Not so FANtastic

[ENIAM NAM]

champion
of
Mediocre
support

ENIAM NAM
SDRAWKCAB TNUC

Outstanding.

[coMs]

Outstanding.

Thank you.
Although your hatred of city fans is astounding.

[Nick]

It wasn't that quiet in 110 yesterday, but the trouble is that I don't think the stadium acoustics are all that.
It always seems a bit quiet on television, but never when I'm in my usual place. But having occasionally used the Colin Bell, I must say it's a bit like a library.
As for the leaving early, it just pisses me off, I don't understand it, I find it embarrassing, but it now sees to be the norm.

I still thought 110 was average and has been slowly worse in 2014. its bad when you can probably hear me singing on my own..

[roblues]

It wasn't that quiet in 110 yesterday, but the trouble is that I don't think the stadium acoustics are all that.
It always seems a bit quiet on television, but never when I'm in my usual place. But having occasionally used the Colin Bell, I must say it's a bit like a library.
As for the leaving early, it just pisses me off, I don't understand it, I find it embarrassing, but it now sees to be the norm.

I still thought 110 was average and has been slowly worse in 2014. its bad when you can probably hear me singing on my own..

A couple of years ago I tried to get a song going for Lescott in 111 (not that I want to be judged for that particular sentiment!) - even there, people turned and looked at me like I was mental. I quickly reverted to "Have you ever seen your dick?" at the fattest away fan I could find

[ENIAM NAM]

Outstanding.

Thank you.
Although your hatred of city fans is astounding.

Unsurprisingly, you really have missed the point. It's about us all being the 12th man at a crucial part of the season. It's no wonder we struggle to achieve that.

I really can't be bothered continuing with this, so your next post can be the last which I'm sure will make you feel big and clever.

[Sister of fu]

I've been thinking the same for a while now. I am slightly concerned that the atmosphere at Anfield may play a factor in the result next week. The only time our crowd create an intimidating atmosphere is when we play United at home.

I'd hoped a big Champs League night would spark us into action but we have played Real, Barca and Bayern in the past two years and the derby game is still the only game where are crown are up for being the 12th man. Compare our home games to say Anfield, Celtic Park or dare I say it , Old Trafford on a Champs League night we are miles behind in terms of atmosphere. In terms of big European nights I wonder if our fans suffer from imposter syndrome who don't believe they should be at the big table yet and are still thinking small time when it comes to the importance of derby games.

I used to think it was the stadium that was at fault but the atmosphere and look of the stadium was incredible for the Europa League cup final in 2008.

It kills me me to say this but the atmosphere at the swamp on Tuesday is the best one I have been in all season. Miles better than anything we have produced this season but I feel that's down to the accustics of the two grounds. I'm hoping with the new tier going on that it will add a bit of a roof and hold some noise in as at the moment it's as flat as anything.

[coMs]

Unsurprisingly, you really have missed the point. It's about us all being the 12th man at a crucial part of the season. It's no wonder we struggle to achieve that.

I really can't be bothered continuing with this, so your next post can be the last which I'm sure will make you feel big and clever.

You haven't actually made a point though.
Anyway I agree it would be nice if everyone was on the same page regarding the atmosphere, but it isnt going to happen and nobody should be telling anybody else how they should be supporting their team.
The atmosphere is no different to the 2011/2012 season and we did ok then.
Also we have won 14 of 15 league games at home this season, so id say the players are not affected either way.
I respect that everyone is entitled to an opinion but I dont think that criticising those who dont do as you do is right.
Football in general has become sanitised, maybe we should all be together in looking for the root cause, I don't think this is to be found with the great fans who actually bother to turn up week in week out.

[Breks]

Worst game this year for atmosphere was the Palace game. "1-0 and you still don't sing" was the palace fans chants. It's way to sanitised these days. I sit in the family stand because my lad is only 3 and it's dead in there. Well me and my lad sing, he never stops singing or shouting.

[Grimble101]

Be the 12 man if you want to be the 12 man if you don't fine. But let's at least lets try and be loud for the last few home games. WE WILL FIGHT TO THE END. At the end of the day were all city.

[mcfc1632]

I think there might be a bit of misplaced nostalgia for Maine Road, it was never the same after the standing Kippax was demolished.

Absolutely correct

[twosips]

I'm not old enough to remember what it was like before the Kippax was demolished, but i am old enough to remember what it was like in the mid to late 90s, and i can hand on heart say its a fuck load better than the CoMS. It was fun. Stands sung to each other... "North stand give us a song, North Stand North Stand give us a song" etc.... you don't get anything like that anymore. It was jovial and it was a good day out. Literally find the CoMS boring as fuck. As i said, I don't know what Maine Road was like when there was standing, but if it was as good as all you lot said it was then its pretty clear there has been a very gradual decline since then culminating in the current library that we live in.

