Depressing

[Deleted member 23679]

Not the match, seen us lose on the opening day plenty of times, seen us 2-0 down after 5 minutes before, and seen us lose to a better side on the day hundreds of times. There is very little that we can do on the pitch that is as depressing as what I've seen tonight.

It was the site of Beautiful Downtown Covid Secure Bramall Lane on the television, empty with her soul ripped out, without a sound coming from the stands and without 30,000 people in there roaring their encouragement at the players.

I'm missing the whole shebang, tasty pints of beer and good food with my friends who I normally meet one a fortnight, and it is a diversion from whatever else is happening in our lives.

Taking the same walk to the Lane, down the same streets I've walked down thousands of times before, seeing a familiar face here and there, the same programme seller in the subway at St Marys Gate, the smell of cheap burgers, and the sight of old men visiting the same place they have since when they was a lad, and young children decked out in all their red and white finery looking at the place where they will always remember and spend the rest of their lives visiting.

Seeing the same people in the same seats like you have done for years before, knowing most of them by site although very few by names, but always sharing a knowing wink.

Knowing after the match it is back to pub for a few post-match beers and either a post-mortem, or a dissecting a sweet win with your mates, and then at the end of the day a slightly drunken bus or taxi ride home.

Tonight it has really hit home how much we are missing

 

[Snowflake]

Eloquently sums up how so many of us are feeling.
I even miss the tram journey !

 

[Tarqs]

Yep, I struggled to get into football post lockdown.

In fact the only matches I watched were ours, didn't even do champions league final or fa Cup.

Its soulless, its dull, its lacking the most important thing, the fans.

Today just reminded me how out of touch with football I've become. Life in general is just fucking depressing at the moment.

 

[Bladesman]

Made worse when you watch PSG v Marseille last night with fans there attending and then it all kick off with players fighting on the pitch. Yet we are miles behind them getting any fans in the ground.

I understood the need to finish last season behind closed doors but the new season is shite without fans.

 

[KoppedOff]

Hit home tonight for me too. Back end of last season was just weird, as was everything else in life. But in a way, wasnt too bad; it was just nice to have football back in some form, so was actually a boost. We only actually missed 3 or 4 home games and what with the telly coverage, we got together with a couple of friends to watch all the games and have a few beers at home. Obviously would have been better to be at the games, but it was a novelty and we made the best of it for a few weeks.

But starting a new season at home and not being able to be there, and with the step backwards regarding the distancing stuff seemingly putting things back another few months at least, its pretty depressing.

That first 6 minutes didn't help either.

 

[madeinsheffield]

I think Chris and the boys miss us more, they need a full Bramall Lane behind them, that’s part of our edge

 

[Bladesman]

 

[KoppedOff]

He’s not wrong is old Jimbo

 

[Whiston Blade]

I'm not buying the excuse that we're struggling without fans, other teams seem to manage it. The bottom line is, we were shit in the first half and the game was over.

 

[Drunk blade]

I'm not buying the excuse that we're struggling without fans, other teams seem to manage it. The bottom line is, we were shit in the first half and the game was over.

Agree to a certain extent... But the better teams can come and relax and play their stuff.. With a packed kop end trying to put him off maybe their striker miss hits the ball and puts the chance in the 2nd minute over the bar

We've also not addressed the striker issue so will struggle to score goals, teams below us have the cash to bring in players to strengthen their first team we are shopping in aldi and the middle isle has been already been picked over

One goal in the last 4 games against average PL teams.. from lunny (who wants to leave) says it all

I expect we will lose against the next two teams that have strengthened their first 11 in villa and Leeds and be bottom after the first 3 games but hopefully turn it around and end up finishing about 16th or 17th

Losing all interest in the season fast

 

[Whiston Blade]

Agree to a certain extent... But the better teams can come and relax and play their stuff.. With a packed kop end trying to put him off maybe their striker miss hits the ball and puts the chance in the 2nd minute over the bar

We can't keeping using the no fans excuse forever. It'll be a long time before we're back at any notable capacity, if we get relegated will we blame COVID-19/no the fans as the main issue? Eventually the players need to adapt to the playing conditions.

I expect we will lose against the next two teams that have strengthened their first 11 in villa and Leeds and be bottom after the first 3 games but hopefully turn it around and end up finishing about 16th or 17th

Already, the next two games are huge imo, both teams who are in and around us, lose both these and it'll be carnage on here.

