Worst atmosphere of the season so far. It's not at all unusual for the home fans to get out sung these days and I'm sure it happens at most grounds. Today was very one sided though.
That doesn't mean anything. Anyone can start a song, but if 500 people don't join in, noone's going to hear it. I doubt whether Barnsley heard us today.
That doesn't mean anything. Anyone can start a song, but if 500 people don't join in, noone's going to hear it. I doubt whether Barnsley heard us today.
Old enough to realise I can click a name and see a date that someone joined.. Reading for about a year, but posting on and off since Feb.
Perhaps I'll explain a little - today the crowd was ineveitably watered down a little by the Football For a Fiver promotion. That doesn't help the atmosphere to much, it was refreshing to hear the whole ground clapping at one point - but apart from that as far as getting songs going it's not so great really. I was at the very front of the standing (in H Block) for the Stevenage game last season, Football For a Fiver again, and had people bemused at my enthusiasm for singing at one point!
Now further up, that doesn't have too much of an effect granted - but it's all relative. Today it was piss poor, and about 35/40 minutes in I was a bit miffed at people getting on the players backs already. (I actually believe that had the support been a bit better it would've showed on the pitch - 'every little helps' as they say when you're getting your clubcard through!) To an extent that does mean there is no excuse, but come on - a thread blaming part of the ground?
I get that it is 'The Covered End Choir', that there is a drum and so on - but it was a poor game, lots of people who just came to see a game of football without any real knowledge of the club (and good for them! It's through opportunities like today that we can potentially expand our fan-base) and the atmosphere just wasn't there. Perhaps it hasn't been there properly this season, even the 'We are the H/J Block... ' which was ringing out last year hasn't made a debut that I've noticed.
I just think it's down right retarded to start blaming people when nothing is stopping anyone from starting a song themselves. It's a little a kin to me starting a thread saying 'Why hasn't someone done a "Would Ya" for Ann Robinson yet? Come on guys, sort it out.'; after all - I could've just done it myself. Just seems like a bit of a naff thread.
Let's not kid ourselves, the atmosphere was poor and something needs to be done about it. I've heard better atmospheres with worse performances in recent years.
Us Charlton fans very much feed of the teams performance. I don't mind rubbish football, I'm used to it and accepted the crap cards that the football Gods have dealt me. If I did mind I wouldn't have been watching Charlton for over 30 years. What I still can't accept is tedium like we got today; That's when we struggle to create an atmosphere.
Let's not kid ourselves, the atmosphere was poor and something needs to be done about it. I've heard better atmospheres with worse performances in recent years.
Presume you must be on the wind up mate? The atmosphere was poor but in truth it's rarely brilliant. Why should it be down to us in the north upper to make noise, seemingly for your added entertainment!? Maybe you'd like us to refund your ticket because you weren't satisfied with 'our' performance! Atmosphere tends to rely on few key ingredients (which we seem to be lacking at the moment) - 1. A large enough fan base that want to make noise rather than just listen to it (not that there's anything wrong with not wanting to sing) 2. A decent performance on the pitch - or a least a gutsy, hard fought, passionate performance - even if we end up be outclassed and beaten and 3. If all else fails, there needs to be banter between home and away fans in a close enough proximity to actually hear each other (and this will never happen at the valley as fans won't be moved, they won't want to pay the additional costs of security and I'm sure there is an argument that even if on a small scale, it must lead to more trouble outside the game).
It's not an entirely stupid question though, as generally 9 out of 10 songs start from the North Upper, after all that's where the noisiest fans congregate, and where the drums are. Indeed North Upper supporters are happy to boast about them being the main singing section, while East and West fans grumble into their thermos flasks. It's not the Upper West choir is it...
Yesterday, hardly any songs started. Even at corners there was barely a peep, indeed this season it's been pretty poor, even against Palace.
It is normal that away fans sing more, when we're away we create a good atmosphere and outsing the home supporters, but this year at home we've been particularly quiet.
On reflection, even yesterday was nothing compared to the total no-sing from the Ipswich fans. It's obvious that events on the pitch have a massive impact on the noise from the stands, which is a shame, but not surprising. Also, given a choice between a disappointing atmosphere and a noisy atmosphere created by a load of feral chavs who throw seats and punch goalkeepers I'd take the former, though I know not everyone would. (And yes, I appreciate that there's a middle ground.)
Ross, it is a great tradition in football that all grounds have an "end" i.e. behind a goal. The Stretford end, The Kop, the North Bank, The Shed etc. In our case it was, and to most of us still is "The covered end" only in recent times has it become "The north upper".
It is these "ends" that attract the fans that want to sing, chant and generally get the atmosphere going in the ground.
If you think, or even expect the East or West stands to start off songs or generate an atmosphere over and above "the North Upper" you are dreaming.
With us lot, it seems we need the team to actually start showing some attacking threat or a major incident to happen before we find our voices. It very rarely happened thus little singing, the loudest the place got was the penalty appeal. Not a good day all round, it was a dire performance and obviously no one was in the mood for singing. It happens.
In my own case, I used to be in the Covered End choir (and very vocal too) between the ages of about 13 and 30. That got stopped by the move to Shitehurst and then West Ham. Nowadays, I prefer to sit with my adult son in the East Stand. I still get vocal but only really join in with the singing when the atmosphere is already buzzing. The fact is there is not a critical mass of singers in the East Stand and when only one or two lead off it feels pretty lame and embarrassing. I wouldn't mind betting that a lot of us older fans in the East and West were Covered Enders back in our day and have done our vocal bit over the years, and also that most of the current North-Uppers will move to the East and West as they get older too.
