The atmosphere at WHL

[Beni]

Yep, and FM games!

Yep and people who moan that they're on 70K a week, that they should be running through hoops and super human and they're there to entertain and won't need our support.

 

[Main Man]

Everyone's a manager but nowadays they have a medium to write their thoughts daily. And they always know better. This has transferred on to the ground. If we're not playing at 100% and not 2 goals clear by half time, we're shit.

The internet killed football atmosphere.

You are definitely right.

But we also need to stop making excuses/reasons for the atmosphere.

We need the Lane rocking again - and every person in that ground (fans and players alike) must take responsibility for that.

 

[JollyHappy]

That's why I rated the crowd at 2.5 in the match ratings. There a guy behind me who for the last 10 years has a hatred of certain players. At the moment its especially Adebayor and Walker. When we scored the first goal he actually shouted along the lines of "I'm not cheering any goal we score if that c... Adebayor is involved". What can you do (well I did say something to him and he did shut up for the rest of the game) but what sort of mentality is that?

 

[The Lilywhites]

we need some new songs, as well as the current ones.

 

[vicbob]

It's a bit unfair to blame the ST holders. I'm not one but meet up with a few regularly, they tend to be some of the noisiest and try and get things started. Some of the casual fans don't know the songs and seem embarrassed to join in. Certain areas need to be designated as "noisy" so if people don't like it it's hard luck. Get those that want to sing together, in the same area especially encourage the 1882 guys. Get the stewards to lay off a bit, (you can't sing properly sitting down) and you might get a better atmosphere.

The play better football argument is a cop out, we were shit in the 90's, but the atmosphere was cracking.

 

[Wrenchy]

I went to my first league game in seven years on Boxing Day to see the West Brom game and I completely agree with the OP. As someone who gets to go to very few games (mostly Europa League games), a trip to the Lane is still an absolute novelty for me. The performance that day was pretty poor, but I was much more infuriated by the awful support. Absolutely abysmal and i'd go as far as saying that the atmosphere ruined the whole day for me. We were in the West Stand lower next to the away fans, and there was a chant of 'Stand up if hate Arsenal' from the Park Lane, me and my mate stood up, and I swear to God we were the only ones in the whole block who stood up. There was a man sat behind us who was actually WILLING Dawson to make mistakes just to prove his criticism right. Just a toxic toxic atmosphere, and it was absolutely embarrassing watching the game yesterday and hearing the Palace support verbally destroy ours. The club should get behind 1882 all the way (Fighting Cock is a superb podcast by the way).

 

[southlondonyiddo]

The drummers been evicted

You can't chant Yid anymore without getting banged up

No flares allowed

Can't throw missiles

No umbrellas

No bottles with tops

No running in the corridors

Get evicted for chanting 'your getting sacked in the morning'

Not allowed to stand unless it's the ’stand up' song

People are too busy taking pictures and playing with their iPads

Games become sanitised, it's a non contact sport and everyone dives and cheats.

Players earning far too much money and swopping shirts at half time

Far too many jobsworth stewards

Average age at WHL is probably late 40's now, at least

And while I'm at it the pitch is in about as bad a condition as our Jumbotrons which have gone to shite!

Oh and while I'm at it what's the point of the 'half time entertainment'? Could anyone actually hear a word that Ossie said last week?

Have I missed anything?

 

[weststandvoice]

Everyone's a manager but nowadays they have a medium to write their thoughts daily. And they always know better. This has transferred on to the ground. If we're not playing at 100% and not 2 goals clear by half time, we're shit.

The internet killed football atmosphere.

Totally agree mate. Sadly.

 

[C0YS]

On another related topic we really are taken as mugs. There can't be many industries where someone has to pay handsomely to be an extra and provide atmosphere for those watching at home on TV and then get berated by the manager for not being loud enough.

Perhaps a few matches played behind closed doors and the subsequent loss of atmosphere and TV revenue may encourage the club to value it's loyal supporters more.

One more thing, I know I'll get laughed at for this but I sincerely believe we should get paid (or at least free tickets) for going to showpiece matches, without our input as extras the club would not be able to sell the match to TV audiences all over the world. I know it sounds daft but when you see those "An Audience With" programmes on TV no-one has paid to go to that, the slebs in the front few rows will have been paid to go and the selling point of those programmes is the interaction, why should we be treated any different? But we are and we accept it.

this kind of shows the problem. So-called 'supporters' are consumers first and supporters. I don't care about the industry, the politics or the profit making nature of the club. I care about the team doing well, I will show support for that team because I wish to will them to do better. I do it because I care, if someone were to say, pay me for it I'd be deeply offended and will not accept that. I don't make noise at football games to make money or to help the team make money I make noise as it is my duty towards the team as a supporter.

