Anybody With a Whinge About Entry To Tonight’s Youth Match Is Full Of Shit. Fact.

[HampshireSeagulls]

What on earth is there to moan about?

Nobody expected more than a thousand to turn up-4000 or so did. Loads of kids there too-our future hard-core fanbase-and they saw an Albion side beat the youth side of the richest club in the world.

Just says to me that the future is bright once Falmer is finally opened. Add to that the fact that our youth set up is in great shape despite the previous regime's best efforts to destroy this club at every level.

Sorry-what was your whinge again?

Because the 4000 were not uber-fans who go week-in, week-out, and therefore did not deserve to be there with the hardcore, bleeding blue-and-white fans? Perhaps because the ground was slight more full than usual and the uber-fans couldn't use the empty seats as temporary picnic tables? Perhaps the uber-fans couldn't use their own seats, the ones that were installed purely for their use?

 

[DIFFBROOK]

I think the crowd of 3000-4000 is fantastic and shows the potential of Brighton & Hove Albion. Obviously the attraction of Chelsea was the major factor, but no way were the 4000 all Chelsea Fans. Besides I understand that last nights crowd was a near record (or full record) for such a game. Just shows that the people of Brighton will come out to see a good team (i.e us), play against top class opposition.

The point is, whatever league or whatever level, the opposition is a major factor in determining crowd size. I think last nights game just shows why we need Falmer. For the first team matches against the like of Hartlepool or Crewe, we will average around 7-10,000 for those games. However, for games against clubs like Leeds, Palace, Wolves, Reading etc we should average around 12,000 -17,000 (i.e the bulk of the Championship) . 12,000 being the breakeven fig for Falmer.

When we play top class opposition i.e Chelsea, Man Utd, or close to the top of the Championship and having an attractive side then 22,000 would be reached on a number of occasions.

 

[ditchy]

Not only was it about seeing our youth vs a top class prem team;s youth outfit .but wasnt it the fact that the casual wannabe fan could just turn up and not have to plan two weeks in advance to go to a game. At the risk of getting flammed i would encourage these fans as they can possibly be the next generation of season ticket holder or regular core fan , but all the while its not relatively easy for the "lazy" punter to turn up , we wont attract that type of punter.

 

[hopkins]

I hate tools like you. Some people have got a life to be getting on with. I served my dues from 1983-2000. But what ive always hated is people saying where were you at **** game. I bet you tutted all through the match nudging your mate and saying "where were this lot when zzzzzzzzzzzzzz". You dont get people on a bus telling somebody who normally drives "why dont you drive, ive always got the bus even through the bad times".

Tool.

 

[Turkey]

Nah. 90% of the people there tonight didn't give a f*** about the Albion youth team. They just wanted to say they'd seen the Chelsea Stars Of The Future (no.11 - tho not the poncey no. 7 with the gloves and the shit hair who really fancied himself) and maybe, pathetically, tout their sold-out programme on e-bay.

All things considered, not a pretty sight

Good result, mind

Bollocks. I saw some Chelsea fans but they were deffinatly out numbered by a long way. The large % of people were Albion fans. I was there because it was a good opportunity to watch the youth team! Bugger Chelsea. Brilliant to beat them though. Mind you, one very confused kid in front of me - was wearing a Brighton shirt and in the second half he put his Chelsea shirt over it! So it was a Chelsea shirt with a BHA collar sticking out the top.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

Bollocks. I saw some Chelsea fans but they were deffinatly out numbered by a long way. The large % of people were Albion fans. I was there because it was a good opportunity to watch the youth team! Bugger Chelsea. Brilliant to beat them though. Mind you, one very confused kid in front of me - was wearing a Brighton shirt and in the second half he put his Chelsea shirt over it! So it was a Chelsea shirt with a BHA collar sticking out the top.

I hope he have himself a good kicking outside the ground.

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

What's up with you these days Tom? Are you playing devil's advocate or just generally pissed off?

There were no negatives last night - for that many local people see the youth team beat Chelsea youth team can only be good.

Ok if you're looking for negatives the Withdean residents may have a moan about all the cars, and half the crowd missed the first 2 goals including me, I turned up at 7.10.

Cheer up!

 

[London Irish]

The majority of the crowd were kids, many of whom were (mainly just because kids today are) Chelsea fans.

The North Stand certainly was full of kids, remarkable sight. I couldn't help laughing at the conversation at six in a row near me.

When we started well, 5 of the kids were cheering away from the Albion and then suddenly the sixth one joined in too for the Albion.

The other 5 rounded on him and said: "Shut up! You said you supported Chelsea".

"Nah, I support Brighton now".



It was only a Youth game, but it will give our youngsters great ammunition in the playground against all the "Chelsea fans".

I also agree with you what you said about Tom's post, I took it as a pre-emptive strike against the anti-club whingers. The harsh reality is those who did come late probably do have to share some responsibility for their delay/discomfort with the bad estimations of the club.

