Why is the atmosphere so flat…

[Mr Popodopolous]

15 minutes ago, Robbored said:

We’re going around in circles here Mr Pop.

Whatever happened in the past certainly doesn’t apply these days - now it was decided by A&S police to locate away fans solely in the Atyeo for the reasons already described.

However…the possibility of having the Atyeo dived into home and away fans (as the open ended used be) would involve the police and stewards which is not an expense that the club would want to face - swings and roundabouts.

You quoted Sexstone, RR.

Sexstone left the Club I believe pre-dating the 2015-16 and 2016-17, possibly even 2014-15 arrangement.

Yes I agree on that, the Club wouldn't want the expense of Police and Stewards that dividing the Atyeo would incur.

[lenred]

37 minutes ago, RedM said:

I think people have lost a bit of belief. We have already accepted our season is all but over as far a promotion is concerned, and we are safe from relegation.

We have got points recently which has seen us climb the table, but it just doesn't feel like it. The football largely isn't entertaining.

We still don't have the belief we can kill games off or can hang on for a point or three at times.

The management, owners and even the players feel distant to me.

I feel like a customer, not a fan. and not a particularly valued one either as I'm not interested in hospitality or mascot packages etc

This is it for me in a nutshell.   There is very little passion at City but there is very little to be passionate about.   We are a mid table team, with a mid table manager, with a mid table squad but with a non league DoF and owners in terms of footballing smarts and knowledge. We are going nowhere and nothing is changing to make it better.  
And it’s going past the ‘frustration’ phase now and going into the ‘I just cannot be bothered’ phase for many that I know and speak to.  

Anecdotally in the South Stand it’s really noticeable that even those that have tried to create an atmosphere in the past are giving up it seems.  It’s really regressed up there this season - whether that be for the reasons we believe or otherwise, who knows…. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, lenred said:

This is it for me in a nutshell.   There is very little passion at City but there is very little to be passionate about.   We are a mid table team, with a mid table manager, with a mid table squad but with a non league DoF and owners in terms of footballing smarts and knowledge. We are going nowhere and nothing is changing to make it better.  
And it’s going past the ‘frustration’ phase now and going into the ‘I just cannot be bothered’ phase for many that I know and speak to.  

Anecdotally in the South Stand it’s really noticeable that even those that have tried to create an atmosphere in the past are giving up it seems.  It’s really regressed up there this season - whether that be for the reasons we believe or otherwise, who knows…. 

Apathy?

That would be alarming for Season Ticket Sales and the like. I still think the Wolves Game could be a bit of a litmus test.

I'm still in the frustration stage but if SL wakes up and makes change a from a position of strength or a new Investor arrives and the whole thing is Professionalised, building on a midtable base could be transformative. However unsure either happens anytime soon.

[lenred]

8 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Apathy?

That would be alarming for Season Ticket Sales and the like. I still think the Wolves Game could be a bit of a litmus test.

I'm still in the frustration stage but if SL wakes up and makes change a from a position of strength or a new Investor arrives and the whole thing is Professionalised, building on a midtable base could be transformative. However unsure either happens anytime soon.

Personally I’ve always said as long as the majority of the people I go with continue to renew then I always will for social purposes.  But even the opportunities for those socials are less this season due to the various kick off changes and as a result of these changes some people just aren’t turning up. I will be surprised if all of our group renew next year but the vast majority will.  But who knows how that affects things across the whole piece.   All conjecture until the figures are official! 

Edited January 4 by lenred
Spelling

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, lenred said:

Personally I’ve always said as long as the majority of the people I go with continue to renew then I always will for social purposes.  But even the opportunities for those socials are less this season due to the various kick off changes and as a result of these changes some people just aren’t turning up. I will be surprised if all of our group renew next year but the vast majority will.  Bur who knows how that affects things across the whole piece.   All conjecture until the figures are official! 

Can't underestimate the social side, the routine- well ritual really- the pre Game Pubs, friends, family etc.

The kickoff times I hate 12.30pm, 12pm and pretty much anytime Sunday albeit Sunday lunchtime is worse still. That will be one to watch for Championship, especially but EFL Clubs as a whole..£2-2.5m per season for Championship Clubs, hardly game-changing.

[Swede]

Its mid table mediocrity. It's a bland head coach. Its a general disillusion, have we lost our way. Its dissatisfaction with the hierarchy. Its the type of football; although pretty at times, is sterile at other times. It all adds up to a bit meh.

[The Masked Man]

The atmosphere is very reliant on S82 and if you don't know the words to the chants it's impossible to join in. I sit in Dolman E28 and if I can't work out what the words are those who sit further away have no chance. That said at least we have a singing section. At West Brom away I didn't hear anything at all from their fans until they scored. We play most of the teams around us before the end of the season so if we do manage to sustain our current form you'd imagine the atmosphere would improve as the season progresses. Likewise if our form tails off beyond a 'derby' against Swansea and the return of Kasey Palmer and Tommy Conway there's not much to look forward too. 

[Cityboy1954]

3 hours ago, PFree said:

We were debating this earlier, and why after four wins and a draw at home, the atmosphere is just so poor.

What are your thoughts…

Is it not having the singing section behind the goals?

Are people bored of Manningball, which let’s be honest can be a hard, tedious watch?

Is it that our football often tends to be negative and defensive based, and because we lack the sort of quality attacking footballers that regularly get you off your seat?

Are some fans still feeling disconnected with the club after the NP debacle?

Do fans feel lied to by our current, poorly qualified leadership team, has all trust in the strategy and people gone?

Is it our lack of ambition and feeling that we will always be a nearly, mid table, Championship side?

Are some of us simply awaiting the news of new ownership, investment and ambition?

Is the club not communicating well with the fans hence why as an example, the BT ‘story’ started and why we speculate so frequently as fans?

For me, it’s a combination of many of those points - even today, I just felt bored, and when I did join in the singing, nobody around me in S22 joined in. Okay, we had four or five good quality attacks, but once Fally came on, and we tried to see the game out, lets be honest, it was an awful watch.

