Etihad Atmosphere - 2021/22

[Deleted member 77198]

We’ve got to ‘best-away-fans-in-the-country’ level this season.

The change in ticketing has made a massive difference to our away support. It’s so good to see/hear.

Even saw a video on a Spurs fans’ Twitter page with the Rodri goal at Arsenal with comments from Spurs fans saying “City’s away support is phenomenal”!

this today…


We just need to sort our shit out at home. The designated singing sections need to sing all game (between 35-60 mins our singing sections are very poor seemingly every week), the rest of the ground need to join in more with what the singing sections sing, and everyone in the stadium needs to be more proactive in just getting involved in the game (don’t have to sing, just be involved in the game with the “come on”s “go on”s “oooooh”s “fuck off”s and even just clapping etc.).

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Our home support is no different to 99% of the other teams.

There are a number of grounds with a good atmosphere. There are a number of grounds without a great atmosphere but a better average atmosphere than us.

But we also shouldn’t compare ourselves to other clubs with shit atmospheres, we should just be concentrating on being as good as we can be which is miles better than we are most of the time.

I’ll always maintain that football is 50% on the pitch, and 50% in the stands.

Look at the reaction of the players and Pep towards our away support this evening, they’re appreciative of it. And look at the comments in the post-match thread; nearly half the posts have mentioned the atmosphere from our fans.

Atmosphere and fan culture goes hand-in-hand with the the footy on the pitch. They are inseparable, and it’s so much more enjoyable to go to a game with a good atmosphere. A 3-0 win in a quiet ground is great, a 3-0 in a good atmosphere is better!

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Our home support is no different to 99% of the other teams.

Spot-on. Old Trafford was like a morgue today as it always is. The Etihad is no different to the rest of the PL. I am not saying it could not improve but the negative narrative about our fans is just media-spun bollocks.

 

[herrock]

Watching the Newcastle game, at times it is great but there are also long periods of silence.

 

[Mike N]

Our home support is no different to 99% of the other teams.

99% of other clubs are not watching the best football in their history. They are not watching them win more trophies than they could only dream about and their team is not being coached by a football genius.

And it’s nothing to do with day-trippers. The silent fans around me were there when we were shit but can’t rouse themselves to vocally encourage our champions. I’ll never understand that.

 

[trevorriley]

Support sounded tremendous as usual at Norwich. How can it be that we have one of best away supports in the country, yet one of the worst at home? Genuinely mind boggling.

have to disagree with home support one of worst, i travel to a lot of stadiums, from watching games in 115 at home we are good compared to most.

agree on the acoustics at the stadium, it also doesn't carry well on tv or radio. Not sure where you sit but perhaps try a home game in 115.

away support has had a big improvement this season, must be the way tickets are now distributed.

Cant wait to go burnley away soon, i have been last 3 seasons burnley away ( not including covid games of course ) and the away support has been terrible. Lets see if we can carry on our fantastic away support there, hope so as i will be belting out songs.

 

[ArniArason]

99% of other clubs are not watching the best football in their history. They are not watching them win more trophies than they could only dream about and their team is not being coached by a football genius.

And it’s nothing to do with day-trippers. The silent fans around me were there when we were shit but can’t rouse themselves to vocally encourage our champions. I’ll never understand that.

Fully agree with this. Everyone has their right to act how they see fit but I just don't get it. Why bother going if you're going to turn up late, leave early at half time and at the end, and sit there in complete silence in between. You could do all that at home. For me it's the difference between being a supporter and a spectator, one helps the team on, the other is completely passive and is no better than an empty seat

 

[trevorriley]

Fully agree with this. Everyone has their right to act how they see fit but I just don't get it. Why bother going if you're going to turn up late, leave early at half time and at the end, and sit there in complete silence in between. You could do all that at home. For me it's the difference between being a supporter and a spectator, one helps the team on, the other is completely passive and is no better than an empty seat

If a small percentage of people dont want to sing and prefer obviously clapping and cheering on a goal fair enough, there are always going to be fans that like to watch. But surely 70% or more are of category that would sing from time to time, then we must have a hardcore 10,000 fans that would sing most songs all of the game. So why dont they.

What i dont think is acceptable is turn up late and leave early. If you are going to watch a game then at least clap your team on to the pitch rather than finish your pint or natter on the concourse. Dont leave on 79 mins either. The amount of fans going to the bar in the first half on 37 mins is unbelievable, what is going on when we are playing fantastic football, 2 nil up but yet as a fan you think "fuck it i will go and get a pint rather than see if we make it 3 nil" ? Then how empty is the stadium when the team comes out for the second half. if you turn and look on to the concourse it is full when the second half kicks off..

 

[Danny Hoekman]

If a small percentage of people dont want to sing and prefer obviously clapping and cheering on a goal fair enough, there are always going to be fans that like to watch. But surely 70% or more are of category that would sing from time to time, then we must have a hardcore 10,000 fans that would sing most songs all of the game. So why dont they.

