Singing section/Atmosphere

[Danamy]

You know what the real issue is ?

People are too engaged in watching the fantastic football we are playing, when we were shite we had nothing better to do.

That said, I don't remember the atmosphere being that fantastic under Pearce, nor under Alan Ball/Frank Clarke, or even the early part of Joe Royle.

Just about to post the same thing, I used to sing all the time during games through the years but now it's different, don't get me wrong I still have a blast now and again when the Adrenaline and beer kicks in during away games but the football being served up now has everyone's attention.

I want to watch, appreciate and cherish what i'm seeing. I want to study Silva's movement, be mesmerised by KdB sixth sense and applaud Ederson's distribution, it's different now but I wouldn't change it for the world.

 

[There is a Light]

Yep true, I felt a little sorry for him.. he looked a little deflated at the fact nobody was joining in. I commented to the fans around me "Doesn't he know we don't sing in this stadium?" I don't really know what happened to the atmosphere in the stadium, I know it was a lot better when we were going for the league under Bob - and that was with less fans in the ground. I think we've fucked up with this offering fans the incentive to move to the 3rd tier of the South Stand by making it cheaper. I was in block 116 for years and for me that was the only bit that sang properly.. now even that section appears quiet. Too many fans moved up to the third tier.. so it broke up the effective 'singing section'.

All the old theories (excuses) are going fast on 'what happened to the atmosphere'. It has to be the vast majority of supporters who either can't be arsed or don't care about the atmosphere.

Tickets too expensive - wrong, we've had plenty of low prices matches with no real improvement
Singers spread over the ground - wrong, overall the atmosphere has got worse since introduction of singing section
One end - we have three full ends which don't make a noise and when we have a full end at cup matches, no improvement
Acoustics - the noise travels just fine in the SS third tier but the atmosphere is no better
Tourists /new fans - no, the traditional fans let the atmosphere down as much if not more than anyone else
No groups of young fans - again, I see plenty of lads of all ages, no real difference
Need a good team to inspire the atmosphere - again that one's out of the window

 

[cleavers]

I want to watch, appreciate and cherish what i'm seeing. I want to study Silva's movement, be mesmerised by KdB sixth sense and applaud Ederson's distribution, it's different now but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Totally agree, and like you I still regularly join in anyway.

I get fed up with these threads, "empty seats", and "no atmosphere". Its almost like some like to crank them up for some reason....

We've never regularly filled a stadium like we do now, and when the atmosphere kicks off, its still pretty good, just like the football.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Totally agree, and like you I still regularly join in anyway.

I get fed up with these threads, "empty seats", and "no atmosphere". Its almost like some like to crank them up for some reason....

We've never regularly filled a stadium like we do now, and when the atmosphere kicks off, its still pretty good, just like the football.

That’s all good and it’s down to personal choice how people watch the game / support the team. Each to their own.

That said, if the lads don’t get enough vocal support then we are not making the most of home advantage. Pep has said as much. We usually get away with it in the League because of our superior quality but can fall short in a Champs league and some other Cup games.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Totally agree, and like you I still regularly join in anyway.

I get fed up with these threads, "empty seats", and "no atmosphere". Its almost like some like to crank them up for some reason....

We've never regularly filled a stadium like we do now, and when the atmosphere kicks off, its still pretty good, just like the football.

its because people are fed up with the etihad being like a morgue. atmosphere is a big deal for a lot of fans, including myself and is one of the main reasons people like going. even pep himself and our players say how much of a difference it can make. i think people just want to vent there frustrations about it and try and come up with solutions on here. i think its a big deal for a lot fans.

 

[cleavers]

its because people are fed up with the etihad being like a morgue.

Maine Road often was, in fact sometimes it was positively toxic.

If you want it to be better, then sing more, and louder.

The issue with the singing section, as I've said many times on here, is its in the wrong place. In SS3 we can't hardly ever hear it , if you were up there you would be far louder, you'd have a better view, and it'd be cheaper too :-) win, win, win.

 

[There is a Light]

don't agree at all with those two points. the singers are spread all around the ground. we have a tiny singing section thats split between away fans. the south pretty much the entire time we've been at the etihad has been poor. most clubs have bigger sections swell. its makes a huge difference
i you think there are plenty of young fans ( 18-25 year olds) at the etihad than you are at a different ground- most people are middle aged- 50-60 years old.

those two things a lone would make a huge difference imo. a properly placed and big enough home end and more younger people. id agree with your point not enough people can be arsed, but all those factors do contribute to that as well.

I can only say what I see. There are plenty of lads in their late teens / early twenties who go to the match. They also put 500 singers together in the singing section. It might be better in that little area, but as a stadium as a whole not at all.

The atmosphere shouldn't have to be organised, under a roof, in one end or at the front or back of a stand. We are watching the best attacking football anywhere, and for whatever reason there is only the same old apathetic atmosphere to match it.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Maine Road often was, in fact sometimes it was positively toxic.

