn't exciting.

 

[Bramley]

Use to be a bear pit at the Lane. Particularly in the 2003-2008 years when H-Block was in full flow.

Crap atmosphere this season. A lot of fans have lost the sense of humour we were famous for.

Remember Brizzle when you went down from this league fair few years ago - you had Greg Goodridge in midfield? Remember some Brizzle fan played a trumpet in the away end, the old war tune which is played when there's a funeral, when you knew you were down.

 

[alcoblade]

A certain percentage of Sheffield United 'fans' simply don't like Kevin Blackwell and want him to fail despite the fact he has been a brilliant manager for us and has exceeded all expectations in the three seasons he has been here.

So on Saturday these people were probably sat in the stands fed up and in a bad mood because we were playing well and winning. Hence the crap atmosphere.

Rubbish fella. There will be a tiny minority of fans who would want him / us to fail. Most, me included, were very supportive but have just been bored into submission with our support for him - in spite of the difficult circumstances he's managed us under.

I've always argued that it's results that matter but Blackwell, and the modern game in general, have shown me that I want more, or at least something different. Attack minded football of the type we played in his first season here is what I want.

Saturday's game was, so far, a one off. People were surprised rather than immediately excited. That will change, as will Blackwell's support, with more of the same football.

Having said all the above, the biggest problem we've had all round has been the premiership hangover, followed by poorly managed expectations by the board. Time will heal these problems. But even then, let's remember that the atmosphere is piss poor at just about every ground these days. And that's just another story........


UTB

 

[Darren]

Remember the 3-3, don't recall the overhead kick though.

Wasn't it a 2-0 against them in the FA Cup where TC let the ball go over his head before lifting his leg and back heeling it back over his head again?

Not sure if that was how he scored, but Currie did get one in a 2-0 FA Cup third round win at the Lane on 4/1/75. Dearden got the other.

I think the last time Bristol City won at the Lane was the 3-0 win in Nov 57. Since then we have won 14 and drawn 2 in 16 league, cup and play off games against them (the 2 draws being the 3-3 game Silent mentioned and the 88 play off game).

 

[lenners]

Welcome to the forum AG.

Not insulted at all. If you read around the forums, you'll note that our supporters:

a) Believe we should be in the Premier League
b) Believe the sky is falling in
c) Believe that Kevin Blackwell is having an affair with their wife and/or dog
d) Believe we're about to go bust
e) Are thoroughly fed up

(All of the above may not be true... particularly b), although it is raining)

I think there's just a great deal of malaise around. We got spoilt in 2005/06 when we went up and it's taking a few people a while to get over it. Especially when you get to a play-off final and your team doesn't turn up.

I wouldn't try to understand us. We're a funny lot of grumpy old buggers. It's probably a Yorkshire thing. Even our own BBC Radio presenter referred to our fans as "morons".

We've spent one season out of the last 15 or 16 in the Prem.
Unique definition of being spoilt.

 

[gregblade]

To be honest the atmosphere at the Lane has been dire all season. Im placed well and truly in the "fed up" group and so have hardly been recently (despite the £400+ season ticket on the south stand) I'd rather not go than go and complain all the way through.

The poor atmosphere is a culmination of some quite awful performances and our willingness to sell every valuable asset (which I admit is difficult for the club to keep when there is considerable interest from the Premier League) and the high expectations many fans now have. I myself have high expectations for United, because for the last 5 years all the talk from the club has built those expectations.

I'm delighted to hear Saturdays game was an improvement and to be honest from what I've seen there is reason to be optimistic of a decent end to the season.

 

[Silent Blade]

Not sure if that was how he scored, but Currie did get one in a 2-0 FA Cup third round win at the Lane on 4/1/75. Dearden got the other.

Dearden headed in a powerful cross from TC on the left. TC's goal was in the dying minutes, from outside of the box he met a pass from the left with a powerful shot from the outside of his right foot and it swerved past keeper Ray Cashley. One of the best goals I have seen

 

[Silent Blade]

Remember the 3-3, don't recall the overhead kick though.

Ted Hemsley assisted Tudor's equaliser with an overhead kick too!

 

[mall]

As Adrian Chiles said in his book..."it's the hope that kills you"...and as a West Brom fan he has had more rubbish served up than most....except us, maybe. It's very difficult to ascertain from a subjective perspective to decide where we are heading but whatever we are doing we are beginning to do it slowly and the crowds maybe realise that...hence muted support...they simply do not know what to cheer or when to do it. Really mirrors the decisions that SUFC have taken about the football side of the PLC...indecisive/poor judgement.