Finally, I am a ST holder for a few decades, I will always support City but I seldom look forward to coming to the Gate nowadays and can be ambivalent towards games and results. That play off final at Wembley seems a distant memory now.

Yes agree i put words to this effect on the BS3 page the football dont get you off your deat like it did with some of the great wingers we had in other words no width or creative players that excite us .

Edited January 4 by Cityboy1954

[cidered abroad]

3 hours ago, PFree said:

We were debating this earlier, and why after four wins and a draw at home, the atmosphere is just so poor.

What are your thoughts…

Is it not having the singing section behind the goals?

Are people bored of Manningball, which let’s be honest can be a hard, tedious watch?

Is it that our football often tends to be negative and defensive based, and because we lack the sort of quality attacking footballers that regularly get you off your seat?

Are some fans still feeling disconnected with the club after the NP debacle?

Do fans feel lied to by our current, poorly qualified leadership team, has all trust in the strategy and people gone?

Is it our lack of ambition and feeling that we will always be a nearly, mid table, Championship side?

Are some of us simply awaiting the news of new ownership, investment and ambition?

Is the club not communicating well with the fans hence why as an example, the BT ‘story’ started and why we speculate so frequently as fans?

For me, it’s a combination of many of those points - even today, I just felt bored, and when I did join in the singing, nobody around me in S22 joined in. Okay, we had four or five good quality attacks, but once Fally came on, and we tried to see the game out, lets be honest, it was an awful watch.

Finally, I am a ST holder for a few decades, I will always support City but I seldom look forward to coming to the Gate nowadays and can be ambivalent towards games and results. That play off final at Wembley seems a distant memory now.

I’m a supporter of 75 years and this is how I feel.

Very pleased that we have won three home games at home. Pleased we are in the top half of the table.

BUT, I’m bored stiff by the way we play.

Passing sidewards and backwards in defence and so rarely passing forwards.

Our most expensive signing; yes he has scored a couple in recent games but I understood that we paid for him expecting a much more creative performance which should result with other players having goal scoring opportunities!

Our method of attack apart from corner kicks, appears to be to keep passing ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Making passes that rarely create openings for shots. It appears we are trying to walk the ball in the net! When did we have a shot at the target from edge of the penalty area?

Watching City has become a boring, unentertaining 90 minutes in most games. 

 

[Red white and red]

For me, it’s because everything is just so average, everything is 5/10, we are mid-table, everyone sees city as a mediocre, middle of the road club. Other clubs find City boring and passive. Bristol sport divides opinions, the Lansdowns divide opinion. There are reasons for and against. I don’t feel I can say ‘us’ anymore, and refer to ‘us’ as City these days. I never used to, but maybe it’s because I’ve grown up and moved on. Maybe it’s because there is a massive divide between fans and the powers that be. It’s no secret that under-qualified people are operating in high-end roles. Tinnion should be nowhere near his role, and likewise Jon Lansdown. Steve Lansdown has shown himself to be incompetent and inept on countless occasions. Anybody who dare challenge the hierarchy is shown the door. Bristol city is a comfortable and cosy club. Yes men and conformers only. Maybe fans are annoyed at the soft underbelly and are fed up of defending the club. 

Fans don’t forget all the mistakes and are quite rightly miffed at the lack of progression. This feeling is bolstered when every pre-season the usual ‘top 6 side’ or ‘we want to be up there’ or ‘challenging for promotion’ pap is carted out. I get this is to sell tickets, but come on. If you are repeating this every season, prove it by putting the correct people in the correct roles. City aren’t a top 6 side, they lack quality in certain areas and every season they tread water. This may contribute somewhat to a flat atmosphere. People won’t agree, but there is truth here, if fans are honest with themselves. 

[chowie]

Today sounded like an England U21 game… you could just hear the kids.

[Slack Bladder]

For me as a season ticket holder so attend every home game. Manning has sucked the emotion out of the game, we don't get up if we win and don't get down if we lose mentality. He wants the players to be emotionless and i think that has found it's way to the terraces too.

Edited January 4 by Slack Bladder

[Midlands Robin]

In my opinion the number one factor behind getting an atmosphere at games is the jeopardy of the match. A big cup game, a local derby, a promotion or relegation decider. Those sort of games make people invest emotion into what's happening on the pitch. That's a simple fact. 

As we're not going to have that same level of emotional investment in your average league fixture we need two more things that I feel we don't have. 

The first is an anthem that can unify all of the stadium. Sorry but "Drink up thy zider" ain't it. Think of You'll Never Walk Alone for example. That's the sort of thing that makes fans hair stand on end. 

I remember when we played Stoke at Wembley in 2000 and their fans opened up with Delilah. I thought **** me, it was a wall of noise.

We have absolutely nothing like that.

The second missing factor is, in my opinion, we don't have any maverick players. Players who you always hope are on the team sheet. The exciting ones, the hard as nails ones, or just simply the ones who get you off your seats. 

Don't get me wrong, we don't have a bad squad but we just lack personality within that squad. 

We can all think of those players from across the decades, Gow, Jacki or Murray for example.

[One Team]

48 minutes ago, The Masked Man said:

The atmosphere is very reliant on S82 and if you don't know the words to the chants it's impossible to join in. I sit in Dolman E28 and if I can't work out what the words are those who sit further away have no chance. That said at least we have a singing section. At West Brom away I didn't hear anything at all from their fans until they scored. We play most of the teams around us before the end of the season so if we do manage to sustain our current form you'd imagine the atmosphere would improve as the season progresses. Likewise if our form tails off beyond a 'derby' against Swansea and the return of Kasey Palmer and Tommy Conway there's not much to look forward too. 

This is a fair point. 

I stand near the Section 82 lads and know all the recent chants as most of the standing area do. 

At Plymouth away my mate and I tried to start the Cam Pring chant with little success, the two lads in front of us turned around and said they had never heard it before and they sit in the South Stand. 

