Would moving fans from L1 and K work?

[C-man]

Before you vote, hear me out.

I know it seems like a silly time to be suggesting improving the atmosphere after yesterday, but if we’re honest it’s not too often that it gets like that. Yesterday showed that there is some potential - when Waghorn and Gallagher started getting stuck in on Smith and Butt in the first half that’s possibly the loudest the Walkers has been for a good few years.

I’m of the view that if all of our most vocal supporters were populated in one area, then the noise created from that area would have a beneficial effect all around the ground and on the team. At the moment the noise doesn’t particularly carry well from either L1 or the Kop meaning the atmosphere is subdued at the best of times. Seeing as moving the Kop to the other end is impossible and continued suggestions of that are mongtacular; and moving the away fans would give the SAG multiple heart attacks, there need to be other ways in which we could improve our support.

Although it might be easier for those fans who want to create a better atmosphere to just move next to the away fans, there are a few reasons why it may be advantageous to encourage fans that stand in L1/K to move to say SK1 and SK2.

1. It’s not just a popular belief that football teams play more positively when attacking their most vocal fans - the sucking the ball into the net theory. There are examples of this - the Kop at Anfield, the Stretford End at OT, the Gelderd End at Leeds and the double-decker at Filbo. Currently our most vocal fans stand in L1 and although the Kop can make noise when it gets going (proven yesterday evening), it rarely makes enough noise to consider it an advantage attacking that way in the 2nd half.
   
2. The club might like this one - lower police costs? If L1 were to relocate to the Kop, would there be less of a requirement for police inside the ground? Obviously when Forest, Derby and Cov come to town there will still be fans who want to get as close to their fans as possible so it may not actually have an effect.
   
3. There are quite a few people in the Kop who like to stand. Particularly about half way down SK1, there’s a group of ‘lads’ who always seem to get up for the big games - particularly in the second half. SK1 yesterday was littered with pockets of standing and a good thousand were up and down all game. Moving our most vocal fans over to them may allow them to stand for the whole game free of steward intervention.
   
4. The club may like the idea of having all their unofficial ‘standers’ in one area rather than all the way across the back of the stadium and in L and K.
   

I'm fully aware that there are obvious issues with regards to logistics:

• Fans might not want to move for various reasons:
  - L1ers may fear they’d be made to sit down in the Kop, they may miss the ‘banter’ with away fans or not like the view so much.
  - People in the Kop may not appreciate the increase in noise (sadly) and standing, or may not want to relinquish their seat to someone else in order to fit the L1ers in.
  

• There’s actually a price difference between tickets in L1 (£20/£21 more expensive) and the Kop. The club would obviously like to keep STHs in L1 to reap in the extra cash, but this may be balanced by potential fall in police costs?
  

• How do you move a whole block, maintain atmospheric cohesion and fit all the fans into another two blocks? It’s impossible to tell without looking at seating plans that the ticket office have. SK1 and SK2 are bigger than L and K so there may be room if the club were to plan for it. G1 usually has tons of empty space.
  

At the very least, this should provoke some interesting debate. At the most, the club could be approached and we’ll see what they have to say about it.

[C-man]

Note the Poll doesn't actually work.

Could a mod change the poll to the 'multiple choice' option please? That might work...

[AoWW]

For some reason your poll isn't working. I went for the 'kop - good idea' option and it just says I haven't selected anything.

[Nick]

Interesting post C-man, you've thought about it.

I sit in the Keith Weller area. I used to sit in the Kop.

Getting the Kop and L/K together isn't a bad idea. I think though the only realistic way to facilitate this would be to swap the family stand over to the Kop end and sandwich the away support in vocality.

I think there may be too much resistance in doing anything else. I like your thinking though, good post.

N.

[AoWW]

Note the Poll doesn't actually work.

Could a mod change the poll to the 'multiple choice' option please? That might work...

Tried that and it hasn't worked. I'll keep trying.

I'll close it while I figure it out.

[AoWW]

Arrgghhhh - C-man I could happily throttle you. Gimme a few hours and I'll sort it.

[dandannieldanok]

Why does everything have to be orchestrated by the club? If all the vocal people in L1 felt strongly enough about moving to the kop then why not just buy season tickets for the back of the kop next season.

[Finnegan]

Bottom line is, people like to stand next to the away fans. The Kop was so good at Filbert Street because - despite the gap - they were there in yelling, swearing and V-Sign distance.

People started positioning themselves in L1 because of it's location in proximity to the away support, no? And it grew because of the banter. You'd have a hard time getting them away from that end and back into the "Kop", I'd imagine.

You need ring leaders and if the ring leaders are all fixated with the away support then you won't move the rest.

[jonthefox]

Just one question.Why is is moving the kop `impossible`?.