Having said that, I for one really appreciate it when the North-Uppers are in fine voice as it lifts the performance on the pitch, enhances the atmosphere and makes the whole day more enjoyable. Sure, it was quieter than usual yesterday but there was precious little to get excited about on the pitch. I believe that the crowd responds to what the players do, even if it is just someone making a strong tackle.
Ross, it is a great tradition in football that all grounds have an "end" i.e. behind a goal. The Stretford end, The Kop, the North Bank, The Shed etc. In our case it was, and to most of us still is "The covered end" only in recent times has it become "The north upper".
It is these "ends" that attract the fans that want to sing, chant and generally get the atmosphere going in the ground.
If you think, or even expect the East or West stands to start off songs or generate an atmosphere over and above "the North Upper" you are dreaming.
I don't expect anyone to sing if they don't want to. My point was that people shouldn't expect an atmosphere from the north upper or more to the point, moan about it not being good enough, especially, as is suggested by the post, they don't sit there themselves. I also don't expect people to generate or start off songs anywhere else in the ground but there will never be a great atmosphere until the east, west and other parts of the north join in more than is the case already. I think most of us have accepted that will probably never happen.
Ross, it is a great tradition in football that all grounds have an "end" i.e. behind a goal. The Stretford end, The Kop, the North Bank, The Shed etc. In our case it was, and to most of us still is "The covered end" only in recent times has it become "The north upper".
It is these "ends" that attract the fans that want to sing, chant and generally get the atmosphere going in the ground.
If you think, or even expect the East or West stands to start off songs or generate an atmosphere over and above "the North Upper" you are dreaming.
I don't expect anyone to sing if they don't want to. My point was that people shouldn't expect an atmosphere from the north upper or more to the point, moan about it not being good enough, especially, as is suggested by the post, they don't sit there themselves. I also don't expect people to generate or start off songs anywhere else in the ground but there will never be a great atmosphere until the east, west and other parts of the north join in more than is the case already. I think most of us have accepted that will probably never happen.
Why don't you make noise in the West/East Stand where you sit if you're so passionate about the atmosphere being created, you help make one yourself. #twat
Comments
Perhaps I'll explain a little - today the crowd was ineveitably watered down a little by the Football For a Fiver promotion. That doesn't help the atmosphere to much, it was refreshing to hear the whole ground clapping at one point - but apart from that as far as getting songs going it's not so great really. I was at the very front of the standing (in H Block) for the Stevenage game last season, Football For a Fiver again, and had people bemused at my enthusiasm for singing at one point!
Now further up, that doesn't have too much of an effect granted - but it's all relative. Today it was piss poor, and about 35/40 minutes in I was a bit miffed at people getting on the players backs already. (I actually believe that had the support been a bit better it would've showed on the pitch - 'every little helps' as they say when you're getting your clubcard through!) To an extent that does mean there is no excuse, but come on - a thread blaming part of the ground?
I get that it is 'The Covered End Choir', that there is a drum and so on - but it was a poor game, lots of people who just came to see a game of football without any real knowledge of the club (and good for them! It's through opportunities like today that we can potentially expand our fan-base) and the atmosphere just wasn't there. Perhaps it hasn't been there properly this season, even the 'We are the H/J Block... ' which was ringing out last year hasn't made a debut that I've noticed.
I just think it's down right retarded to start blaming people when nothing is stopping anyone from starting a song themselves. It's a little a kin to me starting a thread saying 'Why hasn't someone done a "Would Ya" for Ann Robinson yet? Come on guys, sort it out.'; after all - I could've just done it myself. Just seems like a bit of a naff thread.
Atmosphere tends to rely on few key ingredients (which we seem to be lacking at the moment) - 1. A large enough fan base that want to make noise rather than just listen to it (not that there's anything wrong with not wanting to sing) 2. A decent performance on the pitch - or a least a gutsy, hard fought, passionate performance - even if we end up be outclassed and beaten and 3. If all else fails, there needs to be banter between home and away fans in a close enough proximity to actually hear each other (and this will never happen at the valley as fans won't be moved, they won't want to pay the additional costs of security and I'm sure there is an argument that even if on a small scale, it must lead to more trouble outside the game).
Yesterday, hardly any songs started. Even at corners there was barely a peep, indeed this season it's been pretty poor, even against Palace.
It is normal that away fans sing more, when we're away we create a good atmosphere and outsing the home supporters, but this year at home we've been particularly quiet.
Also, given a choice between a disappointing atmosphere and a noisy atmosphere created by a load of feral chavs who throw seats and punch goalkeepers I'd take the former, though I know not everyone would. (And yes, I appreciate that there's a middle ground.)
It is these "ends" that attract the fans that want to sing, chant and generally get the atmosphere going in the ground.
If you think, or even expect the East or West stands to start off songs or generate an atmosphere over and above "the North Upper" you are dreaming.
Having said that, I for one really appreciate it when the North-Uppers are in fine voice as it lifts the performance on the pitch, enhances the atmosphere and makes the whole day more enjoyable. Sure, it was quieter than usual yesterday but there was precious little to get excited about on the pitch. I believe that the crowd responds to what the players do, even if it is just someone making a strong tackle.