[Phantom]

7 hours ago, COYR's said:

Your last paragraph sums up the problem in S22. No one wants to give up their prime seat in the middle. Most of the fans in there look on deaths door these days and aren’t remotely interested in creating an atmosphere. This, of course, is their prerogative but when they have the seats behind the goal this should be where the best atmosphere is and where the safe standing should be.

Why do you assume anyone wants to move to these seats? 

Safe Standing has been asked and explained in threads before 

[Phantom]

5 hours ago, One Team said:

This is a fair point. 

I stand near the Section 82 lads and know all the recent chants as most of the standing area do. 

At Plymouth away my mate and I tried to start the Cam Pring chant with little success, the two lads in front of us turned around and said they had never heard it before and they sit in the South Stand. 

So essentially 50/100 out of 14k/15k know the lyrics... You've hit the nail on the head 

[cidered abroad]

12 hours ago, PFree said:

We were debating this earlier, and why after four wins and a draw at home, the atmosphere is just so poor.

What are your thoughts…

Is it not having the singing section behind the goals?

Are people bored of Manningball, which let’s be honest can be a hard, tedious watch?

Is it that our football often tends to be negative and defensive based, and because we lack the sort of quality attacking footballers that regularly get you off your seat?

Are some fans still feeling disconnected with the club after the NP debacle?

Do fans feel lied to by our current, poorly qualified leadership team, has all trust in the strategy and people gone?

Is it our lack of ambition and feeling that we will always be a nearly, mid table, Championship side?

Are some of us simply awaiting the news of new ownership, investment and ambition?

Is the club not communicating well with the fans hence why as an example, the BT ‘story’ started and why we speculate so frequently as fans?

For me, it’s a combination of many of those points - even today, I just felt bored, and when I did join in the singing, nobody around me in S22 joined in. Okay, we had four or five good quality attacks, but once Fally came on, and we tried to see the game out, lets be honest, it was an awful watch.

Finally, I am a ST holder for a few decades, I will always support City but I seldom look forward to coming to the Gate nowadays and can be ambivalent towards games and results. That play off final at Wembley seems a distant memory now.

Bored with the tedious style of play from the Manning style of play!

[Major Isewater]

12 hours ago, PFree said:

We were debating this earlier, and why after four wins and a draw at home, the atmosphere is just so poor.

What are your thoughts…

Is it not having the singing section behind the goals?

Are people bored of Manningball, which let’s be honest can be a hard, tedious watch?

Is it that our football often tends to be negative and defensive based, and because we lack the sort of quality attacking footballers that regularly get you off your seat?

Are some fans still feeling disconnected with the club after the NP debacle?

Do fans feel lied to by our current, poorly qualified leadership team, has all trust in the strategy and people gone?

Is it our lack of ambition and feeling that we will always be a nearly, mid table, Championship side?

Are some of us simply awaiting the news of new ownership, investment and ambition?

Is the club not communicating well with the fans hence why as an example, the BT ‘story’ started and why we speculate so frequently as fans?

For me, it’s a combination of many of those points - even today, I just felt bored, and when I did join in the singing, nobody around me in S22 joined in. Okay, we had four or five good quality attacks, but once Fally came on, and we tried to see the game out, lets be honest, it was an awful watch.

Finally, I am a ST holder for a few decades, I will always support City but I seldom look forward to coming to the Gate nowadays and can be ambivalent towards games and results. That play off final at Wembley seems a distant memory now.

I think you’ve answered your own questions. 
I said to my son, who is a Derby fan, that the away fans will sound loud because of the acoustics in the Atyeo and we will not because of the acoustics in the singing end. 
In addition, we as people, are more reserved than certain other groups around the country. 
 

[Bar BS3]

6 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

I think you’ve answered your own questions. 
I said to my son, who is a Derby fan, that the away fans will sound loud because of the acoustics in the Atyeo and we will not because of the acoustics in the singing end. 
In addition, we as people, are more reserved than certain other groups around the country. 
 

I don't think Derby did sound loud. Fair play, sections of them kept singing throughout the 90 mins, despite losing - but alot of that were the tedious "banter" about empty seats & shit support.

For the good numbers that they had in attendance, I thought that they were one of the quietest away ends for a while. Similar to us, probably because their songs were shite.

We sound loudest when chants are simple. "Come on you Reds" & "Red Army", for example. It is definitely down to the majority of songs being daft, prolonged, complicated murmurings with no tempo that stop songs spreading. Keep it simple & more people join in.

 

[Peter1450]

11 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

The only season's there has consistently been a great atmosphere at AG in recent memory are 2006 - 2008 and 2014/15. 

I'm sure everyone can join the dots. 

  Can’t recall which game this was but sometime back in the early 2000’s , sat in the  middle of the Dolman and the atmosphere was so good there was dust rising from the footings of the stand and you could literally feel the whole thing moving……….can’t imagine that happening again any time soon! 

[roadyred]

8 hours ago, Midlands Robin said:

In my opinion the number one factor behind getting an atmosphere at games is the jeopardy of the match. A big cup game, a local derby, a promotion or relegation decider. Those sort of games make people invest emotion into what's happening on the pitch. That's a simple fact. 

Nailed it for me, we’ve had so many years of games that aren’t really significant. As someone else mentioned 2006-2008 was probably the best it has been, old ground, a promotion to Championship and then a promotion battle, every game we were fighting to stay In the top two and make the Prem. 

Other than one year with LJ we’ve not really threatened the playoffs and it’s reflected in the stands. 

[COYR's]

3 hours ago, Phantom said:

Why do you assume anyone wants to move to these seats? 

Safe Standing has been asked and explained in threads before 

I’m not assuming anything. I’m just saying that block lends itself to the place to create the best atmosphere. If the main singers are there then it would be much easier for people to hear the song and join in from surrounding blocks. I know it’s not gonna happen in a million years now and, like you say, it’s been done to death.

