Bring the Noise

Man City in Champions League: 'Pep Guardiola's team need their fans to make next step'
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By Michael Brown

Former Manchester City midfielder

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50567291
 
Was in a Platinum box last night, courtesy of the club, with the "Ukraine 114". Didn't really notice the megaphone until second half, but we were in Box 1 at the family stand end, so miles away and it didn't carry very well. Honestly thought someone was doing it for a joke. Fair play for trying it, but not for me.

The atmosphere last night was shocking, maybe it was down to not being stood where we normally are in 116, but the apathy was everywhere. Why people go to a match and sit on their hands is beyond me. As the lads in our box aren't the normal "corporate" lot and and sang a song or two, the looks of absolute disgust from the people in the upper seats of level 2 were hilarious. And when you have a steward sent across to have a quiet word in your ear to "keep it down" tells me all i need to know about the gentrification of our once great working class game.

Atmosphere's in this country will continue to decline as clubs chase the corporate dollar and change the demographic to middle class, middle England theatre goers & luvvies. You can bring megaphones, drums, marching bands, ultra's....whatever, it won't change the inevitable. Football in this country has been hijacked from the likes of me and you, and has become the "it-game" of the twitterati & guardianista's, who are no more likely to sing a football song as you are to join the local Yoga club.

So, its back to the great unwashed in the South Stand next time, power to the people and all that..
 
Last night was the first time I've felt uncomfortable doing my solo 'shout' (it's not singing, I can't sing for toffee as they say) but I have always tried and done the songs as I've told you on here before. Normally, because most of the people around me are SC holders and know me they either join in (yes I've succeeded in getting a few to join in) or just humour me!!
Last night there was a woman across the aisle who looked round and gave me such a glare, sort of how dare you and shut up, and a couple of other people turned round and one on my row leaned right forward and looked at me (that sounds wet I know but it wasn't a 'good for you' look it felt intimidating) There wasn't a singer/shouter around except me for most of the match but I must admit 1894 group I let you down last night. I didn't 'Bring the noise' at the same volume as usual. I was very subdued.
I still shouted for the players, you know 'Come on Bernie/Raz/Kev etc' and when Phil Foden warmed up in front of us I did the 'Oh Phil Foden he's one of our own' got another glare from glarey lady.

The one thing I do like about Euro nights is that the players warm up in front of us. The opposite way to the EPL so it is good to see them. However did anyone else notice last night that the fourth official kept remonstrating (good word for a Wednesday afternoon!) with our players warming up, especially David Silva and John Stones. They didn't seem to be any closer to the pitch than the opposition players so it made me wonder.
 
jrb said:
Man City in Champions League: 'Pep Guardiola's team need their fans to make next step'
_109904809_brown.jpg

By Michael Brown

Former Manchester City midfielder

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50567291
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He talks of disappointing attendances but anything above 40k for walk in the park / irrelevant group stage games is commendable.

Where can I find the official attendance for last night ? The eternally shite official website doesn't list it
 
ell said:
Christ, almost as embarrassing as that time we piped songs through the speakers at home to Bolton under Pearce. What has happened to our club.

Just go the game have a few pints and sing a few songs.
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Always said the day they introduce megaphones/drums/trumpet etc is the day I stop going!

If last night is the future, I'm afraid its the beginning of the end for me ! Cringeworthy !
 
paulchapo said:
500-1,000 dedicated singers all grouped together and and sticking with it is what is required. If it is more so much the better. I am in 119 and we have a fair few of us sing and participate here. A few where I am, a group at the back and some to my left. We still have too many lifeless people sprinkled amongst us though. There are a couple of young women in the same seats in front who fetch books to the game. One was like a notepad/exercise book and she was writing in it one game, no idea what that was all about! Probably turn into a book about how sexism still exists at football games or something in a few years time lol.
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A note book, dear me !

115 holds 750 fans, if we started with 500 you are taking up two thirds of the block, some noise could come from that and if you took part of 114 also. Not many people commented on the thought of moving or the effect it would have on fans who don't sing being booted it. But to be fair if you don't sing you should be happy to move out of 115.

