[Albion] Atmosphere vs forest

[jessiejames]

From the north stand, i was impressed by the number of Forest fans that came down on a Tuesday evening, however to me apart from 5 min of champions of Europe and a couple of min of Forest chants they were not that loud, when the game finished and the ground was half empty yes they were very loud.
At times in the ground i thought the atmosphere from the home fans was good. I think the problem is the ground itself, noise dont carry across.

 

[drew]

Admittedly I was in the worst location (E1G) with my two boys and all the other parents and kids but I thought the Forest fans were incredibly loud and we were incredibly quiet last night. Exceptionally so.
I've been to a fair few games that fell into the subdued, frustrated category including the ones with Potter booing and all the games before he taught them to score goals - but last night was bad from where I was.
Yes this is a topic that comes and goes and this is not about clackers, drums, flags etc I just wanted to see what others in the ground thought last night?

I am of the strong opinion that there are three things that would help.
1. The North stand singing as one, not split into two sections. Seriously - how could that be fixed? Or is it really impossible to unite the key figures in the sections that create the noise
2. Moving the away fans - not giving them an entire unified section
3. Safe standing in the North Stand. Far easier to sing standing. Last time I was in the North v spurs, the East side (of the NS) were mainly sitting and the west side were mainly standing. This also emphasised further the split into two groups.

Other personal views.
Bin fan zone - a festival of cringe.
Bin Hey Jude - it's a gift to the away fans.
GOSBTS lyrics confusion. Having the full, traditional words on screen has the effect of tripping up a lot of those wanting to join in, until in the last verse when the music cuts to crowd only and the words are easier for all. If having the words on screen, they could be simplified. I'm not sure that a lot of the crowd want to sing about bugles and hearts being gay (in the traditional sense).
To pre-empt the "why do the north stand need to be the cheerleaders", "why don't the east and west contribute" replies. I think it does need to be led for the rest to join in. Even last night there were a couple of brief moments when we could slightly be heard above the forest din and it spread a bit out to the East and...we joined in. Then it died off quickly.

You must have poor eyesight. Surely even from where you were sitting you can see that the majority of the north stand are standing!!

How are you going to split the away section? Absolutely bizarre.

Where is the confusion over GOSBTS? The words have been on the screens for ages.

 

[Baldseagull]

Watched on the box last night, seemed like a decent atmosphere first half, could hear Brighton fans and a bit of Forest, as the game went on in the second half, they got louder, stayed at the end to cheer their team, a team that had 3 shots total, none on target and 30% posession. They were effing glad to have earned a point, we were frustrated, and part of that was put on us by the Forest players time wasting, feigning injury.
Didn't help shooting at the South Goal second half, and it being a weekday match, this will almost always lower the volume, nothing that needs desperately to be fixed other than scoring a goal or three.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Watching on the box we had a corner and it was just silent even in the old days a corner used to bring the seagulls chant.

Some people probably don’t know the words.

Maybe not cool enough for one group of fans that sing songs that many of us definitely don’t know the words.

 

[wuntbedruv]

How are you going to split the away section? Absolutely bizarre.

The away section used to be split between the South East and South Stand, The shutters are still there to close off the South East corner and split the South Stand concourse. The decision to give most of the South Stand to the away fans was taken to facilitate the sky studio.

 

[Bryanw42]

You must have poor eyesight. Surely even from where you were sitting you can see that the majority of the north stand are standing!!

You must have poor eyesight. Have a look at the tv coverage from last night if unsure. Plenty seated in the NS
I was in in the NS for the spurs games and over half were sitting and I'm sure that was not a one off

How are you going to split the away section? Absolutely bizarre.

How can that suggestion be "absolutely bizarre" Have you been to other grounds where they do it very effectively, mainly spreading the away fans around the corner and in tiers. Clearly it would be a massive headache to move season ticket holders to enable this. But not a bizarre idea and one I've seen discussed on this forum without people falling off their chairs.

Where is the confusion over GOSBTS? The words have been on the screens for ages.

