Despite a fantastic crowd for the season opener, the atmosphere was remarkably flat yesterday for the most part. There were about 2,000 more home fans than the opening home game of last season, which suggests more have forgiven (for want of a better word) the negligence of our relegation season, and bought into the reds again. But barring the spell between our goals early in the second half, the atmosphere was reasonably quiet. Particularly between goals 6 and 7, there was very little noise. How do we resolve that? Despite not being near the 'singing section' I try to do my part in joining in, and even try to get a couple of songs going (my croaky voice today is testiment to that). But for me, the biggest issue is that a single song isn't sang for long enough. By the time it's caught on across the Ponte, the ones who started the chant have stopped. Yesterday was a golden opportunity to get Oakwell rocking, and yet, it just felt a bit sedated.
I thought it was a good atmosphere. Plenty of chanting of the right variety and getting through most of our repertoire! We need some new songs for the new players. Young un wants to do the juat sold my car one for Lopata!
The 4,500 seat sold out Ponte end had a hell of a lot of red seats so I would think the number actually in the stadium was probably nearer 12,000 ish
Tbf it probably was sold out but it's summer holidays alot of people away. All season ticket holders counted.
I tried to get "Red Army" going but it didn't catch. When we got to Wembley for the Cup semi final I brought my 2 lads up to Oakwell on the Tuesday night against Ipswich so's we could get Wembley tickets. Early in the 2nd half, "Red Army" started and went on for a good part of the half. Made the hair stand up on my neck... Maybe somebody at the club could put the words up on the score board and have a few chanteurs infiltrated into the Ponty to start it off?
We did attempt to get this started in the ESL when he came on and again when he scored, but they're a bunch of funny buggers in there. No takers. All too busy rummaging in the Werthers....
When we started scoring, I actually felt sorry for the 1,700 Vale fans but I quickly remembered the trouble they gave us in Salem( or whatever it’s called )