The Stadium of Light erupted last night when Romaine Mundle whipped one into the top corner, and was like a cauldron after Preston decided to have a seven-minute timeout, but for 80 minutes it was like a strict library. What is causing this issue?
First of all, I want to rattle through a few of the usual complaints, one that has been picked up on a lot recently is midweek attendances. Yesterday was reported at the 37k mark but, if we are being honest, we were probably looking closer to the 30k mark. Why is that? Well for a start, people will have night shifts or early shifts that make it either impossible or at least a pain to get to these midweek fixtures. That likely explains the attendance figures being off, as season ticket holders who cannot make it are still included in these numbers. I also believe the introduction of Sky Sports + is a factor. You have been at work all day, it’s freezing cold and you have the option to sit in your warm house with your feet up and watch the game. Some might like to do that and I can certainly understand people of a certain age being put off by it. However, I do personally find it hard to consider this a reason not to attend. After going to the Stoke game earlier in the season I don’t think it is possible to be colder at a football game, but I still went. I feel like it’s a bit of a lame excuse if it’s simply just because it is cold. I don’t think this is an issue other clubs seem to suffer to the scale we do and it will inevitably affect the atmosphere.
Secondly, the position of the away fans. Yes, they should be in the lower bowl, but at the same time can you blame the club for not wanting to relocate them? No matter where they put them, you cannot win. Somebody will have sat in that seat for years and complain about how the club have treated them, and possibly never comeback. Despite the opposition supporters being out of the way, we should still be able to generate an atmosphere ourselves. Newcastle have away fans in the gods and have still shown it is possible, plus we showed for about ten minutes last night it can be done.
An issue that I feel has been a standout, especially in more recent times, is the intensity of how we play. Last night was so painfully pedestrian at times, can you blame fans for not exactly being up for it? I have learned that if you give us something to cheer about, we can create one hell of an atmosphere. The first 20 minutes against Cardiff, the first few home games where we were playing more high-pressing football, it was great, but that has gone. This is a slight criticism of how we play at home: we are way too slow at times and it can be a bit boring. Cardiff felt a lot more positive but when we conceded it reverted to this pedestrian football. We just need to try and get out the blocks a bit quicker and put a bit of pressure on opponents. Preston clearly did their research and nullified us. I also truly believe without the absolutely incredulous levels of time wasting which woke us up, we lose that game. We just need something to get us off our feet a bit in terms of intensity.
We do need to remember we have lost just one home game this season, even if it does feel like performances have flattered to deceive at times, and with the play-offs now likely, we need to make the SoL a fortress if we are to make sure we get over the line.