What i dont think is acceptable is turn up late and leave early. If you are going to watch a game then at least clap your team on to the pitch rather than finish your pint or natter on the concourse. Dont leave on 79 mins either. The amount of fans going to the bar in the first half on 37 mins is unbelievable, what is going on when we are playing fantastic football, 2 nil up but yet as a fan you think "fuck it i will go and get a pint rather than see if we make it 3 nil" ? Then how empty is the stadium when the team comes out for the second half. if you turn and look on to the concourse it is full when the second half kicks off..

 

[There is a Light]

have to disagree with home support one of worst, i travel to a lot of stadiums, from watching games in 115 at home we are good compared to most.

agree on the acoustics at the stadium, it also doesn't carry well on tv or radio. Not sure where you sit but perhaps try a home game in 115.

away support has had a big improvement this season, must be the way tickets are now distributed.

Cant wait to go burnley away soon, i have been last 3 seasons burnley away ( not including covid games of course ) and the away support has been terrible. Lets see if we can carry on our fantastic away support there, hope so as i will be belting out songs.

Two blocks behind the goal and one in the corner isn’t enough though. Noise has to come from other parts of the ground to make it a good atmosphere.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

have to disagree with home support one of worst, i travel to a lot of stadiums, from watching games in 115 at home we are good compared to most.

agree on the acoustics at the stadium, it also doesn't carry well on tv or radio. Not sure where you sit but perhaps try a home game in 115.

away support has had a big improvement this season, must be the way tickets are now distributed.

Cant wait to go burnley away soon, i have been last 3 seasons burnley away ( not including covid games of course ) and the away support has been terrible. Lets see if we can carry on our fantastic away support there, hope so as i will be belting out songs.

IMHO, we tend to get a more nervous (usually older) following at Burnley (like we did at Huddersfield for a couple of seasons) who built a lot of their loyalty / ticket points when we were an average side. They are often top Blues but fear we might let a lead slip at any moment. Obviously, Burnley is easier to get too for most fans too.

Obviously, there will be the hardcore of Blues who go every week but they hasn’t translated to a top atmosphere at Burnley in recents years. It’s sometimes the same when we go to the swamp.

 

[trevorriley]

Two blocks behind the goal and one in the corner isn’t enough though. Noise has to come from other parts of the ground to make it a good atmosphere.

In lower SS there are singers in 114 / 115 / 116 / 117, you also get 2 blocks in kippax corner singing. This is around 4,500 fans give or take. If even 70% of these sing it will create a lot of noise and we would all be buzzing. At times there is that many singing and it is loud, it then spreads for more to sing in the stadium. A loy of noise can come from SS3 when it is spreading.

When you think about the games when PSG / Bayern / Pozanan / Celtic can create more noise with just 2,800 fans and i mean they created enough noise for us to think it was loud for those games, it really doesnt take a lot.

If the blocks mentioned sang it would be enough, also other parts of the stadium would naturally join n then.

The problem is we get the low periods in the game where in lower SS about 50 - 100 of us sing, the rest watch the game or on phones are up and down. It really needs the singers to sing and if they dont want to then move out and other people wanting a good atmosphere can move in.

 

[trevorriley]

IMHO, we tend to get a more nervous (usually older) following at Burnley (like we did at Huddersfield for a couple of seasons) who built a lot of their loyalty / ticket points when we were an average side. They are often top Blues but fear we might let a lead slip at any moment. Obviously, Burnley is easier to get too for most fans too.

Obviously, there will be the hardcore of Blues who go every week but they hasn’t translated to a top atmosphere at Burnley in recents years. It’s sometimes the same when we go to the swamp.

yes true, i was once at huddersfield in the fa cup, shocking it was. There was seriously more fans throughout the game in the outside concourse area having a fag and pint.

dare i say rags and scousers made some noise at burnley recently, fingers crossed the change in ticket allocation will make a noise for us. It is a perfect play it being old style terraces to get it going.

 

[jrb]

Sat in ESL3 against Brentford for a change.

I could hear all the chanting from there. I was very surprised at how loud and well the chants carried across the Etihad, especially from the Brentford fans and blocks 111, 110, 109, who we’re giving it to each other in the 2nd half. Top banter. SSL1, where I normally stand, was pretty quiet in-between chants. There wasn’t much singing in ESL3, bar “come on City”, when that went around the ground.

It’s clear that the concrete overhangs along level 2 are the problem as they act like a barrier and muffler that dampens the chants and noise going up and coming down between between L1 and L2. My partner confirmed this as she said she couldn’t hear much of the chanting on L1. She sits in L2 above 111. I couldn’t hear any other part of the ground chanting, bar “come on City” and “stand up for the Champions” when they went around the stadium.

Ideally the Etihad should have been 2 levels. A large level 1, double the size and depth of the current one, executive boxes, then a large level 3. Sadly we’re stuck with the (annoyingly small) level 2.

