| Atmosphere in this country.. 14:25 - Nov 2 with 5186 views | SonicBoom |
How come the atmosphere else where around Europe is so much better than here?
Obviously it's more mental in places like Turkey and Greece, I guess they don't have such onerous health and safety rules. But I've been watching the German league and the fans look to be having a far better time there. There's loads of singing and thousands of flags and signs - that don't seem to supplied by the clubs.
Yet here we sit down, shut up, the clubs employ flag wavers, and the game is stopped if there is so much as a single flare.
I get having to make sure people are "safe" these days but safe apparently means just stop everyone doing anything other than sitting down and clapping. Modern day atmospheres at football are really dire these days.
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 14:37 - Nov 2 with 5156 views | saint901 |
Perhaps it's a combination of national culture and circumstance in each country?
Looking around me at St Mary's, the age demographic is certainly edging in to the 40's and above. Perhaps that's a function of where I sit and I'm sure that the noisy end has a large number of younger fans. Anyway, age tends to increase the cynicism level and most of us around me have seen us snatch defeat from victory at the last second so often, that to celebrate early is asking for a jinx.
In Italy and Spain especially, the fan base in the stadiums appears to be younger = more energy = less tolerance of others = a careless attitude toward consequences. In Germany, many clubs are very active in building and helping supporters associations and groups and generally engage more.
In the above countries there is also a strong regional loyalty and supporting a club from another region is not popular. The loyalty to a region is perhaps a contributor to the passion on the terrace?
Or it could just be that we're miserable bu99ers because the weathers' naff, the politicians are making a mess of Gov't, the economy is flatlined and we stubbed our toe that morning getting out of bed. | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 14:51 - Nov 2 with 5135 views | PatfromPoole |
The game has become a lot more middle-class over here, particularly in the South.
Ticket prices have seen to that.
German games are however much cheaper; they have it sorted over there.
Also culture. You don’t find many women at games in Greece, Turkey or the old Eastern European countries.
Whereas over here, women have been encouraged to be a lot less subservient to men, and a lot of them are fairly well-off relative to their other halves.
That’s my cultural input for the year….. | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 14:58 - Nov 2 with 5125 views | Southamptonfan |
You have hit the nail on the head - Ticket Prices!
The higher the prices, the more middle class, the more older people that go. Football games, rail tickets, travel expenses, all seem to be cheaper in many European countries. | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 15:30 - Nov 2 with 5080 views | PatfromPoole |
I should add that as somebody whose daughter is starting to take an active interest in Saints, I don’t mind at all that women are getting more into football.
I know a fair few of them who get just as involved in the game as any bloke, particularly the TOGS crew.
My issue is more with people who spend more time on their phones than watching the game. Even in the Itchen North, you see a fair few of these. No idea why they bother going to the game. | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 19:56 - Nov 2 with 4892 views | cocklebreath |
Sat behind 2 blokes in block 15 against Rotherham, glued to phones not sure they watched any of the match🙄 | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 20:31 - Nov 2 with 4858 views | green |
Same, one game this season three lads must have been early twenties spent the whole game betting on their phones on other Premier League games, seemingly no interest in our game.
Don’t know how they managed it though because I don’t seem to get a signal at all in the ground (a good thing because no one can bother me). | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 11:57 - Nov 3 with 4662 views | wibbersda |
Because of the dominance of the Right Wing Media, making everyone angry and unhappy with the country and their life. | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 13:32 - Nov 3 with 4621 views | dirk_doone |
There is also the fact that many fans are more concerned with maintaining a 'cool' image so scarves, flags, ultras etc are not welcomed. I remember some time ago when Nick raised the question of whether we should emulate Palace in having organised ultras, he was quickly laughed down, yet Palace are considered by many to have the most improved atmosphere in the country. [Post edited 3 Nov 2023 13:34]
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 13:36 - Nov 3 with 4607 views | SonicBoom |
The whole concept of "ultras" is terrible. I see Celtic have banned the Green Brigade from games now as they have caused so many issues.
In Europe you get the ridiculous spectacle of players havig to line up in front of the crowd so they can vent their fury at the latest loss.
What are Ultras? There are loads of committed fans that follow home and away, they don't feel the need to appoint themselves as Ultras. It seems Ultras believe they are above normal fans and demand all sorts from the club. So odd. It's just a game of football ffs | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 13:37 - Nov 3 with 4604 views | dirk_doone |
Yet the support in the countries you mention in Europe is totally driven by them. | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 14:26 - Nov 3 with 4576 views | GRIM |
Crazy why pay silly money for tickets then spend 90 minutes on your phone.
