I went to west brom game after mourinho complained about the crowd an it was a good atmosphere. Yesterday at the Bradford game, nothing. It was embarrassing how quiet the home end were. If you're not going to chant, don't go. Watch it on TV because that might be why we are losing these games because Bradford had a crowd who made them seem as if they were playing at home. Awful, the atmosphere needs improving drastically.

I appreciate I risk being shot at here but are we any different to any other top team. We struggle to get up for games against minnows (teams we are expected to beat). I'm not saying that's right but is it the way of the world these days. We turn up for these games on a hiding to nothing as we are expected to win.

6000 away fans are going to outsing the home fans at any Premier League ground, that's a fact. Factor in the idiots more interested in taking photo's with their phones, rather than supporting the team and the modern day scourge that is friendship scarves and people wonder why the atmosphere is so sterile,

The guy next to me yesterday had a few Chelsea tats on his hand. He didn't take any photos, didn't have any half team scarves, looked around his mid-30s and he hardly muttered a word. Pure lazyness and there are a lot of his type who are the same.

Hope this doesn't cause controversy but too many tourists. I mean it's ironic because I'm from Northern Ireland and my family and I have been going for a very long time but there's nothing I love more than the singing aspect of the game. The atmosphere did improve for a while but I noticed at the Newcastle game just how awful it was. You obviously expect the away fans to make some noise but the loudest we were all game was when clive announced that city had drawn at goodison. When you're coming from a foreign land, you're there to watch and not really to support it seems. A few them do support so fair play to them, but most of them feel too uncomfortable around people of a different language. They don't chant, don't urge the players on, don't even complain at a bad decision. I understand it because if I went to watch a game in a different country I would be the same, but it really affects the atmosphere. I must stress that not all tourists are like this

Edited January 25, 201511 yr by BenCFC19

It's the same for all top English clubs.

As great as it is having most fans singing you aren't under any obligation to do so when you attend, you've paid your money like anyone else to be there and you can choose to support the team how you wish once you're there.

The truth is ticket prices are so high now there are a lot of fans who are priced out of going and so clubs cant have it both ways, you cant charge £50+ a ticket, pricing out a lot of working class fans and also want (for lack of a better description) a working class atmosphere.

6000 away fans are going to outsing the home fans at any Premier League ground, that's a fact. Factor in the idiots more interested in taking photo's with their phones, rather than supporting the team and the modern day scourge that is friendship scarves and people wonder why the atmosphere is so sterile,

The friendships scarves are an embarrassment, it's such a cringe to see how many people (tourists) that are actually buying them.

Can't keep on about tourists with 25,000 plus season ticket holders corporate areas, which are the little tier below Abamovich all the east middle and part of East upper. 3,000 away fans (prem games) we only have 5,000 tickets to sell on a game to game basis. We have to start looking in a few mirrors. I'm in the Mat Harding upper and trying to get a song going yesterday was like pulling teeth and with no Chelsea in shed end should have had enough singers yesterday.

Can never fault the away fans though, always fantastic

It's the same for all top English clubs.

As great as it is having most fans singing you aren't under any obligation to do so when you attend, you've paid your money like anyone else to be there and you can choose to support the team how you wish once you're there.

The truth is ticket prices are so high now there are a lot of fans who are priced out of going and so clubs cant have it both ways, you cant charge £50+ a ticket, pricing out a lot of working class fans and also want (for lack of a better description) a working class atmosphere.

Interesting point well made. In these times the ticket price and possible travel cost, even to The Bridge for some, is an issue for many especially families. If families are squeezed out financially, then how will the next generation of fans know what an atmosphere is and how to create it. Football was such a part of the popular culture, but that seems to have changed.

Can't keep on about tourists with 25,000 plus season ticket holders corporate areas, which are the little tier below Abamovich all the east middle and part of East upper. 3,000 away fans (prem games) we only have 5,000 tickets to sell on a game to game basis. We have to start looking in a few mirrors. I'm in the Mat Harding upper and trying to get a song going yesterday was like pulling teeth and with no Chelsea in shed end should have had enough singers yesterday.

Can we stop referring to corporate areas. There are none. They are hospitality areas. I was speaking to one of the account managers at Chelsea who told me that 40 % of hospitality season ticket holders were private individuals who pay it out of their personal accounts. Of the remaining 60% a lot of those were individuals who just happen to buy their season ticket through their company for tax purposes. The majority of hospitality is not corporate at all ( it's made up of families or couples, or friends with a common interest)

Agree with your main point. It's not the tourists who are the problem as they represent such a small percentage of each matchday crowd. It's not class thing either ( I have to admit the only time I've ever heard people talk as if there was still a class system is on this forum!). I think its just a social thing. We just don't have that 'passion' any more. I also think we have just grown so accustomed to being winners we don't grasp the importance of getting behind the team vocally any more, when we really need to.