 

[metalblade]

No excuses if you turn up for a game 30mins late you are going to struggle against any opposition never mind one as good as Wolves.
What I find disturbing is every game now seems like a pre season friendly and I don't think it is just me but a lot are becoming indifferent to whether we win lose or draw. I have a feeling when fans are allowed back a lot will just not bother or be able to afford to return and every club will take a hit they were not expecting. As the OP says depressing times.

 

[metalblade]

We can't keeping using the no fans excuse forever. It'll be a long time before we're back at any notable capacity, if we get relegated will we blame COVID-19/no the fans as the main issue? Eventually the players need to adapt to the playing conditions.



Already, the next two games are huge imo, both teams who are in and around us, lose both these and it'll be carnage on here.

Play like we did last night and we will lose both games for sure. Best get ready for the meltdown.

 

[haich1889]

Agree to a certain extent... But the better teams can come and relax and play their stuff.. With a packed kop end trying to put him off maybe their striker miss hits the ball and puts the chance in the 2nd minute over the bar

We've also not addressed the striker issue so will struggle to score goals, teams below us have the cash to bring in players to strengthen their first team we are shopping in aldi and the middle isle has been already been picked over

One goal in the last 4 games against average PL teams.. from lunny (who wants to leave) says it all

I expect we will lose against the next two teams that have strengthened their first 11 in villa and Leeds and be bottom after the first 3 games but hopefully turn it around and end up finishing about 16th or 17th

Losing all interest in the season fast

Hope I'm wrong, really do, but following a disappointing end to kast season & watching as our rivals sign the players we've targeted i fear de ja vu at BDTBL.
Each time we reach the promised land it's usually through exceptional management & NOT ambition. When we get their, we expect the miracle to continue on the smallest budget of all clubs. It's been particularly depressing watching the newly promoted teams show more ambition & poach our targets.
Hopefully this is a blip & we have a good season & we can moan at having the smallest budget in season 3 , 4 , 5 etc

 

[Ceasefire]

Not the match, seen us lose on the opening day plenty of times, seen us 2-0 down after 5 minutes before, and seen us lose to a better side on the day hundreds of times. There is very little that we can do on the pitch that is as depressing as what I've seen tonight.

It was the site of Beautiful Downtown Covid Secure Bramall Lane on the television, empty with her soul ripped out, without a sound coming from the stands and without 30,000 people in there roaring their encouragement at the players.

I'm missing the whole shebang, tasty pints of beer and good food with my friends who I normally meet one a fortnight, and it is a diversion from whatever else is happening in our lives.

Taking the same walk to the Lane, down the same streets I've walked down thousands of times before, seeing a familiar face here and there, the same programme seller in the subway at St Marys Gate, the smell of cheap burgers, and the sight of old men visiting the same place they have since when they was a lad, and young children decked out in all their red and white finery looking at the place where they will always remember and spend the rest of their lives visiting.

Seeing the same people in the same seats like you have done for years before, knowing most of them by site although very few by names, but always sharing a knowing wink.

Knowing after the match it is back to pub for a few post-match beers and either a post-mortem, or a dissecting a sweet win with your mates, and then at the end of the day a slightly drunken bus or taxi ride home.

Tonight it has really hit home how much we are missing

Brilliant post Zipwire. Expresses exactly how so many of us feel at present. Unless we get the spectators back before the end of the season, I feel the game will virtually die for good, as watching this sanitised affair in our beautiful Bramall Lane home just feels totally surreal.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

You've got more chance of meeting up with your friends at a hunting and/or shooting gathering than at a football match in England.

 

[Eza Blade]

We are a team that relies on momentum and having a packed crowd contributes to that. It’s no shock we lose after every international break. I am certain a crowd would not have made much of a difference to the score last night but when it comes to making that 70 yard run to track a player and make an interception and get a huge cheer then the next time your on your bike twice as quick as you know what it means to the fans

 

[scouseblade]

Great post. Completely agree it is depressing seeing empty soulless stadiums and how far behind we are other European countries. Yes reduced capacity is not the same as 30000 but some form of crowd to give a bit of momentum. I do think crowds can play a big factor, some clubs feed off it, look at Liverpool especially the game vs Barca. Roared on by the Kop. Do they win 4-0 at an empty Anfield? Probably not. As for the game didnt show up until 30 mins and we were already 2-0 down to a VERY good Wolves team.

 

[aBladeInTheNorthernSky]

Great OP, sums up how I feel. I drove past BL last night on my way home from work at about 1 minute past 6 and I was struck by how eerie it was knowing that our season opener was kicking off a few hundred yards away but there wasn't a blade in sight, being able to drive down Bramall Lane really hit home how strange it was. I've felt so apathetic towards this season, it won't feel like football again until fans are fully allowed back.