If you want it to be better, then sing more, and louder.

The issue with the singing section, as I've said many times on here, is its in the wrong place. In SS3 we can't hardly ever hear it , if you were up there you would be far louder, you'd have a better view, and it'd be cheaper too :-) win, win, win.

i feel like the maine road comparison is a bit of an excuse as to why its bad now. I only went near the end of maine road, but for me it was miles better then anything we have now. yes it wasnt some cauldron of noise very game. At maine road we didnt always watch amazing football and the atmosphere was better imo then now - when we are competing for the league. we haven't come anywhere near matching it noise wise at the etihad. we had a proper singing area and didn't have acoustic problems. i sing my voice off when i go most games. some of the suggestions on here are really good imo and the discussion is good.

i agree with your other point too mate.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I can only say what I see. There are plenty of lads in their late teens / early twenties who go to the match. They also put 500 singers together in the singing section. It might be better in that little area, but as a stadium as a whole not at all.

The atmosphere shouldn't have to be organised, under a roof, in one end or at the front or back of a stand. We are watching the best attacking football anywhere, and for whatever reason there is only the same old apathetic atmosphere to match it.

fair enough. it might just be where I'm sat. I'm in my early twenties and the vast majority of people i sit near are in there 50s +, even in cheesys videos look how old our away support is. most grounds have always had home ends or areas where the singers go. we dont really have that now ( tiny section). i think it could make a big difference. i agree with your last point.

 

[cleavers]

i feel like the maine road comparison is a bit of an excuse as to why its bad now. I only went near the end of maine road, but for me it was miles better then anything we have now. yes it wasnt some cauldron of noise very game. At maine road we weren't competing for titles/ didnt watch amazing football and the atmosphere was better imo then now when we are. we haven't come anywhere near matching it noise wise at the etihad. I reckon if we were at maine road now competing for titles it would be miles better. we had a proper singing area and didn't have acoustic problems. i sing my voice off when i go. some of the suggestions on here are really good imo and the discussion is good.

It really isn't an excuse mate, I was there for nearly 30 years before we moved, it was sometimes very good, but often it wasn't, and over the years it was often more than half empty (or worse).

We've matched and surpassed the noise many times at the Etihad, but its only in a certain type of games. The best atmosphere I've ever experienced (other than at Wembley or a very small few away games), in well over 40 years, has been at the Etihad, the United home game in 2012, not to mention the Agueroooooo moment, though that game was patchy for obvious reasons, there have been others too.

I don't romanticise about atmosphere, simply because I've been going long enough to have experienced the good the bad and the ugly, and the empty seat argument is even worse, because we regularly fill many more spaces than we ever have. Yes we've had bigger crowds in our history, but never consistently, there were maybe 2000 missing yesterday, so even if we only counted those in the stadium it was well over 50,000, as are most of our crowds, in most competitions, and I've been at LC semis with far less than against Bristol C for instance.

 

[Philip07766]

I’m 61 and been going since 1968. My season ticket is in SS3 because of the price. Normally I’d of migrated to the Main Stand to watch and chat, cheer and clap a goal but it’s not what I do now. An exception is the derby or semi final. Younger blokes should put their phones down and unstintingly support the team but loads of em are snowflakes. If we were in the championship playing Leeds and Milwall the support and atmosphere would be brilliant but the team shit. There you go, the price of success, that’s it, malaise like United Chelsea arsenal and Liverpool. There’s nothing wrong with acoustics, prices they’re all excuses. The dempgraphic of fans at top teams has changed you only have to see posts of people moaning about, lads in firms, being pissed at away games and Wembley, obscene chanting, people standing up, kids not liking swearing etc etc. Modern top class football comes at a price and for me it’s worth it but I’m old. I miss the electric circus, hacienda, punk etc but there you go. Night

 

[jrb]

Totally agree, and like you I still regularly join in anyway.

I get fed up with these threads, "empty seats", and "no atmosphere". Its almost like some like to crank them up for some reason....

We've never regularly filled a stadium like we do now, and when the atmosphere kicks off, its still pretty good, just like the football.

Cleavers.

You might get fed up, but we don't.

Not being funny mate, but don't read or post in the thread then. That's not a pop at you.

Many fans are passionate about an atmosphere and about creating it.

For many fans it's part and parcel of going to the match.

I've always been a singer. From the very first time I went to the top left corner of the Kippax, next to the away fans, to now. Like many I know what a proper atmosphere is, and what proper support should be. That's not me being big headed. That's me being part of it for 40 years. Kippax, North Stand, Kippax Corner, SS Block 115.

Listen to Pep. He has asked the fans to create a better atmosphere. He spent 3 seasons at Bayern. Brilliant support. It was a culture shock for him comimg to the PL after 3 seasons in the Bundesliga and hearing a pin drop home and away on many occasions. The players have asked for our support as well. It's something we should be doing without being asked to do. It's easy to do. It's free. All it takes is for us to open our mouths and to sing songs. It couldn't be any easier. The only thing that is easier is to sit or stand in silence instead. And there lies the problem.

