Crowd

[blades_95]

Completely agree the atmosphere has been poor this season, and in all honesty has been since we came back from Covid.

I think the main reason probably does come down to expectation, and probably a bit of disappointment that despite getting the points & results, I think fans feel we’re not playing anywhere near the level we can (Burnley and a couple of other games aside). This squad’s attack is stronger / more exciting than the squad Wilder had (Ndiaye, Berge, McAtee, McBurnie, Bogle, Khadra, Jebbo, Brewester) and it feels like we’re not making the most of these players. Wilder’s team controlled, dominated and created a LOT of chances in home games and squeezed the opposition, and it was great to watch. It feels like this season our overall style is not as good, but we win tight games because simply our players are better, and the opposition generally don’t have the quality to take their chances.

I’ve been thinking about this more recently though, and I have realised something. I sit on the kop, and I’ve realised I watch the majority of the game happening at the other end of the ground. We follow a similar pattern this season, decent first half, get in front and then become nervy in the second half, lose control of the game and are restricted to playing long balls and counter attacks. We just aren’t attacking the kop for prolonged periods this season, penning teams in and creating chances like we did under Wilder. It might seem like a daft excuse but we’ve lost that ‘attack the kop’ mentality and it is harder to get involved when most of the game unfolds at the opposite end of the ground and we aren’t having sustained attacks & play towards the kop.

It should definitely be better and the players deserve it, but this potential promotion does not have the quality, surprise and connection of the Wilder promotion unfortunately.

 

[alcoblade]

Anyone else remember the 'we'll support you ever more' chant from the 1970's? Perhaps it's time for a reboot?

"We'll support you as long as we're winning and I don't have to get up before 9AM" doesn't have the same ring to it.

 

[JackSUFC]

Embarrassed by the losers leaving in the last few minutes.

People leave early regardless of the scoreline. We could be 1-0 up against Barcelona and people would be off 5 minutes early for whatever reason.

Maybe not so last night but if I was a player and saw it I’d be pissed off. I’d also be pissed off about the lack of atmosphere given our position.

Sadly I feel like this team and their league position is wasted on most of our fans, atmosphere wise.

 

[BLADE OF GRASS]

Didn't notice him wearing anything orange. He did have blond/mousey brown hair though. Was wearing an Acquascutum scarf (or similar).

I noticed the loud scruffy twat on Shoreham Street before the match being very loud but making fuck all sense , then saw him at the kop end of the South at half time same again mumbling a load of loud nonsense but seemingly to himself , clothes looked like he'd slept in them while fondling a German shepherd in his sleep

 

[Grey Blade]

Embarrassed by the losers leaving in the last few minutes.

For night matches I don't normally get home until about 11.30 so I like to make a quick getaway. I never leave before the final whistle but I sometimes leave my seat as added time starts and stand at the top of the stairs to watch the final few minutes. Last night there were so many people leaving, that standing at the exit would have been well nigh impossible. That mass exodus was cringeworthy but I do accept some people have to leave early and it's not just throwing their toys out of the pram. As it happened last night, the chaos caused by the M1 being closed near Wakefield meant I didn't get home until 12.30 and I don't know whether walking out early would have made significant difference

 

[Jon Bon II]

Also, I do wonder how much coke plays in fans being less vocal. When you've had a few beers, you're more vocal. Not the same with coke.

Seems to work for this lot. Now if only they would turn up on match days.

 

[JJBlade]

I'd suggest they stop coming.
We are in automatic spot to get in the Prem. That's as good as things get at the Lane.
If / when we do go up, we'll get beat lots more often. That's football.
Take it or leave it.

It's shit football
Might be successful as far as results are concerned but it's shit.
And the fans know it, which is why they can barely bring themselves to burp let alone make any noise.

And even if it isn't, blaming the fans for last nights performance, which is what this thread is basically doing, is pathetic and excusing what the real problem is, I don't know who else's fans turn the noise on when they are being grossly outplayed and clueless.

Only a couple of weeks ago I said that better teams than Wrexham, Blackpool, Wigan and Rotherham will tear through this slow, cumbersome, careful, boring, pragmatic shit like a knife through butter, and last night we saw it, clear for all to see.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Worth noting that most clubs seem to have problems and look to address them with ultras, singing areas, safe standing, instructions etc.

I blame phones. People used to go to a football game and the only focus was football.

I see a lot of bollocksy memes about 'being present' and stuff. But if I'm watching a live event (sport, music etc.) then the last thing in my mind is getting my phone out.

Unfortunately a lot of the human race don't share this view.

 

[BalticBlade]

Wasn't at the match but even on TV you could sense the anxiety of our fans from when Boro equalised and for the rest of the match. Even the Sky commentary team commented on this more than once.

We'd be naive to think this doesn't feed onto the players.

