What has happened to our away support?

[Dan]

Lets be honest, vocally, it's absolutely atrocious and has been for a while.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm appalling at picking away games and despite going to the vast majority last year, I still missed Norwich, Ipswich & Leeds.

But honestly, more away games in the past 12 months have been absolutely flat atmosphere wise, what is wrong with our fans on the road? We travel in good numbers in fairness, I was surprised by how many we had yesterday considering the crap kick off time, poor transport links (ties in with KO time) and the expensive price, but yet again vocally, we were nowhere to be seen, why has this become such a common theme?

Charlton wasn't bad in fairness, but Blackburn & yesterday were complete and utter shit and so were a lot at the end of last year.

I just don't get it, I know our away form's awful but we still have good numbers turn up yet there appears to be so few nowadays who create an atmosphere. I hope this is just a phase, but for a phase it's gone on too long.

[AKCJ]

How many were there yesterday?

[Jimmy]

because we haven't won away in over 20 league games or summat they said yesterday

[Corky]

I think a lot of it is to do with form. I know that away days are often about more than just the game, but we're losing far too many away games and I think people are starting to see it as a chore.

Norwich was fantastic, but that was the cup, we were underdogs and had other issues surrounding the game. Ipswich was good too.

But the results must have a big part to do with it

[Dan]

We've not won in 3 away's so I wonder where that bullshit comes from.

Like I say - if it's so much to do with our lack of form, why are so many still turning up? For our numbers we're vocally atrocious at the minute.

Yesterday there was about 1,500ish I'd say, if not more.

[The Doctor]

because we haven't won away in over 20 league games or summat they said yesterday

well that's a load of shit. I'm fairly certain Leeds on the final day of last season was less than 20 games ago.

[chili_con_carne]

It's because a lot of the fans don't bother going anymore. It seems to be a lot younger following now that just copy other teams chants such as that palace one and the Poznan. Embarrassing stuff.

[Jimmy]

well that's a load of shit. I'm fairly certain Leeds on the final day of last season was less than 20 games ago.

must of been 1 win in the last 20 odd games then either way its still shocking form so understandable if people chose not to waste the money

[Corky]

It's because a lot of the fans don't bother going anymore. It seems to be a lot younger following now that just copy other teams chants such as that palace one and the Poznan. Embarrassing stuff.

That's not what he's saying. He says that vocally we've been poor.

How can chanting make us poor vocally?

[Guest Col city fan]

The answer is obvious mate.

We go away not expecting to win.

Without a winning run and the feeling that we are going away to watch a side with a real chance of winning the attendances will be lower and the support less vocal.

This isn't how it SHOULD be of course, but is the reality.

Take Middlesborough for example, are people going up there expecting to get anything. This could change if we win the next two but we are a different team away from home.

My days of going away to games just for the crack are long gone. If I'm gonna pay a shitload to watch the team away from home at least I want to be able to think 'we could just win this'.

At present I ain't in that mindset.

[chili_con_carne]

Because it puts people off going I reckon. To be honest, ever since we left filbert street, we gradually seem to be getting a different generation of fans who are just not as vocal. But then every club is the same. how loud we're wolves yesterday? Football just isn't the same anymore

[Dan]

I personally think winning the next two won't change anything, unless we absolutely destroy one of them, seeing as they're both at home.

I can honestly say noisewise, since I've been following us away, we're currently at an all-time low.

[Kitchandro]

Firstly, I always thought Molineux would be a shit away trip, with the away section on the side and all. I'd also like to point out that there was little to no passion showed by our players in the first half, and even the home fans sounded very quiet for most of it on the TV.

Secondly, I don't know if you'vee noticed, but most of our fans, even on the road, are old folks. I don't know why this is but I suspect it's something to do with the fact young people have been alienated in recent years, not just because of ticket prices but the general matchday excitement isn't what it used to be 'back in the day'.

I've gone to about 5 (on average) away games a season since 08/09, a lot have been good but there's been some really poor ones too. Some have been because of the result or performance but I worked out at about a 3rd of them I was forced to sit down.

I don't think it's anything knew, at some stadiums our fans will stand up and sing and at others most will be sitting down.

[Dan]

Because it puts people off going I reckon. To be honest, ever since we left filbert street, we gradually seem to be getting a different generation of fans who are just not as vocal. But then every club is the same. how loud we're wolves yesterday? Football just isn't the same anymore

Wolves weren't too bad in fairness, the atmosphere was pretty flat but it always is at Sunday 1:15 no matter where you go (in my experience), I thought at times they made quality noise, they weren't amazing though.

