(Lack of) Atmosphere

[Super]

2 minutes ago, city1983 said:

how about playing Chelsea dagger after we score to add to the atmosphere.

Shouldn't need anything to add to an atmosphere when you score.

[exAtyeoMax]

38 minutes ago, city1983 said:

how about playing Chelsea dagger after we score to add to the atmosphere.

OMG! Sorry, my pet hate -contrived atmosphere. All we need, and do, is cheer loudly and sing a bit

[lenred]

41 minutes ago, city1983 said:

how about playing Chelsea dagger after we score to add to the atmosphere.

Is that sarcastic? 

[City oz]

2 hours ago, AshtonGreat said:

If I've paid good money and traipsed halfway across Bristol to see a game, the least I expect is some effort - and that was sadly lacking from some last night. 

Oh well. I’m back in the UK for two weeks due to a family emergency. I have tickets for this Saturday so “traipsed” across the world. 

With atmosphere it’s like any sport, when your team does well and shows 100 percent commitment then this results in the crowd generating atmosphere. Last nights performance especially in the first 30 minutes was poor and listening to the commentary on radio Bristol and lack of sound and singing was the total opposite from the Fulham match.

[MelksRed]

Doll up utter garbage and expect us to be thankful and generate an atmosphere?

Jackanory I'm afraid......

Fans react to the game in front of them - in The Dolman many people around me were shouting for the team to play forward with pace - what did we get? Incessant backward play and laboured passing (most of which failed to meet the intended recipient). 

We play out of defence get to the first midfield player who then lumps it to FD (the forward most player) who then knocks it forward to..........nobody....15 seconds later the opposition are on our 18 yard box after player after player continues to step off the advance.....they weren't up for it - the crowd then get 'mildly miffed' which has a negative impact on the atmosphere. 

Subs - 60th- 65th minutes - more often than not - ineffective (despite COD goal yesterday) - then try and overwhelm them in the last 9 minutes.

Pfft! 

Why cant we start home games like we (try to) finish them?

[Bristol Oil Services]

First things first: we are not as demonstrative or sentimental or emotional or - let's be plain - as passionate as people in other parts of country/the UK: eg, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow. About football, or in life generally.

We're not, and never have been. Bristol/West Country folk are more reserved and much less "look at me/us, aren't we great/noisy?" (see "pop" groups from Bristol "safe from harm" v ones from Manchester/Liverpool "I am the resurrection"). We are a big city, but you wouldn't know it from our football clubs, football crowds, or our contributions to pop culture. 

Nor are we as aggressive/territorial/"look how loud/scary/macho we are!" as some other sorts eg Millwall, Leeds, Portsmouth, Stoke (some will want to claim that we are, or that we once were, but we have - in my experience - been much less so than those listed and many others).

Also, compared to many other parts of the country we are just not that into or worked up about football and/or our own club. For 100 years or more now, we have been pretty sh1te and very unsuccessful, with little to cheer and less to shout about (veterans of AG 74 - 79 will want to protest, but compared to elsewhere in the country, this was modest and nothing to get carried away about). It's a minor miracle about 20,000 of us are paying and turning up to watch in person now. Most of the noisiest crowds have been the "best" at some point - on and/or off the pitch.

Most of football is like this now, bland home support/more noisy away support. There are exceptions, Anfield  (on big European nights, for example) and Elland Road, to name just two. Stoke were noisy/shouty for a while, while they exceeded expectations in the PL; Leicester were atmospheric with help from their plastic clappers, but again, while exceeding all expectations. Fans elsewhere make the same complaints as we do about their own home atmosphere. 

The more we are charged to watch, the less involved people are likely to be (or prepared to "roll up their sleeves" and do the active, hard work of making some noise and roaring their team on); the more comfortable you make people, the more docile you are likely to become. A double whammy well under way at the 21st century AG. It takes much more of a conscious effort now to make some noise and atmosphere  (hats off to those in S82 that continue to try) and around these parts, effort is not something we specialise in. Generally, we cannot be arsed with anything, we are - comparatively - an apathetic lot.

We will still get a great or lively atmosphere but in this century only occasionally, eg knocking Man Utd out of a cup. Or beating an irritating, smaller, local rival in a tin pot cup game. Or perhaps with an especially poor referee.

 

One last point: it was never quite as atmospheric as many like to remember years ago (really, it wasn't; despite the inevitable claims to the contrary that will surely follow) although at the same time it must be said, it was rarely, if ever, as dismal as it is now. The atmosphere prior to the 1989 league cup semi second leg at AG was organic, genuine, heartfelt; soulful, you might say. Now, instead, we have "Downsy." 

