Watford 'Surprise'

[Kitchandro]

Can't believe how pathetic some of you are, so ungrateful and so determined to sit on a pedestal as far as this atmosphere bollocks goes. Moan about the club not doing anything, then instantly deride when they do. So where do you expect them to go from there? MEET THEM HALFWAY! Look at our owners, then look at Venky's or Vincent Tan. Our owners clearly have mountains of respect for the fans compared to those clowns, they are only trying to do a good thing for you, and it fills me with a lot of pleasure and hope that they are (not for the first time I might add).

BTW If the clappers were used with any kind of synchrony they could improve the atmosphere. Done to a melody they will raise noise levels.

OMG seriously?

It's very simple. I want reasonable ticket prices, I want them to support safe standing, I'd like them to play the old versions of WYS before kick off and I want them to get rid of goal music.

Other than that, I want them to keep out of the atmosphere. Just let the fans do what they know how to do (or used to know how to do).

As long as they do the things I've mentioned above then I'm grateful. Things like this are not helping anybody, they make us look stupid, they miss the point completely, and instead of it being inspiring, intimidating sound it's annoying and fake.

I do not ask them to create an atmosphere for us. That's not their responsibility. All I ask is that they let football be. Let it be what it used to be. Let the vocal fans create an atmosphere. When it's our fault for not doing so, I'll say it's our fault.

How on earth is this meeting us halfway?

[kylestyle06]

I agree with the above.

These clappers will be an embarresment in front of the nation

[ealingfox]

OMG seriously?

It's very simple. I want reasonable ticket prices, I want them to support safe standing, I'd like them to play the old versions of WYS before kick off and I want them to get rid of goal music.

Other than that, I want them to keep out of the atmosphere. Just let the fans do what they know how to do (or used to know how to do).

As long as they do the things I've mentioned above then I'm grateful. Things like this are not helping anybody, they make us look stupid, they miss the point completely, and instead of it being inspiring, intimidating sound it's annoying and fake.

I do not ask them to create an atmosphere for us. That's not their responsibility. All I ask is that they let football be. Let it be what it used to be. Let the vocal fans create an atmosphere. When it's our fault for not doing so, I'll say it's our fault.

How on earth is this meeting us halfway?

Because they are trying! If someone gives you a birthday or Christmas present that you don't particularly like, you don't look back at them and say 'OMG seriously? It's very simple. I wanted this, this or this. As long as you got that for me I'd be grateful'.

The things you mentioned, they're not failing to do these because of contempt or a lack of respect for the fans. Everyone wants these things, but they aren't the kind of things you can just click your fingers for. You are taking yourself way too seriously.

[lcfcsnow]

The clappers are an awful idea - I noticed them at the last home game and was praying they would keep them in the family end. If they've distributed them all around I won't be impressed.

[Kitchandro]

Because they are trying! If someone gives you a birthday or Christmas present that you don't particularly like, you don't look back at them and say 'OMG seriously? It's very simple. I wanted this, this or this. As long as you got that for me I'd be grateful'.

The things you mentioned, they're not failing to do these because of contempt or a lack of respect for the fans. Everyone wants these things, but they aren't the kind of things you can just click your fingers for. You are taking yourself way too seriously.

They are not family or friends, they are the owners of my football club. My family and friends don't charge me for birthday and christmas presents.

They are businessmen who want customers. They want to keep their customers happy. I'm not just going to fork out and smile along if I'm not happy with the product they are selling.

You know what? I think they could do most of those things easily. It's not hard to get rid of goal music and change the pre-match music. Supporting safe standing just takes one statement and a general understanding that this is what the majority of fans want.

I'm sure they've got their reasons for high ticket pricing - greed is probably one of them, then again they are rich businessmen so I expect that. But reasoning for high ticket prices isn't good enough, if they're too expensive, they're too expensive.

Tonight is a platinum fixture isn't it?

[kylestyle06]

Because they are trying! If someone gives you a birthday or Christmas present that you don't particularly like, you don't look back at them and say 'OMG seriously? It's very simple. I wanted this, this or this. As long as you got that for me I'd be grateful'.

The things you mentioned, they're not failing to do these because of contempt or a lack of respect for the fans. Everyone wants these things, but they aren't the kind of things you can just click your fingers for. You are taking yourself way too seriously.

Sorry mate, but you can't compare having a birthday present to being given clappers as football fans.

[purpleronnie]

The thing is theire will be plenty of fans who will like this idea, you can't please everyone.

[Guest MattP]

i'm guessing some of the miserable sods that have commented on here are the ones that sit behind me at home and talk about how Pearson will hopefully get the sack soon and how they'd prefer to lose than draw because drawing is boring (genuine true story)

Wtf?

Moaning about clappers means you want Pearson out? Some of our fans are thick aa ****.

[NathanC93]

Wtf?