[The Doctor]

must of been 1 win in the last 20 odd games then either way its still shocking form so understandable if people chose not to waste the money

Still wrong, we've 5 wins from the last 20 away league games. Not great form though.

[Guest MattP]

Charlton was good but that's the only away day I've done so far this year.

The winning/losing argument is bollocks. Some of our best away followings have been when we have been absolutely shit.

From the tv yesterday our support seemed to consist of 50 year old women so that might explain something.....Charlton was mainly pissed up blokes.

[Guest Col city fan]

Charlton was good but that's the only away day I've done so far this year.

The winning/losing argument is bollocks. Some of our best away followings have been when we have been absolutely shit.

From the tv yesterday our support seemed to consist of 50 year old women so that might explain something.....Charlton was mainly pissed up blokes.

Might be 'bollox' for you Matt

Not for me fella!

[purpleronnie]

If theres one thing I could change about english support is that fans go to games to have a good time and sing no matter what the result.

[Corky]

If theres one thing I could change about english support is that fans go to games to have a good time and sing no matter what the result.

As Matt says, it used to happen.

But I think the expectation has got to people.

It's easier to sing and have a good time when losing at Chelsea, at Peterborough and Bristol City it's different.

[Dan]

If theres one thing I could change about english support is that fans go to games to have a good time and sing no matter what the result.

Without a doubt, I don't see why the authorities are so scared for that to happen, I actually think that'll make them more money in the long term than ripping everyone off.

I think a lot of things are tied in - you pay more money now, for a more watered down experience which focuses solely on football (this is how it will be portrayed to all new fans) and as a result when it goes wrong on the pitch, there's more negativity.

The authorities need to sort their act out.

[BrummieFOX]

I don't think it's anything new. In the last 10 years or so we've only ever had 'great' away support once or maybe twice a season (Norwich last season for example). I think sometimes we look at our support through blue-tinted glasses. We normally travel in good numbers but that's the only good aspect of our away support.

As bad as it sounds it really does come down to the demographic of our support. As someone mentioned earlier no we have quite a large proportion of elderly fans who are never going to significantly add to the atmosphere. I think having a growing element of younger supporters (14-18) is only a good thing and hopefully with a bit of success on the pitch they will stay with us and we'll have a good basis for vocal support in a few years.

[Craig]

Dreadful yesterday and at Blackburn. The acoustics are very poor in that side stand though, I barely heard anything other than my mate next to me screaming when Konchesky scored; No roar, cheer or anything.

Take me back to that cold Monday night in Southampton.

[Dan]

The acoustics are poor but that's absolutely no excuse for an away end that you're in yourself, poor acoustics would be if you're asking a home fan.

I wonder if it's worth bothering with Middlesbrough, although if I don't go it'll inevitably be our best end since Norwich.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Norwich was the best atmosphere since Cardiff in the playoff 2nd leg.

Haven't been to many aways, apart from yesterday millwall last season was the last one, so won't comment on the ones I weren't at. Yesterday though was a bit different. If you read reviews of other fans about molineux the majority say it's hard to get a decent atmosphere there. The fans are spread out virtually the length of the pitch with about 8 rows front to back.

In our case yesterday the left side was good, and we had the blanket and thermos flask brigade in the middle, whilst the other side of them where I was was average. Add to that the wank atmosphere generated by the wolves fans for 90% of yesterday's match I won't read too much into it

[Kitchandro]

Without a doubt, I don't see why the authorities are so scared for that to happen, I actually think that'll make them more money in the long term than ripping everyone off.

I think a lot of things are tied in - you pay more money now, for a more watered down experience which focuses solely on football (this is how it will be portrayed to all new fans) and as a result when it goes wrong on the pitch, there's more negativity.

The authorities need to sort their act out.

Yeh, this.

I don't know how much it was to get to Wolves but the result becomes pretty important when you're paying £40 upwards, I think it was more than that for Peterborough last season!

The problem with blaming our fanbase as whole though is that as an individual you are relying on all the individuals to help you create an atmosphere. I've been at games where I and a few other people have been trying our best to make some noise but if most people around you are over 50s who are happy to just sit there there's not much you can do.

That's just the way it is I'm afraid, unless you're at those kind of games where you know it's going to be really popular with younger people and hardcore blokes you're always risking it. We're not a huge enough club to get that everywhere, and when you've been in the Championship or lower for 9 years with hardly anything to shout about people are going to get disillusioned.

Maybe we still turn up in decent numbers, but think about which kind of fan is priced out and put off in this day and age.