The Mail Bag
What's happened to the atmosphere at Goodison?
Comments (18)
It has become evident over the last few weeks that the atmosphere when playing at Goodison has dropped off... considerably. It seems that the feeling ever since we lost out on pens to Fiorentina is that our season is over and it's just a case of waiting for this season to finish so we can start again next year and have another crack at the Uefa Cup.
Against Derby (whose fans were excellent throughout), I was sat in row LL of the Main Stand 2nd level and I could clearly hear what a number of the players were saying during the game on more than one occasion. The unfortunate thing is that, if we don't pick up in the remaining games, we might not have a Uefa Cup run at all next season.
The even more unfortunate thing is that if we had have kicked on after losing to Fiorentina i.e. against Fulham & West Ham the loss to Liverpool might not have been as devestating and the 4th CL spot would still have been realistic.
No, the performances haven't been good over the last month and no, I don't believe that there is truly enough quality amongst our ranks at the present time to break the 4; however, if there was EVER a chance to do it, surely it was now?
Looking forward to next season, the likes of Tottenham & Newcastle plus City, Villa etc are all going to be bigger and stronger and there's a horrible part of me that worries we are going to be left behind? Let's hope not.
So, fellow blues, we've got 4 home games left - let's get behind the boys and let's cement that 5th place. And maybe, just maybe we can be there if Liverpool do drop the ball. And let's hope they fucking do!!!! COYB
Baz Hunt, Posted 07/04/2008 at 23:36:28
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Mark Stone
2 Posted 08/04/2008 at 08:45:30
2 Posted 08/04/2008 at 08:45:30
I was sat at the back of Lower Gwladys ... and you could hear a pin drop.
I don?t want to cause a stadium debate - but this really did make a mockery of those who don?t want to move as you?d lose the atmosphere. I was at the modern Stadium of Light the other week and the Sunderland fans never shut up - even though we beat them.
I don?t want to cause a stadium debate - but this really did make a mockery of those who don?t want to move as you?d lose the atmosphere. I was at the modern Stadium of Light the other week and the Sunderland fans never shut up - even though we beat them.
Andrew Fletcher
3 Posted 08/04/2008 at 09:15:06
3 Posted 08/04/2008 at 09:15:06
I think there is a degree of nervousness as well from supporters. I find myself a bit embarassed when the away fans are drowning us out.
But, as has been said before, the type of football we have been playing for the last 3 games is shockingly poor. If we hold on to 5th playing at this level it we be a miracle.
But, as has been said before, the type of football we have been playing for the last 3 games is shockingly poor. If we hold on to 5th playing at this level it we be a miracle.
Erik Dols
4 Posted 08/04/2008 at 09:53:45
4 Posted 08/04/2008 at 09:53:45
"Next season Newcastle will be..."
If I got a penny for every time I heard that...
If I got a penny for every time I heard that...
Derek Turnbull
5 Posted 08/04/2008 at 10:33:37
5 Posted 08/04/2008 at 10:33:37
There are always going to be matches when not everyone is up for it and the match quality is poor.
It is matches like these when you need your singers at the back of the Gwladys Street to get the crowd going, and encourage the passive spectators to join in more and get caught up in the singing.
However,you need these singers to congregate, traditionally been at the back of the Gwladys St, to be stood up all game. Standing up makes all the difference. However they can’t stand up because they get told to sit down by the fans in the last 2 rows who cannot see the match due to obstructions in the design when fans stand up in those last couple of rows. The second problem is that when they do sing there isn’t a decent form of amplification to spread the songs to the rest of the stand which would encourage the others to join in. This has been the problem for years and the reason why we don’t have a reputation for singing. It is also the reason why the Kirkby design must change. The singers will not stand when there’s executive boxes behind them and they are in the wide open (as opposed to hidden away under the roof). Also the proximity of the roof will be too far from the singers to reverberate the songs around the stand. So yet again we are having a stadium that is poor for atmosphere. Why can’t they see the success that Liverpool have had with their large single tier, and replicate it? Are they worried what Liverpool fans might say? Are we too bitter to admit that it is a good design?
It is matches like these when you need your singers at the back of the Gwladys Street to get the crowd going, and encourage the passive spectators to join in more and get caught up in the singing.
