If that doesn't spur them on

At Oakwell from now on, nothing will. They need to realise if they give a performance as good as that every match then Oakwell won't be so hostile. We all know they can beat anyone in this league, that's what's frustrating

 

Similarly, if the crowd doesn't get on the teams back the first time we retain possession a little bit, or play the ball back to the keeper, we might hold our nerve a bit more and cut out the stupid defensive errors we tend to do more at home.

 

We make the same silly defensive errors home and away, we've just been more fortunate that they weren't capitalised on away but sadly have been at home.

 

I think the key is not going behind early in the game. The crowd got right behind them vs Brum until we decided we didn’t fancy holding onto a lead, and then went down to 10 men.

Against LO we went behind after 6 mins and never came back into it.

It needs the fans and players to get work together really.

 

Exactly this imo. You can see the difference in our players when they're home and then away. People showing for ball more, wanting to be on it, more composure, rather than when at home nobody looking for it, nobody making runs, can't wait to get rid off it, etc

 

Unpopular opinion (perhaps).

Our home form, or the lack of it, falls at the feet of the fans. We're straight on the teams back if a pass goes wrong, or they make a mistake, even if it's in the first minute. Clarke would never say this out loud, and neither would the owners, but I imagine it's been said behind closed doors.

It's our turn. The lads go away from home every other week, and more often than not, play really well. They have a supportive away following that sings non-stop and encourages the lads all game.

Then you watch a home game, rows and rows of empty seats, groans, no singing, no atmosphere etc.

We as a collective need to turn out on New Year's Day and be the loudest we've ever been. Even if you don't feel like it, please come on NYD and actively support the lads.

We can't (and I'm guilty of this too occasionally), sit behind a screen at home, lambasting the lads, the Coach and the owners for not spending, or playing poorly at home, when at the very least, I haven't even been bothered to turn up myself.

I know it's frustrating, but something at home needs to change. And for me, a good change would be for the fans to come back and create a supportive, loud atmosphere for the lads to have a right go in.

I know times are hard and money is tight, it is for me, and it'd be so much easier for me to just say; "I can't be bothered", and I have on occasion. But the more I think about it, I can't complain that the team hasn't turned up to Oakwell when no bugger else has either.

Come on guys, NYD, turn up for the lads.

COYR!

 

I wouldn't say it's because we go behind early, I'd say it's more because we don't take the lead early. I posted on here about the atmosphere after we drew with Reading at the back end of last season. There was less than 5 minutes at the clock when the crowd got restless because we'd overplayed at the back and put ourselves under pressure. We didn't lose possession in that phase of play, and actually, it ended with us having a shot on goal. I watched the game back the day after on ifollow, and it was enough for the Reading commentators to comment on it. If they're picking up on it, so is both the teams.

I do think that a vocal away crowd gets our fans up for it a bit more. As you say, there was more patience against Birmingham, but we were the better side up to their equaliser.

 

On the other side, as well as it being unwelcoming for our players it must give the away team a boost. You always know a game is going to go in your favour when the other team’s fans start grumbling. Whoever comes to Oakwell hears that every week in the first 5 minutes and it must be like music to their ears.

 

yeah difficult to comment as I can’t ever make midweek home games. Wrexham should fall
Into the latter with them due to bring 4k plus.

 

People actually turning up or not walking out at half time would be a start. Says me that’s missing the next two games this week

 

End of day whether we concede early or late we concede far too many and that is one main reasons for our home form.Our defence hasn’t been good enough for a season and half. We need to improve on that and then I am sure the home form will improve. I think blaming atmosphere is just an excuse tbh, Oakwell is not a terrifying place for players to perform in. Might be quiet but it’s hardly a place from hell lol. We have made a lot of defensive mistakes at home and it’s ended up costing us points on numerous occasions, those mistakes get the crowd on players backs far more than passing it around at the back, which we don’t do as much this season anyway.