Why are our fans the way they are?

[Nolucklcfc]

Appreciate this has been discussed in the stadium atmosphere thread a little bit but I guess it’s a question for our more experienced fan on here, have our fans just always been a bit soft and half hearted compared to the rest? 
 

Especially compared to some of our rivals. Why are clappers universally accepted by our fanbase when they’d have been refused at other clubs our size? Why do we have so many sitters at away games? Why is there a focus on the opposition fans instead of our own team? We just don’t feel like a club that’s got a real raw passion to it in any way. We score a goal away from home (obviously not this season 😅) and there are never any genuine limbs or real passion celebrating a goal. I know we’ve had some half decent atmospheres over the years but let’s be honest there are levels to it. 
 

Just wondered, even going back to Filbert street, have we always just been a bit half hearted and soft? Not a football city? 

[Paninistickers]

Good question..

 

It's always been a bit like this. Not to this extent. But we've always been a very fractured fan base. Back in the 80s and 90s, you had the insane, unwashed, sandwich munching brigade + those looking for trouble (both of whom couldn't give a shit about the results) 

 

Maybe it stems from a city which made socks, bras and knickers. Not quite the welding and panel beating shipyards of Glasgow & Tyneside. 

[Fox92]

40 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

Good question..

 

It's always been a bit like this. Not to this extent. But we've always been a very fractured fan base. Back in the 80s and 90s, you had the insane, unwashed, sandwich munching brigade + those looking for trouble (both of whom couldn't give a shit about the results) 

 

Maybe it stems from a city which made socks, bras and knickers. Not quite the welding and panel beating shipyards of Glasgow & Tyneside. 

Dunno about Tyneside. Newcastle are nothing like OP described. Media go mental for them because their fans take their shirts off when it’s cold. On that note, have you noticed how many of their fans wear replica shirts? I reckon they are top at that. Don’t even get me started on their home atmosphere though, it’s awful. But again the media seem to big it up for some reason.

[Gamble92]

This has become a bit of a myth on here. We absolutely have had "limbs". Hate that expression but you watch some of them vlogs from home fans last season and we had some class celebrations. Even ones like Rotherham early on.

 

Also the home fans as bad as it has been, it's nothing like the worst in the country. 

 

Don't be fooled by the little renaissance Forest have had if you're using them as an example. Go there 99% of the time from 1999-2022 and it was as bad as any atmosphere anywhere. Ours was lauded from the great escape onwards too.

 

Perspective is needed at times. 

[Foxes1]

As someone who goes back to following us from the 1970's we have had some great away ends and a good home atmosphere at times, problem now is with grounds becoming all seater the atmosphere has got worse and its not only at the KP. People quote St James' Park has a good atmosphere but it hasn't, I think the only way to improve atmosphere at away games is to have an unallocated seating system as it was at Randers away where the atmosphere was brilliant.

[MattFox]

19 minutes ago, Gamble92 said:

This has become a bit of a myth on here. We absolutely have had "limbs". Hate that expression but you watch some of them vlogs from home fans last season and we had some class celebrations. Even ones like Rotherham early on.

 

Also the home fans as bad as it has been, it's nothing like the worst in the country. 

 

Don't be fooled by the little renaissance Forest have had if you're using them as an example. Go there 99% of the time from 1999-2022 and it was as bad as any atmosphere anywhere. Ours was lauded from the great escape onwards too.

 

Perspective is needed at times. 

Forest were getting less than 20k a few years back in the championship 

 

Their fan base is as fair weather as you can get 

 

 

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

Big difference between home and away crowds, but that’s to be expected. But I don’t think it’s bad as anyone else. Modern football and especially your average home going fan is relatively ‘soft’ and passive. My personal view is that modern pricing means it’s mostly only accessible to a certain type of person, and many rowdy types are priced out.
 

I also think some of these points are a bit crass - like all those who get a clapper is a soft passive fan. I usually take a clapper and I’m not certainly not passive! Clappere are also not universally accepted - in fact I’d say most don’t take them now.

 

 

[Nalis]

Home atmospheres are generally crap everywhere unless a team is on the up or a one off game. Even then it's only pockets that make noise constantly.

[Izzy]

There's no passion atm because we're dog shit to watch.

 

But even earlier this season away at Southampton, the 'limbs' were insane when Ayew scored the winner in the 98th minute.

 

And Preston away last season was incredible and so were many of the home and away atmosphere's during the PL win (remember Palace away?)

 

And then go back to our play-off/league cup semi's and final's in the 90's for some of the best atmosphere's I've ever seen.