Moaning about clappers means you want Pearson out? Some of our fans are thick aa ****.

Oh did I say that? Must have missed it. No. I said people in here are miserable. People who sit behind me are miserable. Do you see the connection now? Jesus Christ.

[cjslcfc]

They said the surprise was a one-off thing didn't they? We had the clappers at the Brum game, so surely it can't be that again?

There's still hope...

[Guest MattP]

Look at our owners, then look at Venky's or Vincent Tan

Ours charge the club 8% interest on loans. Even Venkys or Tan haven't tried to get away with that.

But if they put a clapper on the seat that obviously makes up for it.

[ashfosse]

Can't believe how pathetic some of you are, so ungrateful and so determined to sit on a pedestal as far as this atmosphere bollocks goes. Moan about the club not doing anything, then instantly deride when they do. So where do you expect them to go from there? MEET THEM HALFWAY! Look at our owners, then look at Venky's or Vincent Tan. Our owners clearly have mountains of respect for the fans compared to those clowns, they are only trying to do a good thing for you, and it fills me with a lot of pleasure and hope that they are (not for the first time I might add).

BTW If the clappers were used with any kind of synchrony they could improve the atmosphere. Done to a melody they will raise noise levels.

you go to matches with your wife dont you.

[ealingfox]

They are not family or friends, they are the owners of my football club. My family and friends don't charge me for birthday and christmas presents.

They are businessmen who want customers. They want to keep their customers happy. I'm not just going to fork out and smile along if I'm not happy with the product they are selling.

You know what? I think they could do most of those things easily. It's not hard to get rid of goal music and change the pre-match music. Supporting safe standing just takes one statement and a general understanding that this is what the majority of fans want.

I'm sure they've got their reasons for high ticket pricing - greed is probably one of them, then again they are rich businessmen so I expect that. But reasoning for high ticket prices isn't good enough, if they're too expensive, they're too expensive.

Tonight is a platinum fixture isn't it?

And I'm sure you can just as easily accept that they can't tailor the matchday experience to your exact specifications. So clearly with the goal music etc, they don't know that this is something the majority of fans want. They don't gain or lose anything from it from a business point of view, so they will have no problems getting rid of it if they were made fully aware that everyone wanted it gone. The agenda probably hasn't been pushed hard enough, possibly because those with the energy to push it instead use their energy to openly deride their efforts on a fans forum. The safe standing thing is still in its infancy, so you aren't going to turn up one day and find the seats in the Kop gone. They cannot do a lot about it.

Correct, they do have their reasons for the ticket prices, because they set them under the constraints of a market. Granted they could be cheaper, but there are limits to this.

And yes I do agree that they've had a bit of a nightmare with tonight's match, but then again, if after Palace they'd said Watford tickets are now a fiver, you'd get the STHs moaning about them not being rewarded or being ignored.

Sorry mate, but you can't compare having a birthday present to being given clappers as football fans.

.

The analogy is apt for two reasons. Firstly, the friend or family member who gave you the disappointing present most likely did so because they weren't sure exactly what you wanted (as I suspect the Club hasn't here), and secondly as a general point about openly deriding those who try to do a nice thing for you, it's just not done.

[ealingfox]

Ours charge the club 8% interest on loans. Even Venkys or Tan haven't tried to get away with that.

But if they put a clapper on the seat that obviously makes up for it.

They've also converted a large portion of those loans into equity.

[ealingfox]

you go to matches with your wife dont you.

Not sure what gave you that idea, but at 21 unfortunately I haven't met Mrs. Ealing yet. I can guarantee she'll be roped into coming a few times though!

[yorkie1999]

Oh did I say that? Must have missed it. No. I said people in here are miserable. People who sit behind me are miserable. Do you see the connection now? Jesus Christ.

Yeah i see the connection. You make people miserable.

[Guest MattP]

They've also converted a large portion of those loans into equity.

Fantastic. What a great position to be in. A smaller debt but completely assetless.

[ashfosse]

Not sure what gave you that idea, but at 21 unfortunately I haven't met Mrs. Ealing yet. I can guarantee she'll be roped into coming a few times though!

my bad. just the impression you were giving off with some of your comments.

[Dan]

It's not helping the atmosphere one bit, if anything it just shows how out of touch they are with the atmosphere and what it really should be like.

OK, so they've actually acknowledged that there IS a problem with the atmosphere, but this is their answer?

Kitchandro's absolutely spot on. Acknowledge it and put the fans in a better position to do something about it rather than acting heavy handed on any fan who creates atmosphere, rather than focusing absolutely every aspect about our home matchday on families and money, rather than trying to make it themselves in an out of touch way.

Mind you - like I keep saying, it might not even be clappers, it seems like it will be, but it's not confirmed yet and to be honest I really do hope we all end up with egg on our face, I couldn't imagine the stick our fans will get on a night when we'd once have been praised for our support.