However,you need these singers to congregate, traditionally been at the back of the Gwladys St, to be stood up all game. Standing up makes all the difference. However they can’t stand up because they get told to sit down by the fans in the last 2 rows who cannot see the match due to obstructions in the design when fans stand up in those last couple of rows. The second problem is that when they do sing there isn’t a decent form of amplification to spread the songs to the rest of the stand which would encourage the others to join in. This has been the problem for years and the reason why we don’t have a reputation for singing. It is also the reason why the Kirkby design must change. The singers will not stand when there’s executive boxes behind them and they are in the wide open (as opposed to hidden away under the roof). Also the proximity of the roof will be too far from the singers to reverberate the songs around the stand. So yet again we are having a stadium that is poor for atmosphere. Why can’t they see the success that Liverpool have had with their large single tier, and replicate it? Are they worried what Liverpool fans might say? Are we too bitter to admit that it is a good design?
Daniel Mckeown
6 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:06:21
6 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:06:21
Every year we get to this position and we worry about being left behind and other clubs with more disposible income will take over us. Yet it never happens and it all boils down to one factor that all those other clubs dont have. Davie Moyes.
Love him or hate him for his dithering at the end of the day his record in the transfer market is unbelievable and he will no doubt do it again this summer.
Dont worry about other clubs spending and taking over us, we will quality for the Uefa Cup this year again and then we will go out and probably buy Pienaar and Manny and maybe a few other numbers. I also expect to see a couple more youngsters try and get more games. He obviously has alot of time for Jack Rodell, then there is the new Leon Osman in JP Kissock, how long has he been on the radar, just as Osman was and he come good under Moyes.
Forget the other clubs, Spurs were meant to challenge for fourth this year and never, we are starting to become consistent now. All we need is a bit of luck at the right time and we will be back where we truly belong.
Love him or hate him for his dithering at the end of the day his record in the transfer market is unbelievable and he will no doubt do it again this summer.
Dont worry about other clubs spending and taking over us, we will quality for the Uefa Cup this year again and then we will go out and probably buy Pienaar and Manny and maybe a few other numbers. I also expect to see a couple more youngsters try and get more games. He obviously has alot of time for Jack Rodell, then there is the new Leon Osman in JP Kissock, how long has he been on the radar, just as Osman was and he come good under Moyes.
Forget the other clubs, Spurs were meant to challenge for fourth this year and never, we are starting to become consistent now. All we need is a bit of luck at the right time and we will be back where we truly belong.
Patty Beesley
7 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:16:24
7 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:16:24
Very optimistic Daniel but we never seem to get the "rub of the green" do wek? Anyway really I am of the opinon that luck is of your own making but I think the 12th man helps which is sadly missing from our games, particularly since the second leg against Fiorentina.... then I was really proud of ouir support. There was a time you could stand in the Stanley Park car-park and hear the roar of the crowd - have you tried that lately - there is just not the same volume to the noise.
Perhaps if we really tried spurring our lads on a little bit of magic might happen.
Perhaps if we really tried spurring our lads on a little bit of magic might happen.
Tony Williams
8 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:17:17
8 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:17:17
You beat me to it Daniel.
Will this be the same Spurs, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Man City that outspent us this season and were expected to overtake us with ease?
Will this be the same Spurs, Portsmouth, Newcastle and Man City that outspent us this season and were expected to overtake us with ease?
Andrew Gilbert
9 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:27:38
9 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:27:38
If the men on the pitch put in a good performance the crowd the atmoshpere looks after itself. They aren’t doing that currently, but it doesn’t take much to get the atmos going.
But whilst the likes of Arteta is wearing his boots on the wrong feet its not going to help.
Come on team - it’s a two way street!
But whilst the likes of Arteta is wearing his boots on the wrong feet its not going to help.
Come on team - it’s a two way street!
Roy Coyne
10 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:52:26
10 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:52:26
Let's be fair to our fans, when you're nervous you can't sing and in the last couple of home games that has been the case whether you think its the players lack of confidence spreading to the crowd or the other way round. But we need to get behind them for the rest of the games I think Villa is vital.
Derek Turnbull
11 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:54:42
11 Posted 08/04/2008 at 12:54:42
Of course it helps the atmosphere when the team plays well, but that is when you least need an atmosphere. The whole point of an atmosphere is to get a better performance out of your players, or intimidate the opposition.
