Singing section/Atmosphere

[lancs blue]

The European fans just seem to sing one song over and over. We could match that by a group singing, "Never felt more like singing the blues" or similar constantly, interspersed with some different songs. It has to be a simple easy chant to be continuous and effective.

Yes, and to me that's just background noise, not atmosphere. I went to Dortmund when we played them in the CL and their chanting is totally regimented, they hardly paused even to react to the goal, it was robotic almost - so much so that I barely noticed it after about 10 minutes. Despite the myths that get peddled on here the old Kippax was never a hub of continuous chanting, it could be as quiet as a cemetery at times. I'm all for more singing from the fans but not going down that route.

 

[paulchapo]

Yes, and to me that's just background noise, not atmosphere. I went to Dortmund when we played them in the CL and their chanting is totally regimented, they hardly paused even to react to the goal, it was robotic almost - so much so that I barely noticed it after about 10 minutes. Despite the myths that get peddled on here the old Kippax was never a hub of continuous chanting, it could be as quiet as a cemetery at times. I'm all for more singing from the fans but not going down that route.

I agree. I think a lot of fans look back upon Maine road as some sort of cauldron of noise but my recollection is it wasn't. I remember as a kid we used to complain amongst ourselves the kippax wasn't as loud as the kop. We did sing more but for a large proportion of our time there the football on the pitch was dire, we sang as a form of defiance and to entertain ourselves.

 

[HellYeah]

Do you clap as well? You wild bastard you

Don't be silly now. Just a 'well done chaps' is more than enough

 

[asaluttar]

Yeah, what shit fans they are for carrying on singing after conceding a goal.

He does have.a point.
I know it's supposed to be "atmosphere" to have loud singing but their singing was just too choreographed, mechanical, almost ritualistic. There was absolutely no spontaneity. This is an issue with a lot of bundesliga as well.

Normally keeping on singing when your team concedes is a gesture of support for your team, defiance, irony. In this case it was irrelevant, they were just a machine. In fact I found the odd bits of City singing to be more, well, natural.

 

[Stevieatlasblue]

The kippax was as loud as the kop on a good day.

 

[Blackcrowes]

I keep getting the survey on atmosphere - i scored Zero last night. It was terrible. I agree with the comments on here ref the regimented noise from the Basel so called fans. Doing a workout to an orchestrated / choreographed song list was very irritating. The contrast in noise levels associated with exciting phases of the game is a real atmosphere. If anyone brings a drum in the City section I might have to stop going. I associate this with teams from the lower divisions e.g. Wigan a few weeks ago. The only way atmosphere will improve is bringing booze back to the terraces and safe standing.

 

[franksinatra]

The kippax was as loud as the kop on a good day.

I doubt one was consistently better than the other. Stood on it circa 92 and it was no better than the Kippax and in all honesty probably a lot worse than most matches.

 

[geoff hammond]

We need an over 50s singing block for a game for us 1980s never-miss-a-game supporters/sufferers/ scrappers guys to show how it’s done. But then again I used to pay jack to get in and didn’t have to sit with my dad like my kids do so really i don’t know the answer.
Apologies, pissed from Disley

 

[moggymoz]

I keep getting the survey on atmosphere - i scored Zero last night. It was terrible. I agree with the comments on here ref the regimented noise from the Basel so called fans. Doing a workout to an orchestrated / choreographed song list was very irritating. The contrast in noise levels associated with exciting phases of the game is a real atmosphere. If anyone brings a drum in the City section I might have to stop going. I associate this with teams from the lower divisions e.g. Wigan a few weeks ago. The only way atmosphere will improve is bringing booze back to the terraces and safe standing.

Couldn't agree more mate. I watched the Wigan game on TV the other week and had to turn the sound off ...

 

[M18CTID]

I keep getting the survey on atmosphere - i scored Zero last night. It was terrible. I agree with the comments on here ref the regimented noise from the Basel so called fans. Doing a workout to an orchestrated / choreographed song list was very irritating. The contrast in noise levels associated with exciting phases of the game is a real atmosphere. If anyone brings a drum in the City section I might have to stop going. I associate this with teams from the lower divisions e.g. Wigan a few weeks ago. The only way atmosphere will improve is bringing booze back to the terraces and safe standing.

There was a drum in the City end on Wednesday night and one at Wembley the other week. I'm sorry to break that to you as I take it that means you'll be jacking your seasoncard in now ;)

 

[M18CTID]

Couldn't agree more mate. I watched the Wigan game on TV the other week and had to turn the sound off ...

Depends on how it gets used really. If you're just going to smack the shit out of it all game then it's a pain in the arse, but used more sparingly at strategic times and it can be a useful tool.

