Etihad atmosphere

[kevin horlocks wand]

last night there was chaos in london travel wise. yet they all managed to get there or stay till the end. i just dont think the traffic problems are that bad unless your in the city centre. id say we are one of the worst in the league for people leaving early. lots of people do drive, but most dont park in the club car park and saving ten minutes off a journey - what is the point ?

I don't disagree it is a problem. Have a look at the extended highlights on the city site. They show some chances in the 90th minute the stand behind the goal has about 80 people in it, it does look bad.

 

[jrb]

Towards the end of the match last night.

"Is there a fire drill!?"

Compare that to Everton and Goodison Park on Tuesday night. Everyone stayed, carried on supporting the team, and clapped them off at the end of the match.

I know Pep isn't arsed. Actually he is. What must he think at the end of every home game when he's faced with nothing but empty seats at the full-time whistle.

One more thing is for sure. If and when the North stand is expanded, and the Collar site, along with the land around the stadium are redeveloped, the traffic problems and fans leaving early will only get worse

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I don't disagree it is a problem. Have a look at the extended highlights on the city site. They show some chances in the 90th minute the stand behind the goal has about 80 people in it, it does look bad.

yea I've seen that mate. the family stand in particular is the worst for it. whether its people not showing up or people leaving early. its half empty most midweek games. we used to be good for staying till the end and clapping our team off.

 

[kevin horlocks wand]

yea I've seen that mate. the family stand in particular is the worst for it. whether its people not showing up or people leaving early. its half empty most midweek games. we used to be good for staying till the end and clapping our team off.

You can forgive the family stand mid week, kids got to get to school in the morning!!!

Coming back to your analogy, I think Newcastle Sunderland and the dippers are a better example because like us they probably mainly drive to the games and they mainly stay to the end.

There is the traffic but there is also quite a lot of apathy at the moment amongst the fans a few I know ( inc me) are thinking of sacking it off next season. I don't know why to be honest I am just falling out of love with modern football.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

You can forgive the family stand mid week, kids got to get to school in the morning!!!

Coming back to your analogy, I think Newcastle Sunderland and the dippers are a better example because like us they probably mainly drive to the games and they mainly stay to the end.

There is the traffic but there is also quite a lot of apathy at the moment amongst the fans a few I know ( inc me) are thinking of sacking it off next season. I don't know why to be honest I am just falling out of love with modern football.

yea thats a better connection. i really dont understand why, when we were shit we had more fans going and a better atmosphere. now we are great, best owner, best manager, great players... people dont want to go. people have been priced out and we need to get them back. but why pay all that money for a season ticket, look miserable, leave early every game or dont show up ( not on about you btw :). i agree people are falling out of love with the modern game. other then city matches I'm finding football very boring to watch.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

It's mad, that even in our sold out games, there's clearly a few thousand fans not there or at least that's the case for games not against the top clubs. Out of all the top teams it's more noticeable at us than anywhere else I'd say. Can't get my head around the notion of buying a season ticket to attend a handful of games. 1 it's probably not worth it financially and 2 it's making the place empty and contributing to the flat atmosphere.

Last night was probably the worst I can remember from a leage game since the takeover. That counts for attendance and atmosphere.

I agree with your post except on the subject of record number of empties. The crowd for the midweek game before the FA Cup Final versus Wigan (maybe against West Brom) looked at least 5k less.

 

[bugsyblue]

The first half was better than usual mate. The Singing Section put I n a good shift and the odd chant of Stand up if you Love City and Bluemoon went round the ground. Got a bit flat second half and a bit nervy just before we scored the second.

I'm not expecting us to have the best atmosphere in the world for games like this, no disrespect to Watford, but it really is a modern phenomenon where our fans don't rally the team, drive them forward etc.

Last night I heard sporadic 'come on city'. In the past that would be the whole stadium getting behind the team.

We really do ourselves no favours. Unfortunately it takes key decisions to go against us, Chelsea ref debacle in the first half for example, or for us to be hitting form and scoring shed loads of goals for the fans to make noise these days.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I'm not expecting us to have the best atmosphere in the world for games like this, no disrespect to Watford, but it really is a modern phenomenon where our fans don't rally the team, drive them forward etc.

Last night I heard sporadic 'come on city'. In the past that would be the whole stadium getting behind the team.

We really do ourselves no favours. Unfortunately it takes key decisions to go against us, Chelsea ref debacle in the first half for example, or for us to be hitting form and scoring shed loads of goals for the fans to make noise these days.

Very true

 

[blue b4 the moon]

I sinned last night, last time I left early was Bolton under SP.

I was bursting for a slash up in SS3 and when we started messing about in the corner in injury time decided to go and have a piss.

I park up past the abbotoir and I was amazed at how clear the roads were. Leaving at full-time it's chocker when I get to the car.

 

[crystal_mais]

shocking at the end last night - Pep and a lot of these players probably come from an environment of having all the fans stay and clap them off -

Ok I get midweek and people want to get home and kids need to get home, but it also happens at weekends

 

[M18CTID]

It's mad, that even in our sold out games, there's clearly a few thousand fans not there or at least that's the case for games not against the top clubs. Out of all the top teams it's more noticeable at us than anywhere else I'd say. Can't get my head around the notion of buying a season ticket to attend a handful of games. 1 it's probably not worth it financially and 2 it's making the place empty and contributing to the flat atmosphere.

Last night was probably the worst I can remember from a leage game since the takeover. That counts for attendance and atmosphere.