Interesting point well made. In these times the ticket price and possible travel cost, even to The Bridge for some, is an issue for many especially families. If families are squeezed out financially, then how will the next generation of fans know what an atmosphere is and how to create it. Football was such a part of the popular culture, but that seems to have changed.

I'm lucky to get to a game per season nowadays, wife and two kids to worry about paying £50 for 90 minutes is now pretty low on the priority list.

I think I remember reading that Chelsea has one of the oldest average ages in terms of fans attending matches, it's something like 46 years old from memory, the younger generation of fans are probably struggling to afford regularly and it is those that attend most games that will generate the most atmosphere.

When you see how cheap some of the season tickets are in Spain and Germany it's little wonder their support is so and well organised on a consistent basis.

I'm lucky to get to a game per season nowadays, wife and two kids to worry about paying £50 for 90 minutes is now pretty low on the priority list.

I think I remember reading that Chelsea has one of the oldest average ages in terms of fans attending matches, it's something like 46 years old from memory, the younger generation of fans are probably struggling to afford regularly and it is those that attend most games that will generate the most atmosphere.

When you see how cheap some of the season tickets are in Spain and Germany it's little wonder their support is so and well organised on a consistent basis.

In her time, before she was so upwardly mobile, Karren Brady introduced 'kids for a quid' at Birmingham, in these tough times, financially and football, someone somewhere needs to wise up and take a good look at these real issues. Your family situation is a perfect example and I'm sure there are many more like you. Those at the top have plenty and it's about time they thought about those who buy the tickets.

What upsets me, is the funny looks you get when attempting to make a bit of noise. Makes you feel like Del Boy, in that episode where he goes to the opera.

What upsets me, is the funny looks you get when attempting to make a bit of noise. Makes you feel like Del Boy, in that episode where he goes to the opera.

Opera, football, often similar ticket price; madness.

In her time, before she was so upwardly mobile, Karren Brady introduced 'kids for a quid' at Birmingham, in these tough times, financially and football, someone somewhere needs to wise up and take a good look at these real issues. Your family situation is a perfect example and I'm sure there are many more like you. Those at the top have plenty and it's about time they thought about those who buy the tickets.

I've started taking my lad to Poole Town the last two seasons, where I know £20 will get us both in, a quick pint, Coke for the boy, and a burger and chips also if he fancies it.

Never renewed our memberships at Chelsea, just got too much sadly. Just the odd game guy now.

I've started taking my lad to Poole Town the last two seasons, where I know £20 will get us both in, a quick pint, Coke for the boy, and a burger and chips also if he fancies it.

Never renewed our memberships at Chelsea, just got too much sadly. Just the odd game guy now.

Another example of how it is for real family fans. Something should be done for the next generation.

To be fair it was £15 for kids anywhere in the ground yesterday and £30 for adults. Sounded reasonable to me - well before what unfolded it did.

I go down to Kingsmeadow to watch AFC Wimbledon from time to time, (Live 10 minutes away from the ground) even for a tiny stadium you get even young kids singing none of that selfie bollocks and watching the game through cameras. Like many have said the working class are being priced out which is ridiculous.

Note on that Dortmund image. I've watched football in Germany and the crowd are orchestrated by people on megaphones etc. They also have singing sections in their grounds as well. Maybe, just maybe we should consider this idea!

It's a double edged sword though. We have a small ground so , to compete financially, we have to sell tickets at a higher price. If we move to a larger stadium then I guess there is some possibility of reducing ticket prices. Until then the tickets are going only one way and that is north - especially when the simple business rule of supply and demand means the business would be stupid to reduce prices.

I wouldn't call the current situation ridiculous as its enables do us to play where we do, attract the players we do and do so within FFP.

Edited January 25, 201511 yr by Crem

Agreed, it would be nice to hear them being given some credit from Mourinho.

Can never fault the away fans though, always fantastic

That's strange, people go to the Bridge and want exam conditions, or they get angry, odd, I can't get my head around that at all.

What upsets me, is the funny looks you get when attempting to make a bit of noise. Makes you feel like Del Boy, in that episode where he goes to the opera.

I went to the Maribor game and I was surrounded by tourists, therefore it was quite quiet, I'm not the sort of person to start the chants either, I'm not the loudest person, admittedly I was a bit quiet, if there was people around me chanting though, I'd join in, but there was a lot of quiet tourists around me. Surely moving fans together based on their loyalty points might be a good idea, that's just off the top of my head.

Edited January 25, 201511 yr by Floyd25