 

[There is a Light]

Well said but it's a lost cause I'm afraid. Too many that just don't give a f*ck.

 

[cleavers]

Cleavers.

You might get fed up, but we don't.

Not being funny mate, but don't read or post in the thread then. That's not a pop at you.

Many fans are passionate about an atmosphere and about creating it.

For many fans it's part and parcel of going to the match.

I've always been a singer. From the very first time I went to the top left corner of the Kippax, next to the away fans, to now. Like many I know what a proper atmosphere is, and what proper support should be. That's not me being big headed. That's me being part of it for 40 years. Kippax, North Stand, Kippax Corner, SS Block 115.

With the greatest respect f**k off, it is a pop at me, simply because you don't like my reply, I've pretty much been in all those areas myself, so I don't need a lecture on the subject.

The problem is you don't know me, but I was singing at City long before you were, so I'll read the thread and post on it if that's OK with you (or not), especially if I think some of the comments are bollocks.

You want a great singing section, good, so do I, but being where it is currently situated, its never going to work, because most of the stadium can't hear you, and even if we could there aren't enough of you anyway.

 

[jrb]

With the greatest respect f**k off, it is a pop at me, simply because you don't like my reply, I've pretty much been in all those areas myself, so I don't need a lecture on the subject.

The problem is you don't know me, but I was singing at City long before you were, so I'll read the thread and post on it if that's OK with you (or not), especially if I think some of the comments are bollocks.

You want a great singing section, good, so do I, but being where it is currently situated, its never going to work, because most of the stadium can't hear you, and even if we could there aren't enough of you anyway.

No it's not.

But if you think it is, fair enough.

*I get fed up with these threads, "empty seats", and "no atmosphere". Its almost like some like to crank them up for some reason*....

Are you calling me a crank? ;-)

You must be older than me then?

First match. Sat on the whitwashed Kippax wall. City 6 - Chelsea 2.

Let me guess......

I know. I've been banging on about it for years. I've attended numerous meetings with the club about it. One only last Week. They aren't blind or deaf to the problem. Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do about it. The stadium isn't going to change again anytime soon. There's a clue. We're stuck with the stadium as it is.

We can only do our best going forward. And that includes threads like this, that try and get the message out by asking City fans to please sing more, and to try and create a better atmosphere at the Etihad.

PS. What about a drum?

 

[trevorriley]

We can argue all day long and put the blame on a number of things, but when it boils down to it there isn't a fault on the clubs behalf or ticket prices or the "good" fans that do actually sing or on 1894.. Its the fault of the fans that don't sing, there are 1000's. I don't expect the whole stadium to sing, a large percentage go to watch football and enjoy the game a different way. But we have got fans singing when we score or when Clattenburg was referee, well bloody sing now and again during the game !

The fans that do sing and 1894 deserve a medal, a lot just cant be arsed and we need a culture change.

 

[jrb]

I was at my branch meeting last night.

It looked like a Saga reunion. That includes me at 50! :-)

And there lies one if the issues.
Our fanbase is old and ageing.

26 years of winning nothing, and the Rags winning everything, means they attracted all of today's twenty and thirty somethings. They are the age groups that sing the most.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Maine Road often was, in fact sometimes it was positively toxic.

If you want it to be better, then sing more, and louder.

The issue with the singing section, as I've said many times on here, is its in the wrong place. In SS3 we can't hardly ever hear it , if you were up there you would be far louder, you'd have a better view, and it'd be cheaper too :-) win, win, win.

Correct!

Or, as i'm hoping, at the other end in an expanded North Stand.

 

[kevin horlocks wand]

No it's not.

But if you think it is, fair enough.

*I get fed up with these threads, "empty seats", and "no atmosphere". Its almost like some like to crank them up for some reason*....

Are you calling me a crank? ;-)

You must be older than me then?

First match. Sat on the whitwashed Kippax wall. City 6 - Chelsea 2.

Let me guess......

I know. I've been banging on about it for years. I've attended numerous meetings with the club about it. One only last Week. They aren't blind or deaf to the problem. Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do about it. The stadium isn't going to change again anytime soon. There's a clue. We're stuck with the stadium as it is.

We can only do our best going forward. And that includes threads like this, that try and get the message out by asking City fans to please sing more, and to try and create a better atmosphere at the Etihad.

PS. What about a drum?

I would prefer it if they banned iphones. Look around the ground and see a vast amount of people videoing the game or staring like a zombie at their phones.

maybe that way people would start getting involved.

 

[moomey]

I'm sure it must have been said before but the only answer is to bring back standing in some shape or form. I'm convinced there will build a head of steam from the PL themselves as the "product" is degrading given the paucity of atmosphere across the league. I predict it will happen within next five years.