[Albion] Something HAS to be done about the home atmosphere

[UnhingedSeagull94]

Maybe. My thinking is the English are just too reserved to create the atmosphere witnessed on mainland Europe. There’s nothing stopping anyone singing and chanting other than themselves. Apart from isolated matches, Brighton has never has a loud ground so I’m not sure why fans are expecting one in 2024?

The Marseille ultras that myself and @jackalbion went for a beer with after the game said that in Europe the ultras are non stop for 3/4 hours around the match, whereas in England, the start of the game is loud, then the crowd rides the waves of game, then the goal is “BOOOM”. They said the Amex was the loudest goal celebration they have heard when being in an English ground.
Personally I’d love a drum up with me in N1H but unfortunately too many people think that’s “tin pot”. Probably the same people who don’t open their mouths all game then moan about a shit atmosphere.

 

[ClemFandango]

Bottom 3 team and we’re all suffering a hint of PTSD knowing how it’s likely to play out. Having said that Amex is no worse than most other Prem teams. Plus we were singing ‘Sacked in the morning’ to Pep weeks before those cheeky Scousers

 

[mothy]

2nd half v city was fantastic

Friday night was terrible. Such a weak sound from the support

 

[mothy]

My son asked me - why aren't we allowed flares & large flags on poles?

I'd add to that - standing & drinking in the stands

Allow all those = much better atmosphere (tell barber he can send me a bank transfer)

 

[UnhingedSeagull94]

I feel like we've always been better away. There's a freedom from expectation away that you don't have and teams are more likely to come at you on their own patch, which gives us more space to play.

That said, although I agree that, as fans, there is a responsibility to lift the team, Fab himself has said on multiple occasions that it's the players job to lift the fans, not the other way around.

Hopefully the addition of safe standing and moving the away fans from behind the goal will do something for the atmosphere organically.

Because away from home you only ever see the same faces. Bournemouth was a cracking atmosphere because it was 1,000 of us who all bleed blue & white. 90% of the home attendances are people who see the Albion as a day out to see the Premier League.

 

[albionalba]

I thought the atmosphere on Fri was ok from my WSL, near to NS perspective and there was a decent amount of getting behind the team as it got tighter in the second half. I don't think there was quite so much of extra rousing once the subs happened partly as everyone was a bit tense and could see that it could all go even more horribly wrong and partly as I felt there wasn't much shared confidence that those subs would give us a 90 +9 celebration. Maybe just rose coloured glasses as I was so glad to be there and in fairness someone who watched on TV told me they barely heard the Albion fans.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The Marseille ultras that myself and @jackalbion went for a beer with after the game said that in Europe the ultras are non stop for 3/4 hours around the match, whereas in England, the start of the game is loud, then the crowd rides the waves of game, then the goal is “BOOOM”. They said the Amex was the loudest goal celebration they have heard when being in an English ground.
Personally I’d love a drum up with me in N1H but unfortunately too many people think that’s “tin pot”. Probably the same people who don’t open their mouths all game then moan about a shit atmosphere.

And the Marseille fans didn’t miss a single beat for 90 minutes during the game in France. Ultra culture is very different to English football culture, in some cases it’s better, some not so good.

My position is that I am very much of the view the vast majority are unwilling, for whatever reason, to participate and create an atmosphere. Without will, nothing will change. It’s been like this for virtually all of my years supporting Brighton. Some games have been great, usually when the actual game is exciting and at night, the majority not so good. It is what it is.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Just been watching Mainz v TSG (don’t ask) and the Mainz fans have been singing the theme tune from The A Team for most of the second half. Perhaps a tv theme tune is the answer? I’ll put forward Knight Rider, Teletubbies and Mastermind (this last one will require a DRUM).

If we're not singing Indiana Jones at Fulham I'm going to be very disappointed

 

[JBizzle]

Because away from home you only ever see the same faces. Bournemouth was a cracking atmosphere because it was 1,000 of us who all bleed blue & white. 90% of the home attendances are people who see the Albion as a day out to see the Premier League.

In part, I agree. The away following is fantastic because, as you say, it's the hardcore fans that go away every week, but to disregard 90% of fans at the Amex as people who are there for a day out is grossly disrespectful and, frankly, total BS.

 

[jackalbion]

Just been watching Mainz v TSG (don’t ask) and the Mainz fans have been singing the theme tune from The A Team for most of the second half. Perhaps a tv theme tune is the answer? I’ll put forward Knight Rider, Teletubbies and Mastermind (this last one will require a DRUM).

When I watched Terrassa this weekend in rural Catalonia, inexplicably they were singing a song to the heartbeat tune, god knows where they’ve picked that up.

 

[UnhingedSeagull94]

In part, I agree. The away following is fantastic because, as you say, it's the hardcore fans that go away every week, but to disregard 90% of fans at the Amex as people who are there for a day out is grossly disrespectful and, frankly, total BS.

These people need to start turning up more vocally then and staying until the end of games.

 

[Grizz]

These people need to start turning up more vocally then and staying until the end of games.

Have to admit I've never agreed with this statement. It's their prerogative that they don't scream and shout all game and leave early if they want to. They've paid the same money as everyone else. My idea of an Albion matchday experience has changed greatly over the last 35 odd years. Long gone are the days I want to sing and chant all game, end up with no voice at the end of it. I'll get behind the team, might even call the Ref a bad name every once in a while, even chant 'sacked in the morning' to Pep for bantz, but my voice ain't up to all game chanting. That's up to the young'uns now

As to leaving early, The Amex is one of the worst experiences in the country for getting away from a match, especially a midweek evening game, I don't blame people for nipping away early to guarantee their train.