[Out of his pie crust]

10 hours ago, The Nest Egg said:

It had to be the South Stand really, but won't happen now as people are settled in the seats. I'd offer them all seats in the Lansdown at South Stand prices, with some extra incentives. We would deeply appreciate the sacrifice of their seats for the greater good!

I noted at Argyle that the Devonport End was structured like that and it was effective. Their chants spread pretty well even though it's a smaller and differently designed ground. The Janner Song at the beginning really got people into it too, was impressed by that.

More people than Section 82 want to sing, I've had many chats at games with people about it, but nobody wants to be that lone idiot trying to get something going. 

That being said, it isn't a problem unique to us. The atmosphere at Vicarage Road this season was pants!

Be that lone idiot. 
 

and if you hear a lone idiot trying, join in. 

[City oz]

13 hours ago, PFree said:

We were debating this earlier, and why after four wins and a draw at home, the atmosphere is just so poor.

What are your thoughts…

Is it not having the singing section behind the goals?

Are people bored of Manningball, which let’s be honest can be a hard, tedious watch?

Is it that our football often tends to be negative and defensive based, and because we lack the sort of quality attacking footballers that regularly get you off your seat?

Are some fans still feeling disconnected with the club after the NP debacle?

Do fans feel lied to by our current, poorly qualified leadership team, has all trust in the strategy and people gone?

Is it our lack of ambition and feeling that we will always be a nearly, mid table, Championship side?

Are some of us simply awaiting the news of new ownership, investment and ambition?

Is the club not communicating well with the fans hence why as an example, the BT ‘story’ started and why we speculate so frequently as fans?

For me, it’s a combination of many of those points - even today, I just felt bored, and when I did join in the singing, nobody around me in S22 joined in. Okay, we had four or five good quality attacks, but once Fally came on, and we tried to see the game out, lets be honest, it was an awful watch.

Finally, I am a ST holder for a few decades, I will always support City but I seldom look forward to coming to the Gate nowadays and can be ambivalent towards games and results. That play off final at Wembley seems a distant memory now.

All of the above. I was back a few months ago. The stadium is great. Just like a good rugby ground should be. The East End used to rock. 

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, Peter1450 said:

  Can’t recall which game this was but sometime back in the early 2000’s , sat in the  middle of the Dolman and the atmosphere was so good there was dust rising from the footings of the stand and you could literally feel the whole thing moving……….can’t imagine that happening again any time soon! 

That was Hartlepool, a play off semi final when we scored two in the last 5 minutes to get through.

I’m pretty confident if we repeat that this May the atmosphere would match it..

[Red Army 75]

1 minute ago, GrahamC said:

That was Hartlepool, a play off semi final when we scored two in the last 5 minutes to get through.

I’m pretty confident if we repeat that this May the atmosphere would match it..

What a night. 

[Port Said Red]

As someone who stands on the very edge of the safe standing section, I feel sorry for the Section 82 guys reading this. They were working really hard yesterday to get stuff going, a couple of new songs and plenty of traditional chants. 

It's a shame those efforts aren't recognised by parts of the ground that are further away. 

As for the South Stand not joining in, that has happened a few times this season, but yesterday there seemed to be a lack of the familiar faces I see across the aisle from me. I think it might be either new half season ticket holders or even tickets being swapped around because of the Xmas period. 

If we can keep up this momentum on the pitch though I think we will start to see the enthusiasm spread into other areas.

[Kid in the Riot]

1 hour ago, Peter1450 said:

  Can’t recall which game this was but sometime back in the early 2000’s , sat in the  middle of the Dolman and the atmosphere was so good there was dust rising from the footings of the stand and you could literally feel the whole thing moving……….can’t imagine that happening again any time soon! 

Most recently the West Ham cup game last season was class in the blocks formerly known as block A/B Dolman! 

Proper old school atmosphere and singing all game.

Again though, fairly obvious as to why that was! 

[cidercity1987]

The poor atmosphere during the game is accentuated by the fact that pre match there is a nice buzz around the ground.

Like it or hate it, the fan village and music is a good experience, family area activities for the kids, sports bar full, and then the build up montage in the stadium are all fine for me.

Then the match kicks off

And silence

[Dynamite Red]

Modern football is a dull as dishwater, that and all the crap kick-off times.

[BrizzleRed]

 

We were discussing this at the game yesterday.  Although I found passages of play in the game interesting, there was nothing much to get you out of your seat.  Maybe this style and tempo of football just breeds a culture of sitting back and observing, rather than becoming emotionally and vocally engaged.

It was definitely flat as a pancake yesterday for sure and it didn’t feel like there was anything happening to really provide that spark and it didn’t help that it was ‘kin cold too.

I also suspect that passionate and loud home support comes from a belief that something better is achievable and could be just around the corner.  

In contrast, with our club, there is more of an expectation and resignation that any small signs of progress will soon be snuffed out and you’ll invariably revert back to normal.  Let’s just call it an unconscious coping mechanism, so that following City doesn’t emotionally break you!

[One Team]

4 hours ago, Phantom said:

So essentially 50/100 out of 14k/15k know the lyrics... You've hit the nail on the head 

Probably more than that, but certainly some chants seem confined to the standing section only. 

[RedJim]

11 hours ago, RedM said:

I think people have lost a bit of belief. We have already accepted our season is all but over as far a promotion is concerned, and we are safe from relegation.

We have got points recently which has seen us climb the table, but it just doesn't feel like it. The football largely isn't entertaining.

We still don't have the belief we can kill games off or can hang on for a point or three at times.

The management, owners and even the players feel distant to me.

I feel like a customer, not a fan. and not a particularly valued one either as I'm not interested in hospitality or mascot packages etc

Nailed it.

[Red94]

2 minutes ago, One Team said:

Probably more than that, but certainly some chants seem confined to the standing section only. 

Because the blocks closest to the standing section don’t carry the songs around the ground. 
 

No matter what the song is new or old. 

[Super]

2 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

Bored with the tedious style of play from the Manning style of play!

