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Reply | Playing out from the back
at 23:45 1 Mar 2024
The way we played out in the first half was mesmerising and whilst slightly nerve wracking it had us on the edge of our seats- it is our style now it’s unique to us and at least we now have an identity- we could of course get the ball forward quicker but that is more likely to release possession back to the opponent and thus put us under more pressure.
This is football in its purest form - it’s brave and will tire the opposition and most importantly it will mostly achieve a higher degree of success
With a decent striker up top we would have won at Liverpool and arguably been pushing Leicester for top spot. |
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Reply | Pitiful support
at 10:53 1 Mar 2024
The support in terms of numbers was good- for some away games people who would normally sing are spread across different areas- which dilutes the atmosphere. I wonder if when the club are given an allocation they could advertise that certain blocks are for those who are wishing to sing? There is also a distinct lack of variety in the songs sung.
Our main anthem is slow and whilst iconic to us supporters it needs other upbeat songs to get the team going.
This got me thinking about home support and the new proposed 'home end' I think the only way it would work is if we had an Ultra type movement- I know many fans hate this idea and prefer the spontaneous type retorts you get when positioned next to the away fans- but there are also many fans who hate the constant anti Pompey chants etc- Whether we like it or not times are changing and I think within a couple of seasons most clubs will have an ultras type fan base- it will IMO happen at SMS and if it helps the team home and away then I think we should embrace it. |
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Reply | St.Mary’s
at 12:54 11 May 2023
Terrace culture is embedded in the past- something we can all look back on with great nostalgia and something we were lucky enough to be part of- I would personally like to see a bit of atmosphere- does not have to be completely plastic and choreographed- it can grow organically |
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Reply | St.Mary’s
at 11:28 11 May 2023
In the championship you will find there a more vocal fans in relative terms- as a premier league club we have a lot of passive fans - who will watch the game relatively quietly- this dilutes the atmosphere and has a domino effect on other fans in these 'quiet areas'.
This is not just a Southampton thing- lots of clubs in the Prem have pretty poor atmospheres. The days of groups of lads rocking up and the spontaneous banter and hostility that came with them is a thing of the past... I loved the Dell but we have moved on.
If you want an atmosphere it has to be somewhat choreographed and organised (probably with reps from the club and supporters groups- Arsenal have the Ashburton Army - Its not everyone's bag but its the only way you will get anything resembling an atmosphere at SMS I'm afraid.
Fill the Chapel with loads of flags and scarves and get fans bouncing up and down will at least give a bit of noise and colour. The alternative is a souless depressing bowl with the occassional slow and painful rendition of 'oh when the Saints' breaking the silence. |
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Reply | St.Mary’s
at 12:10 10 May 2023
The atmosphere is poor- yes the team are absolutely crap but that's not the only reason. I would love to move the away fans but that is never going to happen.
The championship is a chance to re-establish a vocal home backing. The club need to work with the fans and come up with an agreed area for all the singers to congregate.
I think there are only 2 viable options-
1/ In the Itchen next to the away fans ( would look good on TV and would help drown out the away fans)
2/ The Chapel End (creating a Kop like atmosphere) could be really good if the whole central area was 500 plus singers - would help the team more as they tend to kick that way in the 2nd half
One of the problems with the Northam is that you cannot really see the fans on any TV overage which makes us look even worse than we are-
Any move of singers means some current fans who sit in these areas and are season ticket holders would need to be shifted elsewhere- now we are relegated this should be a bit easier.
Finally our variety of songs is shocking- we need a few more stirring anthems which the whole ground can join in with- if Forest can do it so can we! |
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Reply | Chapel End next season
at 20:58 20 Feb 2020
Absolutely spot on- there is no identity by having two fragmented groups in the corners- the Chapel End could be renamed the Dockers End - could give our younger fans a new sense of belonging. [Post edited 20 Feb 2020 21:04]
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Reply | Chapel End next season
at 12:13 20 Feb 2020
Nick, this is not a debate about making the Northam the home end but rather the Chapel. I take your point about being next to the away fans on both sides and drowning them out but this hasn't happened for years.