 

[breeny]

I was above the away end. Felt the atmosphere was pretty good first half.
Second half we did nothing to try and help the lads get back into it. Middlesbrough fans took the piss in the end. Could see our lads heads drop when they were being played off the park to the sound of "oles."

It was at this point that I thought about leaving…

 

[breeny]

Maybe the club should start putting messages on the big screen like "The players need your support" in between the adverts that presumably half the crowd are watching silently.

Luckily hooliganism isn't much of a thing anymore, but why did people lose pride in creating home atmosphere? It doesn't have to be "welcome to hell" but Jesus Christ, even just a "remember we support the home team" would be an improvement.

I think that the screen needs to be better used at half time. Any momentum with the atmosphere is killed off because of dull adverts. What happened to little 5 a side games too? Do a fan challenge, anything!

 

[Northyorksblade]

For night matches I don't normally get home until about 11.30 so I like to make a quick getaway.

As it happened last night, the chaos caused by the M1 being closed near Wakefield meant I didn't get home until 12.30 and I don't know whether walking out early would have made significant difference

Yes what a pain that was and the diversion signs were terrible. It's the last thing you need after losing. Would have gone A1 if we could have got onto M1 south off the Parkway.
Then had to drop our Jack off so got in at 12.45. Thoroughly fed up.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I'll say one thing though. After full-time the players walked around John Street and the Kop to applaud the remaining fans. In the old days they would have been greeted by half applause and a smattering of boos. Last night the fans that were still in the Kop gave them a roar as if to say "COME ON LADS. KEEP GOING!" I thought it was quite moving.

Well said. I wonder how many of those who have been complaining on here actually stayed til the players left the pitch. There was a powerful lift-your-spirits roar that sent a good message to the players, and most of them seemed to respond to it. The team had totally lost their way and their confidence in the second half, and the crowd did the same, but it was good to hear a response which was very much ‘forget that poor performance and move on’. This is, by the way, not a complaint about who left when, but it does present a more balanced picture of what actually happened. It was not just people moaning, and other people moaning about people moaning.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

It's shit football
Might be successful as far as results are concerned but it's shit.
And the fans know it, which is why they can barely bring themselves to burp let alone make any noise.

And even if it isn't, blaming the fans for last nights performance, which is what this thread is basically doing, is pathetic and excusing what the real problem is, I don't know who else's fans turn the noise on when they are being grossly outplayed and clueless.

Only a couple of weeks ago I said that better teams than Wrexham, Blackpool, Wigan and Rotherham will tear through this slow, cumbersome, careful, boring, pragmatic shit like a knife through butter, and last night we saw it, clear for all to see.

This thread is blaming fans for leaving.
Not the cause of the defeat, but certainly doesn't help.
Let's hope we survive the relegation battle.

 

[Bladesman]

It's been declining for years. Hard to put your finger on the exact reason, but things like demographics and a failure of the club to proactively house the vocal elements in an area would be two I'd consider. The issues on the wing of the Kop have just about finished it off. I know a few that have moved to the South as they see it as a dead end now. We get the odd decent atmosphere still I suppose. Even under Wilder, in truth it was tepid compared to the Warnock years.
Maybe it's just the way things are going. Clubs and the powers that be don't seem to want vocal fans.

I am sat next to some right wankers.

Unsurprising to see them leave about 20 minutes before final whistle.

 

[reedy63]

I don't know what the fuss is all about if people want to leave early that's up to them. they pay the money they take the choice.
I never leave early by the way.

 

[Bladesman]

I don't know what the fuss is all about if people want to leave early that's up to them. they pay the money they take the choice.
I never leave early by the way.

To be fair, the ones next to me I wonder why they bother to show up to the match in the first place.

I can only imagine they bought a season ticket to Real Madrid but somehow found themselves at Bramall Lane.

 

[TimofeeVee]

Seems to work for this lot. Now if only they would turn up on match days.

Please sing this at Millwall!!......evvverybody, from the top

 

[brownblade]

It's shit football
Might be successful as far as results are concerned but it's shit.
And the fans know it, which is why they can barely bring themselves to burp let alone make any noise.

And even if it isn't, blaming the fans for last nights performance, which is what this thread is basically doing, is pathetic and excusing what the real problem is, I don't know who else's fans turn the noise on when they are being grossly outplayed and clueless.

Only a couple of weeks ago I said that better teams than Wrexham, Blackpool, Wigan and Rotherham will tear through this slow, cumbersome, careful, boring, pragmatic shit like a knife through butter, and last night we saw it, clear for all to see.

Safe to say you're part of the problem. You've probably been watching too much billionaire football on your TV.

 

[groveblade]

Too many people doing absolutely nothing to contribute to making a racket and getting behind the team at home games .
They then comment on "the atmosphere being shit", as if it's up to some mysterious other group of fans to create a brilliant atmosphere....
Everyone should try and do their bit IMO..