Surely if all the `singers` bought tickets for the north stand , then jobs a good `un.

[AoWW]

I think it's sorted.

[Bellend Sebastian]

From where I was, most of the noise yesterday was coming from the family stand. Well done, family standers

[Shrenchel]

I think you answered your own question with the reasons why it wouldn't work mate.

I think you're also missing the point that the vast majority of people who are now in L/K were originally in the 'kop' when we moved to the Walkers so in essence it has been tried. It didn't work, that's why people moved. Why would this be any different? There's not enough space to stick everyone from L/K in together. You'd have to intersperse them amongst the kop regulars who can ocassionally get themselves going for a big game but even then seem to struggle with songs that have more than 3 words in them. I personally think it's completely regressive to go back to that.

Also, you talk about Anfield, Old Trafford and Elland Road. Yeah they might be able to 'suck the ball into the net' when the teams really going for it in the last 10 minutes but the atmosphere on an average matchday in all three of those grounds nowadays is fvcking gash. I live in Leeds at the moment and a fair few of the Leeds I know have shifted to the south stand (by the away fans) because their 'kop' is now full of families, moaners and people who generally make fvck all contribution to the atmosphere.

The atmosphere at grounds nowadays is generally shite but the one's that have impressed me more than others have been places where they've got a solid group of fans near the away fans having a go e.g. Forest and Southampton. I can't remember the last ground I went to with a tradtional kop on the other side of the ground from the away fans where I thought the atmosphere was anything to write home about. Why would it be any different for us?!

[Guest Mee-9]

Good post mate, Seem's like you've thought it through.

Yesterday SK1 And SK2 did a excellent job with the noise. It seems that L1 do start alot of the chants, and they carry on in the Kop.

[C-man]

Yeah I suppose Shrenchel's nailed it already. I don't really know what made me think about the switch but I'm probably just tired of people moaning and not coming up with any ideas to improve the situation.

Or maybe I just care too much.

[Webbo]

I stand in L1 because I like it. If I wanted to stand in the Kop then I'd move. I wouldn't want anyone telling me I had too.

[Tilley]

If I get a season ticket next season I won't be staying in L1, I will go back to the Kop.

I hate L1, some people in there are so embarrassing.

[Tommeh]

Sorry C-Man only just saw your message on fb re. this.

I think yesterday showed the potential the Kop has, being a season ticket holder in L1 for 5 years and giving that up this season means the home games I do attend will be in the Kop, the seat number is not important I Just head back there and find a place to stand, preferbly SK1. I used to slag off the Kop non stop in my L1 days but it really isn't too bad at all.

No idea what/if any solutions are but as long as people keep heading the the back, standing and getting behind them maybe a bit of magic and pride could be created I'm really not sure.

As for the club however I think any ideas on atmosphere improvments are right down in the list of priorities and many in L/K do thrive on the presense of away fans.

It's a tricky one.

[Guest]

Just one question.Why is is moving the kop `impossible`?.

Surely if all the `singers` bought tickets for the north stand , then jobs a good `un.

The North stand has restrictions on who can sit in there. Because of those, it's not a simple case of moving there of your own volition.

There is also the problem that the Safety Advisory Group don't want all the singers at that end. They see it as more potential for trouble. You can point out that it works very well at Cov or Southampton, but it's a no go.

Without the co-operation of the club, it isn't going to happen.

[Ozwin]

When the tackles went in hard and fast it was incredible, something overpowered me.

[maddog]

Love it near L1, atmosphere so much better than the Kop. Standing up for most of the Newcastle and Ipswich games makes home games so much better.

Views 100 times better than Kop aswell, can actually see both ends, get a decent view of the offsides. And a much better idea of the movement of players and passes.

Plus close to away fans which adds to the atmosphere.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I'd love to return to the kop, my last game in there was Luton in 2007, but there'd still be too many moaners and flaskers, so it'll never work, sadly.

[Spudulike]

Unreserved seating in N Block is the way. Just need to move the family stand a bit further around into the usually sparsely occupied West Stand corner. Keeps the kids further out of ear shot of the nasty away fans. Won't happen though.

[milan_foxes]

I like sitting next to the away fans.

[Sods]

Yeah the atmosphere was decent yesterday really enjoyed it, those lads nearer the front of SK1 will stand and sing everygame, but their is a big gap in which they won't which dosen't carry their noise as well. What also pisses me of is when people get tickets at the back of the south stand and expect to sit.

[Maybes]

Too many of the flask army are present in the South Stand these days.

I originally had a season ticket in the south stand when we first moved. Been in L1 for 4 season now and would never dream of moving back to the south stand.

I go to football to enjoy myself and not be told to sit down and shut up by some disabled.