How do you explain the crap atmosphere before Manning?

[Port Said Red]

1 minute ago, Super said:

How do you explain the crap atmosphere before Manning?

Come on Super they are talking about the good old days when every game was 4-3 thriller with scintillating football and the crowd were singing for the whole 90 minutes, even when we're dropping through the divisions like a stone. You must remember....

[Silvio Dante]

26 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

As someone who stands on the very edge of the safe standing section, I feel sorry for the Section 82 guys reading this. They were working really hard yesterday to get stuff going, a couple of new songs and plenty of traditional chants. 

It's a shame those efforts aren't recognised by parts of the ground that are further away. 

As for the South Stand not joining in, that has happened a few times this season, but yesterday there seemed to be a lack of the familiar faces I see across the aisle from me. I think it might be either new half season ticket holders or even tickets being swapped around because of the Xmas period. 

If we can keep up this momentum on the pitch though I think we will start to see the enthusiasm spread into other areas.

I’m sure that there was a school of thought that a load of tickets last year weren’t being used in the south stand as people had bought them to “bank” cheap kids seats and then didn’t have kids turning up. That in turn was said to lead to the empty seats and the poor atmosphere.

Maybe it wasn’t the case after all.

[Red94]

29 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

As someone who stands on the very edge of the safe standing section, I feel sorry for the Section 82 guys reading this. They were working really hard yesterday to get stuff going, a couple of new songs and plenty of traditional chants. 

It's a shame those efforts aren't recognised by parts of the ground that are further away. 

As for the South Stand not joining in, that has happened a few times this season, but yesterday there seemed to be a lack of the familiar faces I see across the aisle from me. I think it might be either new half season ticket holders or even tickets being swapped around because of the Xmas period. 

If we can keep up this momentum on the pitch though I think we will start to see the enthusiasm spread into other areas.

Exactly this and it’s always the standing section that gets blamed for lack of atmosphere. 
 

Other stands clearly forget that they can join in or start something themselves. 

[Phileas Fogg]

11 hours ago, Rob k said:

Best home atmospheres I’ve seen in recent years were Birmingham, Coventry and Derby. And there ‘singers’ were all right next to the away fans

Exactly. It needs them bouncing off eachother. The best extended period for atmosphere I can remember in recent-ish history was that first season or two when the old EE reopened. It had great acoustics, but the key part was home and away fans being next to eachother. Obviously it helped we were doing well on the pitch too.

You can't really hear S82 if you're not near to them, even though you can see they're singing, so there is no way the away fans can hear them.

[One Team]

1 minute ago, Red94 said:

Exactly this and it’s always the standing section that gets blamed for lack of atmosphere. 
 

Other stands clearly forget that they can join in or start something themselves. 

Indeed. The Section 82 lads try every single game to get the singing going. It’s up to everyone else to join in or even start their own chants. 

Interestingly yesterday others in the standing section were complaining about people not joining in with the singing in that area itself. 

[frenchred]

As a long standing supporter I think atmospheres at most grounds is tepid at best.

I believe it's what the authorities and those who run clubs want, I believe (wrongly) that those in power confuse atmosphere and noise with rowdy crowds. 

The cost of going to football doesn't help, less and less youngsters attending, if you take our demographic I believe it's quite "old"! The cost is prohibitive when sundries are taken into account

The football on display is more a remedy for insomnia than exciting behaviours. 

In short it's what football wants, they will pay for it in the end but ultimately it's what they want

[One Team]

Just now, Phileas Fogg said:

Exactly. It needs them bouncing off eachother. The best extended period for atmosphere I can remember in recent-ish history was that first season or two when the old EE reopened. It had great acoustics, but the key part was home and away fans being next to eachother. Obviously it helped we were doing well on the pitch too.

You can't really hear S82 if you're not near to them, even though you can see they're singing, so there is no way the away fans can hear them.

Indeed. A mate of mine is in the Lansdown near the Atyeo and says he can hardly ever hear us in the standing section. 

[Johnny Musicworks]

We have to accept that the football culture and match day experience has changed (whether for good or bad) and it’s not going to change back. Those days are gone. In my early 70’s now so for me as a teenager it was all about getting down early to the gate and being part of the pre-match atmosphere and hostilities in the beloved East End. 
 

These days the ground is pretty much empty until about 2.45. People enjoying beers in the concourse, food in the fans village or like me a coffee with friends and family. After a decade of few highlights there is little expectation of excitement and that shows now. Going in to watch dreary Manningball, trying to make out words to generic chants from a few hundred people is not a great draw. Like many others I habitually renew my season ticket but the actual match is rarely the highlight of the day.

I sit in S20 with my son. Yesterday was fairly typical with numerous empty seats on either side of us and for several rows in front of us. They fill up somewhat with mostly young kids and their dads on big games only. When the kids are there each will have their phone or iPads so their concentration on the game is minimal. They don’t eat, sleep and drink football as much as the latest x-box game so most will disappear as mid-teens approaches. The football fix for young people is not there. Dads can watch most matches on screen at home now and that I am sure will affect how many older people especially will drop off from attending in coming years.
 

Yesterday I was distracted for the first 20 minutes on my phone by my teenage foster boys who have little interest in football requesting cash/food/bus fares etc. My phone sadly distracted me from the first goal and the resulting noise was not enough for me to realise that we had actually scored. That sums up the lack of atmosphere for me.

As for section 82 ? It accommodates the small percentage of fans that still want to sing so why move it. Sorry if that upsets people but it’s the same at most grounds these days where the away fans seem to out sing the home fans. That section of fans will not in my opinion increase (except in big games) because after 10 years of mediocrity there will not be many kids growing up who would want to stand there and take their eyes of their  iPad and phone screens. 

[Red94]

2 minutes ago, One Team said:

Indeed. The Section 82 lads try every single game to get the singing going. It’s up to everyone else to join in or even start their own chants. 