Andy Callan
12 Posted 08/04/2008 at 13:57:55
12 Posted 08/04/2008 at 13:57:55
The reason for the poor atmosphere is that the football (apart from may be 4 or 5 occasions) this years has been shite. Bored we are.
We sang in the UEFA Cup coz they had a go and played their hearts out. If they did they every week then I would be on my seat singin’ every week.
I pay to be entertained and that simply doesn’t happen, due to the ’win at all costs’ mind-set these days.
Too much money at stake you see.
Over paid shite footballers that couldn’t give a flying fuck about the fella’s that sit in the stand and millionaries from all over the globe are spoiling the beautiful game. In fact I think it has already killed it.
We sang in the UEFA Cup coz they had a go and played their hearts out. If they did they every week then I would be on my seat singin’ every week.
I pay to be entertained and that simply doesn’t happen, due to the ’win at all costs’ mind-set these days.
Too much money at stake you see.
Over paid shite footballers that couldn’t give a flying fuck about the fella’s that sit in the stand and millionaries from all over the globe are spoiling the beautiful game. In fact I think it has already killed it.
Andy Lea
13 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:20:55
13 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:20:55
I agree the atmosphere has been flat - this to me means those who go to the match, for amongst other things a sing song, havent been. Only they will know why they aint doing what they usually do but my take on it is this.
Pretty much every fan in the ground have paid their money. I am not a singer I must admit - however if something happens such as a piece of skill, a goal etc I will react. For me its down to the players on the pitch to get the crowd going - its part of their job description - football is a spectator sport so entertain us. This hasnt happened since Fiorentina hence the flatness that has been evident.
The players shouldnt need us to lift them to a level to trounce Derby County - remember Sunderland game? 1st half 3 - 0 and we were bouncing - half time 3-1 went a bit flat - 2nd half and full time 7-1 and its peanut butter jelly time!!!
This isnt chicken or the egg - its the players first for me - they get an amazing reception every time they walk out to Z cars and if that dont lift ya then find another club!!!
Pretty much every fan in the ground have paid their money. I am not a singer I must admit - however if something happens such as a piece of skill, a goal etc I will react. For me its down to the players on the pitch to get the crowd going - its part of their job description - football is a spectator sport so entertain us. This hasnt happened since Fiorentina hence the flatness that has been evident.
The players shouldnt need us to lift them to a level to trounce Derby County - remember Sunderland game? 1st half 3 - 0 and we were bouncing - half time 3-1 went a bit flat - 2nd half and full time 7-1 and its peanut butter jelly time!!!
This isnt chicken or the egg - its the players first for me - they get an amazing reception every time they walk out to Z cars and if that dont lift ya then find another club!!!
Danny Roberts
14 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:49:18
14 Posted 08/04/2008 at 16:49:18
Yes, it is up to the players to perform to get the crowd going but what about before the game? We should be singing all are players names as they warm up. Confidence is a big thing in football its why I think Newcastle struggle so much is their fans on their back first chance they get. Even when we scored saturday nobody sang LEON LEON. Its a shame the regulars who go to the away games don't all sit together. Our away record is impressive this season and that has something to do with the large vocal following everywere we go.
Derek Turnbull
15 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:03:08
15 Posted 08/04/2008 at 17:03:08
Re Andy Lea - The reason why the ’singers aren’t doing their job’, in the normal games is because they can’t all stand up in front of their seats, due to a design faul in the Gwladys St which causes the fans in the last 2 rows who can’t see half the pitch when they stand up due to an obstructive beam. They therefore tell everyone to sit down. We therefore get no standing and therefore hardly no singing.
Andy Lea
16 Posted 08/04/2008 at 20:47:26
16 Posted 08/04/2008 at 20:47:26
Derek Turnbull - read my piece again I wasn’t having a pop at the usual singers - I said they must have their reasons then my inference being that it was down to the performances not getting the crowd going.
As for you reasoning surely the design fault has been in place ever since all seater so for it come to the fore now I think a little off the mark.
For the record I was not having a go at the usual singers - merely the performances of the team!
As for you reasoning surely the design fault has been in place ever since all seater so for it come to the fore now I think a little off the mark.
For the record I was not having a go at the usual singers - merely the performances of the team!
