The silent 20 matches

[Snowflake]

Since we last played in front of a crowd we have had 20 matches.
In those we have won only 3, scored only 13 goals and conceded more than nearly all the rest.
It may be a coincidence but we are so far behind the other 16 clubs that it begs the question as to whether our players were not that good but formed a team that was buoyed by fervent support.
The discussion now should not be whether or not this is true, but how does the club react to the circumstances for the next 20.
Discuss !

 

[Gimli]

It’s affected us massively.

Maybe it’s with the benefit of hindsight but I do think many of us had reservations around how we might be affected before project restart actually did restart.

It also highlights that when we do go back how important our support is.

That said, it’s the same for everyone, whether it’s the lack of fans or the weird break from march to June, or just the situation at large in the world, whatever it is, as a team we clearly haven’t adapted to it anywhere near as well as everybody else.

 

[Swannyblade]

I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

There's no doubt that we went into last season with momentum and were buoyed by our recent successes.

However having watched some of these players for 4+ yrs, they are certainly better than recent performances would suggest.

I think the lack of crowds is one of a long list of factors that has worked against us this year.

 

[beatific blade]

I don't care if it's against Liverpool/Leeds/Palace/Newcastle or if it's Blackburn/Huddersfield/QPR/Middlesbrough....

I am SO excited for that first roar when the teams come out the tunnel at our first home game. I hope the fans can accept where we might be and just get behind the team and CWAK.

 

[SteveBlade]

It's affected everyone and it's not an excuse. We played Spurs and Chelsea off the park in that time and shithoused a win against Wolves.

Did our players just decide to get themselves up for those ones? Do they just lack the ability to motivate themselves the majority of the time?

Weak as piss. Be better at football.

 

[8lade]

Somebody touched on this elsewhere, I think the new players haven't formed the all for one attitude that we had at the start of last season which I think having a crowd behind you would help. How can it be remedied? I don't think this can maybe it'll just take longer than usual maybe it won't come until the crowds are back.

 

[Houston_Blade]

If I were a player who last played in fans when we were in the top 8 of the PL and the next time I might play in front of fans is likely to be in the Championship I'd be trying my hardest to do something about it and I'd be massively embarrassed if it happened.

 

[Davalon]

No can't be because of a lack of fans.

Many fans are wank. I read it on here.

 

[blade too long]

not really relevant

wednesday can take 3000 to QPR but are still shit

 

[blade too long]

think disappointment is a bigger factor
we have a squad of players who waited their entire career to play in the prem and they have it ruined by Covid
the sheer thrill of playing in front of 60000 at Arsenal gets the adrenalin going and would be the zenith of any players career
to go there and see a sea of empty seats must be soul destroying
they lost a quarter of their first experience of it

here is the chance of enjoying that buzz and its ripped from them

the other 15 or so thats been there a while not so much of a let down

 

[Working Class Hero]

It's just as much the lack of opposition fans that has affected things. They're the ones who get edgy when underdog Sheff Utd get on top, and their players react to that by misplacing passes and sitting deeper and deeper.

That atmospheric swing of momentum just literally doesn't happen any more, and it's surprising to me that it doesn't get talked about more often. Probably because most fans in the Premier League don't actually go to games and don't even know what I'm talking about.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

When the crowds do return, I want us all to go back together......not 2k or 4K.

 

[Snowflake]

When the crowds do return, I want us all to go back together......not 2k or 4K.

2000 socially distanced in a large stadium will make little or no difference

 

[Working Class Hero]

2000 socially distanced in a large stadium will make little or no difference

It makes a difference to those 2,000 people though. It's a bit selfish to say you don't want them to go to the match, just because you're not interested.

 

[Snowflake]

It makes a difference to those 2,000 people though. It's a bit selfish to say you don't want them to go to the match, just because you're not interested.

I agree. I was not suggesting that they should not go, far from it, but that it would make no difference to the atmosphere .
It is the lack of mass support that is having a detrimental effect on the team.
Once vaccinated I would hope to be there, even if there are few others. Having said that I think that the noisy brigade ought to be there before a quiet old codger like me: but some may disagree !

 

[CarlMcBlade]

How will the 2k or 4K be chosen?

 

[CarlMcBlade]

How will the 2k or 4K be chosen

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

However this 2000 or 4000 fans will be chosen. I just hope they select fans that will make some noise!!! Not these people who sit in silence or the people who sit on their phones looking at other scores/matches. Maybe the noisy bunch at the back of the Kop should get first dibs

 

[DronnieBlade]

Honestly, at this level I just don’t get how having no fans, 5000 fans or 50,000 at a stadium you are playing at makes that significant a difference.