Interestingly yesterday others in the standing section were complaining about people not joining in with the singing in that area itself. 

Yep sometimes it’s like trying to flog a dead horse in there. 
 

If you are in the standing section then sing, if not give up your seat for someone who will. 

[Numero Uno]

Has anyone spotted the irony that people have posted a list as long as your arm moaning about the club and then complain the atmosphere is flat?

[Street red]

10 hours ago, Cityboy1954 said:

Yes agree i put words to this effect on the BS3 page the football dont get you off your deat like it did with some of the great wingers we had in other words no width or creative players that excite us .

Exactly this a goal yesterday game from a set piece if you looked at derby they had nothing up front to worry us and we had the same.Nearly every team now plays the same way I don't think I've seen a really outstanding team come to the gate yet all pretty average. The game has changed and yes it doesn't get you off your feet like it used to. Name a decent outstanding striker nowadays when you used to have the Steve bulls of this world the bob Taylor's 

 

4 minutes ago, Johnny Musicworks said:

We have to accept that the football culture and match day experience has changed (whether for good or bad) and it’s not going to change back. Those days are gone. In my early 70’s now so for me as a teenager it was all about getting down early to the gate and being part of the pre-match atmosphere and hostilities in the beloved East End. 
 

These days the ground is pretty much empty until about 2.45. People enjoying beers in the concourse, food in the fans village or like me a coffee with friends and family. After a decade of few highlights there is little expectation of excitement and that shows now. Going in to watch dreary Manningball, trying to make out words to generic chants from a few hundred people is not a great draw. Like many others I habitually renew my season ticket but the actual match is rarely the highlight of the day.

I sit in S20 with my son. Yesterday was fairly typical with numerous empty seats on either side of us and for several rows in front of us. They fill up somewhat with mostly young kids and their dads on big games only. When the kids are there each will have their phone or iPads so their concentration on the game is minimal. They don’t eat, sleep and drink football as much as the latest x-box game so most will disappear as mid-teens approaches. The football fix for young people is not there. Dads can watch most matches on screen at home now and that I am sure will affect how many older people especially will drop off from attending in coming years.
 

Yesterday I was distracted for the first 20 minutes on my phone by my teenage foster boys who have little interest in football requesting cash/food/bus fares etc. My phone sadly distracted me from the first goal and the resulting noise was not enough for me to realise that we had actually scored. That sums up the lack of atmosphere for me.

As for section 82 ? It accommodates the small percentage of fans that still want to sing so why move it. Sorry if that upsets people but it’s the same at most grounds these days where the away fans seem to out sing the home fans. That section of fans will not in my opinion increase (except in big games) because after 10 years of mediocrity there will not be many kids growing up who would want to stand there and take their eyes of their  iPad and phone screens. 

And there was me being mocked earlier in the thread for saying this. I sit( stand most of it ) at the back of the south stand everything stands out like sore thumb phones everywhere and as you say empty seats.Younger kids having there iPads brought with them instead of encouraging them to watch the football. My eldest is 23 now not once did he have a phone or anything like that when I first brought him to the gate he actually watched enjoyed and learnt the game and to join in with songs etc. He said to me against Portsmouth at home this doesn't feel like being at football anymore and the atmosphere yesterday was flat as pancake.

[Engvall’s Splinter]

90% of the time we are a bland watch, and have been for sometime. The football has rarely been inspiring. Those harping on about the good old days in the East End, those days are gone - society is different, the football experience is different. 
 

When we’ve had something to sing about, the crowd has generally done their bit. 

[Natchfever]

14 hours ago, Phantom said:

 

I guess part of the problem, apart from the very odd game scattered over many years we've not had much to get behind 

 

100%.Someone said to me yesterday that if any of the big teams had been as shite as us through their history they would be just like us.

I think an area of unallocated seatung might help.

Being surroubded by strangers doesnt encourage people to stand up and chant imo

[Yozzarian]

There may be many factors at play but to be honest, I think the clear shift has been one of culture and in evolution within the game itself (sports science and the embracing of new footballing ideas).

I started going to City matches in the 89/90 season and the singing would be non-stop (Aided i concede by what became a promotion season). I simply cannot imagine the crowd singing some of the songs that were sung then, the looks of disapproval that you'd get from parents and children sat all around you would be awkward.  

This isn't to say it's a good or a bad thing (clearly it's great that parents feel more inclined to brings families to matches and we all welcome the facilities), but it's a truth that being stood up - another influence - and free to sing songs that had some bite to them aids to the gladiatorial atmosphere. This is born out at aways matches where people largely still stand. When the Gate wasn't built for comfort, you focused on the game, a game that was exciting even if relatively unsophisticated; today it is possible to more than double the time spent at the ground on a match day, socialising before and after the game. The day becomes something where the football can become an important part of the day, not necessarily everything.

The way the game is played is, for many, less exciting for teams at our level and below, given the lower skill levels to pull it off. In 89/90 everything was more direct, played at a faster pace and chances created much more frequently, with less expectation of a guaranteed goal chance created. Cross after cross was more exciting than seeing a team look to keep possession and create the perfection scoring opportunity. You'd see the same number of goals but be more entertained overall. This season is especially interesting for me as with Yu and Anis playing it can actually feel as though Mark Gavin and Dave Smith are back....right up until they pull up near the goal line and pass back down the line (It does at least, feel a little better this year with their introduction).

Reintroduction of safe standing and correct placement of 'singing sections' may help but the football played and culture of the game has shifted permanently I'd guess. Success also would help of course, but there are so many teams vying for so few promotion opportunities, you need the perfect set of circumstances, something the club has not been able to create at this level over 35 years (Other than 1 season in 2008).

 

[Bazooka Joe]

14 hours ago, Street red said:

I personally think it's the way the games played now it doesnt get you up off your seat and people are just bored,I must admit it doesn't feel the same anymore even if you win,Plus you get people turn up at games and spend the entire game on there phones!! A women in front me is constantly on eBay or Amazon etc Honestly why pay money for a ticket. 