Wiping block 115 clean and having it open to season card / singers only in a strictly monitored window frame could be the way forward.
 
I don't know about anyone else but i am bloody shattered - got into bed last night at 11.30. Up again at 6.00. Midweeks are a chore. I have said it for years but i am only doing Champion's league knockout from now on. Sat on the Mancunian way for 30 minutes was painful too.
 
Eccles Blue said:
Last night was the first time I've felt uncomfortable doing my solo 'shout' (it's not singing, I can't sing for toffee as they say) but I have always tried and done the songs as I've told you on here before. Normally, because most of the people around me are SC holders and know me they either join in (yes I've succeeded in getting a few to join in) or just humour me!!
Last night there was a woman across the aisle who looked round and gave me such a glare, sort of how dare you and shut up, and a couple of other people turned round and one on my row leaned right forward and looked at me (that sounds wet I know but it wasn't a 'good for you' look it felt intimidating) There wasn't a singer/shouter around except me for most of the match but I must admit 1894 group I let you down last night. I didn't 'Bring the noise' at the same volume as usual. I was very subdued.
I still shouted for the players, you know 'Come on Bernie/Raz/Kev etc' and when Phil Foden warmed up in front of us I did the 'Oh Phil Foden he's one of our own' got another glare from glarey lady.

The one thing I do like about Euro nights is that the players warm up in front of us. The opposite way to the EPL so it is good to see them. However did anyone else notice last night that the fourth official kept remonstrating (good word for a Wednesday afternoon!) with our players warming up, especially David Silva and John Stones. They didn't seem to be any closer to the pitch than the opposition players so it made me wonder.
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and then allowed one of the shakthar coaching staff to run on the pitch.

that 4th official was so picky
 
i went to rotherham said:
Always said the day they introduce megaphones/drums/trumpet etc is the day I stop going!

If last night is the future, I'm afraid its the beginning of the end for me ! Cringeworthy !
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Anyone stopping going because of this needs to have a word with themselves. If you don't approve, fine, but that's an overreaction IMO
 
i went to rotherham said:
Always said the day they introduce megaphones/drums/trumpet etc is the day I stop going!

If last night is the future, I'm afraid its the beginning of the end for me ! Cringeworthy !
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The issue is that people, like myself, find it Cringeworthy when you can hear the players on the other side of the pitch communicating.

The traditional British atmosphere is GONE. Modern stadia and fan oppression has seen to that. The only consistently decent atmospheres across the whole continent, but specifically within the UK use some form of ultras support (drum/megaphone/capo).

We’ve developed this snobby attitude of ‘I’m too cool to sing, I’m too cool to do the Poznan, I’m so bothered about my half time pint I’m going to head to the concourse on 35 mins’, ‘I’m more interested in scrolling through twitter whilst the games on’.

Because our support isn’t as good as it should be, our support as a whole has developed this defeatist attitude. Let’s not bother, let’s sing about empty seats as a laugh. Let’s video ourselves on the concourse whilst the games on. Let’s shoot down anyone who does something different too the rest of the sheep - hundreds of years of British culture has taught us to blend in and not take risks.

We need to step out of the comfort zone to change things. You might not like how the drum/megaphone was used last night, but with a few tweaks it could get better and you might not hate it as much as you think (at first impressions).


Give me a cringeworthy bunch of nutters going mad for 90 minutes over apathetic support any day!
 
trevorriley said:
yes Southampton at home perfect example. It can be done.

Noticed jrb you mentioned palace relocated, I did see on tv that they had around 500 singers in one block and one capo running the songs. He didn't have a megaphone, probably cant afford one ! Joking apart they sounded good and carried on their songs longer, its not rocket science and we know what it takes.