If you recall the Archers when it was covered was a brilliant home end- away fans were in the corner and were easily drowned out by the couple of thousand home fans in the Archers Road. This was a great example of how effective a good vociferous home end can be and I am convinced this atmosphere helped the boys on a number of relegation battles!
I also think you are missing the point about this debate regarding it being some sort of vendetta against the club- and their perceived unwillingness to accept a fans view regarding change. This is certainly not a moan against the club, if we can find a way to work together to create a better atmosphere then everyone (including those in the Boardroom, manager and players) would surely be 100% behind it.
There has been a lot made of demographics and the relationship between composition of fan type and atmosphere. Namely that the atmosphere is more diluted now because there are more women, children and older fans- added to that the perception that there is also a new type of 'semi touristic middle class fan' who takes a few photos and buggers off early to the tune of 'is there a fire drill' etc.
I think class, age, gender etc is not an issue, they are paying their money like everyone else and whilst they may not contribute to an electric atmosphere they are a reflection of what the Premier league has become. However, taking all that to one side there is no question that a home end would benefit from a higher proportion of young adults- this is an area which I am sure the club could investigate, How do we attract the 16 to 25 year old market? I have a 21 year old son - like most lads his age, he's generally skint but loves football and likes nothing better than having a good sing song at footy on a Saturday- if the club were to section off a large part of the Chapel and encourage more of this younger fan with reduced tickets then surely this would be good for the club on so many levels. From there, this young fan movement would grow organically and they would take some ownership and have a sense of identity (as we all once did when we stood on the terraces at the Dell).
We can spend £20 million on a striker who may or may not have any impact whatsoever. Every transfer carries a huge financial risk- this is arguably a far lesser 'gamble' it has to be worth at least opening up some dialogue with the club on how we can improve the atmosphere at St Marys and in by doing so help the team to better results! |
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Reply | Chapel End next season
at 21:27 19 Feb 2020
Ginger nuts- garibaldi & plain digestive! (A right old bland concoction) |
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Reply | Chapel End next season
at 19:22 19 Feb 2020
Moving away fans would be ideal- but I suspect for logistical /policing reasons I don’t think it will be considered.
On the subject of having a Kop end and it being seen as somewhat cringe worthy I understand why some fans feel that way- I am an old school fan myself being brought up on the terraces of the Milton and Archers Road at the Dell- we have to accept those days have gone and move forward- I know a lot of fans would prefer to stay where they are and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
On the point made about the atmosphere being diluted by the demographics- that is also probably fair comment- to counter this I would like to see the club offer younger fans (say 15 to 25 year olds) a reduced season ticket / match day ticket into the singing area. It’s very noticeable how few fans we have in this age range- as Barnet Saint alluded to earlier - many in this age range are priced out of going which is a massive shame.
I would be happy to write to the club to propose this but wanted to get an idea of the support for and against! [Post edited 19 Feb 2020 19:35]
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Thread | Chapel End next season
at 16:01 19 Feb 2020
A lot of fans will hate this proposal but I am utterly convinced that we need to make the Chapel end our main singing stand next season. I hope the club will rethink before announcing season tickets etc- I think there is a stronger case now than ever before to create our own Kop like end. The Northam and Itchen corner now serve no benefit to the team. Fans moan about the other stands and lack of atmosphere but let’s be honest that is not going to change/ for a number of reasons (demographics & average age of fan being one of them)
I also appreciate many fans detest the idea of a choreographed end with flags and people bouncing up and down in some euro style frenzy- but times have changed. St Mary’s is becoming increasingly depressing for our supporters- I personally don’t agree it’s because the team have been poor at home- we had better support in the championship the season we were relegated.
Sitting next to the away fans now is becoming embarrassing and quite honestly most away followings out sing us. Neutrals watching us on TV could be forgiven for not even realising there were fans who sing in the Northam. How much better would it look if we had a vociferous Chapel End- (what a great name for a home end!)Villa fans create a lot of noise from the Holte end as do palace and Liverpool- the other advantage is the noise from the Chapel would transmit across to the team and would be heard loud and clear by the away fans. Austin made some valid points- I really hope the club take a look at this and do something pro active for a change. From the supporters side there also has to be the will to make a change- what have we got to lose? |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | -2 | | Comment Votes: | 10 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 8 |
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