That's Tinnion's Chief Scout searching for our next signing,

If I were you, I'd make her pay, pal.

[Bazooka Joe]

14 hours ago, Street red said:

I personally think it's the way the games played now it doesnt get you up off your seat and people are just bored,I must admit it doesn't feel the same anymore even if you win,Plus you get people turn up at games and spend the entire game on there phones!! A women in front me is constantly on eBay or Amazon etc Honestly why pay money for a ticket. 

Dunno why you're complaining, the guy next to me was stripped naked and giving himself a body wash.

[Bazooka Joe]

14 hours ago, Mendip Broadwalk said:

Grounds been gentrified. Fan culture controlled. 

"May I impose on you to please pass me one of those prawn sandwiches, old bean."

It won't be long before we have a Waitrose unit in the concourse.

[IAmNick]

49 minutes ago, Johnny Musicworks said:

When the kids are there each will have their phone or iPads so their concentration on the game is minimal.

 

49 minutes ago, Johnny Musicworks said:

Yesterday I was distracted for the first 20 minutes on my phone by my teenage foster boys who have little interest in football requesting cash/food/bus fares etc. My phone sadly distracted me from the first goal and the resulting noise was not enough for me to realise that we had actually scored.

When you think you're looking around but it's actually a mirror.

Oh, and saying you couldn't even tell we scored is clearly ridiculous.

[Graham76]

I think it’s a combination of mediocre football for the last 15+ years and a new demographic of fans. The ones that turn up, sit on their phones and get up and down several times each half to grab a coffee 

[Bazooka Joe]

14 hours ago, Puckle_red said:

Agree, I'm in the corner not far from the S82 group and for about 8 minutes during the game 4 people were singing another one of those repetitive dreary songs. Nobody else knew or wanted to join in, it kills it and happens a lot.

I sometimes feel it's controlled too much as fans will organically get behind the team particularly in that section and don't need to be lead by a drum or somebody on a Megaphone all of the time. Not everybody is in to the 'Euro Ultras' vibe.

Traditional songs with the odd new one is more sensible, but it's every week a new song that sounds the same as all of their other songs comes about.

Couldn't agree more.

Same, slow, lifeless songs sung by a group of fans who sound like they're at a funeral or bored out of their minds.

Devoid of spontaneity or energy.

My suggestion: Bring Tinnion onto the pitch before the game. That would rouse the fans.

 

[Bazooka Joe]

13 hours ago, BarneyN said:

Other than the old favourites, I struggle to pick out the words of the new songs - that makes audience participation challenging - if a song is going to build atmosphere people need to recognise both the tune and the lyrics.  

Whenever they do join in, people all around me sing different words to the same song, and a few just seem to mime ( though I can't see the point of that ! )

[Johnny Musicworks]

25 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

 

When you think you're looking around but it's actually a mirror.

Oh, and saying you couldn't even tell we scored is clearly ridiculous.

Well admittedly I am getting on a bit but I asked my son what had happened so I looked on the screen when he said we had scored. I have honestly never noticed such a muted reaction but as I said we are surrounded by empty seats so a lack of excitement around us.

[Carey 6]

I do wonder if chants just need simplifying again these days, seems to be too many words in some of them & unless the timing is perfect amongst fans then others around have no idea what’s being said! 

Bring back simple chants like

Danny, Danny Haynes

Do do do, Dele Adebola 

We’ve got Mickey Bell 

Even extra simple ones like LOUIS or LEROY for Carey & Lita seem to be gone

Now I hear ones about George Tanner to Voulez Vouz by ABBA & McNally to Zombie by The Cranberries!

[Fontaine's Caravan]

There are many factors at play, many of which are not within the control of us fans or even the club. 
 

But the one that irks me is specific to S82. I'm in the standing section, and even in there, you can't tell what the lyrics are to the songs those lads sing. And that's because they pick pretty 'drone'-type songs like you see on the continent - songs that go round and round with a drumbeat for ages. That might work in Germany, but it doesn't in England. There's no projection to them. 

And when those chants are droning on with a constant drum, it's impossible to get another chant going. Over time, people have now given up trying to start other chants, as they just get drowned out by S82's latest choice and their megaphone and drum. 

If anyone from S82 is reading this, I massively respect what you do, but you need to give other people the space to start songs as well, and involve everyone, and not just pick songs that you 40 lads know or find funny. 

[Johnny Musicworks]

41 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

 

When you think you're looking around but it's actually a mirror.

Oh, and saying you couldn't even tell we scored is clearly ridiculous.

Sorry mate I missed your ‘mirror’ observation. Yes it is ironic that as a pensioner I am as distracted by my phone as todays teenagers but sadly as a single Foster Carer of teenagers I cannot turn my phone off as the only way I am able to attend matches is if my boys are able to contact me at all times. Of course being teenagers they do not get that I would like to get through a match without interruption. As a 24/7 foster carer it goes with the territory but missing the goal was certainly my Chris Kamara moment.

[Red94]

5 minutes ago, Fontaine's Caravan said:

There are many factors at play, many of which are not within the control of us fans or even the club. 
 

But the one that irks me is specific to S82. I'm in the standing section, and even in there, you can't tell what the lyrics are to the songs those lads sing. And that's because they pick pretty 'drone'-type songs like you see on the continent - songs that go round and round with a drumbeat for ages. That might work in Germany, but it doesn't in England. There's no projection to them. 

And when those chants are droning on with a constant drum, it's impossible to get another chant going. Over time, people have now given up trying to start other chants, as they just get drowned out by S82's latest choice and their megaphone and drum. 

If anyone from S82 is reading this, I massively respect what you do, but you need to give other people the space to start songs as well, and involve everyone, and not just pick songs that you 40 lads know or find funny. 

Every song that is started by someone else is picked up and sang by S82. 
 

Trust me the older songs get sung but no one joins in with them. 
 

