[Albion] what to do about the home atmosphere?

[Psychobilly freakout]

‘Twas pretty god damn quite yesterday until the sending off, then it seemed the whole stadium came alive and virtually the whole south stand and south west was stood up urging the team on.

 

[BN41Albion]

Agree. At Anfield the Liverpool fans started off with their usual fervour but even when they were 2-0 up it soon faded and they were completely silent for most of the second half when their team were failing to dominate. We all know the Emirates is the same and most of the big teams when they play us.

Most teams full stop really. Selhurst fell very quiet last year when we were dominating possession, as another example off the top of my head

 

[METALMICKY]

I agree, I don't think it will work, which is a shame. I was just pointing out what I thought macbeth meant

Fair enough. Maybe Macbeth ought to answer the question?

 

[e77]

Try having a 1500 kick off for a change.

 

[BLOCK F]

Ah, so what you mean is its easy to get a great atmosphere when you've got a team at the top of its game and challenging...

Yes, of course it is easier, but fans will not get excited about what they perceive as ‘boring tactics or boring football’.
The point I was trying to make was that when the scruffy old Goldstone was heaving with spectators, an atmosphere was created, unlike in a ‘sedate’ modern all seater stadium like the Amex and many other grounds around the country, who may be almost full to capacity, but the atmosphere just isn’t as raw and exciting as it was in the days of terraces, smelly bogs, cigar smoke and the fumes of horse linament that used to exude from the players tunnel. I reckon the demographic change of those watching football nowadays also has something to do with it.
And yes, I did attend flat matches at the Goldstone.

 

[macbeth]

Fair enough. Maybe Macbeth ought to answer the question?

I replied to you twenty minutes ago. yes it probably wouldn't go down well, but it's just a suggestion. other clubs have done it, with varying degrees of success. if the good folks of the north don't want to do that then so be it

 

[Stat Brother]

Try having a 1500 kick off for a change.

You cant seriously be suggesting had everything stayed the same but kick off was at 3pm yesterday's atmosphere would have been electric?

If Lallana and Cucu had scored yesterday's atmosphere would have been great whether kick off was as 03:00, 15:00, 17:30 or 20:00.


They didn't.
We sat in shocked silence.
Only reacting when we had something to react too.

 

[Mackenzie]

I stood on the terrace at Forest Green a couple of weeks ago, it was fantastic. All seater stadia have ruined the atmosphere at football grounds.

Get some “safe standing” sorted out in the south stand next to the away fans, where we can compete with them. Let the north and south stands drive the atmosphere. To create an atmosphere you’ve got to be able to hear each other and react to it.

Having the away fans so far away from our singers doesn’t work.

 

[e77]

You cant seriously be suggesting had everything stayed the same but kick off was at 3pm yesterday's atmosphere would have been electric?

If Lallana and Cucu had scored yesterday's atmosphere would have been great whether kick off was as 03:00, 15:00, 17:30 or 20:00.


They didn't.
We sat in shocked silence.
Only reacting when we had something to react too.

I am not sure a 1500 would have turned yesterday's game into a masterpiece, but speaking personally 1730 kick offs make me feel like I am dragging myself away from home then arriving home again with half the evening gone and are a bit of an imposition.

Other views are available though.

 

[drew]

firstly I'll say that I don't have some grand plan that'll fix everything, hence the invitation for suggestions in my original post. but I think perhaps maybe getting the main singing sections of the north a bit closer to eachother would maybe stop some of the instances of two groups of fans singing different chants at the same time.


Also the South West stand. That used to be 'flag central', with a good bit of atmosphere and in prime territory to give the away fans some banter. But the atmosphere there has been declining for the last few seasons, like the rest of the ground. I think maybe a dedicated south west fans group would help get the atmosphere back to where it was (if one doesn't exist already). just some ideas which people may or may not like.

When people get moved to these areas will they be on probation and if they don't meet the criteria required to up the atmosphere, will they get moved on?

Perhaps the club could seek advice from Steve Parrish!!!

 

[Stat Brother]

I am not sure a 1500 would have turned yesterday's game into a masterpiece, but speaking personally 1730 kick offs make me feel like I am dragging myself away from home then arriving home again with half the evening gone and are a bit of an imposition.

Other views are available though.

But with the game as it was kick off time wouldn't have made the slightest difference to the (lack of) atmosphere.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

You cant seriously be suggesting had everything stayed the same but kick off was at 3pm yesterday's atmosphere would have been electric?