This isn't to say that it wasn't passionate, demonstrative, emotional, aggressive in the 70s at times at AG, just that it was nothing like as much as it was in Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Leeds etc. And it was mostly - mostly - only in the East End and in the central sections behind/close to the goal, plus a bit in the Park End. Had you been sat, or stood elsewhere, you would not have been joining in with the majority of the "atmosphere" ie the singing of "you're gonna get your ****ing head kicked in," "you're goin' home in a Bristol ambulance," "Bu - riss - toll!" and all the other classics of the day. And you wouldn't have gone away with quite the same sense of having been involved in an amazing atmosphere as those hundreds behind the goal.

 

We are, now, pretty much, as dismal as Reading; we should all do our bit to resist this. But, we just can't be bloody arsed, can we?

[South Somerset Red]

Give it 10 years before you get stadiums with speakers playing crowd noise out. 

[RobintheRed Red]

20 hours ago, Kodjias Wrist said:

Another one of these threads which I see on other fans forums all the time now. It's better when we are near the bottom fighting if I'm honest. Another thing is that other than Huddersfield we have been so boring at home.

Too right players get bums off seats when playing well we havent seen it much at home this season sideways backards football good position in league but not entertaining to watch.

[weepywall]

59 minutes ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

First things first: we are not as demonstrative or sentimental or emotional or - let's be plain - as passionate as people in other parts of country/the UK: eg, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow. About football, or in life generally.

We're not, and never have been. Bristol/West Country folk are more reserved and much less "look at me/us, aren't we great/noisy?" (see "pop" groups from Bristol "safe from harm" v ones from Manchester/Liverpool "I am the resurrection"). We are a big city, but you wouldn't know it from our football clubs, football crowds, or our contributions to pop culture. 

Nor are we as aggressive/territorial/"look how loud/scary/macho we are!" as some other sorts eg Millwall, Leeds, Portsmouth, Stoke (some will want to claim that we are, or that we once were, but we have - in my experience - been much less so than those listed and many others).

Also, compared to many other parts of the country we are just not that into or worked up about football and/or our own club. For 100 years or more now, we have been pretty sh1te and very unsuccessful, with little to cheer and less to shout about (veterans of AG 74 - 79 will want to protest, but compared to elsewhere in the country, this was modest and nothing to get carried away about). It's a minor miracle about 20,000 of us are paying and turning up to watch in person now. Most of the noisiest crowds have been the "best" at some point - on and/or off the pitch.

Most of football is like this now, bland home support/more noisy away support. There are exceptions, Anfield  (on big European nights, for example) and Elland Road, to name just two. Stoke were noisy/shouty for a while, while they exceeded expectations in the PL; Leicester were atmospheric with help from their plastic clappers, but again, while exceeding all expectations. Fans elsewhere make the same complaints as we do about their own home atmosphere. 

The more we are charged to watch, the less involved people are likely to be (or prepared to "roll up their sleeves" and do the active, hard work of making some noise and roaring their team on); the more comfortable you make people, the more docile you are likely to become. A double whammy well under way at the 21st century AG. It takes much more of a conscious effort now to make some noise and atmosphere  (hats off to those in S82 that continue to try) and around these parts, effort is not something we specialise in. Generally, we cannot be arsed with anything, we are - comparatively - an apathetic lot.

We will still get a great or lively atmosphere but in this century only occasionally, eg knocking Man Utd out of a cup. Or beating an irritating, smaller, local rival in a tin pot cup game. Or perhaps with an especially poor referee.

 

One last point: it was never quite as atmospheric as many like to remember years ago (really, it wasn't; despite the inevitable claims to the contrary that will surely follow) although at the same time it must be said, it was rarely, if ever, as dismal as it is now. The atmosphere prior to the 1989 league cup semi second leg at AG was organic, genuine, heartfelt; soulful, you might say. Now, instead, we have "Downsy." 

This isn't to say that it wasn't passionate, demonstrative, emotional, aggressive in the 70s at times at AG, just that it was nothing like as much as it was in Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Leeds etc. And it was mostly - mostly - only in the East End and in the central sections behind/close to the goal, plus a bit in the Park End. Had you been sat, or stood elsewhere, you would not have been joining in with the majority of the "atmosphere" ie the singing of "you're gonna get your ****ing head kicked in," "you're goin' home in a Bristol ambulance," "Bu - riss - toll!" and all the other classics of the day. And you wouldn't have gone away with quite the same sense of having been involved in an amazing atmosphere as those hundreds behind the goal.