Lue Glover
17 Posted 08/04/2008 at 22:05:16
17 Posted 08/04/2008 at 22:05:16
It’s a bit of a vicious circle, the team doesnt start the match too well, the crowd gets edgy, then the players sense the edgyness and the circle just continues.
I have to say that Sunday was more like a day in Chapel than a day at the match. I felt I had to whisper to those around me lest I should wake someone up! In fact, the two guys in front of me didnt move or speak for about half an hour and the thought crossed my mind that they may have passed away ( I went to a show in London many years ago and the man sat in front of me did actually die during the First Act! I never did get to see the end of it)
I’ve said this before, I sometimes get too nervous to sing but I still never shut up shouting encouragement. The gang who sit around me are all pretty gobby, in a positive way, that is, except for the ’Hibbert, you’re fucking shite’ man who was strangely quiet on Sunday.
I was frustrated and almost embarrassed by the inability to string two passes together and the weather didnt help. Hey ho, three points and I’ll watch the Sunderland game on tape to get my fix of Everton playing beautiful football.
I have to say that Sunday was more like a day in Chapel than a day at the match. I felt I had to whisper to those around me lest I should wake someone up! In fact, the two guys in front of me didnt move or speak for about half an hour and the thought crossed my mind that they may have passed away ( I went to a show in London many years ago and the man sat in front of me did actually die during the First Act! I never did get to see the end of it)
I’ve said this before, I sometimes get too nervous to sing but I still never shut up shouting encouragement. The gang who sit around me are all pretty gobby, in a positive way, that is, except for the ’Hibbert, you’re fucking shite’ man who was strangely quiet on Sunday.
I was frustrated and almost embarrassed by the inability to string two passes together and the weather didnt help. Hey ho, three points and I’ll watch the Sunderland game on tape to get my fix of Everton playing beautiful football.
Derek Turnbull
18 Posted 08/04/2008 at 23:29:52
18 Posted 08/04/2008 at 23:29:52
Re Andy Lea, yes you weren’t criticising the singers, I did speed read it sorry.
However can I pick up on this point?
As for you reasoning surely the design fault has been in place ever since all seater so for it come to the fore now I think a little off the mark.
People have been complaining about the acoustical design faults of the Gwladys Street since the 60s.
Also when allseaters came in, and the greater attendances in the mid 90s the design fault that I mentioned (obstructions in the last rows causing fans to sit) became evident, and our atmosphere has been very poor for your standard match since then. It is not a problem that has came to the fore now.
Singers like myself have been frustrated by this for years as mass sustained standing up makes so much difference, but we simply cant do that.
So when the designs for the new stadium came, at least we thought we would finally have a decent End Stand, but no, executive boxes right behind the lower tier? The roof an entire tier above where you need your singers to be? It couldn’t be worse. They are clueless about what is needed in order to get the singing going.
However can I pick up on this point?
As for you reasoning surely the design fault has been in place ever since all seater so for it come to the fore now I think a little off the mark.
People have been complaining about the acoustical design faults of the Gwladys Street since the 60s.
Also when allseaters came in, and the greater attendances in the mid 90s the design fault that I mentioned (obstructions in the last rows causing fans to sit) became evident, and our atmosphere has been very poor for your standard match since then. It is not a problem that has came to the fore now.
Singers like myself have been frustrated by this for years as mass sustained standing up makes so much difference, but we simply cant do that.
So when the designs for the new stadium came, at least we thought we would finally have a decent End Stand, but no, executive boxes right behind the lower tier? The roof an entire tier above where you need your singers to be? It couldn’t be worse. They are clueless about what is needed in order to get the singing going.
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1 Posted 08/04/2008 at 08:32:31
The edginess comes from the inability to keep the ball. The fact that we couldn’t dominate possession against a Championship side on our own patch is very disappointing. The fact like a team like Derby look better than us at home is also very disappointing and makes you think have we actually moved on or is the football still too original and negative.
If the players keep the ball, keep the ball on the ground and control possession then the atmosphere will improve. We’ve proved time and time again that if they give us something Goodison will rock. Like Fiorentina for example or the Derby. Portsmouth and Man utd last season.
To be honest though its the same everywhere. The atmosphere is poor at home games right throughout the country. There’s only really Portsmouth I can see who are consistent in terms of singing and making noise and even they have there off days. Goodison is probably in the top 10 loudest in the Premiership which shows how poor atmosphere’s have gone in the last ten years.