Just as everybody has taken paracetamol now calmed down from the drum, how would fans feel if at the end of this season two thirds of 115 was cleared and made a clean slate. All fans that wanted to go in the area ( or stay in there ) had to re apply in some sort of organised way to guarantee all are season card holders and singers. Before everybody calls me a c*** any singers and hard core city fans already in 115 like us lot would be guaranteed a place. We would go through this exercise purely to move out non singers and day trippers. Day trippers out and singers in SS3 / Kippax and any other areas could move in.

This has never been mentioned before, but as a starting point what are the thoughts or can somebody come up with a different plan ?

I think we all know what it takes, rather than going round in circles lets have a new plan.
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It's a good idea but is it workable?
How do you prove you're a singer?

I think anyone taking up a space in 115 who isn't a singer needs to do the decent thing and move next season.
Perhaps the club could give some kind of priority in the relocation window to anyone who falls into this category.
Maybe you could leaflet the entire block with the message 'if you don't sing you're not welcome here - do one'.
I presume you'd be more tactful than me, but the message needs to be driven home.

I know you're doing your best and I am supportive so don't take the following remarks the wrong way...

Surprised that we had a drum and megaphone last night as the atmosphere was as flat as I'd ever heard it.
What with the performance on the pitch and the quiet crowd I was pretty down on the way home.
I could hear people at the front of 115 trying but nobody was joining in.
I actually do join in (clapping and singing (not very loudly if I'm honest)) from 105.

... keep going, there are hundreds of us that appreciate what you're doing. I'm pretty sure you'll get there.
 
Yesterday was my first match at the Etihad and the experience was fairly enjoyable.

The game on the pitch wasn’t very good which no doubt had an impact on the atmosphere. However, I did notice there was quite a lot of people dotted around the stadium that were standing up and trying to get the atmosphere going - hats off to them for doing so.

I don’t know the seating arrangements at City but it would make sense to have everyone who wants a better atmosphere grouped together with the 1894. The bigger the numbers the more will join in. The more people who feel associated with a group leads to a better atmosphere. The location could be better though, behind the goals opposite the away fans would be the best area, but again I’m not in position to know if that would be feasible.

It is a wonderful stadium. It just seemed dead. It needs a bit of energy sparked into it.
 
A bit early doors yet, but City could filter fans if a new singing section was being introduced, when Safe Standing is brought in.

City are great at sending out email questionnaires. We’ve all had them.

So a new singing section questionnaire shouldn't be too difficult.

Obviously it would start off with the basics.

Are in favour or against a new safe standing swinging section? Those against, would then be discarded as potential fans who would be allocated a seat in the new singing section.

Do you sing constantly, occasionally or never? And so on.

Are you prepared to stand for 90 minutes in the singing section? And so on.

Would you be bothered by a megaphone, a drum or both? And so on.

Do you stay until the end of the match or leave early. And so on.

Etc, etc, etc.

I appreciate these are pretty basic questions, and people can lie just to get into any new singing section, but they would give the club a better chance of allocating a place in any new singing section to fans who want to sing.
 
M18CTID said:
For all the negative comments on here, the indisputable fact is that plenty more fans joined in when the megaphone was used, whereas when it wasn't it was fucking hard work getting any chants going from the front of 116.
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Exactly. It 100% worked and had a positive effect in the ground. That’s all that matters.

I wouldn’t be bothered by some of the negative comments on here. The same posters moaned when we did the poznan, banners, organised a singing section.. lots of the same people who sit in silence.

I remember a few years ago a group of young people tried to get something going and were ridiculed on here.

Keep taking it to games and more people will move towards your section. The traditional English atmosphere people on here keep banging on about is dead, so anything to bring some noise back. Rather that then complete silence, which is what we have now
 
i went to rotherham said:
Always said the day they introduce megaphones/drums/trumpet etc is the day I stop going!

If last night is the future, I'm afraid its the beginning of the end for me ! Cringeworthy !
Click to expand...

Maybe they want fans to show some emotion other than
i went to rotherham said:
Always said the day they introduce megaphones/drums/trumpet etc is the day I stop going!

If last night is the future, I'm afraid its the beginning of the end for me ! Cringeworthy !
Click to expand...
Jesus tonight. Lighten up FFS.
 
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