Why Bother?

[Trav Le Bleu]

Yes, why?

 

Not bother going to watch City - that's just good common sense if/when you can. What I'm talking about is people who go to a match and express no emotion or opinion, or only ever a negative opinion (no praise when something good is done).

 

On Saturday I was surrounded by such types. Maybe it was my own fault for sitting in the cheap seats, so maybe I got the fairweather fans (I don't consider myself fairweather - more budget restricted. The season I saw most matches was probably when we were in League One.) who knows, but here's a brief summary of the people around me. 

 

The guy to my right was Mr Leany. He wasn't leaning because people in front of him were blocking his view, he just decided that he would and therefore cause everyone to his right to have to lean forward. You could say that this was a sign of emotion, of feeling for the game, but not one word was uttered by him the whole game and the only motion other than leaning was standing up when he scored. He was sat with a mate, but they didn't speak a word to each other, much less of support, the whole game and at half-time got back 5 minutes after kick-off.

 

Behind me was a wall of silence, I'm not actually sure there was anyone there.

 

In front of me there was a group of people who were moaning A LOT. Sure there was stuff to moan about in the 2nd half, but they started pretty much from the kick-off of the 1st half. I can't recall any shouts of support, just criticism and what I'd call abuse. Isn't that the away fans job, shouting abuse at the home team players? Isn't that the opposite of support?

 

To my right was my wife who is profoundly deaf and grew up a Liverpool supporter. She couldn't hear that no one else, aside from me and the occasional other (the crowd aren't a complete loss as a stray voice here and there called out encouragement for their team) and had no idea that the crowd was largely quiet, yet she was shouting out support regularly through out - poo-pooing the myth that it's difficult to shout out encouragement if you don't hear anyone else doing it.

 

So apart from L and K blocks and parts of the kop, our support is depressing. I'm not saying, why bother going when the support is so bad, I'm saying, why do these other people go? They either show no support or the opposite. Why go to sit on your hands and remain silent for 90 mins? What do these people get out of the game, do perhaps they like to waste money? This match was on TV, they could have silently watched it at home or in the pub.

 

I just don't get it.

[Dan]

I think it's the way football is now perceived as entertainment rather than sport. Sit back and get involved when you've been entertained rather than actually take any part in the whole thing yourself.

 

I really did wonder if that Watford play-off game would spark a new lease of life into our ground but it seems to have done the opposite. It's been a total morgue this season other than the games against Forest & Fulham and we've won all bar three home games.

 

I've been wondering it for a while though Trav. Amazes me how so many can spend so much to sit in utter silence, almost keeping out of it as much as possible. Everyone's got their own preference but it's bizarre just how many seem to opt for this.

[davieG]

http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/topic/91594-whats-the-point/

[davieG]

It would be interesting to know the demographics of the crowd, the proportion of kids and older people of which I'm one who tend to make less noise. I used to be very vocal but now make very little noise due to age and the fact I'm now on my own as none of my friends or family now go.

I'd say the number of 20 to 35 year olds has dropped dramatically since I was in that age group having been sidelined by the whole modern concept of football or priced out.

[BrummieFOX]

I think you're right, the demographic of the crowd make a huge difference.

 

When you look at the crowds that do make a decent noise quite often, they have a stand full of the 20-35/40 demographic (Spurs, Liverpool, United (Stretford End)) with very few women or children. I'm not saying I'd want that, but it does have a positive effect on the atmosphere. 

[Silverdaz]

I guess some people just like to watch the game and get engrossed in it

[AndWhat?]

Solely down to demographics, terraces in Europe are filled with young people cause they can still afford to go, which is why the atmosphere is so much better over there.

Young people don't want to pay for things that aren't fun! And unless you are in L1 and we've just scored 2 goals in 10 minutes to go 2-1 up and the away fans are having a go, going to watch games at Leicester just isn't fun!

Unless something bigs been organised and there's 20 of us on the piss for a random game!

[purpleronnie]

If you want to be part of a good atmosphere or just to hear one then I have no idea why people would go to the football anymore. 

 

Best thing to do is to put that aside and just go and watch the game.

[AndWhat?]

If you want to be part of a good atmosphere or just to hear one then I have no idea why people would go to the football anymore.

Best thing to do is to put that aside and just go and watch the game.

Because you do get that 1 anomaly a season where it is actually decent!

But me and my mates that all had season tickets a few seasons ago realised that the money they cost wasn't worth the 1 in 23 chance of getting a decent atmosphere.

[Guest]

http://youtu.be/C11KeB7O2vk

 

Cheers for the reminder Trav  :xmasbiggrin: