Home form -or lack of

[Dr Balls]

While there is a lot of pessimism among supporters at the moment, part of the reason for that would appear to be our recent dire home form. If you look at the form tables for the last 6 games at home and last 6 away, we have only taken 2 points from a possible 18 at home (drawn 2, lost 4, -5 goal difference) and are 23rd in that table, whereas away we have 9 points from a possible 18 (2 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, +2 goal difference) and are 12th in that table:

https://footystats.org/england/championship/form-table

Accepting that those 6 home games include losses against Sheffield United (night time robbery) and an in-form West Brom, it’s really the recent defeat against Stoke that stands out as a particularly bad result, especially as their form otherwise has been pretty poor.

So what needs to change? A few wins at home would not only help us up the league table, but also relieve a lot of pressure on Nige. Most supporters  only see the team play at Ashton Gate, so this can really colour opinions either way. There was similar discontent in the last couple of seasons under LJ, again in large part because the home form was so poor.

[Wanderingred]

We’ve been a soft touch at home for years now and are routinely beaten by sides with very little to offer. I haven’t been around much, but people must be so fed up of watching away fans enjoy themselves.

[Pezo]

2 minutes ago, Wanderingred said:

We’ve been a soft touch at home for years now and are routinely beaten by sides with very little to offer. I haven’t been around much, but people must be so fed up of watching away fans enjoy themselves.

The thing that gets me is that there must be sooo many fans of other championship side that say "remember that great away day in Bristol".

[Davefevs]

54 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

While there is a lot of pessimism among supporters at the moment, part of the reason for that would appear to be our recent dire home form. If you look at the form tables for the last 6 games at home and last 6 away, we have only taken 2 points from a possible 18 at home (drawn 2, lost 4, -5 goal difference) and are 23rd in that table, whereas away we have 9 points from a possible 18 (2 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, +2 goal difference) and are 12th in that table:

https://footystats.org/england/championship/form-table

Accepting that those 6 home games include losses against Sheffield United (night time robbery) and an in-form West Brom, it’s really the recent defeat against Stoke that stands out as a particularly bad result, especially as their form otherwise has been pretty poor.

So what needs to change? A few wins at home would not only help us up the league table, but also relieve a lot of pressure on Nige. Most supporters  only see the team play at Ashton Gate, so this can really colour opinions either way. There was similar discontent in the last couple of seasons under LJ, again in large part because the home form was so poor.

For me, a bit more patience, a bit more preparation to be attritional.  And fans to recognise this.

[Rocking Red Cyril]

And will again raise the elephant in the room.

Home fans behind both goals. 

 

 

[Dr Balls]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

For me, a bit more patience, a bit more preparation to be attritional.  And fans to recognise this.

We do seem to give away particularly soft/bad goals at home. The Sheffield United winner was soft, and both Stoke goals were poor ones to concede. Defensive frailty has been a real issue for many seasons and a persistent frustration that really needs to be sorted if we are to ever achieve anything other than struggling in the league.

[FNQ]

1 hour ago, Dr Balls said:

We do seem to give away particularly soft/bad goals at home. The Sheffield United winner was soft, and both Stoke goals were poor ones to concede. Defensive frailty has been a real issue for many seasons and a persistent frustration that really needs to be sorted if we are to ever achieve anything other than struggling in the league.

As you say, a real issue for many seasons not just Nige’s era.. When fans regularly leave in droves before the final whistle, and the ones who do remain boo the team off of the pitch perhaps we’re creating an environment for our own demise… it’s got to effect the players, especially young defenders.. massive pressure and feeling of self doubt / dread being heaped on them every time they’re lacing up their boots before a home game.

[firstdivision]

1 hour ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

And will again raise the elephant in the room.

Home fans behind both goals. 

 

 

I’m absolutely sick to death of seeing away fans celebrating (in the Atyeo). Stick them in a corner or up high where we can’t see or hear them. But better still - starting winning some home matches so they have nothing to shout about. 

[luke_bristol]

£43 for an adult in the Lansdown vs. Brum, may go some way to explain the grumbles

[ExiledAjax]

10 hours ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

And will again raise the elephant in the room.

Home fans behind both goals. 

Lots of teams have home fans behind both goals, and lots of teams have away fans behind a goal. All of these teams win and lose games at home.

Just off the top of my head you've got teams like Brentford who managed to be the darlings of the division and achieve a promotion whilst having away fans on a terrace breathing right down the back of their goalie for 45 minutes every home game. Home form that season was won 12, drew 9, lost just 2 scoring 39 and conceding 20. Not bad.

Then there's the likes of Wolves who stick away fans at the side of the pitch and can barely score a goal at all.

If someone can demonstrate a causal link between the placement of away fans and home results then brilliant. But I would be very surprised if anything like that could ever be demonstrated.