[ealingfox]

It's not helping the atmosphere one bit, if anything it just shows how out of touch they are with the atmosphere and what it really should be like.

OK, so they've actually acknowledged that there IS a problem with the atmosphere, but this is their answer?

Kitchandro's absolutely spot on. Acknowledge it and put the fans in a better position to do something about it rather than acting heavy handed on any fan who creates atmosphere, rather than focusing absolutely every aspect about our home matchday on families and money, rather than trying to make it themselves in an out of touch way.

Mind you - like I keep saying, it might not even be clappers, it seems like it will be, but it's not confirmed yet and to be honest I really do hope we all end up with egg on our face, I couldn't imagine the stick our fans will get on a night when we'd once have been praised for our support.

What does that even mean? The presence of clappers doesn't devalue our support, taking us too seriously again. Who gives a monkey's what some snotty Hull fan thinks watching the game? If you don't like the clappers idea, put yours under your seat, and sing and shout as normal. If the stadium is as at the same volume as it normally is, which by all logic it will be, why would praise for our support be taken away? Because they see a smiling child on the TV waving a clapper around?

[hackneyfox]

They've also converted a large portion of those loans into equity.

I thought they were talking about doing this, it hasn't actually happened yet has it?

[Kitchandro]

And I'm sure you can just as easily accept that they can't tailor the matchday experience to your exact specifications. So clearly with the goal music etc, they don't know that this is something the majority of fans want. They don't gain or lose anything from it from a business point of view, so they will have no problems getting rid of it if they were made fully aware that everyone wanted it gone. The agenda probably hasn't been pushed hard enough, possibly because those with the energy to push it instead use their energy to openly deride their efforts on a fans forum. The safe standing thing is still in its infancy, so you aren't going to turn up one day and find the seats in the Kop gone. They cannot do a lot about it.

Correct, they do have their reasons for the ticket prices, because they set them under the constraints of a market. Granted they could be cheaper, but there are limits to this.

And yes I do agree that they've had a bit of a nightmare with tonight's match, but then again, if after Palace they'd said Watford tickets are now a fiver, you'd get the STHs moaning about them not being rewarded or being ignored.

I'm not asking for it to be a fiver. Platinum takes the piss though.

It's hardly my exact specifications. It's simple things that should really be a given at football matches (aside from the WYS thing). Goal music should never have been introduced at football matches. I'm not even blaming them specifically for that, because it came in well before them, but the club continue to let tinpot things like this happen. I'm pretty sure most people just put up with it, it's hardly a jumpy upbeat tune that raises the roof is it?

Like I said, those are the kind of things I, and a large percentage of our fans would want. They're certainly important to the people who really care about the atmosphere. There are those people who are not bothered but if they're not bothered why use them as a reason not to change things? If they're not going to do those things, don't make things owrse with tacky crap like this.

it's actually pretty insulting that they're willing to rip us off price-wise but think we're going to be suckered into thinking a 'gesture' like this is great. Their priorities are terrible.

[kylestyle06]

The thing that doesn't help is the music they play before games. It drowns any atmosphere attempts out.

Back in the Filbert St days the crowd use to be buzzing before the games, chants going, atmosphere lifted, and when they kicked off there was a huge buzz.

GET RID OF MUSIC BEFORE THE GAME FFS

[ealingfox]

I'm not asking for it to be a fiver. Platinum takes the piss though.

It's hardly my exact specifications. It's simple things that should really be a given at football matches (aside from the WYS thing). Goal music should never have been introduced at football matches. I'm not even blaming them specifically for that, because it came in well before them, but the club continue to let tinpot things like this happen. I'm pretty sure most people just put up with it, it's hardly a jumpy upbeat tune that raises the roof is it?

Like I said, those are the kind of things I, and a large percentage of our fans would want. They're certainly important to the people who really care about the atmosphere. There are those people who are not bothered but if they're not bothered why use them as a reason not to change things? If they're not going to do those things, don't make things owrse with tacky crap like this.

it's actually pretty insulting that they're willing to rip us off price-wise but think we're going to be suckered into thinking a 'gesture' like this is great. Their priorities are terrible.

Fiver thing was just an example. So why are you telling me this? Tell the Club!

The thing that doesn't help is the music they play before games. It drowns any atmosphere attempts out.

Back in the Filbert St days the crowd use to be buzzing before the games, chants going, atmosphere lifted, and when they kicked off there was a huge buzz.

GET RID OF MUSIC BEFORE THE GAME FFS

You know they played music before the match at Filbert Street don't you? "Baby, I'm ready to GOOOOO!!!" Ring any bells?

[kylestyle06]

Fiver thing was just an example. So why are you telling me this? Tell the Club!

You know they played music before the match at Filbert Street don't you?

They played one tune just before kick off IIRC? Where's at the walkers its non stop drowning shit