I think there's a lot of snobbery when it comes to discussing the use of drums and I include myself in that - it's not an idea I've been overly keen on, yet those of us who hold that view wouldn't think twice if we were at an away game where there was a corrugated fence at the back of the stand and proceeded to bang that to help get an atmosphere going. Sunderland and Stoke away last season for example. Which begs the question as to why we think that is perfectly acceptable but using a drum isn't?

It's also a myth that only fans of smaller clubs use drums - as well as many of the larger continental clubs, Celtic use one as well.

 

[John Oliver]

Is there anything more that could be done pre-match and half time to help? Maybe a celeb getting involved to crank up the singing, one of the Gallachers?

Are there any tweaks to the stadium itself that could help?

 

[blue b4 the moon]

We need an over 50s singing block for a game for us 1980s never-miss-a-game supporters/sufferers/ scrappers guys to show how it’s done. But then again I used to pay jack to get in and didn’t have to sit with my dad like my kids do so really i don’t know the answer.
Apologies, pissed from Disley

Ha we could all sing retro songs apart from 95% are not PC and we'd all get kicked out.

 

[paulchapo]

Never mind the bloody drum what happened to Helens bell? I remember it being rung a couple of seasons back it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

 

[pride in battle]

Is there anything more that could be done pre-match and half time to help? Maybe a celeb getting involved to crank up the singing, one of the Gallachers?
No...
People need to actually open their mouths and sing, not difficult granted but most of the stadium choose not too...

 

[paulchapo]

Is there anything more that could be done pre-match and half time to help? Maybe a celeb getting involved to crank up the singing, one of the Gallachers?

Are there any tweaks to the stadium itself that could help?

No they need to play the Clash singing "Should I stay or should I go?" with 15 minutes to go to the end of the game.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

The big cock up was pushing that 111 area as a singing section 10 years ago because now you've got 1000 or so hardcore singers in there who won't move but are basically lost to the atmosphere as it doesn't spread from there. That was the start of breaking up the singers. The club ballsed up their big chance to rectify this when they opened up SS Level 3. There were a few permutations which would have helped, but the one they chose was the worst option. The singers are now dispersed over three areas and it doesn't really work.

There would be one last opportunity to salvage things, but they won't do it. Change the name of the South Stand Upper Tier to "New Kippax" or something. Keep the season tickets all at £299. For half a season before the implementation market it as the mew singing end, offering existing season ticket holders in that tier the chance to relocate elsewhere for the same price. Put 1894 up at the back of that section, allow banners and flags etc. Make it first come/first served for the rest of the season tickets up there but make it clear there will be standing etc.

Songs would sound louder and would spread from up there quickly round the ground. It's still next to the away fans. If/when it started to work then people would gravitate towards it. And it wold have that "end" feel about it being high, steep and if it was draped with banners.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

palace fans seem to do ok ,and they only have a fraction of our fan base

true...

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

The big cock up was pushing that 111 area as a singing section 10 years ago because now you've got 1000 or so hardcore singers in there who won't move but are basically lost to the atmosphere as it doesn't spread from there. That was the start of breaking up the singers. The club ballsed up their big chance to rectify this when they opened up SS Level 3. There were a few permutations which would have helped, but the one they chose was the worst option. The singers are now dispersed over three areas and it doesn't really work.

There would be one last opportunity to salvage things, but they won't do it. Change the name of the South Stand Upper Tier to "New Kippax" or something. Keep the season tickets all at £299. For half a season before the implementation market it as the mew singing end, offering existing season ticket holders in that tier the chance to relocate elsewhere for the same price. Put 1894 up at the back of that section, allow banners and flags etc. Make it first come/first served for the rest of the season tickets up there but make it clear there will be standing etc.

Songs would sound louder and would spread from up there quickly round the ground. It's still next to the away fans. If/when it started to work then people would gravitate towards it. And it wold have that "end" feel about it being high, steep and if it was draped with banners.

Have the first two tiers to do that, i would suspect the banners etc they do the club wont allow them to do on tier 3

 

[Manchester33]

So, as someone who doesn't sing, dance or play the drums you're saying I'm not a proper fan. Are you seriously measuring the quality of being a fan by the amount of singing done.

It's a good job I always stay till the end. In fact I usually stay until the team have left the pitch.
Does that go some way to satisfy you're proper fan criteria

At what point did I mention you not being a proper fan? I'd class you as a spectator. It's down to you if you feel like your 'support' is less fanatical than someone who goes and sings and gets behind the team.

My personal opinion is that the 40,000+ fans who go and don't make a peep all game are the reason our atmosphere is poor. I would prefer a noisier atmosphere at City. If you disagree, fine, but I don't really see why you're on this thread if you do.