As for home form generally. Results will come. Performances have been alright and we're taking shots and on average are generating net positive xG. Both Stoke and Sheff Utd were games that on another day we would win. It'll come. Just keep supporting and be patient. We're not going down.

Edited January 3, 2023 by ExiledAjax

[real_bristol]

11 hours ago, Dr Balls said:

While there is a lot of pessimism among supporters at the moment, part of the reason for that would appear to be our recent dire home form. If you look at the form tables for the last 6 games at home and last 6 away, we have only taken 2 points from a possible 18 at home (drawn 2, lost 4, -5 goal difference) and are 23rd in that table, whereas away we have 9 points from a possible 18 (2 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, +2 goal difference) and are 12th in that table:

https://footystats.org/england/championship/form-table

Accepting that those 6 home games include losses against Sheffield United (night time robbery) and an in-form West Brom, it’s really the recent defeat against Stoke that stands out as a particularly bad result, especially as their form otherwise has been pretty poor.

So what needs to change? A few wins at home would not only help us up the league table, but also relieve a lot of pressure on Nige. Most supporters  only see the team play at Ashton Gate, so this can really colour opinions either way. There was similar discontent in the last couple of seasons under LJ, again in large part because the home form was so poor.

Positivity. On both sides of the touch line. In the stands, with the staff, in our play. Positivity fuels belief. Those players know they could have got 6 points from the last two games. Just need to bring that home. A win on Sunday will help. UTFC

[Betty Swallocks]

11 hours ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

And will again raise the elephant in the room.

Home fans behind both goals. 

 

 

Said it before, sticking our noisiest fans in an area of the ground where most other teams stick away fans is not helping us when it comes to having ‘home advantage’. 
 

[Super]

We've struggled at home for a long time now not just under NP. 

 

 

 

 

[sh1t_ref_again]

10 hours ago, FNQ said:

As you say, a real issue for many seasons not just Nige’s era.. When fans regularly leave in droves before the final whistle, and the ones who do remain boo the team off of the pitch perhaps we’re creating an environment for our own demise… it’s got to effect the players, especially young defenders.. massive pressure and feeling of self doubt / dread being heaped on them every time they’re lacing up their boots before a home game.

Within the games at home you can feel the tension or groans for a misplaced pass, players must be worrying about making a mistake which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Its often an argument do the players have to perform to get the fans something to cheer about and create the atmosphere or should the fans get the ground buzzing which inspires the players?

Must agree that we are masters of our own doom at times with the negativity about the place

[GrahamC]

If you want to be depressed next up is Birmingham, forget Preston, they are our real bogey side.

Won at Ashton Gate on their last 4 visits, 5 times in the last 6, they are our equivalent of Stoke, they must expect to win every time they come here.

[Sir Geoff]

Next three games are at home. Let's see where we after that.

[Davefevs]

Just now, Sir Geoff said:

Next three games are at home. Let's see where we after that.

Just want us to get past Swansea on Sunday…build a bit of momentum for two important league games…plus a 4th round tie to hopefully look forward to.

[Selred]

I'd love to see our PPG record at home vs away for the past 4 seasons. We must have one of the lowest in the leagues.

I don't think it's due to atmosphere, fans behind goals, TV's in the concourse etc. I think it's the style of football we have been set up to play, we are a team far better on the counter attack which is suited to away games more than home.

How we continue to average 20k fans is beyond me, often I find the curried goat the best part of a home game recently.

[Dr Balls]

4 hours ago, GrahamC said:

If you want to be depressed next up is Birmingham, forget Preston, they are our real bogey side.

Won at Ashton Gate on their last 4 visits, 5 times in the last 6, they are our equivalent of Stoke, they must expect to win every time they come here.

And some of those games were terrible. Remember the one at the end of the season when we had the chance to relegate them to League 1 and we were just abject. It’s not a new phenomenon - it’s been pretty much the same since Cotts was sacked.

[redysteadygo]

21 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

And some of those games were terrible. Remember the one at the end of the season when we had the chance to relegate them to League 1 and we were just abject. It’s not a new phenomenon - it’s been pretty much the same since Cotts was sacked.

What the one where our players did a favour for Cotts who was assistant to Harry at the time.

[Nogbad the Bad]

11 minutes ago, redysteadygo said:

What the one where our players did a favour for Cotts who was assistant to Harry at the time.

Why would they?

LJ had replaced most of Cotts' boys by then.

It was just a typically infuriating City performance where the fans cared far more about the result (and sending Brum down) than the manager or the players.

Shoe on the other foot and City are down without a shadow of a doubt.

[Bristol Oil Services]

5 hours ago, GrahamC said:

If you want to be depressed next up is Birmingham, forget Preston, they are our real bogey side.

