Good tactic, I would have done the same if I'd been the visiting captain and won the toss to take the home team out of their comfort zone. Ah but what about getting your away support behind you in the second half, I hear you cry............wouldn't have made a lot of difference last night would it!
I love playing that way round and I think we actually win more. It's hard to say this year as we don't lose much but I remember keeping a tally of this in the premier league and we definitely won a highr percentage when we played thaat way round.
I remember when Pardew first came in, he enquired as to whether the away fans could be moved away from the South Stand so we could kick towards our fans both halves.
DRF, I think you are right though...in the Prem we did win a load going the 'wrong' way. Memorable games including Chelsea 4-2, Blackburn 3-2 and Liverpool 2-0.
Always feel a bit uncomfortable and disorentated when we get turned arse about face. No logic really....but it's just tradition going back to at least 1957 when I first started going......and no doubt way beyond that.
I ususally prefer kicking towards the Covered End in the second half but the result yesterday was I got a very good look at both pens, so I can't really complain
I remember when Pardew first came in, he enquired as to whether the away fans could be moved away from the South Stand so we could kick towards our fans both halves.
DRF, I think you are right though...in the Prem we did win a load going the 'wrong' way. Memorable games including Chelsea 4-2, Blackburn 3-2 and Liverpool 2-0.
I'm sure the Chelsea 4-2 game we kicked towards the Covered End 2nd half?
I didn't hear any reports on the radio last night about the game, all I've read is the BBC text which mentions the penalties. But for some strange reason, when I envisioned the incidents in my mind, I imagined them happening at the covered end. Maybe it's because we'd had two penalties at that end already this season?!
Interesting to look into the advantages and disadvantages of kicking towards the Covered End or JS. Always thought sometimes it may have been superstition- for example if we hadn't won at home for a while we would change, last season after the Brighton thrashing we played Wednesday, Yeovil and Bristol Rovers at home with us kicking towards the JS in 2nd half. Interestingly in Pardews first game, the infamous Fulham free kick was at the Covered End.
This season, last night it may have worked to our advantage but think it did not when we played Wednesday in September.
Thought of another Jimmy Seed stand classic. The 2-2 draw with Newcastle which was our first point in about 3 months....was it Pringle in the last minute?
Of course there was a time when it didn't matter what end we kicked towards because our fans would be behind it...we all just strolled around to the other end at half time
Of course there was a time when it didn't matter what end we kicked towards because our fans would be behind it...we all just strolled around to the other end at half time
can appreciate that having been to non league grounds where they still do it. though at Ebbsfleet the home fans dont like moving from their end because it has a roof and the other end hasent.
Of course there was a time when it didn't matter what end we kicked towards because our fans would be behind it...we all just strolled around to the other end at half time
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DRF, I think you are right though...in the Prem we did win a load going the 'wrong' way. Memorable games including Chelsea 4-2, Blackburn 3-2 and Liverpool 2-0.
No logic really....but it's just tradition going back to at least 1957 when I first started going......and no doubt way beyond that.
We lost 1-0 to chelsk kicking Jimmy seed stand 2nd half.
This season, last night it may have worked to our advantage but think it did not when we played Wednesday in September.
though at Ebbsfleet the home fans dont like moving from their end because it has a roof and the other end hasent.