All did go tits up when we moved to the CoMS though - same fans in there as ever when we moved there so its not even as if that was the problem. It just didn't feel like home and its never recovered. It's not helped by the fact that we live in the most passive and disinterested generation in a long long time. Blame the internet and the 'on demand' culture. People expect these days. They don't wait patiently...they demand entertainment cos everything in life is on demand. Same goes for football. They turn up, stare at the game and cheer when something good happens... "You entertain ME"..it's all me, me, me. People like to fucking moan too and that's it (lol, irony) No responsibility is taken from the fans to get behind the team. It's sad really.

[mcfc1632]

I agree that the 1990s Kippax was a better atmosphere by a massive margin over the new stadium - but I can also assure you that the old Kippax was better than the 'new' Kippax by probably at lease the same margin.

I do not think that it too difficult to understand the reason why: When I started to be part of the Kippax (1969) I immediately became part of a 'throng' that had been singing together for decades - so it just continues. When the new Kippax was built that throng got split over 3 tiers and became several (more than 3) smaller groups and the 'nucleus' that got the singing going was lost.

Then we moved to the new stadium and we were all further dispersed - with no longer any momentum existing for really vocal support at home games - and our vocal support has just petered out. It will not come back IMO unless the club recognise the need to actively rebuild it - introducing a 'standing section' and whatever else they can think off to get fans singing - at the swamp they actually pipe the songs for the fans to sing along to - although I find that cringeworthy it at least works.

It is for the same reason that the Liverpool volume is so significant - they have not been 'broken up' - also the same reason that our away support is 2nd to none - we are - and have always been - a 'throng' together.

[twosips]

Not surprised it's gone down since the 70s as that was a very, very long time ago...i think my point was more along the lines that i think Maine Road was still vastly better than the vast majority of stadiums at the times in the 90s which was relatively recent. It was a very, very good atmosphere. Not 10 out of 10, no, but at least an eight compared to the four at best you get now. I think we'd all settle for the 90s Maine Road atmosphere now week in, week out.

[mcfc1632]

Agreed - but the point I meant to make was my view of the cause for the reduction in crowd involvement/vocal support - this being due to the 'dispersal' - twice- of the singing sections. Such sections are cultural and established over years.

At the Etihad it is no longer the 'norm' to sing and sing - people look at you like "..oh one of those..." whereas it used to be everyone singing along and those that did not that seemed out of place .

So having happened once - with the change to the Kippax it happened again with the move to the new stadium.

The good news is that (perhaps strangely) it would be more possible in the new stadium to recreate a great atmosphere than in the new Kippax. This (IMO) is because we were not only separated but split over three levels and there was no 'group' feel to get things back to the way they were. I know that the new stadium is also on 3 levels - but it does not seem quite so 'obvious' as the Kippax did.

Having taken part in some fans surveys I get the impression that the club are going to seek to develop the singing section - they are certainly concerned about the poor atmosphere.

The Liverpool fans massively take the piss out of the CITY atmosphere - but frankly if they relocate to a new stadium and do not recognise and deal with the risk it will happen to them as well (albeit not to such a dramatic extent). With hindsight we should have taken steps to get the singing section fans from the Kippax having first call on an identified section of the new stadium - hindsight is marvellous.

We do need something dramatic to be orchestrated now as frankly our fans are 'too timid' and feel awkward it seems and nights like Hamburg are very rare

[Original Dub]

I don't know how to influence a "Hamburg" night regularly at the Etihad, but with the resources we have, there has to be some experts working on it.

I was one of the lucky ones to be there that night and I'll never forget it. The atmosphere was that good, that even though we had lost the tie, we had goosebumps leaving the stadium.

As a mainly arm chair fan, I have to say, I think we have the best away support in the league, so it's not merely because our fans are quiet. It's either orchestration, acoustics or both, but it will be sorted as time goes on.

The good thing is right now, our toughest games are our three away ones and the fans will lift the team for them, no doubt about it.

[AG7]

I hate the early leavers too ... I think club should just announce the gates to exits won't open till 10 mins AFTER the final whistle ... actually I am going to write to them and suggest this right away, and if others want to do the same, pls. do ...

[Wonderwall]

I hate the early leavers too ... I think club should just announce the gates to exits won't open till 10 mins AFTER the final whistle ... actually I am going to write to them and suggest this right away, and if others want to do the same, pls. do ...

That will just cause mass congestion. I think opening them on 90 mins will be OK, if people need to leave early they can but need to be let out by stewards

[Breks]

Let them leave early. They will miss out. Like some nobheads missed Aguerooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[Grimble101]

Come on then fellow city fans. I'm no hero but I'm more than happy to try and get that hamburg nights back how do I start a post for only people up for getting our ground rocking again and not moaning. And see who's up for it in numbers we can only TRY fuck it come on real blues

[Twobob]

That will just cause mass congestion. I think opening them on 90 mins will be OK, if people need to leave early they can but need to be let out by stewards

I agree