This whole home atmosphere question comes up every season. Brighton is no better or worse than the majority of most home crowds in the country. Old Trafford, Anfield, can be just as poor with double the crowd. Unless you want the whole orchestrated Ultra style way of doing things, or a drum, then this isn't really going to change.

 

[Brian Fantana]

And the Marseille fans didn’t miss a single beat for 90 minutes during the game in France. Ultra culture is very different to English football culture, in some cases it’s better, some not so good.

My position is that I am very much of the view the vast majority are unwilling, for whatever reason, to participate and create an atmosphere. Without will, nothing will change. It’s been like this for virtually all of my years supporting Brighton. Some games have been great, usually when the actual game is exciting and at night, the majority not so good. It is what it is.

The most mental thing about that Marseille away game was that the ultras didn't even miss a beat when Gross scored. It was like nothing had happened.

 

[pigmanovich]

The most mental thing about that Marseille away game was that the ultras didn't even miss a beat when Gross scored. It was like nothing had happened.

Not that the Amex could ever be mistaken for the Stade Velodrome, but a mate I brought along to our 4-1 win over Palace last season made a similar comment about our reaction to their consolation goal.

 

[pb21]

The most mental thing about that Marseille away game was that the ultras didn't even miss a beat when Gross scored. It was like nothing had happened.

I'm not sure they realised/cared.

Certainly an impressive atmosphere, but is it support? I guess it is, but it's not just that, it's more and less.

 

[Insel affe]

Certainly an impressive atmosphere, but is it support? I guess it is, but it's not just that, it's more and less.

Well, that's that cleared up then, clear as mud, thank's for that....

 

[Commander]

Have to admit I've never agreed with this statement. It's their prerogative that they don't scream and shout all game and leave early if they want to. They've paid the same money as everyone else. My idea of an Albion matchday experience has changed greatly over the last 35 odd years. Long gone are the days I want to sing and chant all game, end up with no voice at the end of it. I'll get behind the team, might even call the Ref a bad name every once in a while, even chant 'sacked in the morning' to Pep for bantz, but my voice ain't up to all game chanting. That's up to the young'uns now

As to leaving early, The Amex is one of the worst experiences in the country for getting away from a match, especially a midweek evening game, I don't blame people for nipping away early to guarantee their train.

This whole home atmosphere question comes up every season. Brighton is no better or worse than the majority of most home crowds in the country. Old Trafford, Anfield, can be just as poor with double the crowd. Unless you want the whole orchestrated Ultra style way of doing things, or a drum, then this isn't really going to change.

There ARE some things that could be done to improve it though. If the two ends of the North actually managed to sing the same song together it would be loud. But their inability (unwillingness?) to do it is a massive part of the problem. If those two groups were in the middle of the North it would be so much better.

 

[WhingForPresident]

I have a couple of old women in front of me in WSL North corner who turn around and tut whenever anyone shouts/sings/swears. Doesn't help and ruins a lot of games for me personally, I'll probably ask the club to change seats soon as I can't be arsed anymore.

 

[METALMICKY]

The atmosphere against City was brilliant likewise the comeback win against spurs. Atmosphere depends on many factors including how the team are playing, who there're playing and situations in the game. Unjust decisions/bookings/red cards etc all play a part. Away atmosphere is pretty good especially if we're doing the business on the pitch. Think Villa Newcastle and them lot up the road have the best atmospheres as well as Anfield getting behind their team.

This with massive bells on! And more importantly when will the people who keep on starting the ' the atmosphere is rubbish ' threads get their heads round it this not so difficult concept? It's starting to grind my gears.

Of course we'd all love a great atmosphere every game for every minute but it's just not realistic for all of the factors mentioned. More importantly all those complaining seem to overlook that the demographic of fans can vary greatly from stand to stand and critically their behaviours when watching football. Aside from factors like cost and view that's precisely why people may choose to sit in a specific area.

One suspects that an awful lot of those complaining about the atmosphere will be those in the North stand which overlooks probably one of the key reasons why they have that seat. You can't dictate to your fellow fans the manner in which they should support their team. That principle also applies equally applies if you do sit another part of ground which is quite vocal.

The reality is that now in my late 50's my behaviour during the game is different to when I watched as a 20-35 year old. Family finances and circumstances dictate that I'm not down the pub 3 hours before kick off and/or knocking them back with abandon on the concourse. I'm now in the WSU with friends who I sat with at Withdean plus some new friends who all support the team in a similar manner. We do sing but not constantly, nobody is frothing at the mouth and constantly swearing and we do stand at the exciting moments.

OK rant nearly over. But please don't try to dictate to me the manner in which I should support my team. I've also got some headline news for the ' elitest uber' fans. You may be very disappointed when you find that safe standing isn't the panacea to your issue.

 

[METALMICKY]

Have to admit I've never agreed with this statement. It's their prerogative that they don't scream and shout all game and leave early if they want to. They've paid the same money as everyone else. My idea of an Albion matchday experience has changed greatly over the last 35 odd years. Long gone are the days I want to sing and chant all game, end up with no voice at the end of it. I'll get behind the team, might even call the Ref a bad name every once in a while, even chant 'sacked in the morning' to Pep for bantz, but my voice ain't up to all game chanting. That's up to the young'uns now

As to leaving early, The Amex is one of the worst experiences in the country for getting away from a match, especially a midweek evening game, I don't blame people for nipping away early to guarantee their train.

This whole home atmosphere question comes up every season. Brighton is no better or worse than the majority of most home crowds in the country. Old Trafford, Anfield, can be just as poor with double the crowd. Unless you want the whole orchestrated Ultra style way of doing things, or a drum, then this isn't really going to change.

Great first para. I've just written an essay which your para nicely sums up.