I agree that my point was not made clearly. And actually, I can't be bothered to clarify it, so you can have that one - but not the other two.

 

[figgis]

Oh this is original.

Original but true. Crap atmosphere.

 

[wuntbedruv]

Clearly it would be a massive headache to move season ticket holders to enable this.

No headache at all. The southern section of the Family stand E1G/H were moved to facilitate the plan to relocate disabled fans from E11 and the East Upper disabled sections, a plan that would allow the proposed North Stand Shelf 1901 . This idea scuppered/ delayed by Covid so far

 

[faoileán]

Ah, the eternal mystery of the NSK. Always wanting to make noise but almost always wanting to sing a load of utter twaddle. Not sure why that song is their favourite, the whole ground doesn't join in because it's shite.

Correct; it's like "this is our special little song and we don't actually care if anybody else to joins in". Well the problem is NSK is that these daft little songs don't spread; it would be far better if you just shouted "ALBION...ALBION.." for 90 minutes because at least it would get some traction...

 

[faoileán]

From the north stand, i was impressed by the number of Forest fans that came down on a Tuesday evening, however to me apart from 5 min of champions of Europe and a couple of min of Forest chants they were not that loud, when the game finished and the ground was half empty yes they were very loud.
At times in the ground i thought the atmosphere from the home fans was good. I think the problem is the ground itself, noise dont carry across.

No I'm sorry, from WSU on the half way line the Forest fans were loud. I could just about hear the NSK under the police box, but they persist in singing bollox that nobody else joins in with. The bunch under the screen in NS were asleep...

 

[portlock seagull]

Correct; it's like "this is our special little song and we don't actually care if anybody else to joins in". Well the problem is NSK is that these daft little songs don't spread; it would be far better if you just shouted "ALBION...ALBION.." for 90 minutes because at least it would get some traction...

There is something in this, love my NSK friends as I do. Continually chanting and changing songs for 90mins doesn’t allow for another song started elsewhere to catch on either. Or respond to what’s on the pitch, or coming from away end. It all blends into a bit of a repetitive dirge. It’s in the category of trying too hard. What’s needed is NSK to be moved to block immediately behind goal. Make it safe standing, or make it clear to people to expect to be standing behind seats, and then encourage likeminded persons to ship in and those who aren’t to move elsewhere ie swap seats. Never going to happen without the club absolutely railroading this through at expense of anyone precious about, including pissing people off who might rip up their ST’s in protest. But that’s what it’ll take, so that’s why it won’t ever happen. Practically need an interview to justify why you should be given a place in this section with someone from club managing a spreadsheet eg “Are you an absolute loon, who will foam at the mouth and scream dogs abuse at any opposition player that dares to set foot in our half…?”, “Yes?”, “You’re in son, here’s 5 free pints per game also to lose any remaining inhibitions - now go ruin your throat, we expect you to have tonsillitis after each match.” OR……..”I see you’re wearing a Ramones t-shirt, name a song by them please?”, “….I’m waiting….”, “Everything I do, (I do it for you) you say?”, “Thanks, but your application is unsuccessful, please proceed to West or East Stands…”

 

[Titanic]

There is something in this, love my NSK friends as I do. Continually chanting and changing songs for 90mins doesn’t allow for another song started elsewhere to catch on either. Or respond to what’s on the pitch, or coming from away end. It all blends into a bit of a repetitive dirge. It’s in the category of trying too hard. What’s needed is NSK to be moved to block immediately behind goal. Make it safe standing, or make it clear to people to expect to be standing behind seats, and then encourage likeminded persons to ship in and those who aren’t to move elsewhere ie swap seats. Never going to happen without the club absolutely railroading this through at expense of anyone precious about, including pissing people off who might rip up their ST’s in protest. But that’s what it’ll take, so that’s why it won’t ever happen. Practically need an interview to justify why you should be given a place in this section with someone from club managing a spreadsheet eg “Are you an absolute loon, who will foam at the mouth and scream dogs abuse at any opposition player that dares to set foot in our half…?”, “Yes?”, “You’re in son, here’s 5 free pints per game also to lose any remaining inhibitions - now go ruin your throat, we expect you to have tonsillitis after each match.” OR……..”I see you’re wearing a Ramones t-shirt, name a song by them please?”, “….I’m waiting….”, “Everything I do, (I do it for you) you say?”, “Thanks, but your application is unsuccessful, please proceed to West or East Stands…”

Maybe it would help if they dressed up in a standard uniform? Black hoodies?

