It's not the singing section as such, it's the amount of people not singing.
I see and hear smaller groups of Fans/Ultras in the Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga, and they make more constant noise than our South Stand lower tier and Kippax Corner put together.
Let's just face facts. Our fans can't be arsed singing constantly en-masse. We've also got an aging support.
1894, even though they do try, and I include myself in that group, are situated in the worst place possible place to create an atmosphere, i.e., under the concrete overhang at the top of block 115. The noise doesn't travel. Nobody bar those in that area, and further down in 115 can hear the chants. My partner, step daughter above in 212, and my mates in the SS 3rd tier can't hear the chants.
The new singing section in 115 has failed. There's not point in having 10-20 lads trying to get songs going at the back of the block, when hundreds of fans in front and either side of the block are not joining in or can't be bothered to join in.
The club is trying, but not enough. It's knocked back various requests and ideas to improve the atmosphere, which have followed meetings, after meetings.
The club can't allocate a large group of singers prime seats in the middle of block 115 as they have all been taken by season ticket holders. The very season ticket holders who relocated to the new singing section in 115, but they don't sing. The only seats left to get a large group of fans together are at the front of the block. And even then, those behind that group at the front don't bother singing. They stand there in silence. What's the f***ing point!? After all, it is the new official singing section. Or is it?
TBH it's a f***ing mess, even though 1894 are trying their best to improve the atmosphere.
Until the stadium is expanded again, which I doubt it will be given the on-going empty seats issue, and until the club create a proper singing section, and allow ideas to be trailed, without capitulating to security and h&s rules and regulations, and pressure from people within the club, the atmosphere at the Etihad will never improve.
Yes this is a rant, but bar the big games, it seems as a club, and as a set of fans, we are forever going around in circles with this atmosphere issue.
Good night. :-)
PS. Thank f*** for Pep. Because I'd hate to think what the atmosphere would be like at the Etihad with a s*** City team.