But where I think Tom went slightly wrong is that it was such a great night for football in Brighton, I just don't think it's appropriate to wheel out any witch-hunt, whether that be against the club or the supposedly glory-hunting fans who turned up around kick-off. It was just a great evening, let's remember it for the right reasons

 

[Barrel of Fun]

..........
The other 5 rounded on him and said: "Shut up! You said you supported Chelsea".

"Nah, I support Brighton now".

Fantastic!


I did see a few Chelsea shirts and I assumed they were local. One little chap looked a bit sheepish and zipped up his hoodie.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

The North Stand certainly was full of kids, remarkable sight. I couldn't help laughing at the conversation at six in a row near me.

When we started well, 5 of the kids were cheering away from the Albion and then suddenly the sixth one joined in too for the Albion.

The other 5 rounded on him and said: "Shut up! You said you supported Chelsea".

"Nah, I support Brighton now".



It was only a Youth game, but it will give our youngsters great ammunition in the playground against all the "Chelsea fans".

I also agree with you what you said about Tom's post, I took it as a pre-emptive strike against the anti-club whingers. The harsh reality is those who did come late probably do have to share some responsibility for their delay/discomfort with the bad estimations of the club.

But where I think Tom went slightly wrong is that it was such a great night for football in Brighton, I just don't think it's appropriate to wheel out any witch-hunt, whether that be against the club or the supposedly glory-hunting fans who turned up around kick-off. It was just a great evening, let's remember it for the right reasons

And this is how it works. Even if they only buy stuff from the club shop, it all helps. If the first team has a couple of good results, then you hook the little buggers for life. The drama of avoiding relegation, beating teams, and being able to go and see a team is what keeps them coming back (or even supporting at a distance, it all counts).

I would like to see the club follow up on this success with the kids-4-a-quid incentive for the youth and reserve team matches, we are slightly hamstrung by the Withdean season ticket/allocation problem, but if we have Falmer at the end of the tunnel, we need to keep these kids until it's open.

 

[34064 Fighter Command]

One thing that struck me last night was the high percentage of kids in the crowd - far more than is usual. I suspect that there were many more people like Wooodingdean Gull in the crowd who saw it as an opportunity to take kids to a game. I guess that their youthful enthusiasm also contributed to the atmosphere as there was a corresponding lower percentage of miserable old gits.

" Miserable old gits ", how very dare you.

Can I point out that the ' kids for a quid ' of today are vital for the future miserable old gits of tomorrow !

 

[Uncle Buck]

The real bonus of last night was McGhee was in no way involved in the selection or tactics and we saw an Albion team playing in a sensible way!!!

 

[Dave the OAP]

of course one could also argue that by paying on the gate, the average...." lets go and see Brighton tonight instead of Holby City ( which was excellent last night BTW) ..." punter went as opposed to having to go into town, buy tickets in advance, get them posted etc etc. and all the hassle that follows

 

[London Irish]

The real bonus of last night was McGhee was in no way involved in the selection or tactics and we saw an Albion team playing in a sensible way!!!

You mean Tommy Fraser, the guy you've touted as the answer to our central midfield problems, playing out of position at centre back?

Dean Wilkins OUT

 

[jonny.rainbow]

It takes a special kind of person to find so much negative in an occasion of so many positives.

 

[Uncle Buck]

You mean Tommy Fraser, the guy you've touted as the answer to our central midfield problems, playing out of position at centre back?

Dean Wilkins OUT

Fraser played there as Lynch was withdrawn due to first team duties. Fraser started as a centre back and has moved into midfield during his development at the Albion.

Interesting to see that McGhee was not involved in the set piece work as the delivery looked good and we looked dangerous from them.

Now piss off.

 

[Dave the OAP]

It takes a special kind of person to find so much negative in an occasion of so many positives.

i didnt think anyone was being negative....only Piers and he is always negative. He hates brighton really.

he is not a true fan like Irish who would bleed blue and white ( or green depending on your point of view)

UB is just another Mike ward type freeloader.

 

[London Irish]

Fraser played there as Lynch was withdrawn due to first team duties. Fraser started as a centre back and has moved into midfield during his development at the Albion.

Interesting to see that McGhee was not involved in the set piece work as the delivery looked good and we looked dangerous from them.

Now piss off.

You mean there is another Albion player who didn't come out of his mother's womb with a number on his back?!?!!!? INCREDIBLE!

 

[Uncle Buck]

You mean there is another Albion player who didn't come out of his mother's womb with a number on his back?!?!!!? INCREDIBLE!

What are you talking about?

 

[Gwylan]

Interesting to see that McGhee was not involved in the set piece work as the delivery looked good and we looked dangerous from them.

What was interesting about the set-pieces was that they tried to be different: free-kicks weren't hit into the wall or over the bar - there was some attempt to do something different.

However, while they displayed more invention with their free-kicks in 90 minutes than the first team has in the entire season, the end result was the same as the delivery was so poor.