What about the loonies that take their shirts off & face the back of the stand just to get attention.
I bet some of them could even tell you the score. | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 14:15 - Nov 4 with 4340 views | darthvader |
Tbf i was at the Ipswich game with my two daughters who are saints mad one more than the other , itchen north half way through the second half they were both sat down looking at phones laughing at stuff .
I turned to them to scold them ,are you watching the game ?!?!..
One screwed her face up said
"No not really" . To be fair after watching the Leicester game and on that particular night i didnt blame them ..
Normally tho they aren't so bad with , a few pictures etc but that night they werent interested and said the players werent so why should we be . . | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 14:41 - Nov 4 with 4316 views | GRIM |
When I said the loonies that take their shirts off I wasn't talking about the ladies. | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 19:08 - Nov 4 with 4160 views | SFC_Referee |
Yeah but the German and the Italian leagues are about the only two major leagues that do have a much better atmosphere than us. As I myself have been to a fair few major stadiums across Europe to see games, and yeah some were amazing (like Dortmunds, Camp Nou, Allianz Stadium etc…) and yeah they all had amazing atmospheres that I’d never seen in England, but for games in France and Spain (that weren’t el Classico but rather your average games with mid table teams) they’re well worse than us and barely sing at all.
So for the major 5 leagues I’d say for atmospheres we’d be bang in the middle as 3rd of the 5 leagues, as yeah Germany and Italy sure do put us to shame, but at least we have a decent enough atmosphere for all games whilst in Spain and France it’s only certain teams and games that ever have much of an atmosphere whatsoever | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 23:11 - Nov 4 with 4016 views | cocklebreath |
Total rubbish, you not seen the fans in Turkey and Greece and Croatia? It’s a different level all over Europe | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 09:03 - Nov 5 with 3854 views | saintwizzler |
Sexist pig. | |
| We thought that we had the answers,
It was the questions we had wrong. |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 20:44 - Nov 5 with 3752 views | SFC_Referee |
Didn’t know the Turkish and Greek leagues are now classified as major ones?
As yeah in many of the smaller leagues the atmospheres are much better than we get over here, but for the 5 major leagues, we’re bang in the middle for how good or bad atmospheres are | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 10:21 - Nov 6 with 3609 views | SaintNick |
There are many reasons why it has become so sanitised, most of them have been mentioned here, but i dont think it is one reason in particular but a combination.
The main reason though is attitude, abroad they have started to adopt a more partisan attitude to the clubs they support, the Ultras are respected as being the most passionate of the fans and the clubs have recognised that in any business you have to keep your best customers on side and treat them with respect.
Here we seem to sneer at anyone who shows any real passion, the Palace Ultras seem to be sneered at rather than admired for turning Selhurst park from a dull stadium with little atmosphere to one that now has genuine atmosphere, they were the catalyst for that.
Take Liverpool for instance before kick off they have the biggest collection of flags and banners being waved, but once the came kicks off they have to be put away and not waved as it will get in the way of the tourists who want to take photos of the game | |
| Satisfying The Bloodlust Of The Masses In Peacetime |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 13:06 - Nov 6 with 3580 views | Wints76 |
StWizzler and I watched Ajax play Heerenveen yesterday. Atmosphere there was pretty much like any ground in England. a bit of chanting here and there but the 1000 or so away fans being noisier. The two lads next to us (early 20s) chatted and giggled throughout the game, played on their phones, went and got food after about 40 mins and left on about 75 mins. They missed 4 goals in a 4-1 win.
I've been to quite a few Spanish grounds. Bilbao and the two Seville clubs were noisy but the rest weren't. Italy and Germany definitely the best atmospheres of the major leagues. Pretty much for the reasons discussed above | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 16:51 - Nov 6 with 3536 views | Buggalugs |
Sounds like Millwall flu to me  | |
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| Atmosphere in this country.. on 16:53 - Nov 6 with 3534 views | Wints76 |
😀 Cheeky bugger.
Been there, done it. Went in home end as well (which would be an embarrassing story for the person concerned, but I am sworn to secrecy for ever) | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 20:50 - Nov 6 with 3428 views | AnonSaint1 |
The Chapel movement is there for those saying ticket prices contribute to poor atmosphere.
Cat A: £25
Cat B: £20
Cat C: £15
(Block 15)
Surprised not more people have gotten involved. Cheapest part of the ground and now has a bit of an atmosphere. Just need a few more up there. Up to the rest of the ground to do something. | | | |
| Atmosphere in this country.. on 09:18 - Nov 7 with 3292 views | saintwizzler |
I’ve got Watford flu | |
| We thought that we had the answers,
It was the questions we had wrong. |
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