 

We are, now, pretty much, as dismal as Reading; we should all do our bit to resist this. But, we just can't be bloody arsed, can we?

I think you have pretty much summed everything up..fantastic post

[lenred]

1 hour ago, South Somerset Red said:

Give it 10 years before you get stadiums with speakers playing crowd noise out. 

Man City have been accused of it already. Spurs as well I believe.  And although not the same, Spurs’ new stadium has definitely been ‘engineered’ to amplify crowd noise. 

[exAtyeoMax]

7 minutes ago, lenred said:

Man City have been accused of it already. Spurs as well I believe.  And although not the same, Spurs’ new stadium has definitely been ‘engineered’ to amplify crowd noise. 

They did it at the Olympics, I believe. Not sure about the WC but wouldn't be surprised 

Depends what they mean by that…cathedrals are engineered (built) to amplify noise - ie have good acoustics. A lot of new buildings don't take accoustics into account. If it means pipe out crowd noise, that's a different matter entirely.

[Judda]

23 hours ago, Carey 6 said:

The game was shite, so the fans usually follow suit. 

What's the excuse when we play well?

[Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan]

3 hours ago, South Somerset Red said:

Give it 10 years before you get stadiums with speakers playing crowd noise out. 

Gas have been doing for ages mate

[antlers]

For me its the introduction of the singing section and the strict policy of allocated seating (which is required with larger crowds now). Years ago when we use to get 12k in a 21k Ashton Gate you could turn up and sit anywhere in the stand you had a ticket for. blocks A & B of the Dolman use to be loud as f at times. Everyone in there wanted to create an atmosphere and it happened naturally rather than being told to sit up there by the club.

I have been in the so called singing section on a number of occasions in recent years and its a different mentality of people in there than what use to be in blocks A & B years ago. People want to be seen to be in section 82 rather than get involved. Its all about the instagram or twitter pic of look at me. too many people filming the atmosphere to show people on facebook how 'wild' their weekend is as its a bit rowdy than getting involved. I for one use to get involved in the atmosphere, but i cannot think of anything worse than trying to get the atmosphere going only to be filmed and end up on social media for thousands to see as I'm singing.

BCFC turn the lights off in the stands (as mentioned previously), people put your phones away, if you dont want to create an atmosphere then get out section 82.

[CotswoldRed]

1 hour ago, antlers said:

For me its the introduction of the singing section and the strict policy of allocated seating (which is required with larger crowds now). Years ago when we use to get 12k in a 21k Ashton Gate you could turn up and sit anywhere in the stand you had a ticket for. blocks A & B of the Dolman use to be loud as f at times. Everyone in there wanted to create an atmosphere and it happened naturally rather than being told to sit up there by the club.

I have been in the so called singing section on a number of occasions in recent years and its a different mentality of people in there than what use to be in blocks A & B years ago. People want to be seen to be in section 82 rather than get involved. Its all about the instagram or twitter pic of look at me. too many people filming the atmosphere to show people on facebook how 'wild' their weekend is as its a bit rowdy than getting involved. I for one use to get involved in the atmosphere, but i cannot think of anything worse than trying to get the atmosphere going only to be filmed and end up on social media for thousands to see as I'm singing.

BCFC turn the lights off in the stands (as mentioned previously), people put your phones away, if you dont want to create an atmosphere then get out section 82.

Here here. 

A "NO PHONES" policy might give them something to do as well

It's the only thing millennials are good at. Take them away and they might decide to sing. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

12 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

They did it at the Olympics, I believe. Not sure about the WC but wouldn't be surprised 

Depends what they mean by that…cathedrals are engineered (built) to amplify noise - ie have good acoustics. A lot of new buildings don't take accoustics into account. If it means pipe out crowd noise, that's a different matter entirely.

Nothing wrong with building in good acoustics- in fact I'd say it's a must.

East End was excellent- a bit of a throwback as a stand, all helped. Also had excellent acoustics- with the low roof amongst other things.

[City Rocker]

49 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Nothing wrong with building in good acoustics- in fact I'd say it's a must.

East End was excellent- a bit of a throwback as a stand, all helped. Also had excellent acoustics- with the low roof amongst other things.

I would take issue with the fabled acoustics of the old East End. Yes it sounded fantastic when you were actually in there, but nowhere near as audible from the rest of the ground.