Also I reckon if no one went to WHL for football games the TV wouldn't really care. If no one made any noise they would care even less. In fact it might be better as they would not have to worry about swearwords etc. The TV doesn't accurately portray noise at a game anyway, I doubt they would care. For example in Italy Juventus used to get really poor attendances for football games. There average attendence in 2005-06 (a season they won before it was taken away) was under 26,000 making the stadium about 1/3rd full. In one game in 2001-02 only 237 fans turned up. Juventus still, however would always get the best TV deals and been shown more often than most other clubs.

 

[dvdhopeful]

we need some new songs, as well as the current ones.

There seemed to be a few songs knocking around at the start of the season which had a lot of promise, particularly the Eriksen song which was catchy and pretty easy to remember. Can only really remember it being sung at 1882 matches, so doesn't seem to have made the transition.

The Yid 'situation' is also a big reason the recent home games have been so quiet. 'Yiddo, Yiddo' to some good play, 'Yid Army, Yid Army' as well as 'Yids!, Yids!', were all repeated numerous times per game and nothing has replaced them.

Has the 'singing section' been used at other clubs? And if so, has it been done with any success? Not sure how you police it, especially when tickets run low.

 

[SteveH]

Its 2013 and fans stopped singing years ago. The whole demographic of football has changed markedly especially in London and the southeast.

How much does cost to drive to WHL, park, buy a couple of tickets and get a pie and pint/coffee?

Best part of £150??

 

[mabizela]

I have been up to the Newcastle and Palace games this year and both times the atmosphere was dreadful. Although the performances weren't amazing it would of been nice to sing some songs to try get the team going rather than moaning. All clubs have players songs and all we have is Jermain Defoe hes a yiddo which will be coming to an end soon. No songs about the manager either.

 

[cornelius knob]

Whats happened to this surfer flag idea. I thought it was to be rolled out for the WBA game. I cant even remember which logo won the vote.

 

[Azazello]

I think the fact that some/many people see football as entertainment is part of the problem. How are you going to get a good atmosphere when football is just something else to do? Anyway, last time I stood up and sang at the pictures, I was asked to leave. Now it's happening at football matches. Watch and consume football product. Go home.

 

[SteveH]

I think the fact that some/many people see football as entertainment is part of the problem. How are you going to get a good atmosphere when football is just something else to do? Anyway, last time I stood up and sang at the pictures, I was asked to leave. Now it's happening at football matches. Watch and consume football product. Go home.

Total access all the time to everything!

 

[weststandvoice]

Whats happened to this surfer flag idea. I thought it was to be rolled out for the WBA game. I cant even remember which logo won the vote.

You probably missed it. It was the size of a pizza box.

 

[Hugh DeMann]

It's a bit unfair to blame the ST holders. I'm not one but meet up with a few regularly, they tend to be some of the noisiest and try and get things started. Some of the casual fans don't know the songs and seem embarrassed to join in. Certain areas need to be designated as "noisy" so if people don't like it it's hard luck. Get those that want to sing together, in the same area especially encourage the 1882 guys. Get the stewards to lay off a bit, (you can't sing properly sitting down) and you might get a better atmosphere.

The play better football argument is a cop out, we were shit in the 90's, but the atmosphere was cracking.

As a ST Holder I completely agree. I sit in a mixed area with general release tickets alongside ST Holders on the edge of the shelf. The split between those singing and not are the same between different types of tickets.

One thing I have noticed, apart from more of the crowd not contributing, is the lack of confidence among fans before the game kicks off. Meaning if we start slow the atmosphere never really gets started.

 

[shelfmonkey]

I mentioned this last night, but I'll say it again in here.

We need a singing section (somewhere in PL lower ideally). Whether this is called the 1882 block, or just a general singing area is irrelevant. Even if the club just give a block that title, it will change the mindset of the people who buy tickets in that block.

It should be made clear on the website which block is the singing block so that the much older / much younger or just any fans who don't want to be in amongst that, can buy elsewhere.

It needs to be done immediately, but I'm worried it won't change until we move to our new stadium in 2084.

Seriously though, even in the new stadium it won't change because it will still only be the aged and the middle class theatre types who will be able to afford tickets!!!!

 

[shelfmonkey]

You probably missed it. It was the size of a pizza box.

It probably was a pizza box, skillfully remodeled, after the pizza had been gleefully consumed!!

 

[shelfmonkey]

If there is to be a better atmosphere, I suggest MORE BEER!!!!!!