As for those who will sit there in morbid silence when we're playing well and winning, but are extremely vocal and critical as soon as ANYTHING goes wrong... How do they think they are helping the team?

 

[dn5 shaun]

It's shit football
Might be successful as far as results are concerned but it's shit.
And the fans know it, which is why they can barely bring themselves to burp let alone make any noise.

And even if it isn't, blaming the fans for last nights performance, which is what this thread is basically doing, is pathetic and excusing what the real problem is, I don't know who else's fans turn the noise on when they are being grossly outplayed and clueless.

Only a couple of weeks ago I said that better teams than Wrexham, Blackpool, Wigan and Rotherham will tear through this slow, cumbersome, careful, boring, pragmatic shit like a knife through butter, and last night we saw it, clear for all to see.

It was that shit we had more shots than boro, more shots on target than boro, more clear cut chances than boro and more corners than boro. Don't get me wrong boro's midfielders were more comfortable on the ball than ours, movement and pace but this was far from a shit show. Don't forget we were playing the most inform team in the league. If you think this was shit maybe you should have watched us before Wilder.

 

[Blade.com]

Well said. I wonder how many of those who have been complaining on here actually stayed til the players left the pitch. There was a powerful lift-your-spirits roar that sent a good message to the players, and most of them seemed to respond to it. The team had totally lost their way and their confidence in the second half, and the crowd did the same, but it was good to hear a response which was very much ‘forget that poor performance and move on’. This is, by the way, not a complaint about who left when, but it does present a more balanced picture of what actually happened. It was not just people moaning, and other people moaning about people moaning.

I wonder how many who are moaning about the atmosphere and leaving early are going to be arsed about going to cheer the boys on against Spurs. Just looked to see how the tickets are going and to be honest it's pretty disgusting. Get yourselves there, we will beat Spurs. We can then start moaning about , I can't get a away ticket if we get a big draw.

 

[ancientblade]

Too many people doing absolutely nothing to contribute to making a racket and getting behind the team at home games .
They then comment on "the atmosphere being shit", as if it's up to some mysterious other group of fans to create a brilliant atmosphere....
Everyone should try and do their bit IMO..

As for those who will sit there in morbid silence when we're playing well and winning, but are extremely vocal and critical as soon as ANYTHING goes wrong... How do they think they are helping the team?

great post atmosphere at the lane been terrible since covid apart from g h block in tc and f g and back of kop no vocal support from anywhere our fans just sat there like dummies yes we havent been great on the pitch of late but this is the time they need the full support of the fans were so close to getting back to the premier league just get behind the lads utb

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

great post atmosphere at the lane been terrible since covid apart from g h block in tc and f g and back of kop no vocal support from anywhere our fans just sat there like dummies yes we havent been great on the pitch of late but this is the time they need the full support of the fans were so close to getting back to the premier league just get behind the lads utb

There is some noise coming from the top centre of the Kop too but often something different to G & F. Can remember the left and right sides of the Kop in competition with each other back in the 70s!

 

[ancientblade]

There is some noise coming from the top centre of the Kop too but often something different to G & F. Can remember the left and right sides of the Kop in competition with each other back in the 70s!

yes there was but it was either side of the aisle steps behind goal the most noise on the kop usually comes from the top corner of the kop gangway g the shorehamview lads but apart from g and h in tc stand theres no vocal support for the team in the other 3 stands

 

[Keen Blade]

I wonder how many who are moaning about the atmosphere and leaving early are going to be arsed about going to cheer the boys on against Spurs. Just looked to see how the tickets are going and to be honest it's pretty disgusting. Get yourselves there, we will beat Spurs. We can then start moaning about , I can't get a away ticket if we get a big draw.

We need that cuptie like we need a hole in the head.
Tough away fixture at Ewood at lunchtime a few days later which is far more important

 

[west_yorks_blade]

We need that cuptie like we need a hole in the head.
Tough away fixture at Ewood at lunchtime a few days later which is far more important

Unless you'd like to see Sheffield United win the FA cup.

Doing well in the cup and the league are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

 

[corkysbeard]

Well me and my boys will be up at 5am in the morning for the taxi at 6-15am and the 7am train to st pancras to watch United...can that excuse us from leaving 10mins early on Wednesday evening?..

 

[HackeyBlade]

You're free to do what you want mate. I'm free to be embarrassed to be associated with it too. It's a free world

The sea of red seats before injury time was announced was seriously cringeworthy though. Players deserve better.

The players deserved fuck all after that. If I'm shit at my job at McDonald's the customer would rightly tell me so. This is no different

 

[west_yorks_blade]

The players deserved fuck all after that. If I'm shit at my job at McDonald's the customer would rightly tell me so. This is no different

But it is different.
You support your football team.
Part of which is getting behind them and encouraging them, even when they are having an off day.

The act of getting behind them and supporting them may even inspire them to perform better.

Collectively we are shifting away from being supporters and more towards detached followers or even as you put it customers.