If S82 doesn’t start a song then we would be stood in silence for the majority of the game. You are always welcome to come closer to the drum and start songs from there as they will be backed by everyone involved. 

[2015]

The issue is the ground redevelopment. It's a cosy ground nowadays, which has attracted different types of fans.

Back in the old League 1 days pre redevelopment there would be 10k City diehards who passionately loved the club. I'm not saying these newer fans don't feel the same way, they're just a more middle class type supporter which has distorted the atmosphere in my opinion.

Bristol City are not the same Bristol City as they were 15 years ago. It was far less family friendly and inviting for newer fans to go and watch the club.

If you want a raw, passionate and old school football atmosphere then I'd advise to go and watch your local non league club. Just accept that the quality on the pitch may be a heck of a lot weaker.

I am still glad I haven't renewed my ST for this season. 

[Mendip Broadwalk]

57 minutes ago, Bazooka Joe said:

"May I impose on you to please pass me one of those prawn sandwiches, old bean."

It won't be long before we have a Waitrose unit in the concourse.

Ashton Gate is more Waitrose now  It is like a supermarket stacked with people in lines all in the right places. Wasnt always like that fans went in the EE Dolman A/B and Williams enclosure casual corner gates half of now made a lot more noise than now and the manor had a edge to it and not this middle class thing it is now . there was no you must sit there must not cross here and you must not do that a fan culture that did what it wanted at Bristol City

Grounds been totally gentrified molded by the Bristol sport types who would shop at waitrose. What did the BS bods leave? the lame singing section. Shit to what we once had. Feels shit sounds shit at rip off shit prices whoopy doo progress. 

 

[Fontaine's Caravan]

4 minutes ago, Red94 said:

Every song that is started by someone else is picked up and sang by S82. 
 

Trust me the older songs get sung but no one joins in with them. 
 

If S82 doesn’t start a song then we would be stood in silence for the majority of the game. You are always welcome to come closer to the drum and start songs from there as they will be backed by everyone involved. 

The point I'm making is that it's impossible to start a chant when a drum drowns everything out. 

Aside from that, I've tried starting songs before and had that lot just turn round and stare at me and shake their head.

Around me yesterday there were about 20 people who I didn't know all saying how bad the song choices are. Again, this is in the standing section. 

S82 can either engage with that criticism or they can go on drowning everyone else out and then wonder why nobody else joins in.

[Red94]

Just now, Fontaine's Caravan said:

The point I'm making is that it's impossible to start a chant when a drum drowns everything out. 

Aside from that, I've tried starting songs before and had that lot just turn round and stare at me and shake their head.

Around me yesterday there were about 20 people who I didn't know all saying how bad the song choices are. Again, this is in the standing section. 

S82 can either engage with that criticism or they can go on drowning everyone else out and then wonder why nobody else joins in.

I used to have the same opinion as yourself in regards to the ‘turning around’ but this isn’t the case. I now stand a lot closer to the drum and it’s made a huge difference. 
 

I’d honestly suggest standing closer to the drum/middle as every song you start will be backed by all of S82. 
 

Ultimately S82 is there to help improve the atmosphere not hinder it, so the more pulling in the same direction the better. 

[Mendip Broadwalk]

2 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Most recently the West Ham cup game last season was class in the blocks formerly known as block A/B Dolman! 

Proper old school atmosphere and singing all game.

Again though, fairly obvious as to why that was! 

Because there was more old skool in there along with a firm gratis a lump of tickets at a keen price from a certain gaff up duckmoor and palmry road for a one off special gig.  The stewards were hands off because of it and the block was better for it. But it was nowhere near the old skool of the eighties early nineties. City dont have the numbers now for that type of support where the blocks are lads front to back with stewards leaving the blocks alone.

Edited January 5 by Mendip Broadwalk

[Maltshoveller]

16 hours ago, Alan Dicks said:

Almost every game we get outsung by the away fans, it’s embarrassing.

Main reason for that is

Die hard fans travel to away grounds

Modern day football is watched by a lot of fans who go to football as its the in thing

They may soon leave football and start going to darts as that now seems to be the band wagon to jump on

[RedLionLad]

16 hours ago, Bar BS3 said:

I disagree.

When the atmosphere is good, it's really good.

That doesn't change with any difference proximity to the away fans - it's because something clicks & everyone is up for it.

Today was arguably the worst it's been that I can remember. Not even a spell of decent atmosphere.

I get that the S82 lot try - but seriously, the absolute dirge that they drone in with most of the time is genuinely what I think kills the rest of the grounds atmosphere. So many of the songs are just a bit of half hearted murmurings- nothing inspiring or motivating out rousing.

Stick to the clear, supportive, oldsl school stuff & it's so much better than the nothing noise that is just so tediously dull. Then that helps get the rest of the ground involved.

 

You're not singing over there...

[Mendip Broadwalk]

7 hours ago, Phantom said:

So essentially 50/100 out of 14k/15k know the lyrics... You've hit the nail on the head 

bit like the ysc isnt it? 

[Cityboy1954]

3 hours ago, Street red said:

Exactly this a goal yesterday game from a set piece if you looked at derby they had nothing up front to worry us and we had the same.Nearly every team now plays the same way I don't think I've seen a really outstanding team come to the gate yet all pretty average. The game has changed and yes it doesn't get you off your feet like it used to. Name a decent outstanding striker nowadays when you used to have the Steve bulls of this world the bob Taylor's 

 

And there was me being mocked earlier in the thread for saying this. I sit( stand most of it ) at the back of the south stand everything stands out like sore thumb phones everywhere and as you say empty seats.Younger kids having there iPads brought with them instead of encouraging them to watch the football. My eldest is 23 now not once did he have a phone or anything like that when I first brought him to the gate he actually watched enjoyed and learnt the game and to join in with songs etc. He said to me against Portsmouth at home this doesn't feel like being at football anymore and the atmosphere yesterday was flat as pancake.

Same with me two grandkids Nine and 13 on their phones had to tell them to put them away .not entertaining enough anymore .