If Lallana and Cucu had scored yesterday's atmosphere would have been great whether kick off was as 03:00, 15:00, 17:30 or 20:00.


They didn't.
We sat in shocked silence.
Only reacting when we had something to react too.

I did have a late night on Friday to be fair, sorry!

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

When people get moved to these areas will they be on probation and if they don't meet the criteria required to up the atmosphere, will they get moved on?

Perhaps the club could seek advice from Steve Parrish!!!

Drusillas Zoo have a DB testing machine where you can compare yourself to various animals and birds.

Albion+ discount opportunity as well

 

[macbeth]

When people get moved to these areas will they be on probation and if they don't meet the criteria required to up the atmosphere, will they get moved on?

Perhaps the club could seek advice from Steve Parrish!!!

if need be. we could get an x-factor style set up behind the goal in the north stand. bloom barber, ashworth and potter all in judges chairs with buzzers that trigger a trapdoor under the seat of whoever isn't giving it 110%. or give the stewards an electric cattle prod to keep drowsy fans on their toes

 

[sydney]

Yep, many was the time I heard the refrain, from the North Stand, "can you hear the South Stand sing" only to be greated by stoney silence.

oh yes , it happened ....we had always a fickle crowd as have most teams , my memories are mostly from the 79 to 83 seasons which were glory years , packed grounds , brilliant atmospheres and loads of agro ....to say it didn't happen or call it twaddle is just ridiculous...

 

[sydney]

Rosy specked twaddle.

don't be ridiculous.i know it's hard.

 

[Tokyohands]

aware I'm playing with fire by starting this thread here maybe, and I'm not having a pop at the fans or reincarnating the 'early leavers' threads of yesteryear.

But God, home games are depressing these days. not even because of the result. but the atmosphere was flat from first minute to the last today, and generally has been pretty much since fans came back. the north stand try, but I think we managed two rounds of 'albiiooonn' today followed by utter silence for the rest of the match. and the problem is that this is the norm nowadays, and I definitely think it transfers to the players.

genuinely I'm not sure how we fix this, and this thread is pretty much asking for what suggestions people may have, I know people slate drums and singing sections as tin pot, but it's at the point now where the home atmosphere is genuinely making home games unenjoyable anymore.

I refer you to https://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?390628-Drinking-in-sight-of-the-pitch-a-survey and click 'I agree'.

 

[Fat Boy Fat]

oh yes , it happened ....we had always a fickle crowd as have most teams , my memories are mostly from the 79 to 83 seasons which were glory years , packed grounds , brilliant atmospheres and loads of agro ....to say it didn't happen or call it twaddle is just ridiculous...

No one is saying there hasn"t been times when the atmosphere has been great at Brighton games. I go back a bit further than you to the "71-'72 season when we went toe to toe with the mighty Aston Villa for the Third Division title, only to fail at the last (so very Brighton).

There were some fantastic night games that season, with the North Stand in full voice, couldn't tell what the rest of the ground was doing, and quite frankly I didn't care.

The point is, like your period, this was a time when Brighton were on the up and it was easy to get "passionate" and behind the team when it seemed like there was a prize in sight at the end of the day - now, less so - roaring Brighton on to another magnificent draw doesn't have quite the same edge.

As for your "loads of aggro" comment, I suppose that gives me a proper insight into your real desire, for the good ol' days!

 

[Wozza]

Everyone says the Sheff Weds play off game was the best atmosphere at the Amex - what happened ? - we drew !

We had loads of players suspended/injured though.

 

[Stat Brother]

oh yes , it happened ....we had always a fickle crowd as have most teams , my memories are mostly from the 79 to 83 seasons which were glory years , packed grounds , brilliant atmospheres and loads of agro ....to say it didn't happen or call it twaddle is just ridiculous...

It's not though.
You say Goldstone atmosphere, then cherry pick 4 seasons out of 80 or so.

Quite rightly you remember the big games, big occasions.
FA Cup aside, I bet your memories of 82/83 aren't quite so 'lively'.

Scrolling on from there I remember all the big cup games.
4-0 v Newcastle.
3-3 v Bournemouth.
Millwall in the play off, Bristol City the game before.
Then the demise.

All fantastic atmospheric games.
But that's what 10 - 15 games out of what 200/300 matches.


We can do 'it'.
We just don't on a regular or even semi regular basis, to say otherwise is incredibly rose tinted.