 

Of course we're a football city. We're just in a complete fvcking mess right now.

 

 

[Nobbyburton]

10 hours ago, Nolucklcfc said:

Appreciate this has been discussed in the stadium atmosphere thread a little bit but I guess it’s a question for our more experienced fan on here, have our fans just always been a bit soft and half hearted compared to the rest? 
 

Especially compared to some of our rivals. Why are clappers universally accepted by our fanbase when they’d have been refused at other clubs our size? Why do we have so many sitters at away games? Why is there a focus on the opposition fans instead of our own team? We just don’t feel like a club that’s got a real raw passion to it in any way. We score a goal away from home (obviously not this season 😅) and there are never any genuine limbs or real passion celebrating a goal. I know we’ve had some half decent atmospheres over the years but let’s be honest there are levels to it. 
 

Just wondered, even going back to Filbert street, have we always just been a bit half hearted and soft? Not a football city? 

Don’t get me wrong I can’t stand clappers but I don’t think this is a thing.

If you put clappers on seats at every Premier League ground, a similar amount of fans would use them as do at Leicester and a similar amount of fans would kick off about them.
 

Just so happens we got the owners that are weirdly obsessed with them and sadly have become known for them. 

Edited 12 March by Nobbyburton

[RonnieTodger]

Timing is a factor. The clappers really are tragic and are almost part of our identity now. 

[RonnieTodger]

Also I think there are a few excuses being made.
 

Some of the best football I’ve ever seen us play was in that 19/20 season, but our support was crap. 

[ozvaldo]

I got my plums out when the 4th went in away at Southampton last year, if that helps? 

[Corky]

I really wish we would bin our "banter" songbook. Our own is generally fine. Will probably change when Vardy goes and the equally tedious stuff in his direction stops.

 

The clappers are pointless. Sad how they are part of the club.

[Spudulike]

1 minute ago, RonnieTodger said:

Also I think there are a few excuses being made.
 

Some of the best football I’ve ever seen us play was in that 19/20 season, but our support was crap. 

I think we lost our way during the Puel era that was so boring after what we had been used to. It continued during the Rodgers possession based system eventhough it was mostly successful for a couple of seasons. We've forgotten how to create an atmosphere.

[fox_up_north]

The way I see it, the clappers are like stabilisers for people learning to clap. 

[Nolucklcfc]

All interesting points but I do maintain that there does seem to be a different demographic and different type of fan going to away games in particular in comparison to other clubs. Arsenal away is a good example because you get a good view of it on tv, villa/forest/wolves even Brighton  go there and it’s all stood at the front, we go there and it’s all sat and we look quite poor when a goal goes in. Not saying anything is wrong or people shouldn’t sit or have to jump around if we score but I’m just intrigued as to why it’s so different. 

[Nolucklcfc]

6 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

I think we lost our way during the Puel era that was so boring after what we had been used to. It continued during the Rodgers possession based system eventhough it was mostly successful for a couple of seasons. We've forgotten how to create an atmosphere.

I remember playing Watford at home in 2019 I think this game was our 7th win in a row or something to cement our top 4 place early on in the season and the place was a morgue. Compare that to them lot up the road … it’s just odd with our fans. 

[Pliskin]

We’re not alone, I can’t remember the last game I went to away and thought, that was a good atmosphere….. in fact, the last game I went to where it thought **** that was good, was Saville at home. That was insane. 
 

I think a major contributor is style of play, it’s ****ing boring, every team aspires to be a possession based team, and it’s so tedious and monotonous….. how can you create an atmosphere when all that’s happening is the ball being passed to death. None of the “big six” have good atmospheres, they’re all flat soulless bowls.

 

Another contributing factor is the club wanting this “family” image. They’re quick to jump on anyone who shows the slightest bit of over zealous aggression, and I’m not talking offering people out for a fight, I’m talking about properly getting behind your team, am I correct in thinking the club didn’t like the “let slip the dogs of war” tifo? 
 

It’s not just us suffering with it, it’s a national pandemic. I’ve said many times I’m of the opinion the games on its arse, and it is in desperate need of a face lift. The league is tired, it’s almost like no one can be ****ed anymore, with this being probably the worst PL we’ve ever seen, United and spurs in the bottom half, the worst bottom three ever, Man City stinking the gaff up, Forest in the top four when they’re actually a bit shit… and Liverpool completely unchallenged…… 

 

Its a far cry from what it was in the early 00’s 90’ and beyond, where it was full blooded and on occasion all our war… the technical ability wasn’t always there, but it was more entertaining. 
 

The only way to remedy the atmosphere,

Is do what they do in Europe, and just sing constantly regardless of how dull the game is. 
 

