Many seasoned fans have been complaining about the lack of atmosphere these days for some time now. A friend of mine had the privilege of standing at the Kop during it's heydays. He isn't the tallest of blokes and most of the time, he couldn't even watch the game. Why did he keep going back then? Simple really. It was for the atmosphere. You would get strangers singing and chanting together in unison, swaying in every which direction, gulping their lager (which I bet contributed a great deal to the singing and chanting), hugging one another when your teams scores a goal. You would go to a game and by the end of it, you would be 50 feet away from where you originally were.

20 or so years on, these stories seem a distant memory. Liverpool's RTK campaign is one such example of an initiative to bring back the match day atmosphere or days gone by. When I was at Anfield last year, I was surprised how quiet it could be. I swear that at times, you can hear a pin drop. I was seated on the other end of the Kop near the away fans and the silence was deafening at times. You still get the occasional chant and song but when the pace of the game slows down, so does the crowd. Well it was my only experience there and maybe I caught them on an off day, who knows?

I agree with Maddie's comment that the fans themselves are to blame. Newer fans don't seem to have the same level of affinity to their clubs. Watching their teams play is more of a hobby to pass time rather than a passionate affair. How many fans actually know their club songs? Player chants? I'd be the first to admit I don't know them all and the likes of Monstar, JonC and Jonno know a few more than I do, but I know enough to make some level of noise. Knowing the songs and chants are key to creating an electrifying atmosphere. I mean, what else are you going to do to make some noise and get the players going?

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Added on January 11, 2008, 10:12 amI'm really surprised this thread isn't receiving more attention. I think the topic is key to football especially from the perspective of a fan. I guess it gives you some idea of how fans today feel about the game or their teams.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jan 11 2008, 10:12 AM

Even though kickoff may be early, it's on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. I know you work every other Saturday afternoon mate but the majority of us don't. Have no idea if it's the same there. Good point though.

It's weird because I know of so many fans who proclaim how into their teams they are but yet, hardly know a chant or song. I'm not saying it's a prerequisite but what other kind of noise are you going to make during a game? The EOA boys were brilliant when they came up for a visit from Singapore. They never stopped singing the whole game and they brought their banner with them as well. To me, there's nothing like bringing out your scarves, flags or banners for match day, especially for the big encounters.

Well football did begin as a blue collared sport and I don't necessarily think you have to be poor or uneducated to be loud and noisy. During MyRAWK viewings, you get a whole bunch of people shouting obscenities, loudly urging the team on. There is also this hardcore dude who is a millionaire (he's even produced a movie in India!) and he's really really loud. Another is a cigar smoking lawyer and went to court right after drinking all night and morning after we won the UCL in 2005. He went home, took a shower and headed straight for court. Immediately after, he went to Borneo Ink to get his arm tattooed! LoL. I was there the day after and Eddie (the tattoo artist) asked if I knew this drunk Liverpool fan that walked in the day before. What I'm trying to say is, they come in all shapes, sizes and forms



I see where you're coming from but to me, it's more than just entertainment. Do I like it if my team makes watching grass grow seem like watching a blockbuster movie? Of course not. Will I come back again the following week? That would be a definite yes. Heck it's the same reason I watched Liverpool play each week under Houllier even though it was like watching paint dry. Ok, you may say it's different because I don't have to pay to watch it on telly. Well firstly, I invest time. I could be doing something more interesting elsewhere. Secondly a ticket at Anfield costs around the region of $30 - $35 if I remember correctly. That may come up to RM 200 + but if you're living there, you don't convert so it's like us paying RM35, not that much if you ask me.




You are assuming of course that making noise means taunting the opposition. How about songs that are pro your club? It's not uncommon to hear songs like YNWA, Ring Of Fire, The Best midfield in the World, Steven Gerrard's chant to the tune of "que sera sera", Carra's chant to the tune of "yellow submarine" and such at Anfield, or even M Bar for that matter Making noise back here may be limited to taunting and jeering the opposition but mainly because fans don't learn the songs of their clubs.

Study? Dude, how old are you??? I thought you were a working adult!

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Added on January 11, 2008, 8:16 pmThe last local football match I attended was an international friendly between Malaysia and China. The only chants I could here were, "referee kayu!". It was kinda limited. I prefer the atmosphere during badminton matches here to be honest.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jan 11 2008, 08:16 PM

You're nuts mate! Just like some of us What were you doing in the states anyway?

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jan 11 2008, 08:24 PM

Agreed.

Lol, you got that right.



I was actually amazed at the number of people asking for tickets outside Anfield. Every couple of minutes or so, you'll hear someone going "tickets, tickets, anyone have any tickets?".

I agree that you get a better view of the game on telly and yes, the commentators are an important ingredient in the whole viewing experience but only in the flesh can you truly soak up the atmosphere. When you go to the stadium it's not only about watching the game. It's about singing and chanting with fellow supporters, hugging strangers when your team scores, having a bevy with mates before and after the game, hurling abuse at rival players, bantering with rival supporters and like. If your team was playing a few blocks from you in the flesh, wouldn't you want to be there?