Could our fans lose us promotion?

[Creaky]

I wonder how much of the drop in 'atmosphere' at grounds has occurred due to the modern obsession for singing. I didn't join a choir when I started going to football matches over 50 years ago!

Fans didn't use to burst into song when their team scored but the noise in the ground was basically made up of cheers and yes clackers, albeit wooden ones that wouldn't be allowed in grounds these days, and possibly a single team song that all the fans knew the lyrics of.

'Organised' noise consisted mainly of very simple chants as well as ad lib humorous retorts and yet I defy anyone to claim that the atmosphere in grounds was less in the 50s and 60s than it is today.

Words of songs, started say in the North Stand, are unintelligible by the time they reach the East Stand so complaints about the rest of the ground not joining in with them are groundless - for example why does "Oscar Garcia thinks you're queer" - makes no sense!!!

 

[The Sock of Poskett]

i agree with this. although i've read and heard several times from players who say how good the atmosphere, so it must get through to the players. however the burnley game is a great example of how good the atmosphere can be. it was the most fun i've had at a defeat in my life. i dont understand why we as a whole unit dont 'go for it' a bit more often.

Agree with all of this. Trouble is, we're not a whole unit. We're lots of individuals with lots of factors (small and large) influencing how we respond during the course of a game. It's not like you can get 20 people together in the pub beforehand and agree tactics, practice songs and sort out who does what when.

The Burnley game provided a rare combination of circumstances early on that got everybody well stoked up, the Blitz spirit spread and the whole 'backs against the wall/Great Escape' thing took flight and had the ground rocking. Key games, arch rivals and big away supports can help, as can things like the Ipswich fans unveiling that dozy banner.

We are still in relatively early days for lots of people experiencing mass Albion support. It's always easier for a couple of thousand diehards to generate atmosphere than 25,000+ ranging from the mildly interested to eager youngsters to old fellas who can barely raise a croak.

As someone who regularly pitches in with some song-starting in my part of the North, I wish every game was a seething cauldron of noise but sadly I recognise that is pretty unrealistic. We're doing OK, and things WILL improve.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Agree with all of this. Trouble is, we're not a whole unit. We're lots of individuals with lots of factors (small and large) influencing how we respond during the course of a game. It's not like you can get 20 people together in the pub beforehand and agree tactics, practice songs and sort out who does what when.

The Burnley game provided a rare combination of circumstances early on that got everybody well stoked up, the Blitz spirit spread and the whole 'backs against the wall/Great Escape' thing took flight and had the ground rocking. Key games, arch rivals and big away supports can help, as can things like the Ipswich fans unveiling that dozy banner.

We are still in relatively early days for lots of people experiencing mass Albion support. It's always easier for a couple of thousand diehards to generate atmosphere than 25,000+ ranging from the mildly interested to eager youngsters to old fellas who can barely raise a croak.

As someone who regularly pitches in with some song-starting in my part of the North, I wish every game was a seething cauldron of noise but sadly I recognise that is pretty unrealistic. We're doing OK, and things WILL improve.

Sod FanZone!

Maybe something like this on the big screens would work before a match....



Obviously, replacing Goldstein's face with Bellotti or Archer talking to camera

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

I'm old enough to remember Man Utd getting relegated

and I don't think it was Blackburn's fervent support that won them the league

Pompey played Arsenal down at Fratton a few season's ago,terrific support,90 minutes non stop,they lost 5-0

that said,statiscally teams win more times at home than away

 

[The judge]

Burnley at home, with 9 men for 75 minutes, meant that the players needed a lift from somewhere to give them extra energy as the opposition took advantage of the gaps.

That lift came from the stands, it showed that we could create an atmosphere that was both uplifting and intimidating. We had genuine chances at the end of the match to get at least a point from it too, but profligacy in front of goal meant we lost 1-0.

My view is that if we can create at environment that tips the balance in the Albion's favour, even if it's only by 1%, then we should get off our backsides and give the team additional vocal support.

I fully understand the alternate view is that some people go to matches to be entertained, and want to sit and watch in relative comfort and clap only when something has inspired them to do so, but I'd rather get behind the team and shred my tonsils for 90 minutes.

This . It will take time but with the right people in the right places the Amex could be a wall of noise . Hope to be getting out from under the box it was a bad move as you can not link up with the rest of the North . We are not a closed group as some think the more who get together the better . One Albion .