If City still plan to expand the NS they have to get rid of and demolish the current NSL2, and either build a continuous single tier from L1, or leave that as it is, and build a large L2 above L1.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Was at Newcastle yesterday. First time in watching them in years where the ground was rocking. Really good, start to finish. It's been a morgue in recent years. Reminded me of the Etihad in the early takeover days. Some cracking match atmosphere then. Don't get to many Etihad games now ( a handful so far, mainly mid-week. Perhaps it is because I go to games where tickets are easier to get (lesser teams) but the atmosphere has been good mostly rather than brilliant. Depending on where I sit, the flat parts of games can seem very quiet. Tried to join in with songs when no else joins in around me but quickly give up coz I just look like a nob.

 

[trevorriley]

Most of us know what the crack is, if you are elsewhere in the stadium you get funny looks for singing whereas back in the 7os / 80s / 90s somebody singing alone got a pat on the back and others helped. Then there are the newly promoted teams that come up or a low league fc cup game and the stadium gets together as its one tier all round.

as magnificent as the 3 tier stadiums look they separate us all, we are split up to much, got it right JRB we need a large 2 tier end or one big end if we expand. Although we missed you in SS1 singing, dont go up there again hahaha.

the change of stadium building has changed the culture of how we watch football, you get the following.

corporate boxes that are a pain as they separate the tiers with concrete
Ultimate VIP areas which seems to grow and grow in west stand
soft seated areas again splitting up fans and like to unoccupied the seats for 50% of the game
way to over sized family stand, enough said !
2nd and 3rd tiers where on the whole 90% of fans are wanting to sit and watch the game just clapping or cheering goals ( apart from SS3 who do sing )

This doesnt leave a lot left for singers to group, so now in a modern stadium we have singing sections that make "the good atmosphere for rest of stadium to enjoy".. I always say if 600 Monaco fans could make more noise than 52k city fans a lot of the game, then it doesnt take much. Singers need to group and sing like they are at an away game and for 90 mins. Having said that song after song after song for 90 mins doesnt work, needs to be done right, fans get pissed off and confused when we have 60 songs in 60 minutes. LONG SONGS

 

[Spurs quarter 69]

yes true, i was once at huddersfield in the fa cup, shocking it was. There was seriously more fans throughout the game in the outside concourse area having a fag and pint.

dare i say rags and scousers made some noise at burnley recently, fingers crossed the change in ticket allocation will make a noise for us. It is a perfect play it being old style terraces to get it going.

The scousers support at the Turf yesterday was very patchy. Loud versions of "Scouser Tommy" and "Fields of Annie Rd" also repetitive singing of a song I don't know . We were spared YNWA thank god, but they were largely silent in the second half as Clarets raised the roof. Nothing special about their support which Clarets informed them was f**king shite.

 

[Manchester33]

We're getting into the business end of the season now where the games start to mean more.

5:30 KOs are usually a lot louder and I think we'll see that vs Spurs. UCL games have been some of our best. Liverpool and United at home etc. We're at that point of the season now where we could have a handful of unbelievable atmospheres and we need to keep them going.

 

[Katsunari Takayama]

We're getting into the business end of the season now where the games start to mean more.

5:30 KOs are usually a lot louder and I think we'll see that vs Spurs. UCL games have been some of our best. Liverpool and United at home etc. We're at that point of the season now where we could have a handful of unbelievable atmospheres and we need to keep them going.

Yeah Saturday will be absolutely bouncing. A few beers inside a few people works wonders and Kane will provide a focal point for the outrage and atmosphere to build from.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Sat in ESL3 against Brentford for a change.

I could hear all the chanting from there. I was very surprised at how loud and well the chants carried across the Etihad, especially from the Brentford fans and blocks 111, 110, 109, who we’re giving it to each other in the 2nd half. Top banter. SSL1, where I normally stand, was pretty quiet in-between chants. There wasn’t much singing in ESL3, bar “come on City”, when that went around the ground.

It’s clear that the concrete overhangs along level 2 are the problem as they act like a barrier and muffler that dampens the chants and noise going up and coming down between between L1 and L2. My partner confirmed this as she said she couldn’t hear much of the chanting on L1. She sits in L2 above 111. I couldn’t hear any other part of the ground chanting, bar “come on City” and “stand up for the Champions” when they went around the stadium.

Ideally the Etihad should have been 2 levels. A large level 1, double the size and depth of the current one, executive boxes, then a large level 3. Sadly we’re stuck with the (annoyingly small) level 2.

If City still plan to expand the NS they have to get rid of and demolish the current NSL2, and either build a continuous single tier from L1, or leave that as it is, and build a large L2 above L1.

You must have noticed how often I post about this.

You can hear the singing louder form the opposite end of the ground higher up than you can if you're sitting right next to it. It's the roof acoustics as you say. I was in a box for the Fulham game which was the last one in the Colin Bell stand next to the south stand. The singing sounded dreadful, just an incoherent mud of noise. That is why songs don't spread as well as they should. WEmbley is similar

When songs are sung at the back of the top tiers they are miles louder because they bounce off the roof. If songs started in South STand top teir the noise tumbles down and can be heard right round the stadium immediaetly. My opinion now is that is the only sensible way to improve the atmosphere without huge upheaval: get a bunch of singers togother at the top of that stand. The ground is now built and won't be rebuilt.