 

[Coily]

Bristol City, relegation/promotion playoff game 1988. The first game I really remember in any detail.

That was exciting to me, even though we lost the tie, got relegated and had Richard Cadette up front (I thought he was ace). I've been going ever since.

Oh, Ade Akinbiyi's miss. You can't tell me that wasn't exciting.

Never mind Akinbiyi's miss, I'm still having nightmares about Paul Williams's miss in that 1988 play off game.

 

[broomhillblade]

Is the 'atmosphere' much better at other grounds or is the malaise a more general thing: fans are getting disillusioned with the overpaid 'stars' and the total commercialisation of what used to be a sport?

Just a thought.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Hi Guys, Bristol City fan here just about recovered from Saturday's game. No complaints here about the result, the better team one and Henderson got his trademark goal against us:thumbdown:

I did travel to BL for the first time on Saturday and to be honest I was disappointed by the lack of atmosphere in the ground. Admittedly things in our end weren't exactly buzzing, but then again we haven't got much to cheer about at the moment.

Apart from the cheers after the goals, there was next to zero noise from the home fans all game. I found it particularly surprising me given how well your tem played. Is this a symptom of recent poor performances, or is there something else causing unrest at BL?

I hope this hasn't come across as insulting, it really isn't meant to. I'm just curious as to the reasons behind it. You guys are looking good for the playoffs if you keep playing like that - hopefully we'll do you a favour and beat Leicester tomorrow night! :thumbup:

To be honest buddy, its just like any other ground and set of supporters in the country when there is discontent. As Linz touched on, many are on the manager's back - mainly regarding the style of football and it may surprise you a little but our fans have massively high expectations. I'm talking the expectations of a top 10 PL club. Bramall Lane is one of the loudest grounds in the country when the Blades are playing good football and winning. We even made some racket in the Warnock days when the football was OK but nothing special. Its just a symptom of our current circumstances and exists in the minds of some.

Incidently, I recently lived in Bristol for two years and used to go to Ashton Gate occasionally with a couple of mates. You guys were the same I found. You made a surprising amount of noise in your first season and a half in the CCC when you were flying and beating teams left right and centre. Since your fortunes have changed slightly (been a couple of times since) I noticed the Gate became a lot quieter also. Similarly fans calling for the manager's head in certain sections. Its the same everywhere mate and is part of the modern culture in football. I know it is at Boro as well - to an even larger degree! Everyone thinks their side should win every single game and play like Brazil at the same time.

 

[alcoblade]

Is the 'atmosphere' much better at other grounds or is the malaise a more general thing: fans are getting disillusioned with the overpaid 'stars' and the total commercialisation of what used to be a sport?

Just a thought.

I certainly think it's part of it. Premier league clubs playing weakened sides in the FA cup because their priority is finishing 4th from bottom or above just about sums up where the games gone wrong.

UTB

 

[Worksop II]

Never mind Akinbiyi's miss, I'm still having nightmares about Paul Williams's miss in that 1988 play off game.

You see, I think any thread with his name in it should have a big Red Flag, is it true a Blacksmith used to shoe him before games ?

 

[lenners]

Never mind Akinbiyi's miss, I'm still having nightmares about Paul Williams's miss in that 1988 play off game.

Can you run it by us again? Did he put it wide of an open goal from about six yards?
As for Akinbiyi, I seem to recall he was inside the six yard box when he missed, in fact virtually on the goal line.

 

[raul]

Have a look on a Hibs board today, plenty getting stuck into debutatnt Alan Gow, followed closely by any one of Stokes Rankin Millar Hogg Zemmama etc etc, followed equally closely by manager doesn't know what he's doing. I'm guessing the QPR board is also a bit lively, and there was that classic from Grimsby posted on here.

Us different? Not at all.

 

[beightonblade]

more atmosphere at the Beighton Burger Bar.

 

[grafikhaus]

Hi AG, always good to hear from (sensible) away posters.

It's a bit of all the above, but for me the reason why a lot of people at the Lane are disillusioned was on TV yesterday.

Neil Warnock, a proper football man, getting the best from a bunch of misfits and battling to the end.

NW epitomised all that is United and, if it wasn't for a pissed up B-lister (Bean), may well have still been with us. Also Dave Bassett gave us many happy memories.

At the moment, it all feels so sterile. Yes, I know we're 7th, but those of us that go know this is more to do with the poor standard of the CCC than our own abilities.

After several years of nail-biting finishes, Cup runs etc., every game now seems like an end of season tussle.

Anyway, hope you all got home safe. Bristol? That's a fair old poke. You could have bought that Dirk von Nostrilboy....