English crowds are very reactive and not proactive….. we need to be more like the latter, like Union FS, force an atmosphere…. But unfortunately, there are too many at the KP, who are merely seat warmers, with their cushions, little tubs of Pringles, and a flask of soup…… who just sit slapping their clapper (because it’s free from the best owners ever), say nothing, leave at 80 minutes to beat the traffic and get home on time for Downton Abbey. 

[Nolucklcfc]

34 minutes ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

Big difference between home and away crowds, but that’s to be expected. But I don’t think it’s bad as anyone else. Modern football and especially your average home going fan is relatively ‘soft’ and passive. My personal view is that modern pricing means it’s mostly only accessible to a certain type of person, and many rowdy types are priced out.
 

I also think some of these points are a bit crass - like all those who get a clapper is a soft passive fan. I usually take a clapper and I’m not certainly not passive! Clappere are also not universally accepted - in fact I’d say most don’t take them now.

 

 

Do you not think they are completely embarrassing? Genuinely not having a go at you for using them, just interested. 

[Nolucklcfc]

3 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

We’re not alone, I can’t remember the last game I went to away and thought, that was a good atmosphere….. in fact, the last game I went to where it thought **** that was good, was Saville at home. That was insane. 
 

I think a major contributor is style of play, it’s ****ing boring, every team aspires to be a possession based team, and it’s so tedious and monotonous….. how can you create an atmosphere when all that’s happening is the ball being passed to death. None of the “big six” have good atmospheres, they’re all flat soulless bowls.

 

Another contributing factor is the club wanting this “family” image. They’re quick to jump on anyone who shows the slightest bit of over zealous aggression, and I’m not talking offering people out for a fight, I’m talking about properly getting behind your team, am I correct in thinking the club didn’t like the “let slip the dogs of war” tifo? 
 

It’s not just us suffering with it, it’s a national pandemic. I’ve said many times I’m of the opinion the games on its arse, and it is in desperate need of a face lift. The league is tired, it’s almost like no one can be ****ed anymore, with this being probably the worst PL we’ve ever seen, United and spurs in the bottom half, the worst bottom three ever, Man City stinking the gaff up, Forest in the top four when they’re actually a bit shit… and Liverpool completely unchallenged…… 

 

Its a far cry from what it was in the early 00’s 90’ and beyond, where it was full blooded and on occasion all our war… the technical ability wasn’t always there, but it was more entertaining. 
 

The only way to remedy the atmosphere,

Is do what they do in Europe, and just sing constantly regardless of how dull the game is. 
 

English crowds are very reactive and not proactive….. we need to be more like the latter, like Union FS, force an atmosphere…. But unfortunately, there are too many at the KP, who are merely seat warmers, with their cushions, little tubs of Pringles, and a flask of soup…… who just sit slapping their clapper (because it’s free from the best owners ever), say nothing, leave at 80 minutes to beat the traffic and get home on time for Downton Abbey. 

Your last paragraph there is what I’m interested in. Why do we have so many of these types of fans? We aren’t a small club, we should have far More passion and pride for what we have achieved and the standards should be set from that. I know this season it’s utterly horrible but in general we seem to have this soft minded fan more than others do. Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like that. 

[Spudulike]

3 minutes ago, Nolucklcfc said:

I remember playing Watford at home in 2019 I think this game was our 7th win in a row or something to cement our top 4 place early on in the season and the place was a morgue. Compare that to them lot up the road … it’s just odd with our fans. 

We had become complacent by then and a game against Watford isn't going to stir the passion. 

 

Notts F are still in the honeymoon period. Most of their fans have never witnessed success.

[Izzy]

15 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

I think we lost our way during the Puel era that was so boring after what we had been used to. It continued during the Rodgers possession based system even though it was mostly successful for a couple of seasons. We've forgotten how to create an atmosphere.

The atmosphere was decent at times last season I thought, despite Maresca ball.

 

Helps that we were winning most games though...

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

8 minutes ago, Nolucklcfc said:

Do you not think they are completely embarrassing? Genuinely not having a go at you for using them, just interested. 

No I don’t think a piece of cardboard is embarrassing. It certainly wasn’t embarrassing when it helped keep us in the league back end of 14-15. However, I can see why people don’t like them.

[Nolucklcfc]

1 minute ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

No I don’t think a piece of cardboard is embarrassing. It certainly wasn’t embarrassing when it helped keep us in the league back end of 14-15. However, I can see why people don’t like them.

Yeah I mean we get utterly laughed at by everyone for using them but it is what it is I guess.