The fact is that the high apex and low roof line kept much of the noise INSIDE the stand. The roof was like a tunnel, meaning that it sounded absolutely deafening to those fans who were in there making the noise. Which was great because it encouraged us and made it easier to sing all the more. But the truth is it sounded rather muted if you were in any of the other stands.

What's more, that low roof meant that those in the East End couldn't hear any sound from the rest of the stadium, no matter how loud it was.

Summed up by a guy I used to know back in the 90s, a Bournemouth fan who visited Ashton Gate for the first time when away fans only were placed in the East End. Chatted to him after the game and he was of the opinion that the AFCB lot had made a ferocious wall of noise all afternoon and that the home support had been silent. "Why didn't you sing?", he asked me.

Well the next day he realised how wrong he was. The highlights were on HTV's The West Match and my mate (who was lucky enough to live in Bristol) watched in confusion as all you could hear was the City fans in the Atyeo singing loudly, with just the occasional Bournemouth chant.

Modern stadia (including the remodelled Ashton Gate, I believe) are designed scientifically to project sound out onto the pitch, which means no more tunnel-like roofs. Of course, the occupants of the stands do actually have to generate some sound for this to happen!

[Dullmoan Tone]

15 hours ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

First things first: we are not as demonstrative or sentimental or emotional or - let's be plain - as passionate as people in other parts of country/the UK: eg, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow. About football, or in life generally.

We're not, and never have been. Bristol/West Country folk are more reserved and much less "look at me/us, aren't we great/noisy?" (see "pop" groups from Bristol "safe from harm" v ones from Manchester/Liverpool "I am the resurrection"). We are a big city, but you wouldn't know it from our football clubs, football crowds, or our contributions to pop culture. 

Nor are we as aggressive/territorial/"look how loud/scary/macho we are!" as some other sorts eg Millwall, Leeds, Portsmouth, Stoke (some will want to claim that we are, or that we once were, but we have - in my experience - been much less so than those listed and many others).

Also, compared to many other parts of the country we are just not that into or worked up about football and/or our own club. For 100 years or more now, we have been pretty sh1te and very unsuccessful, with little to cheer and less to shout about (veterans of AG 74 - 79 will want to protest, but compared to elsewhere in the country, this was modest and nothing to get carried away about). It's a minor miracle about 20,000 of us are paying and turning up to watch in person now. Most of the noisiest crowds have been the "best" at some point - on and/or off the pitch.

Most of football is like this now, bland home support/more noisy away support. There are exceptions, Anfield  (on big European nights, for example) and Elland Road, to name just two. Stoke were noisy/shouty for a while, while they exceeded expectations in the PL; Leicester were atmospheric with help from their plastic clappers, but again, while exceeding all expectations. Fans elsewhere make the same complaints as we do about their own home atmosphere. 

The more we are charged to watch, the less involved people are likely to be (or prepared to "roll up their sleeves" and do the active, hard work of making some noise and roaring their team on); the more comfortable you make people, the more docile you are likely to become. A double whammy well under way at the 21st century AG. It takes much more of a conscious effort now to make some noise and atmosphere  (hats off to those in S82 that continue to try) and around these parts, effort is not something we specialise in. Generally, we cannot be arsed with anything, we are - comparatively - an apathetic lot.

We will still get a great or lively atmosphere but in this century only occasionally, eg knocking Man Utd out of a cup. Or beating an irritating, smaller, local rival in a tin pot cup game. Or perhaps with an especially poor referee.

 

One last point: it was never quite as atmospheric as many like to remember years ago (really, it wasn't; despite the inevitable claims to the contrary that will surely follow) although at the same time it must be said, it was rarely, if ever, as dismal as it is now. The atmosphere prior to the 1989 league cup semi second leg at AG was organic, genuine, heartfelt; soulful, you might say. Now, instead, we have "Downsy." 

This isn't to say that it wasn't passionate, demonstrative, emotional, aggressive in the 70s at times at AG, just that it was nothing like as much as it was in Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Leeds etc. And it was mostly - mostly - only in the East End and in the central sections behind/close to the goal, plus a bit in the Park End. Had you been sat, or stood elsewhere, you would not have been joining in with the majority of the "atmosphere" ie the singing of "you're gonna get your ****ing head kicked in," "you're goin' home in a Bristol ambulance," "Bu - riss - toll!" and all the other classics of the day. And you wouldn't have gone away with quite the same sense of having been involved in an amazing atmosphere as those hundreds behind the goal.