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

This . It will take time but with the right people in the right places the Amex could be a wall of noise . Hope to be getting out from under the box it was a bad move as you can not link up with the rest of the North . We are not a closed group as some think the more who get together the better . One Albion .

The Tardis crew need to be at the back of the North Stand behind the goal. Get the central blocks rocking and the NE and NW corners will join in too followed by the rest of the ground .

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Paper clackers didn't seem to affect Crystal Palace players' performances. The Albion players and manager needed to look at their own personal performances rather than blame the paper clackers or opera singer. Paul Barber made a telling point in that if Albion had played well and prevailed, both ideas would have been seen as good ideas.

ABSOLUTE TOSH , BIGGEST CRINGE FEST I'VE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO ATTEND , SAD DAY FOR BHA hopefully never repeated
regards
DR

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

ABSOLUTE TOSH , BIGGEST CRINGE FEST I'VE EVER HAD THE MISFORTUNE TO ATTEND , SAD DAY FOR BHA hopefully never repeated
regards
DR

We had clackers but Wurzel only needed to show the Palace players a mess in the toilets.

 

[Creaky]

Strange how I've not seen anyone support the use of 'clackers' but during the match they were very much in use!

 

[Commander]

This . It will take time but with the right people in the right places the Amex could be a wall of noise . Hope to be getting out from under the box it was a bad move as you can not link up with the rest of the North . We are not a closed group as some think the more who get together the better . One Albion .

Good man. Get yourself to the centre of the North next season, you know it makes sense.

 

[Berty23]

Leeds have a huge and vociferous away following but are rubbish away. At home they have a 25k crowd which is quite quiet but they are very strong. Explain this one please.

 

[Berty23]

To be honest I don't think it is about being positive, rather it is about not being negative. This is quite different. If fans get worried this translates to the players.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Strange how I've not seen anyone support the use of 'clackers' but during the match they were very much in use!

Good point. Maybe clackees don't use NSC.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Leeds have a huge and vociferous away following but are rubbish away. At home they have a 25k crowd which is quite quiet but they are very strong. Explain this one please.

Loud crowds can be quite distracting for them when they're trying to play a game of football.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Good point. Maybe clackees don't use NSC.

Or people decided they were a bad idea after their use coincided with a defeat.

 

[Creaky]

Or people decided they were a bad idea after their use coincided with a defeat.

My theory is that they made so much noise it made it very difficult for the players to communicate - I sit just 5 rows from the pitch in the East stand and the 'white' noise made it almost impossible for me to hear what the person next to me was shouting.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

My theory is that they made so much noise it made it very difficult for the players to communicate - I sit just 5 rows from the pitch in the East stand and the 'white' noise made it almost impossible for me to hear what the person next to me was shouting.

Then again, it didn't seem to affect the Crystal Palace players at all. Massive cop-out if Brighton fans or players are blaming the clackers for their team's inept performance.

 

[Jim D]

A lot of myth-making has been created around the Burnley match. Yes, the crowd was loud but it did not tangibly affect the result. We still lost.
The Brighton players played well because they showed tremendous character and worked like crazy to cover the extra space. Any team that is reduced to nine men is either going to fight or surrender. Thankfully, our players chose the former and it is they that deserve the credit for their performance, not us.

Cheering CMS on did not mean he developed better technique in finishing in front of goal. It is technique, organisation, tactics, man management and having the right blend of players, that will win games, not how loud a home crowd is.

OK but maybe the Ipswich match where they unfurled a banner about 'some things money can't buy' is a better example. The crowd were really loud all around the stadium that day and we had a good win.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Us out!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

OK but maybe the Ipswich match where they unfurled a banner about 'some things money can't buy' is a better example. The crowd were really loud all around the stadium that day and we had a good win.

We certainly did have a good win that Ipswich game. However, it's typical of some football fans (not saying you in particular, though) to look to outside agents like an opposition fan's banner as significant reasons why we played so well. This is especially as we're not party to what happens in each dressing room. I think the burden on proof has to be on fans trying to show that the banner had an effect, especially as we've also had other games at the Amex when they team have started on the front foot (not as often as we would like, granted) and won well. The most recent time was most definitely the Leicester match.