Another convenient mistruth to cover up the fact of it. We haven’t been good enough, individually, collectively tactically.

Blaming a lack of “atmosphere” for poor individual performances and individual errors is fanciful at best !!!

UTB

 

[Harry's Game]

Van Tamm on the press conference said to expect masks and social distancing to continue some for a few years yet even with a vaccine.

I think we will be allowed around 5k in August Then see where it goes from there. I except they will want to see how a full flu Season goes next winter with a Covid vaccine before social distancing measures are fully relaxed for mass spectator events.

 

[Working Class Hero]

Honestly, at this level I just don’t get how having no fans, 5000 fans or 50,000 at a stadium you are playing at makes that significant a difference.

Another convenient mistruth to cover up the fact of it. We haven’t been good enough, individually, collectively tactically.

Blaming a lack of “atmosphere” for poor individual performances and individual errors is fanciful at best !!!

UTB

Did you go to an away game last season?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Did you go to an away game last season?

Im not denying our fans create one hell of an atmosphere (At away games anyway). Numerous discussions with home fans when at away games that we are quite loud !!!

Im questioning its impact on player and team performance levels. I don't believe it to be nearly as impactful as many would have you believe.

Thats all.

UTB

 

[Working Class Hero]

Im not denying our fans create one hell of an atmosphere (At away games anyway). Numerous discussions with home fans when at away games that we are quite loud !!!

Im questioning its impact on player and team performance levels. I don't believe it to be nearly as impactful as many would have you believe.

Thats all.

UTB

That's not what I meant though...

It's just as much the lack of opposition fans that has affected things. They're the ones who get edgy when underdog Sheff Utd get on top, and their players react to that by misplacing passes and sitting deeper and deeper.

That atmospheric swing of momentum just literally doesn't happen any more, and it's surprising to me that it doesn't get talked about more often. Probably because most fans in the Premier League don't actually go to games and don't even know what I'm talking about.

I believe that's far more impactful than you're giving it credit for.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Honestly, at this level I just don’t get how having no fans, 5000 fans or 50,000 at a stadium you are playing at makes that significant a difference.

Another convenient mistruth to cover up the fact of it. We haven’t been good enough, individually, collectively tactically.

Blaming a lack of “atmosphere” for poor individual performances and individual errors is fanciful at best !!!

UTB

The reason we need a vociferous crowd behind us is exactly that.......We aren’t good enough. Every home game we played last season had a cup tie atmosphere to it Also our passionate backing at away games made our very ordinary players play out of their collective skins.

 

[S64 Blade]

We haven't had a Saturday 3 p.m. game since, either.

 

[Snowflake]

Honestly, at this level I just don’t get how having no fans, 5000 fans or 50,000 at a stadium you are playing at makes that significant a difference.

Another convenient mistruth to cover up the fact of it. We haven’t been good enough, individually, collectively tactically.

Blaming a lack of “atmosphere” for poor individual performances and individual errors is fanciful at best !!!

UTB

I assume that you have not played in front of a crowd. It does make a difference.
I agree that logically it should not, but the human psyche is an odd beast.
It is by far from being the only reason we are underperforming.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I assume that you have not played in front of a crowd. It does make a difference.
I agree that logically it should not, but the human psyche is an odd beast.
It is by far from being the only reason we are underperforming.

Just curious to think how much of a positive it would have been when your team has 1 point from 39 !!!!

Judging from the “mood” on ere, I’m not so sure the atmosphere would have been anything other than Toxic. Pure Madkins !

Would the crowd / a crowd have made that much of a difference ?

And you assume wrong .

UTB

 

[Snowflake]

Just curious to think how much of a positive it would have been when your team has 1 point from 39 !!!!

Judging from the “mood” on ere, I’m not so sure the atmosphere would have been anything other than Toxic. Pure Madkins !

Would the crowd / a crowd have made that much of a difference ?

And you assume wrong .

UTB

Apologies for the wrong assumption.
It always made a positive effect on me.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Apologies for the wrong assumption.
It always made a positive effect on me.

Not saying it can't.

It most certainly can.

I just don't subscribe to the theory we would now be on a higher points tally, or that we are somehow "more" affected than other PL side.

It can of course go the other way too. Can you imagine the crowds reaction after last weekends debacle in front of goal ?

UTB

 

[LudlamBlade]

not really relevant

wednesday can take 3000 to QPR but are still shit

I heard it was 23k

And still counting apparently