 

We are, now, pretty much, as dismal as Reading; we should all do our bit to resist this. But, we just can't be bloody arsed, can we?

This is a great post. But I don't think it's because our region is less passionate - for example, so many people fill Anfield who don't live anywhere near Merseyside. It's because we have no tradition. The songs we have in the passed on through the years are fairly lame and it's interesting how we are dropping so many of those now [probably a good thing less irrelevant Rovers chants but that was our history] we never had a You'll never walk alone type tradition to bring the stadium together.

Also we forget the demographic now - we remember fondly the past because of the edge and let's be honest the constant threat at certain moments - whether it's a crush or the away fans charging the east end. It's just a reflection that crowds are less tribal and it's safer with far more kids and families.

People say how much better away trips are for atmosphere (and standing is definitely part of this) but I reckon it's because our away fans have "old school" attitudes. The occasional away fans I know often comment about the type of people that go away - perhaps not fondly!

I think we just need to accept it's all part of our future - we can't recreate the past - nor actually would we really like it for long I expect.

[Shtanley]

Do a fan survey and work out how many people would want to be in the 'singing section' and then increase it according to that demand.

I want to get a season ticket in there, I go to away games and sing. Probably one bloke near me in the south stand that makes any noise. 

 

[exAtyeoMax]

21 minutes ago, Shtanley said:

Do a fan survey and work out how many people would want to be in the 'singing section' and then increase it according to that demand.

I want to get a season ticket in there, I go to away games and sing. Probably one bloke near me in the south stand that makes any noise. 

 

I was soloist in my bit of S21 for part of the match on Tuesday night, I don't have a loud voice but I did try to drown out the guy behind moaning about the moaners…

[BCFC11]

Absolutely nothing to do with acoustics imo, when people can be bothered the Atmosphere inside AG is immense, better than before the rebuild. Man Utd, Man City?

Majority of the time when you start singing you either get evil eyes from those around you as if your off your meds, or get told to sit down and shut up, and don’t even think about swearing, oh my the looks I was given for the rest of a game last season was if as though I’d shot someone.

 

[Three Lions]

Acoustics of a ground do make a difference. Why did people want to get back in the old EE?? the acoustics made football feel better. when you feel better you are more likely to take part or start chants. it had that feel that made football more fun not less. basics this keep stripping things back and its starts to take an effect. years back we laughed at Reading. now?? theres not so much difference. its half decent if the team are winning like all the rest of the modern clubs in sterile modern stadiums. no surprises it was always coming and now its arrived.  

[Shtanley]

51 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

I was soloist in my bit of S21 for part of the match on Tuesday night, I don't have a loud voice but I did try to drown out the guy behind moaning about the moaners…

S21 is a joke ain't it. All we have is that bloke bellowing "YOU COULD'VE GOT THAT" to opposition players.

[exAtyeoMax]

12 minutes ago, Shtanley said:

S21 is a joke ain't it. All we have is that bloke bellowing "YOU COULD'VE GOT THAT" to opposition players.

some guy calling NE a lightweight and useless…

Most of them are ok but you do get your belters…it was a frustrating game on Tuesday but some of the abuse was unwarranted.

[Natchfever]

If the club actually gives a shit about the atmosphere it really should consider segregating part of the Lansdown for away fans and giving the Atyeo to home fans. Alternatively make E33/34 unreserved seating so people who have been displaced over the years for various reasons can get together. That would of course mean moving SC holders in those areas but surely feasible ? An issue if people tried to stand throughout the game but that could be managed surely.

[Redwhitepurple]

On 10/12/2019 at 22:36, Little Frank said:

They need to turn the bloody lights in the stands off and stop the white stripes song.

 

I thought it was just me. Awful with all the lights on now

[Redwhitepurple]

1 hour ago, BCFC11 said:

Absolutely nothing to do with acoustics imo, when people can be bothered the Atmosphere inside AG is immense, better than before the rebuild. Man Utd, Man City?

Majority of the time when you start singing you either get evil eyes from those around you as if your off your meds, or get told to sit down and shut up, and don’t even think about swearing, oh my the looks I was given for the rest of a game last season was if as though I’d shot someone.

 

Not even close to thebold ashton gate accoustics. You had low ceilings of both Atyeo and more so wedlock. Lights were switched off. Was a great place midweek. Now its just a commercial club. Nothing more. What city are realising including young city fans is you can't buy atmosphere

[Mr Popodopolous]

14 minutes ago, Redwhitepurple said:

Not even close to thebold ashton gate accoustics. You had low ceilings of both Atyeo and more so wedlock. Lights were switched off. Was a great place midweek. Now its just a commercial club. Nothing more. What city are realising including young city fans is you can't buy atmosphere

Agree with a lot in that, though I don't really think the Atyeo acoustics are/were all that.