 

[portlock seagull]

Maybe it would help if they dressed up in a standard uniform? Black hoodies?

LOL! But the NSK have a lot on their shoulders: singing, atmosphere, flags and now a uniform! Perhaps it’s time the other 29,900 home fans contributed too?

 

[Commander]

Good, exciting football results in good atmosphere.
Poor football results in poor atmosphere.
It's as simple as that.

At Brighton. That isn't the case at all clubs.

 

[Commander]

Fans on this forum have often claimed that our fans are reactionary, which is true. The atmosphere is best when we are playing well, and it is abysmal when we're not.

But this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Atmosphere has a massive influence over the performances of both the home and away teams.

I really hope one day that the Amex crowd will start to get this. When things aren't going well, this is when you really need to support the players - create a supportive atmosphere to inspire the players with confidence.

The Amex does this opposite. Our home form is unquestionably poorer than other clubs with more supportive home fans, because of our reactionary nature.

I agree. The Amex IS part of the reason why our home form was so poor for large parts of last year, it has to be. I'd love to know what the players really think of it. I wonder if they actually prefer playing away. It wouldn't surprise me at all if lots of them do.

 

[oldboyroy]

In the west upper and i was surprised at how quiet the whole stadium was apart from the away end who made more noise throughout.

 

[rippleman]

Correct; it's like "this is our special little song and we don't actually care if anybody else to joins in". Well the problem is NSK is that these daft little songs don't spread; it would be far better if you just shouted "ALBION...ALBION.." for 90 minutes because at least it would get some traction...

It is always far easier to put the boot into those who do try to engender a real atmosphere and sing throughout for the most part, then come up with a different way yourself. If you want ALBION...ALBION shouted for 90 minutes, do it! Nobody is stopping you.

 

[faoileán]

LOL! But the NSK have a lot on their shoulders: singing, atmosphere, flags and now a uniform! Perhaps it’s time the other 29,900 home fans contributed too?

In every stadium with a good atmosphere there is a nucleus of singers who lead the way and others join-in. NSK don't tend to sing the basic songs that could be taken-up more generally round the ground. They sing clever little ditties for their own amusement often in direct conflict with other chants that have started. Though I praise the effort they make they are part of the problem.

 

[papajaff]

Very rare that home fans generate atmosphere these days with all seater stadiums.
Wait till we go to Forest, they are quiet at home.
They were noisy on Tuesday as they know they are favourites for the drop.
And having away fans behind the goal is total stupidity.

 

[Beanstalk]

I think after visiting Germany for football in the week the difference in fan unity was outstanding. I know it’s a different culture, but if someone rocked up with a megaphone a load of blokes who used to smash up town centres in the 80s would moan that it’s tinpot, and not English. Something needs to be done to improve the atmosphere, but we are too much of a gatekeeping fanbase, who seem to either resent anyone who didn’t go to Rochdale or Rotherham in the 2000s, or think anything new is the sign of the apocalypse. We’ll carry on being like that for a long time. A load of people were annoyed at a song about Jakub Moder because a Skoda is from the Czech Republic. I thought some ideas would be brought forward with the FAB but nothing, this isn’t on anyone on it, but it seems that it hasn’t improved anything fan wise, it just seems to have made us a more fragmented divided fanbase.

Telling other season ticket holders to turn up 15 minutes after kick-off probably didn't help the atmosphere on Tuesday though Jack. Blaming you solely for the lack of PASHUN showed in the WSU.