I'd say Arsenal are on a par with us for it mate. It happens at quite a lot of their games too and when they played Bournemouth at home the other week there were literally loads of empties

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Unless we see ourselves as the hard done to underdogs, there's little atmopshpere.
Surprised just how sparse the crowd was last night. MUEN must be out of red ink.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Unless we see ourselves as the hard done to underdogs, there's little atmopshpere.
Surprised just how sparse the crowd was last night. MUEN must be out of red ink.

but even when we are the underdogs. or needing a goal its shit. against madrid and barca previously its been just as bad. when it was 2-1 against chelsea and we needed a goal most of the crowd got up and left.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

but even when we are the underdogs. or needing a goal its shit. against madrid and barca previously its been just as bad. when it was 2-1 against chelsea and we needed a goal most of the crowd got up and left.

You've picked the 3 games where I thought the atmosphere was ok, the ref certainly saw to that against Chelsea.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I get it with regards midweek games. But generally I see more empty seats at our ground for "sold out" games, than I see at any other in the Prem.

And for those who say "you've paid your money, it's none of anyone's business when you leave or if you turn up", I think that really misses the point. Having a shit atmosphere will definitely not help our performances, and doubtless doesn't help inspire new would-be supporters either. It's not good for the club's matchday revenues, nor image nor long term aspirations. I don't know what the solution is but I definitely think personally it's something that needs looking at.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

You've picked the 3 games where I thought the atmosphere was ok, the ref certainly saw to that against Chelsea.

it wasn't great though, the chelsea game in particular was bad. there aren't many games when we are behind or needing the support, where the crowd have really got behind the team. the odd game yes, but in the main the crowd start moaning or leave before the end wether we are the underdog or not.

 

[mayo31]

Last night was bad in terms of those who did not bother to show up for whatever reasons, I can understand it at times due to constant changes in fixture days and kick off times but this game was set ages ago.

As for those leaving, the South Stand is beyond the joke at 82 mins every game. I will only comment on that stand as I sat there. The amount of people who file out is unbelievable. Over a season they must miss approx. 152 mins in actual game time.

is traffic that bad every week? They must all be sat in that traffic together because they all leave early together.

I would say the team needs their support but in general we don't support the team at home, we are garbage at it. I include myself, I start the occasional chant but the apathy makes you give up or the look you get like you are an idiot.

I am fortunate in that I get to most away games and it is miles better but even there we get moaning fuckers saying people are acting daft or are allegedly drunk.

 

[Manchester33]

As for those leaving, the South Stand is beyond the joke at 82 mins every game. I will only comment on that stand as I sat there. The amount of people who file out is unbelievable. Over a season they must miss approx. 152 mins in actual game time.

is traffic that bad every week? They must all be sat in that traffic together because they all leave early together.

I don't think you can say traffic is an excuse to leave early though. Surely if you're going to any event with 50k+ spectators you're going to understand that the roads will be congested and public transport will be overwhelmed if they're all leaving at the same time - regardless of how good it is.

The two excuses are as follows: 1. (more common in south stand) I'm gonna arrive late and leave early before half time and the end of the match to fit more beers in. WELL WATCH IT IN THE PUB MATE!
2. (more common in the north stand) I'm gonna leave on 80 minutes to beat the traffic. I've got the kids with me and they either can't handle a full game OR they need to be up early for school. WELL IF YOUR KIDS AREN'T CAPABLE OF SITTING THROUGH THE MATCH FOR 90 MINUTES DON'T BRING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE or WATCH THE BLOODY MATCH FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR LIVING ROOM IF YOU'RE THAT BOTHERED ABOUT RETURNING THERE.

I think the club sold too many season tickets. We should have limited them to 37k and left 15k (after 2/3k have been given to the away team) for general sale. That way people won't hoard season tickets to go to the big games because they'll have a better chance of going as a one off. Then reduce ticket prices for the lesser games which will appeal to a local fanbase.

When we expand the North Stand I'd suggest keep season tickets at the same amount and leaving the rest for match by match sales.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Last night was bad in terms of those who did not bother to show up for whatever reasons, I can understand it at times due to constant changes in fixture days and kick off times but this game was set ages ago.

As for those leaving, the South Stand is beyond the joke at 82 mins every game. I will only comment on that stand as I sat there. The amount of people who file out is unbelievable. Over a season they must miss approx. 152 mins in actual game time.

is traffic that bad every week? They must all be sat in that traffic together because they all leave early together.

I would say the team needs their support but in general we don't support the team at home, we are garbage at it. I include myself, I start the occasional chant but the apathy makes you give up or the look you get like you are an idiot.

I am fortunate in that I get to most away games and it is miles better but even there we get moaning fuckers saying people are acting daft or are allegedly drunk.

Good post - I can almost see the indignant, excuse making faces reading this.

 

[cibaman]

fair play to him for traveling that far. but my question would be what is the point of buying a season ticket if your only gonna go to the big games or a few games. it would be more convenient and cheaper to just buy individual tickets. i would support a rule whereby your st was suspended if you missed so many games. there are loads of people who would love to get season tickets, but can't because it says its sold out, yet there are people who never show up.

He probably got to at least a dozen home PL games (and I often bumped into him at southern aways), it was just the evening kick offs he struggled to get to. And to be fair to him, when he bought his seasoncard he wouldnt know how many games would end up being switched to evenings. I remember him saying in 13/14 that he was thinking of not renewing as there'd been quite a few re-arranged fixtures near the end of that season. But he still kipped on his mate's sofa for the Villa game.