Oh and those lights need to be switched off, or if unavoidable, set to the lowest possible setting!

[Sixtyseconds]

Absolutely nothing to do with acoustic.

Well it is and isn't.

But for some it was.

Ye Olde East End or Eastend made you want to go yarrrr.

Clever ones get that.

The South Stand.

Doesn't.

The Lansdown

Won't.

The Dolman.

Bristol Sport say shant.

Win Lee Win.

[CotswoldRed]

18 hours ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

First things first: we are not as demonstrative or sentimental or emotional or - let's be plain - as passionate as people in other parts of country/the UK: eg, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow. About football, or in life generally.

We're not, and never have been. Bristol/West Country folk are more reserved and much less "look at me/us, aren't we great/noisy?" (see "pop" groups from Bristol "safe from harm" v ones from Manchester/Liverpool "I am the resurrection"). We are a big city, but you wouldn't know it from our football clubs, football crowds, or our contributions to pop culture. 

Nor are we as aggressive/territorial/"look how loud/scary/macho we are!" as some other sorts eg Millwall, Leeds, Portsmouth, Stoke (some will want to claim that we are, or that we once were, but we have - in my experience - been much less so than those listed and many others).

Also, compared to many other parts of the country we are just not that into or worked up about football and/or our own club. For 100 years or more now, we have been pretty sh1te and very unsuccessful, with little to cheer and less to shout about (veterans of AG 74 - 79 will want to protest, but compared to elsewhere in the country, this was modest and nothing to get carried away about). It's a minor miracle about 20,000 of us are paying and turning up to watch in person now. Most of the noisiest crowds have been the "best" at some point - on and/or off the pitch.

Most of football is like this now, bland home support/more noisy away support. There are exceptions, Anfield  (on big European nights, for example) and Elland Road, to name just two. Stoke were noisy/shouty for a while, while they exceeded expectations in the PL; Leicester were atmospheric with help from their plastic clappers, but again, while exceeding all expectations. Fans elsewhere make the same complaints as we do about their own home atmosphere. 

The more we are charged to watch, the less involved people are likely to be (or prepared to "roll up their sleeves" and do the active, hard work of making some noise and roaring their team on); the more comfortable you make people, the more docile you are likely to become. A double whammy well under way at the 21st century AG. It takes much more of a conscious effort now to make some noise and atmosphere  (hats off to those in S82 that continue to try) and around these parts, effort is not something we specialise in. Generally, we cannot be arsed with anything, we are - comparatively - an apathetic lot.

We will still get a great or lively atmosphere but in this century only occasionally, eg knocking Man Utd out of a cup. Or beating an irritating, smaller, local rival in a tin pot cup game. Or perhaps with an especially poor referee.

 

One last point: it was never quite as atmospheric as many like to remember years ago (really, it wasn't; despite the inevitable claims to the contrary that will surely follow) although at the same time it must be said, it was rarely, if ever, as dismal as it is now. The atmosphere prior to the 1989 league cup semi second leg at AG was organic, genuine, heartfelt; soulful, you might say. Now, instead, we have "Downsy." 

This isn't to say that it wasn't passionate, demonstrative, emotional, aggressive in the 70s at times at AG, just that it was nothing like as much as it was in Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Leeds etc. And it was mostly - mostly - only in the East End and in the central sections behind/close to the goal, plus a bit in the Park End. Had you been sat, or stood elsewhere, you would not have been joining in with the majority of the "atmosphere" ie the singing of "you're gonna get your ****ing head kicked in," "you're goin' home in a Bristol ambulance," "Bu - riss - toll!" and all the other classics of the day. And you wouldn't have gone away with quite the same sense of having been involved in an amazing atmosphere as those hundreds behind the goal.

 

We are, now, pretty much, as dismal as Reading; we should all do our bit to resist this. But, we just can't be bloody arsed, can we?

Great Post!

In my view it's the same reason with don't have punks, militant kids and the like these days. Lack of passion. 

Most of the population, and to a greater degree in Bristol, are a but "meh" about everything. That's why we have horrific social issues in this nation of ours, yet most people ignore it and it certainly wouldn't sway their voting. 

People don't care enough. About anything. Except their phones.