Just wondering what peoples thoughts are about having another band on match days ? I've been disappointed with the lack of atmosphere and noise at oakwell for years, especially when we get deedars outsinging us. I'm split on it myself but just desperate to create a positive atmosphere somehow next season. Also by band i mean at least six to ten instruments and not just three men banging a drum. Maybe have a little bus shelter type stand for them on ponty corner where the sky box used to be rather than in the stand ?? Any thoughts or opinions or other options ? Also part of the reason for this post is after the poor atmosphere at the town hall too. Let's make oakwell rock next season.
Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh..... No. Used to hate the Sheff Weds band and then the England one (both the same I think) The England band should be put on the first Virgin rocket to the moon and left there, then they can bash their stuff to their hearts content where no one can hear them. Absolutely dreadful.
100% no. But if they do this, it needs to be positioned directly behind those who think it's a good idea, unlike the last one, that was positioned behind me
The MC doesn't do enough to get the crowd warmed up in my opinion. Shouting, "you reds" just before kick off is not good enough. I've been to foreign grounds where the MC gets the fans chanting before kick-off by engaging with them. A simple chant like "Barnsley" could emanate from the Ponty end with the MC starting it. If it wasn't loud enough he could say "Come on, you can do better than that" till it became louder. Then once the Ponty were engaged, get the East Stand to try and outdo them and even have a go at the West Stand. It could then catch on and come out during a game where all three sides shout out "Barnsley" one after the other.
They are abroad and the atmosphere is electric. Athletico Madrid have a cheerleader with speakers and a mike set up prior to the game. He sets off every chant before shutting up and letting the crowd take over and the noise is incessant all the match. They have a song for every single player and the manager which they chant most of the first half, then 2nd half is club songs. He even introduced a new song with a handful joining in.. After that a few more joined in and then hundreds. By the end of the game, the whole section behind the goal had learned it and were singing it really loudly. It may seem orchestrated but the atmosphere it creates is brilliant, far better than anything I've heard in England apart from the Anfield European nights.
I find it hard to chant constantly and also properly watch the match. Not been to a European match . Players get the chants when they produce on the pitch, think it means more to them then.
Now here's an interesting subject and one which should be subject to science. First of all we have Billy Bean - so this might get some legs. Secondly the crowd has, since the game began, become known as the 12th man. So - you know how the england cycling team analyse every aspect of performance - well crowd behaviour is entirely within this scope of performance for a football team. As a for instance Birmingham city have this excellent way that they go "whoooo" when ever a substiture is made. Coming on for Barcelone - Lionel Messi - I imagine it's not going to improve his perfromance if the whole home crowd go "who?". It's kind of the same when the crowd build up a crescendo and call the goalie a fat ******* at a goal kick. Does it impact his performance? One thiings for sure I don't think it improves their performance. Now if I were Billy Bean / performance director for a football club I might investigate whether having dedicated cheer leaders (not the dallas cowboy pom pom types) who could employ various techniques at certain points of the game to spur on the team or put off the opposition. I appreciate the putting off the opposition could be construed as "ungentlemanly conduct" and lead the club to a fine - but the pressure the Liverpool crowd put on the opposition is certainly something you would try to actively create if you could control it. Just look at the number of ways the crowd can influence refs and how many goals are scored in the 90th minute - what impact does the ground atmosphere have on those final moments. If I'd invented moneyball - If I were spending money on sports nutrition and sport psychology and "selection spread sheets" and the like - I'd certainly be spending a few bob researching crowd dynamics.
Got to say the band was at least memorable , when was it 2002? Sure we got smashed 4-1 against WBA . The biggest cheer of the day , when they stopped playing........
The atmosphere or lack of it at the town hall was down to the timing of the event and the fact it was cold and pissing down with rain most of the day. Had it been on Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday and the weather been good the atmosphere would have been much better. The atmosphere at the ground is a reflection I believe of an ageing fan base which has been caused by SKY TV and the cost of watching live football.