Won at Ashton Gate on their last 4 visits, 5 times in the last 6, they are our equivalent of Stoke, they must expect to win every time they come here.

It's like an upgrade on having Walsall as our, or a, bogey team years ago. When we're in the Prem, we can upgrade on Brum to always losing at home to Aston Villa.

[2015]

Our home form has been below par since around 2010. Used to be a bit of a fortress before then, aside from 2014/15.

I miss going to home games and thinking how much we would win by today, and it being opposite for away games.

[OliOTIB]

18 hours ago, Wanderingred said:

We’ve been a soft touch at home for years now and are routinely beaten by sides with very little to offer. I haven’t been around much, but people must be so fed up of watching away fans enjoy themselves.

No worries if we go down though, we will have the opportunity of watching 50 accrington fans celebrate instead when the win here in League One. Cant wait

[Clutton Caveman]

6 hours ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Within the games at home you can feel the tension or groans for a misplaced pass, players must be worrying about making a mistake which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Its often an argument do the players have to perform to get the fans something to cheer about and create the atmosphere or should the fans get the ground buzzing which inspires the players?

Must agree that we are masters of our own doom at times with the negativity about the place

We are essentially a team that plays on the break. Away for home where teams are more attacking to please fans this works quite well.

At home both teams are effectively often trying to play on the break. Our fans get restless, some of our team get more adventurous, some stick to the plan and we have a huge gap in midfield. Then come the goals.

[lenred]

Our new CEO has been in charge at Palace for a very long time.   Under his stewardship Palace have become one of the clubs that has the best atmosphere in the country and he must’ve a) had at least something to do with it and b) have seen the benefits of a vocal stadium on the performance on the pitch.    Hopefully this means that he will be open to ideas about various options that could improve the match day atmosphere.   Sorting out the away fan conundrum, encouraging fan engagement in other areas other than the ‘singing section’ and turning the bloody lights off at night games would be a good start! Really hopeful that be comes with good ideas on this.  

Edited January 3, 2023 by lenred

[sh1t_ref_again]

1 hour ago, Clutton Caveman said:

We are essentially a team that plays on the break. Away for home where teams are more attacking to please fans this works quite well.

At home both teams are effectively often trying to play on the break. Our fans get restless, some of our team get more adventurous, some stick to the plan and we have a huge gap in midfield. Then come the goals.

Style of play can play its part, but feel the atmosphere is generally downbeat and negative. At the WBA game, last 15 minutes of the 1st half we were having a real go and the better side, but still lack of real support. Then in the 2nd half King gets injured and had to be replaced, promoting ironic cheers, now I did not want King to play CB, but in that game he had not made a mistake, he was giving his all to fill a position NP rightly or wrongly had asked him to play, he especially as a city fan must have felt sh1t to receive that even if some of it was directed at NP. Seems at times the fans are more vocal at moaning than supporting.

[BrizzleRed]

4 hours ago, lenred said:

Our new CEO has been in charge at Palace for a very long time.   Under his stewardship Palace have become one of the clubs that has the best atmosphere in the country and he must’ve a) had at least something to do with it and b) have seen the benefits of a vocal stadium on the performance on the pitch.    Hopefully this means that he will be open to ideas about various options that could improve the match day atmosphere.   Sorting out the away fan conundrum, encouraging fan engagement in other areas other than the ‘singing section’ and turning the bloody lights off at night games would be a good start! Really hopeful that be comes with good ideas on this.  

Now wouldn’t that be brilliant!  Can’t honestly see that happening, as SL will be a hard nut to crack, but we can live in hope I suppose. 

I never get the feeling nowadays that this club actually wants partizan support and they actually seem to go out of their way to prevent that happening, as in your points in the highlighted paragraph.

It feels like the main aim is to get fans to pay over their money, sit down and shut up.  I think it’s so ingrained now that there are many of our fans who don’t even stand at away grounds where it’s allowed.

There’s no doubt that our dire home form doesn’t help.  It’s hard to really believe the team is capable rousing themselves at home, when the last few years of experience demonstrates we very rarely can!

 

[Harry]

3 hours ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

, now I did not want King to play CB, but in that game he had not made a mistake,

Apart from his terrible positioning, poor decision to claim offside, slow reaction, and lack of pace, which resulted in the opening goal. 

[Bris Red]

19 hours ago, luke_bristol said:

£43 for an adult in the Lansdown vs. Brum, may go some way to explain the grumbles

Ridiculous prices. I know the same posters will bleat on about getting a membership will make prices cheaper bla bla but im sorry our pay on the day prices are scandalous.

You shouldn’t have to pay for a membership, fans should be able to rock up pay on the day or get tickets online and not get fleeced.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Bris Red